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If the Giants stay put at No.2 and pass
on a quarterback, the top running back on the board is in
play.
1. Cleveland Browns – Sam Darnold,
QB, USC
The Jets recently traded up to the third pick, which all but
guarantees the Browns will be selecting a quarterback with their
first pick. Darnold was widely viewed as the top option, and he
solidified that at USC’s pro day. He flashed his upside
during his throwing sessions, as he looked outstanding and was
unfazed by consistent rainfall. Teams may be turned off by Darnold’s
delivery, but his arm strength and accuracy more than makes up
for it. The addition of Tyrod Taylor will allow Darnold to sit
on the bench for at least part of this season, giving him ample
time to adjust to the NFL.
Previous Pick – Sam Darnold, QB, USC
2. New York Giants – Saquon Barkley, RB,
Penn State
I have a difficult time believing New York is not going to trade
out of this spot. I’m not predicting trades, though, so
a pick must be made. It appears the Giants feel comfortable with
Eli Manning, and while I may disagree, that has a lot of bearing
on this pick. Barkley is arguably the best player in the draft,
and the Giants are in need of a consistent option at running back.
If the organization truly believes they have a few more years
out of Manning, Barkley is the type of player that can ease his
workload and provide an elite check down option.
Previous Pick – Quenton Nelson, OG, Notre Dame
3. New York Jets – Josh Rosen, QB,
UCLA
There is a small chance that the Jets moved up ahead of the Colts
and Browns for Saquon Barkley, but it’s more likely that
they are after a franchise quarterback. Josh Rosen rubbed some
teams the wrong way when he basically stated that he did not want
to play for the Cleveland Browns. He also does not necessarily
have the big personality that many people expect out of New York
quarterbacks. What he does have is the talent to play on the big
stage. While Darnold could be seen as the best quarterback in
the draft after his elite pro day, Rosen was widely seen as the
top option prior to that. It shows how close these two quarterbacks
are, making this choice a no-brainer for New York.
Previous Pick – Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA
4. Cleveland Browns – Bradley Chubb, DE,
NC State
The Browns have so many picks that they can take the best player
available at this point. That is likely Chubb, who is arguably
the safest option in the draft. He is a disruptive end that posted
20 sacks and 44 tackles for a loss in his final two seasons at
North Carolina State. End is not the biggest need for Cleveland,
but imagine the pairing of Chubb and Myles Garrett. They would
be one of the best young defensive end pairings in the entire
NFL. This may be wishful thinking, but it also makes quite a bit
of sense for Cleveland, who could rely heavily on defense this
season with Tyrod Taylor or a rookie quarterback starting.
Previous Pick – Minkah Fitzpatrick, DB, Alabama
5. Denver Broncos – Denzel Ward,
CB, OSU
Ward enjoyed an elite combine that has resulted in his skyrocketing
up draft boards. Some scouts have stated they believe he is the
best player in the draft. Ward ran a 4.32 40-yard dash to go along
with a 39” vertical and 11’4” broad jump. He
also added 19 reps on the bench for good measure. Ward’s
quickness was not on display at the combine, but that, along with
his footwork, is seen as his strongest attributes. There are some
that believe Ward is better suited as a slot corner, but that
thought was somewhat shut down after he displayed great strength
at the combine. Denver recently traded away Aqib Talib, so they
will need someone to step in immediately.
Previous Pick – Denzel Ward, CB, OSU
6. Indianapolis Colts – Quenton Nelson,
OG, Notre Dame
Indianapolis has a lot of holes throughout their defense, but
Nelson fits a need and is the best player available at this spot.
The Colts have passed on offensive linemen in recent drafts, resulting
in Andrew Luck suffering from injuries. Nelson is already an above
average pass and run blocking guard, who also comes with All Pro
potential. He could start from day one, immediately upgrading
Indianapolis’ line situation. This is not the sexy pick
that most fans want on draft day, but it is the correct one.
Previous Pick – Bradley Chubb, DE, NC State
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Derwin James,
S, Florida State
There is word around the Bucs that they like Justin Evans to
take a step this season, but they’re looking to add help
in the secondary. With Ward off the board, safety is the more
likely position. James and Minkah Fitzpatrick are the top two
safeties in the draft, and it seems somewhat 50/50 on who teams
like better. There is word that the Bucs prefer James, who is
more of an in the box, run stopping option. He would immediately
upgrade a weak Tampa Bay secondary.
