2017 NFL Mock Draft: Browns, 49ers Looking for Quarterback

Ahead of Week 4, we assess what next offseason could look like with our latest 2017 NFL Mock Draft going through the full first round

Though only three games have been played in the 2016 NFL season, the sad truth of the league is that some teams are already looking toward the future. Hell, you could make the argument that the Cleveland Browns were in that frame of mind at 0-0. Even still, it’s never too soon to start looking ahead to next season. More importantly, it’s never a bad time for a 2017 NFL Mock Draft.

Since we are so far away from the April 2017 draft, though, there are a few parameters that we need to set. For one, the draft-order is based off of the latest NFL Spin Zone Power Rankings for Week 4. Moreover, we’ll factor in things like rumors and draft tendencies when there is more information available on that closer to the draft. For now, these picks are based off of the talent of the player, the need of the team, and where that team falls in the draft order.

Moreover, we’ll go relatively in-depth with the first 10 picks in the draft. For the final 22, we’ll simply give a brief overview of each team, player, and pick. We’ll have plenty of time to get the word out about ever prospect between now and April—don’t you worry.

Now that we’ve got all of that figured out and cleared up, let’s start with those Browns as they’re picking No. 1 in this 2017 NFL Mock Draft.

Sep 17, 2016; Clemson, SC, USA; Clemson Tigers quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) looks on during the second half against the South Carolina State Bulldogs at Clemson Memorial Stadium. Tigers won 59-0. Mandatory Credit: Joshua S. Kelly-USA TODAY Sports

Deshaun Watson

QB, Clemson

The seemingly perpetual search for a franchise quarterback continues for the Cleveland Browns. Barring Cody Kessler showing a boatload of things over the rest of 2016, the Browns have to look to quarterback. While they really are so devoid of talent on their roster that they should look for Best Player Available (BPA), quarterback is the most important position on the field. And you can’t run gimmick plays for Terrelle Pryor forever.

Notre Dame quarterback DeShone Kizer has started to gain a lot of buzz early in the college football season as the top prospect at the position. However, that title still belongs to Deshaun Watson out of Clemson for me. While you can adequately describe him as a dual-threat player because of his rushing ability, he’s far more capable as a passer than many players with that label are coming out of college.

With the plethora of receivers that the Browns brought in with their 2016 draft class, Watson is the efficient and dangerous passer that could take advantage of all of that talent. Given that talent and the Browns’ desperate need to fill that void on their roster, taking Watson at No. 1 is the only option that makes sense—even if Watson isn’t the best overall player on the board.

Sep 19, 2015; College Station, TX, USA; Texas A&M Aggies defensive lineman Myles Garrett (15) in action during the game against the Nevada Wolf Pack at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Myles Garrett

DE, Texas A&M

Defensive ends shouldn’t be as big and as fast as Myles Garrett is. You know in old-school video games where the cheat code would make one or all of the players bigger and monstrous to the point that it was unfair? That’s basically the plane of reality that the Texas A&M star exists on every time that he takes the field in college football. He’s just that damn good.

As players like Von Miller and J.J. Watt (among others), have proven in the NFL, having an elite pass rush off the edge in the NFL is a game-changer. However, it’s even more pivotal to have a player who demands that kind of attention when you are lacking in talent elsewhere on the defense. Even before being decimated by injuries on that side of the ball, the Chicago Bears definitely qualify in that regard.

Garrett is talented enough and dangerous enough that he could legitimately vault the Bears defense to being average (a drastic improvement) if he were to land in Chicago. He has the unique ability off of the edge to both beat tackles with power and speed to rush the passer while also being more than adequate at stopping the run. He’s a monster that any team in this draft should covet.

Sep 17, 2016; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback DeShone Kizer (14) attempts to throw the ball against the Michigan State Spartans during the first quarter of a game at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

Deshone Kizer

QB, Notre Dame

I may not have him as the top quarterback for 2017, but that doesn’t mean he’s not a high-quality NFL prospect. DeShone Kizer and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish have been struggling mightily to start the 2016 college football season. Of course, that’s not really the fault of the signal-caller. It’s been the defense that has let the Irish down, letting the supreme efforts of the young quarterback go to waste.

For a player that ultimately came into the fold for Notre Dame last season due to injury, it’s quite incredible that Kizer was once second on the depth chart. Much like Watson, he has the ability to absolutely terrorize defenses if he gets the edge and can use his legs in the open field. However, he also has an arm that is an absolute cannon and has shown improved accuracy with his throws from 2015 through the first few games of 2016.

