NFL Mock Draft 1.0

With the first 30 picks in the 2018 NFL Draft set as we approach the Super Bowl, I felt it would be a good time to jump into my first version of a mock draft.  This will be a very rough mock, as there hasn't been a champion crowned in Minnesota.  Also, the combine will drive players stock up and down, so be on the look for my newer versions as the months roll along.

1. Cleveland Browns (0-16), QB Sam Darnold (USC)

The Browns will most-likely take yet another first-round stab at a Quarterback.  I think it has to be narrowed down to Sam Darnold, Josh Rosen, and Josh Allen.  Rosen has publicly said that he does not want to be a part of the Browns organization.  I think Allen has some question-marks, but I like the fact that he said in an interview that he would love to be a Brown and lead them out of the basement of the league.  At this point; however, I believe the Browns will take a chance of Sam Darnold's upside.

2. New York Giants (3-13), QB Josh Rosen (UCLA)


Josh Rosen stating he wanted no part of Cleveland reminds me a lot of Eli Manning not wanting any part of San Diego when he was selected and then swapped with Phillip Rivers.  After yanking Manning for a game and letting Geno Smith take the reins in a dumpster fire of a season, it is clear the Giants are looking for a Quarterback.  Josh Rosen is the most polished option at QB out of the big three and I think the Giants are confident he can be the heir to Eli.

3. Indianapolis Colts (4-12), DE Bradley Chubb (NC State)

The Colts need Andrew Luck.  After a year of will he or won't he play, it will be interesting to see the huge improvement he contributes to this team.  Unlike other teams in this pick range, they can try to add some talent instead of reaching for a franchise QB.  I think they will go with Bradley Chubb who was a beast of an edge rusher at NC State.  He can make an instant impact and is a no brainer to take at 3.

4. Cleveland Browns (via Houston Texans), RB Saquon Barkley (Penn State)

This pick gives the Browns two picks in the top four of the draft after passing on Deshaun Watson.  I think the Browns need to take the best available player who can provide an instant impact.  Saquan Barkley fits that and some.  He can do it all with his speed, power, and strength as well as his ability to help out in the passing game.  The Browns currently have Isaiah Crowell and Duke Johnson on the roster, but Barkley is flat out too good to pass on here.

5. Denver Broncos (5-11), QB Josh Allen (Wyoming)

After taking Paxton Lynch in the first round a couple years ago, it appears the Broncos are going to be in the market for another QB.  It will be interesting to see what they do in Free Agency to address the QB void.  If they don't come to terms with a QB in Free Agency, I think they could take Josh Allen.  Allen delivers a great ball and absolutely lit it up in Wyoming's bowl game.  I think that Allen has a great opportunity to improve his draft stock at the Senior Bowl and show off why the Browns should take him at #1.

6. New York Jets (5-11), CB/S Minkah Fitzpatrick (Alabama)

Fitzpatrick has been a stud all through college, even starting as a Freshman for Nick Saban.  Saban loves this kid and he is arguably the best corner and safety in the entire draft.  The Jets would be getting a home run here and could address the QB position with a later pick.

7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-11), CB Denzel Ward (Ohio State)

The Buccaneers were expected to make a jump this year, but fell well short of expectations.  I don't think Doug Martin will be the starter, but they need some help in the secondary.  I don't think Denzel Ward will make as large of an impact as former teammate at OSU Marshon Lattimore did in his rookie campaign, but Ward will sure up the Buccaneer secondary.

8. Chicago Bears (5-11), WR Calvin Ridley (Alabama)

The Bears need to give Mitchell Trubisky an upgrade a receiver.  Pairing Ridley with Trubisky will give that upside WR1 the Bears desperately need.  Although Ridley played in Alabama's run first offense and his stats didn't jump off the page, his ability is well ahead of all others in this draft class.

9. San Francisco 49ers* (6-10), G Quenton Nelson (Notre Dame)
Note: The 49ers and Raiders tied and the order will be decided through a coin-flip.  I flipped a coin and the 49ers came out on top.

The 49ers could really use a top WR option for Jimmy Garoppolo and I'm sure they are hoping that Ridley somehow slips to them.  If that isn't the case, I think they could address the OL and target Quenton Nelson.  Nelson and Mike McGlinchey teamed up for the Fighting Irish on arguably the top offensive line's in all of college football.  Nelson could provide another building block on the offense that looks to have found their franchise QB.

