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2017 NFL Offseason Schedule

Feeling the non-football season blues? You’re not alone, NFL fans. Following the free agency period and the 2017 NFL Draft, we’ve officially entered the quietest parts of the NFL’s offseason. As team’s set their sights on Super Bowl LII in Minneapolis, here’s a quick look at the offseason schedule on the road to kickoff.

May

May 18-21: NFLPA Rookie Premiere and Rookie Minicamps

May 22-23: Spring League Meetings in Chicago, IL

Owners and league executives are expected to vote on various changes to the league’s rules, including rules that are said to affect rosters and shortening the overtime period in regular season games.

Late May – June: Full-Team OTAs

July

July 15: Franchise-tagged Players Extension Deadline

Players who have been designated with their teams’ franchise tags are no longer able to sign multi-year extensions following the July 15 deadline. After the deadline, players are only able to sign one-year Franchise tenders with their respective teams.

Mid-Late July: Training Camp Early Open

Teams league-wide are being permitted to open training camps early for rookies and first-year players for the 2017 offseason, available a full seven days before the team’s earliest mandatory training camp reporting date for veterans.

Late July-August: NFL Training Camps

The season begins with teams taking their first steps towards Super Bowl LII in Minneapolis, opening training camps at various dates.

August

August 3: NFL Hall of Fame Game

This year being played on Thursday night, the Dallas Cowboys and Arizona Cardinals will square off in the first official football game of the NFL’s preseason, played at the NFL Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.

August 5: Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony

The 2017 NFL Hall of Fame inductees will be enshrined forever in Canton, Ohio.

September

September 7: Kickoff

The Super Bowl LI champion New England Patriots will kick off the brand new 2017 NFL season against the Kansas City Chiefs at home on Thursday, September 7 at 8:30 p.m. ET. The team will unveil their Super Bowl banner and forge a new path, seeking their sixth Super Bowl title.

2017 Indianapolis Colts: Which Rookies Will Shine?

For the first time of the NFL’s offseason, team’s are reporting as a whole 90-man roster this week for organized team activities (OTA) at team complexes. The Indianapolis Colts, who report to their first full-team OTA’s on Monday, have completed the rookie mini-camp portion of their offseason. After early action, what rookies are most likely to stand out for the team in the upcoming 2017 NFL season?

To recap, a look at the Indianapolis Colts draft class:

Round 1, Pick 15: Malik Hooker, S, Ohio State

Round 2, Pick 46: Quincy Wilson, CB, Florida

Round 3, Pick 80: Tarell Basham, EDGE, Ohio

Round 4, Pick 137: Zach Banner, G, USC

Round 4, Pick 143: Marlon Mack, RB, South Florida

Round 4, Pick 144: Grover Stewart, DT, Albany State

Round 5, Pick 158: Nate Hairston, CB, Temple

Round 5, Pick 161: Anthony Walker Jr., LB, Northwestern

Most Likely to Shine: Malik Hooker

At the #15 pick, the Indianapolis Colts got a steal in safety Malik Hooker. Called the “best center fielder” in the draft by many, Hooker slid, largely due in part to his offseason hip and hernia surgeries. Although he was forced to sit out of the rookie mini-camps, Hooker’s speed and athleticism make him a surefire plug-and-play starter for this newly renovated Indianapolis Colts defense.

A team desperate to create turnovers, Hooker’s ballhawk-nature in the center of the field provides the Colts with a home-run hitter they haven’t seen sign safeties Bob Sanders and Antoine Bethea graced the secondary. If Hooker can stay healthy, he might just be the defensive stud the Colts have been looking for.

Future Prospect: Marlon Mack

With starting running back Frank Gore and the newly re-signed Robert Turbin on the roster, the Colts were able to stock pile the defensive players and focus on finding a value project at the running back position in the draft. Marlon Mack, the fourth-round running back out of the University of South Florida, very well could be the back of the future for the Colts.

In just his junior season, Mack finished surpassed Andre Hall to become USF’s all-time leading rusher, finishing his career with 3,609 yards on 586 carries and 32 touchdowns in just three years.

A speedy back with an explosive burst, Mack has an opportunity to sit under one of the all-time greats in Gore, while refining his running game and adjusting to the NFL speed.

Dark Horse: Anthony Walker Jr.

