Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

NFL Mock Draft: How the first round shakes out in big night for Las Vegas

Debating three ways the Raiders could go with the 24th overall pick

NFL Draft 2017 overall

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Banners hang from the Franklin Institute ahead of the 2017 NFL football draft, in Philadelphia, Wednesday, April 26, 2017.

Expect the NFL Draft ratings to spike in Southern Nevada this year.

Locals have more reason than ever to tune into the 82nd annual event, which starts at 5 p.m. today in Philadelphia and airs on ESPN. Not only is Las Vegas now an NFL city, but sports books have also gotten clearance to accept wagers on the draft from the Nevada Gaming Control Board.

The Las Vegas Sun wasn’t going to let such a momentous occasion pass without a little something extra. For the first time, we’ve compiled our own mock draft.

Case Keefer, Adam Candee and Mike Grimala took turns selecting each of the 32 first-round picks, pausing at the Raiders for each of them to share thoughts and make an individual pick for the incoming home team.

Read below for the Sun’s first annual draft-day mock.

1. Cleveland Browns: Myles Garrett, DE, Texas A&M

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Texas A&M defensive lineman Myles Garrett (15) talks to teammates in between drills before the start of an NCAA college football game against Ole Miss Saturday, Nov. 12, 2016, in College Station, Texas.

Teams sometimes overthink the top pick, and talk themselves out of taking the top available talent. There’s no indication the Browns are going to make that mistake this year. — Keefer

2. San Francisco 49ers: Solomon Thomas, DT, Stanford

The 49ers finished last in the league in total defense and somehow gave up 351 more rushing yards than the Browns. Start the rebuild with the best available defensive lineman. — Candee

3. Chicago Bears: Jamal Adams, S, LSU

Cornerback Marshon Lattimore could also fit here, but the Bears’ defense needs help against the run and the pass. Adams can do both. — Grimala

4. Jacksonville Jaguars: Jonathan Allen, DL, Alabama

Ideally, the Jaguars trade down and take an offensive lineman while stockpiling an extra pick or two. Their run game needs help, but it’s proven over time not to be a wise investment to take a running back this early. If Jacksonville keeps the pick, it should go with the best player left, and Allen is the best player left. — Keefer

5. Tennessee Titans (from Los Angeles Rams): Malik Hooker, S, Ohio State

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Ohio State safety Malik Hooker (24) celebrates his interception against Clemson with teammate Marshon Lattimore (2) during the first half of the Fiesta Bowl NCAA college football playoff semifinal, Saturday, Dec. 31, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz.

If you told me this is Marshon Lattimore, I could buy that, too. Either way, Tennessee needs to fortify the secondary against Andrew Luck, Blake Bortles and Tom Savage. OK, maybe not Savage. — Candee

6. New York Jets: Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU

A long-term Darrelle Revis replacement would be nice, but the Jets lost their best receiver this offseason and the QB situation is a mess. Offense is the bigger need, and Fournette is a much safer bet than Mitchell “Mitch” Trubisky. — Grimala

7. Los Angeles Chargers: Marshon Lattimore, CB, Ohio State

The Chargers may seem set at cornerback with Jason Verrett and Casey Hayward, but there’s value in solidifying strength — especially in the secondary. Let’s just hope the front office learned from last year’s first-round signing fiasco with fellow former Buckeye Joey Bosa and gives Lattimore the contract he deserves. — Keefer

8. Carolina Panthers: O.J. Howard, TE, Alabama

Yes, I know Greg Olsen is there, but he is 32 this year and Howard looks like a potential generational talent at tight end. Panthers GM Dave Gettleman could fill a hole with Christian McCaffrey and no one would blink, but Howard is the best player on the board. He could be Jimmy Graham and Antonio Gates wrapped into one. — Candee

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Washington wide receiver John Ross runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 4, 2017.

9. Cincinnati Bengals: John Ross, WR, Washington

Speed doesn’t last long on draft day, and Ross is the fastest and most explosive receiver available. He sneaks into the Top 10 here and gives the Bengals another dangerous pass-catching option to go with A.J. Green and Tyler Eifert. — Grimala

10. Buffalo Bills: Mike Williams, WR, Clemson

The previous pick feels like retribution for the Bengals’ Week 11 loss to the Bills last season. Buffalo must go wide receiver, and Ross is far and away the best prospect — even more for his performance metrics than this blistering 40-yard dash time. Williams will have to be a consolation prize. — Keefer

11. New Orleans Saints: Derek Barnett, DE, Tennessee

Before the Adrian Peterson signing, I was dreaming about how Sean Payton could use McCaffrey all over the field. But the Saints need defense badly and Barnett can get to the quarterback. He's not Garrett, but Barnett doesn't need to be to help New Orleans. — Candee

12. Cleveland Browns: Mitch Trubisky, QB, North Carolina

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In this Sept. 27, 2014, file photo, North Carolina's Mitch Trubisky (10) warm ups before an NCAA college football game against Clemson in Clemson, S.C. North Carolina coach Larry Fedora, on Friday, April 22, 2016, has named Trubisky as starting quarterback for the opener against Georgia.

