NFL Draft 2018: First-Round Order and Top Prospects to Watch
While the final eight NFL teams battle for a Super Bowl title, the top college prospects will spend their time preparing themselves for the most important stretch of their careers.
The next few months feature a hectic schedule for these players, including the Senior Bowl, NFL Scouting Combine, pro days and other forms of evaluation.
Fortunately for many prospects, the film still plays a major role in evaluation, and several top players are already headed in the right direction after a strong end to the college season.
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Here is a look at some of those prospects on the rise, as well as a full first-round order for the NFL draft.
NFL Draft 1st Round Order
1. Cleveland Browns
2. New York Giants
3. Indianapolis Colts
4. Cleveland Browns (via Texans)
5. Denver Broncos
6. New York Jets
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
8. Chicago Bears
9.* San Francisco 49ers
10.* Oakland Raiders
11. Miami Dolphins
12. Cincinnati Bengals
13. Washington Redskins
14. Green Bay Packers
15. Arizona Cardinals
16. Baltimore Ravens
17. Los Angeles Chargers
18. Seattle Seahawks
19. Dallas Cowboys
20. Detroit Lions
21. Buffalo Bills
22. Buffalo Bills (via Chiefs)
23. Los Angeles Rams
24. Carolina Panthers
25. Tennessee Titans
26. Jacksonville Jaguars
27. Atlanta Falcons
28. New Orleans Saints
29. Pittsburgh Steelers
30. Minnesota Vikings
31. Philadelphia Eagles
32. New England Patriots
*Order pending coin flip. Final eight picks subject to change following the completion of the playoffs.
Top Prospects on the Rise
Roquan Smith, ILB, Georgia
Georgia didn't win a national championship, but Roquan Smith might have been the best player throughout the playoff.
The linebacker made play after play against both Oklahoma and Alabama, seemingly always around the football.
Curtis Lofton, who was a linebacker in the NFL for eight years, had high praise for the young player:
Smith has been great all year long, totaling 137 tackles to get him consideration for the Heisman Trophy (he finished 10th in voting). However, doing it on the national stage against elite competition allowed the entire country to see what he is capable of against both the run and the pass.
The Bulldogs had some problems on defense, but Smith hides a lot of weaknesses and can do the same at the NFL level.
Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma
It wasn't Baker Mayfield's fault Oklahoma allowed 54 points in the Rose Bowl, with 317 yards and five touchdowns allowed on the ground. The quarterback didn't have his best day, but he still led an impressive attack as he has all year long.
The Heisman winner put up incredible statistics, but his play is more than just numbers.
"The guy believes he can make every throw," Georgia coach Kirby Smart said after facing Oklahoma, per Edward Aschoff of ESPN. "He's seen every defense known to man. He's made every check known to man. He knows how to check and adjust."
He has the intelligence to make plays and with his athleticism, he can buy himself more time in the pocket and make throws downfield. These are things that mean more to success than just height or arm strength.
Meanwhile, his stock is rising due to the struggles from the rest of the class. Josh Allen showed flashes in his bowl game but still produced modest numbers and remains raw. Sam Darnold struggled with accuracy throughout the Cotton Bowl against Ohio State. Lamar Jackson threw four interceptions in a loss to Mississippi State. Josh Rosen missed his bowl game due to a concussion.
Mayfield performed the best during the postseason and should give NFL scouts a lot to think about heading into the draft.
Derrius Guice, RB, LSU
Saquon Barkley is the clear top running back in the draft, but Derrius Guice has shown he shouldn't be too far behind on draft boards.
The LSU running back averaged 143.6 yards per game in his last five weeks of conference play against top SEC competition, including 100 yards from scrimmage against Alabama. He then went for 122 yards and two scores against Notre Dame in the Citrus Bowl.
Guice has ideal size at 5'11", 212 pounds with a strong frame that could allow him to be an every-down back at the next level. Perhaps most importantly, he uses his strength to finish runs hard while making things difficult for opponents to stop him, similar to his former teammate Leonard Fournette.
Although he isn't as good of a receiver as Barkley, he improved this ability in 2017 and could be more of a threat at the next level.
If he enters a system with a quality offensive line and plenty of opportunity, Guice could be a star right out of the gate next season.
Josh Jackson, CB, Iowa
A lot of top cornerbacks have elite athleticism and instincts, but few have the ball skills that Josh Jackson possesses.
The Iowa star finished the year with eight interceptions, including one in the Pinstripe Bowl win over Boston College. He came through with three against Ohio State in one of the biggest upsets of the season.
Jackson barely played in 2016 with just one start, but he has quickly developed into one of the top defensive backs in the country.
Bleacher Report's Matt Miller believes he is the best cornerback overall:
Considering his relative inexperience, he should only get better once he gets more reps at the position.
The defensive back is loaded with upside, and NFL scouts will definitely see that before taking him early in the 2018 draft.
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