2017 NFL Mock Draft 6.0: Post Season Edition

Ladies and gentleman, we are officially in draft season. Isn’t that an exciting thought? Sure, it’s depressing that the 2016 season is over. But draft season is in full effect, and 20 teams who missed the playoffs this year can look forward to the offseason. Whether it’s through free agency or the draft, change is coming for all 32 teams. This mock is three rounds and covers team’s needs prior to free agency. Expect plenty of change between now and then. We will have this mock, post free agency, post combine, and then one right before the draft. Look for plenty of draft material in between. Now then, let’s get started!

ROUND ONE:

11.     Cleveland Browns: Myles Garrett, EDGE, TAMU

22.     San Francisco 49ers: Mike Williams, WR, Clemson

33.     Chicago Bears: Mitch Trubisky, QB, North Carolina

44.     Jacksonville Jaguars: Jamal Adams, S, LSU

55.     Tennessee Titans (via LAR): Malik Hooker, S, Ohio State

66.     New York Jets: Derek Barnett, EDGE, Tennessee

77.     Los Angeles Chargers: Jonathan Allen, DL, Alabama

88.     Carolina Panthers: Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU

99.     Cincinnati Bengals: Reuben Foster, LB, Alabama

110. Buffalo Bills: Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson

111. New Orleans Saints: Solomon Thomas, EDGE, Stanford

112. Cleveland Browns (via Philadelphia): DeShone Kizer, QB, Notre Dame

113. Arizona Cardinals: O.J. Howard

114. Indianapolis Colts: Dalvin Cook, RB, FSU

115. Philadelphia Eagles (via Minnesota): Corey Davis, WR, Western Michigan

116. Baltimore Ravens: Quincy Wilson, CB, Florida

117. Washington: Marshon Lattimore, CB, Ohio State

118. Tennessee Titans: David Njoku, TE, Miami

119. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: John Ross, WR, Washington

220. Denver Broncos: Ryan Ramcyzk, OT, Wisconsin

221. Detroit Lions: Takkarist McKinnley, EDGE, UCLA

222. Miami Dolphins: Taco Charlton, EDGE, Michigan

223. New York Giants: Jabrill Peppers, S, Michigan

224. Oakland Raiders: Jalen Tabor, CB, Florida

225. Houston Texans: Garrett Bolles, OT, Utah

226. Seattle Seahawks: Dan Feeney, OG, Indiana

227. Kansas City Chiefs: Sidney Jones, CB, Washington

228. Dallas Cowboys: Charles Harris, EDGE, Missorui

229. Green Bay Packers: Ryan Anderson, EDGE, Alabama

330. Pittsburgh Steelers: Tim Williams, EDGE, Alabama

331. Atlanta Falcons: Caleb Brantley, DL, Florida

332. New England Patriots: Cooper Kupp, WR, Eastern Washington

ROUND TWO:

