There’s a lot of speculation around the first 5 picks of this 2018 draft and it all has to do with this years crop of quarterbacks. With the Jets trading up to #3, we have to assume they like 3 QBs in this class and would be fine with 2 QBs being taken in front of them. It seems fairly obvious that the Browns, who pick #1, are going QB and the consensus seems to be either USC’s Sam Darnold or Wyoming’s Josh Allen. Sam Darnold appears to be the more complete QB at the moment, but some see a higher upside with Allen. There are also rumors that the Giants, who pick at #2, like Darnold and the Browns like Allen. But the Browns want to give the impression that they also want Darnold to see if they can get the Giants to trade up to #2. Then there’s the Bills. The Bills traded starting LT Cordy Glenn to the Bengals for the #12 overall pick. This appears to be a move to eventually leverage the #12 pick to move into the top 5, similar to what the Eagles did in ’16 to get Carson Wentz. The Bills could try to move up to #2 to get the QB they want, or move up to #4 or 5 to get the QB leftover, which would appear to be either UCLA’s Josh Rosen or Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield (though Louisville’s Lamar Jackson could be in the mix). Below is my attempt to predict this all out in a mock draft. I’ve included the trades I expect to happen through the first 2 rounds.
Round 1
#1 Cleveland Brown
Josh Allen – QB – Wyoming | In the end, I don’t think the Giants bite for the #1 and the Browns are fine with taking the QB they like the most. Allen has been described as a more athletic Ben Roethlisberger. He is definitely more raw than Darnold or Rosen, but Allen could have some time to sit, develop, and learn from Hue Jackson for a year while Tyrod Taylor takes the reins. The last QB taken first overall to sit out that first year was Carson Palmer in 2003 with the Bengals. Browns’ head coach Hue Jackson has some experience in this, having first joined the Bengals in 2004.
#2 New York Giants
Sam Darnold – QB – USC | There are multiple different ways I could see this pick playing out. The Giants could go with a position of greater need, like edge rusher Bradley Chubb out of NC St, or running back Saquon Barkley from Penn St. I believe the Giants will chose to take the QB of the future. This will put Eli Manning on a one year notice as Darnold looks to sit and develop behind him.
#3 New York Jets
Josh Rosen – QB – UCLA | The Jets didn’t trade up for a role player, they traded up for a QB. The Jets will take the next best QB on their big board at this spot and I think Rosen is that guy.
#4 Buffalo Bills (from Cleveland Browns)
Baker Mayfield – QB – Oklahoma | We have our first trade of this mock draft, Buffalo send #12, #22, and 2019 1st-round to Cleveland for #4. I believe the Bills will try (and fail) to move up to the #2 pick. In the end, I feel 3 1st-rounders are exactly what it would take to get the Browns to move out of the #4. The Bills move up to continue the run on quarterbacks, and get in front of Denver and anyone else that would try and trade up, and get Oklahoma QB Baker Mayfield. The Bills will use McCarron as a safety net if Mayfield needs time to develop.
#5 Denver Broncos
Saquon Barkley – RB – Penn St | With the run of QBs, the Broncos now how their choice of the best player in the draft. Barkley could be the feature piece of Bill Musgrave’s offense.
#6 Indianapolis Colts
Bradley Chubb – Edge – NC St | The Colts will celebrate when they end up getting the guy they would have taken at #3, now at #6 after trading with the Jets. The Colts get a premier edge rusher, and a guy that some consider to be the best football player in this draft.
#7 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Quenton Nelson – OG – Notre Dame | Again, the Bucs benefit from the run on QBs and get not only one of the best players of the draft, but someone at a position that is a primary need. You could potentially see Minkah Fitzpatrick or Denzel Ward here, but I think the Bucs will take the guy who could end up being an annual pro bowler for the next 10 years.
#8 Chicago Bears
Tremaine Edmunds – LB – Virginia Tech | The Bears get the best linebacker in the draft in Edmunds, who can play off the ball and rush the passer. The Bears would also love to see Nelson drop to this spot, but Edmunds is an elite athlete that fills a primary needs for them.
#9 Arizona Cardinals (from San Francisco 49ers)
Lamar Jackson – QB – Louisville | Our next trade of this mock draft, Arizona sends #15, #79, 2019 2nd & 4th round to SF for #9. With Nelson and Edmunds off the board, the 49ers look to trade back and the Cardinals are the perfect suitors. The Cardinals move up in front of the Dolphins, who also may be in the market for a QB, and grab their QB of the future, Lamar Jackson.
#10 Oakland Raiders
Minkah Fitzpatrick – DB – Alabama | There were a few options for the Raiders here at #10, but in the end, I believe they go with the best player available in Alabama’s Minkah Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick could step in as a nickel corner right away, or could end up winning the free safety position. Either way, Gruden will love getting a guy as talented and versatile as Fitzpatrick. Some other options at this pick would be Roquan Smith or Denzel Ward.
