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Three-round mock draft: Deshaun Watson goes No. 1 to Browns

Published:
Updated:
reuter-mock-draft-170122-SL
Chad Reuter
Draft Analyst

The 2017 Senior Bowl is kicking off with a series of practices this week and culminating with a game on Saturday, all live on NFL Network. Of course, this mock draft was written before many of the top college seniors started gathering in Mobile, Ala., for a week that could alter their draft positioning.

It also comes before many other events -- like the scouting combine, free agency and pro days -- that will shape and re-shape this draft. With that said, here is an early look at the first three rounds and how the picks could play out in three months:

Note: The Vikings, who traded their first-round pick to the Eagles as part of the Sam Bradford deal, have the same record and strength of schedule as the Colts, so there's a tie for the 14th, 46th and 79th picks. A coin flip at a later date will determine which team picks first. Teams with the same record will rotate so that the team selecting first in Round 1 will select last in the following round:

  Hue Jackson will love Watson's physical attributes and his leadership skills. 

  The 
 [49ers](/teams/sanfrancisco49ers/profile?team=SF) get a difference-making pass rusher. 

  Trubisky is an accurate passer with athleticism. If the 
 [Bears](/teams/chicagobears/profile?team=CHI) want to keep up with Detroit and Green Bay in the division, they need a new quarterback. 

  Jacksonville has a couple of free agents up front, so Allen fits a probable need. 

  The 
 [Titans](/teams/tennesseetitans/profile?team=TEN) shore up the secondary by adding Adams. 

  Kizer has a chance to be the No. 1 overall pick. His potential makes it tough for quarterback-needy teams to pass him up. 

  Hooker's range and ball skills are top-10 worthy. 

  Fournette's power and speed translate to an elite prospect, and the 
 [Panthers](/teams/carolinapanthers/profile?team=CAR) need to bring back their running game. 

  Thomas looked unblockable in Stanford's bowl game. Could be similar to 
 [J.J. Watt](/player/j.j.watt/2495488/profile) in that his best is yet to come. 

  No matter what quarterback the 
 [Bills](/teams/buffalobills/profile?team=BUF) trot out next season, in this scenario they would have two former Clemson studs to throw to in 
 [Sammy Watkins](/player/sammywatkins/2543457/profile) and Williams. 

  Barnett and 
 [Cameron Jordan](/player/cameronjordan/2495184/profile) would be a fearsome pair. 

  Foster is an athletic defensive leader. 

 [Larry Fitzgerald](/player/larryfitzgerald/2506106/profile) will retire soon, and 
 [Michael Floyd](/player/michaelfloyd/2532841/profile) was jettisoned. Davis is the physical playmaker the 
 [Cardinals](/teams/arizonacardinals/profile?team=ARI) need. 

  With the best pass rushers off the board, the 
 [Colts](/teams/indianapoliscolts/profile?team=IND) take the best player available. 

  Desperate for help in the secondary, the 
 [Eagles](/teams/philadelphiaeagles/profile?team=PHI) find the draft's top corner waiting to be picked. 

  Jones is the sort of wiry-but-technically-strong corner the 
 [Ravens](/teams/baltimoreravens/profile?team=BAL) covet. 

  Washington needs a strong safety, and Peppers fits that bill. 

  Pairing 
 [Delanie Walker](/player/delaniewalker/2495966/profile) and Njoku gives 
 [Marcus Mariota](/player/marcusmariota/2552466/profile) great options on every play. 

 [Jameis Winston](/player/jameiswinston/2552033/profile) will like having a speed demon to throw to when 
 [Mike Evans](/player/mikeevans/2543468/profile) is bracketed. 

  The line must improve no matter who is leading the offense at QB next year. 

  The 
 [Lions](/teams/detroitlions/profile?team=DET) have had issues in the secondary for years. Wilson gives them a physical presence on the edge, and could move to safety as well. 

  Howard can be a safety valve for 
 [Ryan Tannehill](/player/ryantannehill/2532956/profile) and a good run blocker on the edge. 

 [Ereck Flowers](/player/ereckflowers/2552452/profile) has been a liability for the 
 [Giants](/teams/newyorkgiants/profile?team=NYG) at left tackle. 

  Jack Del Rio wants an interior pass rusher. McDowell's length and quickness off the snap give him a chance to shine in that role. 

  Injuries and ineffectiveness have made tackle a need spot for the 
 [Texans](/teams/houstontexans/profile?team=HOU). 

  Robinson will help Pete Carroll control the clock using the run game. 

  With 
 [Marcus Peters](/player/marcuspeters/2552488/profile) and Tabor on the field, it will be difficult for opposing quartebacks to find an open receiver. 

  A pass rusher with size, just like Jerry Jones likes 'em. 

  Similar to 
 [Clay Matthews](/player/claymatthews/80431/profile) coming out, Watt is a one-year star with great potential. 

 [Jarvis Jones](/player/jarvisjones/2540137/profile) and 
 [James Harrison](/player/jamesharrison/2504844/profile) will be free agents, so the 
 [Steelers](/teams/pittsburghsteelers/profile?team=PIT) will utilize McKinley's length and strength right away. 

  Shoring up the interior of the offensive line is a major need. 

  Bill Belichick will find a place to play for Cunningham.