In the 2017 NFL offseason, it was clear new Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard’s focus was on revitalizing the defense. Part of this revitalization meant the team parting ways with aging middle linebacker D’Qwell Jackson, the team’s defensive quarterback of sorts for the past three seasons.

Despite signing multiple outside linebackers, Ballard chose to focus on the defensive secondary and line in the NFL Draft, making Anthony Walker Jr. the only linebacker the team took in the draft. After a slow collegiate start, Walker led the Northwestern Wildcats in tackles (122) and tackles for loss (20.5) in his first full season starting in 2015, receiving All-American recognition from the AP and Sports Illustrated, and All Big 10 honors.

With the Colts being thin at inside linebacker, and the team’s 3-4 defensive scheme, Walker has an opportunity to shine right away for the team and step into an important role, becoming a leader on the team’s new and much-younger defense.

2017 NFL Draft: Big Winners

With the focal points of the 2017 NFL offseason well behind us, teams are beginning to shift their focuses towards the elusive Lombardi Trophy and Super Bowl LII in Minneapolis. Which teams walked away from April’s 2017 NFL Draft as the biggest winners and most improved, according to the experts?

Dallas Cowboys – Dane Brugler, CBS Sports

“The surprise team of the 2016-17 NFL season, the Dallas Cowboys, focused the majority of their NFL Draft selections on the defensive side of the ball, utilizing defensive players with seven of their nine draft picks. “While the first round pick was solid — not great, not bad — it was the value on days two and three that qualifies the Cowboys for this list. Dallas revamped the secondary with Awuzie and Lewis on day two, adding White later in the sixth round. But the best value was landing Woods in the sixth. The Cowboys traded a future fifth round pick to get back into this draft and get the former Louisiana Tech safety as they try to recreate last year’s outstanding value when they grabbed corner Anthony Brown in the sixth round.” – Dane Brugler, CBS Sports

Arizona Cardinals – Kristopher Knox, Bleacher Report

“The Arizona Cardinals, much like the Dallas Cowboys, utilized the historically deep defensive selections in the 2017 NFL Draft to bolster the defensive side of the football. “The Cardinals defense gets even nastier with the addition of Haason Reddick and Budda Baker. Arizona added some nice upside prospects on Day 3.” – Kristopher Knox, Bleacher Report

Minnesota Vikings – Dan Kadar, SB Nation

“Despite trading away their first-round selection in the 2016 offseason to the Philadelphia Eagles, a trade that brought in quarterback Sam Bradford, the Minnesota Vikings managed to find great value with the picks they did have. “(The Vikings) still managed to get first-round value in running back Dalvin Cook. I think he can be a star in the NFL, and trading a fourth-round pick to get him was worth it. On the field, he’s a playmaker who runs with speed, shiftiness, and enough power. The Vikings needed help on the offensive line, and they got it in Ohio State’s Pat Elflein. Whether it’s guard or center, he’s a starter on the line. He’s a tough and instinctive blocker who could become one of the leaders on the team.” – Dan Kadar, SB Nation

San Francisco 49ers – Eric Single, Sports Illustrated

“The San Francisco 49ers managed to trade all around the draft and stockpile picks, both for this draft and the future, under rookie general manager John Lynch. “Maybe don’t mess with the new guy? With the second pick in a wide-open draft, Lynch knew he had the league in the palm of his hand, and the moment wasn’t too big for him. San Francisco’s first-year GM got the Bears to pull the trigger on a costly trade up for Mitchell Trubisky, then landed a player the 49ers needed at pick No. 3 anyway in Stanford star Solomon Thomas, and then jumped back into Round 1 to get another top-five talent in Reuben Foster. Not bad for a greenhorn—we’ll just look past that QB depth chart for a year.” – Eric Single, Sports Illustrated

For a full recap of winners and losers from Dane Brugler of CBS Sports, click here.

For a full recap of winners and losers from Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report, click here.

For a full recap of winners and losers from Dan Kadar of SB Nation, click here.

For a full recap of winners and losers from Eric Single of Sports Illustrated, click here.

Indianapolis Colts: NFL Draft Reaction

With new general manager Chris Ballard looking to add his own personal touches to the roster, the Indianapolis Colts are undergoing a massive face lift of sorts. Phase two of this re-tooling of the roster came in the 2017 NFL Draft. What are experts around the league saying about the Colts’ selections?

