Sam Brown 2018 NFL Mock Draft
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No, please stay. Last year I correctly mocked Taco Charlton to the Dallas Cowboys!
Here’s my 2018 mock:
1) Cleveland Browns – Sam Darnold, QB, USC
It’s Darnold. It’s always been Darnold.
TRADE – Arizona sends New York Giants #15, #47, 2019 First Round selection for #2
2) Arizona Cardinals – Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA
Rightly or wrongly, the Giants believe they’ve got a few more years left in Eli Manning.The Cardinals will seize on this and pay the QB tax to land their guy.
3) New York Jets – Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma
The prime-time kid heads to the bright lights of New York. He’ll fit right in.
TRADE – Buffalo sends Cleveland #22, #65, 2019 First Round selection
4) Buffalo Bills – Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming
He’s everything Tyrod Taylor wasn’t. That matters.
5) Denver Broncos – Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State
This feels very “un-Elway”, but if Barkley is sitting there at five after a four-QB run? Why wouldn’t you add one of the best collegiate running backs in history.
6) Indianapolis Colts – Bradley Chubb, EDGE, NC State
It will be hard to engineer a trade down after QB-QB-QB-QB in the first four picks, so I think Ballard plays it straight and adds the dominant edge rusher.
7) Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Minkah Fitzpatrick, DB, Alabama
Whether you think he’s a safety or a corner, you can’t deny he’s good. And the Bucs need that on defense.
8) Chicago Bears – Quenton Nelson, OG, Notre Dame
This would be a steal. I can see teams prioritising their other needs over taking Nelson, but someone, at some point, has to take the future All-Pro.
9) San Francisco 49ers – Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State
Great athleticism, and more than happy to try and mirror anyone he comes up against.
10) Oakland Raiders – Jaire Alexander, CB, Louisville
A CB-run to round out the top ten, I can see the Raiders jumping at the chance to add a corner who is faster than a fermentation process.
11) Miami Dolphins – Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia
An incredibly speedy linebacker, Smith provides all the instincts a team looks for too.
12) Buffalo Bills – Derwin James, S, FSU
What an absolute football player this guy is. Bills Mafia would go nuts for this defensive back.
13) Washington Redskins – Maurice Hurst, DT, Michigan
Good grief just add some interior presence.
14) Green Bay Packers – Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame
All steps must be taken to keep Rodgers upright in the pocket this year. The defense is crying out in need, but they need to protect the best player in the game right now.
15) New York Giants – Harold Landry, EDGE, Boston College
Lamar Jackson is on the board, but Gettleman doesn’t have the bottle.
16) Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville
Ozzie Newsome does.
17) Los Angeles Chargers – Isaiah Wynn, OT, Georgia
Guard or tackle, if he can prevent another human man from entering the pocket for longer than 2.5 seconds, the Chargers’ll want him.
18) Seattle Seahawks – Jamarco Jones, OT, Ohio State
See: pick 17.
19) Dallas Cowboys – DJ Moore, WR, Maryland
I made this pick in the RAF Interactive Mock, and I’m sticking to my guns. Courtland Sutton might be better – but he gives them similar problems that the team have just released in Dez Bryant. Moore can get separation, and that might be enough to sneak him in here at 19.
20) Detroit Lions – Marcus Davenport, EDGE, UTSA
The Lions need to get Ziggy Ansah some help at disturbing the backfield.
21) Cincinnati Bengals – James Daniels, C, Iowa
Daniels’ true-talent level is probably a lot higher than this, but the centre position is somewhat devalued. The Bengals can fill an area of serious need and at great value here at 21.
22) Cleveland Browns – Taven Bryan, DT, Florida
You’ve got your QB at number one, you’ve added yet more draft capital at number four – so why not take this freak of nature at 22? Slightly unpolished, but a physical force from day one.
23) New England Patriots – Quenton Meeks, CB, Stanford
The Patriots need corner help following the departure of Malcolm Butler, and Meeks can offer a big frame and wise head at 23.
24) Carolina Panthers – Billy Price, C, Ohio State
This pick is horribly un-sexy.
25) Tennessee Titans – Leighton Vander Esch, LB, Boise State
A much-fancied, rangy linebacker at 25? Yes please.
26) Atlanta Falcons – Vita Vea, DT, Washington
Exit, Poe. Enter, Vea.
27) New Orleans Saints – Dallas Goedert, TE, South Dakota
Nobody wants another year of Coby Fleener.
28) Pittsburgh Steelers – Justin Reid, S, Stanford
One of my favourite players in the draft, a lock for the base of the first round. Rangy, and with great awareness.
29) Jacksonville Jaguars – Connor Williams, OT, Texas
A prototypical prospect, lacks polish, more than makes up for it in strength.
30) Minnesota Vikings – Will Hernandez, OG, UTEP
Hernandez can provide some running lanes for Dalvin Cook, and keep Cousins on his feet.
31) New England Patriots – Tremaine Edmunds, LB, Virginia Tech
Keep adding to that defense.
32) Philadelphia Eagles – Courtland Sutton, WR, SMU
Good luck defending both he and Alshon Jeffrey.