Time to continue our Get More Sports 2017 NFL Mock Draft 1.0 with picks 9-22. To see Part 1, click here.
9. Arizona Cardinals – Zach Cunningham, ILB, Vanderbilt
The Cardinals will have some gaping, obvious holes all over their team after this season, but they won’t see them. Again, Arizona should really focus on getting a quarterback, but my guess is Carson Palmer will be back throwing game-ending interceptions in 2017. In the meantime, Cunningham is an easy pick here and should make an immediate impact on a defense getting older by the minute.
10. Indianapolis Colts – Dan Feeney, OG, Indiana
The Colts offensive line has improved all season, but they shouldn’t be fooled into thinking their work is done. Feeney is the top ranked guard in this draft and should slide right into Indianapolis’ starting rotation. They need to draft offensive lineman and defensive players all through this draft, again.
11. Green Bay Packers – John Ross, WR, Washington
The Packers have screwed around long enough. It’s time to add some first-round talent to their wideout corpts and Ross fits them perfectly. He’s even used to playing in the cold.
12. New Orleans Saints – Jonathan Allen, DE, Alabama
This is too low for Allen, but like I said in Part 1, I’m not factoring in draft day trades. But this is one. Somebody will trade up to take Allen in the Top Five. It should be the Saints.
13. Cleveland Browns – (from the Philadelphia Eagles) Myles Garrett, DE, Texas A&M
Garrett, like Allen, won’t last this long. Cleveland has the need and the ammo to move up into the Top 10 (or Eight) to take him and they should.
14. San Diego Chargers – Malik McDowell, DT, Michigan State
The new coach, whoever he is, will need to keep building up the Chargers’ defensive line. McDowell should slide right next to Joey Bosa nicely.
15. Tennessee Titans – Teez Tabor, CB, Florida
The Titans are a team with stars at a few positions and just bodies at others. Tabor should make an immediate impact in a pretty porous defenisve backfield.
16. Buffalo Bills – Jamal Adams, Safety, LSU
If the Bills lose Stephon Gilmore in free agency, and they just might, they could look at a corner here too. As it is, Adams makes sense to shore up the back end of a defense that faces Tom Brady twice a year.
17. Philadelphia Eagles – (from the Minnesota Vikings) Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford
The Eagles have made the best out of Ryan Matthews and Darren Sproles, but why not add a guy that can replace both of them? McCaffery almost makes too much sense for the Eagles and the fanbase will go nuts when the Stanford running back’s name is called on draft day.
18. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Derek Barnett, DE, Tennessee
Barnet may already be a Champion at Life, but with this up-and-coming Bucs team he might also get to be a Champion at Football.
19. Pittsburgh Steelers – Tim Williams, OLB, Alabama
Somebody has to replace James Harrison before his deal with the local necromancer expires. Williams plugs right in, either inside or outside. The Steelers could also look at a defensive end here.
20. Denver Broncos – O.J. Howard, TE, Alabama
The Broncos should be the frontrunners in the Tony Romo sweepstakes in the offseason, but they need to add a weapon for him at tight end. Howard is the best coming out in this draft.
21. Washington Redskins – Carl Lawson, DE, Auburn
Lawson has been the best pass rusher at Auburn for years, a position that the Redskins are desperate to upgrade. They could be in the trade conversation for Garrett or Allen, but if they sit tight, Lawson might just fall right to them.
22. Miami Dolphins –Ryan Ramczyk, OT, Wisconsin
I’m putting Ramczyk here with the Dolphins at No. 22 right now, but I have a feeling he’ll start rising up some boards, especially after the combine. As it is, the Dolphins need to continue bolstering that offensive line and Ramczyk more than fits the bill. They just might have to trade up from here to land him come April.
Next: Part three of the GMS 2017 NFL Mock Draft.
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