2017 NFL Mock Draft: Running backs steal spotlight
By Brad Weiss
As the NFL season winds down to the final four teams remaining, here is our 2017 NFL Mock Draft heading into Championship Weekend.
The 2016 NFL regular season saw the Cleveland Browns finish with a 1-15 record. While that is a pitiful mark by any means, it also means they will select first overall in next April’s NFL Draft. While it remains to be seen whether or not they will trade that pick, it is possible, considering they also hold the No. 12 pick thanks to their trade with Philadelphia before last April’s draft.
As we look towards Championship Weekend, here is our latest 2017 NFL Mock Draft.
Myles Garrett
DE, Texas A&M
The only good part of finishing with the worst record in the league is the fact that you get to select first overall in the next draft. After completing a 1-15 season, the Browns will have their pick of 2017 NFL Draft class, though they may want to trade away the pick. Cleveland also picks No. 12 overall, and with how bad their roster is, they are going to want to stockpile as many picks as possible.
If Cleveland does decide to hang onto their No. 1 pick, the consensus choice has to be Myles Garrett out of Texas A&M. Garrett is one of those prospects who seems to be can’t-miss, as he has been blessed with some freakish athletic ability. He also has shown that he has an incredible I.Q. for the game, and would instantly be the best player on the Browns defense if they take him first overall.
While it was glaringly obvious that the team needs to find their future at the quarterback position, this draft class does not have that franchise-changing signal caller in it. While guys like Mitch Trubisky, Deshaun Watson, and DeShone Kizer may very well end up being solid players at the position at the next level, the Browns cannot afford to roll the dice at No. 1. They need to play better defense next season, and Garrett is the kind of player who can step in and be a difference maker from day one.