2017 NFL Mock Draft: Round 2

WalterFootball.com's Archive

Walter of WalterFootball has been WalterFootball'ing since 1999'. Older Content is being kept around here. Thanks for reading.

Last update: Thursday, April 27, 2017. 4:15 p.m. Major changes.
Next update: Thursday afternoon. Follow me @walterfootball for updates.

The order of this 2017 NFL Mock Draft is based on the 2017 NFL Draft Order.

NFL Draft Recent Links:

2020 NFL Mock Draft (UPDATED 2/11): Round 1 /Picks 17-32 /Round 2 /Round 3 /Round 4 /Round 5
Other 2020 Mock Drafts: Charlie Campbell (2/10) /Senior Bowl Mock (1/27) /Overreaction Mock (12/30)
2019 NFL Mock Draft (UPDATED 4/25): Round 1 /Picks 17-32 /Round 2 /Round 3 /Round 4 /Round 5 /Round 6 /Round 7
Other 2019 Mock Drafts: Charlie Campbell (4/25)

archived mock section

@walterfootball

Cleveland Browns: Chidobe Awuzie, CB, Colorado
The Browns have a big need for a cornerback, and Chidobe Awuzie has the athleticism they love. Opinions vary on Awuzie; some teams think he's a top-20 prospect, while two front offices told us that they have him in the fourth round.

Follow @walterfootball for updates. Also, you can Support Us on Patreon here!
San Francisco 49ers: Takkarist McKinley, DE/OLB, UCLA
Takkarist McKinley has bounced all over my mock draft. He could go as high as No. 15, but he could also drop this far. Injuries are the concern here, and teams may avoid him if they're worried about his status.

Pick change; previously Jabrill Peppers, S
Jacksonville Jaguars: David Njoku, TE, Miami
The Jaguars traded Julius Thomas to the Dolphins, so perhaps they'll use a second-day selection on a tight end who isn't constantly injured and lethargic. David Njoku could go in the top 20, so he's a huge steal at No. 35 overall.

Chicago Bears: Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson
No team we've spoken to has Deshaun Watson as a first-round prospect. One high-ranking personnel man in the NFC told me he has Watson as a third-round prospect. It's so much like the Teddy Bridgewater draft, when the media had Bridgewater in the first round, and yet NFL franchises considered him to be a second-day prospect, even before his woeful pro day. However, this was prior to the national championship, so I have to believe some team will trade up into the back end of the opening frame to take Watson, much like the Vikings did with Bridgewater.

This is what I think will happen here. The Bears could move into the back end of the opening round to select Watson. He'll almost certainly be there, and I expect Chicago to do it because general manager Ryan Pace has taken a strong liking to him.
Los Angeles Rams: Zay Jones, WR, East Carolina
The Rams need to add lots of talent to help develop Jared Goof, which seems like a problem because they don't have a first-round pick. They could address every position outside of running back, and I don't think the Rams will get nearly as much value out of Robert Woods as they foolishly paid for.
Los Angeles Chargers: Ryan Ramczyk, OT, Wisconsin
It's very difficult to evaluate where Ryan Ramczyk will be chosen. I could see him going in the top 20, but he could also drop into the middle of the second round. His medical situation could potentially be a big issue, and prospects who slip in the draft usually do so because teams are concerned about their injury status. Plus, he already quit football once, so teams question his passion for the game. However, the risk isn't as great here as it is in the first round, and the Chargers need to make sure they protect Philip Rivers.

New York Jets: Jabrill Peppers, S/LB, Michigan
The Jets continue their strategy of selecting the best player available, and Jabrill Peppers makes sense if they can't land Jamal Adams or Malik Hooker.

Pick change; previously Corey Davis, WR
Carolina Panthers: Evan Engram, TE, Ole Miss
The Panthers could add another tight end, just as the Chargers did with Hunter Henry despite having Antonio Gates on the roster. Greg Olsen has a couple more years left in Carolina, and the Panthers could stand to give Cam Newton another weapon.
Cincinnati Bengals: Tim Williams, DE/OLB, Alabama
As mentioned, the Bengals want Solomon Thomas. If he's not available at No. 9, here's a potential pass-rushing solution.

New Orleans Saints: Derek Rivers, DE/OLB, Youngstown State
The Saints want to select a pass-rusher in the first round. That didn't happen in this mock draft, but I'm sure they wouldn't mind landing Derek Rivers in the second round.
Philadelphia Eagles: Quincy Wilson, CB, Florida
This is a possibility even if the Eagles select a cornerback in the first round. They have a huge hole at the position, so they could take two corners, given how deep this class is in that particular area. Philadelphia did this back in 2002 when it selected Lito Sheppard and Sheldon Brown in the first and second rounds, and that worked out very well. In this scenario, even just one cornerback would be a big help.
Buffalo Bills: JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR, USC
The Bills need some weapons for Mitchell Trubisky - or Tyrod Taylor - as they have to find another receiver just in case Sammy Watkins gets injured again.

