The 2017 NFL Draft took place in Philadelphia, home of the Eagles, one of the four teams in the NFC East. The Cowboys come off a promising season after having an excellent draft the last year around. The Giants' first round pick didn't impress as much as he could have but the next pick, Sterling Shepherd didn't do too bad. Injuries and suspensions kept Redskins rookies off the field. Eagles got off to a quick start with rookie Carson Wentz but eventually came back to earth. So, on to the NFC East. NFC EAST
The Dallas Cowboys earned an B+ because they could identify their problem and address it. They may have gone a little overkill at the corner back position but it's nice to know they have depth there. They have ranked 30th in QB pressure on dropbacks, something I hope Taco Charlton can help with. The only problem I have with Taco Charlton is his consistency. If Garrett can bring out his potential I think he'll be a solid starter. I was expecting a tight end to be taken like Bucky Hodges who fell to Minnesota in the sixth round, perhaps as the heir to Jason Witten. Overall, Dallas had a good draft, maybe not as great as last year's but still solid.
The New York Giants earned a B- because they didn't address some major positions and didn't sufficiently draft an effective replacement. With their first pick they took Evan Engram over David Njoku, a move that confused me. Engram resembles more of a receiver in the position of a tight end than an actual tight end. Njoku is a better blocker and has a higher ceiling in my opinion. I also think that with a top 15 talent in Dalvin Cook and a top 8 talent in Reuben Foster, both positions of need, especially MLB they definitely should have drafted one of them. They took Davis Webb as a possible heir to Eli Manning and if he gets groomed I think he could be that heir. They should have focused more on their offensive line and I think that's going to hurt them. Overall, I don't really agree with their first pick and feel that they should have focused more on their offensive line woes. Their Davis Webb pick is the only thing keeping them from a C+.
The Washington Redskins earned an A after some fantastic drafting. First, they get one of the biggest steals of the draft with Jonathan Allen, who I had as the 2nd best player in the entire draft, dropping to them at 17. Allen is a huge game changer and will add some much needed pass rush. Ryan Anderson is a solid player who can step in and become a starter. He satisfies the linebacker need wholly. Josh Harvey-Clemons was another steal in the seventh round but I don't know if he can start immediately. Moreau was good for depth and is more talented than what his draft position suggests. As a freshman, Samaje Perine broke the single-game rushing record with 427 yards and 5 touchdowns in a win over Kansas. He adds an interesting power run option in D.C. I think Redskins may have had the strongest draft out of all 32 NFL teams.
The Philadelphia Eagles earned a B+ because they adequately addressed their issues. I didn't necessarily agree with their first pick and I think that that should have been Jonathan Allen not Derek Barnett who is a definite better player in my opinion. With their next pick they made an long term investment in Sidney Jones, who suffered a leg injury on his Pro Day and dropped heavily from a mid first round pick to a project late to early third round pick. They took another corner, closer to being able to play, with Rasul Douglas, a value pick in the third round. They may have found the answer to an inconsistent Ryan Mathews and an aging Darren Sproles with Pumphrey. Overall, I think they should have gone a different way with their first pick but their second, third, and fifth selections were solid.
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I begin this articles mere minutes after the conclusion of the 2017 NFL Draft. We saw tons of surprises, trades, and excitement through the three days that the draft took place in. The City of Brotherly Love was loud as expected and having the draft outdoors for the first time was a nice change. I saw a lot of things I didn't expect and some things that made me cringe. We start with the NFC North. NFC NORTH
The Green Bay Packers earned a B+ because I felt that they could have added more depth to the corner back position. They had a couple chances to get Dalvin Cook, a first round talent that slipped to the middle of the second round and could have helped Green Bay go further in the playoffs. Adams and Biegel can satisfy the pass rush need for the time. I'm pretty high on Adams and the Amichia pick didn't really make sense to me.
The Detroit Lions earned a C+ because I feel they should have focused on their pass rush a little earlier instead of in the 6th and 7th rounds. With the 21st pick, I don't think they should have taken Davis but taken Foster, who was still very good value at 21 and would answer a desperate position of need. He would supply a piece of defense that you can build around. I think Reeves-Maybin was a good value pick while I didn't really get why they took Kaaya, although he was good value for a sixth round pick.
The Minnesota Vikings earned an A- because of how they addressed each position. Their first pick was one of excellent value taking first round prospect Dalvin Cook. The only question is how they balance Cook and free agent signing Latavius Murray. They addressed their O-line well with Elfein and Isidora and took Johnson who leaves some room for improvement but is an immediate improvement for a No. 2 defensive tackle. I think Bucky Hodges in the sixth round was a steal and I didn't expect him to drop that far after a great combine.
