NFL Draft 2018: Latest Mock Draft and Shifts on Stock Market as Event Nears
NFL fans need to be akin to a quarterback at the line of scrimmage this close to the 2018 NFL draft.
The task now while the waiting game comes to a close? Figure out what is a smokescreen meant to manipulate the draft itself and what is the real thing as reports fly from all corners of the league. It's like playing quarterback in the modern NFL—trying to figure out what the defense is disguising before the snap is half the battle these days.
Reports vary in nature right now, but it sure seems like a draft where a handful of teams are still looking to trade down after a pair of marquee trades already shifted around the order. Rumblings of stock alterations for prospects come from various angles but could hold some weight as well.
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To help cut through the noise, let's take a look at a mock draft based on draft season's accumulated information and then detail some of the bigger recent stock movers ahead of Thursday.
2018 NFL Mock Draft
1. Cleveland Browns: Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma
2. New York Giants: Sam Darnold, QB, USC
3. New York Jets: Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA
4. Cleveland Browns (via Houston Texans): Bradley Chubb, DE, NC State
5. Denver Broncos: Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming
6. Indianapolis Colts: Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Derwin James, S, Florida State
8. Chicago Bears: Quenton Nelson, G, Notre Dame
9. San Francisco 49ers: Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia
10. Oakland Raiders: Courtland Sutton, WR, SMU
11. Miami Dolphins: Minkah Fitzpatrick, DB, Alabama
13. Washington Redskins: Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama
14. Green Bay Packers: Leighton Vander Esch, LB, Boise State
15. Arizona Cardinals: Vita Vea, DT, Washington
16. Baltimore Ravens: Harold Landry, DE/OLB, Boston College
17. Los Angeles Chargers: Tremaine Edmunds, LB, Virginia Tech
18. Seattle Seahawks: Isaiah Wynn, OL, Georgia
19. Dallas Cowboys: Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame
20. Detroit Lions: Derrius Guice, RB, LSU
21. Cincinnati Bengals: Mike Gesicki, TE, Penn State
22. Buffalo Bills (via Kansas City Chiefs): Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State
23. New England Patriots (via Los Angeles Rams): Kolton Miller, OT, UCLA
24. Carolina Panthers: James Daniels, OL, Iowa
25. Tennessee Titans: Da'Ron Payne, DT, Alabama
26. Atlanta Falcons: Maurice Hurst, DT, Michigan
27. New Orleans Saints: Will Hernandez, OG, UTEP
28. Pittsburgh Steelers: Marcus Davenport, DE/OLB, UTSA
29. Jacksonville Jaguars: Josh Jackson, CB, Iowa
30. Minnesota Vikings: Isaiah Oliver, CB, Colorado
31. New England Patriots: Mason Rudolph, QB, Oklahoma State
32. Philadelphia Eagles: Sony Michel, RB, Georgia
Stock Up: Kolton Miller, OT, UCLA
It seemed like only a matter of time before the draft process hyped up UCLA offensive tackle Kolton Miller.
Miller is a monster of an athlete with interesting upside, a description justified when talking about his 6'9", 310-pound frame with a 4.95 40-yard dash or 4.49 20-yard shuttle.
According to CBSSports.com's Jason La Canfora, some now view Miller as the best offensive tackle in the class. Granted, this could simply stem from different evaluators valuing differing things, as some might prefer long-term upside to instant production.
Either way, Miller's size continues to make him a polarizing prospect, as Bleacher Report's Matt Miller pointed out:
At the end of the day, the NFL will always take high-upside players with alarming physical traits. Miller certainly has the latter at least, hence the New England Patriots taking him off the board at No. 23 in the mock above.
Those Patriots could try to move around given their wealth of picks, but Miller gives head coach Bill Belichick's staff a guy to build up while trying to replace Nate Solder.
Stock Down: Courtland Sutton, WR, SMU
This is a bad wide receiver class, which is putting it lightly.
Of course, the narrative could change in five or so years when all of these first-round prospects and a few later-round guys turn into great pros. But as of right now, quarterbacks and offensive linemen overshadow this odd class.
Courtland Sutton has generally been considered one of the top wideouts in the class, which is what happens when a productive 6'3", 218-pound wideout heads to the NFL. He tallied north of 1,000 yards and 22 total touchdowns over his last two seasons at SMU before heading to the pros.
But according to Draft Analyst's Tony Pauline, even the Dallas Cowboys don't view Sutton as the top wideout: "Despite needing a wide receiver, I'm told the Dallas Cowboys do not consider Courtland Sutton of SMU a first-round talent."
It sounds like a terrible bit of news for Sutton, considering the Cowboys parted ways with Dez Bryant and might take a rookie—but it could also be a smokescreen and they're still targeting him.
Either way, Calvin Ridley continues to fight for the top slot, and D.J. Moore continues to make a late push. Sutton is a pro-ready possession receiver with potential for a whole lot more, so we keep him coming off the board to the needy Oakland Raiders in the mock above, but he's one of the more unpredictable elements of this year's draft.
Stock Up: Sony Michel, RB, Georgia
When the draft process started, it looked like Saquon Barkley might be the lone running back prospect to come off the board in the first round. Derrius Guice later joined the conversation, though it seemed like he'd be the end of it—until now.
According to Miller, Sony Michel out of Georgia could sneak into the first round based on what he's hearing:
Michel certainly seems worth it from an on-paper standpoint. He's 5'11" and 220 pounds of quality north-south running that piled on 1,227 yards and 16 touchdowns a year ago, averaging 7.9 yards per carry in the process. He caught 22 or more passes in two out of his last three seasons as well, showing off some versatility.
NFL.com's Lance Zierlein explained a few more traits the NFL is bound to like: "He's not the most creative runner and he lacks some finesse, but his size, pass protection and ability to create yardage make him a natural fit as a future NFL starter."
The problem for Michel will be whether the NFL values his position enough to make him a first-round pick. It does in the mock above, as the Philadelphia Eagles grab him in an effort to boost the backfield rotation. But on draft day itself, it'll come down to whether teams want to grab a back instead of a quality offensive lineman or other premium position.
Michel clearly has some first-round traits, but we'll have to wait and see whether it's enough to push a third running back into the first round.
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