The first day of the 2018 NFL Draft is in the books. While a lot of good players were selected, there are still good players available for day two. Here are the best available players left in the 2018 NFL Draft:
Joshua Jackson, CB, Iowa
Three corners were selected in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft, but Jackson did not hear his name called. Denzel Ward, Jaire Alexander and Mike Hughes were all selected and now someone is going to get a steal in early round two.
The lengthy corner had a great last season at Iowa making acrobatic interceptions and even took some back to the house. He was somewhat of a one year wonder at Iowa but was highly productive. Teams likely didn’t like Jackson’s speed, but his length and ball skills make him a steal.
Jackson is the best player available and shouldn’t have to wait long on day two to be selected.
Will Hernandez, OG, UTEP
Will Hernandez (Photo by nj.com)
A few interior offensive linemen were drafted in the first round and Hernandez is better than some of them. With teams near the top of the second round needing some offensive line help, a team will likely take him within the first ten picks of the round.
Hernandez is a mauler and a great run blocker. It would not be a surprise to many if he started in the league for 10-plus years. He was able to learn under Sean Kugler, who was his college coach at UTEP, and he has experience coaching NFL offensive lines. Kugler is the offensive line coach in Denver now, who has a pick early in the second round.
He was a top 20 prospect in the class and now a team can get a day one starter who can vastly improve their run game from the trenches.
Justin Reid, S, Stanford
Terrell Edmunds was selected by the Steelers earlier than expected and now Reid (and Ronnie Harrison for that matter) falls to the second round. Reid might be familiar, as his brother Eric is a current free agent at the position.
He has great speed for the position, but sometimes risks too much to make a big play, which ends up costing his team. No one would’ve batted an eye if he went in the first round, but now a team can get great value in the second.
There are several teams picking in the first few picks who could use Reid, including the Giants, Colts and Bucs.
Derrius Guice, RB, LSU
Derrius Guice (Photo by saturdaydownsouth.com)
Three running backs were selected in the first round, but Guice was left out even though he is the second best running back in the class. The Seahawks reached for Rashaad Penny and the Patriots preferred Sony Michel to Guice, so a team can get a workhorse back on day two.
Guice does have some character issues, including reports that he lied about certain NFL Combine questions being asked, but is a good talent. He has a good combination of size and speed. He did have some injuries in college, but projects to be healthy in the NFL.
Cleveland, Denver, Indianapolis, Tampa Bay and Miami all pick early on in round two and could use a running back like Guice.
Harold Landry, DE/OLB, Boston College
There were only two edge rushers selected in the first round: Bradley Chubb and Marcus Davenport. Landry will not have to wait much longer to be selected.
He had great production two seasons ago, but was unable to reach the same level this season. Landry also lacks the ideal height and length for the position, as he is only 6’2″. His production from two years ago should entice teams to select him.
Teams will have to start selecting edge rushers soon with only the two off the board so far.
Other notable available players: James Daniels C, Connor Williams OT, Maurice Hurst DT, Orlando Brown OT, Mason Rudolph QB
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The 2018 NFL Draft is today! All NFL teams will be looking to bolster their rosters for the 2018 NFL season and here is how it could go down. Check back for updates throughout the day.
1. Cleveland Browns- Sam Darnold, QB, USC
The Browns have smoke-screened so much, that they may not even know what they are doing with this pick. Josh Allen and Baker Mayfield are supposedly the favorites for this pick, but Allen has accuracy issues and now twitter problems. Darnold struggled this season with his decision-making which led to a lot of turnovers. He also has a flawed throwing motion. Although he went to the NFL Combine, he didn’t compete on the field and just interviewed with teams. Some have Darnold as their top quarterback, but his decision-making and ball security need to improve. Hue Jackson also has ties to USC and may be familiar with Darnold.
2. New York Giants- Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State
If Darnold is off the board, it is likely the Giants select Barkley. This is a little earlier than running backs usually go, but he is a transcendent talent. He can do a little bit of everything at the position and the Giants can use him to have some semblance of a running game.
Baker Mayfield (Photo by nj.com)
3. New York Jets- Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma
Mayfield has defied all the critics who have mentioned his size as a reason not to draft him. He can make all the throws and is athletic enough to avoid pass rushers. His main calling card is his accuracy, which is the best in this draft class. He said as much in his interviews with the media at the NFL Combine. The Jets have been tied to Mayfield and will want to scoop up a quarterback to develop.
4. Cleveland Browns- Bradley Chubb, DE/OLB, N.C. State
Chubb is a great pass rusher who has 10 sacks in each of the past two seasons. He displayed a good combination of size and speed at the combine. He is the best defensive player in the class and can be a cornerstone for the defense. The Browns could go Barkley if he’s available, but if he’s not they will likely select Chubb. Hue Jackson has publicly praised him and would be a good pair with Myles Garrett.
5. Denver Broncos- Quenton Nelson, OG, Notre Dame
Denver is in a prime position to get the fourth best quarterback in the class, Quenton Nelson or trade down to other teams seeking quarterbacks. C.J. Anderson was just released, so they could be looking to draft Barkley, but he’s off the board. If they stay at this pick and John Elway isn’t enamored with the remaining quarterbacks, he will select Nelson. Nelson is one of the best players in the class and will be drafted early despite playing a position that doesn’t usually get talked about this soon. He has Hall of Fame potential.
6. Indianapolis Colts- Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State
The Ohio State product is a good cover corner, who isn’t afraid to get physical. He is a little slight and will need to put on some weight. The Colts top corner is Quincy Wilson and they’ll need to get some defensive help.
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Derwin James, S, Florida State
He is athletic but doesn’t necessarily have a set position, which is turning some teams off. He ran a 4.48 at the combine and has great size for a defensive back, making him valuable. Tampa Bay can continue to play Justin Evans at free safety and get James to play strong safety.
8. Chicago Bears- Tremaine Edmunds, LB, Virginia Tech
Edmunds does just about everything on the football field well, as a good cover linebacker, rusher and run stopper. He is also big and athletic. The Bears miss out on Ward to improve their secondary, but can get a linebacker that can develop into a great linebacker.
9. San Francisco 49ers- Minkah Fitzpatrick, S/CB, Alabama
Jimmie Ward is at best an average NFL safety, so the 49ers can fill out a solid secondary with this pick. He likely fits in best as a safety in the NFL, but can also play corner. Whichever he needs to play, he will excel at. His 4.47 40 yard dash time at the combine was right in line where he should have run.
10. Oakland Raiders- Vita Vea, DT/NT, Washington
Vea can play both defensive tackle and nose tackle, depending on the scheme a team runs, which is valuable. He has great size at 6’5″ and 340 pounds, which makes him disruptive. Vea did suffer a hamstring injury at the combine. Oakland needs to get someone on the interior of the defensive line to stop the run and take some of the blockers off of Khalil Mack.
11. Miami Dolphins- Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia
Smith was the best linebacker in college football this year and does a little bit of everything well. He is especially fast, which is crucial for his coverage and tracking down of ball carriers. The Dolphins have Raekwon McMillan and Kiko Alonso, but McMillan got injured before his impact could be seen. They will still need a third linebacker.
Josh Rosen (Photo by buffalonews.com)
12. Buffalo Bills- Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA
Reports are that Rosen is falling. No major questions about Rosen arose from the NFL Draft Combine interviews, which is good news for him. Rosen had to carry UCLA and ended up having a successful season. He needed to have a good year to clear up any doubts about his shoulder injury he suffered during his sophomore season.The Bills are reportedly not looking to move up anymore, but can still get a solid quarterback at pick number 12 and would get a steal here.
13. Washington Redskins- Da’Ron Payne, DL, Alabama
Washington’s interior of the defensive line can be improved, as they allowed the most rushing yards per game in the NFL. Payne’s stats aren’t eye-popping, but he often gets double teamed. He is very athletic for his size and even played some offense in certain situations for Nick Saban at Alabama.
14. Green Bay Packers- Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State
The Packers are reportedly looking to trade up to get an impact player and may need to do so to get Ward if everything doesn’t go their way. Green Bay needs secondary help badly and can fill a need here. The Ohio State product is a good cover corner, who isn’t afraid to get physical. He is a little slight and will need to put on some weight.
15. Arizona Cardinals- Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming
Josh Allen falls a bit in this mock, but teams will likely trade up to get him before this point. While Allen certainly has flaws in his decision-making and accuracy, he does have a strong arm and is athletic. He competed in all the drills at the combine and got some audible cheers when he displayed his arm strength.
16. Baltimore Ravens- Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama
Ridley is the best route-runner in the class and only lacked production in college because of the system he played in and inconsistent quarterback play. The Ravens signed Michael Crabtree, but still need a lot of receiver help, which they can fill with this selection.
17. Los Angeles Chargers- Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame
The Chargers’ offensive line is not good at all. If they want Phillip Rivers to play much longer, they need to protect him better. Orlando Brown had a rough combine, while Connor Williams has some questions about his length. McGlinchey might be the safest pick because even if he can’t be a great left tackle, he can move over to the right and be successful.
Joshua Jackson (Photo by the gazette.com)
18. Seattle Seahawks- Joshua Jackson, CB, Iowa
Jackson turned into an All-American corner at Iowa this season and has shown the ability to make acrobatic interceptions. Seattle needs to replace Richard Sherman and find someone to play across from Shaquill Griffin.
19. Dallas Cowboys- Rashaan Evans, LB, Alabama
Evans is a quick, run stopping linebacker that can help out right away. He can fit in next to Jaylon Smith and Sean Lee. With Lee’s injury history it wouldn’t be a bad idea to have another linebacker ready to step in as well.
20. Detroit Lions- Isaiah Wynn, OG/C, Georgia
Detroit needs to have a better run game in order to have a more balanced offense. Running back is a position they will likely address in this draft, but can start by improving the interior offensive line play. Wynn played well in the Senior Bowl and the College Football Playoff for Georgia. He played tackle in college and will move inside for the NFL.
