Grading first-round picks in the 2017 NFL draft

The first round of the 2017 NFL draft is in the books, and we've graded every pick.

1. Myles Garrett, DE Texas A&M - Cleveland Browns

Grade: A+

Analysis: Garrett was always going to be the Browns' pick. Some thought they might reach for a quarterback. Some thought they might trade down and add to their ever-growing cache of draft picks. But no, Cleveland did the right thing and picked up the only blue chip prospect in this class.

Garrett is a physical marvel. He has long arms and an explosive first step. That combo alone will get him a ton of sacks at the next level. If he's able to refine his arsenal of pass rushing moves, he'll wear a gold jacket in Canton one day.

2. Mitchell Trubisky, QB North Carolina - Chicago Bears (from 49ers)

Grade: D-

Analysis: The Bears followed up a horrendous trade with a huge reach. Trubisky may very well develop into a solid starter one day. He's not a franchise-changing player, though, and that's what you expect from a second-overall pick. The Bears passed up on a lot of defensive talent to take him, too.

3. Solomon Thomas, DE Stanford - San Francisco 49ers (from Bears)

Grade: A-

Analysis: John Lynch nailed his first pick. Thomas is a disruptive force who can play end on early downs and kick inside on passing downs. He'll join a young, promising line in San Francisco, now featuring three first-round picks in Thomas, Arik Armstead and DeForest Buckner.

4. Leonard Fournette, RB LSU - Jacksonville Jaguars

Grade: B

Analysis: I love Fournette, but don't necessarily love the pick. Even if Fournette is a great player, the Jags aren't getting good value by taking a running back this high. As we've seen many times before, you can find a special back on Day 2 or 3. A trade down may have been Jacksonville's best course of action.

5. Corey Davis, WR Western Michigan - Tennessee Titans (from Rams)

Grade: C+

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Analysis: Davis has Terrell Owens potential, but this is a reach for a player who wasn't able to work out for NFL teams before the draft due to injury. Trading down made so much more sense for Tennessee. They could have added some picks and still drafted Davis later on. Drops and level of competition in college are the two big concerns for the Western Michigan product.

6. Jamal Adams, S LSU - New York Jets

Grade: A

Analysis:The Jets desperately needed a game-changer in the secondary. They got one in Adams, who can play a variety of roles. He's a thumper in the run game, he can cover tight ends and he can even play the centerfield role in the deep middle. Oh, and Allen was one of the best leaders in college football.

7. Mike Williams, WR Clemson - Los Angeles Chargers

Grade: B+

Analysis: Somewhere Philip Rivers is smiling. The Chargers just added to an already strong receiving corps featuring Keenan Allen and Travis Benjamin. Williams compliments those two perfectly. He's a big, strong kid who may not create a lot of separation but will dominate at the catch point. Think Brandon Marshall.

8. Christian McCaffrey, RB Stanford - Carolina Panthers

Grade: D+

Analysis: McCaffrey will be make the Panthers offense better. Like Darren Sproles, he'll make an impact on all four downs. But is he worth a No. 8 pick? I'm not so sure. You can get a good running back in the later rounds. Dalvin Cook may end up a better NFL running back and he didn't even go in the first round.

9. John Ross, WR Washington - Cincinnati Bengals

Grade: C-

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Analysis: Teams aren't going to be able to play with a safety in the box against Cincinnati. Not with A.J. Green and Ross out on the perimeter. Both are threats to score from anywhere on the field and will force teams to play a safety over the top. But there is one major concern with Ross: His knees. He's already torn an ACL and a meniscus and undergone microfracture surgery. That 4.22 speed is only an asset if he's healthy.

10. Patrick Mahomes, QB Texas Tech - Kansas City Chiefs (from Bills)

Grade: C-

Analysis: Calling Mahomes a project is a major understatement. He's nowhere near ready to play in the NFL. And, honestly, he may never be. Between his inconsistent accuracy due to poor mechanics, his tendency to bail from clean pockets and his lack of field vision, he's going to leave as many big plays on the field as he creates. This was a risky pick.

11. Marshon Lattimore, CB Ohio State - New Orleans Saints

Grade: A-

Analysis: The Saints needed a corner in the worst way, and they managed to pick up the top corner in the draft at pick No. 11. That's great value. Lattimore is a physical corner with great athleticism. That's a rare combo.

12. Deshaun Watson, QB Clemson - Houston Texans (from CLE via PHI)

Grade: C+

Analysis: The Texans finally get their quarterback of the future. Or so they think. I'm not so sure Watson will ever develop into a top QB, but he'll be an improvement over what they've had in Houston the last few years. That's not saying a whole lot. The Clemson star needs to hit the deep ball more consistently and do a better job of reading defenses.

13. Haason Reddick, LB Temple - Arizona Cardinals

Grade: B+

Analysis: The Cardinals got value and filled a need in drafting Reddick, who could play the Kahlil Mack role in Arizona. He can play linebacker on early downs and rush the passer on passing downs. The Cardinals defense got better on draft night.

14. Derek Barnett, DE Tennessee - Philadelphia Eagles (from Vikings)

Grade: B

Analysis: Barnett had more sacks than Garrett over the last two seasons, but he does not have the potential the top pick in the draft possesses. What he does have is tremendous burst off the snap. Just what the Eagles defense needed.

15. Malik Hooker, S Ohio State - Indianapolis Colts

Grade: A

Analysis: Hooker is an absolute steal at pick No. 15. He's the rangiest safety to come through the draft since Earl Thomas. Hooker is not as good a tackler as Thomas but he'll make just as many plays in the passing game. The Colts needed someone who could create turnovers in their secondary after coming up with just eight interceptions last season. Hooker had seven himself in 2016.

