NFL Mock Draft 2017: What if Corey Davis falls?

Mel Kiper sure publishes a lot of mock drafts. Today the long-time ESPN analyst published his third mock draft of the 2017 NFL draft season, and it’s a pretty interesting one for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He has them taking Western Michigan receiver Corey Davis, an all-around receiving talent who can do anything and everything.

This pick stays the same as Mock Draft 2.0 -- it makes too much sense. Vincent Jackson is gone, and free-agent signing DeSean Jackson will fill his spot opposite Mike Evans. Davis, who had 331 catches for 5,278 yards and 52 touchdowns in his collegiate career, would give Jameis Winston another fantastic option, but he's a different player than both Jackson and Evans. The only issue with Davis (6-3, 209) is an ankle injury that kept him out of the combine, and he might not run a 40 before the draft, so scouts won't have a true number. I don't expect him to drop out of the first round, though.

Well, can’t argue with that. Other than the injury, Davis is a terrific all-around receiver. The one problem would be figuring out how to use him. With DeSean Jackson and Mike Evans on the roster, Davis wouldn’t be getting a full-timer role — and the team already has a slot specialist in Adam Humphries, too.

For that reason, the Bucs might take David Njoku over Davis, if both are available at number 19. It’s really hard to pass up Davis’ talent, though, and moving Jackson to the slot—a position he’s played repeatedly in the past—would make room for Davis on the outside, too.

Intriguingly, Kiper also has the Bucs passing up running back Dalvin Cook, a favorite of many Bucs fans. Cook’s stock has been falling a little, though, and it seems like the Bucs are more likely to stick with their current group of backs than spend a first-round pick on one.