This probably could use a bit better citing as my mock draft has certainly been influenced by others I have seen. For example, I saw someone else in their mock draft first how the Chargers GM never takes defensive tackles.
I definitely enjoy making one of these when I have time even though I will almost certainly get almost every pick wrong. My favorite team is the Indianapolis Colts though I'm not sure that had any influence on this mock draft.
2018 Mock Draft
1. Cleveland Browns – Josh Allen, Wyoming – QB
NFL.com writer Daniel Jeremiah recently said on the Rich Eisen show when discussing his mock draft that while he had the Browns taking Sam Darnold number one overall he was hearing that the Browns were likely to select Josh Allen number one. Todd McShay also said the people he has spoken to think the Browns are going to select Allen but aren't sure in his artcile, "McShay's draft buzz: Everything I'm hearing on top prospects, teams".
2. New York Giants – Saquon Barkley, Penn State – RB
When David Gettleman was the general manager of the Carolina Panthers last year, he took Christian McCaffrey with the eighth overall pick. Given that, it shouldn't be a surprise if he takes Barkley with the second overall pick. Further, Gettleman has at least expressed public support for Eli Manning.
3. New York Jets – Sam Darnold, USC – QB
Although Baker Mayfield has been linked to the New York Jets recently, the Jets will be hard pressed to pass on Darnold if he is available.
4. Cleveland Browns – Bradley Chubb, DE – North Carolina State
Although the Cleveland Browns drafted defensive end Myles Garett with the first overall pick in 2017 they could still use another top five pick on a defensive end.
Mock Trade!
Denver Broncos acquire 12th (1,200 points), 22nd (780 points), 65th (265 points), = 2,245 points
Buffalo Bills acquire 5th overall pick (1,700 points)
5. Buffalo BIlls– Baker Mayfield, QB – Oklahoma
The Bills signing AJ McCarron will not stop them from drafting a quarterback in the first round and they have a lot of draft assets to possibly trade up with.
6. Indianapolis Colts – Roquan Smith, LB – Georgia
Both of the previous organizations that Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard was a part of had strong linebacker play at the height of their success. The Chicago Bears had Lance Briggs and Brian Urlacher while the Kansas City Chiefs had Justin Houston, Derrick Johnson, and Tamba Hall.
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Derwin James, S – Florida State
Tampa Bay allowed the most passing yards per game in 2017. They have already added defensive ends Jason Pierre-Paul and Vinny Curry this offseason and they may address the secondary in the draft.
8. Chicago Bears – Quenton Nelson, G – Notre Dame
Many mock drafts have Nelson going higher then this but guards are not typically a priority position for most teams in the draft. Only three have been taken in the top 10 since 2002 (Brand Scheriff at #5 in 2015, Jonathan Cooper at #7 in 2013, and Chance Warmack at #10 in 2013).
9. San Francisco 49ers - Calvin Ridley, WR – Alabama
Ridley is not projected to go this high in most mock drafts but Corey Davis, Mike Williams, and John Ross all went higher than expected in the 2017 draft. Ridley, like current 49ers veteran wide receiver Pierre Garcon, is considered a strong route runner.
10. Oakland Raiders – Tremaine Edmunds, LB – Virginia Tech
Tremaine Edmunds could fill the Raiders’ hole at middle linebacker or move outside if their free agent acquisitions at outside linebacker struggle.
11. Miami Dolphins – Minkah Fitzpatrick, S – Alabama
Miami Herald writer recently pointed out the Dolphins’ struggles against opposing tight ends in his article “Is Minkah Fitzpatrick the Dolphins’ defense’s Missing Piece?”. In my standard scoring .5 PPR dynasty league the Dolphins gave up the second most fantasy PPG in the entire league to opposing tight ends in 2017 so perhaps they could benefit from drafting Fitzpatrick despite safety not being typically listed as a need for them.
12. Denver Broncos (Mock Trade!) – Denzel Ward, CB – Ohio State
The Denver Broncos traded cornerback Aqib Talib to the Los Angeles Rams this offseason. The Broncos still have talented cornerback Chris Harris and Tramaine Brock but Brock is only signed for one season.
13. Washington Redskins – Vita Vea, DT – Washington
The Redskins allowed the most rushing yards per game in 2017. Drafting a big and athletic defensive tackle such as Vea could help improve their rush defense.
14. Green Bay Packers – Jaire Alexander, CB – Louisville
The Packers gave up 30 passing touchdowns in 2017 (tied for 2nd most in the league) and ranked in the bottom half of the league in passing yards allowed.
15. Arizona Cardinals, Josh Rosen, QB - UCLA
NFL.com writer Daniel Jeremiah recently reported that Rosen could fall out of the top 10 in this draft. Sam Bradford is not signed long term with the Cardinals so they may at least consider using their first pick on a quarterback.
16. Baltimore Ravens – Lamar Jackson, QB - Louisville
Baltimore Ravens starting Quarterback Joe Flacco led the Ravens to a Super Bowl victory in 2013 but has arguably struggled the last couple of seasons. The Ravens have invested in mobile quarterbacks in the past with Tyrod Taylor having been the backup quarterback in Baltimore for four seasons from 2011 through 2014.
17. Los Angeles Chargers – Rashan Evans, LB – Alabama
Defensive tackle is a somewhat popular mock pick for the Chargers but in his five previous drafts as Chargers’ general manager, Tom Telesco has never selected a defensive tackle in the first four rounds of the NFL Draft. Inside linebacker also appears to be a need for the Chargers and may be a more likely position they target in the first round.
18. Seattle Seahawks – Da’Ron Payne, DT – Alabama
The Seahawks lost 2017 starting defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson in March in free agency and it appears unlikely their 2016 2nd round pick in defensive tackle Malik McDowell will ever play in the NFL after being involved in an ATV accident prior to the start of the 2017 season.
