We’re past the mid point of the season the first round of the upcoming NFL Draft is taking shape. Here’s the updated NFL Mock Draft after Week 8.
As the 2018 NFL Draft draws closer and closer with the weeks going by during the 2017 campaign, we are starting to get a clearer picture in terms of the picking order. You can never count out the New England Patriots or the Green Bay Packers in terms of making a run to the Super Bowl on any given year.
However, the Packers and Patriots do not have the greatest outlooks right now in their respective conferences. The Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles actually hold the best records in the AFC and NFC right now.
Moreover, the college football regular season is now more than halfway concluded. We’re also starting to see who is going to emerge as having a real chance to get selected in the top 10. Teams like the Alabama Crimson Tide, Penn State Nittany Lions, and Georgia Bulldogs continue to get their players positive exposure since they’re ranked in the top 3 in the AP Poll.
This NFL Draft order was chosen from the most up to date Super Bowl odds from Vegas Insider. The odds and draft order are sure to change as the NFL season goes along. Injuries will also continue to affect who will be selected in the first round as well. There were some key injuries in Week 8, but the only major one being to a player that is not draft eligible (Ole Miss’s Shea Patterson).
Now, let’s take a look at the complete first round 2018 NFL Mock Draft after the conclusion of Week 8 of the college football season.
Even though Wyoming quarterback Josh Allen has not played great throughout the start of the 2017 campaign, teams are sure to still consider him a top choice for a solution behind center. Allen possesses all the physical tools necessary to succeed at the NFL level.
The San Francisco 49ers are destined for a No. 1 overall pick in 2018 and should just accept that at this point. C.J. Beathard and Brian Hoyer should not be starting quarterbacks in the NFL and the 49ers need to find someone to build around.
Allen has the ability to make pass rushers miss in the pocket, and to extend plays. But, he also has the arm strength and ability to throw on the run needed to make any throw in an NFL offense. That will be recognized more than his stat line at Wyoming this year.
Expect a team like San Francisco to roll the dice a bit and take a page out of what the Philadelphia Eagles did recently with picking Carson Wentz out of North Dakota State. Allen is another small school quarterback that could succeed at the NFL level.
The Cleveland Browns have learned their lesson in terms of picking a starting quarterback early in the NFL Draft. Even DeShone Kizer is not working out for them right now. The former Notre Dame quarterback Kizer was not even a first round pick either.
Instead, the Browns follow the route they chose last year in the NFL Draft and pick the best player available. That pick was former Texas A&M defensive end Myles Garrett and even though he missed the first few games of the season, it seems to be working out well so far.
No player is more versatile, proven, and talented in this class than Penn State running back Saquon Barkley. He had another huge week in a big win at home over the Michigan Wolverines in Week 8.
Barkley can block, catch passes out of the backfield, and make defenders miss at any level. He also has the breakaway speed needed for home run type plays in the NFL. The Browns would be lucky to land him anywhere in the first round.
The New York Jets have actually been a very competitive team over the past five weeks. Two tough losses against the New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins have dropped them below .500 once again.
Even with the Jets recent success, they do still have a glaring need of adding a franchise quarterback. While current starter and journeyman quarterback Josh McCown is playing well right now, he’s not a long-term answer for any team.
That’s where UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen comes into play. Rosen is putting up crazy numbers right now, leading a mediocre at best UCLA squad. He’s easily on pace to set career-highs in almost every passing stat category.
Among the quarterbacks that were considered to be at the top of the class this year, Rosen has been the best and most consistent. Teams will definitely take notice of that and his competitive attitude come the 2018 NFL Draft.
The need that the Indianapolis Colts have on the offensive line is almost as glaring as any of any NFL team in existence. Indy was unable to protect the face of the franchise in Andrew Luck and he might miss the entire 2017 campaign because of it.
Even former NC State quarterback Jacoby Brissett is running for his life on most snaps. The answer to this problem is simple, start building some quality offensive lineman around the most important player on the team.
