1. Cleveland Browns: QB Sam Darnold – USC
After a lot of critical feedback for passing on Carson Wentz and DeShaun Watson over the last couple years, I don’t see them going anywhere but quarterback. Sam Darnold fun fact: one of his grandfathers is Dick Hammer. Yes, the Marlboro Man. Yes, a great name.
2. New York Giants: QB Josh Rosen – UCLA
New coach, new General Manager, and a new face of the franchise is needed as well. Rosen’s style of play is not that different from Eli Manning. Another similarity is—much like Eli refused to sign with the Chargers—Josh Rosen has been vocal about not wanting to go to Cleveland.
3. Indianapolis Colts: LB Tremaine Edmunds – Virginia Tech
You hardly ever see linebackers taken this early, but I could see this changing in 2018. While the owner might want Saquon Barkley, I think General Manager Chris Ballard will be allowed to make the call and will select the youngest player in the draft. Here’s Jeff Cavanaugh’s write-up on Edmunds.
4. Cleveland Browns: CB Minkah Fitzpatrick – Alabama
Suddenly I feel guilty for being so generic after the first four picks, but that’s where I’m at. The Browns need secondary help, and can get a running back from this deep running back draft later on. If they get out of John Dorsey’s way and let him do his job, I think Cleveland can finally turn things around. I wrote about Minkah here.
5. Denver Broncos: OG Quenton Nelson – Notre Dame
He’s the best player in the draft in my opinion. Ronald Leary and Quenton Nelson as your guards is a great way to help protect the quarterback that you don’t even have yet.
6. New York Jets: RB Saquon Barkley – Penn State
The Jets still need a quarterback, but Saquon Barkley falling to them will be too good to pass up. He’s the third-best running back I’ve ever studied (behind Zeke and Todd Gurley).
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: EDGE Bradley Chubb – NC State
The Bucs desperately need help rushing the passer and they’d be thrilled if the best pass rusher in the draft fell to them.
8. Chicago Bears: WR Calvin Ridley – Alabama
Despite being burned in the past by taking a top wide receiver in the top ten, they must get some weapons for second year quarterback Mitch Trubisky. Here is Jeff Cavanaugh’s report on Ridley.
9. San Francisco 49ers: LB Roquan Smith – Virginia Tech
Sorry, Cowboys fans: it’s just not gonna happen. Reuben Foster and Roquan Smith will form one of the best linebacker groups in the league. For more on Smith, here’s the report from Jeff Cavanaugh.
10. Oakland Raiders: DT Vita Vea – Washington
The Raiders must do a better job defensively, and it’ll start up front as they address their run defense.
11. Miami Dolphins: QB Baker Mayfield – Oklahoma
He reportedly wants to be there, and they need to start the quarterback journey again.
12. Cincinnati Bengals: OT Mike McGlinchey – Notre Dame
Everyone and their momma knows that the Bengals need help on the offensive line. McGlinchey isn’t my top-rated tackle, but I’ve got other plans for Connor Williams (which you’ll see shortly).
13. Washington Redskins: S Derwin James – Florida State
Quarterback could be an option, depending on how the Kirk Cousins situation shakes out. If not quarterback, I have them taking James who could kind of fill the role that Sua Cravens once had.
14. Green Bay Packers: CB Denzel Ward – Ohio State
The Packers need a cover guy who can stick to receivers. His height will give some teams pause, but Ward in coverage is a sight to behold, sticking to wide receivers like glue.
15. Arizona Cardinals: QB Lamar Jackson – Louisville
Although he is a defensive minded coach, Wilks was with Carolina and saw the benefits of a mobile quarterback.
16. Baltimore Ravens: OT Orlando Brown – Oklahoma
I really think family ties mean something to good organizations like Baltimore. Brown’s father played for the Ravens. They’d take Ridley if he was available, but in this scenario, he won’t be.
17. Los Angeles Chargers: QB Josh Allen – Wyoming
The Chargers go for their heir apparent, selecting Josh Allen way higher than he should be picked.
18. Seattle Seahawks: OG Will Hernandez – UTEP
First and foremost, they are a prime trade-back candidate because they don’t have a second- or third-round pick. It’s probably a little rich, but I could also see Hernandez flying up the boards.
19. Dallas Cowboys: OT Connor Williams
The Cowboys take offensive tackle Connor Williams, but we should now call him offensive guard Connor Williams, as he will now be playing in between Tyron Smith and Travis Frederick. There’s a little more on Connor Williams in this Texas Longhorns prospect breakdown written by Jeff Cavanaugh and I.
20. Detroit Lions: DE Marcus Davenport – UTSA
The Lions need help on the edge. In this scenario, they see enough out of Marcus Davenport to think he can play in a four point stance on the defensive front. Here’s my scouting report on Marcus Davenport.
21. Buffalo Bills: DT Da’Ron Payne – Alabama
The Bills trade-down last year (which culminated in the Chiefs scoring Patrick Mahomes) means the Bills will have back-to-back picks. They need defensive line help, and they also traded away Marcell Dareus to Jacksonville last year. Click here for my scouting report on Da’Ron Payne.
22. Buffalo Bills (From KC): LB RaShaan Evans – Alabama
While they need offense and a franchise quarterback, there’s nothing wrong with taking two Alabama defensive players in a row.
23. Los Angeles Rams: OL Billy Price – Ohio State
The Rams need to add a little more to their interior offensive line. Price could play guard or center, whatever the Rams see fit.
24. Carolina Panthers: WR Christian Kirk – Texas A&M
If Devin Funchess is your #1 wide receiver, then why not go in the opposite direction with a more shifty guy on the other side? Add Christian McCaffrey to the mix and we’re talking about a potentially explosive offense.
25. Tennessee Titans: TE Dallas Goedert – South Dakota St.
He runs with such great balance. Kind of moves like Witten. –ALERT– I’m not comparing him to Jason Witten. He’d also be another building block in an offense that needs to be more friendly for quarterback Marcus Mariota.
26. Atlanta Falcons: CB Mike Hughes – Central Florida
Mike Hughes is one of my favorite players in the draft. I’d be thrilled if the Cowboys took him at 19, but I’m sure the Falcons would be shocked to be able to select him at 26. I wrote more intensively about Hughes inside the portal of this link.
27. New Orleans Saints: WR Michael Gallup – Colorado State
A great route-runner who does everything well. Adding a really solid receiver to the Saints WR group would make the Saints offense even more unstoppable. You can read Jeff Cavanaugh’s scouting report on Gallup here.
28. Pittsburgh Steelers: S Ronnie Harrison – Alabama
I’m not crazy about Ronnie Harrison in coverage, and he leaves a little to be desired in terms of diagnosing plays, but he should fit well in the Steelers exotic defensive scheme.
29. Jacksonville Jaguars: TE Mark Andrews – Oklahoma
Mercedes Lewis is done and the offense has a decent enough wide receiver group to get by. Andrews could be really helpful in Blake Bortles’ make-or-break year.
30. Minnesota Vikings: OT Brian O’Neill – Pittsburgh
The Vikings don’t have any holes on defense, but could use some help on the offensive line. O’Neill is a very agile tackle who can matchup with speed rushers. The one flaw in his game: sometimes he will lose when he goes up against power.
31. Philadelphia Eagles: CB Josh Jackson – Iowa
Josh Jackson has a nose for the ball; he hauled in eight interceptions last season. The problem with his game is that he doesn’t like to tackle or help out in run support.
32. New England Patriots: DE Sam Hubbard – Ohio State
The weakness for New England has been that they haven’t been able to generate enough of a pass rush. Hubbard will fit in nicely in Belichick’s scheme.
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