The 2017 NFL draft is loaded with elite talent on defense, but lacks a blue-chip, top-five lock at quarterback.
But with plenty of QB-needy teams picking early in this year’s draft, don’t be surprised if a few of them reach for potential franchise passers instead of going with better value on defense.
That’s the case in the latest 2017 NFL mock draft from Dane Brugler of CBS Sports, which has both the San Francisco 49ers and Chicago Bears taking quarterbacks with two of the first three picks in the first round.
Brugler has the 49ers and new coach Kyle Shanahan taking North Carolina’s Mitch Trubisky, while the Bears go to South Bend to grab Notre Dame’s DeShone Kizer.
But those aren’t the only teams who go quarterback in the top 10, as the Buffalo Bills take Clemson’s Deshaun Watson.
Teams who benefit from these picks by getting huge steals in the top 10 include the Tennessee Titans and Cincinnati Bengals. The Titans snatch LSU safety Jamal Adams at No. 5 overall, while the Bengals land Alabama linebacker Reuben Foster with the ninth overall pick. Both players are ranked in the top three on our latest overall prospect rankings.
Adams isn’t the only first-round bargain the Titans score in this mock. With their second first-rounder, they land a legitimate No. 1 target for quarterback Marcus Mariota in Western Michigan wide receiver Corey Davis. There’s not a huge gap between Davis and the draft’s consensus top pass-catcher in Clemson’s Mike Williams, who goes to the Arizona Cardinals at No. 13 overall in this mock.
The Cleveland Browns load up on defense in this projection, taking Texas A&M pass-rusher Myles Garrett at No. 1 overall, then grabbing another talented SEC defender in Florida cornerback Jalen “Teez” Tabor with the 12th pick.
Other impressive value picks in this mock: Tennessee edge defender Derek Barnett (No. 21, Detroit Lions), Alabama tight end O.J. Howard (No. 22, Miami Dolphins), Washington cornerback Sidney Jones (No. 29, Green Bay Packers) and Alabama pass-rusher Tim Williams (No. 32, New England Patriots).
Some of the more intriguing picks in this one? Miami tight end David Njoku (No. 16, Baltimore Ravens), Temple linebacker Haason Reddick (No. 24, Oakland Raiders), Michigan defensive back Jabrill Peppers (No. 25, Houston Texans) and Western Kentucky offensive lineman Forrest Lamp (No. 26, Seattle Seahawks).
To check out Brugler’s full first-round projection at CBS Sports, click here.
