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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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Oct 29, 2016; Tucson, AZ, USA; Stanford Cardinal running back Christian McCaffrey (5) runs the ball as Arizona Wildcats safety Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (6) defends during the second quarter at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 29, 2016; Tucson, AZ, USA; Stanford Cardinal running back Christian McCaffrey (5) runs the ball as Arizona Wildcats safety Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (6) defends during the second quarter at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports /
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Christian McCaffrey

Running Back, Stanford Cardinal

Trading former first round pick Brandin Cooks to the New England Patriots was tough, but it allows the New Orleans Saints to have a second first-round pick at No. 32 in the draft. Taking Tennessee Volunteers defensive end Derek Barnett at No. 11 is a no-brainer, but what could the Saints do at No. 32?

Running back Mark Ingram has been a nice player in New Orleans for a while now, but he’s going to rapidly decay here shortly as do all running back. Head coach Sean Payton is innovative and would love an explosive weapon in Stanford Cardinal running back Christian McCaffrey at the back-end of round one.

It would be the Saints getting a mulligan on the Reggie Bush pick in 2006. Bush may be the NFL prototype for McCaffrey, but he should be a more productive player in the NFL than was Bush. McCaffrey was Stanford football for the last two seasons. He can run, catch, and make plays in special teams. It’s hard to not see him as a productive NFL player in some capacity.

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McCaffrey will only succeed in the NFL long-term if he goes to a team with a strong offensive-minded football culture. The Saints certainly fit that mold. Could McCaffrey be the explosive x-factor that the Saints’ ground game has been missing? He could burn folks on that Superdome turf for years. That’s for sure.

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