Alex Rowsey’s First-Round Mock Draft 1.0

For a long time, this has been the best time of the year for Redskins fans. Draft time! The draft order is finally set and the 2017 NFL season starts in earnest today. Teams have their new GMs and coaches in place and they all have one goal in mind. To get there, they’ll need to draft well.

For now, I’ll keep this thing to one round. It’s far too early in the process to really go beyond that, anyway. It’s a great defensive draft, which really benefits the ‘Skins as that’s the side of the ball containing most of their needs.

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

Garrett’s the best player in the draft and far too good to pass up for any of the QBs available. The Browns have needs all over the place... beyond just QB. A dynamite pass rusher would go a long way for them. The Browns are also stacked with picks, so they could perhaps get a QB later on or package some picks together for a trade.

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

The 49ers are one of the harder teams to predict heading into this draft. They have a brand new, first-time GM and HC. They could very well trade for a new QB and when you have a brand new GM and a brand new HC and it’s their first times in those roles, I feel like they need to go with a safe pick. Reaching for a QB here isn’t safe. Thomas is.

3. Chicago Bears: Jonathan Allen, DT, Alabama

No QB, yet? That’s right, but the Bears are obviously a possibility to go for one here. There’s also been talk of how great Tony Romo could be for this roster. Allen is too good and too rare a defensive talent to pass up and reach for a QB. These defenders at the top of the draft are really special this year.

4. Jacksonville Jaguars: Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida St.

Quite simply, they’ve got to do something to help out Blake Bortles. At #4, Dalvin Cook may be the best way to do that. Dude’s fast, quick, and could actually provide what TJ Yeldon was supposed to when he was drafted. Maybe they have bigger needs, but I think this team is committed to making it work with Bortles and he needs to play better this season. Cook helps with that.

5. Tennessee Titans: Malik Hooker, FS, Ohio St.

Rangy and known for making big plays, snagging INTs, and forcing fumbles. Exactly what the Titans roster needs.

6. New York Jets: Jamal Adams, SS, LSU

The Jets need help in their secondary. There’s talk of moving Revis to FS and pairing him with a guy like Adams could go a long way to fixing that area of their roster.

7. Los Angeles Chargers: Mike Williams, WR, Clemson

This team really felt the loss of Keenan Allen this year. Williams would be an ideal replacement or compliment. Rivers is getting older and if they want to win with him, they’re going to need to start giving him more weapons. He’s a good value at #7.

8. Carolina Panthers: Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU

Fournette makes sense at #8 and with the Panthers. Stewart’s getting long in the tooth and will be up for a new contract soon. And can you imaging Cam Newton and Leonard Fournette together on the same offense? Wow.

9. Cincinnati Bengals: Reuben Foster, ILB, Alabama

This team is pretty set on offense, but need defensive help immediately (sound familiar?). They may only be a player or two away from being back in the playoffs and Foster is a guy that can be plugged in as a starter from day one and be a stud. The Bengals are ready to win now and Foster helps with that right away.

10. Buffalo Bills: Mitch Trubisky, QB, UNC

There it is. The first QB off the board. There’s no doubt Trubisky could go #1 overall. He could also go #2 or #2 as the ‘9ers and Bears are both in need. But for a guy this raw, short, and inexperienced, I think teams will be a little wary. Tyrod Taylor won’t be back and they need a passer desperately. If Trubisky is gone, it could very well be another QB.

11. New Orleans Saints: Marshon Lattimore, CB, Ohio St.

Quite simply, the Saints don’t have any good CBs and he’s the best one available. Makes too much sense... so it probably won’t happen.

12. Cleveland Browns: Teez Tabor, CB, Florida

Their secondary is atrocious. They need help all over the back-end of their defense. With Haden’s injury history, Tabor could become their new #1 CB sooner than later.

13. Arizona Cardinals: Corey Davis, WR, Western Michigan

Larry Fitzgerald is probably done after this year and they just traded Floyd away.

14-15. Indianapolis Colts (could be Eagles, subject to coin flip): Derek Barnett, DE, Tennessee

This team needs a pass rush in the worst way. Enter the incredibly productive Barnett. Scouting combine could affect Barnett’s status quite a bit (not known as hyper athletic).

