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2017 NFL Mock Draft: Final Predictions For First Round

By Dan Parzych

Nov 5, 2016; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers running back Leonard Fournette (7) before a game against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 5, 2016; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers running back Leonard Fournette (7) before a game against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 19, 2016; Berkeley, CA, USA; Stanford Cardinal running back Christian McCaffrey (5) points to the sky in celebration after a touchdown against the California Golden Bears during the fourth quarter at Memorial Stadium. Stanford defeated California 45-31. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 19, 2016; Berkeley, CA, USA; Stanford Cardinal running back Christian McCaffrey (5) points to the sky in celebration after a touchdown against the California Golden Bears during the fourth quarter at Memorial Stadium. Stanford defeated California 45-31. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /

8. Carolina Panthers: Stanford RB Christian McCaffrey

Everybody is anxious to see whether Christian McCaffrey‘s success in college carries over to the NFL level since he’s considered one of the most talented running backs from this year’s draft class. From lining up in the backfield to being a dangerous threat in the slot, plenty of teams are expressing interest in the former Stanford standout since he’s one of those talented players that can be dangerous at multiple positions.

The fact that McCaffrey is declining private workouts with teams shows how confident the running back is when it comes to knowing he has what it takes to succeed in the NFL. There are plenty of teams in the first round that find themselves in desperate need of help at the running back position, and depending on what happens during the first seven picks, there’s a good chance the Carolina Panthers won’t allow him to slip past No. 8.

When it comes to the most disappointing teams from the 2016 season, the Panthers rank near the top of the list when considering they missed out on the playoffs despite reaching the Super Bowl the year before. There’s only so much Cam Newton can do on his own with the offense, and a weapon like McCaffrey would certainly help take some of the pressure off the former MVP while avoiding some of the nasty hits he couldn’t avoid in 2016.

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