Over the past week the NFL hosted the scouting combine and many players improved their draft stock. Saquon Barkley impressed and gave the Browns many reasons why to take him with the first overall pick in the 2018 draft. There hasn’t been much change in our top three picks since Mock Draft 1.0.
1. Cleveland Browns – Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State
Yes, the Browns still need a quarterback, but Barkley is a rare talent and if the Browns don’t take him the Giants more than likely will. There are plenty of quarterback options for the Browns to select later on in the draft. Barkley stays at number one for me.
2. New York Giants – Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA
If the Browns decide to pass on Saquon Barkley, he will be the obvious choice for the Giants. Nonetheless in this scenario the Giants are going Quarterback. Eli Manning hasn’t got any younger since our last mock draft and they need his successor sooner rather than later.
3. Indianapolis Colts – Bradley Chubb, DE, North Carolina State
As mentioned before, the Colts were 31st in the NFL in sacks during the 2017 season. Chubb would be a guy that can have an immediate impact for the Colts and boost those numbers in 2018.
4. Cleveland Browns – Josh Allen, QB Wyoming
Since the Browns took Barkley first overall, now is the time to strike on their quarterback. Josh Allen had an impressive outing at the scouting combine and showed he can make any throw with ease. Allen could wind up being drafted higher to the Giants if his pro day goes just as well.
5. Denver Broncos – Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma
This pick is all dependent on who Kirk Cousins signs with. If the Broncos are able to land Cousins this pick could be traded away to someone like the Buffalo Bills. If not, Mayfield has gelled well with the Broncos coaching staff and it may be a match made in heaven.
6. New York Jets – Sam Darnold, QB, USC
Quarterbacks continue to fly off the board. The Jets need a long term solution desperately. Darnold may not be the best passer in the draft but he has a lot of upside the Jets can play with.
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Quenton Nelson, G, Notre Dame
Nelsons stays in the 7th pick to the Buccaneers. He is an impact blocker that could change an entire outlook for an offensive line.
8. Chicago Bears – Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama
If the Bears don’t land Jarvis Landry via a trade, Calvin Ridley should be their target with the 8th pick. Mitchell Trubisky needs a lot of weapons to work with and this is a great start.
9. San Francisco 49ers – Minkah Fitzpatrick, S, Alabama
Fitzpatrick falls all the way to the 9th pick and will be the workhorse of the 49ners secondary for many years to come.
10. Oakland Raiders – Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia
Smith stays at 10, as the Raiders still need help at the linebacker position.
11. Miami Dolphins – Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State
The Dolphins need a lot of help on defense. They could go defensive end here but Denzel Ward should be able to fill the void the Byron Maxwell will leave after his release. Joshua Jackson from Iowa could also be a fit here.
12. Cincinnati Bengals – Marcus Davenport, DE, UTSA
Michael Johnson and Carlos Dunlap may not be back next season due to free agency and the Bengals will need to replace the, Davenport’s stock continues to rise and would be an excellent pick up for the Bengals.
13. Washington Redskins – Joshua Jackson, CB, Iowa
The Redskins need any kind of secondary help to go with Josh Norman. Jackson has fallen a bit in our mock draft and could make a lot of sense to pair along with Norman.
14. Green Bay Packers – Tremaine Edmunds, LB, Virginia Tech
Another stock riser, Edwards could fit right in with Green Bay. The Packers linebacker corp outside of Clay Matthews is average. Edmunds could a star waiting to explode.
15. Arizona Cardinals – Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame
The Cardinals will need a quarterback. With the big names already off the board, go with the next best thing. McGlinchey is the second Notre Dame lineman off the board.
16. Baltimore Ravens – Orlando Brown, OT, Oklahoma
The Ravens need a few pieces on the offensive side of the ball. Lineman being one, Brown is taken here and will play for the same team as his father.
17. Los Angeles Chargers – Vita Vea, NT, Washington
Vita Vea is a monster athlete, and can do all sorts of things across the defensive line. As draft day approaches Vea could be a top ten pick.
18. Seattle Seahawks – Derwin James, S, Florida State
The legion of boom is aging and what a way to retool that area with Derwin James. James may not be there for the Seahawks but he fits their defensive scheme.
19. Dallas Cowboys – Connor Williams, OT, Texas
Jonathan Cooper was a mess for the Cowboys this year and Connor Williams should be able plug right in for the Cowboys.
20. Detroit Lions – Sony Michel, RB, Georgia
Before the Matt Patricia hire, I would have guessed the Lions went defense. With Patricia’s coaching ability, an offensive weapon may not be a bad play here.
21. Buffalo Bills – Carlton Davis, CB, Auburn
E.J. Gaines becomes a free agent this spring. Coupled with the loss of Stephon Gilmore last year the Bills will need another cornerback. Carlton Davis will fall in their lap here.
22. Buffalo Bills – Courtland Sutton, WR, SMU
Jordan Matthews really didn’t pan out for the Bills, which led to aquiring Kelvin Benjamin later on in the season. Courtland Sutton have been rising in mock drafts and could make his way to the top 15. If he doesn’t Bills would happily take him.
23. Los Angeles Rams – James Daniels, C, Iowa
John Sullivan appears to be out the door for the Rams and Daniels is one that can fill the void. Daniel’s stock is rising as we speak.
24. Carolina Panthers – James Washington, WR, Oklahoma State
Kelvin Benjamin was traded and the Panthers have no vertical threat. Washington will give them that threat instantly.
25. Tennessee Titans – Harold Landry, DE, Boston College
Landry has fallen a bit in our mock draft but he is still a serious talent. His skills will fir the 3-4 scheme the Titans will employ.
26. Atlanta Falcons – Isaiah Wynn, G, Georgia
Falcons still need holes filled on their offensive line. Wynn stays in the state of Georgia.
27. New Orleans Saints – Rashaan Evans, LB, Alabama
The Saints need another playmaking linebacker to pair with A.J. Klein and Alex Anzalone. Manti Te’o was serviceable enough, but he does have his limits. Rashaan Evans fit the bill perfectly here.
28. Pittsburgh Steelers – Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville
Jackson was asked all week long to run drills at WR, he remained with the quarterbacks and will have a few years to learn behind Big Ben.
29. Jacksonville Jaguars – Will Hernandez, G, UTEP
The Jaguars need road graders to help Leonard Fournette. Will Hernandez had a great Senior Bowl and may rise even further after the scouting combine.
30. Minnesota Vikings – Isaiah Oliver, CB, Colorado
Trae Waynes is a liability and Terrance Newman is no spring chicken. We saw what the Eagles did in the NFC Championship to the Vikings secondary. Back to the drawing board.
31. New England Patriots – Dallas Goedert, TE, South Dakota State
The Patriots like to run with two tight ends if they can. Dallas Goedert is a Travis Kelce type of TE and adding him with Rob Gronkowski would impose a lethal attack.
32. Philadelphia Eagles – Kolton Miller, OT, UCLA
Jason Peters may never play again after a devastating knee injury earlier in the year. The Super Bowl Champions will need to fill his void. Kolton Miller made the move to LT in the middle of the year and he has never looked back since.