NFL Draft – Davis Goes Top Five, Lions Take Defense

An expected number one pick from the Cleveland Browns, a trade to grab a quarterback for the Chicago Bears, and a Western Michigan Bronco gets picked in the top five were all highlights in the first night of the 2017 National Football League Draft.
After much speculation since January, the Browns chose former Texas A & M defensive end Myles Garrett as the top overall pick. The Browns are looking to build for another season after finishing 1-15 in 2016. They would be a part of a very strange evening of trades in the first round (more below).

Broncos Top Receiver in Top Five

Many draft analysts had Western Michigan Broncos wide receiver Corey Davis moving up draft boards following a record-setting career in Kalamazoo. It moved him so high that the Tennessee Titans snagged him for the fifth overall pick. It's the second straight year the Titans picked a player from a Michigan university, following offensive lineman Jack Conklin (Plainwell native and Michigan State grad). Davis becomes the second Bronco picked in the first round and the highest pick ever, beating out defensive end Jason Babin's 27th overall pick.

Lions Grab Much Needed Linebacker

The Detroit Lions only had one pick in the draft's first night. Fulfilling a big need on the defensive side of the ball, the Lions drafted Florida inside linebacker Jarrad Davis with the 21st overall pick. Davis battled injuries his senior season, but corralled 98 tackles in junior season for the Gators.

Trades Galore

The Cleveland Browns initially had just two picks in the first round, including the top overall pick. They also had the 12th pick, which would then be traded to Houston Texans (taking Clemson quarterback DeShaun Watson). The Browns would take the Texans 25th pick (getting Michigan defensive back Jabrill Peppers). The Browns were not done, getting a trade with the Green Bay Packers for the 29th overall pick, getting Miami (FL) tight end David Njoku.

The Chicago Bears flip-flopped spots with the San Francisco 49ers to grab the top quarterback in the draft, North Carolina's Mitchell Trubisky, for the second overall pick. The Niners would follow with Stanford defensive tackle Solomon Thomas for the third pick. San Francisco also traded with the Seattle Seahawks for Alabama linebacker Reuben Foster for the 31st pick.

The Kansas City Chiefs also made a big move, grabbing the 10th overall pick from the Buffalo Bills for Texas Tech quarterback Patrick Mahomes. The Bills took the Chiefs pick at 27th overall for LSU cornerback Tre'Davious White.

Finally, the Seahawks traded their other first round pick to the Atlanta Falcons, who take UCLA defensive end Takkarist McKinley with the 26th pick.

One More Michigan Player

With Jabrill Peppers being the surprise pick late in the first round, another former Wolverine would get named in the draft just two picks later. The Dallas Cowboys only pick of the opening night went towards a need on the defensive line, grabbing Taco Charlton.

The second and third rounds of the NFL Draft take place Friday night beginning at 7pm. The final four rounds will be completed Saturday beginning at Noon.