NFL Draft: Thumbnail scouting reports of 1st-round picks
A thumbnail scouting report of the players picked in the first round of the NFL draft on Thursday night.
1. Cleveland
Myles Garrett, 6-foot--4, 272 pounds, Texas A&M
Notable: All-American last season and one of the best pass rushers in the country, despite some nagging injuries.
Sum-it-up-in-a-sentence scouting report: Elite speed, quickness and strength add up to a potentially dominant pass rusher with only the need to stay on the field more.
In conclusion: Garrett is the 10th SEC player taken first overall in the common draft era.
2. Chicago (from San Francisco)
Mitchell Trubisky, 6-2, 222, North Carolina
Notable: In his lone season as the Tar Heels' No. 1 quarterback, Trubisky completed 68 percent of his passes with 30 touchdowns and six interceptions.
Sum-it-up-in-a-sentence scouting report: Trubisky has the arm, athleticism, and quick delivery NFL teams love, but one year as a starter in spread offense means he has a lot to learn.
In conclusion: After 13 career college starts, Trubisky matches Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor as the highest selected North Carolina player.
3. San Francisco
Solomon Thomas, 6-3, 273, Stanford
Notable: Pac-12 defensive player of the year in 2016 and has been gaining steam in the postseason draft process.
Sum-it-up-in-a-sentence scouting report: Gets rid of blockers with strength and quickness, though he might need to add some bulk and power to handle massive NFL linemen.
In conclusion: Highest selected Stanford player since Andrew Luck went No. 1 in 2012.
4. Jacksonville
Leonard Fournette, 6-0, 240, LSU
Notable: An ankle injury limited him to seven games in 2016 and he ran for over 100 yards in five of them. Ran for 1,953 yards and 22 touchdowns as a sophomore.
Sum-it-up-in-a-sentence scouting report: With power and speed to spare, the only nit to pick is elusiveness.
In conclusion: Second straight year a running back was drafted No. 4 (Ezekiel Elliott to the Dallas Cowboys).
5. Tennessee (from L.A. Rams)
Corey Davis, 6-3, 208, Western Michigan
Notable: Four-year starter and FBS career leader in receiving yards with 5,285.
Sum-it-up-in-a-sentence scouting report: Polished playmaker who has to prove he can consistently deal with cornerbacks getting into his body.
In conclusion: The highest-drafted player ever from Western Michigan.
6. N.Y. Jets
Jamal Adams, 6-0, 214, LSU
Notable: Son of former Kentucky running back George Adams, who played for the New York Giants.
Sum-it-up-in-a-sentence scouting report: Adams gets high marks for leadership, on top of elite athletic ability, and makes it difficult to find flaws here.
In conclusion: Adams is the fourth defensive back from LSU to go in the first round since 2011.
7. L.A. Chargers
Mike Williams, 6-4, 218, Clemson
Notable: Serious neck injury cost Williams almost all of the 2015 season, but he returned in 2016 to make 98 catches for 1,361 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Sum-it-up-in-a-sentence scouting report: Big, strong and fast enough, with the ability to come down with passes in close coverage - and drop a few easy ones.
In conclusion: Third wide receiver from Clemson taken in the first round since 2013.
8. Carolina
Christian McCaffrey, 5-11, 202, Stanford
Notable: Set an NCAA record with 3,864 all-purpose yards in 2015, then was slowed by injuries in 2016 - and still ran for 1,639 yards.
Sum-it-up-in-a-sentence scouting report: What he lacks in size and power, McCaffrey makes up for with speed, quickness and versatility.
In conclusion: Father Ed McCaffrey was a third-round pick out of Stanford by the Giants in 1991.
9. Cincinnati
John Ross, 5-11, 188, Washington
Notable: Tore a ligament in his left knee in 2015, but it does not seem to have had any effect on his 4.2 speed.
Sum-it-up-in-a-sentence scouting report: Sure, Ross is a bit undersized, but he will be the fastest player on just about any field on which he steps.
In conclusion: Ross is the first Washington receiver taken in the first round since 2004, when Reggie Williams went No. 9 overall.
10. Kansas City (from Buffalo)
Patrick Mahomes II, 6-2, 225, Texas Tech
Notable: Running the Red Raiders' Air Raid offense, Mahomes passed for 5,052 yards and 41 touchdowns last season, with 10 interceptions and a 65.7 completion percentage.
Sum-it-in-a-sentence scouting report: Dynamic playmaker and athlete, who needs to be reined in a bit.
In conclusion: Mahomes is the first quarterback to be selected in the first round from Texas Tech.
11. New Orleans
Marshon Lattimore, 6-0, 193, Ohio State
Notable: Hamstring injuries and good players in front of him meant Lattimore only started one season at Ohio State.
Sum-it-up-in-a-sentence scouting report: Long, athletic and aggressive at the line, but needs to locate the ball better.
