Draft day is here and before we get to my mock draft, let’s go over some of the latest news we have concerning the first round of the NFL Draft.

There are some players that might not only slide down the first round but slide completely out of it. Ohio State cornerback Gareon Conley is fighting rape allegations. The latest update on this story is Conley has produced video showing him and his accuser behaving friendly in a bar before ending up in a hotel room. Conley looked like a mid-to-late first round prospect but now may be off the draft board of several teams.

Florida State running back Dalvin Cook could also slide on Day 1 as reports have been circulating concerning his off-field character dating back to middle school. There are also reports that he is a victim of sabotage a la Laremy Tunsil but without the bong gas mask.

Alabama linebacker Rueben Foster and Michigan safety Jabrill Peppers both submitted diluted urine samples at the combine. Foster shouldn’t slip out of the top 15 picks but Peppers may have cost himself a shot at being selected on Day 1.

Two players that may be off a majority of draft boards are Oklahoma running back Joe Mixon and Florida defensive tackle Caleb Brantley. Mixon has settled his case with a young woman whom he punched as a freshman at OU, while Brantley continues to fight his accuser’s allegations.

Injury concerns could knock Washington wide receiver John Ross out of the first round or at least to the bottom of it. Ross has had surgery on both of his knees and most recently on a torn labrum in his shoulder. While he is the combine’s fastest man, his injury history may be a concern for some teams.

Other draft buzz--but of the positive variety--surrounds Stanford running back Christian McCaffery who may have a legit shot at being the first running back taken in the draft. Scouts love his do-all ability and production on the field.

Temple linebacker Haason Reddick has had a meteoric rise and may be selected before Alabama’s Rueben Foster and in the top 10. Alabama tight end O.J. Howard could join Reddick; Howard may be one of the three safest picks in the draft!

Texas Tech quarterback Patrick Mahomes looks to have worked his way into the first round with a stellar off-season. The young gunslinger with a cannon of an arm could benefit from a early run on QB’s and be selected somewhere between picks 25 and 32. Another quarterback who could end up late in round one is California’s Davis Webb.

I don’t project trades in my mock draft but the Titans with the 5th pick look like a real possibility to move down. Expect the Browns to push hard to get this pick and their quarter back of the future, Mitch Trubisky. Unless they get desperate and draft him number now overall.

With all being said, here are my projections for the 1st Round of the 2017 NFL Draft.

Lamar v Texas A&M
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1st Round Mock Draft

1. Cleveland Browns: Myles Garrett, DE, Texas A&M - This pick should be a no-brainer but remember, we're dealing with the Browns. If Cleveland goes for Trubinsky it would be yet another mistake made by a franchise that already has made too many.

2.San Francisco 49ers: Jamal Adams, S, LSU - Adams is the second best prospect in the draft and would be a great addition to the Niners defensive backfield. A former all-pro safety drafts a future one.

3. Chicago Bears: Marshon Lattimore, CB, Ohio State - Another great Ohio State cover corner who has innate coverage skills and instincts. The only concern on Lattimore is his history with hamstring injuries.

4. Jacksonville Jaguars: Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU - Blake Bortles needs help in the backfield; Fournette can definitely carry the rock but can he be a three down player for the Jaguars?

5. Tennessee Titans: Mike Williams, WR, Clemson - The Titans give Marcus Mariota a weapon--a big one--that will be a threat to score every time they’re in the red zone.

6. New York Jets: O.J. Howard, TE, Alabama - What can help out any crappy quarterback? A dynamic offensive weapon, and that would be Howard!

7. Los Angeles Chargers: Solomon Thomas, DE, Stanford - The Chargers stay local and go with Thomas who may end up being the best defensive lineman selected in this draft.

8. Carolina Panthers: Christian McCaffery, RB, Stanford - Cam is smiling from ear to ear as he finally has a true weapon in and out of the backfield. McCaffery may be the most dynamic offensive weapon in the draft.

9. Cincinnati Bengals: Jonathan Allen, DL, Alabama - Allen is the draft’s best defensive tackle and can collapse the pocket from the inside out.

10. Buffalo Bills: Rueben Foster, LB, Alabama - There are questions about Foster’s character but none concerning his abilities. Foster may be the most talented linebacker to come out of Nick Saban’s system.

