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2017 NFL mock draft: Trades aplenty in Round 1 in AA writer’s mock draft

By Matt Conner

Mar 2, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Kansas City Chiefs general manager John Dorsey speaks to the media during the 2017 combine at Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 2, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Kansas City Chiefs general manager John Dorsey speaks to the media during the 2017 combine at Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 5, 2016; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers running back Leonard Fournette (7) runs as Alabama Crimson Tide defensive lineman Dalvin Tomlinson (54) and linebacker Reuben Foster (10) pursue during the third quarter of a game at Tiger Stadium. Alabama defeated LSU 10-0. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 5, 2016; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers running back Leonard Fournette (7) runs as Alabama Crimson Tide defensive lineman Dalvin Tomlinson (54) and linebacker Reuben Foster (10) pursue during the third quarter of a game at Tiger Stadium. Alabama defeated LSU 10-0. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

Pick: 8
Team: Carolina Panthers
Selection: Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU

The Carolina Panthers are at their best when they’re able to use the running game to set up their passing game. The Panthers finished the 2016 ranked 10th in rushing, averaging 113.4 yards per game. Jonathan Stewart finished the season with 824 yards, but averaged just 3.8 yards per carry and finds himself on the wrong side of 30.

The tide seems to be changing on how teams view running backs (again). With the emergence of Ezekiel Elliott, teams could start drafting running backs sooner rather than later. Leonard Fournette is a back who has been NFL ready since he first stepped foot on LSU’s campus. As a freshman, Fournette rushed for 1,034 yards on just 187 carries. He followed that up with a stellar sophomore season where he rushed for almost 2,000 yards, averaging 6.5 yards per carry. In his junior season, Fournette played in just seven games, but still averaged 6.5 yards per carry. Fournette finished his college career with 3,830 yards, 40 touchdowns, and a 6.2 yards per carry average.

What made his sophomore season even more impressive was the fact that he played four of the top five defenses in the SEC. The only one in the top five he did not go up against: LSU. Pro Football Focus gave him the highest grade of any running back in the last three years. Fournette also graded out well at the NFL combine, running a 4.51 second 40-yard dash and that was at 240 pounds. Pro Football Focus compares him to Todd Gurley, while NFL.com compared him to the likes of Bo Jackson. Fournette is a running back that is well worth a top 10 pick. [Anthony Crane]

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