2017 NFL Mock Draft: 1st-Round Predictions and Buzz Surrounding Top QB Prospects

Time just seems to fly by in the NFL world, doesn't it? It seems like mere days ago that the New England Patriots were mounting the most epic Super Bowl comeback of all time. Since then, we've seen free agency unfold, Tony Romo enter the world of broadcasting and Marshawn Lynch flirt with the idea of an NFL return.

Oh, and the feds found Tom Brady's stolen jersey.

In a matter of weeks, we'll be on to the NFL draft, where hundreds of football prospects will turn into league employees. In the blink of an eye, those rookies will be making their on-field debuts during the preseason.

We know how the remainder of the offseason is going to unfold, and we know that this year's crop of rookies is going to dominate the headlines for the duration. What we don't know, of course, is which incoming players will be playing for which teams.

We can make educated guesses—that's the fun of mock drafts; nothing is certain—and that's what we're going to do here. We'll run down the current draft order and make projections based on factors like player potential, prospect stock, team needs and team fits. We'll also examine some of the latest draft-related news and rumors.

2017 NFL Mock Draft

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

Latest Buzz

Davis Webb Could be a First-Rounder

Despite this being what appears to be a lackluster quarterback class, I am starting to feel confident that at least three signal-callers will go in the first round. This is because of the number of quarterback-needy teams in the league and the amount of teams that could be looking for heirs to their current starters.

Teams like the Houston Texans and Cleveland Browns are searching for their franchise quarterbacks. Teams like the Arizona Cardinals and Kansas City Chiefs appear ready to put a succession plan in place.

For now, I have North Carolina's Mitchell Trubisky, Clemson's Deshaun Watson and Texas Tech's Patrick Mahomes as first-rounders. However, a fourth quarterback could definitely slip into the opening round if the proverbial dominoes fall the right way.

California's Davis Webb believes he might be that fourth guy.

"I've talked to a lot of NFL people," Webb said at Cal's pro day, per David Lombardi of ESPN.com. "And double-digit teams have told me I'm a first-round guy."

Pete Prisco of CBSSports.com also believes Webb could go in Round 1:

Webb had all kinds of impressive production at Texas Tech and later Cal, but that he played in variations of the Air Raid offense will raise a red flag for many. However, at least one former quarterback believes his college system won't hinder Webb's ability to adjust to the pro game.

"I would not have a problem of having Davis coming in and starting right out and being a part of the fit right now," former NFL quarterback and head coach Jim Zorn said, per Associated Press sportswriter Josh Dubow. "I think there are really good qualities there for him to have a faster start than a system quarterback might be."

Zorn has been working with Webb to help him adjust to the nuances of the pro game. If teams like his progress in private visits, he's likely to rise up draft boards, possibly ahead of guys like Mahomes and Notre Dame's DeShone Kizer.

One team that could push Webb into the first round is the Cleveland Browns. The Browns own the first pick in Round 2, and if they haven't picked a quarterback by then, they might consider taking Webb. This is at least a possibility, and it could prompt a team to trade back into the first round to snag Webb before Cleveland is on the clock again.

Could Nathan Peterman Be a Day 1 Starter?

Former Pittsburgh quarterback Nathan Peterman isn't going to hear his name called in the opening round of the draft. However, this doesn't mean he cannot be a starting-caliber QB in the NFL. He has the size (6'2", 226 lbs) and experience in a pro-style offense that teams want in a future starter.

At least one draft analyst believes Peterman could be ready to start from Day 1—something that hasn't been said of a lot of the quarterbacks in this draft class.

ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. recently said the following, per Darryl Slater of NJ.com:

"

I think as far as developing the quickest, all of these quarterbacks have issues going in. I would say Nate Peterman has the best chance to come in and play, from a mental standpoint and knowing the game, and playing in a pro offense like [the Eagles' Carson] Wentz did, which really helped him.

I think he gets an edge over all these quarterbacks. I think Nate Peterman would probably be the quarterback that may have a better chance to play right away and play more effectively than even the four guys that go in the first round possibly.

"

That experience in a pro-style system should, at least in theory, help Peterman make a quicker transition to the NFL game. However, no one seems to be arguing that Peterman's upside is as high as that of guys like Trubisky, Watson or Mahomes.

Therefore, Peterman might be a good fit for a team that already has a foothold in its division but needs an average starter to take the next step. The Houston Texans come to mind here. The Buffalo Bills, who have visited with Peterman, could be another possibility if the team wants to bring in competition for Tyrod Taylor.

If there is a franchise out there that truly believes in Peterman's ability to start early, I could see him going as high as the second round.

Vegas to Get in on the Draft Fun

The city of Las Vegas recently acquired its very own NFL team, though the Oakland Raiders don't actually move there until the 2020 season. Eventually, Vegas is going to host a Super Bowl and possibly the NFL draft.

Seriously, who wouldn't want to attend that draft party?

For now, though, folks in Vegas must be content getting in on the draft action in other ways. According to Todd Dewey of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the Nevada Gaming Control Board approved a measure to accept prop bets on the draft.

Since we're talking prop bets, there will likely be a reasonable limit on the amounts that can be wagered. According to Marcus DiNitto of Sporting News, team- and player-specific bets won't be allowed.

ESPN.com's David Payne Purdum recently provided some examples of bets that could be permissible:

While this new development isn't likely to significantly affect the draft itself, it could alter the way we consume it. Fans who typically don't tune in on Day 3 of the draft may now do so to see if kicker over/under or their conference prop pulls through.