John Vogel's Single Mock Draft
1) News comes out daily that makes you scratch picks that make your mock draft worthless.
2) There are so many smokescreens released by anonymous scouts it's quite difficult to filter the news and decern what is fake and what is real.
3) There is no way to project 32 different draft boards accurately and figure out what each team is thinking throughout the entire process. Free agents are added constantly, and positions are addressed daily.
My mock draft isn't meant to be a confident "I believe this will happen because blah blah blah." My mock draft is what makes sense to me, what fits teams, and what I would be thinking in a general managers spot. So here goes a shot at putting together the 2017 NFL Draft.
1. Cleveland Browns select Myles Garrett, Defensive End from Texas A&M
Despite the rumors that the Browns are torn between selecting Mitch Trubisky and Garrett, I can't forsee even a franchise as disfuctional as Cleveland selecting anyone other then Garrett at #1 in this draft. There are so many holes on the Browns roster that are in dire need of addressing that the Browns need Garrett. He can take the Browns front 7 to the next level.
That being said, Garrett adds his speed element to the other end of a defensive line that is led by a player just a hair slower then Garrett, Emmanuel Ogbah. Both players are listed as Top 5 Defensive Ends all time in their 40 yard dashes at the NFL Combine. That combination of speed on both ends definitely gives opposing quarterbacks nightmares for the next few seasons as the duo remains together.
Garrett is the perfect fit for the Browns, and features the least risk to a pick. It's the safest, most reliable pick they can make that should pay dividends for years on down the road.
2. San Francisco 49ers select Leonard Fournette, Running Back from LSU
As much as people think Solomon Thomas from Stanford will go here, I don't see it. The 49ers have spent the last couple of seasons taking Defensive Linemen with their first round picks (Arik Armstead in 2015 and DeForest Buckner in 2016), and have spent the overwhelming majority of their draft picks on defensive players as well. The 49ers have completely rebuilt their quarterback situation, getting rid of Colin Kaepernick, Blaine Gabbert, and Christian Ponder and signing Brian Hoyer and Matt Barkley.
John Lynch understands that he needs to make sure that Brian Hoyer, an average quarterback, has all the support he needs to make sure that the offense clicks. With Carlos Hyde showing flashes of greatness with no real consistency, and Hyde and Mike Davis' injuries, adding Fournette would be a fantastic move on part of the 49ers.
3. Chicago Bears select Malik Hooker, Safety from Ohio State
The Bears need a lot of help in their secondary. They signed Quinton Demps to play on the strong side after being destroyed by quarterbacks week after week last season, and now they need somebody who can play on the other side better then Adrian Amos.
Enter Malik Hooker. A very smart and active safety, Hooker is a ball hawk and a big playmaker. He's a good hitter and can play well in run support. Add him to a secondary who added Prince Amukamara this offseason and Kyle Fuller lining up on the other side, and the secondary is much more ready to hold up against quarterbacks then it was last season.
4. Cleveland Browns trade their 1st Round Pick (12, From Philadelphia), 2018 First Round Pick and 4th Round Pick (108) to Jacksonville for 1st Round Pick (4).
The Jaguars have compiled a worthy team. With the 49ers taking the player that they were hoping to select, the Jaguars have decided to add another 1st round pick next season to try and recollect so that they can work on building the process for the future.
4. Cleveland Browns (From Jacksonville Jaguars) select Mitch Trubisky, Quarterback from North Carolina
The Browns quarterback situation is ghastly. With just Brock Osweiler, Cody Kessler and Kevin Hogan on the roster, the Browns want to try and get their situation fixed ASAP. The front office has absolutely fallen madly for Trubisky and are therefore very determined to land him. So the Browns pass on their first round selection next season to try and snag their guy with an investment in the North Carolina product.
Trubisky has risen from rags to riches. A backup for two seasons in the ACC, Trubisky stole the show this season with a very impressive year completed by his accuracy and refined tecnique. He is worthy of this investment, but don't expect him to steal the show and win rookie of the year. He is an investment in need of work, and can become a fine starter as soon as year two.
5. Tennessee Titans (From Los Angeles Rams) select Mike Williams, Wide Receiver from Clemson
The Titans have a reliable option out of the slot in Tajae Sharpe. With his hands, he is a great short route option for Marcus Mariota. However, he lacks the deep end speed to be a great option going downfield, and the Titans don't want Rishard Matthew being their number one option forever.
