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Published Apr 27, 2017
Surprises, wow moments highlight first round of 2017 NFL Draft
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Mike Farrell  •  Rivals.com
Rivals National Columnist

RELATED: Farrell's Mock Draft 4.0 | Five prospects that could bust

The Cleveland Browns led off the 2017 NFL Draft by selecting Texas A&M defensive end Myles Garrett with the No. 1 overall pick. Rivals.com National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell weighs in on all of the first-round picks.

NO. 1 - CLEVELAND BROWNS SELECT MYLES GARRETT

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Farrell's take: "Garrett is not a surprise as the No. 1 pick despite rumors that the Browns were looking at Mitch Trubisky. Garrett was an athletic freak coming out of high school as our No. 2 player overall in the 2014 Rivals100, and that rare athleticism has only improved."

NO. 2 - CHICAGO BEARS SELECT MITCHELL TRUBISKY

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Farrell's take: "The first stunner of the draft is Trubisky to the Bears. With Mike Glennon signed, no one expected the Bears to take a quarterback and this is a bit of a reach. Trubisky was a three-star out of high school."

NO. 3 - SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS SELECT SOLOMON THOMAS

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Farrell's take: "Shrewd move by the 49ers to trade down one and still get the guy they wanted in Thomas. He is a great interior pass rusher and was on the cusp of being a five-star our of high school."

NO. 4 - JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS SELECT LEONARD FOURNETTE

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Farrell's take: "Fournette is a freak of nature and one of the highest-ranked running backs in Rivals.com history. The Jags need offensive help and a potential franchise back is a great pick here. It's hard to believe I once questioned his breakaway speed."

NO. 5 - TENNESSEE TITANS SELECT COREY DAVIS

Farrell's take: "The Titans were hoping someone would trade up but have to be happy with Davis. I expected Mike Williams here but Davis is a great value. He was a two-star for us for many reasons, one of them academics, and has turned into a Terrell Owens-like talent."

NO. 6 - NEW YORK JETS SELECT JAMAL ADAMS

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Farrell's take: "The Jets have so many needs they couldn't really go wrong with this pick. Adams is a non-stop motor guy who is all over the field, plays against the run and is a pure leader. He was a four-star and the only thing that kept him from that fifth star was his lack of length."

NO. 7 - LOS ANGELES CHARGERS SELECT MIKE WILLIAMS

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Farrell's take: "The Chargers need help on both sides of the ball but Williams is a terrific get. He's big, has great body control and is a winner. He was a four-star but was raw out of high school and just inside our 2013 Rivals250."

NO. 8 - CAROLINA PANTHERS SELECT CHRISTIAN MCCAFFREY

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Farrell's take: "I may be in the minority, but I think No. 8 is way too high for McCaffrey, He was a dynamic player in high school and a Rivals100 prospect but I worry about his ability to hold up to physical contact."

NO. 9 CINCINNATI BENGALS SELECT JOHN ROSS

Farrell's take: "A run on wide receivers as Ross, who broke the 40-yard dash record, is taken here over some defensive options. I think the Bengals reached a bit on the former three-star with Jonathan Allen and others out there."

NO. 10 - KANSAS CITY CHIEFS SELECT PATRICK MAHOMES

Farrell's take: "Trading up for Mahomes is a reach to me. He has a great arm, but I think he's more of a system quarterback and a project whereas they could have taken Deshaun Watson. Mahomes was a former three-star and regionally recruited."

NO. 11 - NEW ORLEANS SAINTS SELECT MARSHON LATTIMORE

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Farrell's take: "The Saints are very happy to have some defensive talent to fall to them and cornerback is a huge need. Lattimore was close to a five-star at one point but fell late due to a poor U.S. Army Bowl week but this kid has great ball skills and is long."

NO. 12 - HOUSTON TEXANS SELECT DESHAUN WATSON

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Farrell's take: "This is the trade of the draft and a great get for the Texans. Watson is the best quarterback in the draft and Houston needs a franchise quarterback badly. They got one in the former five-star."

NO. 13 - ARIZONA CARDINALS SELECT HAASON REDDICK

Farrell's take: "After wasting a pick on Robert Nkemdiche last year, this pick will actually help Cardinals' defense. Arizona will love Reddick. He can make a ton of plays all over the field. Reddick was so under-the-radar as a recruit that he didn't even have a Rivals.com profile."

NO. 14 - PHILADELPHIA EAGLES SELECT DEREK BARNETT

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Farrell's take: "The Eagles are happy to have Barnett fall to them and it's surprising he was taken ahead of Jonathan Allen. Barnett could follow in the footsteps of Reggie White as a great Eagle from the Vols. He was a four-star for us but obviously a little low."

NO. 15 - INDIANAPOLIS COLTS SELECT MALIK HOOKER

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Farrell's take: "Hooker is a terrific get for the Colts as a rangy safety who can cover a ton of ground, has great ball skills and can cover for mistakes on the outside. He was a former three-star for us and perhaps a better hoops player than football player back then. Not anymore."

