NFL Mock Draft 2018: 1st-Round Projections with Trades for Top Prospects

Part of the allure of the NFL draft is not only seeing your favorite team improve, but also the prospect of potential trades.

Prior to the draft, we've seen trades involving teams like the New York Jets moving up into the top three, and the New England Patriots adding another first-round pick.

In this mock draft, we'll look at not only first-round predictions but also a few possible trade scenarios.

Let's take a look.

NFL Mock Draft: Round 1

1. Cleveland Browns: Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming

2. Buffalo Bills (projected trade w/ New York Giants): Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA

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: Quenton Nelson, OG, Notre Dame

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

10. Oakland Raiders: Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State

11. Miami Dolphins: Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia

12. New York Giants (projected trade w/ Buffalo Bills, via Cincinnati Bengals): Will Hernandez, OG, UTEP

13. Washington Redskins: Vita Vea, DT, Washington

14. New England Patriots (projected trade w/ Green Bay Packers): Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville

15. Arizona Cardinals: Derwin James, S, Florida State

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. Carolina Panthers (projected trade w/ Detroit Lions): Courtland Sutton, WR, SMU

21. Cincinnati Bengals (via Buffalo Bills): Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame

22. New York Giants (projected trade w/ Buffalo Bills, via Kansas City Chiefs): Harold Landry, EDGE, Boston College

23. Green Bay Packers (projected trade w/ New England Patriots, via Los Angeles Rams): Marcus Davenport, DE, UTSA

24. Detroit Lions (projected trade w/ Carolina Panthers): Josh Sweat, DE, Florida State

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

26. Atlanta Falcons: Taven Bryan, DT, Florida 

27. New Orleans Saints: Rashaan Evans, LB, Alabama

28. Pittsburgh Steelers: Jaire Alexander, CB, Louisville

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

30. Minnesota Vikings: Kolton Miller, OT, UCLA

31. Green Bay Packers (projected trade w/ New England Patriots): D.J. Moore, WR, Maryland

32. Philadelphia Eagles: Derrius Guice, RB, LSU

Trade Projections

2. Buffalo Bills: Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA

We've read the report from CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora that the Bills trying to trade up with the Giants to get their franchise quarterback, and in this scenario, they pull it off.

With the Browns opting for the prototype in Josh Allen, the Bills get the most well-rounded quarterback in Rosen to lead their franchise into the next decade.

Rosen should be the No. 1 overall pick, but the Browns will shoot for the potential in Allen.

Right now, the Bills don't have the most talent at the skill positions to catch the ball from Rosen.

In his rookie season, the Bills should look to running back LeSean McCoy to help take some pressure off of him until they can get him some more weapons.

With a wide receiver corps led by Kelvin Benjamin, the options right now are limited.

Rosen can do it all. Sure, he's going from the warm climate to the blizzards of Buffalo in this case, but that isn't something to be worried about.

Get his leadership material in that locker room and let it ride.

The Bills have found their man.

14. New England Patriots: Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville

The Patriots will use their two first-round picks to move up to get their quarterback of the future, also known as the Josh McDaniels era.

Coming out of Louisville and from an offense headed by Bobby Petrino, Jackson is more ready for the NFL than other teams will give him credit for, and the Patriots will jump all over him.

Heading into the combine, Peter Schrager of NFL Network reported teams requested Jackson work out as a wide receiver, which resulted in Jackson refusing to run the 40.

While Tom Brady is still quarterbacking the Patriots, Jackson could still be used in packages such as the one that had Brady attempting (and failing) to haul in a catch in Super Bowl LII.

However, when Jackson eventually takes over, the Patriots will have a guy who can not only operate as a traditional quarterback but can make plays with his legs. 

The combination of the offensive prowess of McDaniels, who by the time Brady is gone will likely have become head coach following the retirement of Bill Belichick, and Jackson's playmaking ability could be a thing of beauty for years to come. Jackson has already played in a pro-style offense, and a year or two to learn the Patriots system would be beneficial.

The Patriots should recognize that. McDaniels surely recognizes that. So that's why they'll move up right in front of teams, like the Cardinals, that could snag Jackson, trade the No. 23 and 31 picks and take their man for the future.

Brady and Jackson have their differences, but lumping Jackson into the category of strictly "running quarterbacks" isn't fair; Jackson comes from a system that could transfer to the Patriots offense.

Sticking with the Pats playbook and adding some different concepts to fit Jackson's skill set could set up another winning era with the Patriots, but this time it will be the McDaniels and Jackson era as opposed to Brady and Belichick. 

20. Carolina Panthers: Courtland Sutton, WR, SMU

Starting with the No. 24 pick, the Panthers could try to move up to get Ridley, but after an unsuccessful attempt to sway the Ravens and general manager Ozzie Newsome, they settle with a few picks later and take Sutton.

While the Panthers have running back Christian McCaffrey and tight end Greg Olsen and did see some life out of wide receiver Devin Funchess, they need that commanding outside presence to help open up the middle of the field for Olsen and McCaffrey, and Sutton can do just that.

Sutton's production was capped at SMU due to quarterback play, but make no mistake—Sutton is arguably the best receiver in this class.

He's not scared of contact or going over the middle and will have no problem being in the mold of a No. 1 receiver.

The Panthers do have some other needs, but getting quarterback Cam Newton a top-flight option is a must for the good of the entire team—especially the offense.

With this, they now have a No. 1 receiver and gave up minimal draft capital to get it.