Enter Mike Williams, the big bodied, athletic freak out of Clemson who dominated the ACC. With his speed and vertical ability, Williams is a reliable option across the middle and deep downfield with generally good hands to go with them. His route running looks good, and he still has a lot of untapped potential in his form. This could be a move that the Titans could pay off with having Williams around for the next several seasons.
6. New York Jets select OJ Howard, Tight End from Alabama
The Jets added Austin Seferian-Jenkins from the Buccanneers, who has shown flashes of greatness between the injuries and inconsistency, but the Jets have lacked an average tight end for years now.
The Jets cleaned house on the position and are now looking to add the next big Tight End Star in the league. With his incredible blocking skills combined with elite speed that will blow by almost and linebacker and soft hands, Howard is what the Jets could very much use as a crutch for the offense that has been needed for years.
7. Los Angeles Chargers select Jonathan Allen, Defensive Tackle from Alabama
The Chargers landed big last season with the defensive rookie of the year in Joey Bosa, a pick that surprised a lot of people. Bosa had serious contract negotiation issues, and ended up missing a few games as a result of it. However, now the Chargers have a chance to land an explosive threat inside to go with Bosa and give their defense an edge for the next 5 seasons.
They grab Jonathan Allen here. Yes. The Chargers have other needs. However, considering where they sit in the draft and the talent available, yes. This is a player that the Chargers could greatly use with his run stuffing ability and pass rushing talent.
8. Carolina Panthers select Christian McCaffrey, Running Back from Stanford
One of the biggest falls Carolina took from Grace last season was the lack of run support Cam Newton ended up with. Jonathan Stewart ended up missing a lot of time with injuries, and Cameron Artis-Payne wasn't able to lift the run game to where it needed to be. This can be blamed in part on the offensive line which was patchwork last season, but a sudden lack of talent at the running back was obvious.
The Panthers would have loved to have Fournette, but seeing how he is now off of the board and going to San Francisco, the Panthers are very much content to settle for McCaffrey, an all purpose threat from Stanford. McCaffrey can line up anywhere on the field, from running back to wildcat quarterback to wide receiver, and still bring an A-Game. He is a great fit in the Panther offense and can add a dimension to it that has not been seen yet.
9. Cincinatti Bengals select Reuben Foster, Linebacker from Alabama
The Bengals added MLB Kevin Minter to try and pair with Vontaze Burfict following the loss of AJ Hawk to retirement. Now the Bengals need someone to fill that strongside slot and they have a perfect opportunity to grab the man that they would like to have.
Reuben Foster was a force at Alabama, a bone crushing tackler as well as a fluid pass coverage player, he is everything that an NFL Team wants to see on the field in a linebacker. Questions have come up regarding his personality after being kicked out of the Combine for getting into a fight with a medical staff member, and then his drug test came out dilluded with water. Nevertheless, the Bengals need another linebacker to try and bring the defense together, and Foster is a guy who can bring that.
10. Buffalo Bills select Solomon Thomas, Defensive End from Stanford
Jerry Hughes is penciled to start on the right side of the defensive line next season. With his age becoming an issue, it's a clear weakness. The rest of the line is still alright with Marcel Dareus, Shaq Lawson and Kyle Williams holding up the other spots. With Tyrod Taylor signed through affordably another season, the quarterback isn't an instant need.
Thomas has fallen a little farther then expected simply because of the lack of need. This can be an advantage for the Bills, with a young left defensive end, to pear a couple of first round players on the edges to provide a strong pass rush to a unit that has struggled to bring it the past couple of seasons.
11. New Orleans Saints select Marshon Lattimore, Cornerback from Ohio State
The Saints cornerbacks are the most glaring weakness on the team. Yes, they have a few of them, wide receiver, offensive tackle, defensive end... We won't go there. They're in a spot no team wants to be in. Outside of the top 10 and looking to draft the best available talent.
Lattimore is on the board, and he will gladly be fitted into the lineup. He has elite speed (4.36 second 40 yard dash at the combine) and his coverage skills are strong. Lattimore is a good fit into the Saints secondary and a much needed addition.