The Chicago Bears earned a D- mainly because of a ridiculous trade that threw their draft and future away. The trade with San Francisco to move up one spot to take an overvalued quarterback that probably would have been available regardless of the trade and gave up picks 3, 67, 111, plus a third round pick next year, for him. Perhaps because of the limited amount of picks, Chicago didn't even address their top need of defensive end in a draft full of pass rushers which alone drops them far. Their offensive line is barely improved and they drafted a running back when they already have Jordan Howard and a couple solid backups in Jeremy Langford and Benny Cunningham. Overall, I have no idea what they're doing in Chicago.
Teams are always trying to get the best player in the draft and if that means making a trade to get there before your opponent does, then that's what they do. We saw it back in 2011 when Atlanta moved up to get All-Pro Julio Jones and or when the Redskins traded up to get Robert Griffin III in 2012. Analysts and scouts get together in a room, make phone calls, and try to nab that one guy before someone else can. Today, we take a look at three possible trades we could see tomorrow, in the NFL Draft. 1. Cleveland Browns (Round 1, Overall Pick 12) to Tennessee Titans (Round 1, Overall Pick 5) for Mitchell Trubisky, QB, North Carolina In this scenario, the Cleveland Browns trade up to the number five overall pick to get Mitchell Trubisky before the Jets, Chargers, Bills, or Saints try to draft him. Tennessee need a receiver and already have the 18th overall pick which they could use on their secondary instead of taking Lattimore, Hooker, or Adams with the fifth overall pick. Cleveland have expressed lots of interest in Trubisky and Tennessee is the only team except for maybe San Francisco that seems as a reasonable trade partner in the top five. Cleveland picks up Trubisky in this case while Tennessee slides right in before Arizona and unless the Chargers or Buffalo take a receiver have their choice of Mike Williams, Corey Davis, or John Ross. 2. New York Giants (Round 1, Overall Pick 23) to Philadelphia Eagles (Round 1, Overall Pick 14) for O.J. Howard, TE, Alabama This is based of my Mock Draft 3.0, where the Jets don't select O.J. Howard. This sends him packing down to the Broncos at 20. But for a player that has the skill set of O.J. Howard, 20 seems too low for him. Which is why, instead of selecting David Njoku from University of Miami (FL), they trade up to the 14th pick with the Eagles. The Eagles can still end up Marlon Humphrey, the corner I had them taking, or Adoree' Jackson, based off of what Tennessee does at 18. New York secures their tight end at 14, Philly gets picks or a player from New York, everyone's happy. 3. New England Patriots (Round 3, Overall Pick 72) to San Francisco 49ers (Round 1, Overall Pick 2) for Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU
WOAH! Wait a minute! No way! Okay, this pick seems completely out of the blue. Why in the world would the Patriots trade all the way from the third round to the second overall pick? Because Bill Belichick is on a mission. He's on a mission to make Tom Brady's life easier because for the last 17 years, Tom Brady has made his life easier. The Patriots don't have a running back you can point to and say, he's a top three back. Here's what I've concocted in my head. The Patriots send Jimmy Garoppolo, the "franchise quarterback" and maybe Malcolm Butler for the 2nd overall pick. John Lynch makes a huge trade as his first major move as a GM and if Garoppolo works out he will look like a genius. The addition of Malcolm Butler would definitely help his secondary. Mark my words, this trade sounds ridiculous; it's not. As of when I write this, it is the day before the 2017 NFL Draft, the 26th of April. I posted the last mock draft, Mock Draft 2.0, on the 9th, about two and a half weeks ago. Since then, we have learned a lot more about which prospects are considered more "draftable" than others. If you want to check out my last two mock drafts click on the links below. Note: The number after the name in parentheses regards to their ranking which I set in a different article. If you wish to read that article, click this link: 1. Myles Garrett, DE, Texas A&M (Original Pick: Myles Garrett; Same) (1) Nothing has changed for this pick. There were some rumors of Trubisky taken here, but that's not hapenning, or the few Cleveland fans left will leave. 2. Solomon Thomas, DE, Stanford (Original Pick: Jonathan Allen, DE, Alabama; Not Taken) (6) While I still think that Allen is a better player, I've heard that Thomas is much more popular and I really haven't heard that much about Allen. So it comes down to Thomas and Jamal Adams, and I went with Thomas. 3. Jamal Adams, S, LSU (Original Pick: Jamal Adams; Same) (3) Allen drops because of rumors of arthritis possibly hurting his career. We saw it last year with Myles Jack, but I don't think he'll fall as hard. Adams brings leadership and a strong presence to the Chicago secondary. 4. Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU (Original Pick: Leonard Fournette; Same)(4) Jaguars stick with the power running back and rejuvenate a lifeless Jaguars offense. This might be Bortles' last chance as the starter for the Jacksonville Jaguars; he better make the best out of it. 5. Malik Hooker, S, Ohio State (Original Pick: Marshon Lattimore; Not Taken) (5) Hooker has the potential to be Ed Reed. He's a game changer and a ball hawk. He steps right into the spot where Jason McCourty left. 6. Marshon Lattimore, CB, Ohio State (Original Pick: Malik Hooker, S, Taken) (8) Jets nab the first corner of many to come to replace the washed up Darrelle Revis. 