In our 2017 NFL mock draft, we based the order on the actual current order as of December 21st, with some good help from our friends at NFL Trade Rumors.
Team needs were sometimes, but not always taken into account, as team needs are a very fluid situation. Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays! Season’s Greetings, Happy Kwanza, Joyous Hannukah, Joy Noel, Make the Yuletide gay and a warm festivus for the rest of us.
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1. Cleveland, Myles Garrett, DE, Texas A&M
The Brownies have struck out so many times when it comes to drafting a signal caller. It just seems like it keeps getting worse and worse every time. What are you going to do? The Browns actually had Johnny Manziel at quarterback the last time that they won a game. I say they’ll go a different route this time. According to multiple reports, Cleveland’s evaluation on Garrett is totally off the charts.
It could be a smokescreen, but either way, there is no way this guy escapes the top five overall for certain, and probably won’t make it past three.
2. San Francisco, DeShone Kizer, QB, Notre Dame
The Niners QB situation needs rectification, and I predict that they’ll go in that direction. Though it’s very important to mention that Colin Kaepernick actually has an 11-3 TD-INT ratio this season and 67-29 for his career, which is rather elite when you think about it.
According to sources, Brad Kaaya will be returning Miami for his final season of eligibility, thus opening the door open for Mitch Trubisky and DeShone Kizer to be the first and second signal callers off the board this season. Go here for much more on DeShone Kizer, as he now officially declared.
3. Jacksonville Jonathan Allen, DE/DT, Alabama
The Jaguars have some nice pieces on defense, but still need quite a few more. I was tempted to slot a QB here, as Blake Bortles is definitely not the answer. He’s been putting some big numbers, but those numbers have included turnovers as well, so he’s hurting his team as much as he’s been helping it.
For the time being though, we’ll hold off on that.
4. Chicago, Mitch Trubisky, QB, North Carolina
The Bears are a total mess, and they’re really alienating their base, which is about as disengaged as they have ever been in recent memory. The best thing they can do to bring the fans back is to replace Jay Cutler with somebody more fresh and exciting. It is not inevitable that they will do so however.
it’s time for Chicago to make a big, bold move next year. The Chicago Bears have not drafted a quarterback with a top five overall pick since Jim McMahon #5 overall in 1982. That certainly worked out alright. The last time they took a QB in the top 15 was Cade McNown #12 overall in 1999. That obviously did not work out.
You can be sure the Bears will have a very high draft pick this April; so it’s time to go out and select that franchise signal caller. It’s a more desirable option than the status quo of Jay Cutler. The horribly detested anti-Vaxxer Trump supporter will (hopefully) be out of Chicago at the end of the season.
According to sources, Brad Kaaya will be returning Miami for his final season of eligibility, so he’s out of the running for all teams looking for a QB. There were reports that the Bears were really looking at him in depth too.
5. Tennessee via Los Angeles, Jabrill Peppers, Multiple Positions, Michigan
Titans need defense, so expect them to take defenders early and often come April. Good ol’ #5 began his UM career as a DB but now he’s moved on to doing that and so much more. Michigan Coach Jim Harbaugh listed out everything Peppers can, should and does do for the Wolverines this preseason. You can read the very long quote.
He’ll like be prioritized as a safety at the next level.
Here’s a link to much more on Jabrill Peppers.
6. New York Jets, Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU
The New York Jets are going nowhere this season and they need to draft a “splash hire,” a true impact player this season. It won’t be at quarterback, because they’re still trying to figure out what they have, if they have truly have anything at all, in Geno Smith, Bryce Petty and Christian Hackenberg.
With Ezekiel Elliott last year and Fournette this year; the running back position is coming back in vogue a little bit in the NFL. These things do go in cycles. Go here for more on Fournette.
7. San Diego, Marshon Lattimore, CB, Ohio State
Shaping up to be a defense heavy draft and perhaps “the DB draft” in 2017
8. Cleveland (from Philadelphia), Quincy Wilson, CB, Florida
Look for the Browns to beef up their pass defense
9. Arizona, Malachi Dupree, WR, LSU
Cardinals don’t look like they need a wideout now, but they will come this offseason
10. Carolina, Marlon Humphrey, CB, Alabama
It’s the Defensive Back Draft- Viva la Revolucion!
11. Cincinnati, Derek Barnett, DE, Tennessee
Allen could both a.) help bolster the inside and b.) be an alternative if their young, promising pass rushers don’t work out.
12. New Orleans, Jalen Tabor, CB, Florida
Saints pass defense needs means that they could go pass rusher or DB first in this draft.
13. Buffalo, Cam Robinson, OT, Alabama
Perfect fit here
14. Indianapolis, Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State
Love this guy as a NFL prospect. He’s ahead of most of the top notch running back prospects that we’ve seen in recent years when it comes to blocking and pass catching. Rushing the football? All he’s done is go out and break Warrick Dunn’s school records, and you know what a solid career Dunn had in the NFL.
15. Philadelphia via Minnesota, Mike Williams, WR, Clemson
Our first outside the box pick here.