To recap, a look at the Indianapolis Colts draft class:

Round 1, Pick 15: Malik Hooker, S, Ohio State

Round 2, Pick 46: Quincy Wilson, CB, Florida

Round 3, Pick 80: Tarell Basham, EDGE, Ohio

Round 4, Pick 137: Zach Banner, G, USC

Round 4, Pick 143: Marlon Mack, RB, South Florida

Round 4, Pick 144: Grover Stewart, DT, Albany State

Round 5, Pick 158: Nate Hairston, CB, Temple

Round 5, Pick 161: Anthony Walker Jr., LB, Northwestern

Chris Burke, Sports Illustrated Draft Grade: A

“Incredible value for the Colts at each of their first three picks: Safety Malik Hooker (No. 15 overall) and cornerback Quincy Wilson (46) should be instant starters in the secondary, while edge rusher Tarell Basham (80) at least can make an impact on passing downs. For a team whose defense picked off just eight passes last season and lost OLBs Erik Walden (free agency) and Robert Mathis (retirement), this was a critical restocking. RB Marlon Mack (Round 4) is a home-run threat to slot in behind Frank Gore, while fifth-round LB Anthony Walker has three-down potential. The only shoddy pick was OT Zach Banner, who faces a long road to being a serviceable NFL blocker.” To read the entire story, click here.

Mel Kiper Jr., ESPN Draft Grade: B

“New general manager Chris Ballard inherited a porous defense, and he went that direction with his first three picks. Malik Hooker could have gone as high as No. 7, but the one-year wonder dropped to 15. He’s the best center fielder in his class, and some have compared him to Ed Reed, but Hooker needs to improve as a tackler. He’s a ballhawk who is recovering from having surgery in January to repair a torn labrum in his left hip and repair sports hernias. Ballard did a nice job addressing the defense, but there’s still a long ways to go. I also wouldn’t have minded a tight end to replace the departed Dwayne Allen.” To read Kiper’s NFL Draft grades, click here.

Chad Reuter, NFL.com Draft Grade: A-

“The skinny: In the first round, the Colts got the rangiest safety prospect since Earl Thomas. They got very good value at No. 15 at a major position of need. It’s a big win for the Colts’ defense. Indianapolis had to be thrilled to get Quincy Wilson to help out Hooker in the secondary. Tarell Basham is a pass rusher who can covert power to speed on the edge; getting him in the third was a good deal. Indianapolis made very good back-to-back picks in the late fourth with running back Marlon Mack (slasher with more power than you’d think) and defensive tackle Grover Stewart (nose tackle with good footwork). Zach Banner was a stretch in the fourth round, though he could be a D.J. Fluker or Orlando Franklin-type guard. In the fifth, Anthony Walker provides strength in the middle of their defense. This was a well-executed draft.” To read more of Chad Reuter’s NFL Draft grades, click here.

Dieter Kurtenbach, Fox Sports Draft Grade: A

“A tremendous draft. This is the kind of work that can totally change the complexion of teams — it’s funny how you can do that when you already have your quarterback. Malik Hooker and Quincy Wilson will be All-Pro caliber players for that defense. Tarell Basham is an intriguing third-round project. Great picks in RB Marlon Mack, CB Nate Hairston, and LB Anthony Walker as well. Would have liked to have seen another offensive lineman taken to balance out the reach on Zach Banner, but that’s the only knock.” To read more of Dieter Kurtenbach’s NFL Draft grades, click here.

Indianapolis Colts Draft: #15, DB Malik Hooker

In the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft on Thursday night, the emphasis turned to offense early, with seven of the top 10 picks being offensive players. A good sign for the defense-needy Indianapolis Colts, a top-10 talent fell to the #15 slot. Here are what experts from around the web are saying about the newest Colts defensive back, Malik Hooker out of Ohio State.

Mike Wells, ESPN NFL Reporter

“Hooker, who became a full-time starter at Ohio State last season, has something the Colts needed last season: ball instincts. He returned three of his seven interceptions for touchdowns last season at Ohio State. The Colts didn’t return any interceptions for a touchdown in 2016. Ballard mentioned Hooker being “unique” a number of times during his media conference Thursday evening. Hooker is another piece in Ballard’s attempt to revamp what has routinely been one of the NFL’s worse defenses under Pagano. ” For the full article, click here.

