NFL Mock Draft 2018: 1st-Round Projections for Top Prospects Before Combine

Today is the big day—it's day one of the NFL Scouting Combine.

No, we won't see any on-field workouts yet, but there will be some medical examinations—a key component to the draft process.

The draft process is crazy, but all everyone wants to do is win. At all costs.

Below, we have a first-round mock draft and a quick write-up on three of the notable players/landing spots.

Enjoy the combine!

NFL Mock Draft

1. Cleveland Browns: Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State

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

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

4. Cleveland Browns (via Houston Texans): Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma

5. Denver Broncos: Quenton Nelson, OG, Notre Dame

6. New York Jets: Sam Darnold, QB, USC

7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Minkah Fitzpatrick, S, Alabama

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

9. Oakland Raiders (pending coin flip): Joshua Jackson, CB, Iowa*

10. San Francisco 49ers (pending coin flip): Connor Williams, OT, Texas*

11. Miami Dolphins: Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia

12. Cincinnati Bengals: Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame

13. Washington Redskins: Derwin James, S, Florida State

14. Green Bay Packers: Tremaine Edmunds, LB, Virginia Tech

15. Arizona Cardinals: Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville

16. Baltimore Ravens: Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama

17. Los Angeles Chargers: Vita Vea, DT, Washington

18. Seattle Seahawks: Orlando Brown, OT, Oklahoma

19. Dallas Cowboys: Billy Price, G/C, Ohio State

20. Detroit Lions: Ronald Jones II, RB, USC

21. Buffalo Bills: Courtland Sutton, WR, SMU

22. Buffalo Bills (via Kansas City Chiefs): Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming

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

24. Carolina Panthers: Marcus Davenport, DE, UTSA

25. Tennessee Titans: Harold Landry, EDGE, Boston College

26. Atlanta Falcons: Da'Ron Payne, DT, Alabama 

27. New Orleans Saints: Hayden Hurst, TE, South Carolina 

28. Pittsburgh Steelers: Rashaan Evans, LB, Alabama 

29. Jacksonville Jaguars: Equanimeous St. Brown, WR, Notre Dame

30. Minnesota Vikings: Taven Bryan, DT, Florida

31. New England Patriots: Mason Rudolph, QB, Oklahoma State

32. Philadelphia Eagles: Malik Jefferson, LB, Texas

*Nos. 9 and 10 will be decided by a coin-flip.

5. Denver Broncos: Quenton Nelson, G, Notre Dame

Joe Robbins/Getty Images

Picking at No. 5, it's fair to think that maybe the Broncos go ahead here and pull the trigger on the remaining quarterback talent in this draft class.

However, the Broncos should turn their focus to a certain quarterback on the free-agent market: Kirk Cousins.

If the Broncos were able to lure Cousins away from a team like the New York Jets and draft him a left guard in Nelson that will assist in protecting his blindside for however long he is there, that could be tempting for Cousins.

So, sure, drafting a guard in the top five is far from a "sexy" pick, but it's the most logical here, assuming the Broncos can land Cousins.

The Broncos had success with Ronald Leary on the right side of the line this past season, but Max Garcia struggled.

Bring in Nelson, put him on the left side with Garett Bolles and you have a left side of an offensive line that will help any quarterback sleep at night the day before a game.

17. Los Angeles Chargers: Vita Vea, DT, Washington

Norm Hall/Getty Images

When you think of the Chargers, you'll find yourself looking at their two studs coming off the edge: Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram.

And you'd be right to.

But what if their defensive line could get even better and perhaps allow Ingram and Bosa to cause even more issues for opposing offensive lines?

Well, the Chargers should draft Vea.

Corey Liuget is a fine player, too, in the interior of that defensive line, so just imagine Bosa, Liuget, Vea, and Ingram.

That sounds like a force to be reckoned with.

Vea has had some issues with remaining consistent snap after snap, but the star potential is there. On a defensive line where he won't be asked to be the main guy from the get-go, this will help Vea develop and correct those issues.

The Chargers will have one of the most potent defensive fronts in the game in 2018 with Vea.

22. Buffalo Bills: Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming

Charlie Neibergall/Associated Press

With back-to-back picks later in the first round, the Bills should use one of them on a quarterback.

Let's face it, they're done with Tyrod Taylor for whatever reason, and it's best if both of these teams just move on from one another.

If you're not familiar with Allen, I'm not sure where you've been as he's been arguably the most polarizing player during this draft process.

Going to the Bills, Allen may be in a position where he needs to play right away, and that is a concern.

Coming off a playoff appearance, the Bills will have even more pressure to get back there again for their rabid fanbase.

However, at this point in the draft, there's no solid quarterback picks to go with. 

Maybe the Bills can sign a guy like Case Keenum or Josh McCown to bridge the gap between them and Allen getting on the field?

After all, McCown can still play, as we saw this past season, and Keenum made it to the NFC Championship Game.

Be patient with Allen, Buffalo. It could pay huge dividends.