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2017 NFL Mock Draft: v 2.0

Trying a new, more visually appealing format this year. If it ends up looking like garbage on a mobile device, please let me know in comments.

Weekly draft order based off my power rankings, until week 9, then it will based on the "if the draft was held today" draft order.

Pick Team Player College Height/Weight Hometown Stats
             
1
QB Deshaun Watson, Jr Clemson 6'3, 215 lbs Gainesville, GA 19-34, 248 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
DeShaun Watson had a bit of a rocky game against Auburn, but Clemson managed a gritty win anyway. The 49ers are desperate for a franchise quarterback and Watson could be that, though he needs to gain strength and consistency. More than just a scrambler.
             
2
DE/OLB Myles Garrett, Jr Texas A&M 6'5, 270 lbs Arlington, TX 3 tackles, 1 sack
Myles Garrett is the NCAA's most feared pass rusher since Jadeveon Clowney. In fact, Garrett may be a better prospect. He vows to play every down as his last, even as he works his way into the top five of the 2017 NFL draft. The Browns are currently starting two rookies at outside linebacker. Garrett would be a monster upgrade.
             
3
HB Leonard Fournette, Jr LSU 6'1, 235 lbs New Orleans, LA 23 rushes, 138 yards              3 receptions, 38 yards
Leonard Fournette is this generation's Bo Jackson. Quick and brutally tough, he is as complete of a running back as you can possibly find. Virtually the only worry is his college work load. He could leave LSU with over 800 carries under his belt, which could worry scouts. However, he is durable and possesses franchise ability. The Lions often take best player available, as they would here.
             
4
DE/DT Jonathan Allen, Sr Alabama 6'3, 295 lbs Leesburg, VA 4 tackles, 2 sacks
Jonathan Allen was the rare Crimson Tide star to not turn pro after his junior year. So far, so good for the stud defensive lineman, with two sacks in a rout against USC. Allen has the versatility to play tackle or end, but he probably fits best on the inside in a 5 technique scheme due to a lack of quickness. He offers pass rushing ability from the interior, and can stop the run as well. The Chargers need help everywhere and take the best player available.
             
5 (from Rams)
WR Mike Williams, Sr Clemson 6'3, 225 lbs Vance, SC 9 receptions, 174 yards
Mike Williams would have been the top receiver taken in the 2016 draft had he not suffered a season ending injury. He showed why, as he shredded the Auburn defense for 9 catches and 174 yards. Big and strong, he reminds me of Mike Evans. Though there are injury concerns, he has the look of a number one receiver, and would be a valuable huge target for young Marcus Mariota in Tennessee.
             
6
QB Chad Kelly, Sr Ole' Miss 6'2, 224 lbs Buffalo, NY 21-39, 313 yards, 4 TD, 3 INT
Chad Kelly has had a rocky college career, but has become one of the most feared quarterbacks in college. The world saw the best and worst of him during his week one matchup against Florida State. He made several NFL type throws, but turned the ball over quite a bit. He could have an Eli Manning-like career. He will always throw interceptions, but has the guts, arm strength and ability to be a solid quarterback. The nephew of Bills great Jim Kelly, he could energize a stagnant Buffalo Bills fan base.
             
7
SS Jamal Adams, Jr LSU 6'1, 213 lbs Lewisville, TX 5 tackles
Another in a long line of elite LSU secondary prospects, Jamal Adams is far and away the best safety prospect in this draft. A hard hitter and ballhawk, he has the look of a future top ten pick. The prototypical safety could help lead a Titans secondary that is still rounding into shape. 
             
8 (from Eagles)
OT Cam Robinson, Jr Alabama 6'6, 324 lbs Monroe, LA  
Former top recruit Cam Robinson has been as good as advertised during his first two seasons at Alabama. A gifted run blocker, he helped pave the way for Derrick Henry, who ran his way to a Heisman trophy. Robinson has the talent of a top five pick, but has to answer quesitons about his effort level and an off the field incident. The Browns fielded offers for franchise tackle Joe Thomas, and could move him if they land a replacement like Robinson.
             