Josh Wilson, Stampede Blue

“A lot of it comes down to the fact that Hooker gives the Colts a lot of flexibility, more so than they already had at safety. The Colts now have a safety group that features Malik Hooker, Clayton Geathers, Darius Butler, and T.J. Green, meaning the Colts have three young guys with upside and a veteran making the move to safety. This pick gives the Colts the flexibility to utilize some of those guys in other areas that could help mitigate some of the concerns about other areas of need.” For the full article, click here.

Jeanna Thomas, SB Nation

“Malik Hooker is an elite free safety in a class that’s stacked with them. The Indianapolis Colts got an All-American with great range and closing speed to upgrade their secondary when they took Hooker with the No. 15 overall pick. Hooker is a phenomenal athlete and has all of the talent he needs to excel at the free safety position in the NFL. His fluidity and change-of-direction skills are advanced for a player with such limited starting experience, and will serve him well at the next level. Once he refines his technique and puts it all together, he should become an All-Pro caliber player.” For the full article, click here.

Gregg Doyel, Indianapolis Star

“But this isn’t normal. The Colts didn’t pick a normal guy. The Colts just selected a player they literally have no idea how good he can be – because he hasn’t played much football. Like, barely any compared to someone else, anyone else, taken in the first round of the draft. So maybe he’s not the best tackler. Maybe he takes imperfect angles. An athlete like this, he’ll get better with more coaching, more experience, more reps. How much better? That’s the thing: Nobody has any idea. But man it’s going to be fun to find out.” For the full article, click here.

2017 Expert NFL Mock Draft (#26-32)

The day before the 2017 NFL Draft, find out who experts believe will go #26-32, rounding out the first round on Thursday night.

#26: Seattle Seahawks

CBS Sports: Quincy Wilson, CB, Florida | Bleacher Report, MMQB: Ryan Ramczyk, OT, Wiscosin |

“Ryan Ramczyk is am[sic] intriguing option, given his tools and tape, but he started just one season at Wisconsin and is dealing with a torn labrum that’s limiting his pre-draft workouts. The tools are there when you watch him in Big Ten tape, but you’re betting on his continued development on a small sample size.” – Matt Miller, Bleacher Report

#27: Kansas City Chiefs

CBS Sports: Raekwon McMillan, LB, Ohio State | Bleacher Report: Patrick Mahomes, QB, Texas Tech | MMQB: Reuben Foster, LB, Alabama

“With Derrick Johnson set to turn 35 next season, McMillian is an athletic playmaker who could provide a smooth transition once Johnson calls it a career. Vanderbilt’s Zach Cunningham is also an option here, but a lackluster combine could have personnel types revisiting his game tape.” – Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports

#28: Dallas Cowboys

CBS Sports: Carl Lawson, DE, Auburn | Bleacher Report: Derek Barnett, DE, Tennessee | MMQB: David Njoku, TE, Miami

“The classic “excellent veteran is aging, so let’s find him a replacement” scenario surfaces yet again. Here, Jerry Jones finds a successor for Jason Witten. Njoku, one of the youngest players in this year’s draft (he turns 21 in July) has a high ceiling, as he has only been playing tight end for two years. A core featuring Njoku, Dak Prescott (23-years-old) and Ezekiel Elliott (21)? That will keep Dallas front-running in the NFC East for years to come.” – Emily Kaplan, MMQB

#29: Green Bay Packers

CBS Sports: T.J. Watt, LB, Wisconsin | Bleacher Report: Forrest Lamp, OG, Western Kentucky | MMQB: Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford

“The Packers are in the market for pass rushers. And what’s better than having one Clay Matthews? Having two — Watt (yep, he’s J.J.’s younger brother) has drawn comparisons to Matthews. Measuring 6-5, 243, Watt ran a 4.69 40 at the combine, and finished last season with 11.5 sacks and 15.5 tackles for loss.” – Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports

#30: Pittsburgh Steelers

CBS Sports: Derek Rivers, DE, Youngstown State | Bleacher Report: Takkarist McKinley, EDGE, UCLA | MMQB: T.J. Watt, LB, Wisconsin

“Takkarist McKinley is tailor-made for the 3-4 pass-rusher role the Steelers need. He’s long, physical, fast and has the production on tape to warrant a first-round selection. He is undergoing shoulder surgery as I’m writing this for a torn labrum, but will be back in time for minicamp. After an impressive showing in Indianapolis, McKinley should be a first-rounder.” –Matt Miller, Bleacher Report

