2017 NFL Mock Draft / #FirstFifty by James Fedewa
1/27/2017 by James Fedewa
*There is a fine line between choosing craft beer and choosing an NFL teams draft pick. Both can make you happy, yet both can leave you bitter. At National Fanatic, we help you select your next craft beer purchase (with a simple rating system), and we mock the NFL Draft with the top rated players coming into the NFL each season. **Draft the Draught
Since this is the first mock draft of the 2017 season, notes and dialog for each selection will be omitted (for now). Please, let me know what you think. It is still very early in the process of evaluating tape, the NFL Combine, NFL free agency additions/subtractions and team needs.
Here is the first fifty (please comment below):
| Pick# | Team | Player |
| 1 | Cleveland Browns | Myles Garrett, DE Texas A&M |
| 2 | San Francisco 49ers | Deshaun Watson, QB Clemson |
| 3 | Chicago Bears | Jonathan Allen, DL Alabama |
| 4 | Jacksonville Jaguars | Solomon Thomas, DE, Stanford |
| 5 | Tennessee Titans | Mike Williams, WR Clemson |
| 6 | New York Jets | Derek Barnett, DE Tennessee |
| 7 | Los Angeles Chargers | Jamal Adams, S LSU |
| 8 | Carolina Panthers | Cam Robinson, OT, Alabama |
| 9 | Cincinnati Bengals | Reuben Foster, ILB Alabama |
| 10 | Buffalo Bills | Malik Hooker, FS, Ohio State |
| 11 | New Orleans Saints | Teez Tabor, CB Florida |
| 12 | Cleveland Browns* | Leonard Fournette, RB LSU |
| 13 | Arizona Cardinals | Mitch Trubisky, QB North Carolina |
| 14 | Indianapolis Colts | Takkarist McKinley, OLB UCLA |
| 15 | Philadelphia Eagles*** | Corey Davis, WR, Western Michigan |
| 16 | Baltimore Ravens | Marshon Lattimore, CB Ohio State |
| 17 | Washington Redskins | Malik McDowell, DT, Michigan State |
| 18 | Tennessee Titans | O.J. Howard, TE Alabama |
| 19 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Sidney Jones, CB Washington |
| 20 | Denver Broncos | Ryan Ramczyk, LT Wisconsin |
| 21 | Detroit Lions | Charles Harris, DE Missouri |
| 22 | Miami Dolphins | Quincy Wilson, CB, Florida |
| 23 | New York Giants | Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State |
| 24 | Oakland Raiders | Desmond King, CB Iowa |
| 25 | Houston Texans | DeShone Kizer, QB Notre Dame |
| 26 | Seattle Seahawks | Garett Bolles, OT Utah |
| 27 | Kansas City Chiefs | Raekwon McMillan, ILB Ohio State |
| 28 | Dallas Cowboys | Tim Williams, OLB Alabama |
| 29 | Green Bay Packers | Jourdan Lewis, CB, Michigan |
| 30 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Taco Charlton, DE Michigan |
| 31 | Atlanta Falcons | DeMarcus Walker, DE Florida State |
| 32 | New England Patriots | Zach Cunningham, LB Vanderbilt |
| Pick# | ROUND TWO (Team) | Player |
| 33 | Cleveland Browns | Jabrill Peppers, S Michigan |
| 34 | San Francisco 49ers | Marlon Humphrey, CB, Alabama |
| 35 | Jacksonville Jaguars | Forrest Lamp, G, WKU |
| 36 | Chicago Bears | Patrick Mahomes, QB Texas Tech |
| 37 | Los Angeles Rams | Tre’Davious White, CB, LSU |
| 38 | Los Angeles Chargers | John Ross, WR Washington |
| 39 | New York Jets | Cordrea Tankersley, CB Clemson |
| 40 | Carolina Panthers | Christian McCaffrey, RB Stanford |
| 41 | Cincinnati Bengals | Carl Lawson, DE Auburn |
| 42 | New Orleans Saints | DeMarcus Walker, DL, FSU |
| 43 | Philadelphia Eagles | Adoree’ Jackson, CB USC |
| 44 | Buffalo Bills | Dan Feeney, G, Indiana |
| 45 | Arizona Cardinal | JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR USC |
| 46 | Indianapolis Colts | Joe Mixon, RB, Oklahoma |
| 47 | Baltimore Ravens | David Njoku, TE, Miami |
| 48 | Minnesota Vikings | Taylor Moton, G, Western Michigan |
| 49 | Washington Redskins | T.J. Watt, LB Wisconsin |
| 50 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Budda Baker, S, Washington |
Special Thank You to:
Walter Football: www.walterfootball.com
DC Pro Sports Report: http://www.dcprosportsreport.com
Eat, Drink & Slep Football: www.eatdrinkandsleepfootball.com
FanSpeak: www.fanspeak.com
Posted on January 27, 2017, in NFL. Bookmark the permalink. 12 Comments.
National Fanatic 
I can’t argue with your pick for the Lions. But they have so many needs that any one of the other players that you have picked in the rest of the first round would be a good fit too.
