Grading the First Round Picks of the 2017 Draft

Quarantine boredom is kicking in, so I’m going to grade all of the first round picks in the 2017 NFL Draft. To grade these players, I’m going to use important awards, Pro Bowls, All-Pro teams, NFL Top 100s, and top 5 finishes in important categories.

1. Browns – DE Myles Garrett – Grade: A

This was an easy choice for the Browns, and it was the right choice. Through his first three years, Garrett has made a Pro Bowl and one Second Team All-Pro, and he was ranked #49 on the 2019 NFL Top 100. The only reason that this isn’t an A+ is because his future is slightly uncertain. After the incident with Mason Rudolph, any infraction could cause him to be suspended for a very long time.

2. Bears – QB Mitchell Trubisky – Grade: D+

Mitchell Trubisky has made a Pro Bowl in his young career, but he isn’t a good quarterback. This pick is graded this low for two reasons: the Bears traded up for this pick, and they picked Trubisky over two better quarterbacks.

3. 49ers – DE Solomon Thomas – Grade: D-

This was a really bad pick. Thomas hasn’t done anywhere near enough to justify this selection. The 49ers were able to trade down and pick up a lot of extra draft capital, so this isn’t an F. However, Thomas has to be considered a bust unless he finds a way to turn it around.

4. Jaguars – RB Leonard Fournette – Grade: C+

Fournette wasn’t a terrible pick in terms of the actual player. He finished top 5 in rushing TDs and yards per game in 2017, and he was ranked #58 on the 2018 NFL Top 100. However, the pick is graded low because teams shouldn’t draft running backs this high. On top of that, they picked him over a much better running back.

5. Titans – WR Corey Davis – Grade: D

Davis can, as of now, only be described as a bust. He hasn’t produced at a high level, and he was never able to separate himself as the #1 receiver in Tennessee. This was a waste of a pick by the Titans.

6. Jets – S Jamal Adams – Grade: A+

This is the best pick in this draft so far. Adams is a two-time Pro Bowler and a one-time First Team All-Pro, and he was ranked #37 on the 2019 NFL Top 100. He has a case to be the best safety in the league right now. The Jets got a special player here. Let’s hope they don’t waste it by trading him away.

7. Chargers – WR Mike Williams – Grade: B-

If I had done this a year ago, this grade would be a lot lower. However, Williams has continued to improve throughout his career. He led the league in yards per reception in 2019, and he is continuing to grow every year.

8. Panthers – RB Christian McCaffrey – Grade: A+

McCaffrey might have been the best player in football last year. He led the league in touchdowns and all-purpose yards in 2019, and he finished top 5 in rushing yards, rushing TDs, receptions in 2019. On top of that, he finished in the top 5 in all-purpose yards in 2018. He’s a Pro Bowler and a First Team All-Pro, and he was ranked #42 in the 2019 NFL Top 100. He has a case to be the most talented player taken in this draft.

9. Bengals – John Ross – Grade: D+

John Ross is on the same level of Corey Davis. Besides one preseason highlight, he hasn’t been able to do much with his young career. However, a lot of this is due to injury, so there’s still hope for his career.

10. Chiefs – Patrick Mahomes – Grade: A+

Mahomes has a very real chance to be the GOAT. Enough said.

11. Saints – Marshon Lattimore – Grade: A

Lattimore has been an incredible pick for the Saints. He was the 2017 Defensive Rookie of the Year, and he’s a two-time Pro Bowler. He was also ranked #82 on the 2018 NFL Top 100 because he finished in the top 5 in picks the year before. He’ll be a good corner for a long time.

12. Texans – Deshaun Watson – Grade: A

The Texans have made some horrible moves recently, but this wasn’t one of them. Watson’s a two-time Pro Bowler, and he was ranked #50 on the 2018 NFL Top 100 and #51 on the 2019 NFL Top 100. He’s the franchise QB of the Texans if they don’t screw it up somehow.

13. Cardinals – Haason Reddick – Grade: D

The streak of great picks has to end somewhere. Reddick has been a monumental bust so far. He’s still young, so there still might be hope. For now, however, the Cardinals completely whiffed on this pick.

14. Eagles – Derek Barnett – Grade: C

After making the All-Rookie Team, Barnett hasn’t really done anything else. He’s definitely better than Reddick, but he’s not much better. At least he’ll always have the fumble recovery in Super Bowl LII.