11. New Orleans Saints: Malik Hooker, S, Ohio State - The Saints gave up the most passing yards last season. Hooker is an immediate upgrade in the back seven and should help change that.

12. Cleveland Browns: Mitchell Trubisky, QB, North Carolina - All signs point to the Browns having to trade up to get Trubinsky, whom they believe will be their (stop if you’ve heard this before) quarterback of the future.

13. Arizona Cardinals: Corey Davis, WR, Western Michigan - The Cardinals need an heir apparent to Larry Fitzgerald; any hopes Michael Floyd would fit the bill were dashed last year. Enter Davis who could be dynamic.

14. Philadelphia Eagles: Haason Reddick, OLB/DE, Temple - The Eagles lost Connor Barwin, and signed an aging Chris Long. Reddick provides an immediate and future impact as a pass rusher and has skyrocketed up draft boards.

15. Indianapolis Colts: Takkarist McKinley, DE/OLB, UCLA - The Colts need help everywhere; McKinley will upgrade the league’s 27th ranked passing defense will also addressing a need at defensive end.

16. Baltimore Ravens: Cam Robinson, OT, Alabama - The Ravens lost right tackle Ricky Wagner in free agency and replace him with this year’s best talent at tackle, Robinson.

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17. Washington Redskins: Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State - The Redskins fill a huge hole in their backfield. Cook may have some concerns off the field but his play on the field, is that of a three-down back who is a dynamic pass catcher.

18. Tennessee Titans: David Njoku, TE, Miami - Marcus Mariota is throwing back flips as the Titans have overhauled their passing game with Williams and one of the most athletic pass catchers in the draft.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Derek Barnett, DE, Tennessee - Barnett was insanely productive as a pass rusher for the Vols and creates a bookend to go along with Noah Spence. The only concerns are how bad he tested athletically.

20. Denver Broncos: Ryan Ramczyk, OT, Wisconsin - The Broncos are desperate for help along the offensive line; Ramczyk fills that need at either right or left tackle.

21. Detroit Lions: Jarrad Davis, ILB, Florida - Davis has great intangibles and would help boost a weak area on defense for the Lions.

22. Miami Dolphins: Forrest Lamp, OG, Western Kentucky - Lamp is the best offensive line talent in the draft and should transition from tackle to guard seamlessly in the NFL.

23. New York Giants: Garett Bolles, OT, Utah - The run on offensive linemen continues as the Giants help out Eli and that dynamic passing attack. Bolles could be the best of all the linemen three years from now.

24. Oakland Raiders: Marlon Humphrey, CB, Alabama - The Raiders could look at Kevin King, the tall corner out of Washington, here but Humphrey is just too talented, despite his poor ball skills.

25. Houston Texans: Patrick Mahomes II, Texas Tech - The Texans stay in Texas and select the most physically-gifted arm in this draft. Mahomes is a gunslinger that will need to listen to Bill O’Brien’s tutelage to reach his potential.

26. Seattle Seahawks: Kevin King, DB, Washington - A tall, rangy, athletic corner with speed seems like the Seahawks have gone down this road before. This time they don’t have to go too far with King.

27. Kansas City Chiefs: Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson - Andy Reid...Donovan McNabb, Andy Reid…Deshaun Watson, works for me and should workout for the Chiefs who need a future quarterback.

28. Dallas Cowboys: Adoree’ Jackson, CB, USC - Now I just love this pick for the Cowboys because Jackson addresses a need at corner but will give Pokes fans flashbacks to the days of Primetime as a punt returner.

29. Green Bay Packers: T.J. Watt, OLB, Wisconsin - The Packers have needs at corner but I see flashbacks of a young Clay Matthews dominating as an outside pass rusher. I really like Watt!

30. Pittsburgh Steelers: Tyus Bowser, OLB, Houston - James Harrison is 39 and the Steelers need some fresh legs to get after the quarterback. I love Bowser and think he’d be a great fit in a 3-4 defense.

31. Atlanta Falcons: Charles Harris, DE, Missouri - Almost half of the sacks produced by the Falcons last year were by Vic Beasley. Harris will help ease the load and balance out both sides of the defensive line.

32. New Orleans Saints: Tre’Davious White, CB, LSU - The Saints continue to overhaul that porous defensive backfield with White who is an experienced, physical corner who took his game to another level in 2016.

Robert Garcia @TexasTrinity

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