2018 NFL Mock Draft, 2.0: An update to our previous predictions of where the top football prospects will end up when the first round of the real N.F.L. draft begins takes place on April 26 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
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PICK 1: CLEVELAND BROWNS
Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming: John Dorsey, the Browns’ general manager, is always swinging for the fences. This was evident just last year when he shocked the league by taking Patrick Mahomes over Deshaun Watson for the Chiefs. Dorsey covets freak athleticism and potential over current production and I don’t anticipate this year being any different.
PICK 2: NEW YORK GIANTS
Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State: The Giants add a dynamic running back to a offense already loaded with playmakers. What’s so amazing about Barkley is at a clip of 233 pounds, his best attribute is his ability to catch passes out of the backfield. Something aging veteran Eli Manning will welcome with open arms.
PICK 3: NEW YORK JETS (VIA COLTS)
Sam Darnold, QB, U.S.C.: An absolute dream scenario for the Jets as they land their franchise quarterback and the consensus top QB in the draft. The cupboards are pretty bare for the Jets, but this pick gives them a franchise player to build an offense around.
PICKS 4: BUFFALO BILLS (VIA BROWNS, VIA TEXANS*)
*Trade Prediction: The Bills give up pick No 12 and No. 22.
Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma: The blue-collar fanbase of Western New York is going to love the hungry-dog mentality that Mayfield has. He has a tall task ahead of him, though, with the Bills losing 3/5 of their starting offensive linemen this off season.
PICK 5: DENVER BRONCOS
Bradley Chubb, DE, NC State: The Broncos pass on a quarterback to add a QB’s worst nightmare instead. Adding Chubb gives the Broncos a pass rush threat they haven’t had since DeMarcus Ware was coming off the edge. Chubb and Von Miller take this defense to the next level and after adding Case Keenum, this team looks like its trending back up in a very competitive AFC West.
PICK 6: INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (VIA JETS)
Quenton Nelson, G, Notre Dame: The top priority should be protecting Andrew Luck. The Colts started five different lineman at right guard last year, so hopefully this pick can bring some continuity to the line. With Nelson, you get the best player available as well and give Luck a Jeff Saturday-type of body guard that this offense will love.
PICK 7: TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State: The Buccaneers add an extremely athletic cornerback to pair with Vernon Hargreaves. He plays very physical football for his size and you will not see him take a play off, no matter the circumstances. He should quickly ascend to the team’s top corner role on a defense looking to improve from last season.
PICK 8: CHICAGO BEARS
Tremaine Edmunds, LB, Virginia Tech: The Bears add a versatile linebacker capable of playing inside and blitzing off the edge and should make for a dangerous duo with Leonard Floyd for years to come. It’s unclear what position he will end up playing, but inside or outside he will be dominant.
PICK 9: SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
Minkah Fitzpatrick, DB, Alabama: The 49ers get a safety that can play every position in the secondary, but excels at playing center field when he can watch quarterbacks and drive on the ball. With the additions of Richard Sherman and now Fitzpatrick, another special secondary might be developing in the Bay area.
PICK 10: OAKLAND RAIDERS
Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia: A smooth-moving physical presence in the middle of the defense capable of making plays sideline to sideline. This is what’s been missing from this defense for a long time. Khalil Mack gets a running mate and Coach Jon Gruden gets the “quarterback” of his defense.
Pick 11: MIAMI DOLPHINS
Vita Vea, DT, Washington: He possesses a rare combo of size and speed that should help make him disruptive early in his career. With the void left from Ndamukong Suh, Vea should step in immediately and be the primary lane-clogger for the Fins.
Pick 12: Cleveland Browns
Harold Landry, DE, Boston College: Browns defensive coordinator Gregg Williams likes to be creative with his blitzes and coverages. To do that you need versatile players, and Landry will bring an athletic counterpart to pair with Myles Garrett and should give Williams plenty of wonderful ideas on how to get to the quarterback.
Pick 13: Washington Redskins
Da’ron Payne, DT, Alabama: A run-stuffing defensive tackle with the ability to penetrate the line with power and blow up plays before they develop; his effort is top-notch if he can develop as a pass-rusher he could be a Pro-Bowl defensive tackle early in his career.
Pick 14: Green Bay Packers
Derwin James, S, Florida State: He’s super athletic box safety with the ability to drop back and cover tight ends and running backs with ease. James has amazing start-stop quickness and long-game speed that will be an immense upgrade for a Packers unit that often struggled against the deep ball.
Pick 15: Arizona Cardinals
Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA: Rosen goes to the desert and the Cards find a quarterback to pair with David Johnson and the ageless wonder Larry Fitzgerald. I had him slipping here out of legitimate durability-concerns, but if the Cardinals aren’t worried about signing over guaranteed money to Sam Bradford, then it’s easy to see them taking a shot on a talent worthy of a higher pick.
