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

Exactly two weeks away from the 2017 NFL draft, some front-office executives have started blowing smokescreens, and others have offered clues on their draft thought process. 

Bleacher Report’s Mike Freeman provided an entire report with his predictions based on a trusted source, an NFC scout, who’s been involved with the league for decades. 

Aside from Freeman’s source and his projections, other reports have circulated the media waves.

The Cleveland Browns have a good dilemma: deciding what to do with the No. 1 overall pick. Inside the Pittsburgh Steelers organization, there may be a difference of opinions on the preferred options with the No. 30 overall pick. The New York Giants seem intent on loading the offense for quarterback Eli Manning’s final years.

Where will the prominent prospects land on April 27?

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, S, LSU
4	Jacksonville Jaguars	Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU
5	Tennessee Titans (via Rams)	Malik Hooker, S, Ohio State
6	New York Jets	Marshon Lattimore, CB, Ohio State
7	Los Angeles Chargers	Jonathan Allen, DL, Alabama
8	Carolina Panthers	Ryan Ramczyk, OT, Wisconsin
9	Cincinnati Bengals	Reuben Foster, LB, Alabama
10	Buffalo Bills	Mitchell Trubisky, QB, North Carolina
11	New Orleans Saints	Derek Barnett, DE, Tennessee
12	Cleveland Browns (via Eagles)	Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson
13	Arizona Cardinals	Chidobe Awuzie, CB, Colorado
14	Philadelphia Eagles (via Vikings)	Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State
15	Indianapolis Colts	Garett Bolles, OT, Utah
16	Baltimore Ravens	Mike Williams, WR, Clemson
17	Washington Redskins	Corey Davis, WR, Western Michigan
18	Tennessee Titans	Jabrill Peppers, S, Michigan
19	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Cam Robinson, OT, Alabama
20	Denver Broncos	O.J. Howard, TE, Alabama
21	Detroit Lions	Zach Cunningham, LB, Vanderbilt
22	Miami Dolphins	Taco Charlton, DE, Michigan
23	New York Giants	Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford
24	Oakland Raiders	Malik McDowell, DT, Michigan State
25	Houston Texans	Patrick Mahomes, QB, Texas Tech
26	Seattle Seahawks	Tre'Davious White, CB, LSU
27	Kansas City Chiefs	Marlon Humphrey, CB, Alabama
28	Dallas Cowboys	Gareon Conley, CB, Ohio State
29	Green Bay Packers	Cordrea Tankersley, CB, Clemson
30	Pittsburgh Steelers	John Ross, WR, Washington
31	Atlanta Falcons	Teez Tabor, CB, Florida
32	New Orleans Saints	Haason Reddick, LB, Temple

Cleveland Browns Torn Between Trubisky and Garrett?

Typically, the No. 1 pick via poor record or trade selects a quarterback. The Browns swapped out of the No. 2 pick before the previous draft and missed out on Carson Wentz as a potential franchise signal-caller—shame on them.

Now, they’re back in the mix at the top of the draft with the same dilemma they’ve wrestled since Bernie Kosar. The front office must find a franchise quarterback.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, there’s a split decision among the decision-makers within the Browns organization between edge-rusher Myles Garrett and quarterback Mitchell Trubisky:

Garrett all but threatened the Browns if they passed on him, per ESPN’s Sam Alipour:

"

I'm not gonna be in any trouble. I'm just gonna make plays and bring a good atmosphere to your organization. And I'm gonna start winning and winning now. And because if you don't draft me No. 1, I will punish your team for the next 10 to 12 years. I'll knock your QB out of the game every time we play you, and I'll have to kick the hell out of No. 1, whoever it is.

"

It’s a bold statement from a freakish athlete with the ability to damage a quarterback on any given snap. The Browns would be smart to select the Texas A&M product, not because of his warning, but the quarterback class doesn’t have a clear-cut No. 1 prospect worthy of the top spot. ESPN’s Ran Jaworski agrees with the assessment, via Schefter:

How much do the Browns like one-year collegiate starter Trubisky? He may not be available at No. 12 when Cleveland makes its second first-round selection. If the team fell in love with the North Carolina passer, he’ll be the guy at No. 1. If the front office has doubts due to Trubisky’s inexperience, Garrett will headline the 2017 class.

New York Giants Aid Eli with Offensive Weapon

Last season, the New York Giants defense took a major step forward. General manager Jerry Reese overloaded the roster with acquisitions on that side of the ball, and the transactions paid dividends. Big Blue ranked No. 2 in points allowed and No. 10 in yards surrendered. 

This offseason, Reese has decided to focus on upgrading the offense with Manning entering his age-36 season. The front office has already added offensive lineman D.J. Fluker and wide receiver Brandon Marshall. According to ESPN’s Jordan Raanan, the Giants will go with an offensive skill player or upgrade the pass protection:

Player	Position	Current Starter
O.J. Howard	TE	Will Tye
Christian McCaffrey	RB	Paul Perkins
Cam Robinson	OT	Ereck Flowers/Bobby Hart

New York didn’t re-sign running back Rashad Jennings, which potentially opens a spot for a dynamic featured back ahead of Paul Perkins. Tight end Will Tye proved to be a serviceable target in the passing attack, but he’s not a game-changer and struggles with blocking. The Giants' offensive tackles buckled on the edge, which put Manning in danger after the snap.

All of Raanan’s guesses make sense. However, running back Christian McCaffrey can change the offense the most with his ability to catch the football as well as he takes a handoff. An added boost to the ground attack would propel the Giants offense to one of the best in the league.

Jabrill Peppers in Play at No. 30 with Pittsburgh Steelers? 

Joe Robbins/Getty Images

According to NFL Network’s Aditi Kinkhabwala, Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert would like to select hybrid safety Jabrill Peppers to address a leaky secondary. 

In the same report, Kinkhabwala said quarterback Ben Roethlisberger lobbied for a tight end, which may suggest interest in Miami product David Njoku or Mississippi prospect Evan Engram. On Wednesday, the Steelers quarterback denied the reporter’s account on his behalf, per Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio.

Roethlisberger needed extended time before committing to play for the 2017 season. Similar to Manning with the Giants, the Steelers quarterback nears the end of his career at 35 years old with an extensive history of injuries throughout his tenure.

If Peppers remains available for the Steelers at No. 30, don’t be surprised to see Colbert pick up a receiving tight end or another wide receiver in the following round to help his quarterback whether Roethlisberger denies his preference or not.