It’s mock time! This first mock draft is a little later than in previous years, but seeing as this is the only blog ever uploaded to this site these days, I’m sure nobody will even notice. The NFL playoffs are underway, the college playoffs have ended, and that means most teams are gearing up for 2018 already. So let’s begin as well with a look at the first round.
The Sports Guys 2018 NFL Mock Draft
First Round (First Edition):
1. Cleveland Browns select: Sam Darnold (QB, USC)
While I personally have Rosen above Darnold on my initial board, most scouts see Darnold as the top QB prospect with the higher ceiling. Darnold is also open to Cleveland and Rosen has said he’s rather be drafted by another team. This will play out fully over the next few months, but I’ll start with a Darnold prediction for now.
2. New York Giants select: Josh Rosen (QB, UCLA)
If I’m running the G-Men, I’d love to part ways with Eli this offseason, which would save a ton of money, and replace him with Rosen, my top quarterback prospect. Even if Eli stays, this is still the best pick as Rosen could sit and develop for a year before taking over when Eli’s contract is up next year.
3. Indianapolis Colts select: Bradley Chubb (Edge, NC State)
While the Colts have a lot of holes, including a head coach currently, they are in a great position to rebuild this offseason. They will get Luck back this year, have plenty of cap space to attack free agency, and hold the #1 non-quarterback pick in this year’s draft (most likely). There has not been a dominant pass rusher on this roster since Dwight Freeney. Chubb would change that instantly.
4. Cleveland Browns (from Houston) select: Minkah Fitzpatrick (S, Alabama)
With a quarterback already selected, Cleveland can use this pick in a variety of ways. Fitzpatrick is one of the best overall players in this draft and would give the Browns more talent on the backend, where they happen to be pretty weak. What I love about Minkah is his ability to play safety, but also be a terrific slot corner. That’s what many of the top safeties in football do these days.
5. Denver Broncos select: Saquon Barkley (RB, Penn State)
This is based on Denver acquiring a veteran quarterback this offseason (Smith, Taylor, Cousins, Bradford, Keenum, Bridgewater, Manning, etc). If that happens, QB is no longer their top need. While drafting an offensive lineman is tempting here, I think the Broncos are better served figuring out their running back situation. Barkely will be a three-down workhorse, excelling at ever facet. The Broncos simply don’t have anyone reliable at that position, and this changes that.
6. New York Jets select: Baker Mayfield (QB, Oklahoma)
The Jets will enter next season with Josh McCown as their starting quarterback. The question is who will be the backup, aka starter in training. Mayfield may not have the upside of someone like Josh Allen, but he possesses the X-factor I look for in a quarterback. That competitiveness, leadership, work ethic, etc. is something I admire.
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers select: Denzel Ward (CB, Ohio State)
While defensive end is the biggest need the Bucs have, they cannot ignore cornerback. With Brent Grimes a free agent, they are very weak at the position which can’t happen when facing Matt Ryan, Cam Newton, and Drew Brees twice a year. I think Ward will emerge as the top CB prospect in the draft, just as his teammate Lattimore did last year.
8. Chicago Bears select: Mike McGlinchey (OT, Notre Dame)
Most think the Bears should go wide receiver or cornerback here, which are their two biggest needs heading into the offseason. But acquiring a new starter at offensive tackle is important also, and that’s harder to find in free agency. The Bears just hired McGlinchey’s offensive line coach from Notre Dame, which may influence this pick quite a bit.
9. San Francisco 49ers select: Calvin Ridley (WR, Alabama)
Time will tell if Ridley really is the best wideout prospect in the draft. Many believe he is, and the 49ers need to get Garoppolo better targets. Ridley has the tools to be a great #1 option in the NFL, and Kyle Shanahan would properly take advantage of his strengths from day one.
10. Oakland Raiders select: Roquan Smith (LB, Georgia)
The Raiders must improve defensively, and Smith could held lead the charge in the center of the entire unit. He reads plays well, is quick to the ball, and tackles very solidly. Seems like a no-brainer here.