9
CB Teez Tabor, Jr Florida 6'0, 201 lbs Washington, DC No stats
Vernon Hargreaves III was the hot name in Florida's secondary last year, but Jalen (now Teez) Tabor might have been even better. Now the junior will have the spotlight to himself. Tabor is often times an unwilling tackler, but as a cover man, there may not be a better one in the country. A practice fight led to a suspension, but that should be an isolated incident for a player who has no other off the field concerns. Speaking of concerning, the Saints defense is still historically bad. They need help anywhere they can get it.
             
10
RB Dalvin Cook, Jr Florida State 5'11, 213 lbs Miami, FL 23 rushes, 91 yards
If Les Miles continues to run Leonard Fournette into the ground, do not be surprised to see Dalvin Cook as the first running back off the board in 2017. He is an elite talent, a fantastic blend of speed, shiftiness and receiving ability. It would be a surprise if Arian Foster makes it through the season, and Jay Ajayi has not shown he has lead back potential. Cook would be a great weapon for Adam Gase to utilize, ala Matt Forte in Chicago.
             
11
DE Derek Barnett, Jr Tennessee 6'3, 265 lbs Nashville, TN 7 tackles
Derek Barnett is a decisive prospect amongst the draft community. On one hand, he is a former top recruit who has been fantastic through his first two seasons, routinely living in the opponent's back field, racking up tackles for losses and sacks. On the other hand, he is not overly strong or athletic, and could struggle against NFL quality offensive lineman. We have seen players like Bjoern Werner and Damonte Moore dominate in college, yet struggle in the NFL. He is a worthy gamble for Atlanta, who needs pass rushers.
             
12
CB Marlon Humphrey, So Alabama 6'1, 196 lbs Hoover, AL 2 tackles, 1 INT
Eli Apple was the 10th pick in 2016 as a redshirt sophomore cornerback, and fellow sophomore Marlon Humphrey could be even better. A top recruit, Alabama had the luxury to redshirt him, and it has paid off so far. The son of former running back Bobby Humphrey, he has good size, and the bloodlines and athletic ability to be a number one corner at the next level. The Bears have little opposite Kyle Fuller in the secondary.
             
13
DE/DT Malik McDowell, Jr Michigan State 6'6 280 lbs Hoover, AL 3 tackles
Malik McDowell reminds me of the Oregon version of Arik Armstead. His sheer size and raw athletic ability is enough for him to dominate college opponents. If he shows more smarts and consistency as a junior, he could be a very, very high pick. It is little secret that the Cowboys need to add bodies to the defensive line who won't get suspended every other week. McDowell could chip in at any position along the D-line.
             
14
WR JuJu Smith-Schuster, Jr USC 6'2, 220 lbs Long Beach, CA 1 reception, 9 yards
Elite USC Trojan receivers have an interesting history of falling off during their junior seasons. We have seen it with Dwayne Jarrett, Marquise Lee and Robert Woods. Not to say JuJu Smith-Schuster will follow that path, but his 2016 is not off to a good start. He was held to one catch in a loss to Alabama and had a practice altercation. Smith-Schuster has the talent of a number one wideout, but must continue to mature on and off the field. Tampa Bay ignores needs to gamble on the upside for a future replacement for Vincent Jackson.
             
15
DE/OLB Tim Williams, Sr Alabama 6'4, 252 lbs Baton Rouge, LA 2 tackles
Specialists are usually not drafted in the first round in the NFL draft with one exception; the ability to get after the quarterback. Tim Williams was fantastic at that in part time duty in 2015. He is a tweener who can't defend the run or cover, but Gus Bradley had a similar player, Bruce Irvin, in Seattle. He will figure out how to best utilize Williams' talents.
             
