NFL Draft Predictions 2017: Projections for 1st-Round Teams and Prospects

The 2017 NFL draft features a limited number of high-end prospects, but it might be one of the best editions of the event in years from an entertainment perspective. The level of uncertainty at this stage of the process, even inside the top 10, should make for a wild night in Philadelphia on April 27.

A lot of the doubt is due to the quarterback position. Mitchell Trubisky, Deshaun Watson, DeShone Kizer and Patrick Mahomes II are all potential Round 1 picks. Much of that depends on when the first one comes off the board, however, which could happen as early as No. 1 and as late as the teens.

Let's check out an updated mock draft of the opening round. That's followed by a closer look at projections for the top choices as they look to make an instant impact in the NFL.

First-Round Predictions

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	Kevin King, CB, Washington
23	New York Giants	Jabrill Peppers, SS, Michigan
24	Oakland Raiders	Tre'Davious 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	Gareon Conley, CB, Ohio State
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

Projections for Top Picks

1. Cleveland Browns: Myles Garrett, DE, Texas A&M

Garrett has the best chance to become a game-changing superstar of anybody in the class. While the Browns must eventually land a franchise quarterback to become a contender, passing on the Texas A&M lineman to take Mitchell Trubisky, who may be available when they pick at No. 12, would be a mistake.

The Aggies standout gave Cleveland a similar warning. Sam Alipour of ESPN asked him what message he'd give to Browns head coach Hue Jackson about why he should be the first overall pick and he didn't hold back his feelings on the matter:

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Because I'll be a difference maker from day one. And 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.

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Garrett racked up 31 sacks across 34 collegiate games, and a lot of those came from pure talent and determination. He should be a dominant force once he becomes more polished and adds a couple of more moves to his pass-rushing arsenal.

The Browns defense, which ranked 31st in yards allowed last season, will still be a work in progress with Garrett in the mix. That's going to allow opponents to key in on him, which may suppress his rookie output a bit, but his final numbers should still lay the foundation for bigger years ahead.

Rookie Projection: 47 tackles, 11 sacks and three forced fumbles

2. San Francisco 49ers: Solomon Thomas, DE, Stanford

The Niners are a tough team to nail down. The Bay Area News Group noted new general manager John Lynch said in a KNBR radio interview he wanted secrecy throughout his candidacy for the position to see if the franchise could avoid leaks, and it seems like that's carried into everyday business.

Trading down to accumulate more picks would be the best route for San Francisco, assuming none of the quarterbacks have jumped out in its evaluation. But if the team ends up staying put, picking up a well-rounded edge-rusher like Thomas is a solid option.

It's hard to know the team's level of interest in the Stanford lineman due to a lack of direct meetings. Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area passed along Lynch's explanation:

The 49ers ranked last in both yards and points allowed during the 2016 campaign. They also finished tied for 19th in sacks. Picking up a new stalwart on the edge would help start the process of getting things turned around on that side of the ball.

Rookie Projection: 51 tackles, eight sacks and two forced fumbles

3. Chicago Bears: Jamal Adams, SS, LSU

There were questions about Adams after some mundane combine results, including a 4.56-second time in the 40-yard dash. While it didn't cause his stock to plummet because of his other wide-ranging skills, it wasn't clear whether he'd land in the top 10.

That changed at LSU's pro day when he bounced back with a much better display of speed. Bleacher Report's Matt Miller provided an updated look at the safety's status after improving in the 40:

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Adams may have put those concerns to bed when he ran a 4.33-second unofficial time in the 40-yard dash at the LSU pro day. Some scouts there had him timed in the high 4.3s or low 4.4s, but for a 6'0", 214-pound safety, he's moving no matter if it was a 4.33 or 4.38 or 4.41.

The LSU defense asked Adams to play more in the box in 2016, but in the 2015 season, he played more in coverage and grabbed four interceptions and broke up six passes. Scouts who think Adams is "just" a box safety might do well to go check the tape.

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Miller added: "How high can Adams go in this draft? No. 3 to Chicago is where the discussion starts, and I can't see any way he falls out of the top 10."

The Bears sure seem like a perfect fit on paper. They have a void to fill at safety and must find more playmakers on the defensive side. The team recorded just 11 takeaways last season, two fewer than any other defense in the NFL.

Adams does a little bit of everything in the secondary and, given enough playing time, he could produce better than 50 percent of that turnover total by himself as a rookie.

Rookie Projection: 77 tackles, nine passes defended, four interceptions and two forced fumbles