I agree with you 100%, but the Lions needs are not that pressing at one would think. Adding the best pass rusher available would help the Lions defense more than any other defensive secondary (DB) prospect. Charles Harris is an impressive pass rushing force and he would compliment Ziggy Ansah perfectly. However, I think Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State would be a better fit, but there is already so much invested on the offense. It is definitely going to be a defender in the first round, and with Aaron Rogers in the division, more pass rush would help the most. Tim Williams, OLB Alabama would be a great addition too.
Titans fans might be weary of adding a WR and a TE, both in the first round. The Titans are a run first team, but adding O.J. Howard, TE Alabama helps with blocking and opens up the middle. Mike Williams, WR Clemson can streatch the field and keeps the safeties out of the box. So both prospects open the run game and add two more weapons for Mariota.
Regarding Jan 27 edition: For Cleveland, Garrett is a no-brainer. But Fournette and Peppers? No thanks. @12 Lattimore/Wilson then @33 King/Feeney/Watt/Elflein/Pocic/Mahomes
Cleveland fans loves to focus on their lack of quarterback (and they all love Josh Gordon too, even though he’s failed his teammates). Both a top tier quarterback and wide receiver would be great, if the Browns played in a dome. It’s freezing in Cleveland and the Browns play in sub-zero weather most of the season. What is the best way to play football in the freezing cold (without deflating balls)? YOU RUN IT! (GROUND and POUND). If Cleveland has one of the best running backs in the league, it will open everything else up. Fournette is a 235 lbs beast of a running back and would instantly improve the Cleveland offense. Peppers is a hybrid safety/linebacker (but overall playmaker) and could free style anywhere on the defensive side of the ball. Peppers can play multiple positions on the defense, and Hue Jackson is going to fall in love with his combine numbers.
Still both are horrible picks. What I know about the Browns is that their biggest issue was getting off the field on 3rd down. So sure Garrett is a smart pick, but the rest of your Browns picks are silly. Fournette is a flat out bad pick especially if the Browns haven’t improved their offensive line. Peppers is not a fave of mine since I don’t know if he can fit into a defense. BTW it’s HUE JACKSON not Hugh Jackson.
Would would you prefer with the Browns picks? There is not a top tier offensive lineman available in the first, unless you like Cam Robinson (who could be there at #12). Granted, no one likes to spend the 12th overall pick on a franchise right tackle. Guards & Centers can be drafted later. Plus, Fournette could go even earlier than #12 (or Davlin Cook might go before Fournette). If you believe that Crowell and Duke can carry the Browns rushing needs, great. Stick with that, and the Browns will probably be picking 1st overall for the next several years. Crowell and Duke are serviceable (and they’re not the whole problem), but they will never make it to a pro bowl. Fournette can carry an offense better than any player available at #12.
Well, the Browns actually do not play in sub-zero weather most of the season. Occasionally home games in January, but that’s not a given. Also, Crowell averaged 4.88 ypc and they chose not to use him more. Why would they ignore glaring holes in the secondary (at 12 in the first) and the oline (in the 2nd round) to pick a guy at a position they don’t use? Plus Peppers will measure smaller (I’m guessing 6’0 210) and slower (4.5/40) and will not be worth it in the 1st. Most overrated player in the draft IMHO. As I said already, @12 Lattimore/Wilson then @33 King/Feeney/Watt/Elflein/Pocic/Mahomes.
And, believe me, Browns fans are about through with Gordon. Personally, I’m thinking he never sets foot on a football field again. Also – no QB thrills me and I wouldn’t spend a high pick on this crop. I’d roll with Kessler and get one next year.
Crowell might average well, but he’s just not a focal point on the team (nor will he ever be). Peppers would fill a nice role in the Cleveland secondary, plus he has special teams value.
Q: Why do Browns fans continue to want to draft QB’s an CB’s in the first round to fill open positions? Cleveland has that “throw it to a wall and see if it sticks” mentality (and that’s why they’re always picking early and often in the first round..
If you don’t like Peppers, how about JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR USC in the 2nd round? Cody Kessler already knows him well. And I think Terrelle Pryor will be gone…
They will either tag Pryor or sign him to an extension – he will be in Cleveland next year. Also, they selected 4 WRs last year, so probably no WR in the first 2 rounds.
I’m not arguing that Fournette or even Cook can succeed in the NFL, but the Browns need to focus on improving the team and I don’t think taking an RB does that as much as other positions. And about Peppers, a 6’0 205 lb “hybrid” won’t work in the NFL. But that’s just my opinion. Cleveland has taken a drug addict, an unmotivated DB, a fat center, a 28 year old QB and an epic bust RB with first round picks, so nothing would surprise me.
I’d be good with either Trubisky or Lattimore, leaning towards Lattimore.
Lattimore started one year. It’s a little raw for #12 overall and way too familiar to the Justin Gilbert situation (who should’ve been drafted in the 2nd round in 2014, but his speed blinded the Browns). I think Lattimore slides a bit, but he should develop well.
Trubisky is your hometown kid, which is nice, but he is still a huge gamble (especially for the Browns and drafted QB’s). Hue Jackson know’s he’s not going to blow 1st round draft picks.