NFL Draft 2018: Post-Super Bowl Order and Projections for Top Prospects

The Philadelphia Eagles and New England Patriots treated us to a classic Super Bowl on Sunday night, wrapping up another exciting NFL season. 

Now it's time for Philadelphia and New England to join the other 30 teams in turning their full attention to free agency and the NFL draft. 

With the first-round draft order almost set, here's a look at how the first round could play out, followed by a breakdown of a few notable selections. 

1. Cleveland Browns: Sam Darnold, QB, USC

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

3. Indianapolis Colts: Bradley Chubb, DE, N.C. State   

4. Cleveland Browns (from HOU): Minkah Fitzpatrick, DB, Alabama

5. Denver Broncos: Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma

6. New York Jets: Quenton Nelson, OG, Notre Dame

7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State

8. Chicago Bears: Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State

9. *San Francisco 49ers: Tremaine Edmunds, LB, Virginia Tech

10. *Oakland Raiders: Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia

11. Miami Dolphins: Derwin James, S, Florida State

12. Cincinnati Bengals: Vita Vea, DT, Washington

13. Washington Redskins: Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama

14. Green Bay Packers: Josh Jackson, CB, Iowa

15. Arizona Cardinals: Christian Kirk, WR, Texas A&M

16. Baltimore Ravens: Arden Key, DE, LSU 

17. Los Angeles Chargers: Billy Price, G/C, Ohio State

18. Seattle Seahawks: Ronnie Harrison, S, Alabama

19. Dallas Cowboys: Maurice Hurst, DT, Michigan

20. Detroit Lions: Marcus Davenport, DE, UTSA

21. Buffalo Bills: Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville

22. Buffalo Bills (from KC): Sam Hubbard, DE, Ohio State

23. Los Angeles Rams: Mike Hughes, CB, UCF

24. Carolina Panthers: Harold Landry, Edge, Boston College

25. Tennessee Titans: Da'Ron Payne, DT, Alabama

26. Atlanta Falcons: Isaiah Wynn, OG, Georgia

27. New Orleans Saints: Isaiah Oliver, CB, Colorado  

28. Pittsburgh Steelers: Carlton Davis, CB, Auburn

29. Jacksonville Jaguars: Will Hernandez, OG, UTEP

30. Minnesota Vikings: Orlando Brown, OT, Oklahoma 

31. New England Patriots: Tarvarus McFadden, CB, Florida State

32. Philadelphia Eagles: Leighton Vander Esch, LB, Boise State

* 49ers and Raiders selection order will be determined by coin flip at NFL Scouting Combine (Feb. 27-March 5). 

13. Washington Redskins: Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama

Brynn Anderson/Associated Press

The acquisition of Alex Smith sent shock waves through the Redskins fanbase. Whether or not Smith is an upgrade over Kirk Cousins is a debate that will linger throughout the offseason, but at least the team has finally committed to a quarterback for the long haul. 

Now that Smith is under contract for the next five years, the team can begin to build around his skill set. 

Washington already has Josh Doctson, a quality possession receiver on the outside, and Jamison Crowder, a competent slot receiver. To fill out the receiving corps, the Redskins should set their sights on a more athletic outside receiver who can stretch the field and also make plays after the catch. 

Alabama's Calvin Ridley is one of the receivers in this class who fits that mold, and he should be on the Redskins' radar in the first round. 

Due to poor quarterback play at Alabama, Ridley was used on a high percentage of short throws that allowed him to do damage after the catch. However, he also has the well-rounded skill set to be developed into a similar downfield weapon to Tyreek Hill, who emerged as Smith's favorite target in Kansas City the past two seasons. 

31. New England Patriots: Tarvarus McFadden, CB, Florida State

Phelan M. Ebenhack/Associated Press

An unfortunate dark cloud hanging over the Patriots after their Super Bowl loss was the handling of starting cornerback Malcolm Butler, who did not play a single snap on defense. Whether Butler was benched for strategic or disciplinary reasons doesn't really matter anymore, because Butler is set to hit the free agency market this offseason and it's difficult to imagine him returning to New England after the way his season ended. 

Even with Butler on the field, the Patriots secondary struggled at times this season, so upgrading the unit should be a priority for the team this offseason. 

Fortunately for New England, this looks like a strong draft class at the cornerback position. 

Tarvarus McFadden had an up-and-down career at Florida State, but his skills make him one of the most intriguing prospects at his position in this class.

Listed at 6'2", McFadden has the height to match up with any receiver on the outside and also boasts the speed to stick with them downfield. He's still raw in his technique, but the Patriots have had success developing young defensive backs during the Bill Belichick era and would be an ideal landing spot for a talented athlete like McFadden. 

32. Philadelphia Eagles: Leighton Vander Esch, LB, Boise State

John Locher/Associated Press

The Eagles are a tough team to evaluate this offseason since nearly the entire roster returns in 2018. 

One of the few players hitting the free-agent market is linebacker Nigel Bradham, who could potentially be replaced by a cheaper option through the draft. 

If the Eagles go that route, Boise State's Leighton Vander Esch could be a first-round target. 

Vander Esch has the well-rounded skill set that makes him ideal for today's NFL. He's strong enough to play the run and even make an impact as an occasional pass-rusher, but he also has speed and agility to drop into coverage and match up with most tight ends. 

If Bradham returns, this selection would no longer be a good fit. But with a lot of valuable players still on rookie contracts, the Eagles will have to make some tough decisions in the coming years. Replacing Bradham with a rookie now could be the right decision for the team in the long run.