21. Cincinnati Bengals- Billy Price, OG/C, Ohio State
Cincinnati got Cordy Glenn with their trade down to this pick, but their offensive line is still very weak. Price has tons of experience at guard and center for Ohio State and will start right away.
22. Buffalo Bills- James Daniels, C, Iowa
When Eric Wood had to retire, the Bills lost a great player. They also traded Cordy Glenn to Cincinnati and need to upgrade their offensive line. Daniels has risen up draft boards lately and can immediately fill in for Wood. This pick may be traded if they move up higher to draft a quarterback.
23. New England Patriots- Mason Rudolph, QB, Oklahoma State
The Patriots just traded for this pick by giving the Rams Brandin Cooks. Having two first-round picks is an odd territory for New England to be in. They are reportedly interested in Rudolph and have brought him in for a visit. Brian Hoyer is the current backup, but the Patriots need another young quarterback after trading Jacoby Brissett and Jimmy Garoppolo.
24. Carolina Panthers- Marcus Davenport, DE/OLB, UTSA
Davenport has the build of a great pass rusher and can rush from the outside linebacker position, but reports are the media like him more than NFL teams do. The Panthers signed Julius Peppers, but he won’t last much longer and they aren’t very deep at defensive end.
25. Tennessee Titans- Harold Landry, DE/OLB, Boston College
Tennessee has Brian Orakpo and Derrick Morgan but can use a young pass rusher as well. Landry had a great 2016 season that put him on the map but is a little undersized for the position.
Jaire Alexander (Photo by stripehype.com)
26. Atlanta Falcons- Jaire Alexander, CB, Louisville
Alexander is a fast and physical corner that will likely go in round one. Atlanta needs another corner to pair with Desmond Trufant and should try to take one early.
27. New Orleans Saints- Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville
The buzz surrounding Jackson is that he will go in the first round and be selected in the first half of the round. He is the most dynamic athlete at the position since Michael Vick. Drew Brees needs a successor.
28. Pittsburgh Steelers- Leighton Vander Esch, LB, Boise State
Vander Esch has been moving up draft boards. With Ryan Shazier not playing next year, the Steelers signed Jon Bostic. He and Vince Williams will start, but that leaves a lot to be desired.
The Jaguars have a decent crop of young receivers but could use some more help at the position after the loss of Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns. D.J. Moore is a late-riser on big boards and mock drafts everywhere. He put up good production without great quarterback play at Maryland.
Brown had a bad combine, which may hurt his stock a little, but his game tape is great and shows a mauler. He may not have the athleticism to play left tackle in the NFL but could be a great right tackle. The Vikings’ offensive line is much better than last year, but can still be improved. With a good offense and defense, they can afford to make a good unit better.
31. New England Patriots- Mike Hughes, CB, UCF
With Malcolm Butler leaving, the Patriots need more help at corner. Hughes is a good cover corner but has some off the field concerns.
32. Philadelphia Eagles- Connor Williams, OT, Texas
They just won the Super Bowl with a backup quarterback and have a very solid roster. This pick could depend a lot on the health status of left tackle Jason Peters. If he isn’t healthy they’ll need a tackle. Williams’ draft stock has been all over the place, going from early first round to third round back into the first round.
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Over the last few weeks, The Game Haus staff has written draft profiles for each NFL team. Now Draftmas culminates with our Staff mock draft. The staff acts as general managers for each NFL team to make selections for the first round of the NFL Draft. The picks may not be what happens Thursday night, but they are the picks that our staff thinks will make these teams the best they can be. Some of our staff has been kind enough to give their reasonings for their picks. Here is how the draft shook out.
Staff mock draft
1. Cleveland Browns (Josh Burris)- Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State
“Barkley completes a stellar skill position group. Taylor has always had a good run game around him in Buffalo, and Duke Johnson is not a starting running back. Barkley is a freak and will also help the passing game.”
2. New York Giants (Manuel Finale)- Quenton Nelson, OG, Notre Dame
“I have the NY Giants taking OG Quenton Nelson to keep Eli Manning healthy and provide a kick-butt mentality to the g-men. For me, picking a QB would be disrespectful to Eli, and Nelson can deploy, pull, and run block with authority.
3. New York Jets (Daniel Baldwin)- Sam Darnold, QB, USC
“The Jets originally thought Darnold to the Browns was a done deal, but after Allen to the Browns buzz picked up steam they brought Darnold in for a visit. They love Darnold’s build and toughness. However, the jets love Baker Mayfield’s leadership and fit in the west coast offense. Don’t be surprised if Maccagnan chooses the fiery Heisman winner Thursday night.”
4. Cleveland Browns (Burris)- Bradley Chubb, DE/OLB, N.C. State
“Defensive line was already weak, and after trading Danny Shelton, it got weaker. Chubb is the best defensive lineman in the class and is also a freak. He will be making an impact across from Myles Garrett for years to come.”
5. Denver Broncos (Dylan Streibig)- Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State
“Once Denver decided to pass on Rosen, if felt like the logical move to make a deal with the Colts. We got a great talent at the Quarterback position and didn’t have to give up too many assets to do so.”
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Angle)- Minkah Fitzpatrick, S/CB, Alabama
“Minkah is a versatile, technically sound defensive play maker. This secondary needed an infusion of young talent, and Minkah does exactly that.”
8. Chicago Bears (Blake Van Poucke)- Derwin James, S, Florida State
9. San Franciso 49ers (Kenneth Hesse)- Tremaine Edmunds, LB, Virginia Tech
10. Oakland Raiders (Joe DiTullio)- Vita Vea, DT/NT, Washington
“Vea is big but has light feet. The Raiders are weak up the middle of their defense and need to take a defensive tackle in the draft. Taking Vea will help in the run game and should be able to take some blockers off of Khalil Mack on pass rushing situations.”
“The quarterbacks are falling, but the Dolphins liked Rosen. He’s not available and Adam Gase may like working with Ryan Tannehill over the other rookies. With Smith, the Dolphins can upgrade their very weak linebacking core. He’s the best linebacker in the draft and can just about everything on the football field. His speed is a great asset.”
“Chubb was the pick at 6 and while there were some other options the opportunity came to get the 12th and 22nd and that was too much to pass up. Clavin Ridley is a nice piece to go opposite of TY Hilton. With great route-running and 3 years of experience with the Crimson Tide this guy should finally give Luck someone else to throw to.”
13. Washington Redskins (Cecil Walker)- Da’Ron Payne, DL, Alabama
“The Redskins have holes all over the field. Defensive tackle is, both literally and figuratively, the biggest hole they need to fill. Payne is a great prospect and would be the best tackle prospect if not for the athletic freak Vita Vea.”
14. Green Bay Packers (Finale)- Joshua Jackson, CB, Iowa
“Their pass defense was bad, and Jackson can give the secondary coverage help and make crucial plays.
“Despite his apparent off the field red flags, Baker is incredibly accurate, something you can’t teach. Having him play in a warm-weather climate and not have be forced into a starting role. Given Bradford’s injury history, Baker is a viable option as a backup when needed.”
“Protecting Russell Wilson must be a top priority for the Seahawks this season. Wynn is a great prospect that has the versatility to play anywhere on the offensive line.”
“With no wide receivers, safeties or defensive tackles worth taking, the Cowboys can select Evans and fill out their linebacker core. Every time Sean Lee gets injured, the defense completely loses its way. Jaylon Smith still doesn’t look totally at home on the football field after his gruesome knee injury in college. Evans can start from day one and can give some insurance to the team if Lee goes down again.”
20. Detroit Lions (Schneider)- Derrius Guice, RB, LSU
“Derrius Guice is too talented a back to pass up at 20th overall. If he is still on the board when the Lions pick I would expect GM Bob Quinn to stick to his M.O. and take the best play available. In this draft it was clearly Guice. However, I could also see them taking Landry or Davenport in this spot if Guice is gone.”
“Wanted McGlinchey or Wynn and thought most of the centers would be available in the 2nd or 3rd round. Thus, Connor Williams made the most sense here as the Bengals upgrade a position of need and have now turned their 12th round pick into their starting tackles by getting Williams and Cordy Glenn.”
“Getting a second first round pick was absolutely worth it as we upgrade in a major area of need with Alexander. He was probably the best player on the board and just happened to fit.”
23. New England Patriots (Schneider)- D.J. Moore, WR, Maryland
“DJ Moore could turn out to be the best receiver in this class and if he does, what a steal to get him at 23 for the Patriots. With very few young stars on the team, New England needs to address that in the draft, which is why I see them staying pat and not trading up for a QB.”
24. Carolina Panthers (Burris)- Will Hernandez, OG, UTEP
“Hernandez is the best guard available to replace Andrew Norwell. He can start immediately and develop into a pro bowler very soon.”
25. Tennessee Titans (Hesse)- Leighton Vander Esch, LB, Boise State
“The Titans fill the void left by middle linebacker Avery Williamson, who left in free agency. Vander Esch will spend his rookie season playing alongside veteran Wesley Woodyard, and should make an immediate impact at inside linebacker. As one of the most instinctive players in the draft, Vander Esch has the potential to become the centerpiece of Tennessee’s defense.”
26. Atlanta Falcons (Walker)- Marcus Davenport, DE/OLB, UTSA
“With the losses of Dontari Poe and Adrian Clayborne, the Falcons desperately need to shore up the defensive line. Davenport has excelled at every level and shined at the Senior Bowl this year. With the top wide receivers and offensive guards off the board, Davenport is a no-brainer.”
27. New Orleans Saints (Angle)- Billy Price, OG/C, Ohio State
“Andrus Peat and Max Unger have been steadily declining. Price’s versatility on the offensive line gives the Saints great depth, and will allow them to dominate the line of scrimmage even if an injury occurs.”
28. Pittsburgh Steelers (Finale)- Ronnie Harrison, S, Alabama
“Harrison has a good frame for a safety, and has proven he can help disrupt the ground attack as well as anticipating routes so he can quickly adjust.”
