2018 NFL Mock Draft: Most Polarizing Prospects and Full 1st-Round Predictions

When it comes to identifying and defining a polarizing prospect in the NFL draft, you need to look at players who divide opinion.

For the 2018 class, the polarizing prospect umbrella surrounds the quarterbacks.

Below we present a first-round mock draft with some projected deals, and we also look at three polarizing players and what makes them so.

NFL Mock Draft: Round 1

1. Cleveland Browns: Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming

2. Buffalo Bills (projected trade w/ New York Giants): Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA

3. New York Jets (via Indianapolis Colts): Sam Darnold, QB, USC

4. Cleveland Browns (via Houston Texans): Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State

5. Denver Broncos: Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma

6. Indianapolis Colts (via New York Jets): Bradley Chubb, DE, NC State

7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Minkah Fitzpatrick, S, Alabama

8. Chicago Bears: Quenton Nelson, OG, Notre Dame

9. San Francisco 49ers: Tremaine Edmunds, LB, Virginia Tech

10. Oakland Raiders: Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State

11. Miami Dolphins: Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia

12. New York Giants (projected trade w/ Buffalo Bills, via Cincinnati Bengals): Will Hernandez, OG, UTEP

13. Washington Redskins: Vita Vea, DT, Washington

14. New England Patriots (projected trade w/ Green Bay Packers): Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville

15. Arizona Cardinals: Derwin James, S, Florida State

16. Baltimore Ravens: Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama

17. Los Angeles Chargers: Maurice Hurst, DT, Michigan

18. Seattle Seahawks: Isaiah Wynn, OG, Georgia

19. Dallas Cowboys: Leighton Vander Esch, LB, Boise State

20. Detroit Lions: Josh Sweat, DE, Florida State

21. Cincinnati Bengals (via Buffalo Bills): Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame

22. New York Giants (projected trade w/ Buffalo Bills, via Kansas City Chiefs): Harold Landry, EDGE, Boston College

23. Green Bay Packers (projected trade w/ New England Patriots, via Los Angeles Rams): Marcus Davenport, DE, UTSA

24. Carolina Panthers: Courtland Sutton, WR, SMU

25. Tennessee Titans: Da'Ron Payne, DT, Alabama

26. Atlanta Falcons: Taven Bryan, DT, Florida 

27. New Orleans Saints: Rashaan Evans, LB, Alabama

28. Pittsburgh Steelers: Jaire Alexander, CB, Louisville

29. Jacksonville Jaguars: Equanimeous St. Brown, WR, Notre Dame 

30. Minnesota Vikings: Kolton Miller, OT, UCLA

31. Green Bay Packers (projected trade w/ New England Patriots): Carlton Davis, CB, Auburn

32. Philadelphia Eagles: Mike Hughes, CB, UCF

Polarizing Prospects

Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming

If you paid attention to even a shred of NFL coverage throughout this pre-draft process, you will know that Josh Allen is the most polarizing player in this class.

For every five people who like Allen, five will not like him. The skeptics and the fans of his game alike have their reasons.

For those who like him, it's easy to put over his measureables, his rocket for an arm and his potential.

The skeptics have solid reasons too. While Allen may check all the boxes for what you would want in a quarterback intangibly, he has never had a completion percentage above 56 percent while starting at Wyoming, and he depends a little too much on his arm talent, which leads him into trouble.

The Cleveland Browns will take Allen at No. 1 to sit behind Tyrod Taylor for at least a year, which will help, but Allen will have plenty of eyes on him when he plays his first NFL game.

Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma

Most people will agree that Baker Mayfield has talent. Sure, he has some issues with throwing off his back foot sometimes and might depend a bit too much on his playmaking ability and taking sacks. But overall, Mayfield will be a high draft pick.

What worries those skeptical of Mayfield is some of his behavior while playing at Oklahoma. From no handshakes after games to groin grabs, the quarterback has acted in ways that could be labeled as immature and sophomoric.

However, some might look at it as passion and a leadership quality. That kind of thing will change on a team-by-team basis.

Going to the Denver Broncos in this mock draft at No. 5 overall, Mayfield is the kind of guy in whom general manager John Elway, a former quarterback and thus understanding that behavior, could be interested.

Mayfield would be the starter with the Broncos upon landing there.

Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville

Being a playmaking quarterback who—although he didn't run the 40-yard dash at the combine or his pro day—appears to be fast on the field with pads on, Lamar Jackson received interest from teams as a prospective wide receiver, per NFL Media's Jeremy Bergman.

It's easy for Jackson to draw comparisons to other mobile quarterbacks who have made the transition to wide receiver, but the Heisman winner possesses the ability to be a quarterback.

There are those who believe that, but there are also others who think he should switch positions, judging from the report that teams inquired about his willingness to make a change.

When you look at Jackson, his ability and his body of work at Louisville, the easiest comparison that comes to mind is Michael Vick because they have qualities that have never before seen.

Equipped with the right offensive coordinator and offense, Jackson could shine if a team makes the most out of his playmaking ability.

At the next level, though, Jackson will need to learn how to get out of harm's way and slide. The NFL is populated by full-grown men as opposed to college kids—he could get hurt.

So while there may be some detractors who don't think Jackson will succeed at the next level, it's fair to say his ability should earn him a shot to try his hand at quarterback.

Jackson is an incredibly rare talent, but expect these question marks to linger until we see him get on an NFL field and compete.

Going to the New England Patriots in this mock draft—sitting behind Tom Brady, learning the ropes and the complexities of the Patriots offense and having offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels by his side—means New England could stay a juggernaut for at least another decade.