10. Oakland Raiders* (6-10), ILB Roquan Smith (Georgia)


Roquan Smith is a beast, who finds his way to the ball carrier no matter where the play ends up on the field.  With Jon Gruden taking over, he is going to want to sure up the defense and it all starts at inside linebacker.  I can see Gruden saying, "I love this guy, he's the type of player any coach would love to have."  Gruden is going to change the culture of this team and it will start with Roquan Smith in the middle of this defense to aid Khalil Mack.

11. Miami Dolphins (6-10), OT Mike McGlinchey (Notre Dame)

The Dolphins could go a number of ways with this pick.  Ryan Tannehill is supposed to be ready for the 2018 season after the Jay Cutler experiment didn't quite work.  Will they reach on a QB? Will they reach on a RB after trading Jay Ajayi? Will they take a WR to replace Jarvis Landry if they can't sign him to a deal in Free Agency?  I am going to go the route of taking a lineman they can plug in as an instant starter to protect Tannehill. The aforementioned McGlinchey paired up with Quenton Nelson on the Notre Dame line that was the best in the nation last season.  He will be a starter at either left tackle or right tackle as he has experience at both positions.

12. Cincinnati Bengals (7-9), OLB Tremaine Edmunds (Virginia Tech)

The Bengals have some ground to gain behind the Steelers and Ravens in the hard-nosed AFC North.  With holes at LB, Tremaine Edmunds would be a perfect fit.  Edmunds is super versatile and I would say he is the outside linebacker version of Roquan Smith in how he wrecks havoc all over the field.  He should impress at the combine and could rise even more on some draft boards.

13. Washington Redskins (7-9), QB Baker Mayfield (Oklahoma)

This pick is contingent on whether Kirk Cousins is back.  For this first mock, I am going to assume that Cousins is let walk as Washington doesn't want to pay the third straight year franchise tag worth $34 million.  The Heisman Trophy winning Mayfield would be the best available QB on the board and I could see the Redskins taking him here.  If he impresses at the Senior Bowl and the Combine, I could see his draft stock hovering around the Top 15.

14. Green Bay Packers (7-9), CB Josh Jackson (Iowa)
 
Aaron Rodgers' injury doomed the Packers 2017 season.  I think the Packers could go a number of ways here.  They could look at an edge rusher like Harold Landry or Marcus Davenport.  I think they will look at corner and Josh Jackson.  Jackson caught everyone's eyes as he had 3 interceptions against Ohio State.  I have him as the third corner in the draft (if you consider Fitzpatrick a corner).  Jackson will provide more consistent play at corner with his great length at 6-1.

15. Arizona Cardinals (8-8), OT Brian O'Neill (Pittsburgh)


Carson Palmer has retired and the most glaring need is at Quarterback.  I could definitely see the Cardinals attempt to trade up to get one of the Top 3 QBs.  I don't see a QB at this spot to reach for, so I think they will go elsewhere.  I'm going to go with an upgrade on the offensive line with OT Brian O'Neill.  The Cardinals could pick up a QB in Free Agency and address that need in another way instead of using a first rounder.

16. Baltimore Ravens (9-7), WR Christian Kirk (Texas A&M)

This feels early for Kirk, but I think Baltimore really wants to find an upper echelon receiver early in this draft.  Kirk struggled a bit during an up and down season at Texas A&M, but he is an elite talent.  He's a slot guy, so it might not be a perfect fit but I'm going to slot him here for now.



17. Los Angeles Chargers (9-7), DT Vita Vea (Washington)

If Baker Mayfield slips down to the Chargers at 17, I could see them taking a chance of him for the future.  The Charger D has a great young nucleus but could use an upgrade at DT.  Vea could be that upgrade.  I was juggling Da'Ron Payne and Vea, but at the moment I'm going to slot Vea here.

18. Seattle Seahawks (9-7), OT Kolton Miller (UCLA)

The Seahawks badly need upgrades on the O-Line.  Kolton Miller has one of the highest ceilings amongst lineman.  Miller wasn't a high commodity coming into the season, but he performed very well protecting Josh Rosen.

19. Dallas Cowboys (9-7), DT Da'Ron Payne (Alabama)

Dallas could target a receiver here with Dez Bryant's future up in the air.  I think they will go the route of a DT with yet another defensive player from Alabama's juggernaut D.  Payne showed in the National Championship that he could get a great push in the interior against Georgia.

