Final 2017 first round NFL mock draft

Pick #6 New York Jets: (Potential trade spot for the Browns)

Malik Hooker – S – Ohio State

The Jets need a quarterback and Pat Mahomes could be the easy selection. But they also need secondary help as they are playing in a division full of talented wide-receivers. The Jets are not ready to compete offensively and neither Mahomes or Trubisky are going to change that this year. The Jets need playmakers and Hooker is very good at making plays.

Pick #7 Los Angeles Chargers:

Jamal Adams, S, LSU

Adams could go higher than number 7 and could be gone in the top 5. Both he and Hooker are neck and neck in terms of who goes first and it’s a matter of which team values the other more. The Chargers need deep secondary help and it showed last year as they began to slide away from the other West teams. Adams has the range, athleticism, and vision to control the secondary.

San Diego is another possible landing spot for a team looking to move up. The Chargers need an offensive lineman but this draft is weak in the top 10 so the Chargers may look to jump out of the top ten and pick up a lineman in the mid-teens.

Pick #8: Carolina Panthers: (Potential trade partner to move up)

Christian McCaffrey – RB – Stanford

The Panthers would love Fournette and if doesn’t go to Jacksonville he may be a Panther by 9:00 on Thursday night. The Panthers love draft defenders but this year they need to focus their initial attention on getting Cam Newton someone to rely on in the back-field. Jonathan Stewart is not that guy and his injuries continue to mount. McCaffrey is a bona-fide playmaker who will make the Panther offense dangerous.

Pick #9 Cincinnati Bengals:

Jonathan Allen, DE, Alabama

The Bengals have some good offensive talent but they are lacking defensively and for the first time in the Andy Dalton era the Bengals missed the playoffs last year. They need to get better on defense and Allen is a top five player who slides into their lap. A lot of speculation here on Reuben Foster and a lot of Dolphins fans will watch this pick because if Foster is not chosen here he could fall quite far. For now the Bengals get a top edge rusher to put pressure on Ben Roethlisberger.

Pick #10 Buffalo Bills: 

Mike Williams, Wr, Clemson

The Bills could do a lot here. Quarterback is a need and so is the secondary. New head coach Sean McDermott is former defensive back so it’s possible that the Bills could look to replace the departed Stephon Gilmore. This draft is deep in CB prospects and McDermott should know that. WR is a big issue as well and Williams will fit nicely with Sammy Watkins.