The 2018 NFL Draft appears to have the most trade-heavy rumor mill of any football draft ever thanks to the presence of at least five quarterbacks that most consider first-round talents. With the quarterback still being the defining position for an NFL team's success (unless you're the Jaguars), there are at least 10 teams (Cleveland, Denver, New Orleans, Jacksonville, New England, NY Jets, NY Giants, Miami, Buffalo and Arizona) that COULD look to draft and develop their next man under center early in the draft. That's not even including teams like the Bengals, Chargers and Steelers that might be less confident in their futures at the position than previously believed. In my opinion, no matter who owns picks 1, 2 and 3, those will all be quarterbacks off the board.
It is bound to be one of the most fun NFL drafts since Aaron Rodgers fell from being a guaranteed Top-5 pick to #24 and I'll try to navigate through it all with the most accurate mock if all teams remain in their current draft positions (not going to happen but whatever, just bear with me on this one).
#1. Cleveland Browns - QB Josh Allen (Wyoming)
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| Mike Jones/USA TODAY Sports |
Other Options: QBs Josh Rosen & Sam Darnold, RB Saquon Barkley, DE Bradley Chubb
If I were in new GM John Dorsey's position, I would select Saquon Barkley #1 and Bradley Chubb #4 because Tyrod Taylor has proven that he can take a hopeless franchise (Buffalo) to the playoffs and is extremely careful with the football in a way that no rookie quarterback has ever been (16 interceptions in three seasons as the Bills' starter). Unfortunately, thinking in a "bigger picture" manner seems like more of a Sashi Brown move and they just fired him for trying to reenact the Philadelphia 76ers "Process" in the NFL. The organization did not give Brown a chance to see this rebuild through, as they've failed to with any other front office they've built over the past 20 years. They'll do the Browns-iest Browns' pick yet and take the QB that completed 49% of his passes in Junior College before playing inconsistently at the stalwart football program that is Wyoming. Even if traded, all top three picks will be quarterbacks.
#2. New York Giants - QB Sam Darnold (USC)
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| Tom Pennington/Getty Images |
Other Options: QBs Josh Allen & Josh Rosen, RB Saquon Barkley, DE Bradley Chubb, Trade out?
Eli Manning is DONE and the quicker the Giants acknowledge this, the quicker the overblown goodbye tour can begin. There is not one simple move that can turn this team into a serious postseason contender next year outside of dumping their 37-year old turnover-prone meme of a quarterback for say... Ryan Tannehill? WOAH! Did I just propose the idea that the Giants send the #2 pick to Miami for Tannehill and the #11 pick? I didn't even realize how much I wanted this to happen until now. Do it, Giants! In mock reality, let's say the Giants stay at #2... I think Sam Darnold is the most Eli-like quarterback in the draft with his inconsistencies and fearlessness to make the dangerous throws. In other words, I don't trust this guy but, the team that's somehow brainwashed themselves into believing that Eli Manning was still a legitimate starting quarterback the past two seasons might just let him sit and learn, Kurt Warner-style for a year before handing him the reigns.
#3. New York Jets - QB Josh Rosen (UCLA)
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| Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images |
Other Options: QBs Josh Allen & Sam Darnold, RB Saquon Barkley, DE Bradley Chubb, Trade up/out?
As much as Teddy Bridgewater deserves a second chance with a second team as the Jets' starter this year, they seem dead-set on keeping 38-year old journeyman Josh McCown under center for another year. I feel that this more likely signifies a lack of trust in Bridgewater than faith in the man that led them to a 5-11 record last season and will only get worse as his football abilities escape his body. Josh Rosen is the quarterback most ready to start on day #1 and even though that doesn't always equal having the highest potential of all the arms in this draft, his mind is what sets him apart as one of the most mentally-ready quarterbacks since Andrew Luck and Russell Wilson. He showed plenty of inconsistencies in college though and that will cost him being a top two pick on Thursday. Who knows? Maybe a team will like Saquon Barkley enough (Tampa Bay?) to trade up and draft the Nittany Lion here. Speaking of which...