29. Jacksonville Jaguars (Doerger)- Hayden Hurst, TE, South Carolina
30. Minnesota Vikings (Hesse)- James Daniels, C, Iowa
“The Vikings missed out on Isaiah Wynn and Will Hernandez, so trading down is also likely here. Pat Elflein has settled in as the team’s starting center, so Daniels will likely play as an undersized guard. The former Hawkeye will provide an immediate boost to one of the league’s thinnest offensive lines.”
31. New England Patriots (Schneider)- Harold Landry, DE/OLB, Boston College
“Harold Landry falling all the way to Belichick and the Patriots at 31 would be a great scenario for them. Even with Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen still on the board in this draft scenario, Landry is too naturally gifted at rushing the passer for New England to pass on him.”
“I know Bengals fans may not like this pick but getting a quarterback that has his talent who can sit behind Dalton for a year or two and grow is a no-brainer.”
*The Bills trade picks number 12 and 20 to the Colts for pick number six overall.
**The Eagles trade number 32 for the Bengals’ second-round pick this year and next year.
It is NFL Draft week! A lot will come and go by Thursday night, but here are how the draft could look. Check back for updates throughout the week.
Josh Allen (Photo by newyorkupstate.com)
1. Cleveland Browns- Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming
The Browns have smoke-screened so much, that they may not even know what they are doing with this pick. While Allen certainly has flaws in his decision-making and accuracy, he does have a strong arm and is athletic. He competed in all the drills at the combine and got some audible cheers when he displayed his arm strength. When general manager John Dorsey was with the Chiefs last year, he drafted a risky, strong-armed quarterback in Pat Mahomes and may take a similar risk this year, being that he has Tyrod Taylor behind center.
2. New York Giants- Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State
As far as rumors go, the Giants taking Barkley at pick number two is the biggest one going. It is earlier than running backs usually go, but Barkley is the best player in the class and fills a need. He can do a little bit of everything at the position and the Giants can use him to have some semblance of a running game.
3. New York Jets- Sam Darnold, QB, USC
The Jets fans get who they’ve wanted for over a year now. Darnold struggled this season with his decision-making which led to a lot of turnovers. He also has a flawed throwing motion. Although he went to the NFL Combine, he didn’t compete on the field and just interviewed with teams. Some have Darnold as their top quarterback, but his decision-making and ball security need to improve. He can learn behind Teddy Bridgewater and Josh McCown for the time being if he can’t beat them out for the job.
4. Cleveland Browns- Bradley Chubb, DE, N.C. State
With Barkley gone, the Browns would likely take Bradley Chubb. Head coach Hue Jackson has publicly praised Chubb and he is one of the best players in the class. Chubb is a great pass rusher who has 10 sacks in each of the past two seasons. He displayed a good combination of size and speed at the combine. He and Myles Garrett could be a great pass-rushing tandem for years to come.
5. Denver Broncos- Quenton Nelson, OG, Notre Dame
Denver is in a prime position to get the fourth best quarterback in the class, Quenton Nelson or trade down to other teams seeking quarterbacks. C.J. Anderson was just released, so they could be looking to draft Barkley, but he’s off the board. If they stay at this pick and John Elway isn’t enamored with the remaining quarterbacks, he will select Nelson. Nelson is one of the best players in the class and will be drafted early despite playing a position that doesn’t usually get talked about this soon. He has Hall of Fame potential.
6. Indianapolis Colts- Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State
With Chubb off the board, the Colts will definitely explore trading down again. Since this mock doesn’t predict trades, Ward would be the pick. Quincy Wilson is currently slotted as the number one corner. He had a decent rookie season, but the Colts don’t have much behind him. The Ohio State product is a good cover corner, who isn’t afraid to get physical. He is a little slight and will need to put on some weight.
Derwin James (Photo by sbnation.com)
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Derwin James, S, Florida State
He is athletic but doesn’t necessarily have a set position, which is turning some teams off. He ran a 4.48 at the combine and has great size for a defensive back, making him valuable. Tampa Bay can continue to play Justin Evans at free safety and get James to play strong safety.
8. Chicago Bears- Tremaine Edmunds, LB, Virginia Tech
Edmunds does just about everything on the football field well, as a good cover linebacker, rusher and run stopper. He is also big and athletic. The Bears miss out on Ward to improve their secondary, but can get a linebacker that can develop into a great linebacker.
9. San Francisco 49ers- Minkah Fitzpatrick, S/CB, Alabama
Jimmie Ward is at best an average NFL safety, so the 49ers can fill out a solid secondary with this pick. He likely fits in best as a safety in the NFL, but can also play corner. Whichever he needs to play, he will excel at. His 4.47 40 yard dash time at the combine was right in line where he should have run.
10. Oakland Raiders- Vita Vea, DT/NT, Washington
Vea can play both defensive tackle and nose tackle, depending on the scheme a team runs, which is valuable. He has great size at 6’5″ and 340 pounds, which makes him disruptive. Vea did suffer a hamstring injury at the combine. Oakland needs to get someone on the interior of the defensive line to stop the run and take some of the blockers off of Khalil Mack.
11. Miami Dolphins- Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia
Smith was the best linebacker in college football this year and does a little bit of everything well. He is especially fast, which is crucial for his coverage and tracking down of ball carriers. The Dolphins have Raekwon McMillan and Kiko Alonso, but McMillan got injured before his impact could be seen. They will still need a third linebacker.
12. Buffalo Bills- Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA
Reports are that Rosen is falling. No major questions about Rosen arose from the NFL Draft Combine interviews, which is good news for him. Rosen had to carry UCLA and ended up having a successful season. He needed to have a good year to clear up any doubts about his shoulder injury he suffered during his sophomore season.The Bills are reportedly not looking to move up anymore, but can still get a solid quarterback at pick number 12 and would get a steal here.
13. Washington Redskins- Da’Ron Payne, DL, Alabama
Washington’s interior of the defensive line can be improved, as they allowed the most rushing yards per game in the NFL. Payne’s stats aren’t eye-popping, but he often gets double teamed. He is very athletic for his size and even played some offense in certain situations for Nick Saban at Alabama.
14. Green Bay Packers- Joshua Jackson, CB, Iowa
Jackson turned into an All-American corner at Iowa this season and has shown the ability to make acrobatic interceptions. The Packers don’t have much at corner and will need to improve the pass defense to keep up in their division.
Mayfield has defied all the critics who have mentioned his size as a reason not to draft him. He can make all the throws and is athletic enough to avoid pass rushers. His main calling card is his accuracy, which is the best in this draft class. He said as much in his interviews with the media at the NFL Combine. The Cardinals will need a quarterback for when Sam Bradford gets injured.
16. Baltimore Ravens- Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama
Ridley is the best route-runner in the class and only lacked production in college because of the system he played in and inconsistent quarterback play. The Ravens signed Michael Crabtree, but still need a lot of receiver help, which they can fill with this selection.
17. Los Angeles Chargers- Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame
The Chargers’ offensive line is not good at all. If they want Phillip Rivers to play much longer, they need to protect him better. Orlando Brown had a rough combine, while Connor Williams has some questions about his length. McGlinchey might be the safest pick because even if he can’t be a great left tackle, he can move over to the right and be successful.
18. Seattle Seahawks- Marcus Davenport, DE/OLB, UTSA
Davenport has the build of a great pass rusher and can rush from the outside linebacker position, but reports are the media like him more than NFL teams do. The Seahawks lost Michael Bennett and Cliff Avril may not be the same player with his neck injury. They will need to make up for the loss in production.
19. Dallas Cowboys- Rashaan Evans, LB, Alabama
Evans is a quick, run stopping linebacker that can help out right away. He can fit in next to Jaylon Smith and Sean Lee. With Lee’s injury history it wouldn’t be a bad idea to have another linebacker ready to step in as well.
20. Detroit Lions- Isaiah Wynn, OG/C, Georgia
Detroit needs to have a better run game in order to have a more balanced offense. Running back is a position they will likely address in this draft, but can start by improving the interior offensive line play. Wynn played well in the Senior Bowl and the College Football Playoff for Georgia. He played tackle in college and will move inside for the NFL.
21. Cincinnati Bengals- Billy Price, OG/C, Ohio State
Cincinnati got Cordy Glenn with their trade down to this pick, but their offensive line is still very weak. Price has tons of experience at guard and center for Ohio State and will start right away.
22. Buffalo Bills- James Daniels, C, Iowa
When Eric Wood had to retire, the Bills lost a great player. They also traded Cordy Glenn to Cincinnati and need to upgrade their offensive line. Daniels has risen up draft boards lately and can immediately fill in for Wood. This pick may be traded if they move up higher to draft a quarterback.
Mason Rudolph (Photo by cincyjungle.com)
23. New England Patriots- Mason Rudolph, QB, Oklahoma State
The Patriots just traded for this pick by giving the Rams Brandin Cooks. Having two first-round picks is an odd territory for New England to be in. They are reportedly interested in Rudolph and have brought him in for a visit. Brian Hoyer is the current backup, but the Patriots need another young quarterback after trading Jacoby Brissett and Jimmy Garoppolo.
24. Carolina Panthers- Harold Landry, DE/OLB, Boston College
The Panthers signed Julius Peppers, but he won’t last much longer and they aren’t very deep at defensive end. Landry had a great 2016 season that put him on the map and followed it up with a solid season this year.
25. Tennessee Titans- Sam Hubbard, DE/OLB, Ohio State
Tennessee has Brian Orakpo and Derrick Morgan but can use a young pass rusher as well. Hubbard lacks elite athleticism, but can get after the quarterback and stops the run well for and edge rusher.
26. Atlanta Falcons- Jaire Alexander, CB, Louisville
Alexander is a fast and physical corner that will likely go in round one. Atlanta needs another corner to pair with Desmond Trufant and should try to take one early.
27. New Orleans Saints- Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville
The Saints signed Tom Savage, but that’s not going to solve their issue after Brees retires. Taysom Hill is a backup they reportedly love, but he wasn’t highly thought of out of BYU. Jackson will likely go higher than this with a team trading up for him.
28. Pittsburgh Steelers- Leighton Vander Esch, LB, Boise State
Vander Esch is another player that has been moving up draft boards. With Ryan Shazier not playing next year, the Steelers signed Jon Bostic. He and Vince Williams will start, but that leaves a lot to be desired.
