2018 NFL Mock Draft
The highly anticipated NFL Draft is finally here. One day from now all the speculation will end, teams will make their first round picks, and then we can debate on the merits of each pick. This pre draft process felt a little longer than usual this year. So, without further ado, here is your 2018 first round mock draft. (To keep it simple, there are no trades and teams will select from their current position).
- Browns: Sam Darnold QB, USC – This is the smart play. Darnold has the skill, the moxy, and the persona to be the face of a franchise. Browns could always Brown and stray away from Darnold with this pick, but after their high profile offseason, I’m betting they’ll make the right move.
- Giants: Josh Rosen QB, UCLA – It seems everyone has it written in stone that Giants will go Barkley. I just don’t know if I buy it. Team co-owner John Mara was in favor of benching Eli to get Geno Smith and Davis Webb looks last year. One of Rosen’s biggest flags coming out is if he loves football enough, and Dave Gettleman put those rumors to rest in his recent presser. It just makes too much sense to take a QB here. Giants nab Eli’s successor with the 2 pick.
- Jets: Baker Mayfield QB, Oklahoma – So begins the NY QB rivalry. One pick after the Giants Rosen, the Jets take arguably the best QB in the draft at #3. The swagger Baker brings is right up the Jets alley. It’s going to be so fun having Baker’s personality with the NY media. If anyone can handle the scrutiny – it’s him.
- Browns: Bradley Chubb DE, NC State – With their 2nd pick in the top 5, Browns secure the best defensive player in the draft. Pairing Myles Garrett and Bradley Chubb on rookie contracts is a dangerous combination which would instantly make the Browns have one of the best pass rushing teams in the league.
- Broncos: Quenton Nelson OG, Notre Dame – Broncos come away with the best OL prospect to come out in a long time. There’s a lot of directions the Broncos could go with this pick, including trading down (I’m looking at you, Bills). Since I’m not doing trades in this mock, Broncos bolster their OL for Case Keenum.
- Colts: Saquon Barkley RB, Penn St – Not only did the Colts secure three 2nd round picks from the Jets moving down from 3 to 6, but they also grab the #1 player on pretty much everyone’s boards. Barkley has been compared to the likes of LaDainian Tomlinson and is supposedly the best RB to come out since Adrian Peterson. If the Giants don’t take him at 2, Barkley could slip a little in the draft and would be the ideal help for Andrew Luck.
- Buccaneers: Minkah Fitzpatrick DB, Alabama – Bucs needs help in their secondary in the worst way, and there could also be a case made that Minkah Fitzpatrick is the best defensive player in the draft. Grabbing the versatile Fitzpatrick enables the Bucs to use Fitzpatrick where they feel he fits best, either CB or S.
- Bears: Denzel Ward CB, Ohio St – Florida St is known as the DB-U, but Ohio St is giving them a run for their money with their 4 CB taken in the first round in the last 3 drafts – including the 2017 DROY, Marshon Lattimore. Ward gives the Bears a lock down corner to pair with recently resigned CB, Kyle Fuller.
- 49ers: Roquan Smith LB, Georgia – With Reuben Foster in legal trouble and likely off the team, the 49ers quickly grab his replacement. Smith has a high motor and is a leader of the defense. John Lynch and co are quietly putting together a pretty solid roster. 49ers could surprise by going a WR here to give Garoppolo more weapons, but I think they’ll attack that more in round 2.
- Raiders: Derwin James S, Florida St – Raiders need secondary help and James is a physical and versatile player that could make an immediate impact for that defense. Reggie Nelson is 35 and James would bring the tenacity that Coach Jon Gruden loves.
- Dolphins: Tremaine Edmunds LB, Virginia Tech – The Dolphins just traded for Robert Quinn, but Cameron Wake is 36 years old. The Dolphins have a lot of needs, and they start with planning for the future with a young (only 19 on draft day) stud edge rusher.
- Bills: Josh Allen QB, Wyoming – Allen could be the target for the Bills to trade up for. He’s an extremely strong armed and bright QB who needs some time to develop, but has a lot of the intangibles teams look for in a QB. His arm strength and hand size could benefit him in the Buffalo late season weather.
- Redskins: Da’Ron Payne DT, Alabama – Redskins had neglected the defensive line for years. They show they are making it a priority by taking their 2nd defensive lineman from Alabama in as many years. Payne needs to work on pass rushing, but he should have instant impact as a run defender.
- Packers: Harold Landry Edge, BC – Landry had a dominant 2016, but was slowed down by injuries in 2017. He’s one of the best pass rushers coming out and would be an eventual replacement for soon to be 32 year old Clay Matthews.
- Cardinals: Lamar Jackson QB, Louisville – Sam Bradford and Mike Glennon are not long term solutions. Coincidently, having these QBs would not force Jackson to immediately start. Pairing Jackson and David Johnson makes the Cardinals a potentially dangerous duo.
