Welcome everyone to the one and only version of my mock draft! As we get to less than a week away from the NFL Draft, it’s past time for a mock draft to be posted on this website.
Before I get into the picks, there’s a specific process that I’ve followed. I look at what a team’s needs are and what they’ve done in free agency to address those needs. You can also look at past trends and
Enough with the preamble, let’s get on with the projections!
- Cleveland Browns – QB Josh Rosen (UCLA)
The Cleveland Browns would be doing themselves a disservice by not drafting a quarterback. To me, he seems like the right quarterback to build a franchise around. Add the weapons that Cleveland acquired in free agency, they can improve their stock in 2018
- New York Giants – RB Saquon Barkley (Penn State)
The Giants seem content with Eli Manning as their quarterback for 2018 with a new regime in place. The Giants need to take a page from the Saints playbook and get a solid running back with their first pick in Saquon Barkley. You can get some solid offensive linemen in the later rounds and that could help make for a solid run game in 2018 to help Manning stay upright.
- New York Jets – QB Josh Allen, Wyoming
The inconsistency at the QB position for the Jets has been a long sordid story. Yes, they have Teddy Two-Gloves and Josh McCown, but that’s not going to be the answer and Josh Allen seems like the smart pick.
- Cleveland Browns – QB Sam Darnold, USC
Why not have the Browns put themselves in a situation similar to what Washington did when they drafted RGIII and Kirk Cousins in the same draft? It worked out (kind of) and they can figure out who is the better QB is during fall camp.
- Denver Broncos – CB Denzel Ward, Ohio State
The first non-offense player will address a big need for the Broncos with Aqib Talib no longer with the team. To me, it seems like an offensive lineman at number five isn’t going to solve all the problems that Denver has.
- Indianapolis Colts – WR Calvin Ridley, Alabama
If the Colts are all in on Andrew Luck, they’ll need to focus in on getting a solid WR corps for him. Ridley is the perfect fit for this franchise, at least to me.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers – S Minkah Fitzpatrick, Alabama
The Bucs are in need of a solid safety and he seems like the right answer for a Bucs team that can’t quite get over the hump.
- Chicago Bears – OT Mike McGlinchey, Notre Dame
Put some protection in front of Mitchell Trubisky and I wouldn’t be surprised if he can turn this team’s fortunes around (or at least get them above .500).
- San Francisco 49ers – DE Bradley Chubb, NC State
One of the better looking defensive ends in the NFL Draft, he seems to be an ideal fit for the 49ers. This team has a solid QB and only needs to make some adjustments at defense to see their stock rise once again.
- Oakland Raiders – ILB Roquan Smith, Georgia
The Raiders have to get an inside linebacker as their first pick with Jon Gruden back as the HC. This is an impact player that could help make this defense a force.
- Miami Dolphins – WR Courtland Sutton, SMU
The Dolphins got rid of one of their best targets in Jarvis Landry, they’ll need to address that in the draft with a speedy wideout.
- Buffalo Bills – G Quenton Nelson, Notre Dame
The Bills have a lot of question marks on this team, but it feels like he could give the offensive line a much-needed boost.
- Washington Redskins – CB Josh Jackson, Iowa
The two-way defensive player could be huge for the Redskins and help this defense get a lot better. A tandem of Josh Norman and Jackson would do wonders for this franchise.
- Green Bay Packers – WR Christian Kirk, Texas A&M
The Packers lost out on Jordy Nelson in the offseason and added Jimmy Graham in the offseason. Add a super-versatile WR to this team and Aaron Rodgers should have a lot of fun with this offense.
- Arizona Cardinals – G/C Billy Price, Ohio State
With Sam Bradford now at the retirement home known as the Arizona Cardinals, give him some protection on the offensive line and the production should go up.
- Baltimore Ravens – TE Hayden Hurst, South Carolina
The Ravens need a tight end to compliment a WR like Michael Crabtree, so why not go with the former Gamecock?
- Los Angeles Chargers – OT Kolton Miller, UCLA
They don’t have to go far to get an offensive tackle to try and keep an aging Phillip Rivers healthy in the tail end of his career.
- Seattle Seahawks – OT Isaiah Wynn, Georgia
Russell Wilson needs some protection in the pocket and Wynn could be part of the answer for this franchise.
- Dallas Cowboys – DT Vita Vea, Washington
He’s drawn some similarities to Haloti Ngata and I’d expect the Cowboys to try and rebuild the defense considering the fact that their offense seems okay and could get a decent WR for Dak Prescott later in the draft.
- Detroit Lions – RB Derrius Guice, LSU
The Lions have shown that they are a few steps away from doing something meaningful with this team and really need to bolster their running back corps. Guice seems to be the answer.
- Cincinnati Bengals – C James Daniels, Iowa
The Bungles can’t afford to mess this one up and a center could be huge for a franchise that wants to keep Andy Dalton as healthy as possible.
- Buffalo Bills – QB Lamar Jackson, Louisville
The Bills need a QB and AJ McCarron is not the answer for this team. Give the Bills a mobile QB like a Tyrod Taylor and they could be better.
- New England Patriots – WR DJ Moore, Maryland
The Pats need to add a WR to their team, especially if Gronkowski doesn’t come back to the franchise this fall.
- Carolina Panthers – OT Orlando Brown, Oklahoma
Cam Newton was under pressure for much of 2017 and Brown can definitely give some much needed depth to the offensive line.
- Tennessee Titans – DE Marcus Davenport, UTSA
The Titans need a defensive end to solidify their front seven and the former Roadrunner can do just that.
- Atlanta Falcons – TE Mark Andrews, Oklahoma
The Falcons offense has needed a tight end added into the fold since Tony Gonzales hung it up. I’d say that the former Sooner would fit in nicely with the Falcons.
- New Orleans Saints – DE Sam Hubbard, Ohio State
After years of needing a defensive end in the NFL Draft, the Saints finally get a defensive end to complete a fierce front seven.
- Pittsburgh Steelers – RB Sony Michel, Georgia
Michel can be a force on any of the 32 teams and will likely take a lot of the cookies from Le’Veon Bell.
- Jacksonville Jaguars – CB Mike Hughes, Central Florida
It never hurts to add some cornerback depth to a team that seems to finally be putting it all together even with Blake Bortles at QB.
- Minnesota Vikings – CB Jaire Alexander, Louisville
Alexander should fit well on this team that already has some bonafide studs like Xavier Rhodes.
- New England Patriots – QB Mason Rudolph, Oklahoma State
The heir to the throne has been chosen. It may not be the sexiest pick, but Rudolph has done really well with the Cowboys and could continue that whenever Brady hangs it up.
- Philadelphia Eagles – DE Maurice Hurst, Michigan
There are not a whole lot of holes in the Eagles game, but the front seven could use another monster in the front seven to even things out.
-Clint Domingue