The 2017 NFL Draft was held on Thursday Night and while there was little to no debate on who the first overall pick would be, there were plenty of unexpected activity within the first ten picks. Let’s take a look:
2017 NFL Draft – First Round Analysis of Picks
1) Cleveland Browns select DE Myles Garrett
The Cleveland Browns have a rich history in terms of failure so the football world looked on eagerly from the moment the team was on the clock. Somewhat unsurprisingly, they went with the consensus first overall pick, Texas A & M product Myles Garrett. Garrett seems like a defensive force who has incredible athleticism, great instincts and the ability to read offenses. He has been compared to Julius Peppers, so while the Browns may have been tempted to select a quarterback in this slot, it just wasn’t the year to do so.
2) Chicago Bears select QB Mitchell Trubisky
The Bears were slotted to pick 3rd overall and actually traded quite a bit in order to move up to 2nd overall and select this somewhat unproven North Carolina product. The Bears swapped 1st Round Picks with the San Francisco 49ers and added a 2nd and a 3rd in order to move up one spot and land the polarizing quarterback. The many Bears fans I know are puzzled by this move, and I must admit that I am too. The Bears now have Free-Agent signing Mike Glennon as their starter as well as Mark Sanchez and now Trubisky on their roster. This pick is a head scratcher for sure.
3) San Francisco 49ers select DE Solomon Thomas
Shortly after John Lynch fleeced the Bears, he selects the best player available and a player who has been called the second-best in the draft. Just to add to Chicago’s fans ire, Thomas’ coming out party was at the Sun Bowl where he was dominant against – who else – Mitchell Trubisky. The Niners are in rebuild mode and this is a great pick for a team that needs quality players a little bit everywhere.
4) Jacksonville Jaguars select RB Leonard Fournette
It’s not a common practice to select running backs this high in the draft, but the Jaguars were looking to bolster their run game and they have, as Fournette will slot in just above Chris Ivory on the team’s depth chart. Gotta love his confidence, however, as the LSU product tweeted that he would consider a Super Bowl run a success for his rookie season. Ok then.
5) Tennessee Titans select WR Corey Davis
I’m not going to lie, as a Baltimore Ravens fan, I was really hoping Davis would drop down to number 16. Listed by most as the top receiver of the draft, his stock was thought to have fallen after he sat out the Combine with an ankle injury. Not so. Davis has incredible speed and can make the tough catches. On a run-heavy team that was in need of some receiving help, Davis will do quite fine. Damn you, Titans.
6) New York Jets select S Jamal Adams
The Jets had Darrelle Revis patrolling Revis Island for years, and now they have Jamal Adams. Adams was predicted by many to go 2nd overall, so the Jets get a steal here at number six. I have heard experts compare him to one of my favourite Ravens players of all time, Ed Reed. He seems to be the best safety in a very strong safety draft. Great pickup by the Jets.
7) Los Angeles Chargers select WR Mike Williams
Another receiver I had my eye on for the Ravens. Some experts thought Mike Williams was the best receiver in the draft, not Corey Davis. The Clemson product is a big, physical receiver and looks like he’ll be a great fit for Quarterback Phillip Rivers. The Chargers could’ve used some help on the defensive side of things but Williams is still a solid pick.
8) Carolina Panthers select RB Christian McCaffrey
Great pickup by the Panthers. Christian McCaffrey can run the ball and act as a slot receiver for Quarterback Cam Newton. He also has the speed to be a kick returner. Two running backs in the top ten is a little odd but I believe that Christian McCaffrey will be a better back then Leonard Fournette.
9) Cincinnati Bengals select WR John Ross
The third and final wide receiver I hoped the Ravens would nab went to their divison rivals instead. Great. John Ross, like Corey Davis, had injury concerns heading into the draft but that didn’t stop the Cincinnati Bengals from making him the third wide receiver drafted in the top ten. The Bengals now have an explosive duo in AJ Green and Ross who will be giving secondaries fits for years to come. The only concern for Ross is his slender frame, which has already caused some time lost to injury.
10) Kansas City Chiefs select QB Patrick Mahomes III
Patrick Mahomes III is a gunslinger pure and simple. The Chiefs moved up 17 picks in the draft in order to nab him, and he will be playing under Andy Reid, who may curb any concern pundits have at his decision-making ability. Interesting pick, and some would argue the Chiefs gave up a lot to get him. Only time will tell.
Dave Trentadue is a radio reporter and producer on TSN 690 in Montreal. Follow him on @davetrentadue