Arkansas Democrat-Gazette NFL mock draft

Defensive end Myles Garrett (left), of Texas A&M, who had 8½ sacks last season, is the odds-on-favorite to be selected by Cleveland with the No. 1 pick in the first round of today’s NFL Draft.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (left), of Texas A&M, who had 8½ sacks last season, is the odds-on-favorite to be selected by Cleveland with the No. 1 pick in the first round of today’s NFL Draft.

1.Cleveland Browns

PICK DE Myles Garrett

COMMENT The Browns have a lot of needs. There isn't a sure thing in this draft, but Garrett is the closest to it.

2.San Francisco 49ers

PICK DE Solomon Thomas, Stanford

COMMENT John Lynch's first draft with the 49ers brings a defensive star from his alma mater. Thomas helps a defense that has fallen on hard times in the past three seasons.

3.Chicago Bears

PICK S Jamal Adams, LSU

COMMENT The former Tiger will bring physicality and leadership to a Bears defense that has missed those traits.

4.Jacksonville Jaguars

PICK RB Leonard Fournette, LSU

COMMENT Quarterback could be an option, with the uncertainty of Blake Bortles. Fournette must overcome durability issues, which plagued him at LSU.

5.Tennessee Titans (from Los Angeles Rams)

PICK CB Marshon Lattimore, Ohio State

COMMENT The Titans aren't far away from being contenders in the AFC North. They'll take a Buckeye who's used to playing in big games.

6.New York Jets

PICK QB Mitchell Trubisky, North Carolina (to be traded for Cleveland's No. 12 pick)

COMMENT Trubisky started one season with the Tar Heels, but will get an opportunity to play close to home in Cleveland once this trade is completed.

7.Los Angeles Chargers

PICK S Malik Hooker, Ohio State

COMMENT Chargers defensive coordinator Gus Bradley knows defense, being a former assistant with the Seahawks earlier this decade.

8.Carolina Panthers

PICK RB Christian McCaffrey, Stanford

COMMENT Cam Newton needs help, and not only on the offensive line. McCaffrey provides Newton with a weapon at running back and in the slot.

9.Cincinnati Bengals

PICK LB Haason Reddick, Temple

COMMENT The former Owls star shined at the Senior Bowl and the Bengals need to get younger on defense.

10.Buffalo Bills

PICK WR Mike Williams, Clemson

COMMENT The top wide receiver in the draft heads to upstate New York.

11.New Orleans Saints

PICK DE Derek Barnett, Tennessee

COMMENT Defense must improve in the Big Easy. The Saints turn to a Volunteer here.

12.Cleveland Browns (from Philadelphia Eagles)

PICK CB Marlon Humphrey, Alabama (to be traded for the New York Jets' No. 6 pick)

COMMENT Humphrey was one of the leaders of a Crimson Tide defense that played in the national championship game last season.

13.Arizona Cardinals

PICK WR Corey Davis, Western Michigan

COMMENT The draft's first big surprise. But the Cardinals must find weapons for Carson Palmer.

14.Philadelphia Eagles (from Minnesota Vikings)

PICK CB Gareon Conley, Ohio State

COMMENT Philadelphia hopes for McCaffrey to fall. Instead, it gets a Buckeye who has been considered the best cornerback available by FoxSports.com.

15.Indianapolis Colts

PICK LB Takkarist McKinley, UCLA

COMMENT The Colts have lacked a key pass rusher in recent years. Enter the former Bruin.

16.Baltimore Ravens

PICK TE O.J. Howard, Alabama

COMMENT Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome played at Alabama. He knows tight ends and Howard becomes a starter immediately.

17.Washington Redskins

PICK RB Dalvin Cook, Florida State

COMMENT The former Seminole goes from garnet and gold to burgundy and gold.

18.Tennessee Titans

PICK WR John Ross, Washington

COMMENT Ross ran a 4.22 40-yard dash at the NFL combine in March. This former Husky gives Marcus Mariota a big-time deep threat.

19.Tampa Bay Buccaneers

PICK OT Cam Robinson, Alabama

COMMENT Mission: Protect Jameis Winston.

20.Denver Broncos

PICK OT Ryan Ramczyk, Wisconsin

COMMENT John Elway takes the best offensive lineman from the Big Ten here.

21.Detroit Lions

PICK LB Jarrad Davis, Florida

COMMENT The former Gator heads to the Motor City.

22.Miami Dolphins

PICK LB Reuben Foster, Alabama

COMMENT Foster is a top-10 talent, but has slipped because of a diluted urine sample at the NFL combine.

23.New York Giants

PICK OT Garrett Bolles, Utah

COMMENT Bolles heads to the Giants, where he'll play from day one.

24.Oakland Raiders

PICK CB Kevin King, Washington

COMMENT The Raiders want help in the secondary and the former Husky lands in the Bay Area.

25.Houston Texans

PICK QB Patrick Mahomes, Texas Tech

COMMENT The Texans have attempted to fix the quarterback position, but have not been able to. Mahomes could be their starter by the end of the season.

26.Seattle Seahawks

PICK SS Obi Melifonwu, Connecticut

COMMENT The Legion of Boom isn't getting younger. Melifonwu can provide depth to a secondary that did not perform well without Earl Thomas late last season.

27.Kansas City Chiefs

PICK QB DeShaun Watson, Clemson

COMMENT Life after Alex Smith is coming. Watson is a winner and could start sooner rather than later for the defending AFC West champions.

28.Dallas Cowboys

PICK CB Tre'Davious White, LSU

COMMENT The defending NFC East champions have lost several secondary pieces (Barry Church, Morris Claiborne, Brandon Carr). So they'll turn to Baton Rouge to help fill the void.

29.Green Bay Packers

PICK LB T.J. Watt, Wisconsin

COMMENT JJ Watt's younger brother will make his own name in Green Bay.

30.Pittsburgh Steelers

PICK TE David Njoku, Miami

COMMENT Heath Miller hasn't been replaced in the Steel City. This former Hurricane will come close.

31.Atlanta Falcons

PICK LB Charles Harris, Missouri

COMMENT Dan Quinn loves pass-rushers. The Falcons allowed a Super Bowl record 466 passing yards to Tom Brady (and blew a 28-3 lead), so the defense needs to be improved if Atlanta is to make another deep run.

32.New Orleans Saints (from New England Patriots)

PICK CB Adoree' Jackson, USC

COMMENT The Saints land two defensive players in this draft.

Sports on 04/27/2017

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