7. Jonathan Allen, DE, Alabama (Original Pick: Mike Williams, WR, Clemson; Taken) (2) Chargers are lucky that Allen falls right into their lap at seven. He can play at defensive tackle and form a monstrous combination with Defensive Rookie of the Year Joey Bosa and him on a strong defensive line. 8. Christian McCaffrey, RB/WR, Stanford (Original Pick: Solomon Thomas; Taken) (10) From what I've read, scouts and GM's are starting to see what I've always seen out of Christian McCaffrey. Cam Newton needs a wake up call and nothing could wake him up like another weapon for him to catch and run the ball with behind an aging Jonathan Stewart. 9. Reuben Foster, LB, Alabama (Original Pick: Reuben Foster; Same) (7) Cincinnati get a hard-hitting linebacker. I have heard that teams are not putting that much stock into his off-field issues and Bengals have not had a history of caring that much anyway. 10. Corey Davis, WR, Western Michigan (Original Pick: Corey Davis; Same) (16) Bills need another receiver and I don't think they go with the Clemson one again. 11. Derek Barnett, DE, Tennessee (Original Pick: Derek Barnett; Same) (18) Saints go defensive end the second year in a row with Barnett, a top five defensive end prospect. 12. Mitchell Trubisky, QB, North Carolina (Original Pick: Marlon Humphrey; Not Taken) (44) I've heard the Browns have serious interest in Trubisky and might trade up to get him. In this mock draft, he falls right to them. 13. Mike Williams, WR, Clemson (Original Pick: O.J. Howard; Not Taken) (14) Williams is a strong talent that uses his strength and size to beat corners for the ball. Arizona improve a weakening and aging receiving core. 14. Marlon Humphrey, CB, Alabama (Original Pick: Gareon Conley; Not Taken) (21) Eagles desperately need help in the secondary to go up against the likes of Terrelle Pryor, Dez Bryant, and Odell Beckham in that division. 15. Haason Reddick, LB, Temple (Original Pick: Dalvin Cook; Not Taken) (19) Colts need play makers on an ancient defense and that starts with Reddick. 16. John Ross, WR, Washington (Original Pick: John Ross; Same) (20) Ravens need a receiver in a pathetic receiver situation with an aging Mike Wallace, a bust seeming Breshad Perriman, and no solid No. 3 receiver. Enter John Ross. 17. Jabrill Peppers, S, Michigan (Original Pick: Mitchell Trubisky; Taken) Washington need a new safety and that play maker is Jabrill Peppers, a versatile and ultra-talented player. 18. Gareon Conley, CB, Ohio State (Original Pick: Jabrill Peppers; Taken) Tennessee get a double upgrade on their secondary with no wide receivers left. I think the Titans would make a trade but until then, Conley it is. 19. Dalvin Cook, RB, FSU (Original Pick: Christian McCaffrey; Taken) (15) The Bucs take a talented running back and keep him in the Florida area. 20. O.J. Howard, TE, Alabama (Original Pick: Forrest Lamp; Not Taken) (9) I don't like O.J. Howard dropping this far but other than the Jets at six I didn't see any other fits for him. I could see a team trade up for him like the Rams, Jets, or Giants. 21. T.J. Watt, LB, Wisconsin (Original Pick: Haason Reddick, LB, Taken) (26) Lions need help in the pass rush and in linebacker. Watt offers that with a very high ceiling if he follows his brother J.J. 22. Forrest Lamp, OG, Western Kentucky (Original Pick: Tre'Davious White; Not Taken) (32) Dolphins have expressed interest in Lamp and want to help fix that offensive line, leaving a hole in guard after moving Tunsil to tackle. 23. David Njoku, TE, University of Miami (FL) (Original Pick: David Njoku; Same) (24) Giants need a tight end and Njoku fits right in with the New York lifestyle. 24. Adoree' Jackson, CB, USC (Original Pick: Adoree' Jackson; Same) (23) Jackson doesn't have to move too far to get to training camp. He has that fierceness that Oakland just loves and I think this is a good fit. 25. Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson (Original Pick: Deshaun Watson; Same) (38) Texans are definitely going quarterback and it's just a question of Watson or Mahomes. We know what Watson can do when he has weapons. 26. Cam Robinson, OT, Alabama (Original Pick: Cam Robinson; Same) (35) Seahawks need to fix their offensive line ASAP. 27. Patrick Mahomes II, QB, Texas Tech (Original Pick: T.J. Watt; Taken) (57) I think Mahomes is an overrated bust but a lot of people really like him. If he sits behind Alex Smith and learns to fix his rash decision making he could be very good. 28. Tre'Davious White, CB, LSU (Original Pick: Charles Harris; Not Taken) (22) Dallas's playoff loss to Green Bay proved that they need help in the secondary. Getting White is the first step. 29. Charles Harris, DE, Missouri (Original Pick: Kevin King; Not Taken) (25) Packers need help in their secondary but I don't see anyone worthy of this pick. Instead they take a pass rusher. 30. DeShone Kizer, QB, Notre Dame (Original Pick: DeShone Kizer; Same) (51) Steelers take on a project with an excellent mentor in Roethlisberger. 31. Takkarist McKinley, DE, UCLA (Original Pick: Taco Charlton; Not Taken) (17) McKinley could go a lot higher but in a draft stocked with talented pass rushers, I don't see it unless Green Bay takes him over Charles Harris. This is excellent value. 32. Jarrad Davis, LB, Florida (Original Pick: Alvin Kamara; Not Taken) Saints add another piece to their defense after resolving their running back hole with Adrian Peterson. It hasn't been that long since the 2010 NFL Draft but enough time has passed that we can evaluate how each player ranks in their draft. Players in this draft have just reached their prime and the majority of their career is over. This draft consists of many of the stars in the NFL today like Antonio Brown, Rob Gronkowski, Earl Thomas, and Dez Bryant.