NO. 16 - BALTIMORE RAVENS SELECT MARLON HUMPHREY

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Farrell's take: "The Ravens wanted an elite corner last year but went with Ronnie Stanley who had a great rookie season so landing Humphrey with his size and confidence is key for them. He's on my potential bust list however because he gives up separation too easily even as a former five-star."

NO. 17 - WASHINGTON REDSKINS SELECT JONATHAN ALLEN

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Farrell's take: "This a steal for the Redskins as Allen fell this far due to medical concerns. Allen can play a three tech or five tech and was a former five-star who can take over games at time."

NO. 18 - TENNESSEE TITANS SELECT ADOREE' JACKSON

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Farrell's take: "The Titans addressed offense with their first pick and now added great value on defense with Jackson. I thought he might slide out of the first round because of his lack of size but the former five-star is dynamic on special teams and that was key."

NO. 19 - TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS SELECT O.J. HOWARD

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Farrell's take: "Howard is a great weapon for Jameis Winston. He is the most athletic tight end I've ever scouted. Howard can block, stretch the field and has great hands. He was at one time the highest-ranked tight end in Rivals.com history during his ranking cycle at No. 5 overall."

NO. 20 - DENVER BRONCOS SELECT GARETT BOLLES

Farrell's take: "I expected Cameron Robinson to go here but Bolles is right there with him for talent. He was a four-star JUCO and came close to being a five-star. He's athletic and plays angry."

NO. 21 - DETROIT LIONS SELECT JARRAD DAVIS

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Farrell's take: "The Lions need defensive help and landed a linebacker who can not only tackle but can also cover. He was a three-star for us and underranked and I think he's going to have a very good NFL career."

NO. 22 - MIAMI DOLPHINS SELECT CHARLES HARRIS

Farrell's take: "Harris could be a steal at No. 22. He was only a two-star for us out of high school with late senior film but he's developed into a great edge rusher and can even play linebacker."

NO. 23 - NEW YORK GIANTS SELECT EVAN ENGRAM

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Farrell's take: "Engram leapfrogs David Njoku and I think this is a much better pick. He's essentially a wide receiver who can play tight end and the former three-star can beat corners or safeties. This is a great pick."

NO. 24 - OAKLAND RAIDERS SELECT GAREON CONLEY

Farrell's take: "Conley was expected to slip out of the first round after rape allegations came out earlier this week and this is a top 15 value here. It's risky but the Raiders take risks. He was a three-star out of high school that we undervalued a bit and this kid is a terrific cover corner."

NO. 25 - CLEVELAND BROWNS SELECT JABRILL PEPPERS

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Farrell's take: "Peppers was No. 3 for Rivals.com in the 2014 Rivals100 just behind Myles Garrett and can do everything. He can be a corner, safety and special teams guy and he's a pure leader. He was one of the best players I've ever scouted out of New Jersey."

NO. 26 - ATLANTA FALCONS SELECT TAKKARIST MCKINLEY

Farrell's take: "McKinley is one of the most athletic kids in this draft. He's raw but he can run and he's great in pursuit. The Falcons wanted an edge rusher and this kid can do that. He was a three-star out of high school and a four-star out of JUCO."

NO. 27 - BUFFALO BILLS SELECT TRE'DAVIOUS WHITE

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Farrell's take: "The Bills added a great value here with the former five-star cornerback who is also a great special teams threat. He can play any kind of coverage you want, he's long and he's a threat to take it to the house on any pick."

NO. 28 - DALLAS COWBOYS SELECT TACO CHARLTON

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Farrell's take: "The Cowboys needed help at defensive end and cornerback and decided to go on the former with Charlton. He's long and big but I worry about his passion and how consistent he is with his motor. His ceiling is high but there is a bust factor there too."

NO. 29 - CLEVELAND BROWNS SELECT DAVID NJOKU

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Farrell's take: "Njoku is a freak athlete and is still a year or two away from reaching his full potential. He's a former track phenom who was a three-star out of high school and he's one of the best athletes in this class."

NO. 30 - PITTSBURGH STEELERS SELECT T.J. WATT

Farrell's take: "Watt can do it all. The bloodlines are there of course and he can stand up and play linebacker and come off the edge as a pass rusher. The Steelers will love the former three-star's versatility. Like his brother, we had him projected as a tight end out of high school."

NO. 31 - SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS SELECT REUBEN FOSTER

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Farrell's take: "Foster slid very far for medical reasons and there's a high bust factor there, but he's also super talented when focused. Foster is a former five-star and the value could be great here at the end of the first round."

NO. 32 - NEW ORLEANS SAINTS SELECT RYAN RAMCZYK

Farrell's take: "Ramczyk was a walk-on who ended up quitting football at one point to be a welder. He's a big, physical tackle who will help protect Drew Brees."

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