NFL 2017 Draft: Detroit Lions Top Pick Is Florida LB Davis

(UPDATED) METRO DETROIT, MI — The Detroit Lions have selected University of Florida linebacker Jarrad Davis in the first round of the NFL Draft. The Lions have seven other selections in the remaining rounds of the Draft.

With the first pick of the NFL Draft, the Cleveland Browns took Myles Garrett, a defensive end from Texas A&M. The Chicago Bears moved up to the second pick after making a trade with the San Francisco 49ers and took North Carolina quarterback Mitch Trubisky.

San Francisco then took Stanford defensive end Solomon Thomas. Jacksonville selected LSU running back Leonard Fournette with the fourth pick. Tennessee surprised everyone by taking Western Michigan University receiver Corey Davis with the fifth pick.

The New York Jets took Jamal Adams, a safety out of LSU, with the sixth pick. The L.A. Chargers followed by selecting Clemson wide receiver Mike Williams. At No. 8, the Carolina Panthers took running back Christian McCaffrey out of Stanford. The ninth pick went to Cincinnati, which chose Washington wide receiver John Ross.

The Kansas City Chiefs moved up to the 10th pick after a trade with Buffalo and selected Patrick Mahomes II, a quarterback from Texas Tech. At No. 11, the New Orleans Saints chose Marshon Lattimore, a cornerback from Ohio State. The Houston Texans picked up Cleveland’s second pick of the first round via a trade and took Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson.

With the 13th pick, the Arizona Cardinals took Haason Reddick, an outside linebacker from Temple. NFL Draft host Philadelphia took Derek Barnett, a defensive end from Tennessee. At No. 15, the Colts took Malik Hooker, a cornerback from Ohio State.

The 16th pick went to the Baltimore Ravens, which selected Alabama defensive back Marlon Humphrey. At 17, the Redskins selected Alabama defensive end Jonathan Allen. Tennessee selected Adoree’ Jackson, a cornerback from USC, with the 18th pick.

Tampa Bay selected 19th and took tight end O.J. Howard from Alabama. At No. 20, the Denver Broncos took Utah offensive tackle Garett Bolles.

EARLIER: For Detroit Lions’ fans, Thursday’s NFL Draft is the Super Bowl of events. The Lions well-established futility on the field has made the annual Draft a brief window of hope for Detroit’s football faithful. With the 21st pick, pundits have the Lions taking anyone from Florida linebacker Jarrad Davis to University of Michigan defensive tack Taco Charlton or a wide receiver.

Detroit finished the 2016 season with a 9-7 record, good enough for a wildcard berth. The Lions didn’t last long in the playoffs, however, as Seattle crushed the Detroiters 26-6. It marked the end of a very up and down season with the Lions losing three out of their first four and then winning eight out of nine games.

But all of that is history now and there’s the 2017 season ahead. Many believe the Detroit Lions’ schedule is on the easier side, and could help them get back to the playoffs.

The NFL Draft starts tonight at 8 p.m. with the first round, which will be televised by ESPN and streamed by the NFL. The NFL Draft will continue Friday with rounds two and three and then finish with remaining rounds on Saturday.

So who will the Lions take? NFL.com’s Mike Maycock says it will be Western Michigan University receiver Corey Davis: “He's physical and tough. I think he comes in with an attitude.” Meanwhile, the Detroit News’ Bob Wojnowski says the Lions should be conservative and take Florida’s Davis.

Over at the Detroit Free Press, Dave Birkett thinks there as many as nine players that make sense for the Lions in the first round. He likes Davis, too, but also gives a nod to Alabama linebacker Reuben Foster, Florida State running back Dalvin Cook and defensive end Charles Harris of Missouri.

Whoever the Lions decide to gamble on, return to Patch this evening to find out first.

NFL.com draft analyst Chad Reuter has predicted the following top 5 picks:

1. Mitchel Trubisky, QB, University of North Carolina
2. Myles Garrett, DE, Texas A&M
3. Solomon Thomas, DE, Stanford
4. Leonard Fournette, RB, Louisiana State University
5. O.J. Howard, TE, University of Alabama

The projected first overall pick, University of North Carolina quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, would go to the Cleveland Browns. The Browns also drafted a quarterback with the 22nd overall pick of the 2014 draft in Johnny Manziel, who, after a variety of struggles on and off the field, was cut by the Browns.

Reuter has defensive end Myles Garrett, out of Texas A&M, falling to number two overall, but this is a hotly contested prediction. Many believe the Browns will scoop up Garrett first and then fill their quarterback needs later with a trade of some kind. Like any year, trade rumors will abound throughout the entire draft process, much like when many became convinced that former Eagles coach Chip Kelly would manage to trade up for his former protege, Marcus Mariota, in 2015.

After Trubisky and Garrett, who are the consensus top two talents in the draft, things become murkier for the Chicago Bears at number three. Reuter sees them taking Stanford defensive end Solomon Thomas.

Justin Heinze (Patch Staff) contributed to this report. Photo by Ed Zurga/Stringer/Getty Images Sport/Getty Images