NFL Draft 2017: 1st-Round Mock Draft and Teams Likeliest to Trade Up

As the 2017 NFL draft approaches, we're starting to get a a rough idea of where the top prospects will land. But no matter how confident we are in our mock drafts, inevitably some draft day trades will shake things up. 

While it's tough to predict exactly how the trades will play out, it's usually easy to identify a group of teams that could be interested in moving up on draft day. 

Frequently these teams fall into one of two categories. The first is the quarterback-needy franchise that is targeting their signal caller of the future. The other is the contender that thinks it's one piece away from getting over the hump. 

With that in mind, this mock draft features two potential draft day trades that could shake up the first round—one trade featuring each type of team. Following the mock draft is breakdown of each trade and why the four teams involved would be interested in moving up or willing to drop down in the first round. 

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

Bills trade up for Mitchell Trubisky

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The Buffalo Bills picked up their team option on quarterback Tyrod Taylor, but the events leading up to that decision showed their lack of confidence in his long-term future. 

In early March—prior to the Bills picking up Taylor's option—Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reported that the Bills front office was in favor of parting ways with Taylor, but new head coach Sean McDermott and his staff were in favor of sticking with the incumbent. 

The Bills ultimately stuck with Taylor, but it's clear that there is minimal confidence in his long-term potential. It's possible that Buffalo picked up Taylor's option simply for piece of mind that comes with knowing a viable starting quarterback is on the roster. 

With Taylor in place, it also gives the Bills the flexibility to draft a young developmental quarterback without any pressure to play him immediately. 

Buffalo owns the No. 10 pick in this year's draft, which means they're within range of drafting a quarterback but can't be sure their guy will fall. If Buffalo views Mitchell Trubisky as the quarterback of the future, they would have to move up to be certain they get their hands on him. 

While a trade up in the top 10 is often an expensive move, Bills GM Doug Whaley has proved that he's willing to be aggressive on draft day. In 2014, Whaley pulled off a blockbuster trade to move up to No. 4 to select Sammy Watkins. 

If the Bills want to move up, the Jacksonville Jaguars could be a viable trade partner. 

The Jaguars are presumed to be interested in LSU running back Leonard Fournette, but there is a good chance he will be available a few picks later. Jacksonville and the Caroina Panthers are the only teams in the top 10 with a glaring need at running back, which could make the Jaguars comfortable moving back a few slots. 

Lions trade up for David Njoku

Carlos Osorio/Associated Press/Associated Press/Associated Press

The Detroit Lions have been to the playoffs in two of the past three seasons but can't quite get over the hump to emerge as a serious contender in the NFC. This could be the year they make a bold move in the draft to add a piece that helps push them over the top. 

According to NFL.com's Daniel Jeremiah, there has been a lot of talk around the league about the Lions targeting Miami tight end David Njoku. 

Despite drafting Eric Ebron in the first round just three years ago, the Lions might be interested in adding another weapon. Ebron and Njoku are both elite athletes for the position and play with a similar style. The duo could give the Lions the ability to create mismatches by utilizing two tight end sets. 

Adding another tight end would certainly not be a traditional approach, but with relatively few holes to fill on the depth chart, Lions GM Bob Quinn has the ability to get creative. 

There are multiple potential trade partners in the middle of the first round, and the Washington Redskins will likely be among the teams willing to trade down. 

Among the players expected to be on the board for Washington at No. 17, it's difficult to identify an obvious target who fills a glaring hole. The Redskins need help along the defensive line and at linebacker, and both positions have enough depth for Washington to move back a few spots and still get an impact player while adding an extra pick or two.