Jason Bantle's 2017 NFL Mock Draft: Final Mock 3 Rounds

Round 1 Picks 1-16

Jason Bantle's final three round 2017 NFL Mock Draft is now up. Enjoy!

Jason Bantle follow @jasonwbantle Last Updated: April 26, 2017.

1. Cleveland Browns: Myles Garrett, RE, Texas A&M
   
   
   The front office wants UNC QB Mitch Trubisky and the coaches reportedly want Myles Garrett. At the end of the day, Garrett is the draft's best player and needs to go one overall.
   
   
   
2. Cleveland Browns: Mitchell Trubisky, QB, North Carolina
   
   
   In all my years analyzing the draft, I have never seen a second pick overall in so much doubt. First, it was Alabama DT Jonathan Allen. Then, it was Solomon Thomas, the DE out of Stanford. Next, we all heard how Leonard Fournette might be their guy. Now, we are hearing they are considering 3 different QBs and maybe even McCaffrey? I think it is clear they are trying everything to get a team to move up.
   
   
   
   So, there are two options. One, the Niners stay put and select the draft's top CB. Jimmy Ward is moving to Safety and they just released Tramaine Brock so there is not a starting CB-worthy player on the roster. Option two, is a trade down. And based on all the smoke screens they have been sending about who they want makes it clear that they will prefer a trade down. Almost every team in the top 10 wants to trade down, so who will move up?
   
   
   
   Previous reports were possibly Carolina wanting to move up to get Leonard Fournette LSU RB. But that has since cooled down. The Browns, however, are so worried that their QB Trubisky will be taken before their next pick at 12, they are considering him at 1! This lends me to believe that if I was to bet, Trubisky would be the pick here. Cleveland sends 12, 33, and 108 to San Francisco for this pick.
   
   
   Previous Pick: Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU
   
   
   
   
3. Chicago Bears: Malik Hooker, FS, Ohio State
   
   
   Like the 49ers, the Bears will do everything they can to trade down, here. If they can't, it will be either Adams, Hooker, Thomas, or Allen. Rumors are circling that the Bears are leaning towards Safety, so it could be Adams or Hooker. I heard they are smitten with Hooker who is the ball-hawking safety they could use forcing the least amount of turnovers in the secondary last season. Plus, he played in the midwest as oppose to the SEC like Jamal Adams did. Could go either way.
   
   
   
4. Jacksonville Jaguars: Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU
   
   
   Reports are that the front offices of varying teams see this pick as the wildcard of round one. I think that Jacksonville wants Garrett or Fournette to fall. I'm sure they'd love to trade down. Bouye and Campbell were added in FA so taking a CB or DE would seem unlikely despite what many are mocking. They also added Barry Church at S. The big need is at OT. But that would be a huge reach in this class. That leaves a RB like Fournette or DT like Jonathan Allen. The Jags have had private workouts with both. But Allen is a DT DE tweener and has had injury concerns. Fournette shouldn't drop below 4.
   
   
   Previous Pick: Solomon Thomas, RE, Stanford
   
   
   
   
5. Tennessee Titans: Marshon Lattimore, CB, Ohio State
   
   First of all, the Titans want to trade down. If they cant, it Sounded originally like the Titans would go defense at 5 and offense at 18. Rumors circulating that the Titans prefer the safeties as there is much more depth with the CBs (most teams agree). However, since this news, the Titans added safety Jonathan Cyprien and released CB Jason McCourtey. So I feel like they will go CB instead of Safety. So the question is whether they take Lattimore at CB here and an offensive playmaker at 18 OR if they go Playmaker here and a CB at 18. Those seem like the likely choices. At the end of the day, I am going to guess that they take the CB here and the best offensive playmaker at 18.
   
   
   Previous Pick: Jamal Adams, SS, LSU
   
   
6. New York Jets: Jamal Adams, SS, LSU
   
   
   Other than the Niners, nobody has spent more time sending out smoke than the Jets who also want to move back. The Jets will draft a young QB in the draft. But they cannot afford to use this early a pick on one when they spent a second rounder last year on Christian Hackenberg. It would make no sense. The team will try and grab the best player that falls to them, likely in the secondary. Late reports are that they literally asked Jamal Adams why he even showed up for a draft visit because he will go top 5. Needless to say, he is a guy they'd love to take but done see falling. He's available here, in this mock. Possibly the draft's best player; there is no way he falls out of the top 6.
   
   
   Previous Pick: Marshon Lattimore, CB, Ohio State
   
   
   
   
7. Los Angeles Chargers: Jonathan Allen, DT, Alabama
   
   
   Lots of talk about the Chargers picking Rivers' successor. I am inclined to believe this as the Chargers are generally pretty transparent in pre-draft talks. However, I do not think they will take a QB this early. Like most of the top 10, they will try and trade down and grab their QB later. They will be hoping that, absent a trade, Hooker or Adams will drop here. In this scenario they do not. The Chargers are moving to a 4-3 and I am torn as to whether Allen or Stanford DE Solomon Thomas would help the team more. Then, I checked and saw that the Chargers never even met with Thomas through the process. So, I'll guess they prefer Allen. Besides, they have Bosa and Ingram as pass rushers anyways.
   
