NFL Draft 2018: Updated Mock Draft Before Regular-Season Finales

The regular season may not be over yet, but for a number of teams and fanbases, it's already draft season. So with that in mind, I'll provide my latest mock draft before writing precisely one sentence of justification for every pick.

Feel free to write as many sentences of rebuttal as you like in the comments. 

Note: The draft order was created using Tankathon.com and my own playoff projections.

Mock Draft

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1. Cleveland Browns: Sam Darnold, QB, USC

2. New York Giants: Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA

3. Indianapolis Colts: Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State

4. Cleveland Browns (from Houston): Minkah Fitzpatrick, S, Alabama

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Bradley Chubb, DE, NC State

6. Denver Broncos: Connor Williams, OT, Texas

7. New York Jets: Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma

8. San Francisco 49ers: Quenton Nelson, G, Notre Dame

9. Chicago Bears: Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama

10. Cincinnati Bengals: Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame

11. Oakland Raiders: Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia

12. Miami Dolphins: Derrius Guice, RB, LSU

13. Arizona Cardinals: Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming

14. Washington: Derwin James, S, Florida State

15. Green Bay Packers: Marcus Davenport, DE/OLB, UTSA

16. Tennessee Titans: Arden Key, DE/OLB, LSU

17. Buffalo Bills: Christian Wilkins, DT, Clemson

18. Detroit Lions: Da'Ron Payne, DT, Alabama

19. Dallas Cowboys: Rashaan Evans, LB, Alabama

20. Seattle Seahawks: Harold Landry, DE/OLB, Boston College

21. Los Angeles Chargers: Vita Vea, DT, Washington

22. Baltimore Ravens: Courtland Sutton, WR, SMU

23. Atlanta Falcons: James Washington, WR, Oklahoma State

24. Carolina Panthers: Orlando Brown, OT, Oklahoma

25. Buffalo Bills (from Kansas City): Mason Rudolph, QB, Oklahoma State

26. Jacksonville Jaguars: Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville

27. Los Angeles Rams: Joshua Jackson, CB, Iowa

28. Philadelphia Eagles: Tremaine Edmunds, LB, Virginia Tech

29. Pittsburgh Steelers: Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State

30. Minnesota Vikings: Clelin Ferrell, DE, Clemson

31. New Orleans Saints: Malik Jefferson, LB, Texas

32. New England Patriots: Austin Bryant, DE, Clemson

Analysis

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1. Josh Rosen may be the better overall prospect, but if he's truly against playing for the Browns—and goes beyond simply hinting that's the case—Cleveland can avoid the headache by drafting Sam Darnold.

2. Rosen, meanwhile, can spend a season on the bench being mentored by Eli Manning, who, ironically, forced a trade to the New York Giants himself when he was drafted.

3. Saquon Barkley is the best player in this draft and would take a ton of pressure off of Andrew Luck in Indianapolis, giving him the Edgerrin James he's never had.

4. Landing Minkah Fitzpatrick to quarterback Cleveland's defense and pairing him with fellow safety Jabrill Peppers would immediately upgrade the Browns' secondary. Fitzpatrick would give them another potentially elite defensive talent alongside Myles Garrett.

5. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have the fewest sacks in the NFL (20), so adding a stud pass-rusher like Bradley Chubb is a no-brainer.

6. The Denver Broncos need to upgrade at tackle, and Connor Williams is the best option available.

7. The New York Jets don't have a franchise quarterback on their roster, and Baker Mayfield has the talent and personality to become a star in the Big Apple. 

8. The San Francisco 49ers need to solidify the interior of the offensive line, and Quenton Nelson is so talented he isn't a reach in the top 10, despite guards traditionally remaining on the board until later in the first round.

9. Mitchell Trubisky needs weapons in the passing game, and with Kevin White unable to stay on the field, Calvin Ridley is a great pick for Chicago.

10. The Cincinnati Bengals need to upgrade at offensive tackle in a big way.

11. Roquan Smith satisfies need and provides upside for the Oakland Raiders.

12. The Miami Dolphins need to address running back with Jay Ajayi traded to Philadelphia, and Derrius Guice will give the team a much-needed offensive playmaker. 

13. Carson Palmer can't play forever, and the Arizona Cardinals need a franchise quarterback, so grooming Josh Allen is the logical move.

14. Safety isn't the biggest need in Washington, but Derwin James is too good to pass on here.

15. The Green Bay Packers need to upgrade at outside linebacker, and Marcus Davenport keeps climbing up draft boards.

16. The Tennessee Titans need to upgrade on the edge, and Arden Key is the man for the job.

17. With Marcell Dareus traded and Kyle Williams potentially gone as well in free agency, the Bills should address the defensive tackle position.

18. Da'Ron Payne will be a major upgrade for the Detroit Lions on the interior of their defensive line.

19. The Dallas Cowboys can't afford to slump every time Sean Lee gets injured; upgrading at linebacker through the draft is a must.

20. Cliff Avril's future is unclear and Michael Bennett is 32, leaving the Seattle Seahawks in need of a young playmaker on the edge.

21. The Los Angeles Chargers give up 132.9 rushing yards per game, worst in the NFL, so solidifying the interior of their defensive line should be a priority. 

22. Mike Wallace is a fine player, but when he's your top option in the passing game, it's probably time to add weapons on the perimeter. 

23. Adding another dynamic playmaker on the outside next to Julio Jones would surely make Matt Ryan happy, even if it isn't necessarily a pressing need.

24. Cam Newton takes enough of a beating when he runs the ball, so protecting him when he drops back to pass should be a priority for the Carolina Panthers.

25. The Bills seem poised to move on from Tyrod Taylor and reach for Mason Rudolph here. 

26. It would be so, so, so much fun seeing Jackson in the same offense as Leonard Fournette.

27. Cornerback is a major need for the Los Angeles Rams, and Joshua Jackson is a great value at this point in the draft.

28. Jordan Hicks is injury-prone and Nigel Bradham is set to hit free agency (though he should join Timmy Jernigan and Alshon Jeffery in getting contract extensions), leaving linebacker as a position of need for Philly.

29. The Steelers need upgrades all over the secondary, so expect them to nab the top cornerback or free safety on the board with their first-round pick.

30. Mike Zimmer isn't about to pass up the chance to add another talented pass-rusher like Clelin Ferrell to his arsenal.

31. Malik Jefferson will be a major upgrade for an average New Orleans linebacker corps.

32. The New England Patriots need help on the edge, and Austin Bryant is a great value at this point in the draft.