The first round of the 2017 NFL Draft has turned out to be one of the most impactful drafts in recent memory. Picking the right player for a scheme can be the difference between winning and losing playoff games, as teams fight for a shot at hoisting the Vince Lombardi Trophy.

Today we will take a look at the five best players from the 2017 NFL Draft, and give our projections for their 2019 season (players appear in draft order).

No. 1) Myles Garrett- Cleveland Browns

Myles Garrett seemed like a surefire lock for the first overall pick as the 2016 college football season came to a close. In two seasons he already has 20.5 career sacks, and that’s with him missing five games during his rookie season. He is already regarded as one of the NFL’s best players (coming in at No. 49 on the NFL’s Top 100 Players list), and we expect him to get close to 15 sacks in 2019.

No. 6) Jamal Adams- New York Jets 

While Garrett was viewed as the consensus top pick, Adams was the safest bet to become a perennial Pro-Bowler. He was a complete safety coming out of LSU, with the ability to blitz the quarterback, help in run support, or play excellent pass coverage. He is arguably the best safety in the NFL already, as he ranked first among safeties in snaps played, sacks, QB pressures, QB hurries, forced fumbles, and defensive stops. 

We think Adams will be able to earn another Pro Bowl nod for Gang Green in 2019.

No. 8) Christian McCaffrey- Carolina Panthers

Although his rookie season wasn’t as great as Panthers fans would have hoped, Christian McCaffrey proved last season that he could be the college football version of Reggie Bush in the NFL.

Since he entered the league in 2017, he is fourth among all offensive skill players with 3,051 yards from scrimmage, and missed the 2,000 total yards mark by just 35 yards last season. We think he will get to that mark this season, as the Panthers look to rebound and make it back to the playoffs.

No. 10) Patrick Mahomes- Kansas City Chiefs

When a player you drafted wins the MVP in his first full season as a starter, you have to look at the draft pick as a home run. Mahomes has been better than advertised, throwing for over 5,000 yards and 50 touchdowns last season. The Chiefs should be in prime position to make another strong run in the AFC, and we are predicting Mahomes will become the first back-to-back MVP since Peyton Manning.

No. 12) Deshaun Watson- Houston Texans

We thought the Texans were crazy to pick Watson at the No. 12 spot in the draft, but he quickly asserted himself into the team’s future at the QB position. After posting impressive rookie numbers that saw him throw 16 games in a four game stretch, Watson tore his ACL in practice. He bounced back in 2018 and finished with the sixth highest passer rating in the league.

The only knock on Watson is his inability to get rid of the ball quicker (62 sacks in two seasons), but we expect him to reach the Pro Bowl for the second straight season and throw for over 35 touchdowns.

Who do you think is the best player for the 2017 NFL Draft?

Going through our list of the five players from the 2017 NFL Draft, which one do you think is the best? We have to go with Patrick Mahomes after his insane MVP season. If you want more news from around the gridiron be sure to check out our NFL section.