2018 NFL Mock Draft: Post-Super Bowl Predictions for Top Prospects

Now that the 2018 Super Bowl is over, the Super Bowl of the offseason is set to take center stage.

The 2018 NFL draft is where the rest of the league will attempt to discover the playmakers of the future that will help them close the gap on the champion Philadelphia Eagles.

Players will have the opportunity to bolster their stock through the NFL Scouting Combine, interviews and more before the first round kicks off on April 26, but a pecking order is already being established.

With that in mind, here is a look at a mock for the first round, as well as an exploration into arguably the biggest question of the draft that will help set the tone for the first round.

Mock Draft

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 (via Houston Texans): Connor Williams, OT, Texas

5. Denver Broncos: Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma

6. New York Jets: Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming

7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Bradley Chubb, DE, North Carolina State

8. Chicago Bears: Courtland Sutton, WR, SMU

*9. San Francisco 49ers: Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State

*10. Oakland Raiders: Minkah Fitzpatrick, CB, Alabama

11. Miami Dolphins: Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia

12. Cincinnati Bengals: Orlando Brown, OT, Oklahoma

13. Washington: Vita Vea, DT, Washington

14. Green Bay Packers: Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama

15. Arizona Cardinals: James Washington, WR, Oklahoma State

16. Baltimore Ravens: Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame

17. Los Angeles Chargers: Derwin James, DB, Florida State

18. Seattle Seahawks: Quenton Nelson, G, Notre Dame

19. Dallas Cowboys: Christian Kirk, WR, Texas A&M

20. Detroit Lions: Maurice Hurst, DT, Michigan

21. Buffalo Bills: Mason Rudolph, QB, Oklahoma State

22. Buffalo Bills (via Kansas City Chiefs): Da'Ron Payne, DT, Alabama

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

24. Carolina Panthers: Billy Price, C/G, Ohio State

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

26. Atlanta Falcons: Marcus Davenport, DE, UTSA

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

28. Pittsburgh Steelers: Tremaine Edmunds, LB, Virginia Tech

29. Jacksonville Jaguars: Mark Andrews, TE, Oklahoma

30. Minnesota Vikings: Kolton Miller, OT, UCLA

31. New England Patriots: Derrius Guice, RB, LSU

32. Philadelphia Eagles: Harold Landry, LB, Boston College

*The order of the ninth and 10th picks between the San Francisco 49ers and Oakland Raiders will be determined by a coin flip.

Will the Browns go Quarterback With the No. 1 Pick?

David Zalubowski/Associated Press

There could be a number of quarterbacks off the board in the top six considering the New York Giants' Eli Manning is 37 years old, the Indianapolis Colts' Andrew Luck missed the entire 2017 season because of injury and the Denver Broncos (missed the last two playoffs) and New York Jets (last playoffs came in the 2010 season) are looking for long-term answers at the position.

The Cleveland Browns could set off a domino effect depending on what they do with the top pick, since Sam Darnold, Josh Rosen, Josh Allen, Baker Mayfield, Mason Rudolph and Lamar Jackson will all be available.

Considering a team that just went 0-16 has plenty of holes to fill beyond just signal-caller, the Browns could even wait until the fourth pick if they aren't set on one prospect in particular to potentially replace DeShone Kizer after he was uninspiring with 11 touchdown passes and six interceptions in 15 games as a rookie.

One possible option with the No. 1 pick is Penn State running back Saquon Barkley, especially since playmakers at the position such as Ezekiel Elliott, Leonard Fournette and Todd Gurley have found superstardom right away.

Barkley would give the Browns an explosive back who topped 1,000 rushing yards in each of his three collegiate seasons. He also tallied 632 yards as a receiver and returned two kickoffs for touchdowns in 2017, demonstrating his ability to change a game with more than just his quick cuts on runs.

The argument can be made there is a need since the Browns were a middling 18th in the league in rushing yards per game in 2017, but they were also 22nd in passing yards per game.

Ultimately, Cleveland is looking to establish itself as a long-term winner after going 4-44 the last three years, and there is only one player outside of the center who touches the ball on every offensive snap.

The lack of quarterback consistency has plagued the franchise for years, and Daryl Ruiter of 92.3 The Fan (h/t CBS Cleveland) noted only Tim Couch played a full 16 regular-season games since 1999.

Finding a steady presence at quarterback who can develop alongside weapons such as Josh Gordon, Corey Coleman and David Njoku (assuming Cleveland maintains its offensive core) is the team's best chance at turning things around, and it can always address other needs at the No. 4 pick—such as bolstering an offensive line Football Outsiders ranked 22nd in the league in pass protection in 2017.

With such a dire need for a franchise pillar under center, the Browns will select USC's Sam Darnold with the first pick.

Matt Miller of Bleacher Report made the case for Darnold in Cleveland over some of the other contenders:

"I believe Sam Darnold best fits what new general manager John Dorsey and his chief assistants (Alonzo Highsmith and Eliot Wolf) will want in a quarterback…Darnold fits the Midwest. He's tough, a little quiet, willing to sacrifice his body and has the build to hold up in cold weather and against AFC North defenses."

Darnold finished with 4,143 passing yards and 26 touchdown throws in 2017 and demonstrated the necessary arm strength to hit receivers on deep routes and the accuracy to fit passes into tight windows.

If he can do that in Cleveland, the Browns may finally have an answer at the position that has consistently flummoxed them.