The first round of the2017 NFL Draft is complete.Sporting News keptup with all of Thursday night'sdraft picks and analyzedeach selection.
Who did every team get, and more important, how will that player his team? SN's Vinnie Iyer breaks it all down for thefirst round of the 2017NFL Draft.
NFL DRAFT: First-round picks |Big Board
NFL Draft 2017: First-round picks
1. Cleveland Browns:
Myles Garrett, DE, Texas A&M
The Browns may have considered QB Mitchell Trubisky, but they go with the no-brainer best player in the entire draft class. Wherever Garrett plays on the edge, where they need help against both the run and pass, he’ll bethe anchor of their latest defensive rebuild.
2. Chicago Bears (fromSan Francisco 49ers):
Mitchell Trubisky, QB, North Carolina
The Bears pull a surprise trade up for the consensus most pro-ready QB in the draft. Especially considering they also acquired Mike Glennon in the offseason, it’s a head-scratcher for a team that could have taken advantage of great defensive value early.
3. San Francisco 49ers (fromChicago Bears):
Solomon Thomas, DE, Stanford
This is an easy pick for the 49ers,a freakish athlete they would have taken at No. 2, anyway. New GM John Lynch has to be happy about getting extra picks and landing a versatile, disruptive lineman out of his alma mater.
4. Jacksonville Jaguars:
Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU
This pick also follows suit, as Tom Coughlin gets the elite pure power runner the Jaguars desperately need to pound between the tackles and take pressure off Blake Bortles in the passing game.
5. Tennessee Titans (from Los Angeles Rams):
Corey Davis, WR, Western Michigan
The Titans were bound to get a potential all-around No. 1 wideout for Marcus Mariota.Davis has a little bit of both the big possession red-zone type and speedy field-stretcher in him. He gets chosen over a needed DB.
6. New York Jets:
Jamal Adams, S, LSU
With Trubisky notavailable, it makessense for the Jets to go with the best secondary impact player available. Adams, the choice over CB Marshon Lattimore,is a transcendent safety with a nose for the ballin both run support and pass coverage.
7. Los Angeles Chargers:
Mike Williams, WR, Clemson
The Chargers get another big target for Philip Rivers, perhaps hedging their bets on the health of Keenan Allen. A future QB and a RB were also in play. It’s strange because LA could haveused safety Malik Hooker more in the short term.
8. Carolina Panthers:
Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford
The Panthers were attached to McCaffrey for a while, and it was no secret they love thespeed and versatility he canbring to their backfield. He also can be an asset in the passing and return games for them. It’s a smart steal of a pick.
9. Cincinnati Bengals:
John Ross, WR, Washington
The Bengals get another outside guy who can flyopposite A.J. Green, adding to their new wealth at wideout with Brandon LaFell and Tyler Boyd. It’squestionable for Cincinnati to go luxury over necessity on both lines.
10. Kansas City Chiefs (from Bills):
Patrick Mahomes, QB, Texas Tech
Two words: big arm. The Chiefs go for a future franchise QB whohas the downfield throwing abilityAlex Smith just doesn’t have. It will be interesting to see how he gets groomed all-around in Andy Reid’s offense.
11. New Orleans Saints:
MarshonLattimore, CB, Ohio State
The Saints were in position to take the best corner available to bolster their big defensive weakness. It’s a bonus they get by far the best DB in the entire class. Lattimore, asmooth corner withshutdown potential, shouldn’t have lasted solong.
12. Houston Texans (from Philadelphia Eagles via Cleveland Browns):
Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson
The Texans get a winning QB who can learn quickly in Bill O’Brien’s system. Watson’s dynamic, athletic skill set should allow him to win the starting job right away.He can have aDak Prescott-likeLone Star impact as a playoff team leader.
13. Arizona Cardinals:
Haason Reddick, LB, Temple
The Cardinals'future QB options were gone, so they gettheperfect, active, speedy linebacker theyneeded. Reddick, who hustles all over the field and explodes as a pass-rusher, can play either inside or outside in their 3-4.
14. Philadelphia Eagles (from Minnesota Vikings):
Derek Barnett, DE, Tennessee
The Eagles needed to bolster their 4-3 edge pass rush under Jim Schwartz, and Barnett is a great value in this spot overa cornerback or running back. Barnett is a bitboom-or-bust, but he has the natural skills to reachdouble-digit sacks.
15. Indianapolis Colts:
Malik Hooker, S, Ohio State
Hooker was most associated with the Chargersin thisdraft, but the Colts catch a falling star who can give them a steady presence in the middle of their defense. New GM Chris Ballard goes for a potential Eric Berry type.
