2017 NFL Mock Draft: 1st-Round Predictions, Prospects Who Will Shape Day 1

Although the NFL draft is always difficult to forecast, the 2017 edition of the marquee offseason event is particularly challenging given the wide range of possibilities in the top 10. What teams decide to do with those early selections will have a trickle-down effect on the rest of the first few rounds.

The quarterback situation is murky, which is the biggest factor in the uncertainty. The lack of a clear top choice at the sport's most important spot is forcing teams with a need at the position to consider whether it's worth investing a first-round pick on one of the available signal-callers.

With that in mind, let's check out a projection for the entire first round with less than a month until the draft gets started April 27. That's followed by a breakdown of the players who will probably play the biggest role in shaping the opening night of picks.

Round 1 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	Jamal Adams, SS, LSU
4	Jacksonville Jaguars	Jonathan Allen, DT, Alabama
5	Tennessee Titans (from LAR)	Marshon Lattimore, CB, Ohio State
6	New York Jets	Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson
7	Los Angeles Chargers	Malik Hooker, FS, Ohio State
8	Carolina Panthers	Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU
9	Cincinnati Bengals	Reuben Foster, ILB, Alabama
10	Buffalo Bills	Corey Davis, WR, Western Michigan
11	New Orleans Saints	Derek Barnett, DE, Tennessee
12	Cleveland Browns (from PHI)	Mitchell Trubisky, QB, North Carolina
13	Arizona Cardinals	O.J. Howard, TE, Alabama
14	Philadelphia Eagles (from MIN)	Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State
15	Indianapolis Colts	Haason Reddick, OLB, Temple
16	Baltimore Ravens	Mike Williams, WR, Clemson
17	Washington Redskins	Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford
18	Tennessee Titans	John Ross, WR, Washington
19	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Malik McDowell, DT, Michigan State
20	Denver Broncos	Ryan Ramczyk, OT, Wisconsin
21	Detroit Lions	Taco Charlton, DE, Michigan
22	Miami Dolphins	Marlon Humphrey, CB, Alabama
23	New York Giants	Jabrill Peppers, SS, Michigan
24	Oakland Raiders	TreDavious White, CB, LSU
25	Houston Texans	DeShone Kizer, QB, Notre Dame
26	Seattle Seahawks	Garett Bolles, OT, Utah
27	Kansas City Chiefs	Zach Cunningham, OLB, Vanderbilt
28	Dallas Cowboys	Cordrea Tankersley, CB, Clemson
29	Green Bay Packers	Charles Harris, DE, Missouri
30	Pittsburgh Steelers	David Njoku, TE, Miami (Fla.)
31	Atlanta Falcons	Forrest Lamp, OG, Western Kentucky
32	New Orleans Saints (from NE)	Chidobe Awuzie, CB, Colorado

Key Day 1 Prospects

4. Jacksonville Jaguars: Jonathan Allen, DT, Alabama

Allen is a top-three prospect based on college production and game tape. The talented lineman was a consistently disruptive force over his final two years with the Crimson Tide. He racked up 105 total tackles and 22.5 sacks across that time period.

Lingering concerns about past shoulder problems and lackluster combine results have caused his stock to become more of a question mark in recent weeks. In fact, he's no longer a top-10 lock, even though he goes at No. 4 in this mock projection.

Bleacher Report's Matt Miller provided an update based on what he heard in early March:

After the combine, Allen talked about his response when teams asked about his shoulders during an interview with Matt Zenitz of AL.com.

"I feel the best I've felt in four years," he said. "I'd tell them, 'I did 21 on bench press, and I know I wouldn't have been able to do that if my shoulders were hurt, so there's nothing wrong with them.'"

Now the question is whether front offices will agree with Allen's personal assessment. If so, he should land inside the top five, as was expected when the draft process started. If teams remain worried, however, he could slide and shake up the entire defensive line draft board.

6. New York Jets: Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson

Watson has battled Mitchell Trubisky and DeShone Kizer in recent months with an eye on becoming the first quarterback off the board. Patrick Mahomes II has also been in the conversation at times. Yet, with the draft firmly on the horizon, there's still no consensus about the order they will go.

The Clemson star's college resume, including the 2017 CFP National Championship, is terrific, but whether his skill set will translate is the key question. The uncertainty increased after Dane Brugler‏ of CBS Sports noted his combine throwing velocity was well below other top QBs in the class at 49 mph.

Greg Gabriel‏ of Pro Football Weekly didn't see the same problem on tape, though:

"

Did a couple more games on Deshaun Watson. Absolutely no problem with his velocity. When he wants to rip it, he can. Can also throw w/touch

— Greg Gabriel (@greggabe) March 12, 2017"

While analysts identify potential flaws in his game, Connor Hughes of NJ Advance Media noted Watson is confident he'll succeed in the NFL for one reason: He knows how to win.

"The one thing that translates from college to the NFL is winning," he said. "I think being a quarterback, that's the biggest thing that should be recognized. Winning games."

Ultimately, the quarterback situation is the hardest thing to figure out about the 2017 draft. The top 10 could easily see two QBs or no QBs. Neither outcome would be a shock, and the longer it goes without one, the more trading up becomes part of the equation.

The first quarterback selected, whether it's Watson or one of the other options, could trigger a run on the position. But whether that will happen with the QB-needy Jets at No. 6 or at a different point in the opening round is still tough to nail down.

13. Arizona Cardinals: O.J. Howard, TE, Alabama

Tight end is a lot like quarterback in terms of a position with plenty of depth, but no clear indication when the prospects will start getting selected. Howard, unlike the top quarterbacks, is a virtual lock to hear his name called first among the group, though.

The Alabama standout bolstered his stock during the draft process with strong showings at both the Senior Bowl and the combine. Those efforts were enough to at least bring his name into the conversation as a possible top-five pick.

Mike Triplett of ESPN.com passed along comments from the tight end at the Senior Bowl, where the hype train really started to pick up steam, about his all-around skill set.

"It was a great opportunity to come out and play against great competition and showcase some of my run-blocking ability and running routes," Howard said. "Whenever there's a great opportunity to play against great talent, I'm always willing to do that."

Pro Football Focus‏ showcased how he stacks up against his fellow TEs:

The Cardinals are a sleeper spot for Howard. They have more often been linked to other positions, including a backup quarterback and future replacement for Carson Palmer, at this spot. But adding another playmaker is the way to go if they're all-in on the 2017 season.

Meanwhile, Howard is followed by David Njoku and Evan Engram in the positional pecking order. If he goes early, all three could land in Round 1. If he slides a bit, the 'Bama star could end up being the only tight end taken on Day 1.