#31: Atlanta Falcons

CBS Sports, MMQB: Charles Harris, DE, Missouri | Bleacher Report: Montravius Adams, DL, Auburn |

“The Falcons could use pass-rushers. The going rule in today’s NFL is that you need three good ones to be successful. Pair Harris with the Clemson crew (Vic Beasley and Grady Jarrett, coming off a breakout Super Bowl performance), and Atlanta has a trio to harass quarterbacks of the NFC South for a very long time.” – Emily Kaplan, MMQB

#32: New England Patriots

CBS Sports: David Njoku, TE, Miami | Bleacher Report: Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford | MMQB: Tim Williams, LB, Alabama

“McCaffrey is a dynamic running back, a versatile offensive weapon and a top-notch athlete. Whether he’s in New England, Kansas City or Green Bay (my ideal fits) he’ll be a threat as a runner, receiver and return man. However you can get him touches, he’ll respond with yards and points.” –Matt Miller, Bleacher Report

Full 2017 NFL Draft 1st-Round Mock Drafts.

For Ryan Wilson’s CBS Sports mock draft, click here.

For Matt Miller’s Bleacher Report mock draft, click here.

For Emily Kaplan’s MMQB mock draft, click here.

2017 Expert NFL Mock Draft (#21-25)

Officially under one week until the 2017 NFL Draft from Philadelphia, we’re taking a look at what experts around the league predict will happen in the first round. Next up: the teams selecting #21-25 next Thursday.

#21: Detroit Lions

CBS Sports: Haason Reddick, LB, Temple | Bleacher Report: David Njoku, TE, Miami (FL) | MMQB: Teez Tabor, DB, Florida

“Lions fans may not want another first-round tight end after the mistake that was Eric Ebron, but it’s hard to look past David Njoku if he’s on the board. It’ll be especially hard for a general manager like Bob Quinn that grew up in the New England system and knows how valuable a game-changing tight end is.” – Matt Miller, Bleacher Report

#22: Miami Dolphins

CBS Sports, MMQB: Takkarist McKinley, OLB/DE, UCLA | Bleacher Report: Haason Reddick, LB, Temple |

“An exceptional athlete who is still rough around the edges, McKinley registered nine sacks last season and for a Dolphins team that ranked 31st in pass rush a year ago, McKinley fills an obvious need. Offseason surgery will keep McKinley sidelines until late summer, but he’ll be worth the wait.” – Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports

#23: New York Giants

CBS Sports, MMQB O.J. Howard, TE, Alabama | Bleacher Report: Jabrill Peppers, S, Michigan |

“I get the feeling the Giants would like to draft a quarterback to eventually replace Eli Manning, but this is not the year—or rather, this is not the round. Instead, New York’s front office will decide to maximize the last of the Manning years by giving him a go-to tight end. Howard is every bit as polished and impressive as advertised.” – Emily Kaplan, MMQB

#24: Oakland Raiders

CBS Sports: Marlon Humphrey, CB, Alabama | Bleacher Report: Sidney Jones, CB, Washington | MMQB: Haason Reddick, LB, Temple

“The Raiders ranked 25th in pass defense last season and Humphrey is considered one of the most physical cornerbacks in the draft. His father, Bobby Humphrey, was a first-round draft pick of the Broncos in 1989.” – Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports

#25: Houston Texans

CBS Sports: Cam Robinson, OL, Alabama | Bleacher Report: DeShone Kizer, QB, Notre Dame | MMQB: Patrick Mahomes, QB, Texas Tech

“He’s a total gunslinger with some mechanical and footwork issues to sort out. He’s also the best arm in this draft, no doubt, with some of the special playmaking and leadership qualities scouts gush about when talking about Deshaun Watson. The Texans are a quarterback away from being legit contenders.” – Emily Kaplan, MMQB

Full 2017 NFL Draft 1st-Round Mock Drafts.

For Ryan Wilson’s CBS Sports mock draft, click here.

For Matt Miller’s Bleacher Report mock draft, click here.

For Emily Kaplan’s MMQB mock draft, click here.

2017 Expert NFL Mock Draft (#16-20)

Just over a week and a half until the 2017 NFL Draft, we’re taking a look at who the experts think might be the big winners in the first round. A look at picks #16-20 in next Thursday’s NFL Draft from Philadelphia, PA.

