College Football

Thursday, April 27, 2017

2017 NFL Mock Draft Part 2: Joe Smeltzer's Projections

#1
Cleveland Browns: Myles Garrett, DE Texas A&M

Size and speed. That's what makes Myles Garrett a once-in-a-generation type talent. It's pretty much a consensus opinion that Garrett will be taken #1 overall, and if you don't know why, here are some highlights. 
#2
San Fransisco 49ers: Mitchell Turbisky, QB North Carolina
This one is much less of a sure thing than the #1 pick. As a team that went 2-14 last season, the 49ers have a lot of areas that need improving. The consensus is that they will either take Stanford defensive end Solomon Thomas, or the quarterback, Mitch Turbisky.

I could see San Fran going either way. However, because a quarterback is always the hottest thing to have, I think that will be what will sway them to take Turbisky, who is believed to be the most NFL ready QB in the draft. The 9ers will be of the mindset that it all starts with the quarterback, and if they are the draft a quarterback, it will be Mitchell Turbisky. 
#3 
Chicago Bears: Jamal Adams, Saftey LSU

It is a pretty safe bet that the Bears will take a safety, and the two best in the draft are Ohio State's Malik Hooker and Jamal Adams from LSU. Yes, Adams had a down year in 2016. However, he is still the most "safe" of all of the options at safety. Adams is polished, and he has the potential to make a huge difference for an NFL team. That is what will drive Chicago to take him.  

#4 
Jacksonville Jaguares: Solomon Thomas, DE Stanford
In most other years, Thomas would be the best defensive end in the draft, and if the 49ers decide to take him at number two, I would not be surprised. The 6 ft. 2, 275 pounder is a freak athlete who has to ability to line up in multiple different positions. Thomas is a beast, and Jacksonville will lick their chops if the 49ers do not decide take him. 

#5
 Tennesse Titans: Marshan Lattimore, CB Ohio State 
Yes, 2017 will be another year there are a lot of Buckeyes to choose from, and at the top of the list is the top cornerback in the draft. The 6 ft. 1, 192 pound sophomore is athletic smart, and knows how to wrap, and all of those things will be essential to making him a top five draft choice. Tennesse needs a corner, and Lattimore could well be that guy. 

#6
 New York Jets: Deshaun Watson, QB Clemson
This may come as a surprise. But to me, Watson to the Jets just makes perfect sense. Here is a team that needs something to feel good about, and that is in despreate need for a quarterback. So, putting those together, wouldn't it be a "New York" thing if the national champ went to the Jets? Think about that. 
#7
LA Chargers: Malik Hooker, Saftey Ohio State 

I watched Malik Hooker play in high school. He was pretty good. But I never envisioned that he would turn into a top 10 NFL draft choice, and that appears to be on the verge of happening. Hooker is aggressive, has an eye for the ball, and is a guy who can create a big play on defense at any moment. Experts have compared him to the great Ed Reed, and these highlights will show you why. 
#8 
Carolina Panthers: Jonathan Allen, DT Alabama 

I remember seeing mock drafts during the season that placed Allen at number one, and I could see it. At 286 pounds, the guy is a freak, and he also is a fantastic pass rusher who can line up in multiple positions. As a member of team Saben, Allen has played against the best of the best, so he is ready to be a solid pro.
#9 
Cincinnati Bengals: Derek Barnett, DE Tennesse 

From one SEC defensive lineman to another. This year has a lot of promise for the big boys up front, and Barnett is no exception. Another big man, Barnett has a great first step and is slick enough run around offensive lineman. His combination of size, speed and football IQ would make a welcome addition to Cincinnati, who is looking to have a bounce-back season in the AFC North. 
#10
Buffalo Bills: Mike Williams, WR Clemson

It is agreed upon that the two best receivers in this years draft are Williams and Western Michigan's Corey Davis. I think Williams is the one that will go first. For one, I think he is a safer pick than Davis, as teams feel more comfortable going with a national champion than somebody from a small school. Two, I think Williams is a better player then Davis, and if you watched the National Title game, than you would know what Williams can do. 

