2017 NFL Mock Draft: Round 1 – Picks 17-32

Last update: Tuesday, March 7, 2017. Major changes.
Next update: Occasionally. Follow me @walterfootball for updates.

The order of this 2017 NFL Mock Draft is based on the 2017 NFL Draft Order.

NFL Draft Recent Links:

2024 NFL Mock Draft (UPDATED 4/25): Round 1 /Picks 17-32 /Round 2 /Round 3 /Round 4 /Round 5 /Round 6 Other 2024 Mock Drafts: Charlie Campbell (4/25) /April Fools Mock (3/31)
2025 NFL Mock Draft (UPDATED 5/2): Round 1 /Picks 17-32
Other 2025 Mock Drafts: Charlie Campbell (5/2)
(More links to previous NFL mock drafts at the bottom of this page)

archived mock section

@walterfootball

Washington Redskins: Zach Cunningham, LB, Vanderbilt
I want to give the Redskins a safety, inside linebacker or a five-technique, as they desperately need to upgrade the interior of their defense. One of the top players available happens to fill one of those positions. Zach Cunningham is the sort of player the Redskins have coveted over the years; he has the size and experience that Washington prefers its prospects to have.

Follow @walterfootball for updates. Also, you can Support Us on Patreon here!
Tennessee Titans: O.J. Howard, TE, Alabama
Delanie Walker has had some great years with the Titans, but he turns 33 in August and will be set to make about $6 million in 2018, so Tennessee could take O.J. Howard as the best player available and groom him for a year behind Walker, much like the Chargers have done with Hunter Henry playing behind and alongside Antonio Gates. Howard blew up the Senior Bowl and seems like he’d be a great fit in Tennessee.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Christian McCaffrey, RB/WR, Stanford
I moved Christian McCaffrey to the second round of my 2017 NFL Mock Draft because I figured some teams might be down on him after he skipped the historic Sun Bowl, but based on conversations I had in Houston, I’m putting him back into the opening frame. The Buccaneers make a lot of sense, as they desperately need a running back, and their current regime loves players who are very passionate about football. McCaffrey, who predictably blew up the combine, fits that description.
Denver Broncos: John Ross, WR, Washington
John Ross set a record for the fastest 40 in NFL combine history, notching a 4.22. Everyone expected him to perform well in Indianapolis, but his speed will be tantalizing for some teams. That could include the Broncos, who desperately need a third receiver to go along with Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders. Denver lacks a weapon outside of those two wideouts, so adding either Ross or David Njoku is an avenue Denver could explore at No. 20 overall.

Pick change; previously Garett Bolles, OT
Detroit Lions: Adoree Jackson, CB/KR, USC
The Lions have two terrific cornerbacks in Darius Slay and Nevin Lawson, but there’s very little depth behind the two, which is not good when trying to defeat the Packers. Plus, Lawson is entering his contract season. Teams think very highly of Adoree Jackson, so he could go much earlier than this; I had him slotted at No. 15 to the Eagles in a previous update.

Miami Dolphins: Haason Reddick, LB, Temple
Zay Jones and Haason Reddick have been the two players who have helped themselves the most throughout the pre-draft process. Reddick dominated the Senior Bowl and then blew up the combine. He has to be in first-round consideration, and I think this is a great spot for him. The Dolphins desperately need help at linebacker, and Reddick could be a potential answer for Rob Gronkowski.

Pick change; previously Taco Charlton, DE
New York Giants: Garett Bolles, OT, Utah
I’ve been mocking Deshaun Watson to the Giants for more than a month. I think that’s still a strong possibility, especially in the wake of Watson’s superb combine, but I think I’m going to have New York go in a different direction.

If the Giants pass on Watson, they’ll have several different options. They could take a tight end like David Njoku, but I have to believe that a tackle will be prioritized. New York wanted Jack Conklin last year, but Tennessee jumped in front of them to grab him. Here’s their chance to bolster their front, as Bolles tested off the charts in Indianapolis.

Pick change; previously Deshaun Watson, QB
Oakland Raiders: Caleb Brantley, DT, Florida
Oakland’s defense improved as the season progressed, but there was always a big void in the middle of the defensive line. I imagine the Raiders will want to spend a high selection on a prospect who can generate some pressure in the interior, and Caleb Brantley is one of the top prospects available.