#16: Baltimore Ravens

CBS Sports: Reuben Foster, LB, Alabama | Bleacher Report: John Ross, WR, Washington | MMQB: Taco Charlton, DL, Michigan

“In the NFL, Charlton will be whatever a defensive coordinator wants him to be. Baltimore’s Dean Pees will love Charlton’s length (he measured just under 6’6″ at the combine) and athleticism. He could be a great playmaker against the run.” –Emily Kaplan, MMQB

#17: Washington Redskins

CBS Sports: Jabrill Peppers, S-LB, Michigan | Bleacher Report: Jonathan Allen, DL, Alabama | MMQB: Corey Davis, WR, Western Michigan

“Peppers is a safety-linebacker hybrid who fills an obvious need in the Redskins’ secondary. He’s so versatile, in fact, that some scouts think he can play on both sides of the ball, and return kicks too.” –Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports

#18: Tennessee Titans

CBS Sports: Budda Baker, S, Washington | Bleacher Report: Gareon Conley, CB, Ohio State | MMQB: John Ross, WR, Washington

“The tape shows Conley as a complete cornerback and that’s what the Titans need. In Tennessee, Conley could be the No. 1 cornerback as a rookie. Pairing him with Jamal Adams and Kevin Byard makes this one of the NFL’s best up-and-coming secondaries, too.” –Matt Miller, Bleacher Report

#19: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

CBS Sports, Bleacher Report, MMQB: Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State

“(Albert) Breer has alluded to some off-the-field concerns teams have about Cook, but his talents cannot be understated. Cook has been compared to everyone from Jamaal Charles to Fred Taylor. A dynamic weapon as a runner or when he splits out wide, he’d make an offense already featuring Jameis Winston and Mike Evans very difficult to game-plan for.” –Emily Kaplan, MMQB

#20: Denver Broncos

CBS Sports: Ryan Ramczyk, OT, Wisconsin | Bleacher Report: Garett Bolles, OT, Utah | MMQB: Forrest Lamp, OL, Western Kentucky

“The Denver Broncos need an answer at left tackle and Bolles can be the solution. He’s shown incredible improvement since stepping onto the Utah campus last August and has the athletic tools and work ethic to continue developing into a solid starter.” –Matt Miller, Bleacher Report

Full 2017 NFL Draft 1st-Round Mock Drafts.

For Ryan Wilson’s CBS Sports mock draft, click here.

For Matt Miller’s Bleacher Report mock draft, click here.

For Emily Kaplan’s MMQB mock draft, click here.

2017 Expert NFL Mock Draft (#11-15)

With NFL teams fine tuning their strategies for the upcoming season, sights are set on Super Bowl LII in Houston in 2018. A look at some of the expert predictions for the teams selecting #11-15 in this months NFL Draft from Philadelphia.

#11: New Orleans Saints

CBS Sports, Bleacher Report: Taco Charlton, DE, Michigan | MMQB: Solomon Thomas, DL, Stanford

“Here’s all you need to know: 30th, 32nd, 31st — that’s where the Saints’ defense has finished the last three years. So it stands to reason that they continue to add defensive playmakers early in the draft, which is why defensive end Taco Charlton — who has drawn comparisons to Chandler Jones — is the pick here.” – Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports

#12: Cleveland Browns (from Philadelphia)

CBS Sports: Jonathan Allen, DL, Alabama | Bleacher Report: O.J. Howard, TE, Alabama | MMQB: DeShone Kizer, QB, Notre Dame

“Securing a starting quarterback and a generational talent like Garrett would be a home run of a draft for the Browns’ front office. Don’t mess this up, Sashi Brown. Among the top QB prospects, it feels like Kizer is the guy talked about least. He has traits to be a strong pocket passer and is the biggest of the first-round candidates.” – Emily Kaplan, MMQB

#13: Arizona Cardinals

CBS Sports: Sidney Jones, CB, Washington | Bleacher Report: Corey Davis, WR, Western Michigan | MMQB: Mike Williams, WR, Clemson

“The Cardinals need help in the secondary and Jones is a rangy cornerback who plays like a receiver when the ball is in the air. He’s been compared to Marcus Peters, the Chiefs’ 2015 first-round pick.” – Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports

#14: Philadelphia Eagles (From Minnesota)