#4. Cleveland Browns - RB Saquon Barkley (Penn State)
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| Penn State Athletics |
Other Options: DE Bradley Chubb, CB Denzel Ward, G Quenton Nelson, Trade out?
By all accounts and evidence, Barkley is the next Ezekiel Elliott on the field and he can return kicks with similar results to that of Devin Hester, if necessary (won't be required from him in the NFL but, could you imagine?). Even with the signing of Carlos Hyde (two 900-yard seasons) and the return of pass-catching extraordinaire Duke Johnson Jr., this team still needs a LeSean McCoy-like back to compliment Tyrod Taylor for as long as they want to keep Taylor under center instead of whatever quarterback they take this weekend (in this mock, that is Josh Allen). In reality, their defense was still one of the worst in the NFL and Bradley Chubb would help the other side of the ball just as much as Barkley would help the offensive side and it's not a guarantee that Barkley falls here if a more RB-needy team feels the need to trade up to picks 2 or 3. Either way, Allen & Barkley beats the Kizer & Crowell combination of 2017 by a mile.
#5. Denver Broncos - DE Bradley Chubb (North Carolina State)
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| Melina Vastola - USA TODAY Sports |
Other Options: QBs Baker Mayfield & Lamar Jackson, RB Saquon Barkley, G Quenton Nelson, CB Denzel Ward, Trade up/out?
The Broncos may have just released C.J. Anderson but, the only running back worthy of a top-ten pick is off the board so, they might just trade out of this #5 pick for a deeper variety of picks including a later first-rounder to land a Nick Chubb or a Derrius Guice. If they don't trade up or down, they'll look to shore up an already great defense since the old dad proverb states that "Defense Wins Championships" and Bradley Chubb is the best defender in this draft. Even though there is a much more pronounced hole in the defensive backfield minus Aqib Talib, this is a team known for going with quality over quantity since they won the Super Bowl three seasons ago.
#6. Indianapolis Colts - G Quenton Nelson (Notre Dame)
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| Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire |
Other Options: RB Saquon Barkley, WR Calvin Ridley, DE Bradley Chubb, CB Denzel Ward, Trade out?
The biggest key in maintaining Andrew Luck's health upon his return will be how much better his offensive line is at protecting him compared to how abysmal the Colts' offensive line was in 2016, the last time Luck played. Despite being a guard, Quenton Nelson is widely regarded as the safest offensive line choice in this draft and the Colts' need him because they need someone to help both protect Luck and create holes for whoever their running back is come September. Obviously if Barkley were to fall to pick #6, the Colts would have to consider choosing him and the story is the same with Chubb but, this feels like the furthest either of those can fall in a draft where teams are preparing to make trades up and down the draft board.
#7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - S Derwin James (Florida State)
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| Sports Illustrated |
Other Options: RB Saquon Barkley, G Quenton Nelson, CB Denzel Ward, Trade out?
The slow development of Jameis Winston was not the only disappointment for Buccaneer fans in 2017, as their defense was nowhere near as good as previously expected. Tampa Bay will definitely listen to offers for the 7th overall pick (likely from Miami, Buffalo and Arizona) but, Derwin James is the safest choice that makes the most sense for a team that is looking for another huge defensive addition alongside Jason Pierre-Paul and the continuous improvement of Vernon Hargreaves and Justin Evans. That move would put them back in wildcard contention at the very least.
#8. Chicago Bears - ILB Tremaine Edmunds (Virginia Tech)
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| James Guillory - USA TODAY Sports |
Other Options: G Quenton Nelson, OLB Roquan Smith, CBs Denzel Ward & Minkah Fitzpatrick
The Bears addressed their need for offense early this season by signing WRs Allen Robinson & Taylor Gabriel along with TE Trey Burton. Now that GM Ryan Pace has surrounded QB Mitchell Trubisky with genuinely talented weapons, it would not be a surprise to see them shift their focus to defense in the draft as they need to replace the linebacker holes left by Christian Jones, Jerrell Freeman and even Pernell McPhee (who was more of an edge rusher than an inside presence). Edmunds was the only star defensive player on a team that never allowed 30 points to any teams in their conference (the ACC). In case Danny Trevathan ever gets in trouble again with these new targeting rules, the Bears will be in desperate need for a middle linebacker and Tremaine Edmunds could be a star for the next decade given the right amount of time on the field.
