2017 NFL Draft Results
Draft Overview
The 2017 NFL Draft was held on April 27-29th in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. This draft was the first to take place in the city of Philadelphia since 1961. The 2017 draft was unique for its emphasis on defense and the amount of trades that took place. This draft featured seven trades in the first round, the most since the NFL-AFL merger. Many teams traded up and down in the draft, which impacted the results of the draft significantly.
Key Selections
The Cleveland Browns made headlines when they selected Myles Garrett with the first overall pick. Garrett was considered one of the most talented defensive players in the draft, and many experts believed he was the best player available. The Browns also selected quarterback DeShone Kizer with the 52nd overall pick, making him the first quarterback selected by the team in the first round of the draft since Johnny Manziel in 2014.
Notable Picks
The New Orleans Saints made a splash when they traded up to the 11th overall pick to select running back Alvin Kamara. Kamara would go on to have a fantastic rookie season, earning Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. The Saints also selected cornerback Marshon Lattimore with the 11th overall pick. Lattimore would also have an excellent rookie season, earning Defensive Rookie of the Year honors.
Offensive Impact
The 2017 NFL Draft had an immediate impact on the offensive side of the ball. The Kansas City Chiefs selected quarterback Patrick Mahomes with the 10th overall pick. Mahomes would go on to start all 16 games in his rookie season, leading the Chiefs to the playoffs and earning Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. The Los Angeles Rams also had a successful draft, selecting receiver Cooper Kupp, running back Todd Gurley II, and tight end Gerald Everett. All three players would go on to have productive rookie seasons, helping the Rams to a winning record and their first playoff appearance in over a decade.
Defensive Impact
The 2017 NFL Draft also had an immediate impact on the defensive side of the ball. The Jacksonville Jaguars selected cornerback Jalen Ramsey with the 5th overall pick. Ramsey would go on to have an excellent rookie season, earning a Pro Bowl selection and helping the Jaguars to their first AFC Championship appearance in over a decade. The Chicago Bears also had a successful draft, selecting outside linebacker Leonard Floyd with the 9th overall pick. Floyd would start all 16 games in his rookie season, leading the Bears to a winning record and their first playoff appearance in over a decade.
Trades
The 2017 NFL Draft was notable for the amount of trades that took place. The most notable trade was the one between the Bears and the 49ers. The 49ers traded their second overall pick to the Bears in exchange for the Bears' third overall pick, a third-round pick, and a fourth-round pick. The Bears then selected quarterback Mitchell Trubisky with the second overall pick, while the 49ers selected defensive end Solomon Thomas with the third overall pick.
Conclusion
The 2017 NFL Draft had an immediate impact on the league. It featured several talented players, many of whom would go on to have successful rookie seasons. The draft also featured several trades, which impacted the results of the draft significantly. The 2017 NFL Draft will be remembered as one of the most exciting and impactful drafts in recent memory.