Previous Pick – Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State
8. Chicago Bears – Tremaine Edmunds,
LB, Virginia Tech
Simply put, the Bears need help at linebacker, specifically edge
rushers. Edmunds is an ultra-athletic player that has the potential
to play any of the linebacker positions. He is not the most polished
player in the draft based on football IQ, but his physical tools
more than make up for it. He comes with tremendous size, and there
is a belief that he will be able to add weight to his frame without
losing any speed. He has nearly as much upside as any player in
this draft, but his lack of polish will keep him from being a
top-five pick.
Previous Pick – Tremaine Edmunds, LB, Virginia Tech
9. San Francisco 49ers – Josh Jackson,
CB, Iowa
The 49ers are a team that looks like they could make an elite
jump next season. They finished last season strong, playing themselves
out of a top pick. If they want to make a playoff push, they are
going to need help in their secondary, which was one of the worst
in the NFL. They were able to sign Richard Sherman, but more capable
bodies are needed. Jackson flashed immense potential as a junior,
but he is still an unproven prospect. He rarely played as a freshman
or sophomore, but enjoyed an elite season as a junior once he
got the starting nod. He recorded 18 pass deflections with eight
interceptions and two defensive touchdowns in 13 games. He is
a long defender that uses his length and decisive mindset to jump
routes and contest catches. Jackson would be locked in as the
top true cornerback in this class if he had two seasons of similar
production, but the 49ers are a team that will likely be willing
to risk their pick on someone with game changing upside.
Previous Pick – Josh Jackson, CB, Iowa
10. Oakland Raiders – Roquan Smith,
ILB, Georgia
Every year there seems to be a consensus pick for a team in the
top-ten. This season, the Oakland Raiders are that team and Roquan
Smith is that pick. They have revamped their coaching staff, and
they now need help at linebacker. Smith is an elite prospect,
who would potentially be a top-five selection if he were a bit
bigger. The only true knock on Smith is his size, but he has the
athleticism to make up for his lone deficiency. He has sideline-to-sideline
speed and the quickness and agility to avoid linemen. He has also
tremendous football IQ, which also helps keep him out of compromising
situations. Smith broke out as a junior, recording 137 total tackles,
14 tackles for a loss, and 6.5 sacks in 15 games. The Raiders
need defensive help this offseason, and Smith is arguably the
best prospect on the board.
Previous Pick – Roquan Smith, ILB, Georgia
11. Miami Dolphins – Vita Vea, DT,
Washington
Vea was turned into a star at the NFL Combine, as he ranked second
behind on Harrison Phillips with 41 reps on the bench. Vea has
been compared to former Washington DT Danny Shelton, but Vea is
a bigger and stronger version. Vea also comes with elite athleticism,
as he was a former running back in high school before transitioning
to defensive tackle in college. Vea is one of the higher upside
prospects in the draft, as he is big enough to stop the run, but
athletic enough to develop a pass rush from the middle of the
line. Miami is in need of a defensive tackle after releasing Ndamukong
Suh, and they will be getting one of the fastest rising prospects
in the draft with this pick.
Previous Pick – Vita Vea, DT, Washington
12. Buffalo Bills – Baker Mayfield,
QB, Oklahoma
I fully expect the Bills to try to trade up in the draft for
a quarterback, but if they don’t, they will be forced to
select whichever one falls to them with this pick. In this mock,
that is Baker Mayfield. Mayfield enjoyed an elite colligate season,
totaling 14,607 passing yards with 131 passing touchdowns. He
also showed off his athleticism, recording over 1,000 rushing
yards and 21 touchdowns on the ground. Mayfield comes with solid
arm strength, but his accuracy is why many scouts love him. There
are off-field questions that he will be forced to answer, but
as we have seen before, those issues can sometimes go overlooked
in a quarterback of Mayfield’s talent.
Previous Pick – Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma
13. Washington Redskins – Minkah Fitzpatrick,
S, Alabama
The Redskins are in dire need of help in the secondary. They
have an aging Josh Norman to go along with D.J. Swearinger. Outside
of those two players, they have replacement level options. Also,
they traded Su’a Cravens, who did not play last season,
but was one of their better safeties. Fitzpatrick is a versatile
option that has the potential to play cornerback or safety. Washington
could use Fitzpatrick wherever they feel they need the most help.