CBS Sports: John Ross, WR, Washington | Bleacher Report: Mike Williams, WR, Clemson | MMQB: Sidney Jones, CB, Washington

“Williams is a specialist in traffic and excels at making the tough grade with defenders all around him. He’s not the fastest player in the class by any means, but he is the best overall wide receiver on my board. His route-running, size and length all add up to making him a true No. 1 wideout prospect.” – Matt Miller, Bleacher Report

#15: Indianapolis Colts

CBS Sports: Derek Barnett, DE, Tennessee | Bleacher Report: Charles Harris, EDGE, Missouri | MMQB: Cam Robinson, OL, Alabama

“One of the reasons Chris Ballard was attracted to the Indy GM job was Andrew Luck. So Ballard must do everything he can to ensure that Luck is in the best position to succeed—and for Indianapolis, that means addressing an Achilles heel: the offensive line. Pair Robinson with his former Crimson Tide teammate Ryan Kelly, and the Colts are getting back on track.” – Emily Kaplan, MMQB

Full 2017 NFL Draft 1st-Round Mock Drafts.

For Ryan Wilson’s CBS Sports mock draft, click here.

For Matt Miller’s Bleacher Report mock draft, click here.

For Emily Kaplan’s MMQB mock draft, click here.

2017 Expert NFL Mock Draft (#6-10)

As we embark on the month of April, teams are beginning to focus on the upcoming 2017 NFL Draft. A look at the expert predictions for picks #6 through #10.

#6: New York Jets

CBS Sports: Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson | Bleacher Report: Marshon Lattimore, DB, Ohio State | MMQB: Marlon Humphrey, DB, Alabama

“We feel like we’ve seen this movie before (hi, Geno Smith!) inasmuch as the Jets took a flier on a physically gifted quarterback who needed a few years to grow into the position. It never happened with Smith, and the Geno era is officially over. Watson is better than Smith at this point in his career, but he shouldn’t be rushed onto the field. If the Jets can be patient, Watson could be worth the gamble.” – Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports

#7: Los Angeles Chargers

CBS Sports, Bleacher Report: Malik Hooker, S, Ohio State | MMQB: Jamal Adams, S, LSU

“Pick No. 7 overall is too soon for the Los Angeles Chargers to start thinking about a future replacement for Philip Rivers. It’s not too early to add a playmaking free safety to fill the hole Eric Weddle left when he went to Baltimore in free agency last year.” – Matt Miller, Bleacher Report

#8: Carolina Panthers

CBS Sports, MMQB: Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU | Bleacher Report: Quincy Wilson, CB, Florida |

“Cam Newton had an off year, and Carolina needs to buttress its offensive line to ensure that doesn’t happen again. It’s too high to take an O-lineman here, but not too high to take a runner—if it’s a once-in-a-generation talent like Fournette. The LSU star could also alleviate some pressure on Newton as the Panthers look to reclaim a balanced offense and regain form in the NFC South.” – Emily Kaplan, MMQB

#9: Cincinnati Bengals

CBS Sports: Corey Davis, WR, Western Michigan | Bleacher Report: Reuben Foster, LB, Alabama | MMQB: Derek Barnett, DL, Tennessee

“The Bengals drafted Tyler Boyd last year, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the loss of Mohamed Sanu and Marvin Jones, who had great 2016 seasons in Atlanta and Detroit. Corey Davis (6-3, 209) and he would immediately upgrade a passing offense that already includes A.J. Green, Tyler Eifert and Boyd.” – Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports

#10: Buffalo Bills

CBS Sports: Mike Williams, WR, Clemson | Bleacher Report, MMQB: Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson |

“Deshaun Watson has his warts as a prospect, but every quarterback in this class does. With Watson, you at least know you’re getting a poised passer with some dual-threat skills and an excellent leader. He’ll need some time to fully develop and learn an NFL offense, but he’s not far behind Jared Goff or Paxton Lynch in terms of developmental needs. His arm strength isn’t amazing, but offensive coordinator Rick Dennison doesn’t need a cannon back there. He needs touch, timing and anticipation. Watson has all those tools.” – Matt Miller, Bleacher Report

Full 2017 NFL Draft 1st-Round Mock Drafts.

For Ryan Wilson’s CBS Sports mock draft, click here.

For Matt Miller’s Bleacher Report mock draft, click here.

For Emily Kaplan’s MMQB mock draft, click here.