Suffice it to say that the San Francisco 49ers probably aren’t banking the future of the franchise on Blaine Gabbert and Colin Kaepernick. While he may not be running the old Oregon offense per se, we know that Chip Kelly loves a quarterback that can beat teams with both his arm and legs. That’s what Kizer brings to the table, making this seemingly a perfect match.

Oct 10, 2015; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines safety Jabrill Peppers (5) celebrates during the game against the Northwestern Wildcats at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Jabrill Peppers

S/LB, Michigan

Calling the New Orleans Saints defense abysmal is an offense to all things abysmal. It’s more of a shock when a running play doesn’t go for six-or-more yards or when a passing play doesn’t result in a first down against the Saints. So it would stand to reason that they would look to address that with an early first-round pick. And you can’t ask for a more versatile defensive playmaker than Jabrill Peppers out of Michigan.

Many people look at Peppers and see the next version of Deone Bucannon and how he plays for the Arizona Cardinals. That’s the hybrid linebacker/safety role that he essentially plays for the Wolverines now. However, what you have to love the most about Peppers as a prospect is that he could truly play almost anywhere on the field. He’s lined up at safety, linebacker, running back on the other side of the ball, and is also one of the most dangerous return men in the country as well.

What’s more is that he’s not just “pretty good” in a bunch of areas and great at none. He’s really good to great in all of the facets of the game that he’s asked to contribute in. For a Saints defense that could use a jolt of playmaking ability, there’s no way in my mind they can conceivably pass up on a player like Peppers.

Sep 3, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; USC Alabama Crimson Tide offensive lineman Cam Robinson (74) in action during the game against the USC Trojans at AT&T Stadium. Alabama defeats USC 52-6. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Cam Robinson

OT, Alabama

Remember that time that we thought the Jacksonville Jaguars were going to be good in 2016? Good time. However, it’s clear that the Jaguars still have plenty of growth and improvement left to do. And after addressing their major holes on offense in early rounds of recent drafts, it would stand to reason that they need to go back and look at the offensive line. By far the best tackle prospect in the 2017 NFL Draft is going to be Cam Robinson out of Alabama.

Prefacing this by saying that Robinson is quite capable and should be a quality tackle at the NFL level, this pick is largely influenced by the lack of depth at the position in the upcoming draft. The days of Laremy Tunsil, Jack Conklin, and Ronnie Stanley from the 2016 draft aren’t coming back. Thus, any team that needs help on the offensive line is going to have to pay a bit of a premium to get a player like Robinson.

However, the Jags are in a position where they essentially have to pay that premium. Despite having tried to improve the line in recent years, Blake Bortles still winds up hurried and on his backside far too often for them to be a successful offense at any time other than garbage time playing from behind. Subsequently, dipping back in the O-line pool and reaching a bit to do so is the logical option for Jacksonville.

Sep 10, 2016; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide defensive lineman Jonathan Allen (93) at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports

Jonathan Allen

DL, Alabama

Welcome to the super-high-upside Top-10 pick that happens every year. Based solely on potential, Jonathan Allen is an absolute stud. However, he returned for his senior season at Alabama to prove that he can be an every-down player. Thus far, he’s done that and could be an absolute boost for a Detroit Lions defense that is still trying to become fully formed in the wake of Ndamukong Suh’s departure in free agency.

Allen would join his former Crimson Tide teammate in A’Shawn Robinson and Ziggy Ansah in the front-four for the Lions and make them a truly formidable force against both the run and the pass. Allen is a bit undersized on the line, but has made great strides in becoming much bigger since first arriving in Tuscaloosa. Now he’s the type of player that simply disrupts what the opposing offense is trying to do, be it on the ground or through the air.

With the Lions looking to add as much young depth as possible on their defensive line, Allen certainly fits the bill. As stated, there’s a bit of a risk as Allen’s projections for where he’ll go in the draft are all over the board. But he has the talent to be every bit worthy of a Top-10 pick.

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There are many reasons why the LSU Tigers have been lackluster to start the 2016 college football season. One of those reasons is not their defense. And anchoring that unit in the back of the secondary is Jamal Adams at safety. He’s a player that can not only keep things secure deep when defending the pass, but he’s also more than capable of coming up and making plays if asked.

Tampa Bay addressed their secondary with another SEC defensive back in the first round of the 2015 draft. Vernon Hargreaves already looks to be like a potential stud, but he can’t do it alone for the Buccaneers back there. Considering that the two started safeties for the Bucs right now are Chris Conte and Bradley McDougald, suffice it to say that they could use a young, talented upgrade back there. Adams would provide that and more.

Make no mistake, there are a number of areas where the Buccaneers could stand to address on the defensive side of the ball. However, continuing to focus on the secondary seems like the best course of action for right now. Subsequently, Adams should be the play for them if he’s there in the first round.

