2017 NFL Mock Draft: Final Mock Draft 7 Rounds
Round 1 Picks 17-32
Chris Ransom follow @DraftUtopia Last Updated: April 27, 2017 with updates every Thursday leading up to Draft Day.
Washington Redskins: Forrest Lamp, LG, Western Kentucky
- The 6-4 300 lb Forrest Lamp is a guy who Thomas Coburn mentioned in November as a first round prospect way before Jeremiah or Mayock put him in their first rounds. Thomas made his debut on my Senior Bowl preview podcast. Lamps tape is outstanding as he was a right tackle in high school, moved to left tackle at Western Kentucky took snaps as the teams center in practice sessions plus he has the versatility to play all five spots on the offensive line.
- My only questions with Lamp were his pass blocking strength and arm length. Lamp did 34 reps on the bench press and his arm length is 32 inches rather than 31 7/8. Lamp addressed his concerns at the 2017 NFL Combine. Everything else makes Lamp a complete offensive lineman as he only gave up 1 sack and 3 quarterback hurries in his last two seasons at Western Kentucky after being flawless as a blindside to Brandon Doughty in 2015.
- Lamp did real well on his first day in Mobile dominating at left tackle before getting injured. I think Lamp will be a first round pick and can start at left guard immediately in Washington. Washington, Tennessee, Tampa Bay, and Miami are all looking to improve the left guard position and with all 3 running backs Fournette, Cook, and McCaffrey off the board along with Mike Williams and Corey Davis Washington has to take Lamp here.
- Other Washington Redskins Selections
Tennessee Titans: Zay Jones, WR, East Carolina
- The 6-2 202 lb Zay Jones really dominated in Mobile. He's a great possession receiver who had over 150 receptions in 2016, but sucks in the red zone on tape despite what I saw in Mobile. Zay Jones was fantastic at the 2017 NFL Combine though. He did enough to convince me he's the third best receiver in this draft and I have the Tennessee taking him to give Mariota a #1 target at 18 with Zay Jones being the fourth receiver drafted after Mike Williams, Corey Davis, and John Ross here.
- Other Tennessee Titans Selections
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Obi Melifonwu, FS, Connecticut
- The 6-4 219 lb Obi Melifonwu has four years of experience as a starting free safety, but he's versatile enough to play strong safety too. Obi Melifonwu is now my third best safety and multiple teams picking in the back half of the first round like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Dallas Cowboys, Pittsburgh Steelers, Atlanta Falcons, and New Orleans Saints worked him out. Even the New England Patriots were impressed enough by him to give him an individual workout. Tampa Bay can draft Obi as a free safety with J.J. Wilcox playing strong safety.
- Obi added 12 lbs of muscle between the end of the regular season and his week in Mobile. Obi showed he could play man, zone, or presss effectively on tape. Melifonwu played both strong safety and free safety on tape against Virginia. Obi Melifonwu added 5 lbs of muscle and dominated the 2017 NFL Combine.
- Other Tampa Bay Buccaneers Selections
Denver Broncos: Cam Robinson, LT, Alabama
- The 6-6 322 lb Cam Robinson goes to Denver as a left tackle. Robinson fixed his pass blocking footwork which was his biggest issue at Alabama's Pro Day. I can see Robinson having a Russell Okung like impact in Denver. Robinson played right tackle, left guard, and right guard in High School before committing to Alabama to play left tackle which is why Robinson is more versatile than people realize. Denver needs an upgrade at both left tackle and right guard so if their isn't much of a drawback if they take Cam Robinson here plus the Broncos worked out Robinson privately prior to Alabama's Pro Day. Worst case scenario Robinson flops at left tackle and kicks inside to right guard best case scenario Robinson holds his own and becomes a stud left tackle.
- Other Denver Broncos Selections
Detroit Lions: Haason Reddick, ROLB, Temple
- Detroit cut DeAndre Levy at 4-3 right outside linebacker plus they need a 4-3 left outside linebacker too. Haason Reddick is a plug-in-play linebacker that fits perfectly on Detroit's defense.
