2017 NFL Mock Draft: Early Predictions for Top 32 Prospects

While the NFL is in the midst of its postseason push, most teams in the league are busy preparing for the offseason to give themselves an opportunity to play for a Super Bowl next year. 

The biggest key to success in the NFL is hitting on draft picks. The Dallas Cowboys have transformed their franchise over the last five years by hitting on players like Tyron Smith, Travis Frederick, Zack Martin, Ezekiel Elliott and Dak Prescott. 

Among that quintet, only Prescott wasn’t a first-round pick. It’s one thing to hit on draft picks, but superstars will more often than not be found among the top 32 selections. 

While it’s still early in the draft process and much will change in the coming months, here is where things stand for the 2017 NFL draft heading into Week 17. 

What Happens to Fournette?

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Leaving aside any of the ridiculous complaints about his not playing in a meaningless Citrus Bowl, LSU running back Leonard Fournette is one of the most fascinating prospects in this year’s class. 

Elliott’s performance with the Cowboys this season may alter some opinions about when to select a running back, though it’s important to remember he went to a team that had the best offensive line in the NFL and two elite playmakers in Dez Bryant and Jason Witten. 

Fournette had a complicated 2016 season due in no small part to an ankle injury that Will Carroll of SEC Country reported was a chronic problem that “will need constant maintenance or perhaps surgery in the future.”

He ended the year on a sour note with 173 rushing yards on 46 carries (3.8 yards per attempt) in his last three games after running for at least 101 yards in each of his first four games played. 

Despite all of that working against him, Fournette is still at or near the top of most prospect rankings this year. 

ESPN.com’s Todd McShay offered this scouting report on Fournette while ranking him as the best player available in the 2017 class:

He’ll finish the season with only 144 touches, far below the 319 he had a season ago, which works to his benefit from a wear-and-tear standpoint. When fully healthy, Fournette is a big-play machine with a rare combination of size, power, agility and speed for the position. His angry running style is something at which to marvel and will translate well to the next level.

Yet even with that praise, finding a fit for Fournette is difficult because the teams at the top of the draft have so many needs that running back shouldn’t be a priority. 

The Cleveland Browns have the luxury of owning two picks in the top 10, at least based on current standings, so they can go after a player like Myles Garrett or Jonathan Allen with the first pick and hope Fournette falls into their lap at No. 10. 

Fournette’s ceiling seems like the New …

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