333. Cleveland Browns: Gareon Conley, CB, Ohio State

334. San Francisco 49ers: Patrick Mahomes, QB, Texas Tech

335. Chicago Bears: Malik McDowell, DL, Michigan State

336. Jacksonville Jaguars: Forrest Lamp, OG, Western Kentucky

337.  Los Angeles Rams: Cam Robinson, OT, Alabama

338. New York Jets: Tre’Davious White, CB, LSU

339. Los Angeles Chargers: Marcus Williams, S, Utah

440. Carolina Panthers: Budda Baker, S, Washington

441. Cincinnati Bengals: Joe Mathis, EDGE, Washington

442. Buffalo Bills: Bucky Hodges, TE, Virginia Tech

443. New Orleans Saints: Dawuane Smoot, EDGE, Illinois

444. Philadelphia Eagles: Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford

445. Arizona Cardinals: Brad Kaaya, QB, Miami

446. Indianapolis Colts: T.J. Watt, EDGE, Wisconsin

447. Minnesota Vikings: Antonio Garcia, OT, Troy

448. Baltimore Ravens: Zach Cunningham, LB, Vanderbilt

449. Washington: D’Onta Foreman, RB, Texas

550. Cleveland Browns (via Tennessee): Evan Engram, TE, Ole Miss

551. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Justin Evans, S, TAMU

552. Denver Broncos: Chad Hansen, WR, California

553. Detroit Lions: Desmond King, S, Iowa

554. Miami Dolphins: Raekwon McMillan, LB, Ohio State

555. New York Giants: Demarcus Walker, EDGE, FSU

556. Oakland Raiders: Haasan Reddick, EDGE, Temple

557. Houston Texans: Cordrea Tankersley, CB, Clemson

558. Seattle Seahawks: Kevin King, CB, Washington

559. Kansas City Chiefs: Nathan Peterman, QB, Pittsburgh

660. Dallas Cowboys: Chidobe Awuzi, CB, Colorado

661. Green Bay Packers: Howard Wilson, CB, Houston

662. Pittsburgh Steelers: Carlos Henderson, WR, Louisiana Tech

663. Atlanta Falcons: Fabien Moreau, CB, UCLA

664. New England Patriots: Carlos Watkins, DL, Clemson

ROUND THREE:

665. Cleveland Browns: Joe Mixon, RB, Oklahoma

666. San Francisco 49ers: Dion Dawkins, OT, Temple

667. Chicago Bears: JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR, USC

668. Jacksonville Jaguars: Alvin Kamara, RB, Tennessee

669. Tennessee Titans (via LAR): Zay Jones, WR, East Carolina

770. New York Jets: Jordan Leggett, TE, Clemson

771. Los Angeles Chargers: Isaiah Ford, WR, Virginia Tech

772. Carolina Panthers: Curtis Samuel, WR, Ohio State

773. Cincinnati Bengals: Corn Elder, CB, Miami

774. Buffalo Bills: Cameron Sutton, CB, Tennessee

775. New Orleans Saints: Davis Webb, QB, California

776. Philadelphia Eagles: Pat Elflein, C, Ohio State

777. Arizona Cardinals: Vince Biegel, LB, Wisconsin

778. Indianapolis Colts: Elijah Qualls, DL, Washington

779. Minnesota Vikings: Dorian Johnson, OG, Pittsburgh

880. Baltimore Ravens: Carl Lawson, EDGE, Auburn

881. Washington: Anthony Walker, LB, TCU

882. Tennessee Titans: Jalen Reeves-Maybin, LB, Tennessee

883. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Roderick Johnson, OT, FSU

884. Denver Broncos: Eddie Jackson, S, Alabama

885. Detroit Lions: Jamaal Williams, RB, BYU

886. Minnesota Vikings (via Miami): Samaje Perine, RB, Oklahoma

887. New York Giants: Chris Wormley, DL, Michigan

888. Oakland Raiders: Wayne Gallman, RB, Clemson

889. Houston Texans: Jake Butt, TE, Michigan

990. Seattle Seahawks: Julie’n Davenport, OT, Bucknell

991. Kansas City Chiefs: Jordan Willis, EDGE, Kansas State

992. Dallas Cowboys: Malachi Dupre, WR, LSU

993. Green Bay Packers: Marcus Maye, S, Florida

994. Pittsburgh Steelers: Tedric Thompson, S, Colorado

995. Atlanta Falcons: Gerald Everret, TE, South Alabama

996. New England Patriots: Ethan Pocic, C, LSU

- Is there a new DBU on the rise? Ohio State sure is starting to make a claim for that mantle. After sending Bradley Roby (2014) and Eli Apple (2016) into round one in previous drafts, the Buckeyes look to send THREE DBs into the draft this year. Safety Malik Hooker and cornerback Marshon Lattimore look like top 15 locks and maybe the top players at their respective position, while cornerback Gareon Conley looks to also be a mid-to-late first round pick. All three could see significant playing time as rookies and will be highly coveted prospects leading up to the draft.

- Who will be the first quarterback off the board? Mitch Trubisky of North Carolina looks to be the obvious choice, but don’t sleep on the idea of Deshaun Waston of Clemson or DeShone Kizer of Notre Dame. Neither of the three quarterbacks are very polished and while Watson has the most experience of the three by far, his 30 interceptions in the last two seasons will be dually noted during the process.