16
LB/CB/S Jabrill Peppers, So Michigan 6'1, 205 lbs East Orange, NJ 8 tackles, 1 sack
Jabrill Peppers is Jim Harbaugh's Michigan swiss army knife, spending time at linebacker, cornerback, safety, wide receiver and kick returner. In the NFL, his likely position is weak outside linebacker or safety. The Colts have little talent on defense, and could use a dynamic player like Peppers, though the coaching staff will have to be creative as they figure out the best way to utilize him.
             
17
MLB Zach Cunningham, Jr Vanderbilt 6'4, 230 lbs Pinson, AL 12 tackles
Name the last Vanderbilt defender to be selected in the first round? You will have to go back to 1984, when Leonard Coleman was a top ten pick. Zach Cunningham is the best 4-3 linebacker in this class. He is quick, instinctive and has the strength to play in either the middle or the outside. He can close quickly, as edivenced by his 3 tackle's for loss in Week 1. The Redskins are still looking for London Fletcher's replacement at middle linebacker. Cunningham could be just that.
             
18
CB Desmond King, Sr Iowa 5'11, 203 lbs Detroit, MI 5 tackles
The Ravens have serious holes on defense, but the selection of Desmond King is a great first step. King won the Jim Thorpe award as the Nation's top defensive back in 2015, and returned for his senior season. He is a stout 5'11, 200 pounds and intercepted 8 passes as a junior. King may lack the upside of some of the juniors in this class, but he should be able to step in right away across from Jimmy Smith in the Baltimore secondary.
             
19
OT Roderick Johnson, Jr Florida State 6'7, 311 lbs Florissant, MO  
The Raiders have become deep enough that they can start drafting best player available instead of reaching for need. Roderick Johnson has elite talent but was hit or miss for Florida State as a sophomore. A plus run blocker, he has mechanical issues and mental lapses during passing plays. Whether he ends up at tackle or guard, he could be a solid piece in a few years when Donald Penn moves on.
             
20
OT Mike McGlinchey, Sr Notre Dame 6'7, 310 lbs Philadelphia, PA  
The Broncos will continue to lean heavily on the running game, so having a solid offensive line will be paramount. Gary Kubiak teams do not usually draft offensive lineman high, but the experienced Mike McGlinchey is athletic and agile enough to be a solid asset for a zone blocking team.
             
21
RB Nick Chubb, Jr Georgia 5'10, 228 lbs Cedartown, GA 32 rushes, 222 yards, 2 TD
If there were concerns about how Nick Chubb would rebound from serious injury, those questions were answered week 1, when Chubb ran wild for over 220 yards and two touchdowns. A better prospect than Ezekiel Elliott, Chubb is a bowling ball on offense who is almost impossible for one defender to bring down. He is a good pass blocker but is rarely used as a receiver. If he can show that injury is completely behind him, Chubb could be the third running back selected in the top fifteen.
             
22
DE/OLB Charles Harris, Jr Missouri 6'3, 260 lbs Kansas City, MO 2 tackles
The Jets defense is loaded with playmakers other than one position; pass rushing outside linebacker. I am a pretty astute NFL fan, and even I cannot name off the top of my head the starting outside linebackers. Fortunately, Charles Harris is available. Missouri is not a good team this year, but few colleges have consistently produced pass rushers like the Tigers. He led the SEC with 18.5 tackles for loss as a sophomore, and could be a top ten pick when all is said and done.
             
23
DE/DT Folorunso Fatukasi, Jr Connecticut 6'4, 310 lbs Far Rockaway, NY 2 tackles
This pick might come as a surprise to many. Even I hadn't heard of Folorunso Fatukasi prior to my research this off-season. As a sophomore, he graded as one of the very best defensive lineman in the country. A solid run defender who is a developing pass rusher, he could help fill the black hole at end opposite JJ Watt in Houston.
             
24 (from Vikings)
RB Christian McCaffrey, Jr Stanford 6'0, 200 lbs Castle Rock, CO 22 rushes, 126 yards, 2 TD, 7 receptions, 40 yards
I will admit, I have had a tough time throwing away my stereotypes when evaluating Christian McCaffrey as an NFL prospect. Whatever you think about him, he is college football's most explosive weapon. In today's NFL, coordinators are creative enough to figure out ways to use him. His game is reminiscent of what Doug Pederson had in Kansas City with Jamaal Charles, so he could be a natural fit with the Philadelphia offense.
             
