NFL Draft 2017: Cleveland Browns select Myles Garrett as first overall pick
The Browns had a number of options available to them with the first overall pick but opted for the Texas A&M standout, the consensus top player of the 2017 class
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The Cleveland Browns have made Myles Garrett the first selection of the 2017 NFL Draft.
The Browns had a number of options available to them with the first overall pick but opted for the Texas A&M standout, the consensus top player of the 2017 class.
Defensive end Garrett leaves A&M sixth on the Aggies all-time sack list, a single spot behind Super Bowl 50 MVP Von Miller, and projects to be a day one starter and an instant impact player in Cleveland for a team desperate for difference makers.
Scouts praise Garrett’s unique blend of size, speed and explosiveness off the edge with talent evaluators confident he has all the tools to reach All Pro level in the professional ranks.
Garrett is the first of an initial 11 selections for the Browns in this year’s draft including five of the first 65.
Three quarterbacks were chosen in the opening 12 selections of a first round where British-born prospect Obi Melifonwu's name was not called.
Thereafter the Chicago Bears made a shock jump up from third to second to select Mitchell Trubisky, setting in motion a run on quarterbacks as Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson were both drafted in the opening dozen picks too.
The Kansas City Chiefs leapt up from 27th to land Mahomes, giving up their first-round selection for next year to the Buffalo Bills as part of the deal, while the Houston Texans did likewise to trade up from 25th to grab Watson, with Cleveland the benefactors of their 2018 first rounder.
Only the first 32 picks of the seven-round draft were made on Thursday and London-born safety Melifonwu, who moved to America aged three and has relatives from the capital there with him watching this event, was not among those picked.
He was considered a fringe first-round prospect and Melifonwu should be selected early on Friday when the second round begins, while fellow Londoner Jermaine Eluemunor could also possibly be a day-two pick.
The draft continues with the second and third rounds on Friday with rounds four, five, six and seven being completed on Saturday.
Full first round
1. Cleveland Browns - DE Myles Garrett (Texas A&M)
2. Chicago Bears - QB Mitchell Trubisky (North Carolina)
3. San Francisco 49ers - DE Solomon Thomas (Stanford)
4. Jacksonville Jaguars - RB Leonard Fournette (LSU)
5. Tennessee Titans - WR Corey Davis (Western Michigan)
6. New York Jets - S Jamal Adams (LSU)
7. Los Angeles Chargers - WR Mike Williams (Clemson)
8. Carolina Panthers - RB Christian McCaffrey (Stanford)
9. Cincinnati Bengals - WR John Ross (Washington)
10. Kansas City Chiefs - QB Patrick Mahomes (Texas Tech)
11. New Orleans Saints - CB Marshon Lattimore (Ohio State)
12. Houston Texans - QB Deshaun Watson (Clemson)
13. Arizona Cardinals - LB Haason Reddick (Temple)
14. Philadelphia Eagles - DE Derek Barnett (Tennessee)
15. Indianapolis Colts - S Malik Hooker (Ohio State)
16. Baltimore Ravens - CB Marlon Humphrey (Alabama)
17. Washington Redskins - DE Jonathan Allen (Alabama)
18. Tennessee Titans - CB Adoree' Jackson (USC)
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - TE O.J. Howard (Alabama)
20. Denver Broncos - OT Garett Bolles (Utah)
21. Detroit Lions - LB Jarrad Davis (Florida)
22. Miami Dolphins - DE Charles Harris (Missouri)
23. New York Giants - TE Evan Engram (Mississippi)
24. Oakland Raiders - CB Gareon Conley (Ohio State)
25. Cleveland Browns - S Jabrill Peppers (Michigan)
26. Atlanta Falcons - DE Takkarist McKinley (UCLA)
27. Buffalo Bills - CB Tre'Davious White (LSU)
28. Dallas Cowboys - DE Taco Charlton (Michigan)
29. Cleveland Browns - TE David Njoku (Miami)
30. Pittsburgh Steelers - LB T.J. Watt (Wisconsin)
31. San Francisco 49ers - LB Reuben Foster (Alabama)
32. New Orleans Saints - OT Ryan Ramczyk (Wisconsin)
Additional reporting by PA
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments