pressing needs, Braddock’s player rankings at each position, trade rumors he’s hearing from sources, and where he thinks each team will differ in what they’ll do at their pick.
2017 NFL Mock Draft Show Index
3:03 Pick 1: Cleveland Browns
4:06 Best Players in the Draft
5:31 Evaluating Smaller School Players
7:17 Does Combine Matter?
8:36 Pick 2: San Francisco 49ers
10:49 Leonard Fournette & RB Draft Strategy
14:51 Pick 3: Chicago Bears
16:46 Pick 4: Jacksonville Jaguars
18:36 Top WRs in Draft
19:33 Pick 5: TRADE Buffalo Bills
19:59 Best QB Prospects
23:06 Pick 6: New York Jets
23:56 Pick 7 LA Chargers
26:06 Pick 8: Carolina Panthers
27:46 Pick 9: Cincinnati Bengals
29:27 Pick 10: TRADE Tennessee Titans
31:12 Pick 11: New Orleans Saints
33:15 Pick 12: TRADE New England Patriots
34:42 Pick 13: Arizona Cardinals
37:17 Pick 14: Philadelphia Eagles
39:27 Pick 15: Indianapolis Colts
41:54 Pick 16: TRADE Houston Texans
44:32 Pick 17: Washington Redskins
45:42 Pick 18: Tennessee Titans
46:52 Pick 19: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
48:20 Pick 20: Denver Broncos
51:27 Pick 21: Detroit Lions
52:07 Pick 22: Miami Dolphins
53:30 Pick 23: New York Giants
54:25 Pick 24: Oakland Raiders
57:10 Pick 25: TRADE Baltimore Ravens
58:04 Pick 26: Seattle Seahawks
59:23 Pick 27: Kansas City Chiefs
1:00:54 Pick 28: Dallas Cowboys
1:01:59 Pick 29: Green Bay Packers
1:02:53 Pick 30: Pittsburgh Steelers
1:04:53 Pick 31: Atlanta Falcons
1:06:14 Pick 32: TRADE New England Patriots
1:08:13 Minnesota Vikings Direction
1:08:53 LA Rams Direction
1:10:30 Impact Skill Position Players Outside First Round
2017 NFL Mock Draft Pick-by-Pick From Jayson Braddock
Jayson Braddock is one of the brightest NFL draft minds in the world. He’s more accurate than Mel Kiper and his attention to detail is second to none. Jayson has released his full seven round mock draft, which includes thorough analysis and even potential trades. We are thrilled to have it run exclusively on SportsGrid. For more from Jayson, follow him on Twitter @JaysonBraddock.
1) Cleveland Browns – DE/OLB / Myles Garrett / Texas A&M – I considered the possibilities of the Browns trading this pick, but I couldn’t find a situation that made sense. Yes, San Francisco has 10 draft picks and would only need to move up one spot, but they have a ton of needs. Cleveland may take some offers, but I don’t think they’ll get any offer that would justify passing on Garrett’s potential. Teams don’t pay the same ransom when trading up to the #1 pick for non-quarterbacks. So, the Browns just get stuck with the freakish pass rusher who displays exponential upside. Garrett, along with Danny Shelton in the front seven starts to give the Browns the cornerstone pieces to a defense deserving of playing in the AFC North.
2) San Francisco 49ers – DT/DE / Solomon Thomas / Stanford – The 49ers have plenty of holes and I don’t believe Kyle Shanahan needs a top quarterback for his offense. San Francisco needs to take advantage of having the second pick and taking one of the top talents in this draft. There’s no need to trade back and acquire more picks, although, if a team is willing to move up for one of the top quarterbacks in this class, I’m sure the phones will be in working order. Thomas joins a defensive line that includes Arik Armstead and DeForest Buckner, each of whom were selected in the first round the previous two drafts. It’s like the old adage says, “you win in the trenches”. Throw in the free agent signing of Earl Mitchell and the 49ers are on the fast track to building this defense back up to what it once was.
3) Chicago Bears – DE / Jonathan Allen / Alabama – The Bears have bigger needs, but I like the idea of giving Vic Fangio, possibly, the best player in the entire draft. This pick would also add value to the Bears’ 2016 first round pick, Leonard Floyd. Having Akiem Hicks, Allen, Eddie Goldman and last year’s third round pick, Jonathan Bullard rotating on the defensive line, makes it impossible for offenses to treat Floyd as the complete focal point.
4) Jacksonville Jaguars – TE / OJ Howard / Alabama – Selfishly, I’d love to pencil Reuben Foster in here. I would just like to see what that linebacker group of Foster, Myles Jack & Telvin Smith could do behind this defensive line. The Jaguars have already spent a ton of high picks and free agency dollars on their stacked defense. Jacksonville has to salvage the offense and I don’t think they should throw the baby (Blake Bortles) out with the bath water. Let the “new” regime attempt to give him weapons and develop him. Leonard Fournette obviously drew a lot of interest here. He would provide a power run game and take pressure off of Bortles…if the offensive line held up. There’s no offensive lineman worth taking here, so get the best of both worlds. Howard can provide a 6th/7th both on the line to give Bortles and the backs a better chance at success. It also takes pressure off of Allen Robinson to carry all of the weight and should hopefully get Allen Hurns back on track. Quarterbacks, especially mediocre ones, love having a safety blanket to check down to. How about a 6’6 – 250 pound blanket that runs 4.5 speed?
5) Buffalo Bills – TRADE (2017 – 1st round Pick #10 & 2017 2nd round Pick #44 to the Titans for 2017 – 1st round Pick #5) – QB / Deshaun Watson / Clemson – The Bills, in fear of “their” quarterback going to divisional rival, the New York Jets, decide to make a bold move and trade up to pick #5. The Bills have experience in trading up for Clemson playmakers as it was only three years ago that they shifted a future 1st & 4th round pick to the Browns in order to select Sammy Watkins. This time the price isn’t as high. In a year in which the draft is loaded with talent and due to the Titans already having another 1st round pick, they’re willing to accept the trade in which they only fall back five picks and replace the 2nd round pick that they were missing. In Watson, Buffalo gets a quarterback who complements Tyrod Taylor’s style but with much more upside. Offensive coordinator, Rick Dennison can bring along Watson slowly and develop an offense that’s built to his strength. New Bills coach, Sean McDermott gets a detailed scouting report from his former quarterback, Cam Newton, on the young signal caller, who just so happens to be close with Newton. Doug Whaley has reportedly been smitten with the potential of adding the defending National Champion quarterback.
6) New York Jets – QB / Mitch Trubisky / UNC – After seeing the Bills move up ahead of them and selecting a potential stud, young quarterback, the Jets decide that it may be time to spend early on a future face of the franchise. The Jets could look around the division and see Tom Brady, an improved Ryan Tannehill under Adam Gase and now the Bills with Tyrod Taylor and take it as a kick in the pants. This moves gives them a potential franchise quarterback of their own and if Christian Hackenberg does develop, then they’ll have future draft commodities in the then surplus of young, quarterbacking talent. The Jets didn’t mind rolling the dice on Mark Sanchez who came out of USC with limited starts. Could they be tempted to trying it again?
7) Los Angeles Chargers – OT / Garrett Bolles / Utah – I didn’t see the Joey Bosa move coming last year. The Chargers pull another shocker here by taking an offensive tackle in the top 10. There’s been talk about the Chargers finding their future quarterback or possibly doing this or that. I look at this roster and with Philip Rivers toward the end of his career, believe that they have to be thinking, “protect Philip” and try to win while they still have a franchise quarterback. This isn’t the best value pick but at the end of the day, where guys are selected is great talk for us in the media, but means squat when it’s time to play football. The Chargers need better lineman, they go and get the guy that they believe gives them the best shot at being a franchise left tackle for the next decade.
8) Carolina Panthers – CB / Marshon Lattimore / Ohio State – There are a lot of different directions in which the Panthers could go and they all make sense. Jamal Adams, Malik Hooker, Taco Charlton and Leonard Fournette are all available in this mock, surprisingly. Cornerback isn’t as big of a need as last year with some of their young corners coming on, but do any of those guys have the upside of Lattimore? The 4.3 speed that Lattimore possesses has to be intriguing to a team that just saw DeSean Jackson added to the division which already has Julio Jones and former Panther, Ted Ginn. Lattimore has the ability to quiet the speedsters in the NFC South.
9) Cincinnati Bengals – DE / Taco Charlton / Michigan – I could see a team trading up for Jamal Adams or Malik Hooker here. The Bengals have to entertain the thought of adding either of those top prospects, but pass rushers are a rare commodity and I believe Charlton has an insane ceiling. He’ll fit the mold of the big pass rushers like Carlos Dunlap and Michael Johnson that Cincinnati loves so much. The best football is ahead for Charlton and the Bengals get five years under rookie pay to see how high that ceiling truly is.
10) Tennessee Titans – TRADE (2017 1st round Pick #5 to the Bills for 2017 – 1st round Pick #10 and 2nd round Pick #44) – FS / Malik Hooker / Ohio State – The Titans are sitting in a great spot after their trade back. They’re looking at a board that still has Jamal Adams, Malik Hooker, Reuben Foster and Corey Davis and they get to select twice more over the next 34 picks. The fact that no receivers have come off the board yet, has the Titans feeling good about landing one with the 18th pick. Need factors in a bit here as the Titans may like Foster and Adams more, but Hooker makes a lot of sense. After spending on Jonathan Cyprien in free agency, the Titans can allow him to play closer to the line while allowing Hooker to reign far and wide in the secondary.
11) New Orleans Saints – MLB / Reuben Foster / Alabama – The Saints do need another defensive end, but the need for a pass rusher is a little bit overstated. On top of Cameron Jordan, they’ll get back an interior pass rush with Sheldon Richardson and an outside pass rush with Hau’oli Kikaha. Also, while raw, I’m intrigued by what Obum Gwacham can develop into to. That’s not to say that the Saints shouldn’t add another defensive end early, I just wouldn’t force the issue at 11. A cornerback is intriguing here as well as Gareon Conley makes a lot of sense for a team that isn’t sure if Delvin Breaux and PJ Williams will remain healthy but the fact that Malcolm Butler could still be had via trade has me passing. Foster should have been long gone. He’s a freak at the inside linebacker position. The Saints have tried to fill this position with Stephone Anthony, James Laurinaitis and this offseason with the signings of AJ Klein and Manti Te’o. Those are nice fillers; Foster is a difference maker, similar to what the rest of the division has in Luke Kuechly, Kwon Alexander and Deion Jones. It’s time for the Saints to keep up with the Joneses, so to speak.
12) New England Patriots – TRADE (Jimmy Garoppolo to the Browns for 2017 1st round Pick #12, 2017 2nd round Pick #33 and 2018 2nd round Pick ) SS / Jamal Adams / LSU – Does it seem like a lot to give up for a quarterback with only two starts? Sure, but who cares. The Browns had 11 picks in this draft and they have three 2nd round picks in 2018. You know what they don’t have and haven’t had in some time…a franchise quarterback. I believe Jimmy Garoppolo is a franchise quarterback and the Browns just got him in this trade without mortgaging the future, oh, and by the way, they also got the draft’s top player and eight more picks this year. Now, the other side of the story is that the rest of the NFL and its fans may hate the Browns even more now because the Patriots just got back into the first round and the second round, which is the first pick, so it’s almost like another first round pick. As far as the Patriots selection, I’m as sick as you about this (Non-Patriots fans). I have no forgone conclusions when I start a mock draft I just let it fall as it may. I love Jamal Adams and think he’s one of the best prospects in this class. It’s just the way this mock fell that he’s still available. To put Adams in a secondary with Stephon Gilmore, Devin McCourty and Malcolm Brown, as it sits, just doesn’t seem fair. But, there’s a reason that Bill Belichick is the best.
13) Arizona Cardinals – WR / Corey Davis / Western Michigan – Haason Reddick just seems like an Arizona Cardinal picks. I don’t know why I’m struggling so much to put him here, but I am. I’m not buying the talk of the Cardinals selecting a quarterback here or moving up into the top 10 for one. The Cardinals are looking to win a championship with Carson Palmer. So, with that in mind, get him some weapons. Corey Davis can come in and be the #1 wide receiver in Arizona day one and he’ll be able to soak up some of Larry Fitzgerald’s wisdom before he retires. The Cards have enough speed threats in John Brown and JJ Nelson, so I wouldn’t expect them to go John Ross here, however, Mike Williams could be there preference.
14) Philadelphia Eagles – RB/WR / Christian McCaffrey / Stanford – Just like with the Arizona pick and passing on Haason Reddick, I’m truly struggling with not selecting Gareon Conley here for the Eagles. That said McCaffrey makes so much sense for what the Eagles are doing. The most important position in any sport is the quarterback position (water is wet). The Eagles have to surround the 2nd year signal caller with as many options as possible. They’ve done that with Alshon Jeffery and Torrey Smith perfectly complimenting Jordan Matthews. Now, McCaffrey can be dynamic out of the backfield or even line up out wide as a receiving threat. NOTE: I completely disagree with the consensus thought that McCaffrey is a “gimmick” running back. He has Le’Veon Bell type patience and explosion. He can handle 20+ touches a game and destroy defenses.
15) Indianapolis Colts – RB / Leonard Fournette / LSU – I completely understand if the Colts decide to go with a Gareon Conley, Haason Reddick or Derek Barnett here for a poor defense. At some point though, the Colts have to decide to make Andrew Luck’s job easier. They can do that here with two players, Mike Williams or Leonard Fournette. Now, while Williams would be a great big-body receiver that Andrew Luck has been missing, Fournette is a top five talent that shouldn’t still be available. Fournette allows Luck to have a running back that’s young and scares the defense. Luck doesn’t have to go into every game feeling as if he has to make impossible throws for the team to stand a chance.
16) Houston Texans – TRADE (2017 1st round Pick #25 & 2017 3rd round Pick #89 to the Ravens for 2017 1st round Pick #16) – QB / Patrick Mahomes III / Texas Tech – The Texans don’t have a quarterback under contract after this season. After seeing two of the quarterbacks go off the board in the first six picks, Rick Smith got on the phone with good buddy, Ozzie Newsome and agreed to this trade, if Patrick Mahomes made it to 16. The Texans finally select a quarterback in the first round for the first time since their first ever pick back in 2002 (David Carr). Bill O’Brien gets his young quarterback to mold. Rick Smith has shown in recent years that he’s willing to part with picks if there’s a prospect that the team covets (Will Fuller / Nick Martin / Benardrick McKinney / Jaelen Strong). The Texans get ahead of Washington, who may pick a quarterback and look to trade Kirk Cousins and also prevent Kansas City from jumping ahead of them.
17) Washington Redskins – CB / Gareon Conley / Ohio State – Bashaud Breeland took a step backwards in 2016. Whoever is playing opposite of Josh Norman has to be ready to see a ton of action. Conley is my #1 cornerback in this class and I believe he’s more than ready for that challenge. Washington also likes their hybrid players it was Su’a Cravens last year. Could it be Jabrill Peppers lining up next to him this year?
18) Tennessee Titans – WR / Mike Williams / Clemson – The Titans have to love the way the draft is falling to them. A ball hawking safety falls to them at 10 after trading out of the fifth pick and replacing their lost second rounder. Now, they get Marcus Mar iota a huge target that with an insane catch radius. “Exotic smash mouth” just got a little harder to defend.
19) Tampa Bay Buccaneers – OLB / Haason Reddick / Temple – It’s not a bad thought to add Derek Barnett to a defensive line that selected Noah Spence last year. The duo could eventually be quite the bookends in Tampa. But, what if the Bucs were able to complete a dynamic linebacking group which already includes Lavonte David and Kwon Alexander, with a player that fills both needs? Reddick does just that. The Bucs would have one of the best linebacker trios in the NFL with this pick and Reddick can also give Tampa an added pass rush.
20) Denver Broncos – OT / Cam Robinson / Alabama – This is a bit of a forced need here. The Broncos have a quarterback competition and one of those guys was a first round pick last year. They need the best protection that they can find, even if it means “overpaying”. Devontae Booker and CJ Anderson could benefit from the behemoth as well. It’s a pick that needs to be made. Robinson may only be a right tackle, but that alone is better than what they’re looking at right now.
21) Detroit Lions – DE / Derek Barnett / Tennessee – There’s bigger needs for the Lions but receivers can be had later, as can running backs and corners. For the Lions to land a guy of this caliber at 21 that also fits their scheme at a position of the upmost importance, means that the front office throws everything else out of the window. Barnett comes in and gets after Aaron Rodgers, Sam Bradford and….Mike Glennon (?) right away.
22) Miami Dolphins – OG / Forrest Lamp / Western Kentucky – Jay Ajayi was a beast last year when the Miami offensive line was completely healthy. I personally think Lamp is overrated but this mock is based off of what teams will do. If teams are right on Lamp and the Dolphins select him, then this could be added insurance for not just Ajayi but Ryan Tannehill as well. Keeping David Njoku in Miami could be an entertaining thought as well. Tannehill already has a quality group of pass catchers and the Dolphins did add tight end, Julius Thomas who was spectacular under Adam Gase in Denver but if he fails to get back to his old form or even if he does, Njoku would complete a Dolphins pass attack that would be downright scary.
23) New York Giants – OT / Ryan Ramczyk / Wisconsin – I like Ramczyk more as an offensive guard, but I also liked Ereck Flowers, Justin Pugh and DJ Fluker better at guard than offensive tackle as well and the Giants liked them all at tackle, at first. If Ramczyk can play left tackle, that would open things up for Ereck Flowers to move to right tackle and DJ Fluker inside at guard, along with Pugh. That’s not a bad lineup. Even if Ramczyk has to start off at right tackle and eventually move to the blindside, it’s still a value pick.
24) Oakland Raiders – CB/FS / Obi Melifonwu / Uconn – Here’s a pick that the ghost of Al Davis could get behind. It’s also a value pick that makes sense on multiple levels. Many NFL teams feel that Melifonwu can play corner as well as safety. The defensive back ran a 4.4 flat and has the 6’4 size that the Raiders liked in Sean Smith. The struggles at cornerback have been numerous and Oakland may channel their inner Star Wars and proclaim, “Help us, Obi (Melifonwu) you’re our only hope”. Reggie Nelson will be 34 years old this season and if the Raiders find suitable corners before he retires, Melifonwu could fill his void at free safety. He also has the ability to come down in the box and help out the weak group of linebackers in Oakland.
25) Baltimore Ravens – TRADE (2017 1st round Pick #16 to the Texans for 2017 1st round Pick #25 & 2017 3rd round Pick #89) – RB / Dalvin Cook / Baltimore – Kenneth Dixon is suspended for four games to start the 2017 NFL season and the Ravens don’t have anyone capable of being the lead back. I’m not buying Terrance West and Danny Woodhead is a contributor. Cook gives Flacco the confidence to turn around and put the ball in the gut of this dynamic back or hit him on passes out of the backfield. In trading back, Ozzie Newsome adds more value to the addition of Cook by acquiring another pick and finding his back of the future at the bottom of the 1st round.
