Mock Draft 1.0: Who will the Bengals, Browns take in the first round?

With the Super Bowl in the rear-view mirror, the speculative season begins, and nothing says speculation like mock drafts. Especially when teams haven’t even started to shape their 2017 rosters through free agency, the start of which is still more than a week away.

And some of the players considered top prospects could bomb at the Combine, while other less heralded athletes could rocket up draft boards with impressive performances.

But until the picture crystallizes, here is our Mock Draft 1.0.

1. Cleveland Browns

Myles Garrett, LB, Texas A&M

The Browns need a quarterback but can get one from an underwhelming class later with their trove of picks – or they can trade for Jimmy Garoppolo – but what they can’t do is pass on an elite edge rusher.

2. San Francisco 49ers

Mitch Trubisky, QB, North Carolina

Some have Deshaun Watson ranked higher, but Trubisky fits more of the Matt Ryan mold that first-year 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan is used to after working as the Atlanta offensive coordinator the last two seasons.

3. Chicago Bears

Jonathan Allen, DE, Alabama

In addition to his elite pass-rushing skills, Allen is a great run-stopper and a perfect fit for the Bears 3-4 scheme.

4. Jacksonville Jaguars

Jamal Adams, S, LSU

The Jaguars’ first five picks last year and six of seven overall were defensive players, and yet they still need help on that side of the ball.

5. Tennessee Titans

Mike Williams, WR, Clemson

There’s nothing wrong with making you franchise quarterback happy, and better. And Williams certainly will do that with freakish athleticism and ball skills.

6. New York Jets

Marshon Lattimore, CB, Ohio State

Darrelle Revis is no longer an island, so the Jets clearly need help at corner.

7. San Diego Chargers

Malik Hooker, S, Ohio State

It’s back-to-back Buckeyes for San Diego, which took Joey Bosa in the first round last year.

8. Carolina Panthers

Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU

Jonathan Stewart will be 30 in March, which is ancient for NFL running backs. And the Panthers don’t have much behind him.

9. Cincinnati Bengals

Solomon Thomas, DE, Stanford

Alabama LB Reuben Foster could be in play, but his injury issues might be enough scare away Bengals brass after getting basically nothing out of four of their last five first-round picks (William Jackson, Cedric Ogbuehi, Darqueze Dennard, Dre Kirkpatrick) during their rookie seasons.

10. Buffalo Bills

DeShaun Watson, QB, Clemson

If you’re going to start over with a new head coach, might as well do the same with the most important position on the field and let them grow together.

11. New Orleans Saints

Reuben Foster, LB, Alabama

The Saints need all kinds of help on defense and will be thrilled to see Foster fall this far.

12. Cleveland Browns

Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State

Hue Jackson loves speed, and Cook has much of it as anybody, plus running back is one of many positions where the Browns need to upgrade.

13. Arizona Cardinals

Corey Davis, WR, Western Michigan

The Cardinals have a lot of free agents on defense, but finding an heir apparent to Larry Fitzgerald before he actually retires may be a more pressing need.

14. Philadelphia Eagles

Teez Tabor, CB, Florida

Cornerback was the biggest weakness the Eagles had in 2016, and Tabor is a big-time playmaker.

15. Indianapolis Colts

Cam Robinson, T, Alabama

As old and as bad as the Colts are on defense, there is nothing more important that protecting Andrew Luck.

16. Baltimore Ravens

Jabril Peppers, S, Michigan

Peppers goes from one Harbaugh to another.

17. Washington Redskins

John Ross, WR, Washington

If the Redskins find a way to keep free-agent DeSean Jackson, then they obviously go a different way here. But it doesn’t look like that will be the case.

18. Tennessee Titans

Quincy Wilson, CB, Florida

Wilson is a big, physical corner who fills the Titans’ biggest need.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Taco Charlton, DE, Michigan

Analysts have him over the place in their mock drafts. The Buccaneers would be thrilled to get him at 19 and make him a bookend with Noah Spence.

20. Denver Broncos

Garett Bolles, T, Utah

Tackle has a been a weak spot even going back to the Super Bowl title in 2016, and the AFC West has some of the best edge rushers in the game.

21. Detroit Lions

Takkarist McKinley, LB, UCLA

Cornerback might be a more pressing need for the Lions, but McKinley will be hard to pass up if he falls this far.

22. Miami Dolphins

O.J. Howard, TE, Alabama

Jordan Cameron is a free agent, and Howard would be an ideal replacement.

23. New York Giants

Derek Barnett, DE, Tennessee

Even if the Giants are able to re-sign Jason Pierre-Paul, Barnett would be a good fit for an up-and-coming defense.

24. Oakland Raiders

Malik McDowell, DT, Michigan State

Even with Khalil Mack, the Raiders were last in sacks last year. Put some pressure on the interior with McDowell, and Mack will be unstoppable.

25. Houston Texans

DeShone Kizer, QB, Notre Dame

It’s pretty clear Brock Osweiler and Tom Savage aren’t the answer in Houston.

26. Seattle Seahawks

Marlon Humphrey, CB, Alabama

The offensive line might be a more pressing need, but Humphrey would be a solid fit on an aggressive Seattle defense.

27. Kansas City Chiefs

Budda Baker, S, Washington

Eric Berry is a free agent, and Baker could end up being the best safety in this draft.

28. Dallas Cowboys

Charles Harris, DE, Missouri

The Cowboys were first against the run and 26th against the pass. Harris will help even that disparity.

29. Green Bay Packers

Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford

Eddie Lacy is a free agent, and the Packers are so lacking at running back depth they converted a wide receiver to tailback for their impressive stretch run into the postseason.

30. Pittsburgh Steelers

Haason Reddick, LB, Temple

The Steelers would love to see Harris fall a few spots more, but Reddick would be a good fit as well.

31. Atlanta Falcons

Sidney Jones, CB, Washington

Remember the Falcons’ pass defense in the Super Bowl collapse?

32. New England Patriots

Ryan Ramczyk, T, Wisconsin

Some think he’s the best tackle available. Going to the Patriots will only increase the likelihood he pans out that way.

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