He’s arguably a top-10 talent in this draft, and this would
be another first round steal for the Redskins.
Previous Pick – Mike Hughes, CB, UCF
14. Green Bay Packers – Mike Hughes, CB,
UCF
Green Bay has struggled to find consistent production in the
secondary. They’ve had a few busts in the draft, while allowing
talented players to walk in free agency. They have high hopes
for CB Kevin King, who struggled at times last season. They also
signed Tramon Williams in free agency, but he is simply a one,
maybe two-year player. Hughes is a player without much experience
or tape in college, but he flashed tremendous skills when on the
field. He is a quicker than fast cornerback that understands the
game. He’s another boom or bust cornerback for Green Bay,
who is in need of consistent production in their secondary.
Previous Pick – Marcus Davenport, DE, UTSA
15. Arizona Cardinals – Josh Allen,
QB, Wyoming
Arizona signed Sam Bradford to a huge deal, but they will still
be looking for their future franchise quarterback early in this
draft. Allen will almost certainly go higher than this with trades,
and Arizona will be a team looking to move up. Allen looked outstanding
at his Pro Day, which could increase his value, but he still comes
with plenty of risk. He struggled with his accuracy against lesser
opponents in the Mountain West Conference, which is a major concern.
With that being said, Allen has the best pure arm strength of
any quarterback in the draft. He also has a strong base in the
pocket, often times throwing the ball with multiple defenders
hanging on his legs. He could potentially have the most upside
of any quarterback in this draft, but he also comes with the most
risk. That’s something the Cardinals will have to accept
at this pick.
Previous Pick – Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming
16. Baltimore Ravens – Courtland
Sutton, WR, SMU
The Ravens are in dire need of help at wide receiver for next
season and the future. The additions of Michael Crabtree and John
Brown ease the immediate need for a wideout, but they are far
from long term solutions. Sutton is a big, possession receiver,
who has the ability to make contested catches. That is a major
part of his game, as he struggles with speed and separation, and
those struggles will continue in the NFL. Sutton also wasn’t
asked to run a full route tree at SMU, and there will be a learning
curve as he prepares for the NFL. Still, Sutton was able to post
a 193/3,193/31 line through 37 games. It’s hard to ignore
his production, and his pure size makes him an intriguing prospect
for a wide receiver needy team.
Previous Pick – Courtland Sutton, WR, SMU
17. Los Angeles Chargers – Mike McGlinchey,
OT, Notre Dame
McClinchey has inconsistent tape throughout his college career,
but he has flashed All-Pro potential. He is an athletic tackle
that struggles a bit with power. With that being said, McGlinchey’s
athleticism has more than made up for his lack of power at this
point in his career. He has the potential to start as a right
tackle from day one with the potential to move to left tackle
later in his career. Luckily for the Chargers, they need help
along the right side of the line. McGlinchey has the potential
to be the first tackle selected in the draft, but his inconsistencies
have knocked him down early in the draft process.
Previous Pick – Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame
18. Seattle Seahawks – Marcus Davenport,
DE, UTSA
Davenport was a highly productive player in college, but he did
not play elite level competition. In his final 24 games, he recorded
122 total tackles, 27.5 tackles for a loss, and 15 sacks. Seattle
recently traded DL Michael Bennett to the Philadelphia Eagles,
and they could be looking to replace his production along the
defensive line. On occasion, players out of smaller schools get
overlooked in the NFL Draft, and that could be the case here.
Previous Pick – Derwin James, S, Florida State
19. Dallas Cowboys – Maurice Hurst,
DT, Michigan
Hurst is a perfect fit for the Cowboys, who are looking for pass
rush help on the interior defensive line. Hurst is a defensive
tackle that often times wins with agility rather than strength.
Through three seasons as a full time player, Hurst totaled 127
tackles, including 31 tackles for a loss and 13.5 sacks. He is
not necessarily ever going to become an elite run-stopper, but
he has the ability to make plays in the backfield and pressure
the quarterback. There were concerns about Hurst’s heart
after issues appeared during the NFL Combine, but he has since
been cleared to play without restrictions.
Previous Pick – Maurice Hurst, DT, Michigan
20. Detroit Lions – Derrius Guice, RB,
LSU
Guice’s value has been all over the place this offseason.
Most believe that Guice is a fringe first round pick, but teams
will generally reach on players if they need a position. Guice
is a heavy hitting running back that will excel on early downs.