- Next question: When will the first quarterback be drafted? Obviously, the top three picks belong to the Browns, 49ers, and Bears (in that order) and all three teams could take a quarterback with their respective pick. However, a best player available (BPA) approach could also happen and we could see the quarterbacks have a free fall. Teams like the Jets, Cardinals, and even the Browns with their extra pick from Philadelphia could all be in play for quarterbacks if they drop.

- Where will Joe Mixon go in the draft? Mixon is a round one talent with an undrafted free agent grade because of his off-field problems. As you know by now, I have a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to domestic violence charges, and Mixon is completely off my board because of this. However, in a mock draft where I have to assess what teams will do, it is hard to see a talent like Mixon slip much further than late day two. I have him off the board at the top of the third round to the Browns. With extra picks to spare, the Browns would be wise to gamble on a player with a high ceiling that will instantly upgrade their roster. The only thing that would stop them is if they are turned off by his off-field. They already have one locker room head ache in wide receiver Josh Gordon.

- Where will injured stars like Tennessee’s Jalen Reeves-Maybin, Michigan’s Jake Butt, and Alabama’s Eddie Jackson go in the draft? Day two. All three of these players are first round talents that unfortunately all suffered season ending injuries. While some have had smaller injuries (Jackson broke his leg) compared to other (Butt tore his ACL), it is hard to see these talents last into the third day of the draft, as all three look to be day one starters once they are fully recovered.

- Make way, O.J. Howard. There’s a new tight end on the block, and his name is David Njoku. Njoku has played his ball at the University of Miami, Florida and looks like he could challenge Howard as the top tight end in this year’s draft class. Njoku has my vote as the draft’s best pass catching tight end and has shades of Jimmy Graham to his game. A lock to be a first round pick, don’t be shocked if Njoku goes as high as pick 12 to Cleveland.

- Where will Brad Kaaya go in a messy quarterback draft class? He could be a first round pick or a third. Kaaya, my top quarterback, has the toughness and leadership that are attractive to teams. His lack of an offensive line while at Miami has stunted his growth as a quarterback and even with talented options to throw the ball to surrounding him, he never dominated the way that he could have. With a slightly above average arm, Kaaya could be seen as a Teddy Bridgewater type of player and be drafted to manage games. Sitting a year behind a starter would also help Kaaya’s growth to adjust to the NFL.

One-on-One with Javancy Jones

Javancy Jones, a future linebacker and difference maker in the NFL, sat down with me and answered questions about himself, his humble beginnings, and what he brings to the table for 32 NFL teams. Jones, who played his college days at Jackson State University, played all over the field and,  regardless of his competition, brought his A game every week and proved himself to be a player willing to do whatever it takes to win games.

From humble beginnings to a future in the NFL, Javancy Jones has plenty to motivate him to keep doing what he does best: dominate the football field. When asked what exactly motivates him, Jones simply answered my mother and my little girl. Javancy told me about his mother, “… she went through so much in her life, no matter how much adversity she faced she kept a smile on her face. So, that just lets me know no matter what I go through, no matter how hard it gets, no matter how tough it is I gotta keep pushing.” Later talking about his daughter, Jones went on to say, “… my little girl motivates me because she’s my everything. Everything I do, I make sure I do it for her.” Jones went on to say that with or without football, he is motivated to provide for her and above all else to “make sure my daughter has a better life than I did”.

What kind of strengths does Javancy bring to the table? When asked, Javancy stated, “My IQ. Nine times out of ten I know where the offense is gonna run before they even run it. Just by line up in certain formations. Just by watching film. My versatility. Like I said, I play everything in the front seven from the DE to the 1-tech, 3-tech to the strong side linebacker, the mike, the will. I play all over the front seven. I’ve played in multiple different defenses. I had four different DCs in my four years. I’ve played in a 45, a 3-4, a 4-3 and a 3-3-5. So, I am able to adapt and learn plays very quickly. I also bring good leadership to the team.” It’s this kind of versatility that will help Javancy acclimate to the NFL. His pass rushing ability (19.5 TFLs, 4 sacks in 2016) and his ability to diagnose plays and make open-field tackles will have teams taking a look at him early.

