2017 NFL Mock Draft: Extremely Early Look
By Jon Dove
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- JuJu Schuster-Smith, WR, USC
Things are looking up for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers thanks in large part to the early success of quarterback Jameis Winston. They have also done a solid job building a foundation around him, but the Buccaneers could use more weapons on the outside.
Mike Evans will be around for awhile, but Vincent Jackson is on the back-end of his career and has appeared to have lost a step. USC’s JuJu Schuster-Smith would be an excellent option to replace the aging Jackson.
Schuster-Smith is a bigger target that brings more explosiveness than both Evans and Jackson.
6. Miami Dolphins- Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford
The Miami Dolphins aggressively pursued C.J. Anderson this offseason, but failed to land him when the Broncos matched the offer sheet. This pursuit shows that Miami knows they need to add some depth and talent at the running back position.
They have Jay Ajayi who’s a power runner which makes Stanford’s Christian McCaffrey a perfect complement. McCaffrey is a special player who can impact the game as a runner, receiver and return man.
Ryan Tannehill would greatly benefit from having someone like McCaffrey who can take a short pass and turn it into a big gain.
7. Atlanta Falcons- Malik McDowell, DL, Michigan State
The Atlanta Falcons have added several nice pieces on defense, but their work is far from done. Michigan State’s Malik McDowell is quickly emerging as an elite prospect and someone capable of dominating the line of scrimmage.
He’d be a great addition to a team with a defensive minded head coach like Dan Quinn.
8. New Orleans Saints- Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU
The Saints have Mark Ingram in place, but they’ll have a hard time passing over an local elite talent like Leonard Fournette. He’s someone capable of carrying the load and being the focal point of the offense. This should be intriguing to the Saints who are facing the eventual retirement of Drew Brees.
Next: Picks No. 9 to No. 12