Sutton is a great outside receiver, who produced a lot at SMU. He does have some questions as to if he can produce against NFL competition. The Jaguars have a decent crop of young receivers but could use some more help at the position after the loss of Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns.
Brown had a bad combine, which may hurt his stock a little, but his game tape is great and shows a mauler. He may not have the athleticism to play left tackle in the NFL but could be a great right tackle. The Vikings’ offensive line is much better than last year, but can still be improved. With a good offense and defense, they can afford to make a good unit better.
31. New England Patriots- Mike Hughes, CB, UCF
With Malcolm Butler leaving, the Patriots need more help at corner. Hughes is a good cover corner, but has some off the field concerns.
32. Philadelphia Eagles- Connor Williams, OT, Texas
They just won the Super Bowl with a backup quarterback and have a very solid roster. This pick could depend a lot on the health status of left tackle Jason Peters. If he isn’t healthy they’ll need a tackle. Williams’ draft stock has been all over the place, going from early first round to third round back into the first round.
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The 2018 NFL Draft is now under a week away, which means that Draftmas is back. Draftmas will take a look at each NFL team heading into the NFL Draft, what their needs are and who they could be targeting. You will find it here. Draftmas will continue with the New England Patriots 2018 NFL Draft profile.
Summary
Tom Brady (Photo by bleacherreport.com)
New England made it to the Super Bowl again last season but were unable to keep up with the Philadelphia Eagles. They had a good season, but losing in the biggest game of the year created an offseason that has been far from normal.
The Patriots averaged the second most points in the league at 28.6 points per game. They ranked in the top 10 in both passing (second) and rushing (10th). Tom Brady is expected to be back for next season, even though reports have come out this week that he hasn’t committed to it yet. Brian Hoyer is his backup and is in his second stint in New England, meaning he should be able to run the offense decently well if Brady gets hurt, or opts for retirement.
Brandin Cooks was traded to the Rams and Danny Amendola signed with the Dolphins, meaning new wideouts will be needed. Chris Hogan and Julian Edelman return, although Edelman will have to prove he is back from his torn ACL. Jordan Matthews was signed to help bolster the receiving core, but they will likely need to add more in the draft.
Rob Gronkowski has been in headlines all offseason for contemplating retirement and for possibly being on the trading block. Odds are he returns. The offensive line will look a lot different next season as Nate Solder and Cameron Flemming are no longer Patriots.
The running backs are mostly the same, but Dion Lewis left for the Titans. Jeremy Hill was added to the crew in which no one knows who will produce on any given game.
While the defense struggled early in the season, they recovered to finish fifth in the league in points allowed. Adrian Clayborne and Danny Shelton were acquired to bolster the defensive line that was notably pretty weak in 2017. They now have turned it into a solid unit that even has a little bit of depth.
The linebackers did not perform well last season, but there is some talent at the position in Donta’ Hightower and Kyle Van Noy. Malcolm Butler was signed by the Titans, so Jason McCourty was acquired, but they still need a few good young corners. Patrick Chung and Devin McCourty are solid safeties, but they aren’t among the best in the NFL.
There has been a lot of change to the roster this offseason, but with the right moves in the 2018 NFL Draft, the Patriots could make it to another Super Bowl.
Picks and Needs
The Patriots have eight picks in the 2018 NFL Draft, five of which are in the first three rounds. This is a luxury they haven’t had in a while.
First round (2 picks): 23, 31
Second round (2): 43, 63
Third round (1): 95
Fourth round (0):
Fifth round (0):
Sixth round (2): 198, 210
Seventh round (1): 219
Offensive needs:
Quarterback- Who knows how long Brady can play for? Hoyer is a good backup, but after trading Jimmy Garoppolo and Jacoby Brissett a new young quarterback to develop is needed.
Offensive Tackle- With both Solder and Flemming gone, the Patriots need to get a tackle who they can trust to protect Brady for the rest of his career. There aren’t a lot of great tackle prospects in this draft class, so they will need to strike gold.
Wide Receiver- The Patriots have a few solid wide receivers in Edelman, Hogan and Matthews, but should add more to the roster. A young target who could develop into a number one would be a nice addition to the roster.
Defensive needs:
Defensive Tackle- Shelton and Malcolm Brown make a decent tandem, but depth is needed. They will also need a player to rush on passing downs.
Linebacker- Hightower and Van Noy had down years and they’ll, at the very least, want to get a third linebacker.
Cornerback- McCourty is a solid replacement for Butler, but he isn’t the youngest. With so many picks early in the draft, they should use one on a corner.
Targets
Lamar Jackson (Photo by cincyjungle.com)
First round:
Pick No. 23: Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville
The going rumor for the first round is that the Patriots love Lamar Jackson. With Brady’s career winding down, they do need to add a plan for the future. With Bill Belichick’s genius, they could use Jackson before ever making him the starting quarterback. Sitting and learning behind one of the best quarterbacks of all time is a great way to start a career.
Pick No. 31: Connor Williams, OT, Texas
To address the losses on the offensive line, the Patriots can select a tackle at the end of the first round. Williams is athletic, but has short arms and isn’t the strongest. New England will have to develop him, like any other tackle in the class, but could turn him into a great lineman.
Second round:
Pick No. 43: Isaiah Oliver, CB, Colorado
With the departure of Malcolm Butler, Oliver can be the new young corner on the Patriots. He is lengthy, but slight and will need to add length to his frame. With time he can grow into a shutdown corner.
Pick No. 63: Malik Jefferson, LB, Texas
Jefferson has good athletic ability and speed, but could never seemingly put it all together at Texas. New England’s coaching staff should be able to get the most out of him.
Third round:
Pick No. 95: Equanimeous St. Brown, WR, Notre Dame
St. Brown is tall and fast, but needs improved route-running. Playing with Brady will immediately help him out and make him a good pro.
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The NFL Draft is just over a week away and teams are prepping for the three days that can bolster their rosters. Here is the 2018 NFL mock draft April 17.
1. Cleveland Browns- Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming
The rumors now are that the Browns are going to select Josh Allen with the first overall pick. How long will this rumor last? Nobody knows. While Allen certainly has flaws in his decision-making and accuracy, he does have a strong arm and is athletic. He competed in all the drills at the combine and got some audible cheers when he displayed his arm strength. When general manager John Dorsey was with the Chiefs last year, he drafted a risky, strong-armed quarterback in Pat Mahomes and may take a similar risk this year, being that he has Tyrod Taylor behind center.
2. New York Giants- Sam Darnold, QB, USC
When one rumor starts, the other rumors will start. Now it looks like the Giants will select Darnold if he is still available. Darnold struggled this season with his decision-making which led to a lot of turnovers. He also has a flawed throwing motion. Although he went to the NFL Combine, he didn’t compete on the field and just interviewed with teams. Some have Darnold as their top quarterback, but his decision-making and ball security need to improve.
Josh Rosen (Photo by washingtonpost.com)
3. New York Jets- Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA
The Jets traded up to three and guaranteed themselves a quarterback, but they don’t even know who they will get. In this scenario, they would take Josh Rosen. No major questions about Rosen arose from the NFL Draft Combine interviews, which is good news for him. Rosen had to carry UCLA and ended up having a successful season. He needed to have a good year to clear up any doubts about his shoulder injury he suffered during his sophomore season.
4. Cleveland Browns- Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State
Yes, the Browns did just sign Carlos Hyde, but Barkley is still the best player in the class. With the trades for Jarvis Landry and Tyrod Taylor, Cleveland is making a concerted effort to improve the offense and with Barkley, they would have a lot of options in 2018.
5. Denver Broncos- Quenton Neslon, OG, Notre Dame
Denver is in a prime position to get the fourth best quarterback in the class, Quenton Nelson or trade down to other teams seeking quarterbacks. C.J. Anderson was just released, so they could be looking to draft Barkley, but he’s off the board. If they stay at this pick and John Elway isn’t enamored with the remaining quarterbacks, he will select Nelson. Nelson is one of the best players in the class and will be drafted early despite playing a position that doesn’t usually get talked about this soon. He has Hall of Fame potential.
6. Indianapolis Colts- Bradley Chubb, DE/OLB, N.C. State
The Colts pulled off a fantastic trade and will likely still get their first target in the NFL Draft. They could even trade down again. Frank Reich will be looking forward to working with Andrew Luck. When he is back, the offense will figure itself out. They can improve the defense to make the team more complete when Luck comes back. Chubb is a great pass rusher who has 10 sacks in each of the past two seasons. He displayed a good combination of size and speed at the combine.
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Minkah Fitzpatrick, S/CB, Alabama
He likely fits in best as a safety in the NFL, but can also play corner. Whichever he needs to play, he will excel at. His 4.47 40 yard dash time at the combine was right in line where he should have run. Tampa’s secondary needs to be upgraded immediately if they wish to compete in the NFC South.
8. Chicago Bears- Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State
Chicago has signed Allen Robinson and Taylor Gabriel to bolster its wide receiver core. This means they may choose to address the secondary. The Ohio State product is a good cover corner, who isn’t afraid to get physical. He is a little slight and will need to put on some weight.
Tremaine Edmunds (Photo by roanoke.com)
9. San Francisco 49ers- Tremaine Edmunds, LB, Virginia Tech
Edmunds does just about everything on the football field well, as a good cover linebacker, rusher and run stopper. He is also big and athletic. San Francisco could have some serious linebacker issues if Reuben Foster is not able to play due to his off the field issues.
10. Oakland Raiders- Vita Vea, DT/NT, Washington
Vea can play both defensive tackle and nose tackle, depending on the scheme a team runs, which is valuable. He has great size at 6’5″ and 340 pounds, which makes him disruptive. Vea did suffer a hamstring injury at the combine. Oakland needs to get someone on the interior of the defensive line to stop the run and take some of the blockers off of Khalil Mack.
11. Miami Dolphins- Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia
Smith was the best linebacker in college football this year and does a little bit of everything well. He is especially fast, which is crucial for his coverage and tracking down of ball carriers. The Dolphins have Raekwon McMillan and Kiko Alonso, but McMillan got injured before his impact could be seen. They will still need a third linebacker.
