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NFL Draft: Early Look at 32-Team Round 1 Mock for 2017

By Peter Panacy

Apr 28, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; A general view of the stage and podium before the 2016 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 28, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; A general view of the stage and podium before the 2016 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 3, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide tight end O.J. Howard (88) catches the ball as USC Trojans defensive back Matt Lopes (37) defends during the second half at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 3, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide tight end O.J. Howard (88) catches the ball as USC Trojans defensive back Matt Lopes (37) defends during the second half at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports /

32. player. 45. . Tight End. Denver Broncos. O.J. Howard

The defending Super Bowl champs don’t have too much to worry about on defense. But general manager John Elway would love to get his up-and-coming quarterback Paxton Lynch some added weapons on the offensive side of the ball.

And with the final pick in Round 1 of the 2017 NFL Draft, he could do much worse than grab 6-foot-6, 251-pound matchup nightmare O.J. Howard out of Alabama.

Head coach Gary Kubiak’s offense has made great use of tight ends before. And while Howard needs a lot of polish at the NFL level, it wouldn’t be a shock to see him develop into the next Jimmy Graham or Rob Gronkowski.

Simply too good for Elway to pass up.

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All statistics, records and accolades courtesy of ESPN.com, Pro-Football-Reference.com and Sports-Reference.com unless otherwise indicated.