16. Baltimore Ravens:
Marlon Humphrey, CB, Alabama
Once Marshon Lattimore and the top three wide receivers were taken, the Ravens couldlock into the second best corner in the class. Ozzie Newsome has an affinity for defenders from his alma mater, and Humphrey is an ideal cover man for thescheme.
17. Washington Redskins:
Jonathan Allen, DE, Alabama
Questions about the status of Allen’s shoulder caused him to drop, but the Redskins, after strongly considering Dalvin Cook, should be happy to have Allen helpinganchor their 3-4 front. He will stop the run early in his career and develop well as a pass-rusher.
18. Tennessee Titans:
Adoree' Jackson, CB, USC
The Titans needed to come out of the first round with a defensive back, and they go with an extremely fast and aggressive cover man who makes plays on the ball. Jackson will also boost their return game and maybe offense at times, too.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers:
O.J. Howard, TE, Alabama
Howard sees an end to his hard fall by becoming a unique, athletic pass-catcher for Jameis Winston. He complements wideouts Mike Evans and DeSean Jackson well, and he has more receiving upside than Cameron Brate.
20. Denver Broncos:
GarettBolles, OT, Utah
Bolles overcame a lot of adversity to become the first offensive lineman taken in the draft. He’s a tremendous athlete with a mean streakand is built to start right away at left tackle for the Broncos, excelling in both blocking phases.
21. Detroit Lions:
JarradDavis, ILB, Florida
The Lions needed to go defense no matter what with this pick, and getting a linebacker to fly upfield and stop the run was a priority. It’sa surprise the pick isDavis withReuben Fosterstill on the board.
22. Miami Dolphins:
Charles Harris, DE, Missouri
This is an excellent pick for the Dolphins, as theyneeded a reliable pass-rushing end for their 4-3. Harris is a little less freakish but less risky than Taco Charlton.
23. New York Giants:
Evan Engram, TE, Ole Miss
The Giants almost saw Howard fall to themand were attachedto David Njoku pre-draft. They still get their quick, speedy, athletic tight end to help Eli Manningin the short-to-intermediate passing game to complement Odell Beckham Jr.
24. Oakland Raiders:
GareonConley, CB, Ohio State
This is the most disappointing pick in the first round. With Reuben Foster there to fill the Raiders'biggest need in the middle of the defense, theyreach for a gambling cover man who is dealing with a serious sexual assault allegation.
25. Cleveland Browns (fromHouston Texans):
Jabrill Peppers, S, Michigan
Peppers’ dilute sample at the Combine didn’t cost him at all. In fact, despite his lack of a true NFL position, linebacker vs. safety, he went higher than expected. The Browns trade down in order to double down on defense.
26. Atlanta Falcons (from Seattle Seahawks):
Takkarist McKinley, DE, UCLA
The Falcons move up to get the additional edge pass rusher they desperately needafter wearing down defensively in the Super Bowl. McKinley’s combination of size and speed will workwell in Dan Quinn’s scheme playing off Vic Beasley Jr.
27. Buffalo Bills (from Chiefs):
Tre'Davious White, CB, LSU
After trading back, the Billsdiveinto agood value at cornerback to help them recover from the free-agent departure of Stephon Gilmore. White has some Gilmore-like qualitiesbut will need to time to develop.
28. Dallas Cowboys:
Taco Charlton, DE, Michigan
The Cowboys had to focus on defensive end and cornerback in this draft to take the next step as an NFC contender. After watching Harris goa few picks earlier, it makessense to go for the massive pass-rush upside of Charlton.
29. Cleveland Browns (from Green Bay Packers):
David Njoku, TE, Miami (Fla.)
The Browns slide back into the first round for a third versatile athlete. For whoever ends up being the Browns'starting QB, Njoku will be a mismatch-creatingsecurity blanket.
30. Pittsburgh Steelers:
T.J. Watt, OLB, Wisconsin
The Steelers are obsessed with taking 3-4 edge rushers earlyand couldn’t pass up on the value of Watt. He can bring the same energy as hisbrother J.J.but may need to break in as a situational guy until he settles at a regular position.
31. San Francisco 49ers(from Atlanta Falcons via Seattle Seahawks):
Reuben Foster, ILB, Alabama
The 49ers saw a golden opportunity to grab the best player available with a trade-up. After getting Thomas toand make plays on their three-man front, Foster will clean up against the runon the next level.
32. New Orleans Saints (from New England Patriots):
Ryan Ramczyk, OT, Wisconsin
The Saints have some decent young pieces on the offensive linebut still decideto go best player available with the second of two first-rounders.They’re likely looking at him to succeed Zach Strief at right tackle.