12. Jacksonville Jaguars (From Philadelphia Eagles through Cleveland Browns) select Quincy Wilson, Cornerback from Florida
The Jaguars lost Prince Amukamara this offseason to the Chicago Bears, and added AJ Bouye to the roster. As well as Bouye performed last season in Houston, and tore apart the Jaguars in the two games he played against them last season, he is built better to play as a nickle cornerback, and right now he is penciled in to start opposite of last season's first round pick Jalen Ramsey.
The Jaguars add Quincy Wilson to play on the other side, an elite cover corner in man to man and press situations, which Jacksonville wants to play a lot of. A very physical prospect, Wilson will pair nicely with Ramsey and offer a part of a solid secondary in Jacksonville for seasons to come.
13. Arizona Cardinals select Tre'Davious White, Cornerback from LSU
The Cardinals tried to work Brandon Williams, a former running back converted to cornerback prospect last season, into the starting lineup and he got picked on BAD. It's a very clear disadvantage for the Cardinals defense which is otherwise pretty solid.
Selecting LSU secondary players has worked pretty well for Arizona so far. While this pick may come as a surprise to some people, it shouldn't be. Patrick Peterson and Tyrann Mathieu both come from LSU and are studs. Add Tre 'Davious White, a strong man cover corner to pair with Peterson and Arizona's secondary looks a whole lot better.
14. Philadelphia Eagles (From Minnesota Vikings) select Gareon Conley, Cornerback from Ohio State
The entire Philadelphia secondary needs a makeover. Jalen Mills ended up being a convienient pick late in the draft last season that paid massive dividends to the Eagles. However, Patrick Robinson was added to play on the other end, and the Eagles still need some help.
Enter Gareon Conley, who put together one of the best combine performances out of any of the other cornerbacks. With his explosive abilities and great speed, Conley gives Philadelphia an instant boost as either a #2 cornerback or even out of the nickle formation.
15. Indianapolis Colts select David Njoku, Tight End from Miami (Fl.)
With the Dwayne Allen trade to New England, the Colts really don't have another reliable option at Tight End. Eric Swope and Jack Doyle don't look like reliable options from that spot.
The Colts nab Njoku, another rising star coming from that position. He has great receiving traits, and can be an instant help to Andrew Luck and company on offense.
16. Baltimore Ravens select Corey Davis, Wide Receiver from Western Michigan
The Ravens have a big depth issue at wide receiver. Michael Campanaro is currently listed as a starter opposite of Mike Wallace, the former Steeler standout. With the retirement of Steve Smith, the Ravens really need to get somebody explosive who can serve as a #1 receiver and keep the deep threat open.
The Ravens nab the soft hands of Davis here, with his Eric Decker-like qualtities and abilities, to step into the #1 slot and offer Joe Flacco more support and try to make a run on the AFC North this season and their first winning season in a long time.
17. Washington Redskins select Forrest Lamp, Guard from Western Kentucky
TRADE Seattle Seahawks trade CB Richard Sherman, 2018 4th round pick to Tennessee Titans for 1st round (18) and 2018 4th round picks.
18. Seattle Seahawks (from Tennessee Titans) select Sidney Jones, Cornerback from Washington
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers select Haason Reddick, Linebacker from Temple
20. Denver Broncos select Ryan Ramczyk, Offensive Tackle from Wisconsin
21. Detroit Lions select John Ross, Wide Receiver from Washington
22. Miami Dolphins select Taco Charlton, Defensive End from Michigan
23. New York Giants select Dalvin Cook, Running Back from Florida State
24. Oakland Raiders select Derek Barnett, Defensive End from Tennessee
25. Houston Texans select Cam Robinson, Offensive Tackle from Alabama
26. Seattle Seahawks select Budda Baker, Safety from Washington
27. Kansas City Chiefs select Deshaun Watson, Quarterback from Clemson
28. Dallas Cowboys select Jabrill Peppers, Safety from Michigan
29. Green Bay Packers select Takkarist McKinley, Defensive End from UCLA
30. Pittsburgh Steelers select Chidobe Awuzie, Cornerback from Colorado
31. Atlanta Falcons select Garett Bolles, Offensive Tackle from Utah
32. New Orleans Saints (From New England Patriots) select Patrick Mahomes, Quarterback from Texas Tech
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