2017 NFL Mock Draft: Predictions for Most Tantalizing Early-Round Prospects

We've officially reached Peak Mock Draft SZN™. 

Everyone has their own idea of how Round 1 of the 2017 NFL draft will play out. Seriously. Go ask your grandma what she thinks of Myles Garrett's upside.

Don't worry, I'll wait.

Done? OK, cool. That was a surprisingly detailed Powerpoint presentation on historical data trends, wasn't it? My grandma had me taking notes right until she mentioned Bubby Brister; then I knew it was time for her nap. Her scouting report on Jamal Adams was NFL Network-worthy, though.

Anyway, that was all an excuse to get you all to call your grandmothers. She loves you, you know? In the meantime, here's another mock draft for your perusal.

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

Tantalizing 1st-Round Prospects

RB Leonard Fournette, LSU

Fournette's combine came up a little lacking. He came in at 240 pounds, and while his 4.51-second time in the 40-yard dash was fine, his 28.5-inch vertical left something to be desired.

The narrative shifted in a big way at the LSU pro day, as he dropped down to 228 pounds and seemed in much better physical shape. 

"I think some of them wanted me to just see if I could get down to that size," Fournette told reporters at the pro day. "Some people had concerns about me at 240. ... So I just wanted to show them I could stay on course and be disciplined and do what I have to do."

Fournette probably won't come off the board as high as Ezekiel Elliott did a year ago, but he's probably back as a borderline top-10 lock after his pro day. 

QB Deshaun Watson, Clemson

Let's put one thing on the record: Deshaun Watson is the best quarterback in this class. Bar none. I've seen enough of Mitchell Trubisky, DeShone Kizer and Patrick Mahomes to feel comfortable putting that out there.

But none of these quarterbacks in this class are a sure thing. Circumstances here matter to each of their futures more than perhaps any recent draft in memory.

No one should want to go to the Browns. Because going to the Browns is a quarterback death hole. Sashi Brown has been doing remarkable work to rebuild Cleveland's roster, but it's still at least a year or two away from being able to cogently house a developmental quarterback. Same goes for the San Francisco 49ers, who seem satisfied going into next season with Brian Hoyer and a long-term view at the position.

Perhaps the best potential situation of any on the board is the Arizona Cardinals, who have an excellent coaching staff, a star running back in David Johnson and a short-term quarterback in Carson Palmer available. Palmer probably only has another year or two left, and while Bruce Arians has preferred bigger quarterbacks in the past, Watson might give his offense a new wrinkle.

LB/S/Something Else IDK Jabrill Peppers, Michigan

No one knows what position Jabrill Peppers will play at the next level. Except Peppers, who has no lack of confidence in his ability to play safety. 

"The bottom line is, I'm a ball player and a hell of a ball player," Peppers told reporters at the combine. "I don't have a lot of tape at safety. But I'm a pretty damn good safety.

"I think a lot of teams noticed that. They have the tape. They've asked me for tape of me playing corner and safety. Ultimately, I hope a lot of questions are answered this weekend."

Peppers may wind up playing safety full-time or could wind up as a Deone Bucannon-type hybrid, flipping into a secondary member in nickel situations.

What's abundantly clear is that Peppers loves the game of football. If he had a defined position and a little more size, he would be a top-10 lock. Instead, look for him to slide into the latter picks of the first round, where a team can take him as something of a luxury pick.