PHILADELPHIA -- The 2017 NFL Draft commences Thursday from Philadelphia, and will go a long way toward shaping how NFL rosters look this fall. NFL.com analysts have been posting mock drafts throughout the spring, trying to give some shape of their own to how the first round will play out. Below are seven takeaways from the six current mock drafts of some of the sharpest minds in the business: Daniel Jeremiah, Bucky Brooks, Lance Zierlein, Charley Casserly, Maurice Jones-Drew and Chad Reuter.
1. Back in Jax. In what has been billed as a spectacular draft for the running back position, the lean from our analysts is that the Jacksonville Jaguars will be the first to dive into these waters with Leonard Fournette at No. 4 overall. Four of six analysts project the Jaguars to take the former LSU star, and all six project him as the first back off the board. RB Ezekiel Elliott revitalized the Cowboys offense last year as a rookie, drafted in the same slot (No. 4) as the Jaguars' pick. Granted, the offensive line in Jacksonville is a far cry from the one in Dallas, but then again, Fournette's game is to make his own holes with prolific power. And lest we forget, it wouldn't be the first time Executive VP of Football Operations Tom Coughlin has energized the Jaguars offense by spending a top-10 pick on a running back. Back when Coughlin was the club's head coach, the Jaguars took Fred Taylor No. 9 overall in 1998 and rode him to a division title his rookie year.
2. The Cleveland QB question. Will the Cleveland Browns address their need for a quarterback with the No. 12 overall pick? This is one of the key questions of the first round, and one that could shape the pecking order at the position. To wit:
» Casserly is projecting the Browns to trade up to the No. 4 pick with Jacksonville, and select North Carolina's Mitchell Trubisky.
» Two analysts, Jeremiah and Zierlein, foresee the Browns holding onto the No. 12 pick, where they'll have their choice of any quarterback in the draft, and take Trubisky there.
» Three (Brooks, Reuter, Jones-Drew) don't see Cleveland taking a quarterback in the first round at all, pairing Garrett with either Alabama DL Jonathan Allen or another top Tide prospect, TE O.J. Howard.
3. Allen tumble? Could the draft's best interior defensive lineman fall all the way to the Washington Redskins at No. 17 overall? Jeremiah is projecting Allen, who has enjoyed top-10 momentum throughout the draft process, to slip to Washington. If it happens, the Redskins will have major cause to celebrate.
3. Help for Mariota. The team most certain to take a wide receiver in Round 1? The Tennessee Titans, who could use another downfield threat for QB Marcus Mariota. Five of six analysts project the club to select either Washington's John Ross III or Western Michigan's Corey Davis at No. 18, and Casserly projects them to take Mike Williams at No. 5.
4. Cook staying in-state? Dalvin Cook is a popular choice for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at No. 19 overall, with five of six analysts projecting the former FSU star to re-join former Seminoles teammate Jameis Winston in the Bucs' offensive backfield. It's a possibility NFL Network draft expert Mike Mayock signaled on a media teleconference on Friday. Although the Bucs are encouraged by what they've seen from veteran RB Doug Martin this offseason, Cook could help fill Martin's void while he serves a suspension for the first three games of the 2017 season.
5. Ramczyk fit in Denver. Other than Cook, there is one other pick that drew consensus from five of six analysts: the Denver Broncos taking Wisconsin OT Ryan Ramczyk at No. 20 overall. Zierlein has Denver taking Alabama OT Cam Robinson over Ramczyk at No. 20.
6. Unanimity. What are some of the things besides Garrett as the No. 1 pick that all six analysts are in agreement on? Here are a few across-the-board agreements:
» The Jaguars will select an offensive player, as will the New York Giants.
» The Broncos will address the offensive tackle position at No. 20.
» The Chargers will go for defensive help at No. 7, with two projections for each of Malik Hooker, Jamal Adams and Solomon Thomas.
» It's a defensive front presence for the Lions at No. 21 (either Jarrad Davis, Reuben Foster, Charles Harris or Haason Reddick).
» Analysts are split down the middle on the Saints' pick at No 11, but they all agree New Orleans will go for defense (three projections for Marlon Humphrey, three for Derek Barnett.)
7. By the numbers. There are 21 prospects who made all six first-round mocks. That's a lot, but consider some of the quality talent projected outside the first round by at least one analyst: Deshaun Watson, Adoree' Jackson, Patrick Mahomes and John Ross. Excitement will rightfully be high when the Browns open Round 2 on Friday with pick No. 33, particularly if Watson or Mahomes is still there for the taking.
*Follow Chase Goodbread on Twitter **@ChaseGoodbread*.