Round 2

  1. Cleveland Browns: Budda Baker, S, Washington
  2. San Francisco 49ers: Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford
  3. Jacksonville Jaguars: Antonio Garcia, OT, Troy
  4. Chicago Bears: Tre'Davious White, CB, LSU
  5. Los Angeles Rams: Cordrea Tankersley, CB, Clemson
  6. Los Angeles Chargers: Charles Harris, OLB, Missouri
  7. New York Jets: Gareon Conley, CB, Ohio State
  8. Carolina Panthers: DeMarcus Walker, DE, Florida State
  9. Cincinnati Bengals: Jordan Leggett, TE, Clemson
  10. New Orleans Saints: Jarrad Davis, ILB, Florida
  11. Philadelphia Eagles: Alvin Kamara, RB, Tennessee
  12. Buffalo Bills: Patrick Mahomes, QB, Texas Tech
  13. Arizona Cardinals: Jourdan Lewis, CB, Michigan
    46 (tie). Minnesota Vikings: Chad Hansen, WR, Cal
  14. Baltimore Ravens: Ryan Anderson, LB, Alabama
    48 (tie). Indianapolis Colts: Carl Lawson, OLB, Auburn
  15. Washington Redskins: Caleb Brantley, DT, Florida
  16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Desmond King, DB, Iowa
  17. Denver Broncos: Marlon Humphrey, CB, Alabama
  18. Cleveland Browns: Adoree' Jackson, CB, USC
  19. Detroit Lions: Jordan Willis, DE, Kansas State
  20. Miami Dolphins: Raekwon McMillan, ILB, Ohio State
  21. New York Giants: Carlos Watkins, DT, Clemson
  22. Oakland Raiders: Gerald Everett, TE, South Alabama
  23. Houston Texans: Justin Evans, S, Texas A&M
  24. Seattle Seahawks: Montravius Adams, DT, Auburn
  25. Kansas City Chiefs: Jalen Robinette, WR, Air Force
  26. Dallas Cowboys: Curtis Samuel, WR, Ohio State
  27. Green Bay Packers: Fabian Moreau, CB, UCLA
  28. Pittsburgh Steelers: ArDarius Stewart, WR, Alabama
  29. Atlanta Falcons: Dawuane Smoot, DE, Illinois
  30. New England Patriots: Joe Mixon, RB, Oklahoma

Round 3

  1. Cleveland Browns: Cooper Kupp, WR, Eastern Washington
  2. San Francisco 49ers: Brad Kaaya, QB, Miami
  3. Chicago Bears: Jake Butt, TE, Michigan
  4. Jacksonville Jaguars: Bucky Hodges, TE, Virginia Tech
  5. Tennessee Titans: JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR, USC
  6. New York Jets: Tim Williams, OLB, Alabama
  7. Los Angeles Chargers: Dion Dawkins, OT, Temple
  8. Carolina Panthers: Roderick Johnson, OT, Florida State
  9. Cincinnati Bengals: Damien Mama, G, USC
  10. Philadelphia Eagles: Dede Westbrook, WR, Oklahoma
  11. Buffalo Bills: Howard Wilson, CB, Houston
  12. New Orleans Saints: Corn Elder, CB, Miami
  13. Arizona Cardinals: Marcus Williams, S, Utah
  14. Baltimore Ravens: D'Onta Foreman, RB, Texas
    79 (tie). Indianapolis Colts: Eddie Jackson, S, Alabama
    79 (tie). Minnesota Vikings: Julie'n Davenport, OT, Bucknell
  15. Washington Redskins: Joe Mathis, OLB, Washington
  16. Denver Broncos: Taylor Moton, G/T, Western Michigan
  17. Tennessee Titans: Kevin King, CB, Washington
  18. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Elijah Qualls, DT, Washington
  19. Detroit Lions: Davon Godchaux, DT, LSU
  20. Minnesota Vikings: Haason Reddick, OLB, Temple
  21. New York Giants: Tanoh Kpassagnon, DE, Villanova
  22. Oakland Raiders: Malachi Dupre, WR, LSU
  23. Houston Texans: Jarod Evans, QB, Virginia Tech
  24. Seattle Seahawks: Dorian Johnson, G, Pittsburgh
  25. Kansas City Chiefs: Jaleel Johnson, DT, Iowa
  26. Dallas Cowboys: Rasul Douglas, CB, West Virginia
  27. Green Bay Packers: De'Veon Smith, RB, Michigan
  28. Pittsburgh Steelers: Dalvin Tomlinson, DE, Alabama
  29. Atlanta Falcons: Charles Walker, DT, Oklahoma
  30. New England Patriots: Garrett Sickels, DE, Penn State
  31. Denver Broncos (projected compensatory pick for loss of QB Brock Osweiler): Zay Jones, WR, East Carolina
  32. Miami Dolphins (projected compensatory pick for loss of DE Olivier Vernon): Danny Isidora, G, Miami
  33. Carolina Panthers (projected compensatory pick for loss of CB Josh Norman): Cameron Sutton, CB, Tennessee
  34. Denver Broncos (projected compensatory pick for loss of DE Malik Jackson): Damontae Kazee, CB, San Diego State

Follow Chad Reuter on Twitter @chad_reuter.