- Ravens: Ravens Marcus Davenport, UTSA – The Ravens have already added help for Flacco in free agency with Crabtree, John Brown, and Willie Snead. Defense has been the identity of the Ravens for close to 2 decades. Terrell Suggs is getting old and Ravens need another pass rusher to take over.
- Chargers: Mike McGlinchey OT, Notre Dame – McGlinchey held down LT for the Fighting Irish, who is one of the more NFL ready offensive lines in college. McGlinchey could start out at RT and work his way to LT when the Chargers feel he’s ready. Chargers could be a surprise team to target a QB in this draft with Phillip Rivers turning 37 during the 2018 season.
- Seahawks: Josh Jackson CB, Iowa – Jackson lead NCAA Football in INT’s last year with 8. His NFL comparison is Richard Sherman. The Seahawks need to rebuild the legion of boom which was the cause of their most recent success. Seahawks get back to that formula taking Jackson.
- Cowboys: Calvin Ridley WR, Alabama – Cowboys signed Allen Hurns, but Jason Witten is on his last legs and they recently cut Dez Bryant. Outside of Zeke, there aren’t many reliable skill position options for Dak. Cowboys grab the first WR off the board who can play right away.
- Lions: Vita Vea DT, Washington – With the departure of Haloti Ngata, the Lions have a huge hole in the middle of their defense. Vea fills their need on the DL and will immediately help the Lions run defense.
- Bengals: James Daniels C, Iowa – Bengals made a move to improve their OL swapping firsts with the Bills and acquiring LT Cordy Glenn. The Bengals continue to add to the OL with the pick of Daniels who is an intelligent and athletic center.
- Bills: Kolton Miller OT, UCLA – As mentioned in the Bengals pick, the Bills just traded their starting LT Cordy Glenn. They grab his replacement with their second 1st round pick. Miller is a little raw, but has all the intangibles you look for in a LT.
- Patriots: Jaire Alexander CB, Louisville – Pats need a lot of help filling their roster. They begin with retooling the secondary with the speedster from Louisville. Alexander has a ton of talent, but may need some refinement in his technique. Defensive guru Bill Belichick should have no problem grooming Alexander.
- Panthers: Hayden Hurst TE, South Carolina –Greg Olsen is 33 and has been contemplating retiring and moving to the booth as a commentator. Hurst has sure hands and can quickly become the new safety blanket for Cam in Carolina. With a year to improve his blocking and contribute as a receiver, Hurst gives Cam Newton another big target to throw to.
- Titans: Rashaan Evans LB, Alabama – Evans is the ideal ILB for a 3-4 that helps sure up the Titans LB corps. Evans is a baller having big games in the biggest of stages during the last three National Championship Games. This is the third defensive player from Alabama taken in the 1st round, fourth player overall.
- Falcons: Taven Bryan DT, Florida – After losing Dontari Poe to division rival Carolina, the Falcons beef up their defensive line with Bryan. Bryan is an athletic big man that could use some refinement in how to handle blockers, but has all the tools and the versatility to play either inside or outside on the d-line.
- Saints: Leighton Vander Esch LB, Boise St – The Saints are one of the few teams that can draft for luxury. They have a solid roster top-down and should be competitive again this year. Vander Esch is a productive linebacker and leader of a defense. He could hold down the middle for the Saints for a long time. Grabbing a QB, like Mason Rudolph, to groom under Drew Brees could also be in play here.
- Steelers: Justin Reid S, Stanford – The Steelers secondary can use more talent. Justin Reid is the brother of Eric Reid, who still has not been signed because kneeling during the National Anthem. Who knows if Reid will take after his brother and do the same. Either way, Justin Reid is what teams look for nowadays in a safety with his size and speed. There are few flaws to Reid’s game and he could come in and make an impact right away for the Steelers.
- Jaguars: D.J. Moore WR, Maryland – Jaguars lost both of their top receivers in Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns this offseason. D.J. Moore could be in the conversation for first WR off the board in the draft. Jaguars grab him at the end of round 1 to give Blake Bortles more targets. Jaguars need to build the offense up to help compliment that fantastic defense.
- Vikings: Will Hernandez OG, UTEP – Last year the Vikings rebuilt their entire OL with 5 new starting players on the line. Vikings look to continue that rebuild with this pick. Hernandez is a mauler who has played LG his entire time at UTEP, so expect him to step in right away to the same role for the Vikings.
- Patriots: Connors Williams OL, Texas – If it wasn’t for an injury last year, Connor Williams might have been in the top 15 conversation this year. Alas, he did get hurt and in typical Patriots fashion, they grab a quality player and as a value pick in the back end of the first round. Patriots have needs all over their offensive line, Williams has the ability to come in and play OT or OG right away.
- Eagles: Isaiah Oliver CB, Colorado – The Eagles roster is loaded after a Super Bowl win. Having Carson Wentz on a rookie contract has enabled to Eagles to build a strong team all around the board. The one “weakness” last year was their CB play. They look to improve that here with this pick. Oliver possesses an outstanding combo of size, speed and length which is highly coveted by NFL teams.
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