15. Colts – Malik Hooker – Grade: B-

This is a fine pick. Since his incredible rookie year, Hooker has been solid, but not spectacular. Injuries have played a large role in his career, but he’s a solid starter.

16. Ravens – Marlon Humphrey – Grade: A-

Humphrey was solid for the first two years, but he broke out in a big way this year. He was a Pro Bowler and a First Team All-Pro, and he and Marcus Peters are gonna be a lockdown CB duo for a long time.

17. Redskins – Jonathan Allen – Grade: B

Allen has been pretty solid over the last two years. After spending a lot of his rookie year on IR, he’s been a fixture on the Redskins’ defensive line. He’ll be a solid player for a long while if he can stay healthy.

18. Titans – Adoree’ Jackson – Grade: C

Jackson has been an incredibly inconsistent CB, but he’s had his moments. He’s a really good kick returner, and he’s an alright CB, so this a “meh” pick.

19. Buccaneers – O. J. Howard – Grade: C+

Howard still has so much potential, but he may never reach that, especially with the addition of Gronk. If he can find another team, maybe he’ll have a chance to break out, but his time in Tampa is most likely finished.

20. Broncos – Garett Bolles – Grade: C-

As a Broncos fan, I’ve seen Bolles play a lot. He’s a low-end starting-caliber left tackle, but he has so many penalties. Every time there’s a penalty, my first assumption is that it’s Bolles. However, he is a solid player.

21. Lions – Jarrad Davis – Grade: C-

The streak of “meh” picks continues. Davis is a starter on the Lions, but that’s all that he is. He has been a solid player and made the All-Rookie Team, but he’s fallen off slightly since then.

22. Dolphins – Charles Harris – Grade: F

This is the worst pick of the draft so far. Harris showed very little as a Dolphin, and he was traded to the Falcons for a 7th round pick. The Dolphins basically traded this pick for a 7th rounder, so this is a terrible, terrible pick.

23. Giants – Evan Engram – Grade: B

Engram hasn’t been transcendent, but he’s been a very good TE for the Giants. He still has upside, but he’s already a very solid starter. This was a good pick by the Giants.

24. Raiders – Gareon Conley – Grade: D-

Conley never really panned out for the Raiders, and he was traded to the Texans for a 3rd round pick. This isn’t as bad as the Harris pick, so it gets a better grade. It’s still a terrible pick.

25. Browns – Jabrill Peppers – Grade: C+

Peppers never truly lived up to his potential in Cleveland, but he was part of the trade that brought Odell Beckham Jr. to Cleveland. In New York, he’s been a solid player.

26. Falcons – Takkarist McKinley – Grade: B-

McKinley has been a solid pass rusher for the Falcons. He hasn’t broken out into a game-wrecking player, but he has done enough to be a good starter for the Falcons.

27. Bills – Tre’Davious White – Grade: A

White has blossomed into one of the game’s best corners. He is a Pro Bowler and First Team All-Pro, and he led the league in picks in 2019. Tre White will be a fixture in the Bills secondary for years to come.

28. Cowboys – Taco Charlton – Grade: F

This pick might actually be worse than the Harris pick. The Cowboys released Taco after two years, and he’s already on his third team. Yikes. This was a wasted pick by the Cowboys in every sense.

29. Browns – David Njoku – Grade: C-

Njoku has been a starter for the Browns, but he hasn’t lived up to expectations. Like many of his fellow draftees, he still has a chance to break out, but it hasn’t happened yet.

30. Steelers – T. J. Watt – Grade: A+

In terms of value, this might be the best pick this side of Mahomes. Watt is a two time Pro Bowler, one time First Team All-Pro, one time Second Team All-Pro, and he was ranked #93 on the 2019 NFL Top 100. T.J. could be on the path to being better than J.J.

31. 49ers – Reuben Foster – Grade: F

Reuben Foster is a talented player, but he had too many off-field concerns. The 49ers released him after just two years, and he is now on the Redskins rehabbing from injury. The 49ers threw away this pick.

32. Saints – Ryan Ramczyk – Grade: A

Ramczyk has been a great player. He is a First Team All-Pro, and he might be the best young tackle in football right now. The Saints nailed both of their first round picks. First Lattimore, and now Ramczyk.