Houston Texans: Pat Mahomes, QB, Texas Tech
The Texans selecting a quarterback in the first round would’ve seemed unfathomable a few months ago, but Brock Osweiler has been so horrible that he was benched in favor of Tom Savage, who isn’t a good quarterback either. I can’t imagine the Texans going into next year with Osweiler and Savage as their only quarterbacks. They’d need to find someone else, and that someone else could be Pat Mahomes.

Charlie Campbell reported that some teams have Mahomes slotted as a second-round prospect, but given that Mahomes is a quarterback, he’s likely to be chosen earlier than most anticipate. The NFL Draft Advisory Committee apparently agrees, as they gave Mahomes a Round 2 grade, which means he’ll be pushed into the opening frame because he’s a quarterback. Thus, it only seems logical to slot Mahomes into this spot, because if the Texans like him, they won’t be able to obtain him with their second-round selection.
Seattle Seahawks: Jabrill Peppers, S/LB, Michigan
Jabrill Peppers may not seem like a logical pick at first glance, but I think it makes a lot of sense, and I have to credit e-mailer Yu N. for the great suggestion. The Seahawks could really use a versatile player like Peppers; they have numerous issues, all of which he could address. Cornerback Deshawn Shead suffered a torn ACL in the loss to the Falcons, and because the Seahawks play a lot of nickel, Peppers could be used in those situations. He could also be the third linebacker in base formations, as Michael Morgan is heading for free agency. Plus, there’s the obvious, which would be the depth he’d provide if either Kam Chancellor or Earl Thomas suffered injuries again. Peppers would help in the return game as well, allowing Tyler Lockett to focus more on offense.

Pick change; previously Ryan Ramczyk, OT

Kansas City Chiefs: Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson
Andy Reid selected Kevin Kolb with his initial draft choice back in 2007. Donovan McNabb was entrenched as his starter, but he was about to turn 31, and Reid was thinking of the future. Perhaps Reid will make a similar decision at this juncture, as Alex Smith is a few months away from 33. Smith performed poorly this past season, so the Chiefs need to get better at quarterback anyway.

I should note that no team we’ve spoken to has Deshaun Watson as a first-round prospect. One high-ranking personnel man in the NFC told me he has Watson as a third-round prospect. It’s so much like the Teddy Bridgewater draft, when the media had Bridgewater in the first round, and yet NFL franchises considered him to be a second-day prospect, even before his woeful pro day. However, this was prior to the national championship, so I have to believe some team will trade up into the back end of the opening frame to take Watson, much like the Vikings did with Bridgewater. In this case, Kansas City is simply taking Watson with its own pick, and I think it’s a very logical selection.

Pick change; previously DeShone Kizer, QB
Dallas Cowboys: Corey Davis, WR, Western Michigan
The Cowboys are expected to address their defense with this selection, unless a dynamic receiver happens to fall to them. That’s the case here, as Dallas will seriously consider Corey Davis at this juncture. Davis is a talented receiver, but has injuries. Charlie Campbell reported that Davis could drop, as some teams have him in the late first round.

Pick change; previously John Ross, WR

Green Bay Packers: T.J. Watt, LB, Wisconsin
The Packers place great pressure on opposing quarterbacks with Julius Peppers and Nick Perry, but both happen to be impending free agents. Peppers turns 37 in January, while Perry could prove to be too expensive to retain.

Green Bay once selected an edge rusher with strong NFL family ties in Clay Matthews. This is a similar pick, as T.J. Watt had an incredible performance at the combine.

Pick change; previously Charles Harris, DE/OLB
Pittsburgh Steelers: Takkarist McKinley, DE/OLB, UCLA
James Harrison played out of his mind this past season, but the Steelers have to be aware that this won’t last much longer. They’ll need to find someone to replace Harrison as a starter across from Bud Dupree in the near future.
Atlanta Falcons: Forrest Lamp, G/C, Western Kentucky
The Falcons could stand to improve some areas of their defense, but they could also upgrade one area of the offensive line. Chris Chester is the lone liability up front, and I’m sure the Falcons would love to obtain Forrest Lamp, who had a strong showing in Indianapolis.

Pick change; previously Malik McDowell, DE/DT
New Orleans Saints: David Njoku, TE, Miami
David Njoku could go as high as No. 18 overall after a terrific combine, so this is a steal. The Saints signed Coby Fleener last spring, but he proved to be a colossal bust. It’s not out of the question that they could use New England’s draft pick to find an upgrade for Fleener, given how talented this tight end class happens to be.