#9. San Francisco 49ers - WR Calvin Ridley (Alabama)
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| Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images |
Other Options: ILB Tremaine Edmunds, OLB Roquan Smith, CBs Denzel Ward & Minkah Fitzpatrick, S Derwin James, Trade up/out?
Dez Bryant is STILL available and at this point, it just seems like a handful of secretive teams are waiting to see which franchise selects Calvin Ridley before they make an offer to the former Cowboy. San Francisco is the most obvious landing spot for the biggest ticket receiver on the market and with Ridley slipping to #9 (unless somebody trades up), Ridley is the perfect fit for the 49ers. Their only proven receivers are a 32-year old coming off a neck injury (Pierre Garcon) and a former Olympian that was only known as a deep-threat and nothing else before others' injuries forced his narrative to change last year. As nice as all three of Garcon, Goodwin and Trent Taylor are, none of them would be #1 receivers on a Super Bowl team and with a 5-game winning streak to ride into the offseason, the 49ers' brass are probably thinking Super Bowl or bust right now depending on the legal implications of Reuben Foster's Horrible, Terrible, No Good, Very Bad Offseason.
#10. Oakland Raiders - CB Minkah Fitzpatrick (Alabama)
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| Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images |
Other Options: OT Isaiah Wynn, OLB Roquan Smith, CBs Denzel Ward & Josh Jackson
Back-to-back defending champions could join the Bay Area as Jon Gruden will want to create his own "Legion of Boom" around 2017 first-rounder Gareon Conley and the tenth pick this year, Minkah Fitzpatrick. It amazes me that year after year, everyone expects the Raiders defense to be awesome despite the lack of any above-average defenders outside of Khalil Mack. Fitzpatrick would change that as he better be NFL-ready after seemingly spending eight years in college.
#11. Miami Dolphins - OLB Roquan Smith (Georgia)
Current Depth: (OLB) Kiko Alonso, Chase Allen, Terrance Garvin
Other Options: QBs Baker Mayfield & Lamar Jackson, TE Mike Gesicki, C James Daniels, DT Da'Ron Payne, CBs Denzel Ward, Minkah Fitzpatrick & Josh Jackson, Trade up?
The Dolphins were a quarterback short of the playoffs last year (does anyone really believe that just replacing Jay Cutler with Ryan Tannehill wouldn't have been enough to unseat the Bills from the postseason?) so, it would not stun anyone to see them trade up or sit and wait for a Baker Mayfield or a Lamar Jackson to fall to them at 11. It would, however, seem ill-advised as Tannehill was pretty solid the last time we saw him on the field and there are now a bunch of other holes for this team to fill after they dumped Ndamukong Suh, Lawrence Timmons and Julius Thomas with nothing in return besides cap space they used on Danny Amendola, Albert Wilson and Robert Quinn (excuse me? why?). The most blatant hole on this team is among the linebacker corps, where Kiko Alonso is essentially expected to do it all by himself at this moment. Roquan Smith has been heavily criticized as a run-defender but, no one has questioned his pass-rush ability and the Dolphins need as many young defensive players to make life as miserable as possible for the potential influx of young AFC East quarterbacks starting this season.
#12. Buffalo Bills - QB Lamar Jackson (Louisville)
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| Jamie Rhodes - USA TODAY Sports |
Other Options: QB Baker Mayfield, WR Calvin Ridley, OTs Isaiah Wynn & Mike McGlinchey, ILB Tremaine Edmunds, OLB Roquan Smith, Trade up?
If you're going to dump Tyrod Taylor for a third-round pick, you better have a superior version of Taylor in mind for the future. If Lamar Jackson is 75% of the quarterback that Taylor was, it could be a successful transition for the team that just ended the league's longest streak without a postseason appearance. Lamar Jackson is somehow far more mobile than Taylor, who was one of the league's most mobile quarterbacks last season, and the kid cannot even be judged by his passing stats at Louisville (59% completion percentage his final season) because his receivers were the worst of any of the top six quarterbacks that might be taken in the first round this year. How Jackson's game translates to the NFL is a mystery to many but, it won't be as a receiver and he needs to land somewhere where he can use those legs while he's young.
