NFL Draft 2017: Stephen Reed’s First Mock Draft

Well, it’s finally the month of the draft and I’m now just getting around to doing my first mock but it’s a two rounder so that’s pretty cool, right? Yes, I’m lazy... or busy. Yeah... I’ve just been really, really busy. I went with a few risks and made some picks based on what random news is swirling around about players. Anyways, let me know your thoughts in the comments or on Twitter.

Round 1

1. Cleveland: Myles Garrett - OLB - Texas A&M - Seems like an obvious pick. Don’t overthink it Cleveland.
2. San Francisco: Jamal Adams - S - LSU - I’m honestly not sure where Lynch might go with this pick. My gut says safety but they could just as easily take a top DL prospect too.
3. Chicago: Malik Hooker - S - Ohio St - Chicago could go in any number of directions. My choice here was between Hooker, Lattimore or one of the DL prospects.
4. Jacksonville: Soloman Thomas - DE - Stanford - This could be a coup for Jacksonville. They need help on the defense and Thomas could wreck havoc on the AFCS for years.
5. Tennessee: Marshon Lattimore - CB - Ohio St - The Titans need to shore up their secondary in a big way. Lattimore is a step in the right direction.
6. NY Jets: Mitch Trubisky - QB - North Carolina - Here’s where things get interesting. I think the Jets panic and take Trubisky out of fear of being left without a QB in Round 2.
7. LA Chargers: Jonathan Allen - DT - Alabama - DT isn’t the biggest need for the Chargers but Allen can also play their DE role and give them some serious beef up front.
8. Carolina: Leonard Fournette - RB - LSU - Carolina needs a better RB option and Fournette is the top in this class. Don’t overthink it people.
9. Cincinnati: Dalvin Cook - RB - Florida St - Not entirely sure what the Bengals might do but they need more consistent production from the RB spot. Cook gives them that.
10. Buffalo: Corey Davis - WR - Western Michigan - Buffalo needs an upgrade at WR and gets their pick of the class.
11. New Orleans: O.J. Howard - TE - Alabama - New Orleans desparately needs a TE who can catch the ball consistently. Howard has shown time and again he can make the big play unlike some other TE on their roster...
12. Cleveland: Deshaun Watson - QB - Clemson - My guess is Cleveland panics similar to the Jets and snags a QB for fear of missing out.
13. Arizona: Reuben Foster - ILB - Alabama - I could see the Cardinals just cackling with laughter if Foster falls to them. He’s a legit top 5 talent.
14. Philadelphia: Christian McCaffrey - RB - Stanford - I have no idea which direction the Eagles might go. They do need a RB though and McCaffrey is better than Darren Sproles.
15. Indianapolis: Derek Barnett - DE - Tennessee - Some may not like this pick. Honestly, I was hoping a top tier player would fall but none did in this scenario. Since I’m not playing with trades in this draft, Barnett is my pick. Barnett is a legitimate pass rusher that helps the Colts biggest area of weakness and is an ideal fit for their system. He can rush the passer, play in space and has the field awareness to sniff out draws or screens. I’d be quite happy as a Colts fan with this pick.
16. Baltimore: Mike Williams - WR - Clemson - Baltimore is likely excited to get a top WR like Williams. He should pair nicely with Perriman
17. Washington: Haason Reddick - ILB - Temple - Washington’s management sucks. What they did to McCloughan was super shady and they kept his draft work. They’ll capitalize on a talent like Reddick.
18. Tennessee: John Ross - WR - Washington - Tennessee needs to give Mariota a consistent weapon on the outside and in the red zone.
19. Tampa Bay: Malik McDowell: DE - Michigan St - I’m not completely sold on McDowell. He’s inconsistent but his ceiling is super high if he can ever reach it.
20. Denver - Ryan Ramczyk - OT - Wisconsin- Denver needs an OT in the worst way and Ramczyk is sitting there for the taking.
21. Detroit: Taco Charlton - DE - Michigan - The Lions could use an upgrade in the pass rush so Charlton makes sense.
22. Miami: Forrest Lamp - OG - Western Kentucky - Miami needs to solidify the interior of their OL and Lamp is arguably the best OG in this year’s class.
23. NY Giants: Garett Bolles - OT - Utah - The Giants need to get a LT and Bolles could slide in. He may need some work but he should be able to get there.
24. Oakland: Zach Cunningham - ILB - Vanderbilt - Cunningham is a solid ILB option for the Raiders in this situation.
25. Houston: Patrick Mahomes - QB - Texas Tech - Houston needs a QB in the worst way after shipping Osweiler away for next to nothing.
26. Seattle: Marlon Humphrey - CB - Alabama - My guess is Seattle is looking to reload their CB position with talks of Richard Sherman being named in trade discussions.
27. Kansas City: Gareon Conley - CB - Ohio St - Conley may be the most talented CB in this class. KC would be wise to pair him with Peters.
28. Dallas: Takk McKinley - OLB - UCLA - Dallas always seems to need a pass rusher. While Jalen Smith may be back next year, it couldn’t hurt to add another talented body to the position.
29. Green Bay: Tre’Davious White - CB - LSU - Green Bay seems to ignore the CB position early in each draft. White gives them a lot of value here.
30. Pittsburgh: Charles Harris - OLB - Mizzou - Harris could be an absolute steal this late in the first. He’s a solid pass rusher.
31. Atlanta: Dan Feeney - OG - Indiana - Atlanta needs to shore up their offensive line and Feeney is the best OG available.
32. New Orleans: Tim Williams - OLB - Alabama - The Saints need more help at getting after the QB. Tim Williams is like a QB seeking missile. Some may have him out of the first round but I’m not convinced. His tape doesn’t lie.

