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Baker Mayfield: Will the Jets land Oklahoma's
quarterback? Will he even be available at pick No.3?
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 – Baker Mayfield, QB,
Oklahoma
It was difficult to pick between Josh Rosen and Baker Mayfield,
but ultimately, I went with the latter. There have been reports
that New York is leaning towards the Oklahoma QB, tipping the
scales in his favor. He has the personality to handle the New
York fan base, although he does come with off-field concerns.
He recorded over 15,000 total yards and 150 total touchdowns throughout
an elite colligate career. He is also arguably the most accurate
quarterback in this draft class, which would fit well in the New
York offensive scheme.
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 – Bradley Chubb, DE, NC State
5. Denver Broncos – Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming
There is a chance that Allen is the first overall pick, but he
could fall if Cleveland opts for Sam Darnold. Overall, Allen is
seen as the highest upside quarterback in the draft, possessing
superior arm strength over other quarterbacks in this class. He
is also a plus athlete with a strong base that helps him avoid
pressure. He has struggled at times against lesser competition,
and he comes with serious accuracy issues. Denver currently has
Case Keenum sitting atop their depth chart, allowing Allen to
sit for a season, which could help him in his development. He’s
a boom or bust option early in the draft for the Broncos, who
have also talked about trading out of this pick.
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 – Quenton Nelson, OG, Notre Dame
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 – Derwin James, S, Florida State
8. Chicago Bears – Denzel Ward, CB, OSU
I feel Ward is quietly one of the best prospects in this draft
class. He displayed elite speed, power, and athleticism at the
NFL Combine. He did not show elite quickness, but that, along
with his footwork, are seen as two of his best attributes. He
also is coming off an elite season for Ohio State, consistently
shutting down top-notch wide receivers. They recently signed Kyle
Fuller to a big contract, and drafting Ward would give them one
of the best cornerback duos in the NFL.
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 – Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA
The Buffalo Bills are in dire need of a franchise quarterback.
It is likely they trade up on draft day to get their QB, but I’m
not predicting trades in this mock draft. Some teams believe that
Rosen has the most talent of any quarterback in the draft, but
there are serious concerns about his personality and love for
football. Ultimately, teams are going to overlook those issues
based purely on Rosen’s talent. He is the high floor type
of quarterback that Bills fans have been begging for over the
last few years.
Previous Pick – Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma
13. Washington Redskins – Tremaine Edmunds,
LB, Virginia Tech
The Redskins could go a few different directions with this pick,
but Edmunds seems like the safest bet. They need help at linebacker,
and he could add a new dimension to their defense. He is an ultra-athlete
that projects safely to any linebacker position. He comes with
great size, although some scouts believe he will be able to add
more weight to his frame. He also comes with elite speed, adding
to him as a physical specimen. The only problem with Edmunds is
his football IQ, but teams will be willing to look passed that
for his unmatched athleticism.
Previous Pick – Minkah Fitzpatrick, S, Alabama
14. Green Bay Packers – Minkah Fitzpatrick,
S, Alabama
There is word that Fitzpatrick is the player that Green Bay wants
at this pick. I think it is somewhat odd that he has fallen this
far, but with a multitude of teams looking to draft quarterbacks,
it is far from a lock that Fitzpatrick is off the board. Green
Bay needs help in their secondary, and some scouts believe Fitzpatrick
has the potential to play either safety or cornerback. He was
a dominant player for an elite Alabama defense, and he would immediately
help Green Bay’s defense.
Arizona recently signed Sam Bradford so they won’t necessarily
be forced into drafting a quarterback here. With that being said,
Lamar Jackson is the last “elite” QB prospect left
in the draft. There are questions about his arm accuracy, including
some teams believing he will be forced to change positions. Jackson
comes with tremendous upside because of his athletic profile -
some scouts have compared him to Michael Vick. There have been
rumors that five quarterbacks will be selected in the top-20 picks
of this draft, and Jackson would turn that rumor into truth.
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 – Marcus Davenport, DE, UTSA
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 – Isaiah Wynn, OG, Georgia
It’s tough to decipher exactly what the Lions are going
to do. They need help along the offensive line, but they could
be looking defense with Matt Patricia as their new head coach.
It wouldn’t be shocking if Detroit takes a flashier player
here, but Wynn makes a lot of sense. They need help at guard,
and he is a player that could start from day one. He is somewhat
built like a small tackle rather than a true guard, which some
scouts believe to be a major problem. That adds to his versatility,
though, as it allows him to show off his tremendous athleticism
to go along with solid power. He is not the safest option on the
board, but he is a great option in this spot for a Detroit team
that desperately needs help at the position.
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.
Previous Pick – Connor Williams, OT, Texas
22. Buffalo Bills – Mike Hughes, CB, UCF
I’ve continuously moved cornerbacks in and out of this
slot throughout my mock drafts, and I’m doing it once again.
With the multitude of quarterbacks being selected higher in the
draft, it has caused Hughes to fall a bit. He doesn’t have
a ton of film, but he has looked outstanding in the limited games
he’s started. He is a quick cornerback with tremendous football
IQ. His knowledge allows him to make early breaks on the ball,
although his limited experience could have potentially hidden
his some flaws. He is somewhat of a boom or bust option, but Buffalo
needs a lot of help in the secondary.
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.
Previous Pick – Kolton Miller, OT, UCLA
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
This is an interesting pick. I had Leighton Vander Esch selected
here, but he has been dealing with injuries that teams are concerned
with. They still need help at middle linebacker, though, and Evans
is arguably the top option on the board. He’s an athletic
linebacker that can cover sideline to sideline. He somewhat struggled
in coverage, but his athletic profile suggests that he could potentially
turn into a dominant pass coverage linebacker.
Previous Pick – Leighton Vander Esch, LB, Boise State
I don’t love this pick, but it does make sense. Jacksonville
is in need of a wide receiver, and that position generally gets
drafted higher than people expect. After losing Allen Robinson
and Allen Hurns in free agency, Jacksonville is trying to piece
together this position group. Moore played with terrible quarterbacks
throughout his career, but still posted tremendous numbers at
Maryland. His NFL Combine performance was solid and Moore has
the size to be a featured wide receiver in the NFL. He was not
asked to run a full route tree on a consistent basis in college,
which comes as a concern. Still, he is a high upside receiver
that Jacksonville is in dire need of.
Previous Pick – Rashaan Evans, ILB, Alabama
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 – Mason Rudolph,
QB, Oklahoma State
The Patriots are in an odd position, as it seems that Tom Brady
and Rob Gronkowski are questioning their future. New England could
look to draft a quarterback, and Rudolph makes a great option.
He understands his reads and generally allows plays to develop.
He posted tremendous numbers at Oklahoma State, but there have
always been questions about Rudolph’s arm strength. There
have also been reports that New England actually prefers Rudolph
to other quarterbacks in this class. If they opt to keep this
pick, Rudolph will likely be the best quarterback available.
Previous Pick – Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville
32. Philadelphia Eagles – Jaire Alexander,
CB, Louisville
The Eagles traded Torrey Smith for DB Daryl Worley this offseason,
but they were forced to cut Worley after an incident with the
law. They could be looking to replace him with a first round cornerback,
especially if someone like Alexander falls. Alexander would easily
be a first round selection based on his 2016 film, but he struggled
with injuries throughout 2017. He has tremendous anticipation
to go along with great football IQ. He’s a player that saw
his value drop because of a few injuries, but Philadelphia is
a team that can take a chance on him late in the first round.
Previous Pick – Hayden Hurst, TE, South Carolina
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.