   
   
8. Carolina Panthers: Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford
   
   
   I think there is a great chance that the Panthers move up. They have already contacted the 49ers about doing this, presumably to acquire Leonard Fournette. If they stay put at 8, it is hard to say who they will take but it seems unlikely Mccaffrey makes it out of the top ten. Jonathan Stewart is about to turn 30 and the Panthers run more than any team in the league. The Panthers added pieces in FA at defensive line, safety, cornerback, and WR. So, really, it seems it'll be RB or TE here. Their GM said that FA will dictate the draft. So, I am inclined to believe that their decision will bbe between Christian McCaffrey the Stanford RB and OJ Howard TE of Alabama. It is a true toss-up but Howard would sit behind All-Pro Greg Olsen and only play in double TE sets while McCaffrey could be seen as a return man, slot receiver and change of pace back to Jonathan Stewart. I think that makes him the pick.
   
   
   
   
   
9. Cincinnati Bengals: Solomon Thomas, RE, Stanford
   
   
   The Bengals appear satisfied with starters at every position using young talent drafted recently. So they probably take the best player available. PFF gave Michael Johnson the worst grade on their defense. The Bengals seem to like the young players and additions in FA at LB despite all the mocks out there. Thomas is the BPA anyways and projected by most to go top 3. This has to be his floor. No reputable mock has him falling below 9. Cincinnati's defensive line coach worked out Thomas at Stanford’s Pro Day as well.
   
   
   Previous Pick: Reuben Foster, MLB, Alabama
   
   
10. Buffalo Bills: Mike Williams, WR, Clemson
    
    
    The Bills are another team that wants to trade down. Lots of talk about then drafting a QB and it sounds like they love Trubisky. But I think the Browns l, who are talking about taking him at 1, want him even more which is why I have the Browns jumping the Bills. Lucky for the Bills, their GM is "in love with" Deshaun Watson anyways. I have him as their target end of round 1/early round 2.
    
    
    
    With 10 overall, their biggest need is easily DBs and WRs due to losses in free agency. Their big addition was Micah Hyde and Adams and Hooker are gone anyways. Though they aren't good enough to be a no 2 to help Sammy Watkins and Williams went to the same school Watkins did. Perfect fit.
    
    
    
    
    
11. New Orleans Saints: Derek Barnett, LE, Tennessee
    
    
    Everyone is mocking the Saints to take the best pass rusher available at 11. And rightfully so. Their pass rush was a joke last season. With Garrett going 1, the Saints will be praying that Barnett falls in their laps at 11. Barnett is clearly one of the top 2 edge rushers in the draft. Haason Reddick is another option here if Barnett is taken prior. I think it is clearly going to be a pass rusher, but which one is up for debate.
    
    
    
12. San Francisco 49ers: O.J. Howard, TE, Alabama
    
    
    If the Browns keep the pick, it has to be QB I would assume but I believe they will move up with someone to insure Trubisky goes to Cleveland. O.J. Howard is probably the top rated available player but if it is the Niners making the pick at 12, A strong consideration has to be made for cb bc they released Brock and Ward is moving to safety. They are bare at the position. I also still believe SF wants to make a move for Cousins next year so no QB here either. Prior to the recent arrest charge, Conley would make sense. Instead he's not. And I think a CB would be a reach by most peoples standards but it's the obvious need. They could actually trade again as someone will want to move up for QBs Watson or Mahomes - or even a TE needy team like the Giants. But in trading to 12, they received a lot from CLE already. I think the smart money is that (especially since we are unsure of who makes this pick) that the best player available be taken and thats O.J. Howard.
    
    
    Previous Pick: Mitchell Trubisky, QB, North Carolina
    
    
    
    
13. Houston Texans: Patrick Mahomes, QB, Texas Tech
    
    
    There is no secret that the Cardinals are in the running for a new QB of the future. They have been linked to several QBs throughout the process. I honestly feel like this is the spot for Mahomes. No matter who it is. It'll be up to the highest bidder as KC Hou Ari Buf Chi SD NO NYG Pitt are all looking for future QBs. My gut tells me that the Texans are the ones the most interested in Mahomes, in fact he said so. So, I'd guess Houston moved up but no matter who it is, I think he's the pick at 13.
    
    
    Previous Pick: Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson
    
    
14. Philadelphia Eagles: Charles Harris, RE, Missouri
    
    
    Eric Galko says that The five players the Eagles are targeting are Charles Harris, Derek Barnett, Gareon Conley, Christian McCaffrey and John Ross. In this mock only Ross, Harris, and Conley are available. So it would be between them. Conley's recent rape allegations makes him a no this early, though he would have been the pick prior. I'm leaning Harris over Ross.
    
    
    Previous Pick: Marlon Humphrey, CB, Alabama
    
    
    
    
15. Indianapolis Colts: Haason Reddick, 3-4 ROLB, Temple
    
    
    So many ways the Colts could go. They could use a LB CB or RB badly. Late reports linking them to Davis of Florida. But in free agency the Colts added a bunch of talent at LB/pass rush. So, by a sheer numbers stand point Id think they could go CB here but there isn't much value as they can get one in round two. Besides they haven't met with any of the first round CBs. So, looking to the future - do they grab a Lb/pass rusher on talent alone as BPA or Gores future replacement? Reddick fits the bill as both a LB and a pass rusher better than anyone in the draft.
    
    
    Previous Pick: Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State
    
    
16. Baltimore Ravens: Corey Davis, WR, Western Michigan
    
    
    Despite all the young drafted talent on the roster at the position, the talk is that the Ravens are looking deeply at WR. I believe that if any of the drafts top 3 WRs fall to 16, they will be the pick. In this mock, Davis and Ross are both available. The Ravens have met with both and its hard to say which they prefer. Davis is the consensus top WR that most are not falling this far, so he's the pick.