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2017 NFL Mock Draft: Can we trust the Cleveland Browns?

By John Buhler

Sep 19, 2015; College Station, TX, USA; Texas A&M Aggies defensive lineman Myles Garrett (15) reacts after a play during the second quarter against the Nevada Wolf Pack at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 19, 2015; College Station, TX, USA; Texas A&M Aggies defensive lineman Myles Garrett (15) reacts after a play during the second quarter against the Nevada Wolf Pack at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 26, 2016; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes cornerback Gareon Conley (8) gets the crowd into the game during the second quarter against the Michigan Wolverines at Ohio Stadium. Ohio State won 30-27. Mandatory Credit: Joe Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 26, 2016; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes cornerback Gareon Conley (8) gets the crowd into the game during the second quarter against the Michigan Wolverines at Ohio Stadium. Ohio State won 30-27. Mandatory Credit: Joe Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports /
14

Gareon Conley

Cornerback, Ohio State Buckeyes

Here is a team that has no choice with what position to take with their first-round pick. Technically, this isn’t their pick, as the Philadelphia Eagles inherit No. 14 from the Minnesota Vikings in the Sam Bradford trade. Regardless of who they got their first-round pick, Eagles general manager Howie Roseman has to go cornerback at No. 14.

We have to assume that the best cornerback entering the draft in Ohio State’s Marshon Lattimore will be off the board before No. 14. Why not take his Buckeye teammate in Gareon Conley in the middle of round one?

Ohio State players may not have a ton of on-field experience coming into the league, but head coach Urban Meyer’s competition system in place at Columbus has his players ready to hit the ground running when they take the field. In short, the Meyer Buckeyes get out of their limited snaps that any Power 5 program.

Since Philadelphia already has a strong front-seven thanks to the greater work that defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz is doing, the Eagles can afford to take a rawer player in Conley and put him on the outside to see what he can do. His competitive nature will make him a fan favorite with the Eagles once he wins a starting corner role with the team.

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