1. St. Louis Rams- Antonio Brown, WR, Central Michigan (Original Pick: Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma) 2. Detroit Lions- Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska (Original Pick: Same) 3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Geno Atkins, DT, Georgia (Original Pick: Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma) 4. Washington Redskins- Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma (Original Pick: Same) 5. Kansas City Chiefs- Earl Thomas III, S, Texas (Original Pick: Eric Berry, S, Tennessee) 6. Seattle Seahawks- Eric Berry, S, Tennessee (Original Pick: Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma State) 7. Cleveland Browns- Kam Chancellor, S, Virginia Tech (Original Pick: Joe Haden, CB, Florida) 8. Oakland Raiders- NaVorro Bowman, LB, Penn State (Original Pick: Rolando McClain, LB, Alabama) 9. Buffalo Bills- Rob Gronkowski, TE, Arizona State (Original Pick: C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson) 10. Jacksonville Jaguars- Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma (Original Pick: Tyson Aluala, DT, California) 11. San Francisco 49ers- Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State (Original Pick: Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers) 12. San Diego Chargers- Joe Haden, CB, Florida (Original Pick: Ryan Mathews, RB, Fresno State) 13. Philadelphia Eagles- Carlos Dunlap, DE, Florida (Original Pick: Brandon Graham, DE, Michigan) 14. Seattle Seahawks- Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, South Florida (Original Pick: Earl Thomas, S, Texas) 15. New York Giants- Reshad Jones, S, Georgia (Original Pick: Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, South Florida) 16. Tennessee Titans- Demaryius Thomas, WR, Georgia Tech (Original Pick: Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech) 17. San Francisco 49ers- Mike Iupati, G, Idaho (Original Pick: Same) 18. Pittsburgh Steelers- Maurkice Pouncey, G, Florida (Original Pick: Same) 19. Atlanta Falcons- Sean Lee, LB, Penn State (Original Pick: Sean Weatherspoon, LB, Missouri) 20. Houston Texans- Devin McCourty, CB, Rutgers (Original Pick: Kareem Jackson, CB, Alabama) 21. Cincinnati Bengals- Jimmy Graham, TE, Miami (FL) (Original Pick: Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma) 22. Denver Broncos- Emmanuel Sanders, WR, SMU (Original Pick: Demaryius Thomas, WR, Georgia Tech) 23. Green Bay Packers- Everson Griffen, DE, USC (Original Pick: Bryan Bulaga, OT, Iowa) 24. Dallas Cowboys- Golden Tate, WR, Notre Dame (Original Pick: Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State) 25. Denver Broncos- Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma (Original Pick: Tim Tebow, QB, Florida) 26. Arizona Cardinals- Sam Shields, CB, Miami (FL) (Original Pick: Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee) 27. New England Patriots- Victor Cruz, WR, UMass (Original Pick: Devin McCourty, CB, Rutgers) 28. Miami Dolphins- Tramaine Brock, CB, Belhaven (Original Pick: Jared Odrick, DT, Penn State) 29. New York Jets- Eric Decker, WR, Minnesota (Original Pick: Kyle Wilson, CB, Boise State) 30. Detroit Lions- LeGarrette Blount, RB, Oregon (Original Pick: Jahvid Best, RB, California) 31. Indianapolis Colts- Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma (Original Pick: Jerry Hughes, DE, TCU) 32. New Orleans Saints- Junior Galette, LB, Stillman (Original Pick: Patrick Robinson, CB, Florida State) The NFL Draft is not drafted based on talent. Many factors come into play, such as team needs, off-the-field issues, potential, and personality. I decided to make a list of the top 75 players in the draft, purely on talent.