- The Dolphins draft the 6-1 237 lb Hasson Reddick with no tight ends available. Reddick played both 4-3 right end and 4-3 left end at Temple off the edge despite his size. Reddick showed the versatility to play both outside and inside linebacker as a plug-in-play linebacker back in Mobile. He dropped back into coverage well during Senior Bowl Week and had 43 solo tackles, 22 assisted tackles, 65 total tackles, 22.5 tackles for a loss, and 10.5 sacks in 2016 during his senior season at Temple. He also abused Notre Dame offensive tackles Ronnie Stanley and Mike McGlinchey on tape in 2015 validating his consistency plus middle linebacker Tahir Whitehead also went to Temple and is the perfect veteran on the Lions defense to show Reddick the ropes.
- Other Detroit Lions Selections
Miami Dolphins: Tyus Bowser, LOLB, Houston
- Haason Reddick separated himself from T.J. Watt at the 2017 NFL Combine. However the Lions took Reddick at 21 in last weeks mock so I gave the Miami Dolphins a linebacker that is beginning to generate first round consideration in Houston outside linebacker Tyus Bowser.
- The Dolphins draft the 6-3 240 lb Tyus Bowser who is bigger than Reddick at 22. Bowser had 12 tackles for a loss, 8.5 sacks, and 9 quarterback hurries in 2016. He wasn't as potent as Reddick off the edge, but he compliments right outside linebacker Kiko Alonso and middle linebacker Lawrence Timmons perfectly in Miami. The Dolphins could also consider T.J. Watt, but he's raw and I think Bowser is more likely to have an immediate impact after dominating Houston's Pro Day.
- Other Miami Dolphins Selections
New York Giants: Carlos Watkins, DT, Clemson
- Both Carlos Watkins and Montravius Adams dominated the Senior Bowl in Mobile and both could be drafted here to pair with Damon Harrison on the New York Giants. I had first to second round grades on both defensive tackles now I have first round grades on both defensive tackles. I think Watkins did enough in Mobile showcasing his rip and swim moves as a defensive tackle to be a top 30 prospect, and while I have a first round grade on Watkins, he will fall to the second round if the Giants pass on him. Watkins had 10.5 sacks and 13.5 tackles for a loss in 2016. Weighing in at 6-5 312 lbs with all that weight being muscle helps Watkins as well giving the Giants a complete defensive tackle that reminds me of Aaron Donald coming out of Pittsburgh. I also considered Miami FL tight end David Njoku since he corrected his issues on tape at Miami FL's Pro Day. Njoku could be the twenty third pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, but I have Watkins graded higher at this point with him being my top overall defensive tackle.
- Other New York Giants Selections
Oakland Raiders: Jarrad Davis, MLB, Florida
- Latavius Murray went to the Vikings. It's looking like the Raiders will have to get D'Onta Foreman, Alvin Kamara, or Joe Mixon in the second round if they want a running back. Right here the Raiders get Jarrad Davis after he dominated Florida's Pro Day.
- Jarrad Davis had 25 solo tackles, 31 assisted tackles, 56 total tackles, 6 tackles for a loss, 4 deflections from pass breakups, 5 quarterback hurries, and 2 sacks in 2016. Davis has been all over the field in 2016. Davis got injured against Arkansas and missed the South Carolina, LSU, Florida State, and SEC Championship games, but he has the versatility to play 4-3 right outside linebacker, 4-3 middle linebacker, 4-3 left outside linebacker, 3-4 right outside linebacker, 3-4 middle linebacker, or 3-4 left outside linebacker. Davis is the most versatile linebacker prospect on tape in 2016 after Reuben Foster and his foot speed is vastly superior to Zach Cunningham's. Even with his injuries, Davis is a better player on tape than Cunningham when healthy.
- Davis dominated Florida's Pro Day. That's why Davis is now back in the first round of my mock draft.
- Other Oakland Raiders Selections
Houston Texans: Patrick Mahomes, QB, Texas Tech
- I had this guy as high as first overall back in September, but I realized his game against Iowa State was a game that made me rethink mocking him as high as I did. I still love Mahomes as a prospect and think he could be the steal of this draft at quarterback. I had Mahomes as high 5 on my big board and believe he's hands down the best quarterback in the draft after acing the draft process with flying colors.