That starts with general manager Chris Ballard drafting an offensive lineman with what is sure to be an early first round pick for the Colts. Texas offensive tackle Connor Williams might be the best available in this class.
Whether Luck is able to return back to full health at any point during the rest of his career, or if the Colts move forward with Brissett, they need to figure out this offensive lineman situation in Indy. No need is bigger with this team.
Notre Dame offensive lineman Mike McGlinchey would not have to stray far if he were drafted by the Chicago Bears. McGlinchey is one of the best offensive tackles available in this NFL Draft class, and few would be surprised if he was actually the first one picked.
However, the Bears have actually stumbled upon something positive with this offense and rookie quarterback Mitchell Trubisky and a solid ground game. Running backs Tarik Cohen and Jordan Howard are a lethal duo.
There’s two big missing pieces on this offense. One is piecing the puzzle together that is the Chicago offensive line and the other is adding receiving depth. Yet, there are more top 10 quality offensive lineman available than wide receivers.
The Bears will have the opportunity to add some wide receivers in later rounds with guys like SMU’s Courtland Sutton and Memphis’s Anthony Miller likely to be still on the board after the first round. McGlinchey makes a lot of sense here.
There might not be a single team in the NFC East that is more of a mess than the New York Giants. A team that actually performed pretty well last year, considering the circumstances under new head coach Ben McAdoo, has completely collapsed this year.
Superstar wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. is out for the rest of the season, quarterback Eli Manning is struggling mightily, the ground game is nonexistent, and the offensive line is sending Manning running for his life.
The amount of different ways the Giants could go with this pick is mind boggling. However, the offensive line is always a good place to start. We’ll go with three straight offensive lineman being picked to round out the top six.
Oklahoma’s Orlando Brown is having a big year protecting Heisman candidate quarterback Baker Mayfield. Brown will continue to prove his worth for the rest of the season with the Sooners and who why he’s deserving of a top 10 pick.
The AFC West has been one of the toughest divisions to play in the NFL over the past few year. The team that has gotten the worst end of that is the Los Angeles (formerly San Diego) Chargers. They do have a few needs to be filled but the defense needs some work as a whole.
Casey Hayward and Trevor Williams man the starting cornerbacks spots right now for the Chargers after the season-ending injury to Jason Verrett. Adding some more talent to the secondary would be a great move for the Chargers.
Surprisingly enough, after starting the season on a four-game losing streak, LA has won its last three contests. That includes a Week 7 shutout of the Denver Broncos. So, the defense is actually playing pretty well at this point in the season.
Alabama defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick is one of the absolute best leaders and most talented players in the nation. He’s also the leader of the most dominant defense in college football with the Crimson Tide.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers could use another piece along the defensive line that can be a long-term answer in place of Robert Ayers. While Ayers is not the worst player to have along the defensive line, the Bucs could use an upgrade.
If LSU edge rusher Arden Key is still available at this spot, it would make a lot of sense to go ahead and draft him. Key has had consistency issues during his tenure with the Tigers, but there’s no doubting the talent level he possesses.
He’s racked up 1.5 sacks and 16 total tackles this season. However, Key has only played in five games this season since he missed time due to injury. Yet, this is the first time that Key missed much time during any regular season in his three years in Baton Rouge.
This season has not gone as expected for Tampa Bay. Quarterback Jameis Winston did not take the team to new heights in the NFC South, but we do have a long way to go in the 2017 NFL season.
Florida State safety Derwin James could end up being a top 5 pick very easily in the upcoming NFL Draft. However, the choice for most teams will be between James and Minkah Fitzpatrick. James and Fitzpatrick have different skill sets but both bring a lot of value to the table.
If Florida State’s season starts to get back on track soon, then James’ draft stock might also go back up. Head coach Jimbo Fisher is struggling to get the Noles going in the right direction without quarterback Deondre Francois.
