NFL Mock Draft 2017: 1st-Round Predictions, Landing Spots for Rising Prospects

With the NFL Scouting Combine behind us, much of free agency in the rearview mirror and Pro Days in full swing, we finally have an excellent portrait of the upcoming draft.

As always, there will be surprise picks, late developments and trades that might shake up the proceedings. Still, we have a pretty good picture of each team's needs and a better idea of where the top prospects should slot into this draft. Let's break down my latest mock draft:

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

If the Cleveland Browns choose to not draft Myles Garrett with the top overall pick, well, Cleveland fans have the right to be annoyed. Well, more accurately, another reason in a long list of them. 

So the draft becomes interesting with the San Francisco 49ers at No. 2. The Niners have enough needs that they could go in any number of directions with the pick, though they would be wise to take the top overall player on their board rather than drafting purely from need—i.e., they shouldn't take a quarterback at No. 2.

I believe the Niners will debate between two players to improve the defensive line: defensive tackle Jonathan Allen and defensive end Solomon Thomas. Allen's poor combine may be just enough to give Thomas the edge at No. 2.

Thomas would dramatically improve the team's pass rush and be the perfect fit for the team's new 4-3 defensive scheme, so Niners fans should be happy if the team goes this route and avoids the temptation to reach on a quarterback.

At No. 3, the Chicago Bears—another team with a number of needs—will take Ohio State safety Malik Hooker, who has one of the highest ceilings in this draft. ESPN.com's Matt Bowen broke down the safety's game:

"

Watching tape on Ohio State safety Malik Hooker—[incredible] range in the middle of the field. He can cover a ton of ground. And you can't teach that. Natural ability there to locate the ball and finish. Gets a great jump on QBs. That's vision and route awareness. Still shows his inexperience as a run defender. Angles to the ball and footwork at the point of attack need to improve along with his tackling technique. Wants to chop-down ball carriers too often. There are areas of his game that need to develop, but Hooker's range, ball skills and ability to close the post are rare. He has first-round talent. And a very high ceiling at the position.

"

Hooker's a difference-maker, and one I expect to be off the board in the first three picks.

After that, the major storyline will emerge: Where will the quarterbacks will be selected?

I don't expect teams in the top 10 to bite on the position. Why? Two reasons. For one, there is a lot of talent at other positions, which may keep teams from reaching at quarterback. The 2018 draft class for quarterbacks is also shaping up to be extremely strong, and quarterback-needy teams in rebuilding mode may be more inclined to wait until next year before committing a first-round pick to the position.

Nonetheless, I'm not sure the Browns should skip the chance to take the top quarterback on their board at No. 12, where the value of a player like Mitchell Trubisky would better align with the draft pick. There is no guarantee the Browns will be in a position to get their preferred target in the 2018 draft, so taking Trubisky at No. 12 would make sense.

If the Browns come away with both the top player on the board and their top quarterback, Browns fans will be feeling something that often eludes them.

Hope.