1. Myles Garrett, DE, Texas A&M 2. Jonathan Allen, DE, Alabama 3. Jamal Adams, S, LSU 4. Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU 5. Malik Hooker, S, Ohio State 6. Solomon Thomas, DE, Stanford 7. Reuben Foster, LB, Alabama 8. Marshon Lattimore, CB, Ohio State 9. O.J. Howard, TE, Alabama 10. Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford 11. Jabrill Peppers, S, Michigan 12. Sidney Jones, CB, Washington 13. Joe Mixon, RB, Oklahoma 14. Mike Williams, WR, Clemson 15. Dalvin Cook, RB, FSU 16. Corey Davis, WR, Western Michigan 17. Takkarist McKinley, DE, UCLA 18. Derek Barnett, DE, Tennessee 19. Haason Reddick, LB, Temple 20. John Ross, WR, Washington 21. Marlon Humphrey, CB, Alabama 22. Tre'Davious White, CB, LSU 23. Adoree' Jackson, CB, USC 24. David Njoku, TE, Miami (FL) 25. Charles Harris, DE, Missouri 26. T.J. Watt, OLB, Wisconsin 27. Taco Charlton, DE, Michigan 28. Malik McDowell, DT, Michigan State 29. Caleb Brantley, DT, Florida 30. Teez Tabor, CB, Florida 31. Gareon Conley, CB, Ohio State 32. Forrest Lamp, OG, Western Kentucky 33. Alvin Kamara, RB, Tennessee 34. Tim Williams, OLB, Alabama 35. Cam Robinson, OT, Alabama 36. Ryan Ramcyzk, OT, Wisconsin 37. Jarrad Davis, LB, Florida 38. Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson 39. Ryan Anderson, LB, Alabama 40. Zach Cunningham, LB, Vanderbilt 41. Evan Ingram, TE, Mississippi 42. Budda Baker, S, Washington 43. Jake Butt, TE, Michigan 44. Mitchell Trubisky, QB, North Carolina 45. Bucky Hodges, TE, Virginia Tech 46. Marcus Williams, S, Utah 47. Pat Elfein, C, Ohio State 48. Justin Evans, S, Texas A&M 49. JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR, USC 50. Josh Jones, S, N.C. State 51. DeShone Kizer, QB, Notre Dame 52. Rasul Douglas, CB, West Virginia 53. Fabian Moreau, CB, UCLA 54. Obi Melifonwu, S, Connecticut 55. ArDarius Stewart, WR, Alabama 56. Dorian Johnson, OG, Pittsburgh 57. Patrick Mahomes III, QB, Texas Tech 58. Dion Dawkins, OT, Temple 59. Davis Webb, QB, California 60. Kevin King, CB, Washington 61. Adam Shaheen, TE, Ashland 62. Cooper Kupp, WR, Eastern Washington 63. Zay Jones, WR, ECU 64. Dan Feeney, C, Indiana 65. Dede Westbrook, WR, Oklahoma 66. Quincy Wilson, CB, Florida 67. John Johnson, S, Boston College 68. Curtis Samuel, WR, Ohio State 69. D'Onta Foreman, RB, Texas 70. Chidobe Awuzie, CB, Colorado 71. Chris Godwin, WR, Penn State 72. Larry Ogunjobi, DT, North Carolina Charlotte 73. Cordrea Tankersley, CB, Clemson 74. Alex Anazalone, LB, Florida 75. Marcus Maye, S, Florida New It's been 12 years since the 2005 NFL Draft and Alex Smith was drafter number one overall by the San Francisco 49ers and Aaron Rodgers went number 26 to the Green Bay Packers. What would each franchise do differently, looking back, if they had another shot?