In conclusion: Lattimore is the third cornerback from Ohio State to be taken in the first round since 2014.
12. Houston (from Cleveland through Philadelphia)
Deshaun Watson, 6-2, 221, Clemson
Notable: In two national championship games against Alabama, Watson passed for 825 yards and seven touchdowns with one interception.
Sum-it-up-in-a-sentence scouting report: College superstar and charismatic leader, but pro scouts are still a bit skeptical because of accuracy issues, a penchant for forcing throws, and size and height that is a bit less than ideal.
In conclusion: First Clemson quarterback drafted in the first round since Steve Fuller in 1979.
13. Arizona
Haason Reddick, 6-1, 237, Temple
Notable: Former walk-on defensive back grew into force as an edge rusher and then showed potential at linebacker at the Senior Bowl.
Sum-it-up-in-a-sentence scouting report: Freaky athlete whose only limits seem to be lack of experience at the position he seems best suited for in the NFL.
In conclusion: The fourth player ever to be taken in the first round from Temple.
14. Philadelphia (from Minnesota)
Derek Barnett, 6-3, 259, Tennessee
Notable: Set a school record with 33 career sacks.
Sum-it-up-in-a-sentence scouting report: Makes up for lack of burst off the edge with strong and fast hands, plus good power for his size.
In conclusion: First Tennessee player taken in the first round since 2014.
15. Indianapolis
Malik Hooker, 6-1, 206, Ohio State
Notable: Hooker was a Division I basketball prospect coming out of high school and started just one season at Ohio State.
Sum-it-up-in-a-sentence scouting report: Sideline-to-sideline range and excellent instincts in the passing game, but needs improvement playing close to the line.
In conclusion: Third time in the last four seasons that the Buckeyes have had multiple first-round selections.
16. Baltimore
Marlon Humphrey, 6-0, 197, Alabama
Notable: Son of former Alabama star and NFL running back Bobby Humphrey.
Sum-it-up-in-a-sentence scouting report: Can be overly reliant on his elite athleticism and sprinter's speed.
In conclusion: Nine straight seasons with at least one first-round pick for Alabama.
17. Washington
Notable: Finished seventh in the Heisman Trophy voting in 2016 and won two defensive player of the year awards (Bednarik and Nagurski).
Sum-it-up-in-a-sentence scouting report: A fundamentally sound and furious competitor who can play inside and out, but not ideal length on the edge.
In conclusion: First time since 2013 Alabama had consecutive players picked in the first round.
18. Tennessee
Adoree' Jackson, 5-10, 186, USC
Notable: Played some offense and caught 39 passes in three seasons, and had eight career touchdowns on punt and kickoff returns.
Sum-it-up-in-a-sentence scouting report: Spectacular athlete, though size could make him better fit in the slot but could be a problem in run support.
In conclusion: Jackson is the first defensive back from USC taken in the first round since 2003 (Troy Polamalu).
19. Tampa Bay
O.J. Howard, 6-6, 251, Alabama
Notable: The offensive MVP of the Crimson Tide's 2015 College Football Playoff championship game victory with five catches for 208 yards and two touchdowns against Clemson.
Sum-it-up-in-a-sentence scouting report: Brilliant athlete who was either under-utilized or too passive during his four seasons with Alabama, depending on your perspective.
In conclusion: The last tight end from Alabama taken in the first round was Ozzie Newsome in 1979.
20. Denver
Garett Bolles, 6-5, 298, Utah
Notable: Troubled teenager who went the junior college route before going one-and-done at Utah.
Sum-it-up-in-a-sentence scouting report: Excellent athleticism has scouts excited about the 25-year-old's potential.
Outlook: Wild card in a relatively weak offensive linemen class. Could be first off the board or Day 2 pick.
In conclusion: Bolles is the first Utah player drafted in the first round since 2005 (Alex Smith).
21. Detroit
Jarrad Davis, 6-1, 238, Florida
Notable: A leg injury cost Davis about a third of last season, but he was still second-team All-SEC.
Sum-it-up-in-a-sentence scouting report: Athletic outside linebacker who needs to be better working his way through traffic to ball carriers.
In conclusion: Fifth straight year a Florida player was taken in the first round.
22. Miami
Charles Harris, 6-3, 253, Missouri
Notable: Missouri has been pumping out NFL defensive ends recently (Shane Ray, Markus Golden, Kony Ealy). Harris is next up.
Sum-it-up-in-a-sentence scouting report: Good first-step pass rusher who needs to better hold his ground against the run.
In conclusion: Missouri has had a player taken in the first round five times since 2009.
23. N.Y. Giants
24. Oakland
25. Houston
26. Seattle
27. Kansas City
28. Dallas
29. Green Bay
30. Pittsburgh
31. Atlanta
32. New Orleans (from New England)