NFL Mock Draft 2018: 1st-Round Projections and Ideal Scenarios for Top Prospects
When looking back at any draft's best selections, the perfect blend of talent and fit optimized a player's ascendance.
That's not to say Tom Brady would have flamed out away from the New England Patriots, but even a Hall of Famer needs the right coaching and supporting cast to reach his ceiling. What if the next Brady already made the NFL, only to never receive an opportunity to escape the bench?
Would a healthy Carson Wentz or Deshaun Watson have broken out with the Cleveland Browns? Alvin Kamara falling to last year's third round is laughable in hindsight, but no team may have unlocked his talent as well as the New Orleans Saints.
.png?w=256)
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Less than three weeks away from the 2018 NFL draft, let's take another crack at guessing the first round before highlighting a few perfect player-team fits in play.
2018 NFL Mock Draft: Round 1
1. Cleveland Browns: Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming
2. New York Giants: Sam Darnold, QB, USC
3. New York Jets (from Indianapolis Colts): Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA
4. Cleveland Browns (from Houston Texans): Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State
5. Denver Broncos: Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma
6. Indianapolis Colts (from New York Jets): Bradley Chubb, DE, NC State
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Minkah Fitzpatrick, S, Alabama
8. Chicago Bears: Quenton Nelson, G, Notre Dame
9. San Francisco 49ers: Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State
10. Oakland Raiders: Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia
11. Miami Dolphins: Derwin James, S, Florida State
12. Buffalo Bills (from Cincinnati Bengals): Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville
13. Washington: Vita Vea, DT, Washington
14. Green Bay Packers: Tremaine Edmunds, LB, Virginia Tech
15. Arizona Cardinals: Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame
16. Baltimore Ravens: Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama
17. Los Angeles Chargers: Maurice Hurst, DT, Michigan
18. Seattle Seahawks: Marcus Davenport, DE, UTSA
19. Dallas Cowboys: Rashaan Evans, LB, Alabama
20. Detroit Lions: Da'Ron Payne, DT, Alabama
21. Cincinnati Bengals (from Buffalo Bills): Harold Landry, DE, Boston College
22. Buffalo Bills (from Kansas City Chiefs): Josh Jackson, CB, Iowa
23. New England Patriots (from Los Angeles Rams): Isaiah Wynn, G, Georgia
24. Carolina Panthers: Justin Reid, S, Stanford
25. Tennessee Titans: Leighton Vander Esch, LB, Boise State
26. Atlanta Falcons: Taven Bryan, DT, Florida
27. New Orleans Saints: Hayden Hurst, TE, South Carolina
28. Pittsburgh Steelers: Jaire Alexander, CB, Louisville
29. Jacksonville Jaguars: D.J. Moore, WR, Maryland
30. Minnesota Vikings: Will Hernandez, G, UTEP
31. New England Patriots: Courtland Sutton, WR, SMU
32. Philadelphia Eagles: Sam Hubbard, DE, Ohio State
Ideal Fits
2. New York Giants: Sam Darnold, QB, USC
It's not officially spring until a tall quarterback with a strong arm rockets up draft boards. Despite completing 56.3 percent of his passes for 6.7 yards per pass attempt during his junior season, Josh Allen is gaining buzz as a possible No. 1 pick.
According to Monday Morning Quarterback's Peter King, a friend of John Dorsey said the Cleveland Browns general manager is leaning toward taking the Wyoming quarterback with his first choice. Scouts gave Bleacher Report's Matt Miller a consensus on whom the New York Giants would grab in this scenario:
On Wednesday, ESPN.com's Jordan Raanan also called Sam Darnold "the most likely quarterback to be drafted by the Giants." He explained their interest in the USC quarterback as Eli Manning's successor.
"He checks all the boxes with his clean background, demeanor, skill set and ability to handle pressure and demands that come with being a quarterback in New York," Raanan wrote. "He just might not be there when they pick."
If the Browns pass, the Giants should shut down any talks of trading down or drafting edge-rusher Bradley Chubb. Manning, who turned 37 in January, recorded his fewest yards per attempt last season (6.07) since 2004's rookie campaign. At best, he has another year or two left as a competent signal-caller who would not derail an otherwise potent squad from sneaking into the playoffs.
A new regime should not fool itself into plotting Big Blue's path back to the Super Bowl with Manning under center. Andy Dalton, Jacoby Brissett, Blake Bortles and Jay Cutler were among the 24 players to post a better quarterback rating than his 80.4 in 2017.
From his quiet poise to his turnover woes, Darnold makes the perfect Manning replacement who would benefit from spending some time watching a two-time Super Bowl champion. Barring an unwise trade, partnering with Odell Beckham Jr. would sure beat joining the Browns or instead calling the Meadowlands home with the New York Jets.
6. Indianapolis Colts: Bradley Chubb, DE, NC State
Despite swapping spots with the Jets, the Indianapolis Colts will find an ideal option waiting at No. 6.
All four teams picking before them should have quarterbacks high on their draft boards, but the Colts are not replacing Andrew Luck anytime soon. They can instead address one of three glaring holes with their first-round selection.
If running back Saquon Barkley falls, they have their long-term upgrade over the departed Frank Gore. They will more likely grab Chubb or guard Quenton Nelson. After surrendering an NFL-high 56 sacks while tallying the second-fewest sacks (25) of their own, either one would represent a welcome addition.
With passers flying off the board, this mock unfolds perfectly for them. It also creates an enviable dilemma of which one to take, and there isn't a wrong answer.
Chubb, however, gets the slight nod. After ranking No. 30 in total offense in consecutive years, Indianapolis needs an explosive playmaker like the 275-pound defensive end, who recorded 10 sacks apiece in his junior and senior seasons at NC State.
ESPN Insider Mel Kiper Jr. called Chubb falling to the Colts "too perfect" as they transition to a 4-3 defense under new coordinator Matt Eberflus. In the unlikely event of Chub and Nelson going in the top five, they can again trade down to another quarterback-needy team.
13. Washington: Vita Vea, DT, Washington
Opponents gashed Washington to an NFL-high 134.1 rushing yards per game last season. That weakness should place nose tackles high on its draft list.
Anchored by Vita Vea, the Washington Huskies relinquished a microscopic 2.9 yards per carry last season. The 347-pound prospect demonstrated a tremendous blend of speed and strength by running the 40-yard dash in 5.1 seconds and benching 41 reps at the NFL Scouting Combine.
"It gets kind [of] weird when you look at that film and you see a 340-pounder running with a 200-pound linebacker and we get to the ball at the same time," Washington linebacker Keishawn Bierria told Sports Illustrated's Andy Staples. "Something's wrong here."
Bringing the 23-year-old from Seattle to D.C. will fortify Washington's defense, and he has the talent to develop beyond a typical three-down tackle. Even if he doesn't, the 2015 division champions need those three downs of run containment to harbor any playoff hopes behind Alex Smith.
Vea, meanwhile, can star in an optimal 3-4 scheme surrounded by a strong group of pass-rushing linebackers. Someone could unexpectedly fall to No. 13, but it currently looks like a perfect spot for Washington to plug its biggest hole.
.png?w=480)
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