14-15. Philadelphia Eagles (could be Colts, subject to coin flip): John Ross, WR, Washington

DeSean Jackson 2.0. Fitting, don’t you think? WR is pretty obviously their biggest need. Need weapons for their new franchise QB. He’ll certainly be cheaper than DeSean Jackson...

16. Baltimore Ravens: Ryan Ramczyk, OT, Wisconsin

Two consecutive first-round picks at OT could set this offense up nicely for the foreseeable future. They’ll probably need to replace Ricky Wagner. Ramczyk’s a good value at #16. First OT off the board.

17. Washington Redskins: Malik McDowell, DL, Michigan St.

Huge, athletic, and loaded with potential. He’d instantly start at DE and could be a “blue” for GM Scot McCloughan. DL is clearly the Redskins top need and this guy is built to be a DE in a 3-4.

18. Tennessee Titans: OJ Howard, TE, Alabama

Delanie Walker’s getting up there and TE is an important position in that offense and for that QB. Howard’s the best TE in the draft and is a rare talent at that position. He’s an athletic pass-catcher as well as a stud run-blocker. Arguably a top-10 talent. Great value at #18.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jabrill Peppers, SS, Michigan

An athletic Swiss Army knife of a player who has positional versatility. His play-making ability makes him one of the top 20 guys in this draft.

20. Denver Broncos: Cam Robinson, OT, Alabama

The Broncos need a RT something terrible. Their OL absolutely needs attention with their first-round pick.

21. Detroit Lions: Marlon Humphrey, CB, Alabama

They have needs all over their defense and while DL may be their biggest need, Humphrey is too good to pass up here. Make no mistake about it, their secondary needs an upgrade.

22. Miami Dolphins: Zach Cunningham, LB, Vanderbilt

Top need meets best player available. How perfect. Cunningham provides the athleticism and versatility they need. Great value at #22.

23. New York Giants: DeShone Kizer, QB, Notre Dame

The roster around Manning looks pretty good and Manning is getting mighty old. It’s time to think about a successor. They don’t have one... until now.

24. Oakland Raiders: Sidney Jones, CB, Washington

If the Raiders could get Jones here, that’d be huge. The possibility of getting a #1 CB at #24 for a team in such dire need for CB help would be a perfect scenario for them.

25. Houston Texans: Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson

This is how bad Brock Osweiler is. They simply have no good QBs. They absolutely must find someone else.

26. Seattle Seahawks: Dan Feeney, G, Indiana

Their OL needs some serious improvement and investment. They’re pretty bad up front.

27. Kansas City Chiefs: Takkarist McKinley, OLB, UCLA

Pass-rusher is a need for them and also some of the best players still on the board. They have a lot of money already invested in their pass-rushers, but they need to find a way to save money. Some of their guys are older and some are going to be might expensive to hang onto. McKinley solves a few problems.

28. Dallas Cowboys: Tim Williams, OLB, Alabama

Need help in the pass-rush department and need to make-up for the big mistake of drafting Randy Gregory. It’s their biggest need and Williams is a huge steal at #28. They won’t have a ton of money to get a pass-rush in FA, so their first-round pick will likely be spent there. Don’t be surprised if Williams goes earlier than this.

29. Green Bay Packers: Taco Charlton, DE, Michigan

They have needs on the edge getting to the QB. Charlton fits those needs to a tee. Peppers is old and their other guys are entering FA. It’s time.

30. Pittsburgh Steelers: Charles Harris, DE, Missouri

James Harrison cannot last forever. With Dupree on the other side, this will be a formidable pass-rushing duo for the foreseeable future.

31. Atlanta Falcons: Forrest Lamp, G, Western Kentucky

‘Bout time to replace old Chris Chester, isn’t it?

32. New England Patriots: Haason Reddick, LB, Temple

A guy who can cover Devonta Freeman... Scouting combine will affect his draft position a lot as Reddick is super fast for his position and basically can cover like a CB while also being a decent pass-rusher. He’s unique... like the Patriots. You know Belichick will know exactly what to do with him.