2018 NFL Draft: List of Top Prospects, Sleepers and Final 1st-Round Mock Picks

The quarterback class is the talk of the 2018 NFL draft, but they aren't the best players in the talent pool.

Given the need for quarterbacks across the NFL, we are going to see a run on signal-callers in the top-10 picks Thursday at AT&T Stadium.

However, the highest-rated college football players are at different positions, but their spots on the final draft board could be lower than expected because of the run on quarterbacks.

In addition to the big-name talent on display Thursday night, there are going to be a few sleeper picks later in the opening round that make an impact in their rookie season with less fanfare than someone like Sam Darnold or Saquon Barkley.

1st-Round Mock

1. Cleveland Browns: Sam Darnold, QB, USC

2. New York Giants: Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State

3. New York Jets (from Indianapolis): Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma

4. Cleveland Browns (from Houston): Bradley Chubb, DE, NC State

5. Denver Broncos: Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA

6. Indianapolis Colts (from New York Jets): Quenton Nelson, G, Notre Dame

7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Derwin James, S, Florida State

8. Chicago Bears: Minkah Fitzpatrick, S, Alabama

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

10. Oakland Raiders: Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia

11. Miami Dolphins: Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming

12. Buffalo Bills (from Cincinnati): Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville

13. Washington Redskins: Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State

14. Green Bay Packers: Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame

15. Arizona Cardinals: Vita Vea, DT, Washington

16. Baltimore Ravens: D.J. Moore, WR, Maryland

17. Los Angeles Chargers: Da'Ron Payne, DT, Alabama

18. Seattle Seahawks: Leighton Vander Esch, LB, Boise State

19. Dallas Cowboys: Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama

20. Detroit Lions: Marcus Davenport, DE, Texas-San Antonio

21. Cincinnati Bengals (from Buffalo): Frank Ragnow, C, Arkansas

22. Buffalo Bills (from Kansas City): Jaire Alexander, CB, Louisville

23. New England Patriots (from Los Angeles Rams): Mike Hughes, CB, UCF

24. Carolina Panthers: Isaiah Wynn, OT, Georgia

25. Tennessee Titans: Harold Landry, DE, Boston College

26. Atlanta Falcons: Connor Williams, OT, Texas

27. New Orleans Saints: Courtland Sutton, WR, SMU

28. Pittsburgh Steelers: Rashaan Evans, LB, Alabama

29. Jacksonville Jaguars: James Daniels, C, Iowa

30. Minnesota Vikings: Taven Bryan, DT, Florida

31. New England Patriots: Mason Rudolph, QB, Oklahoma State

32. Philadelphia Eagles: Josh Jackson, CB, Iowa

Top Prospects

Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State

Barkley is listed as the No. 1 prospect by many talent evaluators heading into Thursday's first round, including Bleacher Report's Matt Miller.

The consensus surrounding the Penn State running back is he will be a game-changing player in his rookie season in the NFL, but where he lands remains to be seen.

The Browns could take Barkley with the No. 1 overall pick and opt for a quarterback at No. 4, a move that would cause a frenzy as teams furiously rush to find a way to trade up to No. 2.

Rick Scuteri/Associated Press

Barkley could end up with the New York Giants at No. 2 if their front office believes drafting a quarterback isn't necessary with Eli Manning having a few years left in the tank.

Then there's the doomsday scenario for Barkley in which each of the top four selections are used on quarterbacks.

The reason for a potential drop is the need for quarterbacks, a position where the talent gap is much larger than running back, as ESPN's Booger McFarland noted:

If he lasts past the top five, Indianapolis at No. 6 or Tampa Bay at No. 7 would be foolish to pass up on him, especially the Buccaneers, who would add another dangerous offensive asset to their roster.

Bradley Chubb, DE, NC State

NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah and Bleacher Report's Miller rank NC State defensive end Bradley Chubb as the second-best prospect in the draft class, while NFL Network's Mike Mayock has him third on his overall list.

Chubb is a powerful pass-rusher off the edge who should make an immediate impact on the team he lands with, but due to the demand for quarterbacks, no one knows where he'll end up.

Like Barkley, Chubb could go in the top five if the Browns keep both of their selections, or if the Giants are bold enough to draft a defensive player at No. 2.

If the Browns take a quarterback with the No. 1 pick and Barkley is off the board, as we believe will be the case, Chubb is the logical choice at No. 4, unless a trade offer that's too good to pass up comes about.

Chubb received plenty of praise throughout the evaluation process, with current players like Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller chiming in on how dangerous he could be, per NFL Network's James Palmer:

The NC State defensive end recorded 72 tackles, 23 tackles for loss and 10 sacks in his final season with the ACC program, and he ended his career two tackles short of 200 while earning 54.5 tackles for loss and 25 sacks.

If he ends up with the Browns, he'd form a formidable pass-rush duo with Myles Garrett, a combination that could keep the franchise in more games in 2018.

Sleepers

Frank Ragnow, C, Arkansas

Arkansas center Frank Ragnow was relatively unknown for most of the three months between the end of the college football season and the draft, but his name is picking up steam ahead of Thursday's first round.

Ragnow's blocking statistics are as good as any offensive lineman entering the draft. Pro Football Focus College Football laid out how successful the Arkansas center was this past college season:

Although it may not seem like a position worthy of a first-round selection, centers could be a hot commodity at the back end of the first round with Ragnow leading the way.

Iowa's James Daniels and Ohio State's Billy Price are in the mix in a first round where as many as seven or eight offensive linemen could be drafted.

Once the best skill-position players are off the board, the teams selecting between No. 17 and No. 32 will draft players based off need, and the Cincinnati Bengals are one of the teams targeting offensive line upgrades.

The Bengals already made one move on their line by trading for offensive tackle Cordy Glenn from Buffalo in exchange for the No. 12 overall pick.

With the focus on protecting quarterback Andy Dalton, the late-rising star of the first round could be headed to the Bengals during a run on offensive linemen.

Mason Rudolph, QB, Oklahoma State

The one quarterback not getting as much buzz as he should is Oklahoma State's Mason Rudolph.

Although he might not be a first-round talent in the eyes of some scouts, Rudolph will be in play at some point during the opening 32 picks of the draft.

Once Darnold, Josh Allen, Josh Rosen and Baker Mayfield are off the board, which could happen within the top 10 picks depending on trades, the focus shifts to Rudolph and Lamar Jackson.

Jackson should be the fifth player at the position chosen, which leaves the teams at the back end of the first round looking to develop a signal-caller in the market for Rudolph.

John Raoux/Associated Press

New Orleans is in the hunt for a potential successor to Drew Brees, and New England would be wise to take a look at this year's quarterbacks to find a new backup to Tom Brady.

The Patriots could be in the market for Brady's No. 2 earlier than you think, because they now possess two first-round selections.

Bill Belichick's team could go after a position of need with the No. 23 pick brought in from the Brandin Cooks trade with the Los Angeles Rams and then take a risk with its natural selection at No. 31, which is where Rudolph comes into play.

Rudolph threw for over 4,000 yards in his last two seasons at Oklahoma State while throwing 92 touchdowns and 26 interceptions in his time with the Cowboys.

He might not be as polished as other quarterbacks in the eyes of talent evaluators, but if he ends up in New England, he'll have plenty of time to learn under Brady and Belichick.

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90.

Statistics obtained from Sports Reference.