NFL Mock Draft 2018: Full 1st-Round Projections for Class' Top Prospects
No NFL mock draft is perfect. There's just no way of predicting what's going to happen when there's so much still to digest. For example, who knows how some players will perform during the NFL Scouting Combine or how their medicals will go?
The best we can do is look for the best fit for each player. The Cleveland Browns, who own two top-four selections in this year's draft, need a quarterback and will likely select one using one of their first-round picks. As for the Indianapolis Colts, they could go in a lot of directions including a running back, defensive end and linebacker.
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.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
It's just a shame that they can't draft a head coach, right? Moving on...
Here's a look at my updated mock draft with a brief analysis on three players who could make some noise in this year's draft.
NFL Mock Draft
1. Cleveland Browns: Sam Darnold, QB, USC
2. New York Giants: Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA
3. Indianapolis Colts: Bradley Chubb, DE, NC State
4. Cleveland Browns (from Houston): Derwin James, S, Florida State
5. Denver Broncos: Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma
6. New York Jets: Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia
8. Chicago Bears: Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama
*9. San Francisco 49ers: Quenton Nelson, G, Notre Dame
*10. Oakland Raiders: Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame
11. Miami Dolphins: Minkah Fitzpatrick, DB, Alabama
13. Washington Redskins: Courtland Sutton, WR, SMU
14. Green Bay Packers: Marcus Davenport, DE/OLB, UTSA
15. Arizona Cardinals: Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming
16. Baltimore Ravens: Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville
17. Los Angeles Chargers: Rashaan Evans, LB, Alabama
18. Seattle Seahawks: Joshua Jackson, CB, Iowa
19. Dallas Cowboys: Tremaine Edmunds, LB, Virginia Tech
20. Detroit Lions: Vita Vea, DT, Washington
21. Buffalo Bills: Malik Jefferson, LB, Texas
22. Buffalo Bills (from Kansas City): Orlando Brown, OT, Oklahoma
23. Los Angeles Rams: Harold Landry, DE/OLB, Boston College
24. Carolina Panthers: Da'Ron Payne, DT, Alabama
25. Tennessee Titans: Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, DE/OLB, Oklahoma
26. Atlanta Falcons: Ronnie Harrison, S, Alabama
27. New Orleans Saints: Arden Key, DE/OLB, LSU
28. Pittsburgh Steelers: Derrius Guice, RB, LSU
29. Jacksonville Jaguars: Isaiah Oliver, CB, Colorado
30. Minnesota Vikings: Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State
31. New England Patriots: Billy Price, C/G, Ohio State
32. Philadelphia Eagles: Christian Kirk, WR, Texas A&M
* An asterisk next to a team's name means that its draft position isn't set yet and will be decided upon via coin flip at the combine.
Picks to watch
No. 1: Sam Darnold
Of course the No. 1 pick is one to watch. After all, this usually signals the best player in the draft.
But this year, the Browns might not select the best overall player in the draft and instead pick the best quarterback in the draft. To some, the best quarterback in this year's class is either Darnold, Josh Rosen or Josh Allen.
While Rosen might be the best signal-caller in this draft, he doesn't want to play for Cleveland. Darnold and Allen had flashes in college but also had some terrible performances that should leave scouts shaking their heads.
If Cleveland takes a quarterback here, expect a run on quarterbacks to occur.
No. 3: Bradley Chubb
In this author's opinion, Chubb is the best overall defensive prospect in this year's draft. But that doesn't mean he'll go No. 1.
The Browns just drafted Myles Garrett last season, and although it would be a formidable duo on their defensive line if they were to draft Chubb, they have bigger needs to fill. The Indianapolis Colts need a lot of help in a lot of different places, especially if Andrew Luck still isn't able to return in the foreseeable future.
A defensive stud like Chubb would be a great building block for the Colts, who have struggled for the past few years to generate a consistent pass rush and stop the run. Chubb going to Indianapolis makes too much sense to not happen if he's still on the board.
No. 16: Lamar Jackson
In recent mock drafts, I've received a lot of criticism for having Lamar Jackson not just going in the first round, but also going into the top 20.
But Jackson is a dangerous dual-threat quarterback who could be the quarterback of the future for the Baltimore Ravens if they were to pull the plug on Joe Flacco's tenure as the franchise quarterback.
The 2016 Heisman Trophy winner might not be the most accurate of passers, but neither is Flacco. And with the ability to run and scramble outside the pocket to extend plays, Jackson has a ceiling high enough to rival Michael Vick's.
At worst, his floor could be Tyrod Taylor, a former Ravens backup quarterback. Criticize all you want, but Jackson going to Baltimore makes a lot of sense and would be a huge pickup for a franchise in need of a boost on offense.
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.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
