Post Free Agency 2018 NFL Mock Draft
The NFL Draft is less than e week away, and that means it's time for me to release my official 2018 Mock Draft. In this mock draft I will project trades, but the details will not be included. Also, to save myself some time I'm going to give very brief explanations of each pick rather than write a whole book about pick.
1.) Cleveland Browns: Sam Darnold QB, USC.
-Since 1999 the Browns have flopped on Quarterbacks over and over in the Draft. Sam Darnold will get his chance to be the savior of this Browns franchise.
2.) New York Giants: Saquan Barkley RB, Penn State.
-Barkley has no.1 potential, but I don't think the Browns can pass on getting their future quarterback. However, the Giants may if they believe they have a chance to win a Super Bowl in 2018.
3.) New York Jets: Josh Rosen QB, UCLA.
-The Jets traded up to this spot for a reason. If the Jets draft Rosen, I believe they are getting the most NFL ready quarterback in the Draft.
4.) Buffalo Bills (via Browns): Josh Allen QB, Wyoming.
-Seems like people either love Allen or hate him. Regardless, the Bills traded Tyrod Taylor this offseason, and they will certainly be looking for another Quarterback in the Draft, even if they have to trade up to do so.
5.) Broncos: Denzel Ward CB, Ohio State.
-The Broncos traded away Aqib Talib this offseason and they may use Ward to replace him.
6.) Colts: Bradley Chubb DE, NC State.
-Before the Colts traded down virtually every mock draft had them taking Chubb. In this scenario the Colts still get their guy.
7.) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Minkah Fitzpatrick CB/S, Alabama.
-The Buccaneers secondary has been a mess for the longest time, the versatile Fitzpatrick would be an excellent addition to a struggling secondary.
8.) Miami Dolphins (via trade with Bears): Baker Mayfield QB, Oklahoma.
-The Dolphins head coach Adam Gase has spoken highly of Mayfield on numerous occasions. The Dolphins certainly could use a Quarterback with Ryan Tannehill having missed the better part of the last two seasons due to injury.
9.) San Francisco 49ers: Quenton Nelson OG, Notre Dame.
-A lot of people believe the 49ers may go after Roquan Smith due to the recent arrest and upcoming court case of Inside linebacker Reuben Foster. However, if Nelson is available juncture he's virtually impossible to pass up. Some see Nelson as a Guard with Hall of Fame type potential.
10.) Oakland Raiders: Tremaine Edmunds OLB, Virginia Tech.
-This is who I believe the Raiders want, but I had him projected to the 49ers at no.9 for months. Now that he's available the Raiders could scoop up Edmunds fast. Edmunds physical nature and tenacity matches that of what most people envision an Oakland Raider to be.
11.) Chicago Bears (via trade with Dolphins): Derwin James S, Florida State.
-The Bears safety play was decent last year, but decent isn't good enough in a division where the opposing quarterbacks are Aaron Rodgers, Kirk Cousins, and Matthew Stafford.
12.) Cleveland Browns (via trade with Bills): Roquan Smith ILB, Georgia.
-This would be unexpected to a lot of people, but why not give Christian Kirksey a stud to play next to him on that Browns defense?
13.) Washington Redskins: Vita Vea DT, Washington.
-Put Vea on the defensive line next to Jonathan Allen, and suddenly the Redskins have the potential to wreak havoc on NFC East quarterbacks for years to come.
14.) Green Bay Packers: Josh Jackson CB, Iowa.
-This Packers secondary SUCKS, case closed. They have no prolific player in that secondary now that they traded away Damarious Randall and let Morgan Burnett leave this offseason. Let Jackson play alongside Quentin Rollins and last years first round pick Kevin King, and their secondary may be good in a few years.
15.) Arizona Cardinals: Lamar Jackson QB, Louisville.
-The Cardinals have no replacement for Carson Palmer, and they let their backup walk in the offseason. Jackson may be the only quarterback left at this juncture, and it would certainly be interesting to pair him with star Running back David Johnson.
16.) Baltimore Ravens: Calvin Ridley WR, Alabama.
