2018 NFL Mock Draft: Order of Selections and Final 1st-Round Team Predictions
The 2018 NFL draft is finally here, and it has a chance to be one of the most entertaining first rounds in recent memory.
The Cleveland Browns have basically been on the clock since January, but their draft board has remained shrouded in mystery. Barring some unexpected leak in the final hours, there is a chance we won't know who the No. 1 selection is until commissioner Roger Goodell steps up to the podium to announce the selection.
With just hours to go before we finally know where the top prospects are headed, here's a rundown of how the first round could play out:
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1. Cleveland Browns: Sam Darnold, QB, USC
2. New York Giants: Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State
3. New York Jets (from IND): Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma
4. Cleveland Browns (from HOU): Bradley Chubb, DE, NC State
5. Denver Broncos: Minkah Fitzpatrick, DB, Alabama
6. Indianapolis Colts (from NYJ): Quenton Nelson, OG, Notre Dame
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Derwin James, S, Florida State
8. Chicago Bears: Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia
9. San Francisco 49ers: Tremaine Edmunds, LB, Virginia Tech
10. Oakland Raiders: Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame
11. Miami Dolphins: Vita Vea, DT, Washington
12. Buffalo Bills (from CIN): Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming
13. Washington Redskins: Da'Ron Payne, DT, Alabama
14. Green Bay Packers: Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State
15. Arizona Cardinals: Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA
16. Baltimore Ravens: Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville
17. Los Angeles Chargers: Rashaan Evans, LB, Alabama
18. Seattle Seahawks: Will Hernandez, OG, UTEP
19. Dallas Cowboys: Leighton Vander Esch, LB, Boise State
20. Detroit Lions: Harold Landry, Edge, Boston College
21. Cincinnati Bengals (from BUF): Frank Ragnow, C, Arkansas
22. Buffalo Bills (from KC): James Daniels, C, Iowa
23. New England Patriots (from LAR): Kolton Miller, OT, UCLA
24. Carolina Panthers: Josh Jackson, CB, Iowa
25. Tennessee Titans: Sam Hubbard, DE, Ohio State
26. Atlanta Falcons: Taven Bryan, DT, Florida
27. New Orleans Saints: Marcus Davenport, Edge, UTSA
28. Pittsburgh Steelers: Justin Reid, S, Stanford
29. Jacksonville Jaguars: D.J. Moore, WR, Maryland
30. Minnesota Vikings: Jaire Alexander, CB, Louisville
31. New England Patriots: Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama
32. Philadelphia Eagles: Derrius Guice, RB, LSU
1. Cleveland Browns: Sam Darnold
Usually, we know who the No. 1 pick will be by this time, but Browns general manager John Dorsey has gone to great lengths to keep the selection a secret.
Early Thursday morning, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that there is a "mounting belief from head coaches and general managers around the NFL" that the Browns will take Mayfield. However, the wording of Schefter's report is key. He clearly acknowledges that his source is not in Cleveland. In other words, Schefter, others around the league and all of us on the outside are still guessing.
Despite the reports about Mayfield, many experts are still sticking with Darnold as the pick, including ESPN.com's Todd McShay.
From all angles, Darnold appears to be the safest bet. He has the combination of arm strength, accuracy, mobility and leadership that teams tend to covet near the top of the draft.
3. New York Jets: Baker Mayfield
Perhaps no team is more interested in what Cleveland is doing with the No. 1 pick than the Jets, who are also hoping to land a quarterback with their selection.
With five quarterbacks expected to go in the first round, obviously, the Jets will land someone. But there is a good chance they're hoping to get their hands on either Darnold or Mayfield, which means they'll settle for whichever guy the Browns pass over.
Given the Jets' depth chart at quarterback—38-year-old Josh McCown is the projected starter as of now—Mayfield would have an excellent chance to play right away in New York.
The Jets are lacking playmakers on offense, so it's not an ideal situation for a young quarterback. However, the ultra-competitive Mayfield will probably love the challenge of turning the Jets back into a winner.
12. Buffalo Bills: Josh Allen
There has been rampant speculation that the Bills want to trade up for a quarterback. ESPN's Jeff Darlington reported on Thursday that Bills GM Brandon Beane believes he has the ability to trade up as high as No. 2 overall.
However, if the Bills are targeting Josh Allen, they probably don't need to move up that high.
Once the Browns and Jets grab their quarterbacks, there isn't another team with a glaring need for a quarterback in the top 10. Of course, other teams could trade up in an effort to jump the Bills—the Cardinals, Ravens and Chargers are all possible candidates.
Given the Bills need for a quarterback and their assets (they own two first-round picks and two second-round picks) they have the ability to move up for Allen if he's their target.
16. Baltimore Ravens: Lamar Jackson
Placing Lamar Jackson in mock drafts is a difficult guessing game.
One of the reasons this is such a challenge is due to the fact that drafting Jackson would require a number of teams to change their offensive scheme to maximize Jackson's strengths as a mobile quarterback.
Obviously, Jackson won't be running the same offense as the immobile Joe Flacco, so maybe the Ravens won't consider going this direction. If they're open to a drastic shift in offensive philosophy, however, this move could change the direction of their franchise.
GM Ozzie Newsome is stepping down from his role after this draft, so he may be inclined to try to set the Ravens up with their quarterback of the future before he leaves.
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