Yet, barring injury, James will be ready to go for a very lucky NFL defense. The Oakland Raiders are another team that is not getting off to the start anticipated after a big season in 2016. Karl Joseph is the only sure thing at safety for the Raiders as well.
James could come in and make a huge impact for this defense immediately. The combination of James and Joseph could end up forming one of the best safety duos in the NFL. Having James available this close to the outside of the top 10 might be wishful thinking, though.
The Miami Dolphins will need to find a replacement for an aging Cameron Wake very soon. NC State defensive end Bradley Chubb would be a great option for most NFL teams, but the Dolphins could be a really good fit.
Chubb has the speed and athleticism to play with a 4-3 NFL defense, like the Dolphins. He’s helping the Wolfpack to their best season in recent memory. If NC State can take down the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in Week 9, they could be the front runner in the ACC.
That kind of exposure is only helping Chubb’s draft stock out right now. NC State was expected to be good but not as great as they have been, with only one loss to the South Carolina Gamecocks. Chubb and running back Nyheim Hines have been NC State’s best players also.
Chubb is already leading the team with 6.5 sacks and he also has 37 total tackles. He’ll very likely get a career-high in sacks this year. That would mean eclipsing the 10-sack mark that he set during the 2016 campaign.
The Jacksonville Jaguars got a big upgrade on the offense with the pick of former LSU running back Leonard Fournette in the 2017 NFL Draft. However, the biggest hole left on the offense seems to be at wide receiver. Allen Hurns and Allen Robinson are not consistent.
However, Texas A&M wide receiver Christian Kirk is the most versatile pass-catcher in this class. Kirk also competes with James Washington and Calvin Ridley among the best overall wide receivers in this class as well.
A strong start for the Jaguars actually puts them in position to contend with the Houston Texans and Tennessee Titans to win the AFC South. The Indianapolis Colts should be a non-factor in the race for the division title this year.
Yet, that should also change the draft strategy for the Jags as well. If they can show they’re ready to contend on a regular basis, then they should pick up someone who could make an immediate impact.
Much like the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Buffalo Bills are a pleasant surprise in the AFC this season. Quarterback Tyrod Taylor and running back LeSean McCoy are leading this offense to a four win start in the first six games of the season.
Taylor could definitely use some more weapons at wide receiver, since former East Carolina product Zay Jones seems to be the only one with a very bright future. Jordan Matthews is not a long-term answer as a starter for the Bills.
Oklahoma State wide receiver James Washington is the front runner, along with West Virginia receiver David Sills V, for the Biletnikoff Award for the best pass-catcher in the nation. Washington is also the best deep threat in the country.
Possibly the biggest need on offense for the Bills is wide receiver. If they continue to work with Taylor as the starting quarterback in Buffalo, they’ll need to put some more weapons around him for the coming years.
It’s time for the Joe Flacco-era to end for the Baltimore Ravens. The last few years have been rough for this franchise, with a passing game that has been nearly non-existent. Yet, there’s a lot of issues on this Baltimore offense.
Oklahoma State quarterback Mason Rudolph is another tall player that has a big arm that could revitalize this offense. Rudolph currently leads what might be the best offense in the country with the Cowboys, although they were held to just 13 points against the Texas Longhorns.
Baltimore needs an upgrade at quarterback, running back, and wide receiver. However, that should all start with the quarterback position. The Ravens could build around a quarterback from there and Rudolph is a great way to start.
The later rounds could be a place for the Ravens to start building up the rest of the offense. Running backs are also more easily found in free agency in recent years. Watch out for them to take a quarterback, whether it’s Rudolph or someone else, in the first round.
Quarterbacks should be a hot commodity in this NFL Draft. Outside of even Josh Allen, Josh Rosen, and Sam Darnold, there’s some very intriguing names on the board. One of those is a guy who’s spent time with both the Baylor Bears and Auburn Tigers.
