2018 NFL Mock Draft: 1st-Round Predictions, Prospects Who Will Shape Day 1
It's April, which means we have finally hit NFL draft month.
The NFL Scouting Combine is way in the rearview mirror, and free agency has basically run its course.
A number of trades within the first round have happened too.
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Also, it's Easter! If you celebrate, enjoy the day and chew on some chocolate bunnies while checking this out!
NFL Mock Draft: Round 1
1. Cleveland Browns: Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA
2. New York Giants: Quenton Nelson, OG, Notre Dame
3. New York Jets (via Indianapolis Colts): Sam Darnold, QB, USC
4. Cleveland Browns (via Houston Texans): Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State
5. Denver Broncos: Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma
6. Indianapolis Colts (via New York Jets): Bradley Chubb, DE, NC State
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Minkah Fitzpatrick, S, Alabama
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: Will Hernandez, OG, UTEP
12. Buffalo Bills (via Cincinnati Bengals): Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming
13. Washington Redskins: Vita Vea, DT, Washington
14. Green Bay Packers: Derwin James, S, Florida State
15. Arizona Cardinals: Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville
16. Baltimore Ravens: Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama
17. Los Angeles Chargers: Maurice Hurst, DT, Michigan
18. Seattle Seahawks: Isaiah Wynn, OG, Georgia
19. Dallas Cowboys: Leighton Vander Esch, LB, Boise State
20. Detroit Lions: Da'Ron Payne, DT, Alabama
21. Cincinnati Bengals (via Buffalo Bills): Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame
22. Buffalo Bills (via Kansas City Chiefs): Courtland Sutton, WR, SMU
23. Los Angeles Rams: Marcus Davenport, DE, UTSA
24. Carolina Panthers: Equanimeous St. Brown, WR, Notre Dame
25. Tennessee Titans: Taven Bryan, DT, Florida
26. Atlanta Falcons: Connor Williams, OL, Texas
27. New Orleans Saints: Rashaan Evans, LB, Alabama
28. Pittsburgh Steelers: Jaire Alexander, CB, Louisville
29. Jacksonville Jaguars: D.J. Moore, WR, Maryland
30. Minnesota Vikings: Kolton Miller, OT, UCLA
31. New England Patriots: Harold Landry, EDGE, Boston College
32. Philadelphia Eagles: Josh Sweat, DE, Florida State
Key Day 1 Prospects
1. Cleveland Browns: Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA
While essentially every mock draft out there will have the Cleveland Browns taking Sam Darnold out of USC, the pick should be Josh Rosen.
When it comes down to it, Rosen has fewer question marks and is the overall better prospect.
With Darnold, you will still get a fine prospect, but the ball-security issues in college, as well as the interceptions, are a cause for concern.
Adam Schefter of ESPN reported in December that Rosen would prefer the New York Giants to the Browns, but with all the improvements the Browns have made this offseason, the quarterback may have changed his mind.
The Browns have added wide receiver Jarvis Landry and running back Carlos Hyde.
They also brought in quarterback Tyrod Taylor, and Rosen would benefit from sitting behind Taylor—every quarterback in this draft has his flaws, though the former UCLA Bruin is the closest to being ready to go from Day 1.
With this Browns offense, Rosen would have plenty to work with when he gets going. Though his attitude has been questioned in some quarters, that comes down to how the Browns interpret it.
Do they see it as arrogance or see him as a natural leader?
Hopefully it's the latter. Rosen should be the pick.
5. Denver Broncos: Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma
At No. 5, two quarterbacks have already come off the board, and John Elway and the Denver Broncos brass would gladly take Baker Mayfield here.
Mayfield is arguably the best prospect in this class. Like Rosen, Mayfield has some potential attitude problems, but he could be the kind of guy of whom Elway would be fond.
While someone might regard him as immature, others will see him as fiery and a competitor.
The Broncos defense is still fairly solid, but their offense could be sneaky fun with a competent quarterback.
Combining Mayfield's accuracy, his playmaking ability and the Broncos' skill position players, this a great fit for both the quarterback and Denver.
Sitting behind Case Keenum for a year would serve Mayfield well too.
32. Philadelphia Eagles: Josh Sweat, DE, Florida State
The rich get richer.
There are other players the Philadelphia Eagles could do with here, like LSU running back Derrius Guice, but Sweat would be an intriguing selection for the Super Bowl champions.
Defensive end Michael Bennett is having some legal issues. Without knowing what the result of that is, this pick is smart either way.
Should Bennett face a suspension—or even worse, jail time—for his felony charge of injuring the elderly, Sweat would be a fine substitute.
Even if Bennett is on the field Week 1, Sweat would be a fantastic rotational edge-rusher. He has a ton of ability and a plethora of athleticism.
North of 6'4", Sweat ran a 4.53 40-yard dash at the combine. He's 251 pounds too.
According to Mock Draftable, Sweat tested in the 90th percentile or higher in three categories among fellow defensive ends: the 40, vertical jump and broad jump.
Adding the Florida State product would help the Eagles quite a bit. There are other options who make more sense, but you can never have too many pass-rushers.
Sweat makes it inside the first round.
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