12. Buffalo Bills- Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma
The Bills are trying to move up again to get a quarterback but could be deciding between Mayfield and Lamar Jackson. Mayfield has defied all the critics who have mentioned his size as a reason not to draft him. He can make all the throws and is athletic enough to avoid pass rushers. His main calling card is his accuracy, which is the best in this draft class. He said as much in his interviews with the media at the NFL Combine.
13. Washington Redskins- Da’Ron Payne, DL, Alabama
Washington’s interior of the defensive line can be improved, as they allowed the most rushing yards per game in the NFL. Payne’s stats aren’t eye-popping, but he often gets double teamed. He is very athletic for his size and even played some offense in certain situations for Nick Saban at Alabama.
14. Green Bay Packers- Joshua Jackson, CB, Iowa
Jackson turned into an All-American corner at Iowa this season and has shown the ability to make acrobatic interceptions. The Packers don’t have much at corner and will need to improve the pass defense to keep up in their division.
15. Arizona Cardinals- Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame
The Cardinals signed an injury-prone quarterback in Sam Bradford, and Mike Glennon, so they need to protect them. Orlando Brown had a rough combine, while Connor Williams has some questions about his length. McGlinchey might be the safest pick because even if he can’t be a great left tackle, he can move over to the right and be successful.
16. Baltimore Ravens- Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama
Ridley is the best route-runner in the class and only lacked production in college because of the system he played in and inconsistent quarterback play. The Ravens signed Michael Crabtree, but still need a lot of receiver help, which they can fill with this selection.
Derwin James (photo by bucsnation.com)
17. Los Angeles Chargers- Derwin James, S, Florida State
He is athletic but doesn’t necessarily have a set position, which is turning some teams off. He ran a 4.48 at the combine and has great size for a defensive back, making him valuable. The Chargers could use him next Jahleel Addae and have a solid safety pair.
18. Seattle Seahawks- Marcus Davenport, DE/OLB, UTSA
Davenport has the build of a great pass rusher and can rush from the outside linebacker position, but reports are the media like him more than NFL teams do. The Seahawks lost Michael Bennett and Cliff Avril may not be the same player with his neck injury. They will need to make up for the loss in production.
19. Dallas Cowboys- Rashaan Evans, LB, Alabama
Evans is a quick, run stopping linebacker that can help out right away. He can fit in next to Jaylon Smith and Sean Lee. With Lee’s injury history it wouldn’t be a bad idea to have another linebacker ready to step in as well.
20. Detroit Lions- Isaiah Wynn, OG/C, Georgia
Detroit needs to have a better run game in order to have a more balanced offense. Running back is a position they will likely address in this draft, but can start by improving the interior offensive line play. Wynn played well in the Senior Bowl and the College Football Playoff for Georgia. He played tackle in college and will move inside for the NFL.
21. Cincinnati Bengals- Billy Price, OG/C, Ohio State
Cincinnati got Cordy Glenn with their trade down to this pick, but their offensive line is still very weak. Price has tons of experience at guard and center for Ohio State and will start right away.
22. Buffalo Bills- James Daniels, C, Iowa
When Eric Wood had to retire, the Bills lost a great player. They also traded Cordy Glenn to Cincinnati and need to upgrade their offensive line. Daniels has risen up draft boards lately and can immediately fill in for Wood. This pick may be traded if they move up higher to draft a quarterback.
23. New England Patriots- Mason Rudolph, QB, Oklahoma State
The Patriots just traded for this pick by giving the Rams Brandin Cooks. Having two first-round picks is an odd territory for New England to be in. They are reportedly interested in Rudolph and have brought him in for a visit. Brian Hoyer is the current backup, but the Patriots need another young quarterback after trading Jacoby Brissett and Jimmy Garoppolo.
24. Carolina Panthers- Harold Landry, DE/OLB, Boston College
The Panthers signed Julius Peppers, but he won’t last much longer and they aren’t very deep at defensive end. Landry had a great 2016 season that put him on the map and followed it up with a solid season this year.
Sam Hubbard (Photo by bleacherreport.com)
25. Tennessee Titans- Sam Hubbard, DE/OLB, Ohio State
Tennessee has Brian Orakpo and Derrick Morgan but can use a young pass rusher as well. Hubbard lacks elite athleticism, but can get after the quarterback and stops the run well for and edge rusher.
26. Atlanta Falcons- Carlton Davis, CB, Auburn
Atlanta needs another corner to pair with Desmond Trufant and should try to take one early. Davis is a lengthy corner that has experience covering some good receivers in the SEC.
27. New Orleans Saints- Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville
Six quarterbacks going in the first round is looking like more of a likelihood. The Saints signed Tom Savage, but that’s not going to solve their issue after Brees retires. Taysom Hill is a backup they reportedly love, but he wasn’t highly thought of out of BYU. Jackson will likely go higher than this with a team trading up for him.
28. Pittsburgh Steelers- Leighton Vander Esch, LB, Boise State
Vander Esch is another player that has been moving up draft boards. With Ryan Shazier not playing next year, the Steelers signed Jon Bostic. He and Vince Williams will start, but that leaves a lot to be desired.
Sutton is a great outside receiver, who produced a lot at SMU. He does have some questions as to if he can produce against NFL competition. The Jaguars have a decent crop of young receivers but could use some more help at the position after the loss of Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns.
Brown had a bad combine, which may hurt his stock a little, but his game tape is great and shows a mauler. He may not have the athleticism to play left tackle in the NFL but could be a great right tackle. The Vikings’ offensive line is much better than last year, but can still be improved. With a good offense and defense, they can afford to make a good unit better.
31. New England Patriots- Mike Hughes, CB, UCF
With Malcolm Butler leaving, the Patriots need more help at corner. Hughes is a good cover corner, but has some off the field concerns.
32. Philadelphia Eagles- Connor Williams, OT, Texas
They just won the Super Bowl with a backup quarterback and have a very solid roster. This pick could depend a lot on the health status of left tackle Jason Peters. If he isn’t healthy they’ll need a tackle. Williams’ draft stock has been all over the place, going from early first round to third round back into the first round.
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In the NFL, draft season is also referred to as smokescreen season. We have seen countless teams pump out rumors of being “all in” on certain players to send other teams into a frenzy. At this time of the year, it can be extremely difficult to discern what is true and what is false. Despite this, looking at a team’s draft prospect visits can shed some light on who they are truly interested in.
So far, the Minnesota Vikings have had 25 of their allotted 30 private visits of college draft prospects. Listed below are the most notable of the Vikings’ pre-draft visits.
Lorenzo Carter, LB, Georgia
Georgia linebacker Lorenzo Carter (Photo from saturdaydownsouth.com)
Carter reportedly visited the Vikings as a top-30 visit on April 4. He also met with the team during the NFL Combine last month. Carter is a tremendous athlete with good pass rushing skills and is expected to be a second-round pick. His main concerns are his lack of strength and hand usage when pass rushing, which hurts his ability to play as a 4-3 defensive end. This should be corrected through proper conditioning and coaching, however.
Although he was outshined by teammate Roquan Smith, Carter has the ability to become an NFL starter. If taken by the Vikings, Carter would likely fill in as a weakside linebacker.
Mike Hughes, CB, Central Florida
Mike Hughes of UCF is another defensive star that had a top-30 visit with the Vikings. Hughes is a pretty raw corner prospect, with only two years of playing experience. However, he has the traits and ball skills that defensive coordinators covet, making him a likely first-round pick.
Along with this, Hughes is also an explosive kick returner. Last season at UCF, Hughes returned two kickoffs and a punt back of six points, including a game-winner against rival South Florida. Hughes is primed to make an immediate impact as a returner and will gradually gain more snaps on defense.
Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame
McGlinchey is one of the top tackle prospects in this year’s draft, and for good reason. He is very athletic and has pro-ready technique, allowing him to become an early NFL starter. He needs more strength to hold up against powerful pass rushers, but is still seen as a first-round talent. With an offensive line desperate for more depth, the Minnesota Vikings may very well draft McGlinchey with the 30th overall pick.
Frank Ragnow, C/G, Arkansas
Arkansas Center/Guard Frank Ragnow (Photo by arkansasrazorbacks.com)
Arkansas’ Frank Ragnow made a top-30 visit with the Minnesota Vikings on April 3 and 4, according to several reports. The Vikings also interviewed Ragnow during the NFL Combine. He is one of the most versatile interior offensive lineman in this year’s draft, with experience at both center and guard.
He excels at both pass and run protection, making him a likely first or second-round pick. If Minnesota does select Ragnow, he will likely be moved to guard and is expected to start right away.
Connor Williams, G/T, Texas
Texas tackle Connor Williams (Photo from fullpresscoverage.com)
Williams is one of the more intriguing tackle prospects in this year’s draft. After a stellar 2016 season, he followed it up with a rather disappointing 2017 season. Williams’ clean technique and footwork regressed last year, leaving some scouts to doubt whether he is a true first-round talent.
Williams has the build and athleticism to play at any spot along the offensive line, which is an extremely valuable trait to have. With the Vikings, he would most likely start his career as a guard and eventually be moved out to the tackle position.
Ronnie Harrison, S, Alabama
Harrison is a complete safety prospect and is likely to be picked in the early rounds of the draft. Harrison has the speed and skill to play either free or strong safety, although he is more suited for the latter. He needs additional coaching on pass coverage, but should be a solid starter early in his career. The Vikings do not have a huge need at safety, but Harrison could be an eventual replacement for strong safety Andrew Sendejo.
Other notable top-30 visits
Dallas Goedert, TE, South Dakota State
P.J. Hall, NT, Sam Houston State
Nyheim Hines, RB, NC State
Jordan Lasley, WR, UCLA
Anthony Miller, WR, Memphis
Uchenna Nwosu, OLB, USC
Dante Pettis, WR, Washington
Justin Reid, S, Stanford
Featured image by Joe Robbins / Getty Images
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It’s just two and a half weeks until the NFL Draft. With the draft coming up at the end of the month, who will each team pick in the first round?