20. Detroit Lions (9-7), DE Marcus Davenport (UTSA)

Scouts have been raving about Davenport's ability and potential.  He has an opportunity to showcase his talent against better competition at the Senior Bowl.  Davenport is jumping up a lot of draft boards and I wouldn't be surprised to see him go in the top 15.

21. Buffalo Bills (9-7), DT Maurice Hurst (Michigan)

The first of back-to-back picks for the Bills.  The Bills need an inside rusher and Maurice Hurst fits the bill perfectly.  Hurst was an integral part of a great defense at Michigan.  The Bills only had 27 sacks all season and I would be surprised if Hurst didn't contribute to raising that number in 2018.

22. Buffalo Bills (via Kansas City), ILB Rashaan Evans (Alabama)

The Bills get Kansas City's first round pick after KC traded up to select Pat Mahomes.  I could see the Bills taking a look at a quarterback, but I don't think they will reach.  Evans would be the third first rounder from Alabama's D.  With these back-to-back picks, the Bills will have a great pair of physically gifted players to add to the defense.

23. Los Angeles Rams (11-5), CB Mike Hughes (Central Florida)

The Rams have a clear hole at cornerback, as they will have a lot of turnover at the position.  Hughes would plug that hole after a tremendous year for undefeated UCF.  This pick would fill a need for a team that has an extremely bright future and not many holes elsewhere.

24. Carolina Panthers (11-5), DE Sam Hubbard (Ohio State)

The Panthers could go with an OG or a WR to replace Kelvin Benjamin.  I think they are going to go with a DE in Sam Hubbard.  Hubbard is a physically gifted edge rusher who can provide an instant impact.  He has gotten comparisons to Joey Bosa, although not as high of a ceiling.

25. Tennessee Titans (9-7), OLB Harold Landry (Boston College)

The Titans made it further than anyone expected, making a huge comeback against the Chiefs.  The Titans have several needs, but I think they will take a look at an edge rusher.  Landry missed five games due to an ankle injury this past season, but he was a stud during the 2016 season.  He is fully healed and can provide that youthful spark the Titans need in an edge rusher.

26. Atlanta Falcons (10-6), S Derwin James (Florida State)

I'm honestly surprised I have James sliding this much.  Injuries have hampered James over the past few seasons, but when on the field he has elite potential.  The Falcons would be getting a steal of a pick if he slid this far.


27. New Orleans Saints (10-6), WR Courtland Sutton (SMU)

Sutton's size (6-4) could be a matchup nightmare for teams opposite Michael Thomas.  The Saints are built to win now with Brees entering the twilight of his career.  Adding a huge receiver like Sutton could make the Saints offense even more impressive.  After hitting on Marshon Lattimore and Alvin Kamara in last year's draft, it will be really tough to match last year's success.

28. Pittsburgh Steelers (13-3), ILB Josey Jewell (Iowa)

Pittsburgh needs to address the hole that Ryan Shazier leaves whether he plays football again or not.  Jewell fits the Steelers' hard-nosed defensive mentality and would add much needed depth to the position.

29. Jacksonville Jaguars (10-6), C/OG Billy Price (Ohio State)

I think Blake Bortles played well enough to get the criticism off his back.  Although the Jags need a TE, Billy Price has the versatility to play both C and OG.  Price could provide and instant impact at guard and would be a great fit.



30. Minnesota Vikings (13-3), OT Connor Williams (Texas)

Last year Williams looked like a definite Top 15 pick.  He struggled to stay on the field this year and missed seven games.  At this spot Williams would provide great value, as he has a ton of upside.  This would be a slam dunk pick as the Vikings could use some help at tackle.

31. Philadelphia Eagles* (13-3), CB Carlton Jones (Auburn)
Note: As this is being written before the Super Bowl, picks 31 and 32 will be dependent on the outcome of the game.  For this article, I am using Vegas odds that have the Patriots as favorites.

I never would have thought the Eagles would put Carson Wentz's injury in the rearview and make it to the Super Bowl behind Nick Foles' play.  They could look at a LT with the Jason Peters injury or add some depth to the linebacking core, but I think they will go with a CB.  Carlton Jones has been a lockdown corner at Auburn over his career.  He would be a great addition to the secondary and a defense that is amongst the best in the NFL.



32. New England Patriots* (13-3), DE Rasheem Green (USC)

Could the Patriots use this pick on a future replacement for the GOAT? I think they will go with an edge rusher with a big frame.  Green has a huge frame and will jump off the charts at the combine.  The Patriots always find a game changer at the end of the first round and Green could be that.






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