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and-with-the-third-pick-the-bears-select-unc-qb-mitch-trubisky/
By Nate Davis
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With a fabulous Super Bowl LI complete, focus now shifts to the NFL offseason, particularly the draft.
Several players already competed in the Senior Bowl, though most of the top prospects skipped it. But all are now preparing for next month’s scouting combine. Their stocks will rise, fall and probably rise again over the next three months, but we’ve got to start somewhere — so, without further ado, mock draft 1.0 for 2017:
1. Cleveland Browns — Myles Garrett, DE, Texas A&M: What will the Browns, who own two first-round picks, do? It surely seems their perpetual quarterback question remains unanswered, yet they forfeited the opportunity to draft one second overall last year. With little buzz around this year’s crop, it could be hard to justify picking one here and probably even more difficult to trade out of this spot. Right now, Garrett is the consensus top player. A 1-15 team that had just 26 sacks in 2016 and plays in a division that features three capable veteran passers could certainly use an elite pass rusher. Bet new defensive coordinator Gregg Williams will certainly lobby to add Garrett to his four-man front.
2. San Francisco 49ers — Jonathan Allen, DT, Alabama: Yes, the Niners need a quarterback … but is there really a worthy choice here? (And might new GM John Lynch and coach Kyle Shanahan have a plan to acquire a veteran? Stay tuned.) And yes, San Francisco drafted a defensive lineman in the first round of the past two drafts … but Arik Armstead and DeForest Buckner were part of the league’s worst defense — one that got run over for 2,654 yards last season. Better to play it safe with a stud like Allen, who can shut down running lanes but is versatile enough to be a three-down player.
FILE - In this Sept. 10, 2016, file photo, North Carolina quarterback Mitch Trubisky (10) throws a pass during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game against Illinois in Champaign, Ill. Trubisky ranks among the national leaders in numerous passing categories entering Thursdays trip to Duke.
3. Chicago Bears — Mitch Trubisky, QB, North Carolina: It’s a roll of the dice for an intriguing prospect, one with just 13 college starts. Still, the Bears are finally in position to replace Jay Cutler, so this seems like the right time — especially since RB Jordan Howard proved he’s ready to serve as the offensive centerpiece for now.
4. Jacksonville Jaguars — Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU: What better way to improve a struggling offense (and boost QB Blake Bortles’ confidence) than to install a game-breaking runner who can shoulder the load and alter the unit’s personality?
5. Tennessee Titans (from Los Angeles Rams) — Malik Hooker, S, Ohio State: Dick LeBeau’s defense in Pittsburgh truly took off once playmaking S Troy Polamalu came aboard. That’s not a fair comparison to hang on Hooker, but he should be the kind of instant impact player that can take Tennessee’s improving unit to the next level.
6. New York Jets — Jamal Adams, S, LSU: The Jets have to get younger (and better) at a multitude of positions, so once again, no need to reach for a quarterback given Bryce Petty and Christian Hackenberg are still being assessed.
By Nate Davis
Sign-Up for our Sports Newsletter Sign-Up
With a fabulous Super Bowl LI complete, focus now shifts to the NFL offseason, particularly the draft.
Several players already competed in the Senior Bowl, though most of the top prospects skipped it. But all are now preparing for next month’s scouting combine. Their stocks will rise, fall and probably rise again over the next three months, but we’ve got to start somewhere — so, without further ado, mock draft 1.0 for 2017:
1. Cleveland Browns — Myles Garrett, DE, Texas A&M: What will the Browns, who own two first-round picks, do? It surely seems their perpetual quarterback question remains unanswered, yet they forfeited the opportunity to draft one second overall last year. With little buzz around this year’s crop, it could be hard to justify picking one here and probably even more difficult to trade out of this spot. Right now, Garrett is the consensus top player. A 1-15 team that had just 26 sacks in 2016 and plays in a division that features three capable veteran passers could certainly use an elite pass rusher. Bet new defensive coordinator Gregg Williams will certainly lobby to add Garrett to his four-man front.
2. San Francisco 49ers — Jonathan Allen, DT, Alabama: Yes, the Niners need a quarterback … but is there really a worthy choice here? (And might new GM John Lynch and coach Kyle Shanahan have a plan to acquire a veteran? Stay tuned.) And yes, San Francisco drafted a defensive lineman in the first round of the past two drafts … but Arik Armstead and DeForest Buckner were part of the league’s worst defense — one that got run over for 2,654 yards last season. Better to play it safe with a stud like Allen, who can shut down running lanes but is versatile enough to be a three-down player.
FILE - In this Sept. 10, 2016, file photo, North Carolina quarterback Mitch Trubisky (10) throws a pass during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game against Illinois in Champaign, Ill. Trubisky ranks among the national leaders in numerous passing categories entering Thursdays trip to Duke.
3. Chicago Bears — Mitch Trubisky, QB, North Carolina: It’s a roll of the dice for an intriguing prospect, one with just 13 college starts. Still, the Bears are finally in position to replace Jay Cutler, so this seems like the right time — especially since RB Jordan Howard proved he’s ready to serve as the offensive centerpiece for now.
4. Jacksonville Jaguars — Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU: What better way to improve a struggling offense (and boost QB Blake Bortles’ confidence) than to install a game-breaking runner who can shoulder the load and alter the unit’s personality?
5. Tennessee Titans (from Los Angeles Rams) — Malik Hooker, S, Ohio State: Dick LeBeau’s defense in Pittsburgh truly took off once playmaking S Troy Polamalu came aboard. That’s not a fair comparison to hang on Hooker, but he should be the kind of instant impact player that can take Tennessee’s improving unit to the next level.
6. New York Jets — Jamal Adams, S, LSU: The Jets have to get younger (and better) at a multitude of positions, so once again, no need to reach for a quarterback given Bryce Petty and Christian Hackenberg are still being assessed.