16. Marlon Humphrey, CB Alabama - Baltimore Ravens

Grade: B

Analysis: The Ravens set out to improve their secondary this offseason, and they certainly have after picking up the Alabama corner. He'll need to refine his technique, but Humphrey has the physical tools to become a shutdown corner.

17. Jonathan Allen, DT Alabama - Washington Redskins

Grade: A+

Analysis: Allen is the steal of the draft. Concerns about his shoulder caused him to slide. His loss is Washington's gain. If that shoulder is healthy, he's going to give them a disruptive force on the interior. The Redskins needed pass rush; they'll get it from Allen.

18. Adoree' Jackson, CB USC - Tennessee Titans

Grade: B

Analysis: Jackson reminds me of another first-round corner who went to Tennessee in the first round: Pacman Jones. Both have a tremendous nose for the end zone and are solid in coverage. Jackson just makes plays. He can even play some snaps on offense.

19. O.J. Howard, TE Alabama - Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Grade: A

Analysis: The Buccaneers offense is going to be fun to watch. Well, not for opposing defenses. Howard gives them a threat down the seams, which should open things up for Mike Evans and DeSean Jackson on the perimeter. Oh, and he's a tremendous blocker who will help in the run game. The Bucs made Jameis Winston a happy man on Thursday night.

20. Garett Bolles, OT Utah - Denver Broncos

Grade: B

Analysis: Bolles is one of the best athletes in this draft. He's got long arms and good feet. He's physically equipped to take on the NFL's best pass rushers, but does he have the proper technique? That's the big question.

21. Jarrad Davis LB Florida - Detroit Lions

Grade: C

Analysis: The Lions got themselves a true three-down linebacker in Davis. He's stout against the run and can hold up in coverage. He'll be a good player, but he's not better than Reuben Foster, even with the injury concerns.

22. Charles Harris, OLB Missouri - Miami Dolphins

Grade: A

Analysis: Cam Wake won't be around forever and the Mario Williams signing was a bust. The Dolphins needed an edge rusher and got one of the best defensive ends in a deep class. He's explosive off the line and will burn slower tackles around the edge. His technique is refined and he will be ready to play from Day 1. Miami got a good one.

23. Evan Engram, TE Mississippi - New York Giants

Grade: C

Analysis: Engram is basically a big wide receiver who will make the Giants passing game better from Day 1. But I have two problems with this pick: (1) He's not much a run blocker, so the Giants running game won't be get any help with this pick and (2) David Njoku is the better tight end prospect in my opinion.

24. Gareon Conley, CB Raiders - Oakland Raiders

Grade: N/A

Analysis: We have no idea how the investigation into a rape allegation against Conley will turn out, so I don't feel comfortable grading the pick right now.

25. Jabrill Peppers, S Michigan - Cleveland Browns (from Texans)

Grade: A-

Analysis: Peppers is going to do it all for a Browns defense that needed to add talent in this draft. He can set the edge against the run, cover slot receivers and he'll make an impact as a blitzer in Gregg Williams' defense.

We're going to look back at this pick in a few years and wonder how he slid this far.

26. Takkarist McKinley, DE UCLA - Atlanta Falcons (from Seahawks)

Grade: B

(AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Analysis: Some thought McKinley would slide after having surgery on his injured shoulder following the combine. It didn't happen. The Falcons traded up to add another speed rusher to go along with Vic Beasley. He has a high motor but he'll need to shore up his hand fighting if he's going to develop into a good NFL pass rusher.

27. Tre'Davious White, CB LSU - Bills (from Chiefs)

Grade: B

Analysis: The Bills picked up a solid corner who will probably end up as a top-level slot corner. Those guys didn't used to go in the first round, but the NFL is changing. Defenses are in nickel over 60% of the time these days, so White will spend a lot of time on the field in 2016. He also adds value as a punt returner.

28. Taco Charlton, DE Michigan - Dallas Cowboys

Grade: A-

Analysis: Dallas will still need to add to its secondary but they couldn't pass on an edge rusher as talented as Charlton. This is both a great value pick and it fills a need. The Michigan product has the speed, power and length to develop into a Pro Bowl defensive end.

29. David Njoku, TE Miami - Cleveland Browns

Grade: B+

Analysis: The Browns nailed all three of their picks. Njoku is the most physically-gifted tight end in this class. He's still developing as a run blocker and he could improve as a route runner, but he'll be a huge red zone threat from the jump. He also has great run-after-catch skills, which is rare at the tight end position.

30. T.J. Watt, OLB Wisconsin - Pittsburgh Steelers

Grade: B

Analysis: The Steelers are just going to keep drafting these first-round edge rushers until they find a good one. Watt isn't the most explosive athlete, but all he did was produce at Wisconsin. Pittsburgh has gone after workout warriors in the past, so maybe this change in approach will land them the pass rusher they've been searching for.

31. Reuben Foster, LB Alabama - 49ers (from SEA via ATL)

Grade: A+

Analysis: Instincts, speed, intelligence, toughness. Foster has everything you want in a linebacker. The 49ers got themselves a steal. Like Allen, there are concerns about Foster's shoulder, but if it's healthy, he's going to be a stud for the next decade.

32. Ryan Ramczyk, OT Wisconsin - New Orleans Saints (from Patriots)

Grade: B-

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Analysis: The Saints got a Day 1 starter in Ramczyk, who will play on the right side, replacing Zach Strief in the starting lineup. Remczyk is a good athlete with good technique. He's not the biggest tackle, which is the main reason he slid to the end of the first round.