He was not asked to be a huge part of LSU’s passing attack,
but he displayed good hands at his Pro Day. The Lions are rumored
to be interested in the position for obvious reasons. They may
only need an early-down runner, as well, as Theo Riddick is one
of the better passing down backs in the NFL. Guice will take a
bit of the pressure off of Matthew Stafford, while giving the
Detroit Lions a more versatile offense.
The Bengals moved down in the first round of the draft, and they
were gifted Cordy Glenn for their troubles. That does not mean
they will not select a lineman here, though. They still have plenty
of holes along the line, and Williams is a player that can immediately
help. He produced elite film in 2016, but failed to live up to
that hype in 2017. He is already a great run blocking tackle,
and many scouts believe he can also become a high-end pass blocker
in the NFL. There are other scouts that believe he will be best
suited as a guard, as he has the frame to easily make the transition.
That makes him the perfect option for the Bengals, who need help
at multiple spots across the line. He could test his skills out
at right tackle before shifting to guard if that fails. His versatility
will be key with this pick.
The Bills were able to draft their quarterback of future earlier
in this draft, and now they address other needs. Cornerback makes
sense here. Alexander is a player that has lost value based on
lingering injuries in 2017, but he possesses tremendous 2016 film.
He is quicker than fast, allowing him to make breaks on the ball
that other corners can only dream of. He also has flashed tremendous
anticipation and football IQ throughout his career. He is a cornerback
that has the potential to play outside or in the slot, depending
on where Buffalo needs the most help.
Previous Pick – Jaire Alenxander, CB, Louisville
23. New England Patriots – Kolton
Miller, OT, UCLA
The Patriots traded Brandin Cooks for this pick. The most likely
scenario is New England is looking to move up in the draft for
a quarterback, but once again, I’m not projecting trades
here. Instead, they will address their line after losing Nate
Solder to the Giants in free agency. Miller is somewhat similar
to Solder, as they are both massive offensive linemen. Miller
is also an extremely athletic player, who comes with tremendous
upside. He comes with a bit of risk, as well, as he does not possess
great bend, which could hurt him in the NFL. Still, this is a
pick that fills a major need.
24. Carolina Panthers – Sam Hubbard,
DE, Ohio State
The Panthers have aging defensive ends, who will need to be replaced
within the next couple of seasons. Hubbard ended his collegiate
career on a high note, recording 42 total tackles, 13.5 tackles
for a loss, and 7.0 sacks as a junior. He is a hard working player
that comes with good size. The biggest knock on Hubbard is that
he is not an elite athlete, but we have seen multiple average
athletes dominate along the defensive line with aggression and
work ethic. Hubbard is a fairly low risk prospect that has the
potential to start for years to come, although he likely will
never become an All Pro player.
Previous Pick – Sam Hubbard, DE, Ohio State
25. Tennessee Titans – Harold Landry,
OLB, Boston College
Tennessee needs to find a way to create a consistent pass rush.
They have not been able to do that, which has kept their defense
from taking the jump to the next level. Landry is the type of
player that can give them an immediate impact pass rusher. He
dealt with injuries throughout his senior season, but was able
to total 120 tackles, including 38 tackles for a loss and 20 sacks
as a sophomore and junior. He could backup Derrick Morgan and
Brian Orakpo before taking over after this season.
Previous Pick – Harold Landry, OLB, Boston College
26. Atlanta Falcons – Da’Ron
Payne, DT, Alabama
Atlanta has a huge hole a defensive tackle, and Payne somewhat
fell into their lap at this pick. He is an elite run stopper,
which is what Atlanta loves in their defensive tackles. Payne
is a massive player, but could struggle with his pass rush. Still,
that likely is not enough to make Atlanta go elsewhere with this
pick. Keep in mind, there are some scouts that believe Payne has
the potential to become an above average pass rusher because of
his athleticism. At worst, Atlanta will find a dominant run stuffing
defensive tackle with this pick.
Previous Pick – Da’Ron Payne, DT, Alabama
27. New Orleans Saints – Dallas Geodert,
TE, South Dakota State
The Saints only have a couple impact players leaving for free
agency, and there is not a true need that sticks out on the team.
