‘Tis the season to Mock Draft! Here’s TMSNX VP Dorf’s 2017 Mock Draft for the first round. No trades will be made for the purposes of this draft, even though we know that will never happen.
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Cleveland Browns
Myles Garrett, DE, Texas A&M
Cleveland desperately needs a pass rusher and Myles Garrett is the best pass rushing prospect to come out since Von Miller. If the Browns didn’t need a Quarterback, this pick would be a no-brainer and would have already been made.
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San Francisco 49ers
Mitch Trubisky, QB, North Carolina
Assuming the 49ers don’t acquire a quarterback via a trade before the draft, there is no way they don’t take a Quarterback in the first round. As of time of publication, the 49ers have no Quarterbacks under contract for 2017, so they will need to address the situation ASAP.
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Chicago Bears
Jonathan Allen, DT, Alabama
The Chicago Bears need a quarterback as well, but there isn’t one worth taking after Mitch Trubisky is gone, meaning they will trade back or take one in round two. With that being said, Jonathan Allen is the fills a need and is the best player available.
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Jacksonville Jaguars
Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU
Chris Ivory and TJ Yeldon aren’t to be the running game that the Jaguars need to be successful. Blake Bortles would benefit immensely from an improvement in his run game. -
Tennessee Titans (from Los Angeles Rams)
Mike Williams, WR, Clemson
The next weapon that the Titans need to add to their arsenal to help Marcus Mariota succeed is a big play receiver. Although the Titans have two first round picks, Williams won’t be around for their next pick at number 13.
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New York Jets
Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State
The New York Jets are an absolute mess. They need help literally everywhere except maybe the defensive line. Dalvin Cook gives them an offensive weapon to take pressure off whatever Quarterback they decide to roll with this year. -
Los Angeles Chargers
Malik Hooker, FS, Ohio State
Since the Chargers lost Eric Weddle several years ago, they haven’t had a high level back-end player. Malik Hooker comes with injury concerns, but should be rock solid for years to come.
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Carolina Panthers
Cam Robinson, OT, Alabama
The Panthers are absolutely screwed when it come to their offensive line. Left Tackle Michael Oher isn’t very good and is still in concussion protocol five months after suffering his injury and Right Tackle Mike Remmers is a free agent. -
Cincinnati Bengals
Solomon Thomas, DE/LB, Stanford
Thomas could have gone as high as number three. The Bengals need an extra boost in the pass rush and it will come in the form of Solomon Thomas.
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Buffalo Bills
Marshon Lattimore, CB, Ohio State
The Bills are about to lose Stephon Gilmore and will need to replace their number one cover Cornerback. Marshon Lattimore will be the first Cornerback taken in this draft.
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New Orleans Saints
Ruben Foster, ILB, Alabama
Despite his dust-up at the combine resulting him being sent home by the NFL, Ruben Foster will be first linebacker taken after Myles Garrett. The Saints could use eight or nine new starters on defense, so why not get started with Ruben Foster?
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Cleveland Browns (from Philadelphia Eagles)
O.J. Howard, TE, Alabama
The Cleveland Browns can afford to take a luxury pick like O.J. Howard, a Tight End in the first round when they have so many other needs to fill? Probably not, but he’s a damn good one. He’s got major wheels and is a willing blocker. What more could you ask for out of a Tight End?
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Arizona Cardinals
Deshone Kizer, QB, Notre Dame
Carson Palmer isn’t getting any younger or any better. This is the year to grab a Quarterback and let them sit on the bench. Kizer has the best physical skill set of all the Quarterbacks in my estimation in this draft. Learning for a year or two behind a veteran like Carson Palmer would do well for Kizer. -
Philadelphia Eagles (from Minnesota Vikings)
Corey Davis, WR, Western Michigan
The Eagles need a Wide Receiver yesterday. Corey Davis, if he didn’t go to a MAC school, would likely be the first receiver selected in this draft. Davis is uber talented, but he doesn’t have a lot of tape against top-level competition. He could be great, but is more of a question mark than most in this draft. -
Indianapolis Colts
Jamal Adams, SS, LSU
The Colts are an absolute mess due to the ineptitude of their old front office. Now that a new regime is in, it’s time to build at the now most important position on the defense besides pass rusher. Having a quality safety on the Colts defense would go far to hide a lot more flaws.