#13. Washington - CB Denzel Ward (Ohio State)
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| Joe Maiorana - USA TODAY Sports |
Current Depth: (CB) Josh Norman, Quinton Dunbar, Orlando Scandrick, Fabian Moreau, Joshua Holsey
Other Options: WR Calvin Ridley, DEs Marcus Davenport & Harold Landry, Trade up?
This is the furthest that Denzel Ward will fall in the draft. Widely regarded as a top-ten pick and possibly the best cornerback in the draft, Ward will only fall to Washington if no corner-needy team tries to pass them up via trade (see: half the NFL). With Calvin Ridley off the board, Washington will need to focus on defense and Josh Norman appears to be hitting the end of his prime so, it's time to shore up the defense, much like the Chiefs successfully did on an annual basis around new-Washington quarterback Alex Smith.
#14. Green Bay Packers - DE Harold Landry (Boston College)
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| Tim Bradbury/Getty Images |
Other Options: RB Darrius Guice, WR Calvin Ridley, DE Marcus Davenport, CBs Josh Jackson & Denzel Ward, Trade up?
With GM Ted Thompson gone and new GM Brian Gutekunst handing out contracts to veteran free agents, I could see anything happening here including even trading up to land a Calvin Ridley or a Denzel Ward. With a league-leading 12 draft picks, the Packers certainly have the capital to move up for a better prospect but, Harold Landry is a perfectly fine fit at pick #14, just in case Muhammad Wilkerson isn't the second-coming of Reggie White. The Packers are always looking for pass-rushers and with Clay Matthews Jr. finding it harder and harder to wrap up offensive players, the man that wrapped up 16.5 sacks in 2016 (only 5 in 8 games last year) could be signed for Matthews to be a post-draft release.
#15. Arizona Cardinals - QB Baker Mayfield (Oklahoma)
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| The Associated Press |
Other Options: QB Lamar Jackson, WR Calvin Ridley, OT Isaiah Wynn, CB Josh Jackson, Trade up?
Every NFL GM and I seem to agree that Sam Bradford is an above-average NFL quarterback with the worst injury luck of any #1 pick over the last 20 years. With that being a widely-known fact, the Cardinals still decided to pay him 20 million dollars next season and even if it's only one season... wow. Baker Mayfield is NFL-ready from an accuracy standpoint and could be an all-time great given some mentoring from the $20 million man. The one thing Arizona will want to do with their future franchise quarterback is make him a bit more patient before taking off so that Mayfield doesn't become another Robert Griffin III. Recently, it seems as though Mayfield won't fall past pick #10 with the Browns reportedly considering taking the Heisman Winner with the very first overall pick (This would legitimately shock me but, I'm all for it). Either way, I think the Arizona Cardinals somehow find a way to find the perfect Bruce Arians quarterback the year after Arians retired as head coach.
#16. Baltimore Ravens - C James Daniels (Iowa)
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| Cliff Jette/The Gazette |
Other Options: TE Mike Gesicki, OTs Isaiah Wynn & Mike McGlinchey, CB Josh Jackson
For the first time in their franchises' history, the Ravens just bore the hell out of me. I do not have the slightest interest in how their receiving corps of Michael Crabtree, Willie Snead and John Brown turns out and their defense continues to be solid but, is now only average as a whole. Ultimately, they will go with the only first-round caliber center in Iowa's James Daniels because they do not have a center. Matt Skura is more natural at the guard position and is even more of a natural on the bench so, this is a perfect fit for Daniels to start from day #1.
#17. Los Angeles Chargers - OT Isaiah Wynn (Georgia)
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| Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire |
Other Oprions: QBs Baker Mayfield & Lamar Jackson, OT Mike McGlinchey, ILB Leighton Vander Esch
The Chargers are the Brooklyn Nets to the Rams' New York Knicks in terms of coverage and hype surrounding the two franchises. Quietly, the Chargers defense is young and on enough of an upward trajectory that they could be just as good as the Rams' 2017 defense this year. With that said, they will want to focus more on shoring up the offense and keeping QB Philip Rivers up during the twilight of his career. Isaiah Wynn stands as the best tackle in the draft and with an aging offensive line, the Chargers could use him to eventually work his way in via the exits of Russell Okung (30 years old) or Joe Barksdale (29 and mediocre).