26) Seattle Seahawks – CB / Kevin King / Washington – King is the exact mold of the corners that the Seahawks covet. It didn’t hurt that the corner played his college ball in the same state in which the Seahawks are housed. Sprinkle in a little 4.43 speed and we have the NFL version of Match .com. His size, length and speed mesh perfectly with that of the Seattle standard. There’s a ton of cornerbacks in this class that fit with Seattle and that could be one of several reasons why Seattle isn’t opposed to moving on from Richard Sherman and his salary. Drafting King in the first round allows the team the ability to pay him a rookie salary for up to five years.
27) Kansas City Chiefs – CB / Tre’Davious White / LSU – Terrance Mitchell came on strong at the end of last season but the Chiefs can’t just sit back and expect him to be the answer. White is a tremendous talent and together with Marcus Peters could really make life hard in the AFC West for opposing quarterbacks. Jarrad Davis, John Ross, Charles Harris and David Njoku would all be tough to pass on here for the Chiefs. I feel that White is the correct move, though.
28) Dallas Cowboys – DE / Charles Harris / Missouri – It’s so hard for me to not put John Ross here. Could you imagine his 4.2 speed opposite of Dez Bryant, with Ezekiel Elliott already garnering so much attention as a runner? I finally talked myself into be sensible and went with the need and value pick of Harris. Dallas has to get pressure on the quarterback and by getting the defensive end here, they can check off that offseason goal.
29) Green Bay Packers – OLB / Takkarist McKinley / UCLA – The cupboard is bare of pass rushers in Green Bay behind Clay Matthews and Nick Perry. If McKinley catches on quick, it’ll give the Packers a little 2-for-1 with the ability to flex Matthews back to inside linebacker along with outside linebacker. NFL teams are reportedly higher on McKinley than I am. I think he plays too high and pass rushers traditionally take longer to catch on with the NFL’s technically savvy offensive lineman. I don’t expect McKinley to reach full value until year three.
30) Pittsburgh Steelers – TE / David Njoku / Miami – You aren’t selling me on the idea that the Steelers are going to take a quarterback with their first pick knowing that they have a legitimate shot at a Super Bowl as long as Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell are still together. It makes it even more difficult with all of the talent still on the board in this mock. They could add John Ross opposite of Antonio Brown. How is that fair? They could also opt to go pass rusher here or even add Jabrill Peppers to the secondary. However, I have them going with the athletic tight end, Njoku. If he reaches his full potential the Steelers offense will be unstoppable. Ladarius Green came out of the womb injured and Jesse James was better in the Westerns.
31) Atlanta Falcons – DE / Jordan Willis / Kansas State – I was tempted to go with Jabrill Peppers here as he could make for some creative nickel packages, contribute at linebacker with last year’s rookies, Deion Jones and De’Vondre Campbell. Peppers could also give insurance if Keanu Neal or Ricardo Allen went down, but mostly he would play the slot. The Falcons only have six picks so I didn’t feel like they would get too cute, especially with pass rushers like Willis and Tyus Bowser still on the board. Bowser is more of a lottery ticket that you hope hits whereas Willis should be ready to contribute much sooner. For a team that gave away a Super Bowl just a few months ago, I figure they’d go with the guy that helps them return as soon as possible.
32) New England Patriots – TRADE (1st TRADE – Jimmy Garoppolo to the Browns for 2017 1st round Pick #12, 2017 2nd round Pick #33 and 2018 2nd round Pick (received in Osweiler trade)
(2nd TRADE – 2017 2nd round Pick #33 to the Saints for 2017 2nd round Pick #33 and 2017 5th round Pick #183) – QB / DeShone Kizer / Notre Dame – New England wisely trades up with their new partner in crime, New Orleans and are able to nab their quarterback of the future. After trading away Jimmy Garoppolo the Patriots needed a quarterback that they can feel comfortable in if Tom Brady was to go down or hang it up soon. Trading back into the first and getting Kizer allows the Patriots to wait those full five years that Brady believes he has left and if Brady isn’t able to do so, then they have their new quarterback groomed for the future, one that they wouldn’t have to franchise in 2018 or lose without compensation.
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