#11 Miami Dolphins
Roquan Smith – LB – Georgia | The Fins again benefit from the run on QBs and land a top 10 talent in Roquan Smith. If Raekwon McMillan can bounce back from his torn acl, the Dolphins could have one of the best linebacking corps in the league.
#12 Cleveland Browns (from Buffalo Bills)
Denzel Ward – CB – Ohio St | Now we come to where the Browns traded back to from #4. The Browns will be excited to see the best pure corner, Ohio St’s Denzel Ward, still available. I could also see the Browns going tackle here, but I don’t think they would pass up Ward if he’s still on the board.
#13 Washington Redskins
Vita Vea – DT – Washington | This pick is a no brainer for me. The Redskins were last in the league last year against the run and have a gaping hole at the nose tackle position. Vea fits right in and starts from day 1 next to last year’s first round pick Jonathan Allen.
#14 Dallas Cowboys (from Green Bay Packers)
Derwin James – S – Florida St | Seeing Derwin James start to fall in the draft, the Cowboys decide to hop on the opportunity to trade up for him. They swap 1s with the Packers and give up picks #81 & #192 this year and a 4th round pick next year. This is the pick I believe Jerry Jones is eyeing and I think he will have no problems trading up to get it.
#15 San Francisco 49ers (from Arizona Cardinals)
Marcus Davenport – Edge – UTSA | The 49ers trade back and take the next best edge rusher in the draft, UTSA’s Marcus Davenport. I think the 49ers would really like to see Edmunds drop to #9 (where they would most likely stay), but I believe they will be happy with the extra picks and still grab a solid edge rusher.
#16 Baltimore Ravens
Calvin Ridley – WR – Alabama | This is another pick that just makes sense. The Ravens have a primary need at wide receiver, but also have a tendency to take the pure best player available. Calvin Ridley fills both those roles. Ridley would pair up nicely with the newly acquired Michael Crabtree. Mike McGlinchey, James Daniels, and Hayden Hurst are some other potential picks here.
#17 Los Angeles Chargers
Da’Ron Payne – DT – Alabama | Chargers are looking to fill a need here and Alabama’s Da’Ron Payne gives them a nose tackle they can plug right into their defense and be a difference maker.
#18 Cleveland Browns (from Seattle Seahawks)
Mike McGlinchey – OT – Notre Dame | Surprise, the Seattle Seahawks trade back. Cleveland uses their 2 of the top 3 picks in the 2nd round and throw in their 5th round pick (#150) to Seattle for #18. Cleveland takes the best tackle in the draft and their replacement for future Hall of Famer Joe Thomas.
#19 Green Bay Packers (from Dallas Cowboys)
Josh Jackson – CB – Iowa | Packers move back to #19 after the trade with Dallas and get the 2nd best player in the draft at one of their biggest positions of need, corner. If Denzel Ward was available, I could see the Packers staying put. I could also see them taking Derwin James, but I believe the Cowboys are willing to overpay for him and the Packers wouldn’t mind capitalizing on that.
#20 Detroit Lions
Harold Landry – Edge – Boston College | Detroit and new Head Coach Matt Patricia are in desperate need of help on the defensive front. The Lions get an excellent edge rush in Boston College’s Harold Landry. Will Hernandez, Taven Bryan, and Derrius Guice are all possibilities here as well.
#21 Cincinnati Bengals
James Daniels – OC – Iowa | The Bengals, after moving back from #12 to #21 in their trade with the Bills for OT Cordy Glenn, snag the best pure center in this draft. I see the Bengals trying to sure up their offensive line in the early rounds of this draft, so this is a spot we could also see a guard like Will Hernandez or Isaiah Wynn go off the board. Daniels has a very quick first step and has the chance to really excel in the Bengals zone scheme.
#22 Cleveland Browns (from Buffalo Bills)
Taven Bryan – DT – Florida | That’s right, the Browns’ fourth 1st round pick. This is the second 1st round pick they acquired from Buffalo for trading down from #4. The Browns will have covered their 3 biggest positions of need (QB, OT, & CB), so they will now look to take the best player available, DT from Florida, Taven Bryan. He would be a nice addition to a front 4 that includes last year’s #1 overall pick, Myles Garrett.
#23 Los Angeles Rams
Rashaan Evans – LB – Alabama | The Rams have been busy this off-season, but one position that needs to be addressed is inside backer. Alabama’s Rashaan Evans is a plug and play option that addresses that issue.
#24 Carolina Panthers
Courtland Sutton – WR – SMU | The Panthers pick up a new outside weapon for QB Cam Newton. With the better edge rushers over the board, the Panthers pick up a guy who could potential become their number 1 receiver.