#18. Seattle Seahawks - CB Josh Jackson (Iowa)
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| Getty Images |
Other Options: TE Mike Gesicki, G Will Hernandez, LB/CB Shaquem Griffin, CBs Jaire Alexander & Carlton Davis, Trade out?
Despite Seattle's offensive line troubles over the past four years and the losses of Jimmy Graham and Paul Richardson, the real holes for this team are on defense. It does not seem like Kam Chancellor will come back anytime soon from a potentially career-ending neck injury and Earl Thomas no longer has the healthiest track record either but, the only player entirely gone from the once-upon-a-time "Legion of Boom" is Richard Sherman. Josh Jackson has all of the size and intangibles to translate his ball-hawking style of play from Iowa into the NFL. The Seahawks would barely miss a beat replacing Sherman with Jackson.
#19. Dallas Cowboys - WR Courtland Sutton (SMU)
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| Tommy Gilligan - USA TODAY Sports |
Other Options: OT Mike McGlinchey, DTs Da'Ron Payne & Vita Vea, OLB Rashaan Evans, Safeties Ronnie Harrison & Justin Reid
Quietly, Courtland Sutton has been rising up draft boards and as a much cheaper, just as confident version of Dez Bryant, he makes perfect sense as QB Dak Prescott's #1 target for years to come. If nothing else, he could be the possession receiver to match Prescott's lack of confidence in throwing the deep ball. Terrance Williams and Cole Beasley have been around long enough that we know neither is capable of taking over for Dez Bryant and Allen Hurns has been constantly injured since being undrafted and having one good season in Jacksonville. Sutton could be the #1 wideout by September on this lackluster squad.
#20. Detroit Lions - DT Da'Ron Payne (Alabama)
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| Sean Gardner - Getty Images |
Other Options: RBs Darrius Guice & Nick Chubb, TE Mike Gesicki, C James Daniels, DT Vita Vea
Detroit seems to consistently desire owning multiple above-average defensive linemen at the same time and with Ezekiel "Ziggy" Ansah on the team and no other linemen of note (yet, A'Shawn Robinson might be a good player given time to develop), they might just refocus on the defensive front again. This team should still be looking at running backs despite the addition of LeGarrette Blount (now on his sixth NFL team) so, it would not surprise me to see them fill the one gaping hole on offense that has prevented them from any postseason success over their two appearances in the Matthew Stafford-era. Running backs can usually wait though so, Da'Ron Payne can join a former member of the Crimson Tide as they plug up the middle of the field for new defensive-minded head coach Matt Patricia.
#21. Cincinnati Bengals - G Will Hernandez (Texas-El Paso)
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| AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki |
Other Options: QB Lamar Jackson, C James Daniels, DTs Da'Ron Payne, Vita Vea & Maurice Hurst
Losing G Kevin Zeitler was a death sentence for the Bengals' 2017 season and now, Andre Smith's second tenure in Cincinnati is over. Trey Hopkins has not blown anyone away with his production shown in 12 starts over four seasons so, expect the Bengals' brass to make another low-key wise decision here and take a smaller-school guard in Will Hernandez of UTEP.
#22. Buffalo Bills - OT Mike McGlinchey (Notre Dame)
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| Roy K. Miller/Icon Sportswire |
Other Options: QB Lamar Jackson, WRs Courtland Sutton & Christian Kirk, ILB Leighton Vander Esch, CB Jaire Alexander, Trade up?
If the Bills truly land a quarterback, as predicted earlier, then they are going to want to protect him as securely as possible and what better way to do that than with a 6'8'' behemoth named Mike McGlinchey. There were multiple Notre Dame games where it was obvious that McGlinchey was the more naturally gifted lineman than Quenton Nelson. The cousin of Falcons' QB Matt Ryan, McGlinchey is a natural for the locker room and will improve team morale in the exact opposite manner that Richie Incognito (retired from Buffalo this offseason) did over his NFL career.