1. San Francisco 49ers: Aaron Rodgers, QB, California (Original Pick: Alex Smith, QB, Utah) 2. Miami Dolphins: DeMarcus Ware, LB, Troy (Original Pick: Ronnie Brown, RB, Auburn) 3. Cleveland Browns: Roddy White, WR, UAB (Original Pick: Braylon Edwards, Michigan) 4. Chicago Bears: Frank Gore, RB, Miami (FL) (Original Pick: Cedric Benson, RB, Texas) 5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Marion Barber III, RB, Minnesota (Original Pick: Carnell "Cadillac" Williams) 6. Tennessee Titans: Antrel Rolle, FS, Miami (FL) (Original Pick: Adam "Pac-Man" Jones, CB, West Virginia) 7. Minnesota Vikings: Vincent Jackson, WR, Northern Colorado (Original Pick: Troy Williamson, WR, South Carolina) 8. Arizona Cardinals: Carlos Rogers, CB, Auburn (Original Pick: Antrel Rolle, FS, Miami (FL)) 9. Washington Redskins: Shawne Merriman, LB, Maryland (Original Pick: Carlos Rogers, CB, Auburn) 10. Detroit Lions: Heath Miller, TE, Virginia (Original Pick: Mike Williams, USC) 11. Dallas Cowboys: Cameron Wake, DE, Penn State (Original Pick: DeMarcus Ware, LB, Troy) 12. San Diego Chargers: Derrick Johnson, LB, Texas (Original Pick: Shawne Merriman, LB, Maryland) 13. New Orleans Saints: Jammal Brown, OT, Oklahoma (Original Pick: Same) 14. Carolina Panthers: Thomas Davis, LB, Georgia (Original Pick: Same) 15. Kansas City Chiefs: Alex Smith, QB, Utah (Original Pick: Derrick Johnson, LB, Texas) 16. Houston Texans: Chris Myers, G, Miami (FL) (Original Pick: Travis Johnson, DT, Florida State) 17. Cincinnati Bengals: Adam "Pac-Man" Jones, CB, West Virginia (Original Pick: David Pollack, LB, Georgia) 18. Minnesota Vikings: Justin Tuck, DE, Notre Dame (Original Pick: Erasmus James, DE, Wisconsin) 19. St. Louis Rams: Marcus Spears, DE, LSU (Original Pick: Alex Barron, OT, Florida State) 20. Dallas Cowboys: Jay Ratliff, DE, Auburn (Original Pick: Marcus Spears, DE, LSU) 21. Jacksonville Jaguars: Evan Mathis, G, Alabama (Original Pick: Matt Jones, WR, Arkansas) 22. Baltimore Ravens: Cedric Benson, RB, Texas (Original Pick: Mark Clayton, WR, Oklahoma) 23. Oakland Raiders: Logan Mankins, G, Fresno State (Original Pick: Fabian Washington, CB, Nebraska) 24. Green Bay Packers: Nick Collins, FS, Bethune-Cookman (Original Pick: Aaron Rodgers, QB, California) 25. Washington Redskins: Matt Cassel, QB, USC (Original Pick: Jason Campbell, QB, Auburn) 26. Seattle Seahawks: Brandon Browner, CB, Oregon State (Original Pick: Chris Spencer, C, Ole Miss) 27. Atlanta Falcons: Ronnie Brown, RB, Auburn (Original Pick: Roddy White, WR, UAB) 28. San Diego Chargers: Braylon Edwards, WR, Michigan (Original Pick: Luis Castillo, DT, Northwestern) 29. Indianapolis Colts: Corey Webster, CB, LSU (Original Pick: Marlin Jackson, CB, Michigan) 30. Pittsburgh Steelers: Michael Roos, OT, Eastern Washington (Original Pick: Heath Miller, TE, Virginia) 31. Philadelphia Eagles: Trent Cole, DE, Cincinnati (Original Pick: Mike Patterson, DT, USC) 32. New England Patriots: Brandon Jacobs, RB, Southern Illinois (Original Pick: Logan Mankins, G, Fresno State) This running back class is one of the more talented ones in recent years and I see three, maybe four running backs going in the first round. I'm taking only what I see on the field in this ranking not off the field issues. Note: The number after the name in parentheses regards to their ranking which I set in a different article. If you wish to read that article, click this link: 1. Leonard Fournette, RB, Louisiana State University (4) Fournette brings a unique set of smash and dash. Born in raised in Louisiana, Fournette was the unanimous best running back prospect coming out of high school. Fournette is balanced in that he can truck, juke, block, and receive. His ability to receive has been questioned because of his lack of receptions in college and high school but when targeted I feel he was adequate enough to compete in the NFL. He already looks like an NFL back and plays like a grown man. Fournette always pushes for extra yards and has that mindset to keep pushing through, not unlike Marshawn Lynch. He can easily throw players off of him with powerful hips and a nasty stiff arm. I see him going in the first 10 picks and I will be very surprised if he manages to slip from that position. I think he wants to go to the Saints but at the top of the board fits for him would be the Jaguars, Jets, and Panthers. 2. Joe Mixon, RB, Oklahoma (13) This pick may raise many eyebrows but this ranking takes only talent at the running back position into question not off the field issues. In 2014, in an Oklahoma restaurant, Joe Mixon was suspended for an entire year for punching and knocking out a woman. Talent-wise, Mixon is the number two running back prospect. He brings a patient style as a running back and reminds a lot of people and me of Le'Veon Bell, using the more popular style of letting blocks develop before running. While Mixon is known for his elusiveness, he has the ability to quickly change into a power back. While 6'1" is just a little tall for a player at his position, his quick feet tell a different story. He is excellent in the passing game, probably the best in the running back class except for Christian McCaffrey. He has an ability to make runs that look blown up into 15-20 yards runs. Because of his off-field issues, his draft stock is going to be heavily attacked and I see him going mid to late second round and slipping even into the third round. His grade is difficult to assess but I think a team is going to take a chance on him where talent outweighs personality problems. Fits for him would be the Colts, Redskins, Raiders, and Packers, in the second round. 3. Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State University (15) Most have Cook as number two or even number one on their boards but I don't see it. Cook is a very talented player who has some off the field issues that no one seems to mention, including possession of a gun on campus, robbery, and battery. He has had some injuries and surgeries which has affected his draft stock. As a player, he is productive in the red zone and eats up touchdowns. He broke the all-time Florida State record for rushing yards in a career. He has good vision on the sidelines but needs work reading blocks and blocking. He mainly cut blocks which becomes predictable and easy to avoid. His running style is very dash-y and he darts in and out of defenders. He can change direction almost effortlessly, something that takes a lot of practice. I see him going mid first round to late first round. Team that he would do well if they draft him are the Colts, Redskins, Raiders, and the Giants. 4. Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford (10) The only reason I have McCaffrey this low is because, as a runner he isn't as polished as Cook, Fournette, or Mixon, but as a prospect he stacks up higher than probably Cook and Mixon because of his ability to line up as a receiver and as a kick returner. McCaffrey is probably my favorite player in this draft and his running style isn't that different from Joe Mixon or Le'Veon Bell. Scouts question his durability or strength after putting up only 10 reps in the Combine. Among the top 5 on this list, McCaffrey edged out the others in the 40 yard dash and he provides an offensive weapon to any team that takes him. He has exceptional vision and reads his blocks very well. He has the ability to make linebackers, corners, and safeties miss as well as the speed to take it to the house. I see him going anywhere in the first round outside of the first five picks. I seriously doubt him finding himself in the second round. 5. Alvin Kamara, RB, Tennessee (33) Kamara is well liked in his locker room and has been referred to as a team leader. He can bounce and spin off tackles for long distances. He's productive, getting 23 touchdowns on 284 touches at Tennessee, meaning 8% of his touches were touchdowns. He has talent as a receiver and punt returner but needs work on blocking and letting blocks develop to set him up for less tackles. At the Combine, he shined in jumping drills with a 39.5 inch vertical and a 10'11" standing broad jump, both the best among running backs, but I don't know how that translates to the pros. I see him going in the late first round or the early to mid second round. Teams that should have interest are the Raiders, Chiefs, Packers, Jaguars, and Jets. This year's quarterback class has been disregarded as a weak one with no step-in play makers. I have my top quarterback as the number 38 best player in the draft to give some perspective. However, they do propose interesting development projects. Some could be very good if they sit behind an experienced quarterback and the right coach. Here is my personal rankings of quarterbacks in the upcoming 2017 NFL Draft: Note: The number after the name in parentheses regards to their ranking which I set in a different article. If you wish to read that article, click this link: 1. Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson (38) The quarterback class this year has been disregarded as one of the less talented with no quarterbacks that can come in and be ready to start. Deshaun Watson is an interesting player for a couple reasons. His decision making and deep accuracy have been questioned but his athleticism and ability to play well under pressure is what makes me believe that he will be the most successful in the NFL. He has ideal leadership skills and is clean off the field. He shows all the traits you want in a quarterback and at the end of the day, Deshaun Watson is a winner. Watson's draft position is difficult to determine, but I think he could fall anywhere in the first round outside of the first five picks. If he were to start immediately, the Texans would be a good fit, otherwise the Cardinals would be ideal. 2. Mitchell Trubisky, QB, North Carolina (44) Trubisky raises questions because of his limited playing time at North Carolina. He played just this last year and threw for 3,748 yards, 30 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions. In that last year, he looked talented enough to compete in the NFL. Out of all the quarterbacks in this draft, Trubisky is probably the closest to being able to start Week 1 for a team, hoping that his last season wasn't just a fluke. Trubisky could fall anywhere from early first round (1-10) to late first round (25-32). I don't think he will escape the first round, though. His ideal teams are the Redskins, Texans, and Steelers. 3. DeShone Kizer, QB, Notre Dame (51) Kizer just looks like an NFL quarterback, physically, when you look at the tape. Scouts argue that while he is not NFL ready if he can sit behind a Carson Palmer or Ben Roethlisberger, he possibly has the highest ceiling out of this quarterback class. Kizer is the most athletic in this class. He stands 6'4" and 234 pounds. Reminder that Cam Newton is 6'5" and 245 pounds. Kizer can run too but he prefers to throw. His deep throw accuracy is remarkable but a concern is that he went 12-11 as a starter for Notre Dame and can't finish games, looking polished in the first quarter, falling apart by the fourth. I see Kizer going late first round (25-32) or early second (33-40). His ideal teams are the Redskins, Steelers, and the Chiefs. 4. Patrick Mahomes II, QB, Texas Tech (57) Mahomes has quickly shot up draft boards with people citing his gunslinger arm. I like his confidence and his undeniable swagger. He likes taking risks and they usually pay off for him. His fierceness can be a double bladed sword though and in the NFL, risks are different than when you're in college. He's good at improvising and stretching plays but his decision making and ability to read defenses has been called into question. His arm is definitely his most defining attribute with his ability to sling the ball into tight areas. He still needs development in some key areas and needs to break some bad habits. Mahomes would go late first round or early second, like Kizer but I see Kizer getting picked above him. Teams that would be a good fit for him would need to have a complimentary receiver that he chuck the ball to. This leaves the Texans, Chiefs, Steelers, and the Cardinals in the second round if he falls that far. 5. Davis Webb, QB, California (59) The final prospect I have for quarterbacks is Davis Webb. Coming into Cal a year after No.1 pick and already labelled bust Jared Goff left, Webb has impressed a lot of scouts. Webb has a good pocket presence, knowing when he has held the ball for too long. His decision making doesn't feel natural and his accuracy needs improvement. Too many times have I seen the ball wobble too much or thrown up for one-on-ones that are lost. He would be a solid system quarterback but he needs work on decision making and accuracy, two very important aspects of a successful quarterback in the NFL. He told the media that's he's been told that he has a first round grade. I don't think he does but a desperate team might reach if there are no other option. I see him going early to mid second round. Fits for him would be the Broncos, Texans, Chiefs, and Cardinals. The NFL Draft is one of those things that you look back on and go, "Wow, we really should have drafted that player. " Players are ranked based on how they did in college but there is little way of knowing how they will do in the NFL. Some teams strike gold while others draft "busts". We take a look at what would happen if every team could go back and re-do the 2000 NFL Draft.
