How Free Agency CHANGED the 2017 Draft

Updated: March 16, 2017

21. Lions: Malik McDowell DT Michigan State

The Lions have never replaced the loss of Suh and Ngata may not play much longer. They need an interior pass rusher and McDowell fits right in with what the Lions are looking for.

22. Dolphins: Jalen Tabor CB Florida

The Dolphins have made a lot of big moves this off season trading for a Julius Thomas and also trading for a much needed pass rusher in William Hayes. After what the Pats just did with Cooks and with some of the other weapons they will go up against they have to get get more depth at CB and possibly upgrade from Byron Maxwell after this season. Tabor has great coverage skills and the value is too good to pass up at 22.

23. Giants: David Njoku TE Miami

I thought about going OL here but the Giants are looking to add weapons to get this offense going again. They may add OL in a later round or bring in someone else in FA but right now they have put more points up. Defenses have figured out how to best play OBJ and they use the cover 2 look which opens the middle of the field. Unfortunately the Giants never had a match up to exploit the open middle…until now. Njoku is a great athlete that still has to learn to block but his pass catching and route running is already great so look for the Giants offense to rebound in 2017.

24. Raiders: Christian McCaffrey RB Stanford

The Raiders could go in a number of directions but I think the ways the Raiders can utilize McCaffrey in both the run game and out of the slot makes him a perfect fit in the Raiders defense. Carr will love him and I would expect immediate impact from him in an already explosive offense.

25. Texans: Garett Boles OT Utah

It seems like Romo is going to Houston so if that is the case the Texans will want to make sure he is protected as the injury history will hang over their heads. Bolles has maybe the most upside of any OT in this class and he should fit in nicely at RT before eventually taking over at LT.

26. Seahawks: Forrest Lamp OT Western Kentucky

The Seahawks OL was awful. Even with the addition of former 2nd overall pick Luke Joeckel and last years 1st rd pick Germain Ifedi, they have needs at both tackle spots and Guard. Lamp can play tackle or guard so he will compete in training camp and they will use him where he fits best. Most likely at Guard as a rookie but he should be a long term piece of the massive OL rebuild the Seahawks are attempting.

27. Chiefs: DeShone Kizer QB Notre Dame

I think Reid has always wanted to develop his own QB in KC but because Alex Smith has been a steady presence behind center they need has not been there. But they are now a perennial playoff team and they are realizing that Smith can only take you so far. They will need a difference maker at QB if they want to take the next step to a championship contender. Kizer is the prototype QB in the NFL but he needs to be coached up and improve on his accuracy. Reid is a QB guru and I can see him turning Kizer into maybe the best QB out of this class.

28. Cowboys: Charles Harris DE Missouri

.The Cowboys already had a pretty bad defense as it is but they also lost a lot of their better players in FA . They have needs at every level of the DL except maybe LB so I will give them the pass rusher they desperately need and then look to the secondary in later rounds as this CB class is as deep a position as we have ever seen.

29. Packers: Marlon Humphrey CB Alabama

The Packers secondary had more injuries then anyone could have anticipated in 2016 so I would not expect it to be as bad in 2017, but they also were exposed at CB so I can see them investing multiple picks in the secondary this year. This is a great value for Humphrey as some have him as the 2nd best CB in this class.

30. Steelers: Takkarist McKinley OLB UCLA

The Steelers have to improve the pass rush as they have not gotten the production that they were expecting from their former 1st round picks. McKinley should provide a much needed push to Jarvis Jones and Bud Dupree who are in prove it years and also depth behind James Harrison who can’t play forever.

31. Falcons: Caleb Brantley – DT, Florida

Vic Beasley broke out last year and became a star but the Falcons defense wore down in the Super Bowl and were exposed late in the game. More pass rush is needed and Brantley is a perfect 3 tech drawing comparisons to Arron Donald. The Falcons must continue to add to this DL and I can see Brantley being a perfect fit for what Dan Quinn is looking for.

32. Saints: Tre’Davious White CB LSU

This draft needs to be all about defense. After taking a pass rusher earlier in round 1 the Saints will look to improve an awful secondary. I can see the Saints investing multiple picks at DB maybe adding a safety in a later round.