#23. New England Patriots - OLB Rashaan Evans (Alabama)
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| rolltide.com |
Other Options: TE Mike Gesicki, ILB Leighton Vander Esch, OLBs Darius Leonard & Jerome Baker, Trade up?
The Patriots have gone shockingly thin on linebackers the past few seasons and still managed to make the Super Bowl over back-to-back seasons. As much as I'm sure they'd love to replace Brandin Cooks (whom they dealt to the Rams for the rights to this pick), they literally don't have a second outside linebacker to start right now. Bill Belichick is a smart football mind and it does not take a genius to realize that Alabama constantly attracts and produces the greatest football talents in the nation so, Rashaan Evans should be a safe bet to succeed, even with a new (still to be determined) defensive coordinator .
#24. Carolina Panthers - CB Jaire Alexander (Louisville)
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| Jamie Rhodes - USA TODAY Sports |
Other Options: RBs Derrius Guice & Nick Chubb, WRs Courtland Sutton & Christian Kirk, OLB Rashaan Evans, CB Carlton Davis
The Panthers dealt CB Daryl Worley to fill a hole at wide receiver with Torrey Smith. Unfortunately for them, that only further complicates their roster as Smith has underperformed in his post-Ravens existence and this has created a hole in their defensive backfield. Jaire Alexander was always around the ball during Louisville's surprising 2016 season, grabbing five interceptions (7 in 3 years) and despite a slight dip in production during his final season as a Cardinal, the peak of his game has shown through and that could entice Carolina to grab a bit of a sleeper in this year's stacked cornerback class.
#25. Tennessee Titans - ILB Leighton Vander Esch (Boise State)
Current Depth: (ILB) Wesley Woodyard, Jayon Brown, Will Compton, Daren Bates, Nate Palmer
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| Joe Jaszewski/Idaho Statesman |
Other Options: G Will Hernandez, DTs Vita Vea & Maurice Hurst, Trade out?
The Titans are on the cusp of greatness and all they need are a bounceback season from QB Marcus Mariota (who still balled out in the playoffs) and a little help with their run defense. Leighton Vander Esch has room for improvement in his tackling but, the middle linebacker out of Boise State is still a tremendous athlete, something the Titans have been missing in the middle of their defense since Keith Bulluck left Nashville nearly a decade ago. If Vander Esch is already off the board (extremely possible), expect them to stick with the plan of filling that hole up the middle with a defensive tackle instead.
Current Depth: (DT) Grady Jarrett, Jack Crawford, Joey Ivie
#26. Atlanta Falcons - DT Vita Vea (Washington)
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| Jennifer Buchanan - USA TODAY Sports |
Other Options: WRs Courtland Sutton & Christian Kirk, G Connor Williams, Safeties Ronnie Harrison & Justin Reid, Trade up/out?
Jack Crawford is a player that an NFL team only starts out of necessity due to lack of better options, not because they really believe that Crawford is a starter on a Super Bowl-caliber roster. Vita Vea slips a bit in my mock for no reason other than lack of trades and he'll be welcome with open arms by the Falcons as they try to return to their second Super Bowl in three years. Vea is at least an improvement over Jack Crawford, if nothing else.
#27. New Orleans Saints - S Justin Reid (Stanford)
#27. New Orleans Saints - S Justin Reid (Stanford)
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| Brook Mitchell/Getty Images |
Other Options: QB Mason Rudolph, DE Marcus Davenport, DTs Maurice Hurst & Taven Bryan, S Ronnie Harrison, Trade up?
The future is now for the Saints as QB Drew Brees could choose to retire at any given moment and the team is stacked with youth on both sides of the ball, creating a "win now" mentality that will prevent them from taking a quarterback this year. After all, they were one batted Hail Mary away from a conference championship last season. In order to prevent that mistake from ever occurring again, they will over-prepare for the exact same scenario by selecting a proven smart guy out of Stanford in Safety Justin Reid. He should fill the hole that former top-pick Kenny Vaccaro has vacated.
