2018 NFL Mock Draft: Predictions for Under-the-Radar 1st-Round Prospects

It is early in the draft season, as final draft slots for non-playoff teams will not be determined until the Week 17 games are completed.

Draft positions for the teams that make it to the Super Bowl won't be determined until after that title game.

However, much of the work that the scouts do for the draft has already been completed. Bowl performances will be added into the equation, and combine results and individual work will also get worked in. However, that's the job of the general managers and other decision makers.

Scouts make their reports up based on what they see in games, and that's the most important factor. Coaches and general managers will often use non-game results such as workouts, interviews and other tests to make their decisions, and that can lead to some regrettable choices.

Here's how we see the first round, and we follow with analysis of some of the less publicized first-round projections.

Mock Draft, December 25

1. Cleveland Browns: Sam Darnold, QB, USC
2. New York Giants: Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA
3. Indianapolis Colts: Bradley Chubb, DE, NC State
4. Cleveland Browns (via HOU): Quenton Nelson, OG, Notre Dame
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Connor Williams, OT, Texas
6. Denver Broncos: Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming
7. San Francisco 49ers: Minkah Fitzpatrick, DB, Alabama
8. New York Jets: Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame
9. Chicago Bears: Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama
10. Cincinnati Bengals: Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma
11. Oakland Raiders: Josh Jackson, CB, Iowa
12. Miami Dolphins: Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State
13. Arizona Cardinals: Billy Price, OL, Ohio State 
14. Green Bay Packers: Arden Key, OLB-DE, LSU
15. Washington: Derwin James, S, Florida State
16. Los Angeles Chargers: Orlando Brown, OT, Oklahoma 
17. Dallas Cowboys: Roquan Smith, ILB, Georgia 
18. Buffalo Bills: Vita Vea, DT, Washington
19. Detroit Lions: Harold Landry, OLB-DE, Boston College 
20. Seattle Seahawks: Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State 
21. Baltimore Ravens: Mason Rudolph, QB, Oklahoma State 
22. Atlanta Falcons: Maurice Hurst, DT, Michigan
23. Tennessee Titans: Christian Wilkins, DT, Clemson 
24. Carolina Panthers: Martinas Rankin, OT, Mississippi State
25. Buffalo Bills (via KC): Malik Jefferson, LB, Texas
26. Jacksonville Jaguars: Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville
27. New Orleans Saints: Courtland Sutton, WR, SMU
28. Los Angeles Rams: Clelin Ferrell, DE, Clemson 
29. Pittsburgh Steelers: Jerome Baker, LB, Ohio State
30. Minnesota Vikings: Chukwuma Okorafor, OT, Western Michigan
31. New England Patriots: Tremaine Edmunds, DE-OLB, Virginia Tech 
32. Philadelphia Eagles: Ben Banogu, DE-OLB, TCU 

QB Mason Rudolph, Oklahoma State

Rudolph is probably the least publicized of the quarterbacks who have a chance to go in the first round. He plays in the same state and conference as Heisman Trophy winner Baker Mayfield of Oklahoma, and he has excellent numbers.

Rudolph has completed 297 of 457 passes for 4,553 yards with 35 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Rudolph also had a huge 2016 season, as he threw for 4,091 yards with 28 touchdowns and four interceptions.

Rudolph has the size that scouts love at 6'5" and 230 pounds. There are some questions about his shoulder and his footwork, but if he checks out, he appears to be the most pro-ready of all the quarterbacks in this draft.

He will get a chance to answer all questions when he goes to the Senior Bowl.

WR Courtland Sutton, SMU

Sutton has the size and strength to win 50-50 balls against smaller defensive backs. He checks in at 6'4" and 215, and he has the ability to make the difficult catch look easy.

Sutton has caught 62 passes for 1,017 yards with 12 touchdowns as a junior, and that production comes on the heels of a sophomore season in which he caught 76 passes for 1,246 yards and 10 touchdowns. That's the kind of consistency that will allow front-office personnel to pencil Sutton in for a starting position and count on him for big plays.

There's little doubt that Sutton is strong, skilled and has the talent to succeed at the next level.

DE Clelin Ferrell, Clemson

Ferrell is a big-play pass-rusher whose pedigree shows he can cause a lot of damage at the next level.

Ferrell is an undersized defensive lineman, but he can turn the corner in a heartbeat. Ferrell had 62 stops during the regular season for the Tigers, along with 17.0 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks.

Ferrell has played a key role for Dabo Swinney's team, won a national championship and is in the College Football Playoffs once again.

He has the talent to be a game-changing pass-rusher.

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College football stats provided by College Football Reference.