Sep 17, 2016; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers running back Leonard Fournette (7) is defended by Mississippi State Bulldogs defensive back Lashard Durr (25) during the first quarter of a game at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Leonard Fournette

RB, LSU

Ryan Tannehill is the leading rusher for the Miami Dolphins through three games. That’s pretty much all of the justification needed for why they should be taking the best running back prospect on the board in the 2017 NFL Draft. And that player is unquestionably Leonard Fournette, the second-straight player from LSU coming off of the board.

The fact that Fournette has remained productive at all with the Tigers is a testament to his tremendous abilities. Teams consistently load the box with seven and eight guys against LSU because of their incompetency at quarterback. Thus, Fournette is consistently running against a defense that is gearing up to stop him and only him. And he still comes up with one big performance after another. That’s truly impressive.

So to imagine Fournette running behind an improving offensive line and with a passing attack that’s at least adequate would be a welcomed sight for him. Moreover, you have to imagine that his ability to be a tremendously quick while also physically dominant runner would translate well to the NFL. Adam Gase should be looking for another weapon to capitalize on his offensive genius and Fournette should be just that.

Apr 8, 2016; Gainesville, FL, USA; Florida Gators defensive back Jalen Tabor (31) looks on in the third quarter during the Orange and Blue game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Blue won 38-6. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports

Jalen Tabor

CB, Florida

For the most part, the defense of the Tennessee Titans has been passable through their first three games of the 2016 NFL season. However, the one area where they’ve been consistently getting killed is opposing quarterbacks finding their second cornerback, Perrish Cox, and picking on him relentlessly. Jason McCourty is fantastic opposite of Cox, but the latter has consistently been a matchup to exploit.

Thus, the Titans will go into the 2017 draft needing first and foremost to address that area with their pick. And there aren’t any cornerbacks in this class better than Jalen (Teez) Tabor out of Florida. Despite a few character concerns stemming from off-field incidents (and a couple of on-field ones as well), the talent of Tabor is undeniable. He can shut down guys, lay the wood with big hits, and essentially do it all at the position.

There’s no doubt that Tennessee is a team on the rise. They’ve drafted well and have consistently been improving and taking steps forward. I believe that taking a player like Tabor would help them take yet another step forward and help them to become an above-average unit on the defensive side of the ball.

Dec 30, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (9) attempts to catch a pass while defended by Wisconsin Badgers cornerback Darius Hillary (5) during the 2015 Holiday Bowl at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

JuJu Smith-Schuster

WR, USC

Quite frankly, it’s a shame that the USC Trojans always seem to bring in an overhyped quarterback that can’t ultimately deliver in recent years. That results in a player like wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster getting overlooked and not being able to fully put his skills on display. However, no one should doubt the fact that the young wideouts skills are indeed immense.

His stock for the 2017 draft has slipped a bit through the first four weeks of the college football season because of the struggles of the Trojans offense. However, he has the size, quickness, football IQ, and whatever other attribute you want to throw out there to be a successful NFL receiver. Considering the position that the Chargers find themselves in, it stands to reason that they would want to bring in the USC product.

Even before the Keenan Allen injury, San Diego’s depth at receiver was questionable at best. Said injury only magnifies that fact. Philip Rivers is one of the most underrated quarterbacks in the NFL, but his talents often get wasted because of injuries and a lack of quality weapons. So to not squander any more of Rivers’ productive years, taking JuJu seems like the only logical option at pick No. 10.

Sep 3, 2016; Iowa City, IA, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes defensive back Desmond King (14) prepares to defend Miami (Oh) Redhawks wide receiver Sam Shisso (10) during the fourth quarter at Kinnick Stadium. The Hawkeyes won 45-21. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

Desmond King

CB, Iowa

It’s no secret that the Indianapolis Colts secondary is an absolute mess (as is the defense as a whole). Addressing that with a high-quality corner like Desmond King seems like the best course of action.

Marlon Humphrey

CB, Alabama

We’ve heard a lot about the decline of Darrelle Revis over the start of 2016 for the New York Jets. Thus, it would make sense for them to address that need an improve the secondary with an underrated prospect like Marlon Humphrey.

Malik McDowell

DT, Michigan State

The Buffalo Bills could stand to inject some new blood into their front-seven. Malik McDowell would be a steal in the middle of the line if they could get him at No. 13.

Reuben Foster

LB, Alabama

Whenever you can take a top-tier linebacker out of Alabama like Reuben Foster and put him in the hands of Dan Quinn to help an ailing defense, you’d be crazy not to do it.

Chad Kelly

QB, Ole Miss

The Carson Palmer struggles early in 2016 have to have the Arizona Cardinals worries. Taking the underrated Chad Kelly (get Brad Kaaya out of here) should help them rest a little easier.