#25 Tennessee Titans
Leighton Vander Esch – LB – Boise St | With the top edge rushers off the board, the Titans look to add some help at the linebacker position. Vander Esch is a 3 down back who plays well in space, and can be a threat on the blitz.
#26 Atlanta Falcons
Maurice Hurst – DT – Michigan | The Faclons have a big hole to fill (pun intended) on the defensive front with Dontari Poe leaving for the Panthers. Hurst could step in and start at the 3-tech right away.
#27 New Orleans Saints
Hayden Hurst – TE – South Carolina | The Saints realize that Coby Fleener and Josh Hill aren’t going to cut it and go out and get the best TE in the draft. Hurst is will be a great addition to the passing game; giving an aging Drew Brees another go-to option.
#28 Pittsburgh Steelers
Ronnie Harrison – S – Alabama | The Steelers pick up probably the best pure SS in this draft class. Could be plug and play from the get go.
#29 Jacksonville Jaguars
Isaiah Wynn – OL – Georgia | The Jaguars don’t have a ton of glaring needs, outside of maybe inside backer with Paul Posluszny retiring, but that top players at that position are already off the board. Instead, the Jaguars add depth to the offensive line and add a guy in Georgia’s Isaiah Wynn who may step in and win the RG spot opposite the recently added Andrew Norwell.
#30 Minnesota Vikings
Will Hernandez – OG – UTEP | The Vikings number 1 priority at the top of this draft is to add protection for their newest investment, Kirk Cousins. Hernandez is my second favorite lineman in this draft class behind Nelson. He is one of the strongest players in this draft class and will be a beast in the run game.
#31 New England Patriots
Sam Hubbard – Edge – Ohio St. | We could see the Patriots go tackle here, but with the best one off the board and another pick in the mid second round, the Patriots go with the best edge rusher left on the board, Sam Hubbard.
#32 Indianapolis Colts (from Philadelphia Eagles)
Derrius Guice – RB – LSU | The Colts use one of their two early 2nd-round picks, combined with a 4th and 7th round pick, to trade up to the #32 slot. With that pick, the Colts grab the second best RB in the draft, improving on both sides of the ball in the first round.
Round 2
#33 Seattle Seahawks (from Cleveland Browns)
Carlton Davis – CB – Auburn
#34 New York Giants
Billy Price – OL – Ohio St
#35 Seattle Seahawks (from Cleveland Browns)
Kolton Miller – OT – UCLA
#36 Indianapolis Colts
Malik Jefferson – LB – Texas
#37 Philadelphia Eagles
Dallas Goedert – TE – South Dakota St
#38 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Sony Michel – RB – Georgia
#39 Chicago Bears
Connor Williams – OL – Texas
#40 Denver Broncos
Christian Kirk – WR – Texas A&M
#41 Oakland Raiders
Jaire Alexander – CB – Louisville
#42 Miami Dolphins
Mark Andrews – TE – Oklahoma
#43 New England Patriots
Brian O’Neill – OT – Pittsburgh
#44 Kansas City Chiefs (from Washington Redskins)
KC sends #54 & 86 to WAS for #44 & #188
Mike Hughes – CB – UCF
#45 Green Bay Packers
Lorenzo Carter – Edge – Georgia
#46 Cincinnati Bengals
Arden Key – Edge – LSU
#47 Arizona Cardinals
DJ Moore – WR – Maryland
#48 Los Angeles Chargers
Harrison Phillips – DT – Stanford
#49 Indianapolis Colts
Braden Smith – OG – Aubrun
#50 Dallas Cowboys
Tim Settle – DT – Virginia Tech
#51 Detroit Lions
Ronald Jones II – RB – USC
#52 Baltimore Ravens
Mike Gisicki – TE – Penn St.
#53 Buffalo Bills
DJ Clark – WR – LSU
#54 Washington Redskins (from Kansas City Chiefs)
Isaiah Oliver – CB – Colorado
#55 Carolina Panthers
Rasheem Green – DE – USC
#56 Buffalo Bills
Nick Chubb – RB – Georgia
#57 Tennessee Titans
Ogbonnia Okoronkwo – Edge – Oklahoma
#58 Atlanta Falcons
James Washington – WR – Oklahoma
#59 San Francisco 49ers
Justin Reid – S – Stanford
#60 Pittsburgh Steelers
Donte Jackson – CB – LSU
#61 Jacksonville Jaguars
Mason Rudolph – QB – Oklahoma St
#62 Minnesota Vikings
Orlando Brown – OT – Oklahoma
#63 New England Patriots
Jessie Bates III – S – Wake Forest
#64 Cleveland Browns
Keryyon Johnson – RB – Auburn