2017 NFL Draft

2017 NFL Draft
source
Name	2017 NFL Draft
Date	April 27–29, 2017
Location	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Network	ESPN, NFL Network, ABC
First overall	Myles Garrett
Total picks	253
Previous	2016 NFL Draft
Next	2018 NFL Draft

2017 NFL Draft was the annual player selection meeting of the National Football League held April 27–29, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The event brought together representatives from all 32 National Football League teams, media partners including ESPN, NFL Network, and ABC, and thousands of fans at venues near Lincoln Financial Field and the Wells Fargo Center. Prominent college programs such as Alabama Crimson Tide football, Ohio State Buckeyes football, Clemson Tigers football, and LSU Tigers football were well represented among prospects including Myles Garrett, Mitch Trubisky, Patrick Mahomes II, and Leonard Fournette.

Background and Host City

Philadelphia, selected by the National Football League for its draft festival, highlighted the city's football heritage anchored by the Philadelphia Eagles and landmarks like Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. The choice followed prior draft sites including Chicago, New York City, Cleveland Browns' Cleveland events, and the league’s efforts to rotate the showcase among major metro areas such as Houston, Nashville, and Kansas City. The 2017 draft weekend included appearances by college coaches from programs like Nick Saban and Dabo Swinney, alumni from Penn State Nittany Lions football, and civic leaders from the City of Philadelphia promoting economic and tourism initiatives.

Draft Format and Eligibility

Under the rules of the National Football League Players Association and the NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement, player eligibility required players to be three years removed from high school; notable underclassmen petitions like Myles Garrett and Patrick Mahomes II applied for early entry. The draft order was determined by the 2016 NFL season standings and 2016 NFL playoffs outcomes, with tiebreakers influenced by strength of schedule used by teams such as the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears. The seven-round format mirrored previous years, with compensatory selections awarded per NFL policies affecting teams like the Baltimore Ravens and Houston Texans.

Top Picks and Notable Selections

The Cleveland Browns selected Myles Garrett first overall, a dominant edge rusher from Texas A&M Aggies football who had earned honors in All-America conversations and SEC competition. The San Francisco 49ers used the second pick on Mitch Trubisky, a quarterback from North Carolina Tar Heels football who had transferred from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and drawn comparisons to passers who starred at Ohio State University and University of Southern California. The Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills made pivotal choices including Patrick Mahomes II and Mitch Trubisky's contemporaries, while the Jacksonville Jaguars and Tampa Bay Buccaneers addressed needs with selections like Leonard Fournette from LSU Tigers football and Jamis Winston-era analyses. Other notable draftees included Jamal Adams from LSU, Marshon Lattimore from Ohio State Buckeyes football, Dalvin Cook from Florida State Seminoles football, and Mike Williams from Clemson Tigers football.

Trades and Draft-Day Transactions

The draft featured high-profile trades involving franchises such as the Chicago Bears, San Francisco 49ers, Kansas City Chiefs, and Buffalo Bills. Notable deals included swaps of first-round selections and future picks reminiscent of earlier maneuvers by teams like the New England Patriots and Green Bay Packers. Front offices led by general managers like Sashi Brown (then with the Cleveland Browns), Tom Telesco of the Los Angeles Chargers, and John Schneider of the Seattle Seahawks pursued aggressive moves to secure prospects, echoing past draft-day strategies used by Bill Belichick and executives from the Dallas Cowboys.

Position and Team Analyses

Edge rushers, quarterbacks, wide receivers, and offensive linemen dominated early rounds as teams including the New York Giants, Denver Broncos, Pittsburgh Steelers, and New Orleans Saints targeted immediate contributors. The pass-rushing depth from SEC and Big Ten Conference programs influenced selections, while quarterback evaluations referenced pedigrees from Heisman Trophy finalists and College Football Playoff participants. Defensive backfields were reshaped for franchises such as the Seattle Seahawks and Minnesota Vikings with picks steeped in schematics drawn from 2016 NFL defensive trends and coaching staffs like those led by Pete Carroll and Mike Zimmer.

Undrafted Free Agents and Post-Draft Signings

Following the seven rounds, numerous prospects signed as undrafted free agents with clubs including the New England Patriots, Philadelphia Eagles, Los Angeles Rams, and Indianapolis Colts. These undrafted players, many from programs like San Diego State Aztecs football, Boise State Broncos football, Mississippi State Bulldogs football, and Wake Forest Demon Deacons football, pursued roster spots through rookie minicamps and NFL preseason camps overseen by coaching staffs such as Bill Belichick and Doug Pederson. Several UDFA signees later earned active roster roles and practice squad positions, continuing traditions seen with former undrafted standouts from Super Bowl rosters and franchise histories.

Category:National Football League Drafts Category:2017 in American football