Click here for Part 1 of the 2017 NFL Mock Draft 2.0.
11. New Orleans Saints – Derek Barnett, DE – Tennessee
The Saints sit tight at No. 11 and end up with the player I think is the best pure pass rusher in this draft. No player in the SEC had more sacks than Barnett over his four seasons at Tennessee. He also managed to break Reggie White’s career sack record too. Barnett will make an immediate impact in a pass-happy NFC South.
12. Cleveland Browns (From the Philadelphia Eagles) – Mitchell Trubisky, QB – North Carolina
If the 49ers or Bears come to their senses, this won’t happen. But since they all seem content to win four or five games with shitty quarterbacks, the Browns end up winning the day, grabbing Trubisky with the No. 12 pick. By drafting Trubisky and opening up a legitimate competition with Brock Osweiler and Cody Kessler, the Browns should at least have a foundation behind center for a much more successful season than their 1-15 campaign in 2016.
13. Arizona Cardinals – Marlon Humphrey, CB – Alabama
The Cardinals really need a quarterback to work in as Carson Palmer’s replacement, sooner rather than later, but this isn’t the time to make that pick. Grabbing Humphrey here gives Arizona a monster defensive backfield of Patrick Peterson and Tyrann Mathieu.
14. Philadelphia Eagles (From Minnesota Vikings) – Dalvin Cook, RB – Florida State
The Eagles are building something special. They have their quarterback, they have an elite wide receiver corps and with the addition of Cook, they have their backfield set. Cook has played in a pro style his entire career and can run it out of the I, the single back and the shotgun without missing a step.
15. Indianapolis Colts – Ryan Ramczyk, OT – Wisconsin
The Colts did a good job in last year’s draft building up their offensive line, but the work’s not done. Not until a real, NFL-level unit is blocking for Andrew Luck. Ramczyk is just another part of that process.
16. Baltimore Ravens – Haasan Reddick, OLB – Temple
Terrell Suggs’ career is wrapping up. What better time to draft his replacement than right here at No. 16 with the best pass-rushing outside linebacker still on the board?
17. Washington Redskins – Jabril Peppers, Safety – Michigan
Is he a safety? Is he a linebacker? For the Redskins, it won’t matter. Peppers will add a much-needed playmaker on the defensive side of the ball to a team with plenty of holes to fill. There could be a temptation to go with a receiver here considering what the Redskins lost in free agency, but this is a deep draft at wideout and Washington has some solid players already on the roster in Jameson Crowder, Josh Doctson, Terrell Pryor and Brian Quick.
18. Tennessee Titans – John Ross, WR – Washington
The Titans just sit here at this spot and end up with the guy that could be the fastest player to ever suit up for an NFL game.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Malik McDowell, DT – Michigan State
The Bucs will probably look long and hard at Corey Davis right here, but they’re realistically set at wide out. They need more help on the defensive front.
20. Denver Broncos – Garrett Boles, OT – Utah
Tony Romo is on the Broncos’ radar, regardless of what anyone says. Even if the oft-injured QB doesn’t end up on the 2017 roster, Denver needs a significant upgrade on the offensive line and Boles is where it starts.
21. Detroit Lions – Corey Davis, WR – Western Michigan
Davis comes off the board for Detroit as they look for a legitimate replacement for Calvin Johnson. He could be the guy, and luckily for the Lions, they have the receiving corps and quarterback needed to develop Davis at the pro level.
22. Miami Dolphins – Zach Cunningham, OLB – Vanderbilt
Miami has a gaping hole at outside linebacker that Cunningham, the best pure OLB in this draft, should fill from day one.
23. New York Giants – O.J. Howard, TE – Alabama
Eli Manning has been playing with nothing but trash at the tight end position for years. It’s time to fix that.
Click here for Part 3 of the 2017 NFL Mock Draft 2.0.
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