#11
New Orleans Saints: Reuban Foster, ILB Alabama 

Another big school guy. Yes, it is possible that Foster takes a hit because of his alleged freakout at the combine. But Foster is still an aggressive, physical speciman who can play in either a 4-3 or a 3-4. Also, he played for Alabama, which tends to have some pretty solid NFL talent. 

#12: Cleveland Browns (From PHI): O.J. Howard, TE Alabama

"But Smeltz, shouldn't the Browns draft a quarterback at some point? Well, it wouldn't hurt. But there just aren't that many quarterback options to choose from, and more than likely, Cleveland is going to be in a position to draft a franchise QB again next year. Howard is far and away the best tight end in the draft and could pay dividends when the Brows do get that quarterback. I see Howard as a guy who would start right away and could be an impact player in a short amount of time.  

#13: Arizona Cardinals: Pat Mahomes, QB Texas Tech 

Mahomes is one of those guys that people would argue is a perfect fit for college, but would not translate well to the pros. In most years, that theory would drop Mahomes out of the top 15 and maybe out of the first round. But Arizona needs a quarterback, and there aren't that many to choose from. Mahomes is moble, has a cannon for an arm, and once put up 819 yards of total offense against Oklahoma. Mahomes is certinaly a hit or miss type of guy, and I think the Cardinals will be willing to take that risk. 

#14: Philadelphia Eagles: Corey Davis, WR Western Michigan

As mentioned above, Davis is the second best receiver in the draft behind Mike Williams, and boy, is he fun to watch. Despite playing for a MAC school, Davis is a freak of nature, putting up over 1,500 yards receiving this year to go along with 19 touchdowns. The Eagles need a receiver to help out poor Carson Wentz, and Davis could well be that guy. 

#15: Indianapolis Colts: Hasson Reddick, OLB Temple 

Two in a row for the MAC. The Colts need defense, and this former defensive back who can rush the passer and play in coverage would be a great fit. Temple football is on the legit, baby. 

#16: Baltimore Ravens: Leonard Fournette, RB LSU 

This is possibly my most interesting prediction. Many mocks have Fournette as the top running back in the draft, and some even have him going in the top 10. While I agree that Fournette is the top runner on the board, I don't think the demand for the position is high enough to where he would fit in the top 10, so I have him falling just outside of the top 15. The Ravens are likely to either draft a running back or a receiver, and I think Fournette's value this low in the first round will sway them to make a splash with number 16.


#17: Washington Redskins: Dalvin Cook, RB Florida State

Next to Fournette, either Cook or Christian McCaffery will be selected as the next running back in the first round. I think the Redskins will go with Cook because of his versatility. Not only was Cook an explosive runner while at FSU, but he was also an excellent receiver. I think that versatility and athleticism will sway the Redskins, who are depleted on offense, to take number four with number 17.
#18: Tennesse Titans: David Njoku, TE Miami

I like Tennesse's future,  and I think they could compete for a wildcard spot in 2017. With Delanie Walker getting older and Anthony Fasano moved on to the Dolphins, a tight end would make sense for Tennesse in round one. With O.J. Howard off the board, Njoku would make perfect sense as the next best option available. Njoku possesses athleticism that is rare to see from a tight end and could prove to be a huge target for Marcus Mariota in the coming years. 
#19: Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Christian McCaffrey, RB Stanford 

Anybody who watches college football knows what McCaffrey can do. Similar to Fournette, I just don't see the demand as high enough for McCaffery to go too high in the first round. Nonetheless, this guy would be a welcome addition to the Tampa Bay Bucs. 
#20: Denver Broncos: Ryan Ramczyk, OT Wisconsion 

Wisconsin is known for producing quality offensive lineman, and Ramczyk is a hoss. At 6 ft. 6 and 310 lb, the All American is expected by many to go to Denver, who is in need of an offensive lineman. Being that Ramczyk is the best one in the draft, this one should be a no-brainer. 
#21: Detroit Lions: Taco Charlton, DE Michigan 
In addition to having the best name in the draft, Taco Charlton is also a part of this excellent class of defensive linemen. Part of Michigan's outstanding front, Charlton is an absolute beast who has great length, can move and can lineup anywhere. It would also be solid for the Lions to get somebody who is familiar with the great state of Michigan. 

#22: Miami Dolphins: Forrest Lamp, OG Western Kentucky 

With the second O-lineman taken in this year's draft, here is a big man from a small school. Instead of me rambling on like usual, here is an excellent article on why Lamp will excel in the National Football League. 
#23: New York Giants: Garret Bolles, OT Utah

Another big boi. The Giants top running back had 593 yards rushing last year. So, they need something to jump start their running game. Bolles, who is an excellent run-blocker with shifty footwork, could go a long way in doing that. Yes, it might make sense for the G-Men to draft a running back to help their running game. But runners in the draft are fewer these days, and as the Dallas Cowboys have shown the past few years, a good offensive line can go a long way into having a successful running game. Bolles could be a huge piece in that line. 
#24 Oakland Raiders: Kevin King, CB Washington 

Before suffering an injury, King was projected to go in the top half of the first round. Now, he's fallen a bit, but I still expect to see his name called on day one. King is a long, athletic corner, and defensive backs are quite important these days. At Washington, King had to deal with plenty of PAC 12 offenses, so he knows what it is like to go against explosive receivers as well. 

#25 Houston Texans: Davis Webb, QB California 

This is a bold prediction, but as mentioned earlier, the depth at the quarterback position this year is not as strong as it has been in the past. Being a Penn State fan, I know how much Bill O'Brien loves quarterbacks, and at this point in the draft, the gunslinger from Cal could be their best bet. It might be a stretch, but I would not be surprised to hear Webb's name called on Thursday night. 
#26 Seattle Seahawks: Obi Melifonwu, Saftey Connecticut 

The Seahawks are not what they once were, and I see them going back to their roots and getting a safety. They can do that by drafting this reliable tackler who runs a 4.4. Melifonwu is a physical beast, and could fit right into the future of the "Legion of Boom."
#27: Kansas City Chiefs: Jarrad Davis, ILB Florida 

The Chiefs are a team that loves defense, and they are expected to add to that defense in this year's draft. A possible fit for them is this linebacker from another school that loves defense, that being the University of Florida. Davis is projected by some to go in the top 20, but as you can see, I do not envision that working out. So, the Chiefs could be in for a steal with this guy. 

#28: Dallas Cowboys: Takkarist McKinley, OLB UCLA 

Aside from having an awesome name, McKinley is a beast, and luckily for the Cowboys, his stock appears to be dropping. McKinley is described by NFL.Com as a "worker bee," meaning that he is not content and is always striving to make life miserable for offensive tackles. The Cowboys defense is perhaps the reason they did not make a Super Bowl appearance last year, and McKinley could be a piece to fixing that puzzle.



#29 Green Bay Packers: T.J. Watt, OLB Wisconsion 

This guy's big brother is pretty good at football, in case ya didn't know. Watt to Wisconsin makes all the sense in the world to me. Not only is he a beast in his own right, but the Packers taking a somewhat local player with great ties to the state would be a great PR move. Considering also that their defense is not very good, there is no reason for the Packers not to draft Watt should be be avaliable at number 29. 

#30: Pittsburgh Steelers: Zach Cunningham, ILB Vanderbilt 
The Steelers love to draft defensive players. Now, for the first time in years, they need a rock at middle linebacker. Cunningham could be that guy. Even though he goes to a place not know for its football, Cunningham has great instinct, is very athletic, and could be a long-term replacement for LT.



#31: Atlanta Falcons: Carl Lawson, DE Auburn 

Sticking with the SEC, Lawson is a solid defensive end stuck in a year which is filled with lineman who are more higlhy touted than him However, I do not see Lawson dropping out of the first round. Atlanta's defense is not great, and Lawson could become a great pass rusher that would complement Vic Beasley well.


#32: New Orleans Saints (from NE): John Ross, WR Washington 


The Saints lost Brandin Cooks to the Patriots. But they also got New England's first-round draft choice. Now, they can use that option to take a wide receiver, and John Ross could be that guy. Speed kills, and John Ross has more of it than perhaps any player in this draft. Now imagine him running in the Superdome with Drew Brees throwing him the football? You like that, Saints fans? 

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