APC Mock Draft 2017, Picks 31-35: McCaffrey closes out round 1, Browns get a QB

With less than two weeks to go until the 2017 NFL Draft, you can’t go more than two or three clicks on the internet without stumbling onto a mock draft.

That also means that it’s time for APC’s contributors to fire up the draft projection parts of our brains and put our heads together for the official APC mock draft. Seven contributors are pitching in for this year’s mock, each of whom was assigned either four or five teams. We also took care not to assign more than one team from the same division to any one writer.

Today, we conclude round one of the 2017 APC Mock Draft with the final two picks in round one and we get round two underway with the first few picks of the second wave. Jason B. Hirschhorn projected edge rusher T.J. Watt to the Packers yesterday, but there are still a number of excellent prospects available. In today’s batch of picks, we look at a few excellent athletes who come off the board and find the Cleveland Browns finally landing a quarterback.

1.31 - Atlanta Falcons

Malik McDowell, DL, Michigan State (Tex)

The Falcons have a great deal of youth and talent across the roster, but the offense doesn’t need a whole lot of help. What they find in McDowell is a tall, player who has similar size to Falcons DE Ra’Shede Hageman but has the versatility to move inside on passing downs as a pocket-collapsing interior player. Head coach Dan Quinn could use McDowell much the way the Seahawks use Michael Bennett, and he could help provide some good interior pressure to help complement Vic Beasley coming off the edge.

1.32 - New Orleans Saints

Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford (Mike)

The Saints badly need help on defense but can’t pass up to get Drew Brees another weapon like Christian McCaffrey. McCaffrey will come in and give Brees a versatile weapon out of the backfield he hasn’t had since Darren Sproles. Mark Ingram will be their running back to pound the ball but McCaffrey gives them a weapon that can join the field with Ingram and give the Saints opponents troubles in matchups when they motion him out. He can also play the slot with the young, and very talented, receiving corps for another explosive combo. He also gives them help in special teams as a returner. The Saints defense will still give up points but, the jack-of-all-trades, McCaffrey makes their offense explosive enough where they could outscore a lot of their opponents. It’ll be a lot of fun to watch and will be a great rookie for your fantasy football squad.

2.1 (#33) - Cleveland Browns

DeShone Kizer, QB, Notre Dame (Jonathan B)

This is about as far as the Browns can reasonably last without drafting a Quarterback. Kizer gives the Browns an athletic Quarterback with a big arm. Strong and accurate, he will have decent targets and a good line. Not going to be as mentally capable as what Hu Jackson would prefer, but he will be able to work the offense. With several other good names on the board, Kizer moves up the board for the Browns primarily based on their need at the position.

2.2 (#34) - San Francisco 49ers

Adoree’ Jackson, CB, USC (Mike)

The 49ers need help in so many areas that it’s hard to say where they will go. They need a quarterback but none sit here worth a second round pick. Another big need is cornerback. This is a very deep cornerback class with a lot of potential picks in rounds two and three. I think USC product Adoree’ Jackson will be someone that new GM John Lynch will like to bring in to build his defense. He may lack the size and length of some cornerbacks but he is one of the best athletes in the draft and will be able to challenge for starting time right away. While small, Jackson has the athleticism to keep up with the better receivers in the league and will be exciting to watch returning kicks in San Francisco.

2.3 (#35) - Jacksonville Jaguars

Cam Robinson, OL, Alabama (Mike)

The Jags got Leonard Fournette in the first round and got him and Blake Bortles some blocking in the second with Cam Robinson. Robinson is an athletic and physical lineman that excels in the run game and is fairly good in the pass game. He does need to work on his kick steps to become good enough to hang with the speed rush of the NFL. With the trade for Branden Albert to secure the left side earlier in the offseason, Robinson can step in right away at right tackle. I’d compare him to a Zach Martin type player where he has the potential to move inside and be a very good guard if the speed of the game is too much for him at tackle.