Round 2

1. CLE: Obi Melifonwu - S - UConn
2. SF: Cam Robinson - OT - Alabama
3. JAX: David Njoku - TE - Miami
4. CHI: Evan Engram - TE - Ole Miss
5. LAR: Teez Tabor - CB - Florida
6. LAC: Budda Baker - S - Washington
7. NYJ: Quincy Wilson - CB - Florida
8. CAR: Carl Lawson - DE - Clemson
9. CIN: T.J. Watt - OLB - Wisconsin
10. NO: Jabrill Peppers - S - Michigan
11. PHI: Chidobe Awuzie - CB - Colorado
12. BUF: Kevin King - CB - Washington
13. ARI: Deshone Kizer - QB - Notre Dame
14. IND: Joe Mixon - RB - Oklahoma - I realize this is a controversial pick. While Mixon’s on-field talent is unquestioned, he has a well documented history of off the field concerns. Ballard has been one to take chances on players in the past, as he did with Marcus Peters, and if the background checks out, I’m fine with the pick. Uneasy, but fine. Mixon can do everything you ask of a RB. He’s patient, albeit possibly too patient, make big runs and catch the ball out of the backfield. A true three down RB. He immediately solves the Colts running back problem for years and takes some pressure off Andrew Luck.
15. BAL: Caleb Brantley - DT - Florida
16. MIN: Alvin Kamara - RB - Tennessee
17. WAS: Marcus Williams - S - Utah
18. TB: Marcus Maye - S - Florida
19. DEN: Raekwon McMillian - ILB - Ohio St
20. CLE: Curtis Samuel - WR - Ohio St
21. DET: Jarrad Davis - LB - Florida
22. MIA: Adoree JAckson - CB - USC
23. NYG: Davis Webb - QB - California
24. OAK: Desmond King - CB - Iowa
25. HOU: Taylor Moton - OG - Western Michigan
26. SEA: Chris Wormley - DT - Michigan
27. KC: Ryan Anderson - OLB - Alabama
28. DAL: Adam Shaheen - TE - Ashland
29. GB: Jordan Willis - DE - Kansas St
30. PIT: Carlos Henderson - WR - Louisiana Tech
31. ATL: Montravius Adams - DT - Auburn
32. CAR: Dion Dawkins - OL - Temple