2017 NFL Mock Draft: Projecting First Three Rounds before Scouting Combine

The Detroit Lions have a lot of work to do with their defense. On the bright side, that means that they can sit back and look for the best player available on that side of the ball once they are on the clock in the first round.

Taco Charlton would probably be the best fit here. He’s a dominant pass rusher with an ideal frame for a 4-3 defensive end at 6-foot-6 and 270 pounds. He can bend the edge and has long arms to create separation from blockers. He does consistently struggle with outside containment, but that’s something that could be easily fixed with the right coaching.

Overall, Charlton has some really high upside because of his physical tools, and the Lions could use another impact defensive end playing opposite of Ziggy Ansah.

In previous mock drafts, I’ve had the Miami Dolphins taking either O.J. Howard or Taco Charlton. With both of those players off of the board, things get a little more complicated.

Still, the Dolphins and Ryan Tannehill could use an impact tight end, and there’s another one that’s worthy of a first-round selection with Miami’s David Njoku. He’s a freakish athlete with great size at 6-foot-4 and 245 pounds. He doesn’t run the cleanest routes, but he’s dangerous with the ball in his hands and he’s a more than willing blocker in the running game.

Njoku has the potential to be a serious weapon in the NFL, and the Dolphins will be able to do plenty of homework on him with him playing college in the area.