We finally enter the lovely month of April. Which means we are just a few weeks away from the party that is the NFL Draft.

Prospect workouts and meetings are cranked up at this juncture of the pre-draft process. As we enter draft month, draft boards are starting to get crafted a little more thoroughly.

Many are still wondering what will the Browns do with their two first round draft picks. With 11 total draft picks, their first two in the opening round are arguably their most important picks in quite some time. For the Jets, there seems to be a major rebuilding process on the way and the 6th overall selection will probably be the first building block. The Dallas Cowboys have a big need in the pass rushing department. However, could they make a different decision when it’s their turn in round one? What direction will the defending NFC champion Atlanta Falcons go as they attempt to redeem themselves in 2017? Here is an updated, 1st round mock for the 2017 NFL Draft.

1. Cleveland Browns – Myles Garrett, EDGE, Texas A&M: Things remain the same this time around as the Browns grab their franchise pass rusher. At 6’4 272 pounds, Garrett is the next freak pass rusher the hit the NFL and will be an excellent pillar for the Browns defense.
2. San Francisco 49ers – Mitchell Trubisky, QB, North Carolina: For months, I’ve had Clemson’s Deshaun Watson slotted here. While it still may occur, Trubisky has been the hotter name. Regardless, the 49ers need a true QB to build with.
3. Carolina Panthers (sends 8th overall selection, 2nd round/64th overall pick, & 5th round/152nd overall pick to Chicago for the 3rd overall pick & 4th round/117th overall pick)  – Leonard Fournette, RB , LSU: Rumors have persisted during the past few weeks of the Panthers making a move such as this. Although it’s not the biggest need for Carolina, a move such as this changes the dynamic for the Panthers in a division with talented offenses.
4. Jacksonville Jaguars – Solomon Thomas, DE , Stanford: The Jags had their eyes on Fournette but as you can tell, those plans have changed. Grabbing a specimen like Thomas adds another skilled lineman to a defense that is more talented than you think.
5. Tennessee Titans – Malik Hooker, FS , Ohio State: Tennesse has two 1st round picks and for a team that flirted with the playoffs last season, they are not far from postseason football. Hooker provides playmaking ability and will fit well with free agent pickup Jonathan Cyprien at strong safety.
6. New York Jets – Marshon Lattimore, CB , Ohio State: The Jets already signed Morris Claiborne to be one starting corner. For a team that is in need across the board, teaming Claiborne with Lattimore gives the Jets a big, athletic duo to be reckon with.
7. Los Angeles Chargers – Jamal Adams, S , LSU: Adams is an athletic, versatile presence in the secondary and exactly what the Chargers need on the back end. With a healthy Jason Verrett and Casey Hayward at corner, Adams gives the Chargers an underrated secondary.
8. Chicago Bears (via Carolina) – Jonathan Allen, DL, Alabama: The Bears trade down, end up with two 2nd round picks and two 5th rounders, and still selects a disruptive lineman that they probably would’ve taken at 3rd overall. Allen adds plenty of versatility to the Bears front seven.
9. Cincinnati Bengals – Reuben Foster, LB , Alabama: The Bengals need a few more playmakers on the defensive side of the ball, especially at linebacker. Foster will make his presence known from day one and will easily be the Bengals best linebacker by season’s end.
10. Buffalo Bills – OJ Howard, TE , Alabama: The hype is real. The Howard to Buffalo hype is real. Howard solidified his athletic ability at the Combine and even though the Bills employ Charles Clay at the position, Howard is a difference maker.
11. New Orleans Saints – Derek Barnett, EDGE , Tennessee: Addressing a below average defense seems to be the focus this offseason for the Saints. Barnett can team with Cameron Jordan and upgrade the pass rush for the Saints immediately.
12. Cleveland Browns – Deshaun Watson, QB , Clemson: The Browns have a depth chart at QB with Cody Kessler being the “favorite” as the week one starter. Expect the Browns to address that by grabbing Watson, who brings impressive winning pedigree to the organization.
13. Arizona Cardinals – Corey Davis, WR , Western Michigan: Davis has been injured during the pre-draft process so teams have not gotten a close look at his ability. Throw on the tape and you’ll see why some consider Davis as the best WR in the draft.