Arizona Cardinals: Budda Baker, S, Washington
The Cardinals have to continue to bolster the middle of their defense. They added an inside linebacker in the first round, and they'll get a replacement for Tony Jefferson at this juncture.
Indianapolis Colts: Dion Dawkins, G/OT, Temple
The Colts need to make sure Andrew Luck is protected as well as possible. The big hole they have up front is at one of the guard spots.

Baltimore Ravens: Corey Davis, WR, Western Michigan
There's some scuttlebutt that the Ravens will target a receiver in the first round. I think something like this is more realistic. Corey Davis has durability issues, which explains his drop, but he provides great value here.

Pick change; previously Takkarist McKinley, DE/OLB
Minnesota Vikings: Alvin Kamara, RB, Tennessee
The Vikings cut Adrian Peterson, and their best replacement might just be Latavius Murray, which doesn't sound very good.

Washington Redskins: Tanoh Kpassagnon, DE/DT, Villanova
The Redskins continue to rebuild their poor front seven. They've shown interest in Tanoh Kpassagnon, who has extreme upside.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Josh Jones, S, N.C. State
The Buccaneers had major problems at safety throughout the year, so they could obviously take a player at that position much earlier than this. J.J. Wilcox was signed, but for only a 2-year deal.
Denver Broncos: Antonio Garcia, OT, Troy
The Broncos have an extremely dubious tackle situation, which they almost have to address with an early-round selection. Menelik Watson, Donald Stephenson and Ty Samrailo are their top three tackles, and all three of them are horrible. Tony Romo just retired, but even if he had joined the Broncos, it wouldn't have mattered very much because Denver wouldn't have been able to block for him.
Cleveland Browns: Marcus Williams, S, Utah
The Browns need to spend multiple picks on their atrocious secondary. Their safety situation was abysmal last year, and it must be addressed early.

Detroit Lions: Raekwon McMillan, LB, Ohio State
I nearly mocked Haason Reddick to the Lions at No. 21. The team has a major hole at linebacker, and that was even the case before DeAndre Levy was released. Raekwon McMillan fits the profile of a player Bob Quinn looks for.
Miami Dolphins: Cordrea Tankersley, CB, Clemson
I was recommended to slot Cordrea Tankersley to the Dolphins, which makes sense. He fits the range and fills a need for Miami.
New York Giants: Davis Webb, QB, California
When the Giants were scouting quarterbacks earlier in the offseason, I believe it might have been practice for next offseason. In the wake of Eli Manning's memorabilia scandal, New York could change its mind and select a signal-caller earlier than it intended to.

Oakland Raiders: Chris Wormley, DE/DT, Michigan
The Raiders typically take chances on high-upside players like this in the second round. Chris Wormley has plenty of upside and potential, and he could potentially fill a huge need for the Raiders on their defensive line.
Houston Texans: Marcus Maye, S, Florida
The Texans are desperate for safety help, and I'd have to think they'd be thrilled if someone as talented as Marcus Maye falls to them in Round 2.
Seattle Seahawks: Jourdan Lewis, CB, Michigan
The Seahawks have had success taking mid-round cornerbacks, but that doesn't mean they won't address the position in the early rounds. They have a hole at the position, and they took care of other areas in free agency, so they could go that route here.

Kansas City Chiefs: Curtis Samuel, WR, Ohio State
There are rumors linking Curtis Samuel to the Chiefs. He fits what Andy Reid looks for in a receiver, and Samuel could eventually replace Jeremy Maclin as the team's No. 1 receiver.
Dallas Cowboys: Tre'Davious White, CB, LSU
I wanted to slot Tre'Davious White earlier than this, but he fell out of circumstance. It happens, and I have to imagine that the Cowboys would be thrilled.
Green Bay Packers: Tyus Bowser, DE/OLB, Houston
The Packers managed to retain Nick Perry, but lost Julius Peppers in the process. Another edge rusher is needed. They can take Tyus Bowser, who came out of his shell to have a great Senior Bowl and then breathed fire at the combine.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Chris Godwin, WR, Penn State
Martavis Bryant has an expiring contract after 2017, and Pittsburgh may decide that it can't rely on him. Ben Roethlisberger had no downfield options outside of Antonio Brown in his playoff loss to the Patriots.
Atlanta Falcons: Dan Feeney, G, Indiana
The Falcons could stand to improve some areas of their defense, but they could also upgrade one area of the offensive line. Chris Chester was the lone liability up front, and he's not even on the team anymore. I don't think the Rams need any neighborly advice telling them that they need to bolster the one weakness on the blocking unit.
Carolina Panthers: David Sharpe, OT, Florida
Here's more help for Carolina's offense. Cam Newton has been protected poorly in recent seasons, and that needs to change.