The board falls perfectly for Cleveland in our trade-free mock, as the top quarterback prospect is still available with their second pick. The Browns get the best overall player at No. 1, then grab their latest quarterback of the future in Trubisky. — Grimala

13. Arizona Cardinals: Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson

Let the run on quarterbacks begin. Arizona needs a plan after Carson Palmer visibly declined at age 37 last year. I have a sneaking suspicion their constant linking with Patrick Mahomes is a smokescreen, and they really want the player who’s already outfitting himself in their jersey on "Madden". — Keefer

14. Philadelphia Eagles: Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford

GM Howie Roseman staked his name on quarterback Carson Wentz last year, so now it’s time to give Wentz the weapons he needs to thrive. If McCaffrey’s draft rise is for real, the Eagles could have their most complete offense since the days of Donovan McNabb and T.O. — Candee

15. Indianapolis Colts: Zach Cunningham, LB, Vanderbilt

There are higher rated linebackers on the board, but the Colts are in Year 2 of a shift to a 3-4 defensive alignment, and they’re still collecting the parts to make it work. Cunningham has experience as an inside 'backer in Vanderbilt’s 3-4, and he can play all three downs. This is the right fit of player and team. — Grimala

16. Baltimore Ravens: Forrest Lamp, G, Western Kentucky

The Ravens have an offensive line to build, and getting the best blocking prospect in back-to-back drafts is a heck of a way to start. Slot Lamp with last year’s first-round choice, Bishop Gorman graduate Ronnie Stanley, and Baltimore is on its way to impenetrable up front. — Keefer

17. Washington Redskins: Reuben Foster, LB, Alabama

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Alabama linebacker Reuben Foster (10) looks to the sidelines for a play during the first half of Alabama's spring NCAA college football game, Saturday, April 18, 2015, in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

We reach the point where the value becomes too great to let Foster dangle for his off-field concerns any longer. Grimala passed on a great fit for the draft’s second-best defender at 15, but whether Washington goes 4-3 or 3-4, a vicious hitter with lightning speed will slot in nicely. — Candee

18. Tennessee Titans: Corey Davis, WR, Western Michigan

The Titans shored up their defensive backfield with the No. 5 pick, and now it’s time to get young franchise QB Marcus Mariota some help in the passing game. Davis and Mariota should develop a symbiotic relationship, like other young receiver/young quarterback duos (Derek Carr and Amari Cooper come to mind). — Grimala

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Cam Robinson, T, Alabama

All indications are that Dalvin Cook intrigues the Buccaneers, and he may well end up the best running back in this class. But he won’t be the best if he has no one to run behind, and the Buccaneers lack players to run behind. — Keefer

20. Denver Broncos: Garett Bolles, T, Utah

This feels a little reachy to me here and that shows me just how bad I think Denver’s offensive line could be. The Broncos could not run the ball at all last year and they need to provide time for whichever young quarterback starts. Bolles does not have a consensus first-round grade, but is equally solid against the run and the pass. — Candee

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North squad inside linebacker Haason Reddick of Temple (57) runs on the field during the player introductions of the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game, Saturday, Jan. 28, 2017, at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Ala.

21. Detroit Lions: Haason Reddick, LB, Temple

Reddick has rocketed up draft boards due to his performances at the Senior Bowl and the NFL Combine, but he’s no workout warrior — he was productive at Temple (65 tackles, 10.5 sacks, 22.5 tackles for loss in 2016) and fills a major need for the Lions. — Grimala

22. Miami Dolphins: T.J. Watt, LB, Wisconsin

The Dolphins finished second to last in adjusted sack rate last season and desperately need an edge rusher. This is higher than most scouts rate Watt, but it only takes one team to agree with projections that paint him as a potential future Pro Bowler. Why not Miami? — Keefer

23. New York Giants: Charles Harris, DE/LB, Missouri

Glaring holes on the offensive line and at running back merit serious consideration, but GM Jerry Reese cannot help himself if a pass rusher of Harris’ caliber is sitting here. With 16 sacks in the past two seasons, Harris pairs with Jason Pierre-Paul and Olivier Vernon to give New York a deep rotation on the end. — Candee

24. Oakland Raiders: Malik McDowell, DT, Michigan State

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Michigan State defensive end Malik Mcdowell runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine Sunday, March 5, 2017, in Indianapolis.

