NFL Mock Draft 2017: Updated Projections for Top 32 Picks

Now that the Super Bowl is behind us, the volume surrounding NFL draft season has been turned up to 11, with so much expert analysis and so many mock drafts that you may find yourself with whiplash. 

This is the time of year when we can gather a ton of additional information about prospects, from the bowl games through pro days and the combine. As a result, the big boards can start to get topsy-turvy as prospects rise and fall. 

However, it's important to remember that for NFL general managers, the single most important factor used to evaluate prospects is game film. An excellent combine showing can help push a solid prospect into a higher round, but it likely won't outweigh bad habits shown on tape.

Let's take a look at some prospects who are seeing their stock rise as we approach the combine to see whether they can continue to trend upward as the NFL draft approaches. 

Selection	Team	Player	Position	School
1	Cleveland Browns	Myles Garrett	DE	Texas A&M
2	San Francisco 49ers	Mitch Trubisky	QB	UNC
3	Chicago Bears	Jonathan Allen	DE	Alabama
4	Jacksonville Jaguars	Jamal Adams	SS	LSU
5	Tennessee Titans (via LAR)	Malik Hooker	FS	Ohio State
6	New York Jets	DeShone Kizer	QB	Notre Dame
7	Los Angeles Chargers	Cam Robinson	OT	Alabama
8	Carolina Panthers	Leonard Fournette	RB	LSU
9	Cincinnati Bengals	Derek Barnett	DE	Tennessee
10	Buffalo Bills	Deshaun Watson	QB	Clemson
11	New Orleans Saints	Reuben Foster	ILB	Alabama
12	Cleveland Browns (via PHI)	Marshon Lattimore	CB	Ohio State
13	Arizona Cardinals	Mike Williams	WR	Clemson
14	Indianapolis Colts	Dalvin Cook	RB	FSU
15	Philadelphia Eagles (via MIN)	Corey Davis	WR	Western Michigan
16	Baltimore Ravens	Solomon Thomas	DE	Stanford
17	Washington	Malik McDowell	DT	Michigan State
18	Tennessee Titans	John Ross	WR	Washington
19	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Jabrill Peppers	S	Michigan
20	Denver Broncos	Ryan Ramczyk	OT	Wisconsin
21	Detroit Lions	Sidney Jones	CB	Washington
22	Miami Dolphins	O.J. Howard	TE	Alabama
23	New York Giants	Christian McCaffrey	RB	Stanford
24	Oakland Raiders	Zach Cunningham	ILB	Vanderbilt
25	Houston Texans	Taco Charlton	DE	Michigan
26	Seattle Seahawks	Garett Bolles	OT	Utah
27	Kansas City Chiefs	Quincy Wilson	CB	Florida
28	Dallas Cowboys	Marlon Humphrey	CB	Alabama
29	Green Bay Packers	Teez Tabor	CB	Florida
30	Pittsburgh Steelers	Takkarist McKinley	OLB	UCLA
31	Atlanta Falcons	Charles Harris	DE	Missouri
32	New England Patriots	Tim Williams	OLB	Alabama

Rising Stars Ahead of NFL Combine

Takkarist McKinley, OLB, UCLA

Ross D. Franklin/Associated Press

UCLA pass-rusher Takkarist McKinley comes off the board at No. 30 in this mock draft, and the Pittsburgh Steelers are likely hoping he makes it that far.

But some experts are beginning to place McKinley much higher in the first round ahead of the combine.

CBSSports.com's Rob Rang thinks the 21-year-old could catch the eye of the Indianapolis Colts as early as No. 14 overall, providing the team stays put at its draft position. It makes sense given that veteran Robert Mathis has retired.

Rang wrote: "McKinley possesses the explosive upfield speed and flexibility to wreak havoc off the edge."

However, Rang's colleague Dane Brugler still thinks McKinley won't be targeted until later in Round 1, also predicting the Steelers take him at No. 30.

If McKinley does land here, it could be because teams look for more size at the position. As Brugler noted: "McKinley is a tick undersized, but his athleticism and active hands allows him to penetrate the backfield."

If your team needs a pass-rusher, McKinley is a player to keep an eye on at the combine. 

Ryan Ramczyk, OT, Wisconsin

Many teams could use an upgrade along their offensive lines, and more and more experts agree that Wisconsin big man Ryan Ramczyk should be the first tackle to come off the board in April. 

Fellow prospect Cam Robinson may have won the Outland Trophy as the nation's top blocker, but Rang cautioned that the Tide product "is not as polished as one might think." Brugler had him falling out of the first round altogether. 

Meanwhile, Ramczyk transferred to Wisconsin from D-III UW-Stevens Point and became a stud at left tackle for the Badgers. 

NFL Network's Mike Mayock shared video from Ramczyk's first Division I game on Twitter:

He looked right at home. 

David Njoku, TE, Miami 

Lynne Sladky/Associated Press

A handful of teams are looking to land a dynamic pass-catcher in the first round, and there's been a lot of buzz surrounding Alabama tight end O.J. Howard.

The Crimson Tide product's hype train left the station at full speed after his performance in the national title game in 2016. But Howard returned to Alabama to take his chances on entering the draft in 2017. 

There's no doubt that unless something goes terribly wrong, Howard will be selected on Day 1. But is it possible Miami product David Njoku could go before him?

Brugler certainly thinks so. He could see the Baltimore Ravens targeting Njoku at No. 16, a full six spots ahead of Howard, whom he projects to the Miami Dolphins. 

Njoku snagged eight touchdowns and totaled nearly 700 yards in 2016, with his most eye-popping numbers coming against Duke—a game in which he was on the receiving end of two scoring passes and added 134 receiving yards, a career high.

Howard may come with more hype, but Njoku's explosiveness could tempt a team earlier in the first.