1. Cleveland Browns- Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming
The rumors now are that the Browns are going to select Josh Allen with the first overall pick. How long will this rumor last? Nobody knows. While Allen certainly has flaws in his decision-making and accuracy, he does have a strong arm and is athletic. He competed in all the drills at the combine and got some audible cheers when he displayed his arm strength. When general manager John Dorsey was with the Chiefs last year, he drafted a risky, strong-armed quarterback in Pat Mahomes and may take a similar risk this year, being that he has Tyrod Taylor behind center.
2. New York Giants- Sam Darnold, QB, USC
When one rumor starts, the other rumors will start. Now it looks like the Giants will select Darnold if he is still available. Darnold struggled this season with his decision-making which led to a lot of turnovers. He also has a flawed throwing motion. Although he went to the NFL Combine, he didn’t compete on the field and just interviewed with teams. Some have Darnold as their top quarterback, but his decision-making and ball security need to improve.
3. New York Jets- Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA
The Jets traded up to three and guaranteed themselves a quarterback, but they don’t even know who they will get. In this scenario, they would take Josh Rosen. No major questions about Rosen arose from the NFL Draft Combine interviews, which is good news for him. Rosen had to carry UCLA and ended up having a successful season. He needed to have a good year to clear up any doubts about his shoulder injury he suffered during his sophomore season.
4. Cleveland Browns- Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State
Yes, the Browns did just sign Carlos Hyde, but Barkley is still the best player in the class. With the trades for Jarvis Landry and Tyrod Taylor, Cleveland is making a concerted effort to improve the offense and with Barkley, they would have a lot of options in 2018.
Quenton Nelson (Photo by onefootdown.com)
5. Denver Broncos- Quenton Nelson, OG, Notre Dame
Denver is in a prime position to get the fourth best quarterback in the class, Quenton Nelson or trade down to other teams seeking quarterbacks. If they stay at this pick and John Elway isn’t enamored with the remaining quarterbacks, he will select Nelson. Nelson is one of the best players in the class and will be drafted early despite playing a position that doesn’t usually get talked about this soon. He has Hall of Fame potential.
6. Indianapolis Colts- Bradley Chubb, DE/OLB, N.C. State
The Colts pulled off a fantastic trade and will likely still get their first target in the NFL Draft. They could even trade down again. Frank Reich will be looking forward to working with Andrew Luck. When he is back, the offense will figure itself out. They can improve the defense to make the team more complete when Luck comes back. Chubb is a great pass rusher who has 10 sacks in each of the past two seasons. He displayed a good combination of size and speed at the combine.
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Minkah Fitzpatrick, S/CB, Alabama
He likely fits in best as a safety in the NFL, but can also play corner. Whichever he needs to play, he will excel at. His 4.47 40 yard dash time at the combine was right in line where he should have run. Tampa’s secondary needs to be upgraded immediately if they wish to compete in the NFC South.
8. Chicago Bears- Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State
Chicago has signed Allen Robinson and Taylor Gabriel to bolster its wide receiver core. This means they may choose to address the secondary. The Ohio State product is a good cover corner, who isn’t afraid to get physical. He is a little slight and will need to put on some weight.
9. San Francisco 49ers- Derwin James, S, Florida State
Eric Reid is a free agent, which leaves Jimmie Ward and Jaquiski Tartt at safety. Neither has been overly consistent throughout their careers and the 49ers will likely feel the loss of Reid. He is athletic but doesn’t necessarily have a set position, which is turning some teams off. He ran a 4.48 at the combine and has great size for a defensive back, making him valuable.
10. Oakland Raiders- Vita Vea, DT/NT, Washington
Vea can play both defensive tackle and nose tackle, depending on the scheme a team runs, which is valuable. He has great size at 6’5″ and 340 pounds, which makes him disruptive. Vea did suffer a hamstring injury at the combine. Oakland needs to get someone on the interior of the defensive line to stop the run and take some of the blockers off of Khalil Mack.
11. Miami Dolphins- Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia
Smith was the best linebacker in college football this year and does a little bit of everything well. He is especially fast, which is crucial for his coverage and tracking down of ball carriers. The Dolphins have Raekwon McMillan and Kiko Alonso, but McMillan got injured before his impact could be seen. They will still need a third linebacker.
Baker Mayfield (Photo by fansided.com)
12. Buffalo Bills- Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma
The Bills are trying to move up again to get a quarterback but could be deciding between Mayfield and Lamar Jackson. Mayfield has defied all the critics who have mentioned his size as a reason not to draft him. He can make all the throws and is athletic enough to avoid pass rushers. His main calling card is his accuracy, which is the best in this draft class. He said as much in his interviews with the media at the NFL Combine.
13. Washington Redskins- Da’Ron Payne, DL, Alabama
Washington’s interior of the defensive line can be improved, as they allowed the most rushing yards per game in the NFL. Payne’s stats aren’t eye-popping, but he often gets double teamed. He is very athletic for his size and even played some offense in certain situations for Nick Saban at Alabama.
14. Green Bay Packers- Tremaine Edmunds, LB, Virginia Tech
Edmunds does just about everything on the football field well, as a good cover linebacker, rusher and run stopper. He is also big and athletic. The Packers need to make the defense better for when Aaron Rodgers gets the offense going again and he has alluded to it as much this offseason.
15. Arizona Cardinals- Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame
The Cardinals signed an injury-prone quarterback in Sam Bradford, and Mike Glennon, so they need to protect them. Orlando Brown had a rough combine, while Connor Williams has some questions about his length. McGlinchey might be the safest pick because even if he can’t be a great left tackle, he can move over to the right and be successful.
16. Baltimore Ravens- Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama
Ridley is the best route-runner in the class and only lacked production in college because of the system he played in and inconsistent quarterback play. The Ravens signed Michael Crabtree, but still need a lot of receiver help, which they can fill with this selection.
17. Los Angeles Chargers- Rashaan Evans, LB, Alabama
The Chargers need safety and defensive tackle help, but could also use a linebacker. Evans is a quick, run stopping linebacker that can help out right away.
18. Seattle Seahawks- Joshua Jackson, CB, Iowa
Jackson turned into an All-American corner at Iowa this season and has shown the ability to make acrobatic interceptions. With Richard Sherman gone, the Seahawks need a corner and can take Jackson if they feel he can fit in their zone-coverage scheme.
Taven Bryan (Photo by gridironnow.com)
19. Dallas Cowboys- Taven Bryan, DT, Florida
The Cowboys need interior defensive line depth could pick up Bryan here. He’s very athletic and can be a depth player until he develops into a starter.
20. Detroit Lions- Isaiah Wynn, OG/C, Georgia
Detroit needs to have a better run game in order to have a more balanced offense. Running back is a position they will likely address in this draft, but can start by improving the interior offensive line play. Wynn played well in the Senior Bowl and the College Football Playoff for Georgia. He played tackle in college and will move inside for the NFL.
21. Cincinnati Bengals- Billy Price, OG/C, Ohio State
Cincinnati got Cordy Glenn with their trade down to this pick, but their offensive line is still very weak. Price has tons of experience at guard and center for Ohio State and will start right away.
22. Buffalo Bills- James Daniels, C, Iowa
When Eric Wood had to retire, the Bills lost a great player. They also traded Cordy Glenn to Cincinnati and need to upgrade their offensive line. Daniels has risen up draft boards lately and can immediately fill in for Wood. This pick may be traded if they move up higher to draft a quarterback.
23. New England Patriots- Mason Rudolph, QB, Oklahoma State
The Patriots just traded for this pick by giving the Rams Brandin Cooks. Having two first-round picks is an odd territory for New England to be in. They are reportedly interested in Rudolph and have brought him in for a visit. Brian Hoyer is the current backup, but the Patriots need another young quarterback after trading Jacoby Brissett and Jimmy Garoppolo.
24. Carolina Panthers- Harold Landry, DE/OLB, Boston College
The Panthers signed Julius Peppers, but he won’t last much longer and they aren’t very deep at defensive end. Landry had a great 2016 season that put him on the map and followed it up with a solid season this year.
25. Tennessee Titans- Marcus Davenport, DE/OLB, UTSA
Davenport has the build of a great pass rusher and can rush from the outside linebacker position, but reports are the media like him more than NFL teams do. The Titans have Brian Orakpo and Derrick Morgan but can use a young pass rusher as well.
26. Atlanta Falcons- Carlton Davis, CB, Auburn
Atlanta needs another corner to pair with Desmond Trufant and should try to take one early. Davis is a lengthy corner that has experience covering some good receivers in the SEC.
Lamar Jackson (Photo by dawgsbynature.com)
27. New Orleans Saints- Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville
Six quarterbacks going in the first round is looking like more of a likelihood. The Saints signed Tom Savage, but that’s not going to solve their issue after Brees retires. Taysom Hill is a backup they reportedly love, but he wasn’t highly thought of out of BYU. Jackson will likely go higher than this with a team trading up for him.
28. Pittsburgh Steelers- Leighton Vander Esch, LB, Boise State
Vander Esch is another player that has been moving up draft boards. With Ryan Shazier not playing next year, the Steelers signed Jon Bostic. Him and Vince Williams will start, but that leaves a lot to be desired.
Sutton is a great outside receiver, who produced a lot at SMU. He does have some questions as to if he can produce against NFL competition. The Jaguars have a decent crop of young receivers but could use some more help at the position after the loss of Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns.
Brown had a bad combine, which may hurt his stock a little, but his game tape is great and shows a mauler. He may not have the athleticism to play left tackle in the NFL but could be a great right tackle. The Vikings’ offensive line is much better than last year, but can still be improved. With a good offense and defense, they can afford to make a good unit better.
31. New England Patriots- Donte Jackson, CB, LSU
With Malcolm Butler leaving, the Patriots need more help at corner. Jackson is a fast corner who is good in man to man coverage.