25
CB/S Eddie Jackson, Sr Alabama 6'0, 194 lbs Lauderdale Lakes, FL 2 tackles
Marcus Peters was a godsend for the Chiefs as a rookie last year, but the secondary needs additional help, especially if Eric Berry leaves as a free agent in 2017. Eddie Jackson has a ton of experience, and played cornerback before moving to safety last year. The Chiefs could use him at either, or both, positions.
             
26
CB Sidney Jones, Jr Washington 6'0, 181 lbs Diamond Bar, CA 3 tackles
As passing attacks explode around the league, scouts are spending more and more early draft picks on players to combat this. The Steelers drafted two secondary players with their first two picks in 2016 and could go that route again this year. Sidney Jones is a lanky, 6 foot cornerback who took great strides as a sophomore. Washington routinely develops solid NFL cornerbacks, and Jones has the look of a late first round pick.
             
27
DE/OLB Carl Lawson, Jr Auburn 6'2, 253 lbs Alpharetta, GA 3 tackles
On pure talent alone, Carl Lawson would be a top five pick. However, his injury history is too extensive to ignore. A team picking late in the first round could take the plunge and use him as a solid rotational piece. The Packers seem to anually draft defense in the first round, and I expect that to continue. Lawson could be the heir apparent to Julius Peppers at outside linebacker.
             
28
OT Tyrell Crosby, Jr Oregon 6'5, 310 lbs Henderson, NV  
Tyrell Crosby may be a reach late in the first round but we have seen reaches before, especially in regards to offensive lineman. Crosby is a run blocking extraordinaire who has a lot to improve on in regards to pass protection. The Seahawks run first, and second, and simply need bodies along the offensive line. Crosby can play either guard or right tackle.
             
29
WR Isaiah Ford, Jr Virginia Tech 6'2, 190 lbs Jacksonville, FL 11 receptions, 117 yards, 1 TD
Virginia Tech has adopted an up tempo scheme, and that could do wonders for Isaiah Ford's already impressive resume. A true outside burner, Ford hauled in 11 catches during the Hokies opening game and should be a lock to hit the century mark in receptions. He is not very physical, but should make a fine compliment to AJ Green and Tyler Boyd at receiver in Cincinnati.
             
30
CB Adoree' Jackson, Jr USC 5'11, 185 lbs Belleview, IL 4 tackles
There may not be a better athlete in college than Adoree' Jackson. He played receiver and cornerback for the Trojans, and is also a top track star. The reason he is so low in my mock is I think he is still more athlete than football player. Perhaps focusing on one position will help his draft stock. Late in the first round he would be a solid gamble for the Panthers, who have to try to make up for the loss of Josh Norman.
             
31
QB Brad Kaaya, Jr Miami 6'4, 215 lbs Los Angeles, CA 12-18, 135 yards, 4 TD
A lot of draftniks see Brad Kaaya as a top five pick, but I am not sold. Playing for Mark Richt will really help his development, however. Kaaya has the look of a future starting quarterback, but to put him in the same teir as Deshaun Watson and Chad Kelly, he needs to work on his strength and accuracy. Carson Palmer is 36 years old and the Cardinals need to think about drafting his replacement, whether it is Kaaya, Luke Falk or Baker Mayfield.
             
32
DE DeMarcus Walker, Sr Florida State 6'4, 280 lbs Jacksonville, FL 6 tackles, 4.5 sacks
DeMarcus Walker had two sacks through his first two years at Florida State, but accumulated 10.5 as a junior. How about 4.5 sacks after one week as a senior? That has likely moved him from second or third round consideration to a bubble first rounder. The Patriots are always on the lookout for pass rushing help, and Bill Belichick likes to draft from the state of Florida.

Jonathan Carrano

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