-The Ravens may have signed Michael Crabtree this offseason, but they lost Mike Wallace and Jeremy Maclin this offseason. Ridley would be the piece to hopefully fix a Ravens receiving core that has been underwhelming for years now.
17.) San Diego Chargers: Da'Ron Payne DT, Alabama.
-The Chargers defense have a dynamic pass rushing duo already with Melvin Ingram and Joey Bosa. Add Payne to the mix and the Chargers defensive front jumps to one of the scariest in the NFL.
18.) Seattle Seahawks: Harold Landry OLB, Boston College.
-The Seahawks could do plenty of places with this draft pick, but it's most likely they go defense. With that being said, the Seahawks are clearly looking to rebuild what was likely the best defense from 2012-2017 and on of the better one's of all-time in my opinion. Landry would be a nice piece in beginning their rebuild.
19.) Dallas Cowboys: Christian Kirk WR, Texas A&M.
-The Cowboys just released Dez Bryant last week, and they'll likely need to find a replacement for him even after signing Allen Hurns this offseason.
20.) Detroit Lions: Marcus Davenport DE/OLB, UTSA.
-Matt Patricia was the defensive mastermind of a Patriots team that won 2 Super Bowls in the last five seasons, don't expect him to shy away from the defensive side of the ball in this draft. Davenport gives you a potentially dynamic pass rusher to go alongside Ezekiel Ansah.
21.) Cincinnati Bengals: Isaiah Wynn OG, Georgia.
-The Bengals made a trade with Buffalo this offseason to acquire Offensive tackle Cordy Glenn, thus causing them to move from no.12 to no.21. While Glenn should bring stability at offensive tackle, the Bengals still need a lot of help on the offensive line elsewhere as Clint Boling is their only other decent offensive lineman. Wynn could fill the other hole at Offensive Guard, and join a long list of former Georgia players to be drafted by the Bengals.
22.) Cleveland Browns (via trade with Bills): Isaiah Oliver CB, Colorado.
-The Browns traded for Damarious Randall this offseason, but that doesn't mean they shouldn't continue to upgrade their young secondary.
23.) Patriots: Mason Rudolph QB, Oklahoma State.
-The Patriots traded away 3rd-string quarterback Jacoby Brissett at the beginning of last season and then Jimmy Garoppolo before the trade deadline last season. This leaves the Patriots with only an aging Tom Brady and a below-average Brian Hoyer. Rudolph will now get to learn behind Brady before he is handed the keys to the Patriots franchise.
24.) Panthers: Justin Reid S, Stanford.
-The Panthers released Kurt Coleman this offseason, and they need to replace him in this draft.
25.) Titans: James Daniels C, Iowa.
-The Titans have one of the NFL's better offensive lines, but they still need an upgrade at Center.
26.) Falcons: Taven Bryan DT, Florida.
-The Falcons signed Dontari Poe last offseason, but he turned around and signed with the Panthers this offseason. Essentially Poe came in last season, didn't solvsolve the Falcons problem at defensive tackle, and then left. Taven Bryan, it's your turn now.
27.) Saints: Dallas Goedert TE, South Dakota State.
-One fluke play away from the NFC Championship, expect the Saints to come out swinging in 2018. One way to help do that, give Drew Brees even more weapons. Goedert can help the Saints underwhelming Tight End group.
28.) Steelers: Rashaan Evans OLB, Alabama.
-The Steelers linebacking core has been subpar for a few seasons now, and that won't be any better with the loss of Ryan Shazier for all of 2018. Evans can team up with TJ Watt and hopefully bring a subpar Steelers linebacking core back to one of the NFL's best.
29.) Jaguars: D.J. Moore WR, Maryland.
-The Jaguars lost Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns this offseason, there' absolutely no way they can go very long in this draft without replacing the void left by their departures.
30.) Vikings: Connor Williams OG, Texas.
-The Vikings offensive line needs improvement in order to protect their new 84-million dollar man, Kirk Cousins.
31.) Patriots: Kolton Miller OT, UCLA.
-The Patriots lost Nate Solder in free agency and opted not to find his replacemenreplacement in free agency, they will have to do so in the Draft then.
32.) Eagles: Sony Michel RB, Georgia.
-The Eagles have no primary Running back, but Michel could possibly be that guy.