Alternate Choices: Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State; Jarrad Davis, LB, Florida

McDowell is viewed as a boom or bust prospect due to attitude issues at Michigan State, but if he’s motivated, he’s one of the best pass-rushers available in this class. He projects as a penetrating tackle, but can also play end depending on the defensive front. If he booms, the Raiders have a playmaker who can help Khalil Mack wreck offenses. — Grimala

The world expects Reggie McKenzie to go defense after the Marshawn Lynch signing. Easy cases can be made for Jarrad Davis and Kevin King, but remember that you’re getting two years at most of an injury-prone Beast Mode. Cook’s explosive speed makes him a home-run threat on every touch, so he doesn’t need many snaps to make an impact. — Candee

McDowell and Cook would both be fine choices. McDowell fills a need, while the Raiders are positioned well enough that they could spring for a luxury like Cook. But Jarrad Davis feels almost too perfect here. They need a star on the inside of the linebacking corps to pair with Khalil Mack, and it's easy to envision a Davis-Mack duo leading the Raiders' defense into Las Vegas in three years. — Keefer

25. Houston Texans: Patrick Mahomes, QB, Texas Tech

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Texas Tech quarterback Patrick Mahomes runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine Saturday, March 4, 2017, in Indianapolis.

Would this be the best use of the Texans’ first-round pick? Probably not. But the organization must be feeling pressure to take a quarterback, and might not-so-secretly like the in-state product. Houston worked out Mahomes, who came out of the session saying he connected with coach Bill O'Brien. — Keefer

26. Seattle Seahawks: Takkarist McKinley, LB, UCLA

Give Pete Carroll a guy who never quits on a play and can play different positions in a front seven, and he will find a way to cover his minor warts. McKinley fits well in Seattle and should quickly work his way into the rotation. — Candee

27. Kansas City Chiefs: Tim Williams, DE/OLB, Alabama

Had Mahomes been on the board, he would have been the pick here. Instead, the Chiefs get an athletic pass rusher who will team with Justin Houston to form a ferocious duo on the edges. Williams is one-dimensional, but it’s a very valuable dimension that almost never slips out of the first round. — Grimala

28. Dallas Cowboys: Kevin King, CB, Washington

Dallas will have plenty of options on how to address its glaring deficiency in the secondary if the draft plays out anything like this mock. King stands out above the glut of defensive backs because of his size — he’s 6-foot-3, 200 pounds — and versatility — he played both cornerback and safety for the Huskies. — Keefer

29. Green Bay Packers: Jarrad Davis, LB, Florida

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Michigan quarterback Jake Rudock, left, throws a pass as he is hit by Florida linebacker Jarrad Davis, right, during the first half of the Citrus Bowl NCAA college football game, Friday, Jan. 1, 2016, in Orlando, Fla.

Short of O.J. Howard or Christian McCaffrey tumbling in some sort of wild Laremy Tunsil-type situation (fat chance), the Packers need to take the best available defender. Athletic and steady, Davis slots into either inside linebacker spot and can play every down. — Candee

30. Pittsburgh Steelers: Tre’Davious White, CB, LSU

Pittsburgh could use another pass catcher, but the memory of Tom Brady slicing up the Steelers’ secondary in the AFC Championship Game is too fresh to choose any position other than defensive back. White is the most talented corner left on the board. — Grimala

31. Atlanta Falcons: Evan Engram, TE, Ole Miss

It doesn’t take a deep dive down the Falcons’ roster to realize General Manager Thomas Dimitroff has a knack for identifying offensive talent. One of the most quietly exceptional playmakers in the draft, who happens to be at the odd skill position where Atlanta isn’t fully set, seems destined for the new Mercedes-Benz Stadium. — Keefer

32. New Orleans Saints (from New England): Marlon Humphrey, CB, Alabama

If the Saints can land both Barnett and Humphrey in the first round, that’s top-shelf value. Humphrey’s production did not always match his physical talent in pass coverage, but 4.4 speed with length can be molded into a reliable cover corner. — Candee

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