They have not had a dominant tight end since Jimmy Graham, though,
and Goedert is the type of player that will immediately make a
mismatch for opponents. Goedert played at South Dakota State,
facing off against lesser competition on a weekly basis. He suffered
from inconsistent quarterback play, but was still able to record
164 receptions for 2,404 yards and 18 touchdowns in his final
two seasons. Goedert is a mismatch on the field because of his
elite combination of size, speed, and ball skills. Unfortunately,
he has struggled to block near the line of scrimmage, which may
cause him to fall in the draft. We have seen other receiving tight
ends find plenty of success in the NFL recently and Goedert has
the potential to be the next Evan Engram.
Previous Pick – Dallas Goedert, TE, South Dakota State
28. Pittsburgh Steelers – Leighton
Vander Esch, LB, Boise State
It is amazing to see videos of Ryan Shazier working out after
his devastating injury last season. With that being said, there
is no guarantee that Shazier is ever going to be able to play
football again. If that is the case, Pittsburgh will have a huge
hole at linebacker. They were consistently gashed by running backs
after Shazier’s injury last season, and Vander Esch could
help fill the void. There have been talks that he is flying up
draft boards, and Pittsburgh recently stated that he will be their
pick if he’s available. While I don’t fully believe
they would take him over anyone, I feel he is the best inside
linebacker at this point in the draft, and that is the position
Pittsburgh needs here.
Previous Pick – Leighton Vander Esch, LB, Boise State
The Jaguars were left with a hole at middle linebacker after
Paul Posluszny abruptly retired this offseason. Some believe that
Evans is the best linebacker in the draft, but circumstances have
caused him to fall to this pick. He could lead a dominant Jaguars
defense for the next decade. He is an extremely athletic player
that can cover the field from sideline to sideline. He also played
for one of the best defenses in the NCAA, leading Alabama during
his final two seasons.
Previous Pick – Kolton Miller, OT, UCLA
30. Minnesota Vikings – Will Hernandez,
OG, UTEP
The Vikings are nearly a complete team, but they have an obvious
hole along the offensive line. Hernandez looked like an elite
player throughout his colligate career, but he played against
lesser competition at the University of Texas-El Paso. He continued
to dominate competition at the Senior Bowl, which was against
significantly better competition. Furthermore, Hernandez posted
great numbers at the combine, furthering the belief that he will
succeed in the NFL. He’s an athletic player that has been
successful with both run blocking and pass protection. He has
a tremendous ceiling, but he also comes with a fairly low floor
because of the questionable competition and size of Hernandez.
Previous Pick – Will Hernandez, OG, UTEP
31. New England Patriots – Lamar
Jackson, QB, Louisville
Yes, this situation looks ridiculous. However, the Patriots are
known for making unorthodox selections on draft night. They are
a team that continuously trades their backup quarterback, but
at some point they are going to be forced to find their future
signal caller. Jackson is a special player that has elite athletic
ability. His arm is better than he gets credit for, and New England
is the type of team that could take advantage of that. He would
be able to sit behind Tom Brady for multiple years, and if any
team can bring out the best in Jackson, it will be the Patriots.
It’s an odd pairing, but this is great value pick for New
England.
Previous Pick – Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville
32. Philadelphia Eagles – Hayden Hurst,
TE, South Carolina
Philadelphia lost Trey Burton in the offseason, and they will
need someone to replace him. They signed Richard Rodgers, but
he is not the same type of player. Hurst is an athletic tight
end that is better in the passing game than blocking. He should
slide into the backup role behind Zach Ertz, and he will be another
mismatch on the field. Hurst needs to improve his route running,
but he will not be forced into a huge role early in his career,
which will allow him to develop properly.
Previous Pick – Orlando Brown, OT, Oklahoma
Every year there seems to be a consensus pick for a team in the top-ten. This
season, the Oakland Raiders are that team and Roquan Smith is that pick. They
have revamped their coaching staff, and they now need help at linebacker. Smith
is an elite prospect, who would potentially be a top-five selection if he were
a bit bigger. The only true knock on Smith is his size, but he has the athleticism
to make up for his lone deficiency. He has sideline-to-sideline speed and the
quickness and agility to avoid linemen. He has also tremendous football IQ,
which also helps keep him out of compromising situations. Smith broke out as
a junior, recording 137 total tackles, 14 tackles for a loss, and 6.5 sacks
in 15 games. The Raiders need defensive help this offseason, and Smith is arguably
the best prospect on the board.