- The 6-3 230 lb Patrick Mahomes had 5,032 passing yards, 41 passing touchdowns, 12 rushing touchdowns, 53 total touchdowns, and 10 interceptions in 2016. Mahomes is a quarterback that ran a pro style offense in high school and I believe he can play in any offensive scheme. Mahomes is a first round prospect after acing the draft process. Houston brought him in overnight on back-to-back nights which is why I I cannot see him falling past the Texans at 25.
- Other Houston Texans Selections
Seattle Seahawks: Garrett Bolles, LT, Utah
- Seattle's only need is left tackle. Garrett Bolles showed the versatility to play left tackle, left guard, right guard, or right tackle at Utah's Pro Day plus he dominated the 2017 NFL Combine too. I would not take Bolles until the second round, but Seattle drafts for need here and takes Bolles at 26 hoping he can solve their problems at left tackle before taking the best player on the board for depth with their remaining picks.
- Other Seattle Seahawks Selections
Kansas City Chiefs: DeShone Kizer, QB, Notre Dame
- The Kansas City Chiefs get a quarterback here. DeShone Kizer is my top quarterback after Patrick Mahomes.
- DeShone Kizer may not have the eye popping statistics Mahomes has. Kizer has the arm strength, throwing power, quick release, mechanics with ball placement, and size you want in a starting quarterback at 6-4 233 lbs with the remaining first round quarterbacks being 6-2 225 lbs or smaller. I do have questions with Kizer's accuracy at times. Kizer showcased the football IQ I thought he lacked, and seems like he has enough potential to develop into a quality border-line starter.
- Other Kansas City Chiefs Selections
Dallas Cowboys: Cordrea Tankersley, CB, Clemson
- Dallas gets a #1 field cornerback here. Cordrea Tankersley is my top cornerback after Marshon Lattimore.
- Other Dallas Cowboys Selections
Green Bay Packers: Dan Feeney, LG, Indiana
- The 6-4 311 lb Dan Feeney is talented enough to play right guard right now. Feeney also lined up at center and right tackle in Mobile. He gives Green Bay someone who can replace Josh Sitton at left guard or someone that can replace T.J. Lang at right guard. Feeney dominated Indiana's Pro Day and showed he's versatile enough to play every position on the offensive line outside of left tackle. I can see the Packers taking Feeney at 29 after dominating Indiana's Pro Day if someone like Forrest Lamp gets picked at 17.
- Other Green Bay Packers Selections
Pittsburgh Steelers: Derek Rivers, 3-4 ROLB, Youngstown State
- The 6-5 255 lb Derek Rivers had a career high 14 sacks in 2016 before being invited to the 2017 Senior Bowl. Rivers has 56.5 tackles for a loss in his four year career at Youngstown State.
- Derek Rivers is versatile enough to play 4-3 right end, 4-3 left end, 3-4 right outside linebacker, and 3-4 left outside linebacker. Rivers did 30 reps on the bench press at the 2017 NFL Combine.
- Rivers interviewed with the Pittsburgh Steelers at the 2017 Senior Bowl. Rivers met with Steelers linebackers coach Joey Porter at the 2017 NFL Combine. I think Derek Rivers has a very realistic shot of getting picked by the Steelers at 30 with both Takkarist McKinley and T.J. Watt struggling at the 2017 NFL Combine. Pittsburgh can get a starting 3-4 middle linebacker in the second round.
- Other Pittsburgh Steelers Selections
Atlanta Falcons: Demarcus Walker, RE, Florida State
- Atlanta drafts Demarcus Walker here who is an immediate starter at 4-3 right end. I still believe Demarcus Walker is a first round talent, but he may fall to the second round unless the Falcons take him here.
- The 6-4 280 lb Demarcus Walker has 15 sacks and 16.5 tackles for a loss in 2016 after having 10.5 sacks in 2015 as a junior. Florida went 0/12 on third down conversions against Florida State while Walker went 8-0 in his career against Miami FL and Florida at Florida State in his four years with the program. Like Myles Garrett and Derek Barnett, I see Demarcus Walker as an immediate difference maker.
- Other Atlanta Falcons Selections
New Orleans Saints: Marlon Humphrey, CB, Alabama
- New Orleans gets a cornerback for depth here. Marlon Humphrey is my third best cornerback and ideal cornerback to wrap up the first round.
- Other New Orleans Saints Selections
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