19. Dallas Cowboys – D.J. Moore, WR – Maryland
The last time Cowboys’ projected top two receivers Allen Hurns or Terrance Williams had more than 800 yards receiving in a season was in 2015.
20. Detroit Lions – Marcus Davenport, DE – UTEP
Ziggy Ansah has been a star for the Detroit Lions but the Lions still finished in the bottom half of the league with 35 team sacks in 2017.
21. Cincinnati Bengals – Will Hernandez, G – UTEP
The Bengals last took an interior linemen in the first round in 2012 when they selected Kevin Zeitler with the 27th overall pick. They may take another one this year.
22. Denver Broncos (Projected Trade) – Derrius Guice, RB - LSU
The Broncos may consider Guice if they trade down and feel like he can perform more like he did in 2016 then 2017 especially after cutting C.J. Anderson.
23. New England Patriots – Taven Bryan, DT – Florida
The Patriots already acquired defensive tackle Danny Shelton from the Browns this offseason but Shelton is more of a run stuffing tackle. Bryan is more of a pass rushing tackle and could improve a pass defense that gave up 373 passing yards and 3 touchdowns to Nick Foles in the Super Bowl and also failed to register a single sack in the game.
24. Carolina Panthers – Josh Jackson, CB - Iowa
The Panthers traded Daryl Worley, who started 14 games for Carolina in 2017, in March to the Philadelphia Eagles for Torrey Smith in March.
25. Tennessee Titans – Harold Landry, 3-4 OLB/DE – Boston College
The Titans’ current starting outside linebackers Derrick Morgan and Brian Orakpo both are set to become free agents after the season according to spotrac.com.
26. Atlanta Falcons – Mike Hughes, CB - UCF
Although cornerback Desmond Trufant is arguably one of the best cornerbacks in the league, the Falcons could potentially benefit from improved play at the other starting cornerback position.
27. New Orleans Saints – Dallas Goedert, TE – South Dakota State
Coby Fleener hasn’t exactly excelled in the Saints and could be replaced.
28. Pittsburgh Steelers – Leighton Vander Esch, ILB – Boise State
Ryan Shazier’s career in the NFL may be over after suffering a spinal cord injury in December.
29. Jacksonville Jaguars – Mike McGlinchey, OT – Notre Dame
The Jaguars made a major addition to their offensive line when they signed 2017 All-Pro guard Andrew Norewel but could still look to make additional upgrades in the draft.
30. Minnesota Vikings – James Daniels, G/C - Iowa
Joe Berger, who started on the offensive line for the Vikings all 16 games in 2017, retired in March. The 2018 draft appears to have an abundance of quality interior offensive line prospects so the Vikings may choose to draft his replacement with the 30th overall pick.
31. New England Patriots – Kolton Miller, OT – UCLA
Nate Solder, the New England Patriots’ starter at left tackle in 2017, signed with the New York Giants in March. Kolton Miller could be his replacement after a strong combine.
32. Philadelphia Eagles – Sony Michel, RB - Georgia
The defending Super Bowl champions do not appear to have any immediate needs on their team.They did lose one half of their rushing attack when LeGarrette Blount signed with the Detroit Lions in March. The other half, Jay Ajayi, meanwhile, is set to be a free agent after the 2018 season.
2nd Round
33. Cleveland Browns - Harrison Phillips, DT - Stanford
34. New York Giants – Courtland Sutton, WR - SMU
35. Cleveland Browns – Donte Jackson, CB – LSU
36. Indianapolis Colts – Isaiah Wynn, G – Georgia
37. Indianapolis Colts – Justin Reid, S – Stanford
38. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Nick Chubb, RB – Georgia
39. Chicago Bears – Isaiah Oliver, CB – Colorado
40. Denver Broncos – Lorenzo Carter, DE/3-4 OLB – Georgia
41. Oakland Raiders – Maurice Hurst, DT - Michigan
42. Miami Dolphins – Hayden Hurst, TE – South Carolina
43. New England Patriots – Connor Williams, G/T – Texas
44. Washington Redskins – Billy Price, C – Ohio State
45. Green Bay Packers – Jessie Bates III, S – Wake Forest
46. Cincinnati Bengals – Ronnie Harrison, S – Alabama
47. Arizona Cardinals– D.J. Chark, WR - LSU
48. Los Angeles Chargers – Geron Christian, T – Louisville
49. Indianapolis Colts – Jerome Baker, OLB – Ohio State
50. Dallas Cowboys – Sam Hubbard, DE/3-4 OLB – Ohio State
51. Detroit Lions – Kerryon Johnson, RB - Auburn
52. Baltimore Ravens – Mike Gesicki, TE – Penn State
53. Buffalo Bills – Tyrell Crosby, G/T – Oregon
54. Kansas City Chiefs – Arden Key, 3-4 OLB/DE – LSU
55. Carolina Panthers – Anthony Miller, WR – Memphis
56. Buffalo Bills – Ronald Jones, RB – USC
57. Tennessee Titans – Frank Ragnow, C – Arkansas
58. Atlanta Falcons – Tim Settle, DT – Virginia Tech
59. San Francisco 49ers – Christian Kirk, WR – Texas A&M
60. Pittsburgh Steelers – Mason Rudolph, QB – Oklahoma State
61. Jacksonville Jaguars – Rasheem Green, DE - USC
62. Minnesota Vikings – Josh Sweat, DE/3-4 OLB – Florida State
63. New England Patriots – Carlton Davis, CB – Auburn
64. Cleveland Browns – Orlando Brown, T – Oklahoma
