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2017 NFL Mock Draft: Final 3-round projection includes early QB picks

Ivan Pierre Aguirre / USA TODAY Sports

Christmas in April.

After months of workouts, interviews, rumors, and speculation, the 2017 NFL Draft is just about here.

This time running through the first three rounds, here's one last look at how things could shake out after football's main offseason event gets underway Thursday in Philadelphia.

Picks
1-10
| 11-20 | 21-32
Round 2 | Round 3

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

Nothing has changed here. Garrett is the best player in this class, and the Browns should still have an opportunity to grab a quarterback of the future with their second first-round pick (hint). Get that defensive cornerstone first.

2. San Francisco 49ers - Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford

Let's get weird. Nobody outside of the organization knows who the 49ers are going to take, but there have been rumblings about interest in Leonard Fournette. Look for first-year general manager John Lynch to shock the football world by taking the other top running back and a fellow Stanford alum. McCaffrey could dominate in Kyle Shanahan's offense.

3. Chicago Bears - Mitchell Trubisky, QB, North Carolina

Paying up to bring in Mike Glennon should do nothing to stop the Bears from finally getting their quarterback of the future. A closer look at that contract reveals it's a glorified one-year deal, anyway. Trubisky can sit and learn for as long as a year before taking over as the long-term answer under center.

4. Jacksonville Jaguars - Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson

Surprise. The Jaguars aren't going anywhere until they can find a replacement for Blake Bortles. Why wait? Not only does a loaded defense make a pick on that side of the ball difficult to envision, but it could also lead to Jacksonville being out of the range to draft a top quarterback talent in 2018. Watson can start immediately and help turn this franchise around.

5. Tennessee Titans (via LAR) - Marshon Lattimore, CB, Ohio State

A running back and a pair of quarterbacks coming off the board in the first four picks would push the consensus No. 1 corner right into the Titans' lap. There isn't much to think about here. Lattimore, an elite athlete who has clear shutdown potential, would be a much-needed upgrade to a thin Tennessee defensive backfield.

6. New York Jets - Jamal Adams, S, LSU

(Photo courtesy: Action Images)

Thinking there wasn't a chance he'd be available at No. 6, the Jets supposedly told Adams he was wasting his time visiting the team. Given the hype he's generated, that line of thinking made sense. They'd almost certainly be thrilled to eat their words, though. Adams is a foundational piece who could emerge as the leader of Todd Bowles' defense early on.

7. Los Angeles Chargers - Malik Hooker, S, Ohio State

This one makes too much sense. Hooker is a top-tier centerfield playmaker perfectly suited to patrol the middle of the field in Gus Bradley's defense. With his range behind Jason Verrett and Casey Hayward at cornerback, all working in tandem with a stellar pair of edge-rushers, opposing quarterbacks would be in trouble against the Chargers.

8. Carolina Panthers - Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU

Carolina will finally take some pressure off Cam Newton in the form of a rare talent at running back. As the Panthers transition away from using their star quarterback as a key piece to their efforts on the ground, the incredibly powerful Fournette is the ideal player to step in and shoulder the load. A punishing rushing attack will do well to complement a vertical passing game.

9. Cincinnati Bengals - Solomon Thomas, DL, Stanford

The Bengals - desperately in need of some young talent on the defensive front - would likely be shocked to see Thomas sitting there at No. 9. Capitalizing on the opportunity would be a no-brainer. The Stanford product could be a base end in Cincinnati's 4-3 scheme, and there will be potential for passing-down work on the interior before long.

10. Buffalo Bills - O.J. Howard, TE, Alabama

Howard is appropriately being touted as a top-10 talent, and this is one of the many landing spots that makes sense for him in that range. Buffalo could use the upgrade in the passing game, to be sure, but his increasingly rare ability to make an impact as an in-line blocker also keeps the running game working at a high level. The best player available would fit in perfectly.

Picks
1-10
| 11-20 | 21-32
Round 2 | Round 3

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