16. Tennessee, Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama
The Titans badly need wideouts
17. Baltimore, Adoree Jackson, WR/DB/KR, USC
The second of our two Kordell Stewart type “slash” players to be taken in the 2017 NFL mock draft. Peppers was the first. The Ravens just jettisoned Devin Hester today, so it’s clear that they’re looking for a new direction in the return game as well.
18. Tampa Bay, Nick Chubb, RB, Georgia
Chubb is not Cook, not by a longshot, but he’s really good too.
19. Green Bay, Zach Cunningham, LB, Vanderbilt
Packers must improve the inside linebacking, which has been very lacking for several years.
20. Denver, Reuben Foster LB Alabama
Picks 21-32 are determined by finishing order in the playoffs.
21. Washington, Carroll Phillips, DE/OLB, Illinois
Phillips benefits from playing opposite Dawuane Smoot, who gets all the NFL draft talk hype. He’s also the beneficiary of getting to work under the tutelage of Lovie Smith, Hardy Nickerson and Mike Phair; all brilliant pro level defensive minds.
Phillips will perform very well at the interview portion of the scouting combine as he’s a joy to talk to. He’s a fantastic sound bite.
Yes, Illinois was a bit of a dumpster fire on the field this season, especially when it comes to trying to stopping the run. Smith has already gotten defensive and hostile with reporters on a couple occasions. His new gig in Champaign is off to a very rough start. Never mind all of that though; as Phillips is still doing what he needs to do to get drafted.
At the conclusion of non-conference play, he was second in the nation in tackles for loss behind only Jabrill Peppers.
Go here for more on Phillips. Go here for more on the NFL Draft gossip relating to the Illini DL.
22. Miami, Charles Harris, DE/OLB, Missouri
The Dolphins have only gotten older, not better at the DE position, so they need to figure that out and take the best edge rusher that they can find.
23. Pittsburgh, Malik McDowell, DL, Michigan State
Sparty continues to produce special, NFL prospect linemen; on both sides of the ball.
Perhaps Coach Mark Dantonio said it best: “If you’re a starter for us, right now for Michigan State with the success that we’ve had, you have the opportunity to go play at the next level.”
“He’s a great athlete, unbelievable football player,” said Michigan State Tight End Josiah Price.
24. Houston, DaWuane Smoot, DE, Illinois
Smoot benefitted from playing opposite Jihad Ward last season to boost his NFL draft stock. This year he’s the beneficiary of getting to work under the tutelage of Lovie Smith, Hardy Nickerson and Mike Phair; all brilliant pro level defensive minds. Smoot will do very well at the interview portion of the scouting combine as he’s a joy to talk to. He’s a fantastic sound bite. Yes, Illinois was just awful, and difficult to watch this past season, especially when it comes to trying to stopping the run, but Smoot still has the goods.
Smith has already gotten defensive and hostile with reporters on a couple occasions. His new gig in Champaign is off to a very rough start. The Illini have consistently produced first round NFL Draft picks in seasons when the team has had a poor record; which is actually quite often. Go here for more on Smoot.
25. Atlanta, Caleb Brantley, DT, Florida
Falcons badly need to upgrade their sack attack, and this Alabama guy who should be best pass rusher available when they’re on the board.
26. Detroit, Jalen Reeves-Maybin, LB, Tennessee
Lions could use an infusion of youth at the LB position, and some help in their run defense.
27. New York Giants, Taco Charlton, DE, Michigan
Whether or JPP moves on this offseason, NYG need more depth to their edge rushing capabilities. #GoBlue defense was unreal, all season long, as this guy, with an AWESOME name, is truly “a dude.”
28. Seattle, Chris Wormley, DE/DT, Michigan
Wolverines defense was extremely on point this season, and Wormley is a huge reason why.
29. Kansas City, Quenton Nelson, G, Notre Dame
Lots of problems in South Bend this season, both on and off the field, but Nelson was definitely not one of them.
30. New England, Jamal Adams, S, LSU
Have you gotten enough LSU yet in this 2017 NFL mock draft? They better be in at least the college football final four this year with all the talent they have….although that actually doesn’t look so likely right about now.
31. Oakland, Desmond King, DB, Iowa
The winner of the 2015 Jim Thorpe award as the nation’s best defensive back could have easily gone pro last year if he wanted. He returned, and unfortunately, he should have probably left in ’15 because his stock has fallen.
You know what the Raiders achilles heel is- pass defense, so they’ll likely take a DB. Go here for more on King.
32. Dallas, Anthony Walker, LB, Northwestern
Said Northwestern Coach Pat Fitzgerald of Walker: “He’s got a lot to improve on, but he’s a sideline-to-sideline physical player that can play great in the run game and pass game. And had, what, 20-plus tackles for loss a year ago. Very talented player.” Go here for more on Walker.
This 2017 NFL mock draft is over, and it’s listed on numerous databases, including Walter Football, DC Pro Sports Report, Eat, Drink and Sleep Football
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes regularly to the Chicago Tribune’s RedEye publication and Bold Global.
He also consistently appears on numerous radio and television talk shows all across the country. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram and Sound Cloud.