2018 NFL Mock Draft: Bold Predictions for Most Overrated Prospects

We're quickly approaching the NFL draft on April 26, so it's only natural we begin to examine prospects a bit more closely.

A common point of contention among NFL fans and even teams is examining this question: Which players are overrated?

Now, just because a prospect is deemed to be overrated, that doesn't mean he's bad by any means. It just means that, for whatever reason, he's more highly touted than he should be.

This is for a number of reasons, such as depth at a position in a draft class or if it's a position of great need.

Below, we have a first-round mock, and we'll also look at three prospects who just might be a bit overrated.

NFL Mock Draft: Round 1

1. Cleveland Browns: Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming

2. New York Giants: Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State

3. New York Jets (via Indianapolis Colts): Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA

4. Buffalo Bills (projected trade w/ Cleveland Browns, via Houston Texans): Sam Darnold, QB, USC

5. Denver Broncos: Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma

6. Indianapolis Colts (via New York Jets): Bradley Chubb, DE, NC State

7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Derwin James, S, Florida State

8. Chicago Bears: Quenton Nelson, OG, Notre Dame

9. San Francisco 49ers: Minkah Fitzpatrick, S, Alabama

10. Oakland Raiders: Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia

11. Miami Dolphins: Tremaine Edmunds, LB, Virginia Tech

12. Cleveland Browns (projected trade w/ Buffalo Bills, via Cincinnati Bengals): Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State

13. Washington Redskins: Vita Vea, DT, Washington

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

15. Arizona Cardinals: Leighton Vander Esch, LB, Boise 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: Courtland Sutton, WR, SMU

20. Detroit Lions: Harold Landry, EDGE, Boston College

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

22. Cleveland Browns (projected trade w/ Buffalo Bills, via Kansas City Chiefs): Marcus Davenport, DE, UTSA

23. Green Bay Packers (projected trade w/ New England Patriots, via Los Angeles Rams): Josh Sweat, DE, Florida State

24. Carolina Panthers: Will Hernandez, OG, UTEP

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): Carlton Davis, CB, Auburn

32. Arizona Cardinals (projected trade w/ Philadelphia Eagles): Mason Rudolph, QB, Oklahoma State

Overrated Prospects

Sam Darnold, QB, USC

Again, this goes back to what we talked about in the beginning: Just because a prospect is overrated, it doesn't mean they're bad.

In a different draft class, Sam Darnold wouldn't go as high as No. 4 to the Buffalo Bills following a trade-up with the Cleveland Browns.

Darnold has plenty of the "right" tools—excellent measurables, solid accuracy, can run if need be and has a feel for incoming defenders—but Darnold has an affinity for one bad trait in particular: Turnovers.

In his last 20 games at USC, Darnold had 20 interceptions, and in 2017, he had 22 total turnovers (13 interceptions; nine fumbles).

That's quite a lot.

NFL.com compared Darnold to Andrew Luck. He may have his fair share of similar traits as Luck, but I don't recall Luck turning the ball over like that.

Depending on the team Darnold ultimately lands with—and in this case, it's the Bills—those turnovers will be hard to recover from.

This isn't the Pac-12 where you're going to be the most talented player on the field every game.

In the NFL, those turnovers will more than likely lead to points, especially if he lands in a division with Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.

Hopefully, the turnovers can be addressed in the NFL, but Darnold is my personal No. 4 quarterback in this class.

Courtland Sutton, WR, SMU

Sutton represents a prototypical outside wide receiver, standing at 6'3" and running a 4.54 40-yard dash.

However, there are flaws in Sutton's game that, while they can be corrected or taught in the NFL, are going to be tough to handle in year one, especially if he's drafted to replace Dez Bryant on the Dallas Cowboys.

We can give Sutton a slight benefit of the doubt due to quarterback play at SMU during his tenure there, but Sutton relied a lot on his frame playing for SMU and the AAC.

Against cornerbacks that can go toe-to-toe with him, Sutton struggles to separate. Despite his impressive 40-yard dash time, his play speed can be questioned.

Coming from SMU, it will be interesting to see how he adjusts from being the best player on the field in mediocre competition to learning schemes and plays to go up against the best cornerbacks in the world.

Should he enter the NFC East, that means Josh Norman, Janoris Jenkins and Ronald Darby two times a year.

If Sutton is drafted to replace Bryant, the Cowboys should temper immediate expectations from Sutton.

Mason Rudolph, QB, Oklahoma State

This one is a bit unfair, but hey, in this mock, Mason Rudolph is going in the first-round, albeit as the last selection.

Based on his talent and ability, Rudolph is a Day 2 pick through and through.

But the Cardinals have a need at quarterback, even with Sam Bradford on board for the immediate future.

And let's face it, if there's one team Bradford likes to play for, too, it's the injured reserve squad.

Rudolph looks like a quarterback no doubt, but his frame and size and the velocity he packs with his throws don't exactly match up.

Also, he's coming from a school in Oklahoma State that could be defined as a "system school" and coming from a spread offense.

However, with that said, the NFL has done a nice job adapting to these college systems and implementing RPO's.

Should he land in the NFC West, though, with a team like the Los Angeles Rams lingering around, his lack of velocity and lack of reps throwing the ball on the run/rolling out could see Rudolph struggle.

You absolutely cannot ask anything of Rudolph in his rookie season.

That means, in this case—stay healthy Bradford. Teach this kid for the year.