14. Philadelphia Eagles – Marlon Humphrey, CB , Alabama: Philly’s offense took a considerable step during free agency so the team looks to haul in a talented corner like Humphrey. The former Alabama defender brings size, speed, and toughness to the Eagles secondary.
15. Indianapolis Colts – Haason Reddick, OLB , Temple: Reddick is undersized but he packs a dangerous ability to get after the quarterback. Something the Colts need desperately.
16. Baltimore Ravens – Mike Williams, WR , Clemson: Steve Smith retires, Kamar Aiken departs in free agency, and Breshad Perriman has been slow out the gates. So the Ravens brings along Williams to give Joe Flacco a main target at receiver.
17. Washington Redskins – Dalvin Cook, RB , Florida State: Washington lost a little firepower this offseason on offense but they pick up a electric playmaker in Cook, who can score at any given moment on the field.
18. Tennessee Titans – John Ross, WR , Washington: A power running game in Tennessee needs an elite receiving threat. The speed of Ross adds explosiveness to the suddenly dangerous Titans offense.
19. Seattle Seahawks (sends 26th overall selection, 3rd round/90th overall selection, & 2018 4th round selection to Tampa Bay for the 19th overall pick & 2018 5th round selection) – Ryan Ramzyck, OT , Wisconsin – The Seahawks make a rare move by trading up and taking an elite offensive tackle such as Ramzyck. Getting protection for QB Russell Wilson is key this offseason.
20. Denver Broncos – David Njoku, TE , Miami: Offensive juice is missing from the tough-minded Broncos and putting Njoku in Denver with an offense that includes WRs Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders is a big gain.
21. Detroit Lions – Taco Charlton, DE , Michigan: Defensive end Ziggy Ansah has needed a little help for some time now. Charlton steps in with a unique combination of size, athleticism, and length.
22. Miami Dolphins – Zach Cunningham, LB , Vanderbilt: At 6’3 234 lbs, Cunningham is exactly what the Dolphins need at outside linebacker. Cunningham will be able to roam and be a thumper playing behind Ndamukong Suh.
23. New York Giants – Garrett Bolles, OT , Utah: The Giants don’t lack firepower on offense. However, what they need is protection up front as they have a below average offensive line. Bolles is a mauler who is feisty and adds a little punch to the Giants offensive line.
24. Oakland Raiders – Malik McDowell, DL, Michigan State: McDowell and his mean streak will be a match made in heaven for the Raiders. Having McDowell makes things a little easier for Khalil Mack and Bruce Irvin in the pass rushing department.
25. Houston Texans – Patrick Mahomes, QB , Texas Tech: Thankfully, the Texans shut the door on the Brock Osweiler experiment. In a critical year, Texans head coach Bill O’Brien takes his chances with a rocket arm QB who he has heard plenty about.
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (via Seattle) – Cam Robinson, OT , Alabama: Quarterback Jameis Winston is the franchise and protecting him is never a bad idea. Robinson can man the left tackle spot and swing Donovan Smith to the right side and make a pair of bookend tackles for Winston.
27. Kansas City Chiefs – DeShone Kizer, QB , Notre Dame: It’s a legit possibility that the Chiefs grab their quarterback of the future and Kizer fits the bill. Andy Reid selects a guy with a big arm who can make all of the NFL throws.
28. Dallas Cowboys – Charles Harris, OLB , Missouri: The Cowboys must get after the quarterback better this season and Harris presents a nice step in shoring up that element. A defensive back here is not out of the question either.
29. Green Bay Packers – Christian McCaffrey, RB , Stanford: Ty Montgomery is the leader at running back with Eddie Lacy now in Seattle. Montgomery is not a definite starter in this league at the position so the Packers add a dynamic, versatile prospect that Aaron Rodgers would absolutely love.
30. Pittsburgh Steelers – Takkarist McKinley, OLB , UCLA: James Harrison and Bud Dupree are the starters at outside linebacker so an injured McKinley can be brought along slowly this offseason. His ability to rush the edge is enticing for a Steelers team looking to add future talent at the position.
31. Atlanta Falcons – Forrest Lamp, OG , Western Kentucky: The retirement of Chris Chester creates a hole at right guard. The underrated Lamp fills that void immediately.
32. New Orleans Saints – Gareon Conley, CB , Ohio State: The Saints need as much defensive help as they can find. The athletic Conley is a playmaker at corner for the Saints.

Eric Robinson