NFL Mock Draft 2018: 1st-Round Projections for Coveted Prospects' Landing Spots

With just one day to go until the 2018 NFL draft, it's time we wrap up the speculation, the mock drafts and the hearsay and get down to business.

For months on end, we've dissected every square-inch of this draft class, moving players all around big boards and mock drafts.

Let's have one of the last mock drafts of the predraft process for the first round.

We'll also look at some of the top prospects and project their value with their potential new teams.

NFL Mock Draft: Round 1

1. Cleveland Browns: Sam Darnold, QB, USC

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

3. New York Jets (via Indianapolis Colts): Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma

4. Buffalo Bills (projected trade w/ Cleveland Browns, via Houston Texans): Josh Allen, QB, Buffalo Bills

5. Denver Broncos: Quenton Nelson, OG, Notre Dame

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

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

8. Chicago Bears: Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State

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

10. New England Patriots (projected trade w/ Oakland Raiders): Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA

11. Miami Dolphins: Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia

12. Cleveland Browns (projected trade w/ Buffalo Bills, via Cincinnati Bengals): Minkah Fitzpatrick, S, Alabama

13. Washington Redskins: Vita Vea, DT, Washington

14. Green Bay Packers: Harold Landry, EDGE, Boston College

15. Arizona Cardinals: Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville

16. Baltimore Ravens: Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame

17. Los Angeles Chargers: Maurice Hurst, DT, Michigan

18. Seattle Seahawks: Frank Ragnow, C, Arkansas

19. Dallas Cowboys: Leighton Vander Esch, LB, Boise State

20. Detroit Lions: Marcus Davenport, DE, UTSA

21. Cincinnati Bengals (via Buffalo Bills): Will Hernandez, OG, UTEP

22. Cleveland Browns (projected trade w/ Buffalo Bills, via Kansas City Chiefs): Josh Sweat, DE, Florida State

23. Oakland Raiders (projected trade w/ New England Patriots, via Los Angeles Rams): Kolton Miller, OT, UCLA

24. Carolina Panthers: Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama

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: Isaiah Wynn, OG, Georgia

31. Oakland Raiders (projected trade w/ New England Patriots): Joshua Jackson, CB, Iowa

32. Philadelphia Eagles: Mike Hughes, CB, UFC

Top Prospects

1. Cleveland Browns: Sam Darnold, QB, USC

After years of trying to find their franchise quarterback, the Browns will take Sam Darnold out of USC to be just that guy for the future of their franchise.

For 2018, the Browns do have Tyrod Taylor, but Darnold could take over in 2018 at some point should Taylor struggle.

Darnold is ready to be an NFL quarterback. He has his turnover issues that will need to work themselves out, but I believe the sooner the athlete gets out and plays, the better.

However, Taylor is no slouch.

Maybe the Browns can trade him prior to the deadline to bolster their draft capital heading into 2019 and allow Darnold to take the reins that way.

Projected to also trade out of No. 4, the Browns will get an additional draft pick to help overhaul a roster for a fanbase that has been dying for a pulse in Cleveland.

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

After months of speculation about what the Giants would do with the No. 2 overall pick, they throw the Hail Mary and take Saquon Barkley—a running back.

This pick might make some draft purists and analysts crazy, but the draft choice of Barkley shows one thing: The Giants want to compete in 2018 with Eli Manning.

Keep in mind, this Giants team is a lot better than we saw in 2017, but due to internal issues and drama, it got derailed.

Also, wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. got injured along with other skill players.

With everyone healthy, the Giants have an offense and a defense that should compete in the NFC East in 2018.

Maybe they don't down the Eagles right away, but a wild-card spot is not out of the question.

The Giants haven't had real production from the running back position since Ahmad Bradshaw barely eclipsed 1,000 yards in 2012.

10. New England Patriots: Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA

After trading their No. 23 and No. 31 overall selections, the Patriots trade up with Jon Gruden and the Raiders to take the top quarterback prospect in the draft in Josh Rosen at No. 10 overall.

Rosen's primary concern with teams could be his attitude, which will lead to him falling into the double digits.

Rosen is a guy who could step in from day one and start, but with the Patriots that's not possible as Tom Brady is still around.

However, Rosen is intelligent enough to understand the team he'd be inheriting for sucking it up and waiting it out for a couple of years or so.

With Josh McDaniels at his side, Rosen and the Patriots could lead the Patriots into the 2020s with perhaps another dynasty.

Per usual, the Patriots will capitalize on other teams' mistakes and get their guy at No. 10 overall when he should have gone No. 1 overall.

Brady passing the torch to Rosen means many more winning years in New England for the Patriots and their fans.