When asked if there are any former or current players he models his game after, he gave me two of the best players to model himself after: Ray Lewis and Khalil Mack. On Ray Lewis, Javancy simply talked about his leadership and the intensity he brings on every play. I thought the Khalil Mack comparison fit very well, as Javancy’s versatility is very similar to Khalil Mack’s ability to rush the passer at any position. Obviously, Javancy has a long ways to go to get to the two time First Team All-Pro’s level, but modeling his game after Mack will help him immensely.

With that versatility, Javancy will be able to make a near seamless transition to the NFL. In fact, Javancy told me he doesn’t believe there is a single defense he can’t adjust to at the next level. “I have looked at some team’s defenses. I can play in any defense. So yes sir, I can play for all 32 teams.” Javancy’s confidence is also a very attractive trait. Knowing that he feels comfortable in any defense should make teams eager to call his name early.

Javancy knows that his abilities will certainly help him to get drafted high. When asked where he believes he should go, Javancy told me that 2^nd to 3^rd round range would suit him best. Javancy certainly acknowledged that the level of competition he faced could factor against him. “Putting in the factor that I’m coming from a small conference, I’m coming from lesser competition. But when I would play in against so called bigger and better competition- I excelled.”

All of this bodes well for the future NFL playmaker. I came away thinking of Javancy as one of the humblest players I have heard interviewed. Based off what I’ve seen, I know Javancy is a future difference maker in the NFL. He’ll certainly have me rooting for him at the next level.

Player Profile: Darrell Daniels

Darrell Daniels, Tight End, University of Washington

Measurables:

            Height: 6’4”

            Weight: 245 lbs.

UW Career Stats (espn.com):

            47 receptions (17 in 2016)

            728 receiving yards (307 in 2016)

            5 touchdowns (3 in 2016)

Darrell Daniels was a 4-start recruit coming out of Freedom High School in Pittsburg, California. Daniels’ versatility earned him First Team All-East Bay at wide receiver, racking up 54 passes for 947 yards and a whopping 20 touchdowns. Not only did he put up impressive numbers offensively, he even went as far as to earn Second-Team All-East Bay as a defensive back (38 tackles, two interceptions). Holding offers from USC and UCLA on the West Coast along with several other Division-I colleges throughout the country, Daniels chose to take his talents to the University of Washington, where he would be a big-play contributor on what would later become one of the nation’s top offenses. (High school stats courtesy of gohuskies.com)

Daniels’ small college sample size isn’t ideal (partly because of his seldom use in the passing game), but when looking at what he can do he has plenty of raw ability. For starters, his career average of 15.5 YPR (yards per reception) shows that he has big play ability. In the 2016 season alone, four of his 17 receptions traveled for 20+ yards, including a season high 50-yard catch vs Washington State (his career long was a 68-yard touchdown vs Oregon State back in 2014). Daniels biggest strength to note is his run blocking ability, as he helped carved the way for running back Myles Gaskin to gain 1,373 rushing yards (5.8 YPC) and 10 rushing touchdowns.

Physically, Daniels has your ideal build at 6’4” 245 lbs. His speed is another underrated aspect of his game. Daniels and his agent, Michael Chelala, believe he could run anywhere from the 4.44 seconds range to as low as 4.37 seconds on the 40-yard dash at this year’s combine. Couple this with his soft-hands and physicality as a run blocker and you have yourself a sleeper in a deep tight end class. His freak athletic ability should be on display during combine drills and will turn heads with his otherworldly 40-yard dash time. While Daniels’ passion for the game and loyalty to his teammates is something that can’t be measured at the combine, one cannot simply overlook the character aspects that he displays.

While the national media might not be high on Daniels right now, his physical abilities alone would warrant a Day Two, early Day Three selection. Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller and cbssports.com currently rank Daniels as their 15^th and 16^th ranked tight end respectively. Expect him to shoot up draft boards with a dynamic combine and excellent interviews.