By Darin On April 27, 2017, the NFL landscape shifted on the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. While defensive titans and elite playmakers dominated the top of the board, a single aggressive trade by the Kansas City Chiefs would go on to rewrite the league’s history books for the next decade.
Draft Storyline
April 27, 2017, at the opening rounds of the 2017 NFL Draft, Texas A&M defensive end Myles Garrett was the first pick by the Cleveland Browns. Chicago surprised many when they took North Carolina quarterback Mitchell Trubisky as the second player taken. The 49ers grabbed Solomon Thomas, the defensive end from nearby Stanford, followed by the selection of LSU running back Leonard Fournette by the Jaguars.
The sixth selection was that of the Tennessee Titans, who locked up the rights to wideout Corey Davis. Then came the picks of Safety Jamal Adams of LSU by the Jets and Clemson wide receiver Mike Williams by the Chargers. Carolina held the eighth pick in the Draft, and they took Christian McCaffrey, the running back from Stanford, while the Bengals swooped right behind them and signed John Ross, the receiver from the University of Washington. Then things got interesting…
The Chiefs traded up to acquire Patrick Mahomes at 10th overall in the 2017 NFL Draft. The Chiefs traded the 27th overall pick, a third-round pick, and a 2018 first-round pick to the Bills in exchange for the 10th pick in the draft. The Bills used the 27th pick they acquired to take Tre’davious White, a corner from LSU, and in the 2018 pick, they got the rights to inside linebacker Tremaine Edmunds from the University of Virginia.
Conclusion
Looking back, the 2017 NFL Draft was a masterclass in how a single decision can redefine a franchise. While teams like the Browns and Panthers secured cornerstone players in Myles Garrett and Christian McCaffrey, the Kansas City Chiefs’ bold leap for Patrick Mahomes remains the defining moment of the night. It wasn’t just a trade for a quarterback; it was the birth of a dynasty that would dominate the gridiron lore for years to come.
Complete List of Players in the 2017 NFL Draft
Big thanks to Pro-Football-Reference.com