Derek Barnett

DE, Tennessee

Even with Washington addressing the secondary in free agency, their defense still leaves a lot to be desired. Derek Barnett could wind up being the best defensive player not named Myles Garrett in this draft and would be the smart choice here.

Mike Williams

WR, Clemson

Pick via Los Angeles Rams

After Dorial Green-Beckham clearly didn’t work out, the Titans are still looking for another big red zone weapon that can score and can also bust open big plays. Enter Mike Williams out of Clemson to answer their prayers.

Tim Williams

EDGE, Alabama

If the turmoil surrounding his recent arrest dies down before the draft, Tim Williams will likely be a Top-10 or Top-12 pick. Given that, though, I think he slips a bit and an improving Giants defense capitalizes.

Dalvin Cook

RB, Florida State

Oakland is a team on the rise, but their running game feels a bit lackluster still as you can’t fully trust Latavius Murray to carry the load. You can damn sure trust Dalvin Cook, though, which is where they should go at No. 19.

Charles Harris

EDGE, Missouri

You could talk me into the Bengals taking a receiver here, but I like them to continue to improve their defense. Charles Harris is one of the most underrated (or maybe just not-talked-about-enough) players in the country. He’d be perfect under Marvin Lewis.

Jaylen Reeves-Maybin

OLB, Tennessee

Some mock drafts will have Jaylen Reeves-Maybin falling out of the first round. That’s a mistake in my eyes and a team like the Ravens seems like a franchise that will see it that way as well.

Sep 24, 2016; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide tight end O.J. Howard (88) scores a touchdown against the Kent State Golden Flashes at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports

O.J. Howard

TE, Alabama

After making big moves to address their offense moving forward, the Texans still lack a high-quality tight end that can affect the game in multiple areas. O.J. Howard is more than capable of slotting in right away and doing all Houston needs and more.

Raekwon McMillan

ILB, Ohio State

With the Lawrence Timmons injury raising questions about his future and durability moving forward, the Steelers should probably look for an inside linebacker. Raekwon McMillan is a solid prospect that Mike Tomlin could certainly turn into a special player.

Demarcus Walker

DE, Florida State

The Dallas Cowboys certainly hope that 2015 second-rounder Jaylon Smith can start to contribute next season after he rehabs from his horrific injury at Notre Dame. In the meantime, they still need more help on that side of the ball and DeMarcus Walker can provide that coming off the edge.

Carl Lawson

EDGE, Auburn

Speaking of coming off the edge, I love the idea of Carl Lawson with the Seahawks. Even if he doesn’t fit perfectly into the Seattle mold, he’s got enough raw talent that I have confidence in Seattle working with him and making him a playmaker.

Mike McGlinchey

OT, Notre Dame

Again, this draft isn’t loaded with offensive line talent. However, the Panthers have to get better at combatting elite pass-rushes. Taking a solid tackle like Mike McGlinchey to build into a quality player would be the best course of action.

Travis Rudolph

WR, Florida State

The Kansas City Chiefs wide receivers are Jeremy Maclin and…and…Bueller? Bueller? Yeah, the Chiefs need to continue giving Captain Checkdown Alex Smith weapons to utilize and Travis Rudolph should be a quality option late in the first round.

Sidney Jones

CB, Washington

Pick via Philadelphia Eagles

Once again, we have to reiterate the fact that the Browns need help at virtually every position, even finding someone to replace Joe Thomas when the time comes. However, I think they need to look to the secondary and Sidney Jones could be a quality option to help them out in that regard.

Johnny Caspers

G/C, Stanford

The Packers letting Josh Sitton go remains one of the most shocking moves of the offseason coming into 2016 and their offensive line inconsistency only further proves that. Subsequently, Johnny Caspers looks like he could be a player to slot in there as the next version of Sitton to shore things up.

Christian McCaffrey

RB, Stanford

Pick via Minnesota Vikings

Trusting Ryan Mathews for too long is not a life that Eagles fans want to live. Thanks to the Sam Bradford trade, they can pick up all-purpose monster Christian McCaffrey to help make sure they don’t have to rely too much on Mathews.

Lowell Lotulelei

DT, Utah

Not that the Denver defense really needs much help, but why not take a potential sleeper like Lowell Lotulelei to help fill the hole left by Malik Jackson? The rich get richer, of course.

Adoree Jackson

CB, USC

This just seems like the most Bill Belichick move in the history of the world. You have a cornerback that can do a ton of things well and play special teams incredibly well. Of course the NFL’s Godfather is going to snag him at No. 32 and probably make Adoree Jackson a star.