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Baltimore Ravens
Jabrill Peppers, SS, Michigan
A defensive weapon without a home. Jabril Peppers may be a total dud if he’s used as a traditional safety. However, if the Ravens draft him and use him as an Earl Thomas type, he could be a weapon for the next decade. Just don’t ask him to cover a receiver one-on-one. -
Washington Redskins
Malik McDowell, DT/DE, Michigan State
Malik McDowell is a very talented player who doesn’t have the stat line to back it up. The Redskins shouldn’t scoff at that fact however, because he’s a perfect fit for their defense. -
Tennessee Titans
Derek Barnett, DE, Tennessee
The Titans have already taken Wide Receiver Mike Williams in this mock, now they will turn to their pass rush. Derek Barnett won’t have to go far to get his pro career started. Toppled Reggie White’s record at Tennessee in just three years and will look to start chipping away on that record in the pros. He won’t be Reggie White good, but he will be very good as a pro.
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers
John Ross, WR, Washington
The Buccaneers don’t really have that field stretching receiver to draw attention away from Mike Evans and open up holes over the middle from to help keep Cameron Brate open either. Jameis Winston will be grateful to add a player with Ross’s wheels to the fold. -
Denver Broncos
Garett Bolles, OT, Utah
The Offensive Line of the Broncos quickly when from a strength to a weakness and it’s time to make a selection to help fix that. Bolles is an instant upgrade at either Tackle position and wouldn’t be bad if they decided to use him as a guard either. I really like Bolles, and if he didn’t have the off field concerns, I wouldn’t hesitate to select him a lot higher than this if I was an NFL GM.
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Detroit Lions
OLB Zack Cunningham, OLB, Vanderbilt
The Detroit Lions have had a weakness at linebacker forever it seems like. Cunningham is a true three-down Linebacker that will have an instant impact on whomever’s defense he plays for next year.
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Miami Dolphins
Ryan Ramczyk, OT, Wisconsin
The guys who have “their love of football” questioned usually turn out to be some of the best. It is usually a motivation that they can use to succeed for the entirety of their careers. If Ramczyk wasn’t coming off of hip surgery, he would be a sure fire top-ten selection. The Dolphins help address a position of need after the trade of Brandon Albert. Ramczyk should be a good one for years to come. -
New York Giants
Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford
The Giants running game and back out of the backfield has been awful for a long time. I would gander to say that they haven’t good back since Tiki Barber. Christian McCaffrey, despite his showing on the bench press, is a dynamic threat out of the backfield that will help the Giants win games moving forward.
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Oakland Raiders
Teez Tabor, CB, Florida
Sean Smith is an absolute stud at one corner and David Amerson isn’t bad as a nickel back. They still need that second corner to pair with Smith to make their already Quarterback terrorizing defense even more deadly.
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Houston Texans
Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson
The Houston Texans Quarterback situation is awful. They can’t afford to ignore this position of need for much longer. They have a great defense and cannot let their offense continue to cost them games.
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Seattle Seahawks
Forrest Lamp, OG, Western Kentucky
If any team could use an absolute refresh on their Offensive Line, it is the Seattle Seahawks. It’s too early to give up on last years first round pick Germain Ifedi, who struggled mightily in his rookie season, but the other four guys are league average or worse.
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Kansas City Chiefs
Pat Mahomes, QB, Texas Tech
The fact that the Chiefs were publically caught peeking at Quarterbacks during this draft cycle means they are super serious about finding the heir apparent to Alex Smith. Pat Mahomes argubally has the best “arm talent” out of all the Quarterbacks in this years draft but comes from a spread system. Giving him a chance to learn behind a veteran will do him well and will allow the Chiefs to make sure they’ve got the right guy when it’s time.
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Dallas Cowboys
Taco Charlton, DE/DT, Michigan
Taco Charlton is the “War Daddy” that Jerry Jones claims he wants to add to his defensive line. He’s uber talented even though his production didn’t match his talent until his senior year. The Cowboys will be getting good value for this pick.
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Green Bay Packers
Tim Williams, OLB, Alabama
The Packers need to get to the Quarterback with great freqency again and have the lockerroom to handle a potential problem child in Tim Williams. He’s experienced in a 3-4 system and could be a day one pass rush specialist who then could be every down guy in year two. Clay Matthews is almost getting to the point that it’s a good idea to make him a cap causalty and Nick Perry is a free agent.
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Pittsburgh Steelers
Charles Harris, OLB, Missouri
Although the Steelers were able to get the ageless wonder James Harrison back in the fold for the 2017 season, he can’t last forever. It’s time to find Bud Dupree’s complement on the other end of the line of scrimmage.
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Atlanta Falcons
Marlon Humphrey, CB, Alabama
The Falcons can’t stand idle after hemoraging such a huge half time lead in the Super Bowl. They have to improve their secondary. They’ll be fortunate to grab Marlon Humphrey at this point in the draft, as he could easily be snatched up 10-15 picks earlier.
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New England Patriots
Sidney Jones, CB, Washington
The Patriots are about to lose Logan Ryan to free agency and Malcolm Butler isn’t far behind. Jones won’t be the only Cornerback that will be selected by the defending champs before the NFL Draft comes to a close.