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Pick 16: Baltimore Ravens
Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama: The Ravens land the best receiver in the draft; a welcome sight to Joe Flacco, who has had a revolving door in his receiver room the past couple seasons. He should see quick success in this offense and plenty of looks early in his career.
Pick 17: Los Angeles Chargers
Rashaan Evans, LB, Alabama: He has the ability to play sideline-to-sideline and is an extremely effective blitzer while being fast enough to cover running backs and tight ends. He gives this Chargers defense another threat that the offense will have to scheme for. This is shaping up to be one of the best units in football.
Pick 18: Seattle Seahawks
Marcus Davenport, DE, UTSA: With the loss of Michael Bennet, the Seahawks get a super- athletic building block. He flashes Pro-Bowl potential, but needs to develop as a pass-rusher more instead of trying to always win with his elite speed and athleticism.
Pick 19: Dallas Cowboys
Courtland Sutton, WR, SMU: Dez Bryant is a void that Allen Hurns simply can’t fill. Bringing in Dez-clone without the massive cap hit is exactly what the offense needs for a fresh start on the outside.
Pick 20: Detroit Lions
Derrius Guice, RB, LSU: The Lions running game is underwhelming to say the least heading into 2018. Adding Guice brings the offense exactly what It’s been missing: a smash-mouth 1st and 2nd down grinder whose game seems an ideal fit for the N.F.C. north.
Pick 21: Cincinnati Bengals
Isaiah Wynn, G, Georgia: Wynn played center in college but will look to make the transition to guard in the NFL. He’s a very strong player but it’s his athleticism that sets him apart, as he plays with fluid feet and quick hips to fire out to the point of attack and is strong enough to anchor his frame in the dirt when attacked with power.
PICK 22: CLEVELAND BROWNS (VIA CHIEFS)
Jaire Alexander, CB, Louisville: A smooth-moving corner capable of clamping down on elite outside speed, he has great instincts but can get grabby in man-coverage. The Browns defense just keeps getting stronger.
Pick 23:New England Patriots (Via Rams)
Justin Reid, S, Stanford: If there’s one thing we know about Bill Belichick, it’s that he covets two-position defensive backs. Reid is a versatile player that can line up at corner, nickel, linebacker or safety. He possess excellent speed, ball skills and his work ethic in the film-room is apparently unrivaled. This sounds like a Patriot to me.
Pick 24: Carolina Panthers
Josh Jackson, CB, Iowa: After getting cat-fished by Bashaud Breeland (signing the Panthers), the Panthers need a corner badly. They go to Iowa and get Jackson, a prime ball-hawking corner with 27 passes defensed and eight interceptions a year ago.
Pick 25: Tennessee Titans
Will Hernandez, OL, UTEP: The Titans add a physical, mean guard to an already potent offensive line. He’ll fit right in here and be a essential cog in what could be one of the league’s best rushing attacks next year.
Pick 26: Atlanta Falcons
D.J. Moore, WR, Maryland: With the departure of Taylor Gabriel, he Dirty Birds need to give Matt Ryan another weapon. Why not the 2017 Big 10 receiver of the year?
Pick 27: New Orleans Saints
Dallas Goedert, TE, South Dakota State: The Saints have sorely missed a player like this since Jimmy Graham left town. The more options you give Drew Brees, the better your offense is gonna be, plain and simple. This guy’s an absolute weapon and draws comparisons to Zack Ertz.
Pick 28: Pittsburgh Steelers
Leighton Vander-Esch, LB, Boise State: With Ryan Shazier’s unfortunate and scary injury, the Steelers hand is forced here. LVE is the best inside linebacker left, but he also brings real speed and athleticism to the position.
Pick 29: Jacksonville Jaguars
Mike Mcglinchey, OT, Notre Dame: I feel like the Jags would be screaming their pick into the phone if Mcglinchey we’re still here. He’s a super-strong RT that moves well in space and has the power to drive edge rushers into the dirt and look for more at the second level. The Jags add another strong member to an already very-good offensive line.
Pick 30: Minnesota Vikings
James Daniels, OL, Iowa: He’s a bit undersized but packs a punch, and projects as a guard with this pick as the Vikings make it clear they are protecting their investment this time.
Pick 31: New England Patriots
Kolton Miller, OT, UCLA: He has all the “unteachables” you want in a tackle: above-average height (6’7”), power for the position and speed. It’s just that he’s yet to learn how to put them all together. He should remind you of Nate Solder but not as polished coming out.
Pick 32: Kansas City Chiefs (Via Eagles*)
*Trade Prediction: The Chiefs leapfrog a couple of teams that need secondary help to land the UCF standout corner.
Mike Hughes, CB, UCF: With the departure of Marcus Peters, the need for a corner is very real here. He’s only a one-year starter, so he is raw, but has elite ball skills and short-area quickness. He draws comparisons to Bradley Roby and, with time, who knows, he may end up being better.
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