
We’re 17 days away from the 2018 NFL Draft and trades continue to shake up the order of the first round.
The Los Angeles Rams sent the 23rd overall pick to the New England Patriots in exchange for wide receiver Brandin Cooks, giving New England two first round picks (23rd and 31st picks).
There’s also been rumors the Patriots like one of the top quarterbacks in the draft to groom behind Tom Brady. I don’t see that happening but you never know what New England is going to do.
I projected a trade in the last mock but I’m going to stick with the current this time around, so let’s get started.
Round 1
1) Cleveland Browns-Sam Darnold, QB, USC: At the end of the day, this is the Browns future
2) New York Giants-Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA: the Giants need to find the next guy behind Eli Manning
3) New York Jets (via Indianapolis)-Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming: with Bridgewater and McCown in front of him, Allen will get time to groom into an NFL quarterback
4) Cleveland Browns (via Houston)-Bradley Chubb, DE, NC State: Browns take best player on the board and sets up a dominant pass rush with Chubb, Myles Garrett and Emmanuel Ogbah
5) Denver Broncos-Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma: they signed Case Keenum in free agency but that shouldn’t stop them from drafting the Heisman winner
6) Indianapolis Colts (via New York)-Quenton Nelson, OG, Notre Dame: Colts grab Nelson to build the offensive line for the returning Andrew Luck
7) Tampa Bay Buccaneers-Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State: a solid running game could do wonders for Jameis Winston and the Bucs passing attack
8) Chicago Bears-Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State: Ward and Fuller could be a dominant cornerback duo for years to come
9) San Francisco 49ers-Harold Landry, DE, Boston College: 49ers haven’t had that dominant pass rusher since Aldon Smith
10) Oakland Raiders-Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia: Oakland needs help in the linebacker group for Khalil Mack
11) Miami Dolphins-Tremaine Edmunds, LB, Virginia Tech: Miami could go QB here but look to upgrade the defensive front instead
12) Buffalo Bills (via Cincinnati)-Minkah Fitzpatrick, CB, Alabama: Buffalo will likely move up for quarterback but get another corner to go opposite Tre’Davious White
13) Washington Redskins-Da’ron Payne, DT, Alabama: Washington needs to beef up the interior of the defensive line
14) Green Bay Packers-Jaire Alexander, CB, Louisville: Green Bay should go corner here
15) Arizona Cardinals-Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville: Hopefully Jackson can sit behind Sam Bradford and Mike Glennon for the 2018 season
16) Baltimore Ravens-Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama: Baltimore added receivers in free agency but still should look for one early in the draft
17) Los Angeles Chargers-Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame: The Chargers need to upgrade the tackle spot to keep Philip Rivers upright for his final years
18) Seattle Seahawks-Josh Jackson, CB, Iowa: With Richard Sherman out, the Seahawks should look to rebuild the Legion of Boom
19) Dallas Cowboys-Taven Bryan, DT, Florida: Dallas needs a defensive tackle with some pass rush ability. Bryan is raw but could grow into that role
20) Detroit Lions-Marcus Davenport, DE, UTSA: Been with this selection for a few mocks now
21) Cincinnati Bengals (via Buffalo)-Isaiah Wynn, OG, Georgia: Cincinnati could go offensive tackle here but need upgrades all along the offensive line
22) Buffalo Bills (via Kansas City)-Mason Rudolph, QB, Oklahoma State: if Buffalo doesn’t trade up, they can go with the Oklahoma State gunslinger here and groom him behind AJ McCarron
23) New England Patriots (via LA Rams)-Derwin James, S, Florida State: Patriots land a top 15 talent with their first of two first round picks
24) Carolina Panthers-Will Hernandez, OG, UTEP: Carolina should look to keep Cam Newton upright after the loss of Andrew Norwell
25) Tennessee Titans-Billy Price, C, Ohio State: Mike Vrabel and Jon Robinson go with a Buckeye in their first draft together
26) Atlanta Falcons-Vita Vea, DT, Washington: Falcons get a steal with Vea falling to them in the late first round
27) New Orleans Saints-James Daniels, C, Iowa: Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz, who has coached offensive linemen for a long time called Daniels the best he’s ever coached
28) Pittsburgh Steelers-Leighton Vander Esch, LB, Boise State: Pittsburgh has been taking these athletic linebackers lately and doesn’t change this go-around
29) Jacksonville Jaguars-Rashaan Evans, LB, Alabama: Jacksonville continues to build that front seven that has the potential to be dangerous for a few years
30) Minnesota Vikings-Carlton Davis, CB, Auburn: Minnesota is poised for a Super Bowl run but needs some help in the secondary
31) New England Patriots-DJ Moore, WR, Maryland: Patriots go wide receiver here after losing Amendola in free agency and trading Brandin Cooks
32) Philadelphia Eagles-Derrius Guice, RB, LSU: Jay Ajayi isn’t a long term option for the Super Bowl champions so they look for that guy in the draft
Round 2
33) Cleveland Browns-Maurice Hurst, DT, Michigan: Browns continue to build their front seven and get a steal with Hurst falling due to a heart condition that has been medically cleared
34) New York Giants-Connor Williams, OG, Texas: Giants need to build that offensive line for their future QB Josh Rosen
35) Cleveland Browns-Ronald Jones, RB, USC: Browns go running back to join Carlos Hyde and Duke Johnson in the backfield, a dream for new offensive coordinator Todd Haley
That would be amazing. I’m not going to be able to sleep tonight or tomorrow on the chance they take Allen. If that happens, wake me up in 3 years when we do all this again.
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