32. Philadelphia Eagles- Connor Williams, OT, Texas
They just won the Super Bowl with a backup quarterback and have a very solid roster. This pick could depend a lot on the health status of left tackle Jason Peters. If he isn’t healthy they’ll need a tackle. Williams’ draft stock has been all over the place, going from early first round to third round back into the first round.
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It’s officially draft month as the calendar has flipped to April. With the draft coming up at the end of the month, who will each team pick in the first round?
Josh Allen (Photo by usatoday.com)
1. Cleveland Browns- Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming
The rumors now are that the Browns are going to select Josh Allen with the first overall pick. How long will this rumor last? Nobody knows. While Allen certainly has flaws in his decision-making and accuracy, he does have a strong arm and is athletic. He competed in all the drills at the combine and got some audible cheers when he displayed his arm strength. When general manager John Dorsey was with the Chiefs last year, he drafted a risky, strong-armed quarterback in Pat Mahomes and may take a similar risk this year, being that he has Tyrod Taylor behind center.
2. New York Giants- Sam Darnold, QB, USC
When one rumor starts, the other rumors will start. Now it looks like the Giants will select Darnold if he is still available. Darnold struggled this season with his decision-making which led to a lot of turnovers. He also has a flawed throwing motion. Although he went to the NFL Combine, he didn’t compete on the field and just interviewed with teams. Some have Darnold as their top quarterback, but his decision-making and ball security need to improve.
3. New York Jets- Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA
The Jets traded up to three and guaranteed themselves a quarterback, but they don’t even know who they will get. In this scenario, they would take Josh Rosen. No major questions about Rosen arose from the NFL Draft Combine interviews, which is good news for him. Rosen had to carry UCLA and ended up having a successful season. He needed to have a good year to clear up any doubts about his shoulder injury he suffered during his sophomore season.
4. Cleveland Browns- Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State
Yes, the Browns did just sign Carlos Hyde, but Barkley is still the best player in the class. With the trades for Jarvis Landry and Tyrod Taylor, Cleveland is making a concerted effort to improve the offense and with Barkley, they would have a lot of options in 2018.
5. Denver Broncos- Quenton Nelson, OG, Notre Dame
Denver is in a prime position to get the fourth best quarterback in the class, Quenton Nelson or trade down to other teams seeking quarterbacks. If they stay at this pick and John Elway isn’t enamored with the remaining quarterbacks, he will select Nelson. Nelson is one of the best players in the class and will be drafted early despite playing a position that doesn’t usually get talked about this soon. He has Hall of Fame potential.
6. Indianapolis Colts- Bradley Chubb, DE/OLB, N.C. State
The Colts pulled off a fantastic trade and will likely still get their first target in the NFL Draft. They could even trade down again. Frank Reich will be looking forward to working with Andrew Luck. When he is back, the offense will figure itself out. They can improve the defense to make the team more complete when Luck comes back. Chubb is a great pass rusher who has 10 sacks in each of the past two seasons. He displayed a good combination of size and speed at the combine.
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Minkah Fitzpatrick, S/CB, Alabama
He likely fits in best as a safety in the NFL, but can also play corner. Whichever he needs to play, he will excel at. His 4.47 40 yard dash time at the combine was right in line where he should have run. Tampa’s secondary needs to be upgraded immediately if they wish to compete in the NFC South.
8. Chicago Bears- Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State
Chicago has signed Allen Robinson and Taylor Gabriel to bolster its wide receiver core. This means they may choose to address the secondary. The Ohio State product is a good cover corner, who isn’t afraid to get physical. He is a little slight and will need to put on some weight.
9. San Francisco 49ers- Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama
Ridley is the best route-runner in the class and only lacked production in college because of the system he played in and inconsistent quarterback play. If they want to have a good offense, they will need to have a good target for Jimmy Garopolo.
Vita Vea (Photo by nfldraftdiamonds.com)
10. Oakland Raiders- Vita Vea, DT/NT, Washington
Vea can play both defensive tackle and nose tackle, depending on the scheme a team runs, which is valuable. He has great size at 6’5″ and 340 pounds, which makes him disruptive. Vea did suffer a hamstring injury at the combine. Oakland needs to get someone on the interior of the defensive line to stop the run and take some of the blockers off of Khalil Mack.
11. Miami Dolphins- Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia
Smith was the best linebacker in college football this year and does a little bit of everything well. He is especially fast, which is crucial for his coverage and tracking down of ball carriers. The Dolphins have Raekwon McMillan and Kiko Alonso, but McMillan got injured before his impact could be seen. They will still need a third linebacker.
12. Buffalo Bills- Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma
The Bills are trying to move up again to get a quarterback but could be deciding between Mayfield and Lamar Jackson. Mayfield has defied all the critics who have mentioned his size as a reason not to draft him. He can make all the throws and is athletic enough to avoid pass rushers. His main calling card is his accuracy, which is the best in this draft class. He said as much in his interviews with the media at the NFL Combine.
13. Washington Redskins- Da’Ron Payne, DL, Alabama
Washington’s interior of the defensive line can be improved, as they allowed the most rushing yards per game in the NFL. Payne’s stats aren’t eye-popping, but he often gets double teamed. He is very athletic for his size and even played some offense in certain situations for Nick Saban at Alabama.
14. Green Bay Packers- Tremaine Edmunds, LB, Virginia Tech
Edmunds does just about everything on the football field well, as a good cover linebacker, rusher and run stopper. He is also big and athletic. The Packers need to make the defense better for when Aaron Rodgers gets the offense going again and he has alluded to it as much this offseason.
15. Arizona Cardinals- Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame
The Cardinals signed an injury-prone quarterback in Sam Bradford, and Mike Glennon, so they need to protect them. Orlando Brown had a rough combine, while Connor Williams has some questions about his length. McGlinchey might be the safest pick because even if he can’t be a great left tackle, he can move over to the right and be successful.
16. Baltimore Ravens- Courtland Sutton, WR, SMU
Sutton is a great outside receiver, who produced a lot at SMU. Baltimore signed Michael Crabtree, but need more talent at the receiver position as a whole.
Derwin James (photo by tallahassee.com)
17. Los Angeles Chargers- Derwin James, S, Florida State
Some of the trades that have happened in the last few weeks have helped teams that weren’t even in them. Now James might fall to the Chargers, who need a safety. He is athletic but doesn’t necessarily have a set position, which is turning some teams off. He ran a 4.48 at the combine and has great size for a defensive back, making him valuable.
18. Seattle Seahawks- Joshua Jackson, CB, Iowa
Jackson turned into an All-American corner at Iowa this season and has shown the ability to make acrobatic interceptions. With Richard Sherman gone, the Seahawks need a corner and can take Jackson if they feel he can fit in their zone-coverage scheme.
19. Dallas Cowboys- Rashaan Evans, LB, Alabama
Evans is a quick, run stopping linebacker that can help out right away. The Cowboys current linebackers all have played different positions throughout their career, so Evans should be able to slide in and produce alongside them.
20. Detriot Lions- Taven Bryan, DT, Michigan
The Lions could go with an offensive lineman or running back, but they do have some holes on the defensive line. Taven Bryan could take some pressure off of Ziggy Ansah.
21. Cincinnati Bengals- Billy Price, OG/C, Ohio State
Cincinnati got Cordy Glenn with their trade down to this pick, but their offensive line is still very weak. Price has tons of experience at guard and center for Ohio State and will start right away.
22. Buffalo Bills- James Daniels, C, Iowa
When Eric Wood had to retire, the Bills lost a great player. They also traded Cordy Glenn to Cincinnati and need to upgrade their offensive line. Daniels has risen up draft boards lately and can immediately fill in for Wood. This pick may be traded if they move up higher to draft a quarterback.
23. Los Angeles Rams- Marcus Davenport, DE/OLB, UTSA
Los Angeles will get good pressure from Ndamukong Suh and Aaron Donald, but need better outside pass rushers, especially after trading Robert Quinn to Miami. Davenport has the build of a great pass rusher and can rush from the outside linebacker position, but reports are the media like him more than NFL teams do.
24. Carolina Panthers- Harold Landry, DE/OLB, Boston College
The Panthers signed Julius Peppers, but he won’t last much longer and they aren’t very deep at defensive end. Landry had a great 2016 season that put him on the map and followed it up with a solid season this year.
25. Tennessee Titans- Isaiah Wynn, OG/C, Georgia
Wynn played well in the Senior Bowl and the College Football Playoff for Georgia. He played tackle in college and will move inside for the NFL. The Titans need to improve the interior of their offensive line to help their young players at skill positions.
Carlton Davis (Photo by al.com)
26. Atlanta Falcons- Carlton Davis, CB, Auburn
Atlanta needs another corner to pair with Desmond Trufant and should try to take one early. Davis is a lengthy corner that has experience covering some good receivers in the SEC.
27. New Orleans Saints- Leighton Vander Esch, LB, Boise State
Vander Esch is another player that has been moving up draft boards. The Saints don’t have much at linebacker and can get a starter from day one here.
Jackson will likely go higher than this with a team trading up for him. The Steelers could take a quarterback because Ben Roethlisberger is often injured and has recently contemplated retirement. The organization has some experience with ahtletic quarterbacks, albeit a long time ago with Kordell Stewart, and can use Jackson similarly early in his career if Roethlisberger stays healthy.
29. Jacksonville Jaguars- Christian Kirk, WR, Texas A&M
Kirk is dynamic when he has the ball in his hands and can play in the slot or on the outside. Jacksonville really doesn’t have too many needs and have said they are sticking with Blake Bortles at quarterback. The Jaguars have a decent crop of young receivers but could use some more help at the position after the loss of Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns.
Brown had a bad combine, which may hurt his stock a little, but his game tape is great and shows a mauler. He may not have the athleticism to play left tackle in the NFL but could be a great right tackle. The Vikings’ offensive line is much better than last year, but can still be improved. With a good offense and defense, they can afford to make a good unit better.
31. New England Patriots- Donte Jackson, CB, LSU
With Malcolm Butler leaving, the Patriots need more help at corner. Jackson is a fast corner who is good in man to man coverage.