#28. Pittsburgh Steelers - S Ronnie Harrison (Alabama)
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| Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images |
Other Options: QB Mason Rudolph, ILB Josey Jewell, S Justin Reid, Trade up?
The days of Troy Polamalu are long gone and the Steelers' latest defensive face of the franchise is unlikely to play in 2018 due to a spinal injury (OLB Ryan Shazier). Signing Morgan Burnett was a sneaky excellent move to recreating the defensive backfield that dominated the AFC in the late 2000's but, this team is still a few day-one draftees away from matching the standard for high-caliber play that their offensive side of the ball has set. The Steelers should take whichever safety is left on the board for them here and they should be thrilled to land a proven winner in Alabama safety Ronnie Harrison.
#29. Jacksonville Jaguars - CB Carlton Davis (Auburn)
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| Auburn Athletics |
Other Options: QB Mason Rudolph, TE Mike Gesicki, ILB Josey Jewell, CB Shaquem Griffin
Keeping up the trend of successful teams of 2017 trying to recreate their successes by replacing lost free agents, the Jaguars will do anything in their power to keep their defense as one of the best in the NFL. Aaron Colvin was a quiet success story for Jacksonville as the #3 corner, despite just grabbing his first interception in the playoffs last year. Good teams this late in the draft should draft for need because, what do they have to lose? but, they typically go for the best available player and strengthen their depth. Carlton Davis wasn't facing a cavalcade of elite quarterbacks in the SEC and it will take him some time to adjust but, he'll fit in pretty well as a situational defender until he is playoff ready.
#30. Minnesota Vikings - G Connor Williams (Texas)
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| Getty Images |
Other Options: OT Orlando Brown, DE Marcus Davenport, OLBs Jerome Baker & Darius Leonard
The 2016 Minnesota Vikings' offensive line was one of the worst in the history of the NFL. Despite all of the new names and subsequent improvement, there were still some obvious weak points in their line last season and the guard position still needs a total overhaul. Connor Williams was the one Texas Longhorn lineman worth a draft pick in his time at Austin and he's the one guard left on the board with any shot of being a first-round pick so, he'll take Aviante Collins' spot in the Vikings' lineup.
#31. New England Patriots - TE Mike Gesicki (Penn State)
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| Jayne Kamin-Oncea, USA TODAY Sports |
Other Options: QB Mason Rudolph, WR Christian Kirk, DE Marcus Davenport, CBs Mike Hughes & Isaiah Oliver
Rob Gronkowski just announced that he's returning for a ninth season with Tom Brady and Bill Belichick but, that doesn't stop New England from jumping on a potential replacement for the greatest tight end in the history of the NFL. After all, the idea of Gronk retiring is at least in the air now, meaning they could be looking at Dwayne Allen as their starting tight end in 2019 and he had no impact whatsoever on the team's run to the Super Bowl this February. Mike Gesicki is the mosr Gronk-like tight end coming out of college since Gronkowski with good blocking abilities and some of the best hands at his position in the NFL as soon as he hits the field.
#32. Philadelphia Eagles - OLB/CB Shaquem Griffin (Central Florida)
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| AP |
Other Options: RBs Derrius Guice & Nick Chubb, OT Orlando Brown, S Kyzir White, Trade out?
Teams will scratch him off of their draft boards due to the lack of a left hand but, this dude is one of the most impressive ATHLETES in this year's draft. He was the star defensive player on an undefeated team in 2017's playoff-deserving UCF squad and can play either linebacker or cornerback depending on which team he lands with. The Eagles should pick him just so they can add a project for their future and keep a great locker room guy away from the Giants (who lurk in the shadows, two picks away). Not that this team should be worried about anything, coming off their first ever Super Bowl victory, minus their franchise quarterback.
In reality, nobody should be worried yet because these are just new names being added to rosters and ultimately, that should only cause optimism until the grueling offseason ends and injury season begins. Until then, have fun watching the newest jerseys enter team gift shops and who knows, maybe we'll have to update that now-retired-but-not-in-spirit Browns quarterback jersey!
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