Who were the reaches, the overdrafts or the flat out wrong fit picks of the first round?
The 2017 NFL draft was one of the wildest we have ever seen, from the second pick on. Trades, quarterbacks and skill players flying left and right, it was as unpredictable as you can remember. That said, you can come away from this draft seeing the thought and reason behind almost all of these picks. However, there are some reaches and questionable decisions. We will highlight the top five here.
5. John Ross, Cincinnati Bengals
There is a defense for the Bengals taking Ross in the top 10. Two wide receivers were taken, and Ross is the combine champion, breaking the 40-yard dash record. The Bengals do have a need for a wide receiver, and Ross is a good fit with Tyler Boyd and A.J. Green.
However, who takes Ross if the Bengals don’t? This is a player with one year of experience thanks to a torn ACL in 2015. He’s also currently dealing with a shoulder injury. He had a great day at the combine, but even if he falls to the middle of the second round, players such as Carlos Henderson, Malachi Dupre, and Josh Reynolds will be around later. It was a bit of a reach, and considering all of the interest at quarterback the Bengals could have fallen back and found him again, or another option.
4. Mitchell Trubisky, Chicago Bears
This is not much of a knock on Mitchell Trubisky. However, the issue is that the team traded up from pick three to pick two to select him. It was pretty well known that the 49ers were not going with a quarterback. There were rumors the Browns were trying to trade up to the second spot, but in all likelihood, the Bears could have stayed put and found themselves with the same outcome.
As for Trubisky, he has a chance, but still has some work to do. The problem is, his questions come at feeling pressure and making adjustments. The only way that he can get that is by playing. The Bears just signed Mike Glennon for a large sum on what can be considered a one-year deal. However, in paying Glennon that much, you have to think that the Bears are going to want to start him. All of that time is time that Trubisky could have had learning and playing in the conditions and with his weapons.
His ability to adapt under pressure is not going to improve on the bench, so the Bears will have to make a heavy decision with two quarterbacks well invested in this year.
3. Leonard Fournette, Jacksonville Jaguars
The obvious argument for Leonard Fournette starts with Ezekiel Elliott. Yes, Elliott was drafted in the top five. Yes, he had a great season and was a leading back on a playoff team. That does not mean this has a great hit rate and is worth the money in the same way.
First, the Cowboys had the line and the supposed quarterback in Tony Romo to control the ball and the clock and convert third downs. With the offensive line and skill set of Elliott, it paid off in this specific instance.
Fournette does not have that line and he is not on the level of Elliott. Elliott is a do-everything back. He can run inside and outside, pass catch and pass block. Fournette is a downhill runner who is better with a fullback. He has a role, and when he is in it, with NFL talent he can be special.
A quarterback in Blake Bortles and an offensive line that the Jaguars have is not going to result in anything like what the Cowboys saw in Elliott. For every Elliott, there is a Jordan Howard who can give similar production at a better value. The Jaguars could have found another top tier talent or traded down for another option.
2. Jarrad Davis, Detroit Lions
Davis has a lot of upside. He is very athletic, and when he is shooting the gaps he gets there in a hurry. In most mock drafts if he went around pick 21, it would not have been that big of an issue. However, the Lions drafted Davis over Reuben Foster and that will have to be something that will be compared to for a while.
Davis has similar athleticism, but Foster is a much more disciplined player. He is quicker to react on the field, but more patient and finesse in his movements at the same time. Foster is a player you can build your defense around.
There were questions about Foster. He had a medical issue, that resulted in a confrontation that got him kicked out of the combine. Then, he failed a drug test.
Still, at pick 21, the Lions have to look at the hit rate. It is the time to shoot for the highest upside and if they did their homework on Foster, it would have been a better fit on paper.
The 49ers were still comfortable jumping back up into the first round for Reuben Foster so the backstory could not have been that bad. Still, the Lions passed up on that decision, and will now have to justify that decision in the years that follow.
1. Adoree Jackson, Tennessee Titans
Jackson had some name value and position versatility. However, as a cornerback there were better options available. The pick was justified due to a track background, and versatility as a running back and kick returner.
However, at the combine, Jackson did not necessarily light it up. As a cornerback on tape, he is still raw. He was not 100 percent focused and an argument can be made that means that his upside may be higher than others. At the same time, he is definitely less refined than others who were taken in the first round.
He also stands at 5-foot-10, and the questions will start to come whether he can play on the outside or on bigger slot options. The team just signed Logan Ryan who is a player who can slide into the slot or the outside. Adding Jackson is nice that they both have a good amount of versatility between the two cornerbacks, but that is really all that they have. Bigger receivers should be able to have success against this team unless they find another option.
Next: 2017 NFL Draft instant grades
Taking a player and justifying it with him being a punt returner is not a good enough excuse to take Jackson in the first round. There were other cornerback options and cornerbacks with similar ball skills in this draft. It was a bit of a reach, and in what was a pretty good overall draft was one of the few questionable calls.