2018 NFL Mock Draft Pre-Divisional Round Projections for First-Round Prospects

The NFL draft order became clearer last weekend when the Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Rams and Carolina Panthers were all eliminated from contention in the playoffs.

More draft positions will be determined following the AFC and NFC Divisional Rounds, but the vast majority of the league is already looking ahead to the draft in order to improve their playoff chances for 2018.

Here is a full, first-round mock draft based on the current order, along with a closer look at some of the top defensive prospects likely to come off the board during the opening round.

2018 First-Round NFL Mock Draft

1. Cleveland Browns: Sam Darnold, QB, USC

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

3. Indianapolis Colts: Minkah Fitzpatrick, DB, Alabama

4. Cleveland Browns (from HOU): Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State

5. Denver Broncos: Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma

6. New York Jets: Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville

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

8. Chicago Bears: Orlando Brown, OT, Oklahoma

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

10. San Francisco 49ers: Derwin James, S, Florida State

11. Miami Dolphins: Arden Key, DE, LSU

12. Cincinnati Bengals: Quenton Nelson, OG, Notre Dame

13. Washington Redskins: Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame

14. Green Bay Packers: Da'Ron Payne, DT, Alabama

15. Arizona Cardinals: Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming

16. Baltimore Ravens: Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama

17. Los Angeles Chargers: Connor Williams, OT, Texas

18. Seattle Seahawks: Bryce Love, RB, Stanford

19. Dallas Cowboys: Christian Wilkins, DT, Clemson

20. Detroit Lions: Clelin Ferrell, DE, Clemson

21. Buffalo Bills: Marcus Davenport, DE, Texas-San Antonio

22. Buffalo Bills (from KC): Maurice Hurst, DT, Michigan

23. Los Angeles Rams: Carlton Davis, CB, Auburn

24. Carolina Panthers: Christian Kirk, WR, Texas A&M

25. Tennessee Titans: Sam Hubbard, DE, Ohio State

26. Jacksonville Jaguars: Mark Andrews, TE, Oklahoma

27. Atlanta Falcons: Vita Vea, DT, Washington

28. New Orleans Saints: Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia

29. Pittsburgh Steelers: Ronnie Harrison, S, Alabama

30. Philadelphia Eagles: Kolton Miller, OT, UCLA

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

32. Minnesota Vikings: Isaiah Wynn, OL, Georgia

Breaking Down Top Defensive Selections

Bradley Chubb

On the heels of two productive seasons in 2016 and 2017, NC State defensive end Bradley Chubb enters the 2018 NFL draft as the most accomplished pass-rusher by a wide margin.

After playing sparingly as a freshman, Chubb saw extensive action for three seasons with the Wolfpack, and he got progressively better with each passing season.

Chubb finished with 10 sacks in each of his junior and senior campaigns. In 2017, he also set career highs with 72 tackles and 23 tackles for loss.

Overall, Chubb had 25 sacks during his time at NC State, and he will be on the radar of any team in need of a pass-rusher picking inside the top 10 of the draft.

If the teams that need quarterbacks near the top of the draft select their franchise signal-callers, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are in a good spot.

It is far from guaranteed that Chubb will fall to them, but it is hard to imagine them allowing him to drop beyond the seventh pick.

The Bucs ranked last in the NFL with 22 sacks in 2017, making their need for an edge rusher to pair with perennial Pro Bowl defensive tackle Gerald McCoy immense.

Tampa Bay dropped off significantly in 2017, but if it can develop a consistent pass-rush in 2018, it has a chance to be one of the biggest bounce-back teams in the entire NFL.

Derwin James

The San Francisco 49ers have needs at every level of their defense, but landing a versatile safety like Derwin James could cure many of the ills that ail them.

James burst on to the scene as a freshman in 2015, and after a 2016 season that saw him miss all but two games due to injury, he came back with a vengeance in 2017.

As a junior, the Florida State defensive back finished with 84 tackles, one sack, 11 passes defended and two interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown.

Brendan Sonnone of 247Sports further broke down the impact James had throughout 2017:

Last season was probably James' best from a coverage perspective, but he is also adept at playing closer to the line, as evidenced by his 4.5 sacks as a freshman.

While he didn't receive as much hype as former Michigan safety Jabrill Peppers during his collegiate career, James was a similar type of player with a greater ability to play the pass.

The Niners struggled to find an answer next to Eric Reid at safety in 2017, with Jimmie Ward and Jaquiski Tartt dealing with injuries.

That resulted in San Francisco ranking 22nd against the pass.

Reid is set to hit free agency, and even if the Niners manage to re-sign Reid, selecting James would allow them to move Ward back to cornerback and provide more depth at that spot.

Regardless of how they deploy him, James is a playmaker on defense who would make the entire unit better in 2018 and beyond.

Da'Ron Payne

After an incredible postseason performance, Alabama defensive lineman Da'Ron Payne's draft stock is likely soaring higher than ever before.

Payne was named the Defensive MVP in both the Sugar Bowl and the College Football Playoff National Championship Game. In a Sugar Bowl win over Clemson, Payne remarkably reeled in an interception and had a touchdown catch.

At 6'2" and over 300 pounds, Payne is an astonishing athlete who is versatile enough to play essentially anywhere along the defensive line.

Although he only had one sack in 2017 and three during his collegiate career as a whole, Payne was dominant against the run last season with a career-high 53 tackles.

The Green Bay Packers could benefit from adding a pass-rusher or two, but picking up another quality defensive lineman could go a long way toward generating more push up front, too.

Mike Daniels is a force, and pairing him with Payne is a move that would make life much easier for the Packers' linebackers, and far more difficult for opposing offenses.

The Packers offense should be as good as ever with a healthy Aaron Rodgers next season, which means its top picks in the draft are best used on improving the defense.

Green Bay doesn't often pick as high as No. 14, but doing so gives it a shot at a potentially elite defensive lineman who could help provide that side of the ball with a huge bump as the Packers look to return to the playoffs.