1. Cleveland Browns- Tom Brady, QB, Michigan (Original Pick: Courtney Brown, DE, Penn State) 2. Washington Redskins- LaVar Arrington, LB, Penn State (Original Pick: Same) 3. Washington Redskins- Chris Samuels, OT, Alabama (Original Pick: Same) 4. Cincinnati Bengals- Plaxico Burress, WR, Michigan State (Original Pick: Peter Warrick, WR, Florida State) 5. Baltimore Ravens- Shaun Alexander, RB, Alabama (Original Pick: Jamal Lewis, RB, Tennessee) 6. Philadelphia Eagles- Corey Simon, DT, Florida State (Original Pick: Same) 7. Arizona Cardinals- Jamal Lewis, RB, Tennessee (Original Pick: Thomas Jones, RB, Virginia) 8. Pittsburgh Steelers- Julian Peterson, LB, Michigan State (Original Pick: Plaxico Burress, WR, Michigan State) 9. Chicago Bears- Brian Urlacher, LB, New Mexico (Original Pick: Same) 10. Baltimore Ravens- John Abraham, DE, South Carolina (Original Pick: Travis Taylor, WR, Florida) 11. New York Giants- Bubba Franks, TE, Miami (FL) (Original Pick: Ron Dayne, RB, Wisconsin) 12. New York Jets- Shaun Ellis, DE, Tennessee (Original Pick: Same) 13. New York Jets- Kabeer Jbala- Biamila, DE, San Diego State (Original Pick: John Abraham, DE, South Carolina) 14. Green Bay Packers- Chad Clifton, OT, Tennessee (Original Pick: Bubba Franks, TE, Miami(FL)) 15. Denver Broncos- Deltha O'Neal, CB, California (Original Pick: Same) 16. San Francisco 49ers- Keith Bulluck, LB, Syracuse (Original Pick: Julian Peterson, LB, Michigan State) 17. Oakland Raiders- Sebastian Janikowski, K, Florida State (Original Pick: Same) 18. New York Jets- Chad Pennington, QB, Marshall (Original Pick: Same) 19. Seattle Seahawks- Thomas Jones, RB, Virginia (Original Pick: Shaun Alexander, RB, Alabama) 20. Detroit Lions- Marvel Smith, OT, Arizona State (Original Pick: Stockar McDougale) 21. Kansas City Chiefs- Laveranues Coles, WR, Florida State (Original Pick: Sylvester Morris, WR, Jackson State) 22. Seattle Seahawks- Shaun O'Hara, C, Rutgers (Original Pick: Chris McIntosh, OT, Wisconsin) 23. Carolina Panthers- Mike Brown, SS, Nebraska (Original Pick: Rashard Anderson, CB, Jackson State) 24. San Francisco 49ers- Ahmed Plummer, CB, Ohio State (Original Pick: Same) 25. Minnesota Vikings- Chris Hovan, DT, Boston College (Original Pick: Same) 26. Buffalo Bills- Marc Bulger, QB, West Virginia (Original Pick: Erik Flowers, DE, Arizona State) 27. New York Jets- Anthony Becht, TE, West Virginia (Original Pick: Same) 28. Indianapolis Colts- Adewale Ogunleye, DE, Indiana (Original Pick: Rob Morris, LB, BYU) 29. Jacksonville Jaguars- Dante Hall, WR, Texas A&M (Original Pick: R. Jay Soward, WR, USC) 30. Tennessee Titans- Ian Gold, LB, Michigan (Original Pick: Keith Bulluck, LB, Syracuse) 31. St. Louis Rams- Courtney Brown, DE, Penn State (Original Pick: Trung Candidate, RB, Arizona) |
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