11. Miami Dolphins select: Quenton Nelson (G, Notre Dame)
The Dolphins need to upgrade their line at guard, so Nelson is the perfect player for them. He’s NFL ready, and is clearly the top interior lineman in this draft. Keep an eye on Guice though, as running back is another large need with the trade of Jay Ajayi.
12. Cincinnati Bengals select: Connor Williams (OT, Texas)
I love Williams and think he could go as high as #3 overall, making this great value in the mid-first round. The Bengals struggled at tackle this year and need to make a splash at that position. Williams would start immediately to provide better pass protection and help create holes for Mixon in the run game.
13. Washington Redskins select: Derwin James (S, Florida State)
This pick is largely dependent upon the quarterback situation. I’m assuming they finally get a long-term deal done with Cousins or replace him by signing another veteran to a long-term deal. After that happens, the Redskins can focus on improving at wide receiver, linebacker, and safety. James offers the most upside of anyone still on the board. I think he is perfect for the NFL and can be a total stud at the next level.
14. Green Bay Packers select: Orlando Brown (OT, Oklahoma)
The Packers could go a few different ways with this pick depending on what happens in free agency. But seeing Rodgers go down with an injury to ruin their season in 2017 makes me believe the offensive line could be a focus. Brown is a terrific prospect that some believe could go in the top ten. He’d be a great addition to the Packers.
15. Arizona Cardinals select: Josh Allen (QB, Wyoming)
There are a lot of question marks surrounding the Cardinals at the moment. Once things clear up, we’ll get a clearer picture of what this team wants to accomplish in the offseason. The one thing I know for sure is that Carson Palmer’s retirement creates a large hole at QB. Even if the Cardinals bring in a short-term starter via free agency, Allen could be their long-term plan. He has a lot of development to do, but offers the highest ceiling of any quarterback in this draft.
16. Baltimore Ravens select: Courtland Sutton (WR, SMU)
Sutton is a big WR standing at 6’4 and could become a force in the NFL. Some scouts consider him the #1 prospect above Calvin Ridley. The Ravens must target offensive weapons over the next few months as the team can’t score points consistently. Sutton is just the first step to filling these positions with new talent.
17. Buffalo Bills (via trade with Los Angeles) select: Mason Rudolph (QB, Oklahoma State)
This is my first projected trade. I know more will occur on draft day, especially earlier in the draft, but I had to start somewhere. The Bills are armed with a lot of picks in 2018. They may move up into the top ten when things are said and done. But this gives them a solid quarterback prospect to compete with Peterman since Taylor is likely gone this offseason.
18. Seattle Seahawks select: Derrius Guice (RB, LSU)
While Seattle is beginning to show their age and lack of talent at many key positions, this team has not figured out their running back situation since Lynch left. Seeing as they love to be a run-first team, that creates a lot of problems. Guice is a beast and could be long gone by this point in the draft. If not, Seattle should race to the podium to get this announced.
19. Dallas Cowboys select: Christian Wilkins (DT, Clemson)
To be perfectly honest, I don’t like a lot about the Dallas roster. They need to improve at nearly every level on defense (interior lineman, edge, cornerback, and safety), desperately need to get better at wide receiver, must find a long-term replacement for Witten at tight end, and are suddenly showing some red flags on the offensive line. Wilkins would give them an immediate starter on the inside of their line, and his production could make the edge rushers more effective.
20. Detroit Lions select: Clelin Ferrell (Edge, Clemson)
Two Clemson prospects in a row now, both pieces from their talented defensive line. The Lions must address the defensive end position in free agency, the draft, or both. Ferrell had a terrific season and could climb higher up the draft board with a successful next few months.