32. Philadelphia Eagles- Connor Williams, OT, Texas
They just won the Super Bowl with a backup quarterback and have a very solid roster. This pick could depend a lot on the health status of left tackle Jason Peters. If he isn’t healthy they’ll need a tackle. Williams’ draft stock has been all over the place, going from early first round to third round back into the first round.
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Free agency and trades have turned the NFL on its head. With a lot of team needs being addressed, fans can look forward to the draft in just under a month. Here is the 2018 NFL mock draft March 27.
1. Cleveland Browns- Sam Darold, QB, USC
The Browns have done a great job of keeping who they prefer at quarterback under wraps. First, it was Baker Mayfield, but now Sam Darnold is the favorite at quarterback. Hue Jackson has loved big, strong-armed quarterbacks in the past. Darnold struggled this season with his decision-making which led to a lot of turnovers. He also has a flawed throwing motion. Although he went to the NFL Combine, he didn’t compete on the field and just interviewed with teams. Some have Darnold as their top quarterback, but his decision-making needs to improve.
2. New York Giants- Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA
No major questions about Rosen arose from the NFL Draft Combine interviews, which is good news for him. Rosen had to carry UCLA and ended up having a successful season. He needed to have a good year to clear up any doubts about his shoulder injury he suffered during his sophomore season. Eli Manning will need an heir apparent, as Davis Webb isn’t the answer.
Baker Mayfield (Photo by predominantlyorange.com)
3. New York Jets- Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma
The Jets have moved up to number three to get a quarterback, but who will they draft? Mayfield has defied all the critics who have mentioned his size as a reason not to draft him. He can make all the throws and is athletic enough to avoid pass rushers. His main calling card is his accuracy, which is the best in this draft class. He said as much in his interviews with the media in Indianapolis.
4. Cleveland Browns- Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State
Yes, the Browns did just sign Carlos Hyde, but Barkley is still the best player in the class. With the trades for Jarvis Landry and Tyrod Taylor, Cleveland is making a concerted effort to improve the offense and with Barkley, they would have a lot of options in 2018.
5. Denver Broncos- Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming
Denver got Case Keenum in free agency, but he’s already 30 years old. While Allen certainly has flaws in his decision-making and accuracy, he does have a strong arm and is athletic. John Elway went to Boise, Idaho to watch him in his bowl game personally. He competed in all the drills at the combine and got some audible cheers when he displayed his arm strength. The Broncos have a solid roster and can afford to use a pick on a developmental quarterback. If they don’t select a quarterback, they will likely go with Quenton Nelson to help their offensive line.
6. Indianapolis Colts- Bradley Chubb, DE/OLB, N.C. State
The Colts pulled off a fantastic trade and will likely still get their first target in the NFL Draft. Frank Reich will be looking forward to working with Andrew Luck. When he is back, the offense will figure itself out. They can improve the defense to make the team more complete when Luck comes back. Chubb is a great pass rusher who has 10 sacks in each of the past two seasons. He displayed a good combination of size and speed at the combine.
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Quenton Nelson, G, Notre Dame
Tampa Bay needs to protect Jameis Winston to ensure that he has a good year. Nelson is one of the best players in the class and will be drafted early despite playing a position that doesn’t usually get talked about this soon.
8. Chicago Bears- Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State
Chicago has signed Allen Robinson and Taylor Gabriel to bolster its wide receiver core. This means they may choose to address the secondary. The Ohio State product is a good cover corner, who isn’t afraid to get physical. He is a little slight and will need to put on some weight.
9. San Francisco 49ers- Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama
Ridley is the best route-runner in the class and only lacked production in college because of the system he played in and inconsistent quarterback play. If they want to have a good offense, they will need to have a good target for Jimmy Garopolo.
Tahir Whitehead was signed at linebacker in free agency, so the Raiders may elect to go in a different direction. With some of the trades and signings that occurred, Fitzpatrick could slip to this pick. He likely fits in best as a safety in the NFL, but can also play corner. Whichever he needs to play, he will excel at. His 4.47 40 yard dash time at the combine was right in line where he should have run.
11. Miami Dolphins- Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia
Smith was the best linebacker in college football this year and does a little bit of everything well. He is especially fast, which is crucial for his coverage and tracking down of ball carriers. The Dolphins have Raekwon McMillan and Kiko Alonso, but McMillan got injured before his impact could be seen. They will still need a third linebacker.
Lamar Jackson (Photo by boltsfromtheblue.com)
12. Buffalo Bills- Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville
The Bills moved up this far with their trade with the Bengals, but don’t be surprised if they move up again to get a better quarterback. They signed A.J. McCarron, but there really wasn’t a reason to move up unless they were taking a quarterback. Some people are questioning whether Jackson can play quarterback, but he showed improved accuracy this season and is a dynamic playmaker. He should be given a shot to play the position in the NFL.
13. Washington Redskins- Vita Vea, DT/NT, Washington
Vea can play both defensive tackle and nose tackle, depending on the scheme a team runs, which is valuable. He has great size at 6’5″ and 340 pounds, which makes him disruptive. Vea did suffer a hamstring injury at the combine. Washington’s interior of the defensive line can be improved, as they allowed the most rushing yards per game in the NFL.
14. Green Bay Packers- Tremaine Edmunds, LB, Virginia Tech
Edmunds does just about everything on the football field well, as a good cover linebacker, rusher and run stopper. The Packers need to make the defense better for when Aaron Rodgers gets the offense going again and he has alluded to it as much this offseason.
15. Arizona Cardinals- Courtland Sutton, WR, SMU
Sutton is a great outside receiver, who produced a lot at SMU. The Cardinals could go quarterback here, but that would be a reach, so they should find a wide receiver to put aside Larry Fitzgerald.
16. Baltimore Ravens- Da’Ron Payne, DL, Alabama
Payne’s stats aren’t eye-popping, but he often gets double teamed. The Ravens don’t have many good defensive linemen and can immediately get an upgrade if they select Payne.
17. Los Angeles Chargers- Derwin James, S, Florida State
Some of the trades that have happened in the last few weeks have helped teams that weren’t even in them. Now James might fall to the Chargers, who need a safety. He is athletic but doesn’t necessarily have a set position, which is turning some teams off. He ran a 4.48 at the combine and has great size for a defensive back, making him valuable.
18. Seattle Seahawks- Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame
Orlando Brown had a rough combine, while Connor Williams has some questions about his length. McGlinchey might be the safest pick because even if he can’t be a great left tackle, he can move over to the right and be successful. The Seahawks need a few good offensive linemen and might elect to go for the player with the highest floor.
19. Dallas Cowboys- Rashaan Evans, LB, Alabama
Evans is a quick, run stopping linebacker that can help out right away. The Cowboys current linebackers all have played different positions throughout their career, so Evans should be able to slide in and produce alongside them.
20. Detroit Lions- Taven Bryan, DT, Florida
The Lions could go with an offensive lineman or running back, but they do have some holes on the defensive line. Taven Bryan could take some pressure off of Ziggy Ansah.
Billy Price (Photo by hogshaven.com)
21. Cincinnati Bengals- Billy Price, G/C, Ohio State
Cincinnati got Cordy Glenn with their trade down to this pick, but their offensive line is still very weak. Price has tons of experience at guard and center for Ohio State and will start right away.
22. Buffalo Bills- James Daniels, C, Iowa
When Eric Wood had to retire, the Bills lost a great player. They also traded Cordy Glenn to Cincinnati and need to upgrade their offensive line. Daniels has risen up draft boards lately and can immediately fill in for Wood. This pick may be traded if they move up higher to draft a quarterback.
23. Los Angeles Rams- Marcus Davenport, DE/OLB, UTSA
Los Angeles has good inside pressure in Aaron Donald and Michael Brockers, but need better outside pass rushers, especially after trading Robert Quinn to Miami. Davenport has the build of a great pass rusher, but reports are the media like him more than NFL teams do.
24. Carolina Panthers- Harold Landry, DE/OLB, Boston College
The Panthers signed Julius Peppers, but he won’t last much longer and they aren’t very deep at defensive end. Landry had a great 2016 season that put him on the map and followed it up with a solid season this year.
25. Tennessee Titans- Isaiah Wynn, OG/C, Georgia
Wynn played well in the Senior Bowl and the College Football Playoff for Georgia. The Titans need to improve the interior of their offensive line to help their young players at skill positions.
26. Atlanta Falcons- Josh Jackson, CB, Iowa
Jackson turned into an All-American corner at Iowa this season and has shown the ability to make acrobatic interceptions. If Jackson falls this far, the Falcons will run to the podium to draft him. Atlanta needs another corner to pair with Desmond Trufant and should try to take one early.
27. New Orleans Saints- Leighton Vander Esch, LB, Boise State
Vander Esch is another player that has been moving up draft boards. The Saints don’t have much at linebacker and can get a starter from day one here
28. Pittsburgh Steelers- Ronnie Harrison, S, Alabama
Harrison is a good strong safety prospect, who plays physically. Despite being known for all of their great safeties throughout their history, the Steelers are very bad at the position right now.
29. Jacksonville Jaguars- Christian Kirk, WR, Texas A&M
Kirk is dynamic when he has the ball in his hands and can play in the slot or on the outside. Jacksonville really doesn’t have too many needs and have said they are sticking with Blake Bortles at quarterback. The Jaguars have a decent crop of young receivers, but they rarely stay healthy.
Brown had a bad combine, which may hurt his stock a little, but his game tape is great and shows a mauler. He may not have the athleticism to play left tackle in the NFL but could be a great right tackle. The Vikings’ offensive line is much better than last year, but can still be improved. With a good offense and defense, they can afford to make a good unit better.
31. New England Patriots- Donte Jackson, CB, LSU
With Malcolm Butler leaving, the Patriots need more help at corner. Jackson is a fast corner who is good in man to man coverage.
32. Philadelphia Eagles- Connor Williams, OT, Texas
They just won the Super Bowl with a backup quarterback and have a very solid roster. This pick could depend a lot on the health status of left tackle Jason Peters. If he isn’t healthy they’ll need a tackle. Williams’ draft stock has been all over the place, going from early first round to third round back into the first round.
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