21. Los Angeles Chargers (via trade with Buffalo) select: Rashaan Evans (LB, Alabama)
Evans is not talked about as much as last year’s Reuben Foster, but he is a terrific player that can help a lot of teams at the next level. The Chargers need improved linebacking play and Evans is the second best prospect after Smith at the position.
22. Buffalo Bills (from Kansas City) select: Vita Vea (DT, Washington)
For a team that made the playoffs, the Bills traded away a lot of talent over the past year (Watkins, Darby, Dareus). The departure of Dareus has seriously weakened the defensive front, but Vea is a big body that could help lesson that blow.
23. Los Angeles Rams select: Josh Jackson (CB, Iowa)
The Rams made a giant leap offensively in 2017 to become the top scoring offense in the league. Suddenly, the defense needs to catch up and they must improve at corner, even if they re-sign Trumaine Johnson. Jackson is a long corner that moves well and has played for some good units at Iowa.
24. Carolina Panthers select: Christian Kirk (WR, Texas A&M)
The passing offense in Carolina was very poor this year, especially after they traded Kelvin Benjamin. I understand that 2017 draftee Curtis Samuel was injured to close out the year, but they still need another guy out there. Kirk is more of a true wide receiver than Samuel, who is best utilized in special gadget plays. Kirk, Funchess, and Samuel would be a great trio moving forward, with Olsen at tight end, and McCaffery coming out of the backfield.
25. Tennessee Titans select: Arden Key (Edge, LSU)
Key is known as a very talented edge rusher, despite poor statistics this season. Personal reasons and injury held him back in 2017, but most scouts see past this. The Titans could use a true difference maker getting after opposing QBs, so this pick should make fans very happy.
26. Jacksonville Jaguars select: Billy Price (G, Ohio State)
Obviously, the Jaguars must improve offensively. Outside of running back, this pick should be used on any other position on that side of the ball. Price started at center this year for Ohio State, but would likely be a guard for the Jaguars, as that’s where they have a need. Keep an eye on a quarterback here to provide competition to Bortles.
27. New Orleans Saints select: James Washington (WR, Oklahoma State)
After Michael Thomas, there isn’t another elite pass catcher on the Saints roster. Washington is an improvement on all of their other role players and would be a big difference maker. Price would have been a great selection for New Orleans as well, but the Jags stole him a pick earlier.
28. Philadelphia Eagles select: Kolton Miller (OT, UCLA)
The Eagles had a solid offensive line this season, but it took a hit when Jason Peters was lost for the season. How he bounces back from that injury is a big question mark due to his age. Miller gives them depth at the tackle position, and a potential replacement at one of the tackle spots if needed. Gotta protect Wentz since he is the franchise at the moment.
29. Atlanta Falcons select: Da’Ron Payne (DT, Alabama)
If they do not retain Poe after the season ends, the Falcons will be looking for a marquee defensive tackle. Payne is a great prospect from Alabama, a place that develops a lot of good pros. I think this is both a need and value pick.
30. Pittsburgh Steelers select: Ronnie Harrison (S, Alabama)
Let’s keep the Alabama theme going… The Steelers must continue to add talent to the defense even though they improved dramatically this season. Harrison showed great range this year and could be a stud in the NFL for years to come.
31. Minnesota Vikings select: Isaiah Wynn (OL, Georgia)
Wynn was great this year as a run blocker and pass protector. While he played tackle at Georgia, his size could lead him to the inside in the NFL. The Vikings could use him anywhere they please, as they could improve at multiple spots. Because the run is so important for them, this pick makes a ton of sense.
32. New England Patriots select: Sam Hubbard (Edge, Ohio State)
This is a typical selection for New England; a super good college player that should be taken earlier, doesn’t, and falls into their laps. Granted, they likely won’t even pick here as they will trade back, but if they do a guy like Hubbard will be taken. He was great for the Buckeyes this year, and every time I watched him he dominated.
That wraps up the first round, and our first mock draft for 2018. More to come for sure. The draft process really heats up soon, so stay tuned!
By: The Sports Guys
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