Jarrett Stidham is a good fit with the Gus Malzahn offensive scheme. While he’s not the same that Nick Marshall was in the Auburn offense, this is the most effective that we’ve seen the Tigers in the past few seasons.
As a dual threat quarterback with a good arm, Stidham should be a very attractive option for a team like the Arizona Cardinals that needs a quarterback in the first round. The entire Arizona offense is aging and needs to be replaced soon.
The season ending injury to Carson Palmer against the Los Angeles Rams puts the Cardinals in an even more desperate spot to get a quarterback. Palmer is old and the Cardinals window is just about closed in order to make a good run in the playoffs.
The Cincinnati Bengals have a big rebuilding project ahead of them this off-season. Even though the defensive line does have some very good players, it could use an injection of youth to give a breather and take some of the pressure of guys like Geno Atkins.
Michigan defensive tackle Maurice Hurst was one of the few returning starters for the Wolverines this season. While Michigan has largely disappointed, Hurst has not. He’s been a leader of one of the best and most talented defenses in the nation.
Really any talented defensive lineman would be a good pick for the Bengals. Cincinnati needs to stay away from picking another wide receiver after how disappointing former Washington product John Ross has been so far.
Drafting has not been the strongest suit for the Bengals of late. Both Ross and former Oklahoma running back Joe Mixon have not worked out so great. It’s still too early in the season to make that call for sure, though.
It does seem like only a matter of time before NFL teams realize that a lot of the hype surrounding USC sophomore quarterback Sam Darnold was not for good reason. After USC loss to Notre Dame in Week 8, it did really expose the Trojans offense.
Darnold could still have a great NFL career, but the signs are not showing this year. He’s having some real accuracy issues and has already tossed more interceptions through eight games this year than he did through 13 last year.
The Washington Redskins could see starting quarterback Kirk Cousins leave town before too long as well. Even though Cousins has been a solid and reliable quarterback over the last two seasons, the Redskins do not seem to recognize that.
If Darnold’s stock continues to fall because of USC losses, he could find his way outside of the top 10. There’s a lot of talented quarterbacks looking to make the best of their opportunities in this NFL Draft.
Cornerback Tarvarus McFadden is another piece of a tremendously talented Florida State defense that is getting buried by all the losses in Tallahassee this season. The Noles might actually not be bowl eligible by the end of the regular season.
It’s a weird thought for most college football fans to know that Florida State will probably not be ranked for the rest of the season and that the Noles could easily miss a bowl game. However, that should not have too big of an affect on McFadden’s draft stock.
The Tennessee Titans have allowed too many passing yards this season and could be in store for a long next couple seasons if they don’t fix that soon. The Houston Texans have a quarterback in Deshaun Watson that’s in for a bright future. The Colts are sure to get Andrew Luck back at some point as well.
McFadden would be a very safe but solid pick up at this point in the first round. Him and Derwin James are the two Florida State defensive players that should be guaranteed to land in the first round, barring injury.
The Los Angeles Rams do have one of the best defensive lines in the NFL, highlighted by players like Aaron Donald. However, they do need someone to replace Connor Barwin to really round out this defensive line as the best in the league.
Boston College defensive end Harold Landry gets somewhat buried in the hype surrounding bigger programs since the Eagles don’t get much exposure. Landry has the size and speed needed to succeed with the Rams, though.
This upcoming draft is going to be more about building for the immediate future than rebuilding for the Rams. What was thought to be a bust of a draft pick in quarterback Jared Goff is actually looking really good right now.
Running back Todd Gurley is having one of the best seasons of any rusher in the NFL. And, while Landry is not on the same pace that he was last season with the 16.5 sacks he managed, he should easily get more than 10.
The Houston Texans could really use a running back to complement rookie quarterback Deshaun Watson in the backfield. The prospect of former Texas running back D’Onta Foreman emerging is still somewhat possible, but Lamar Miller is not working out.
Up to this point, Miller has not even come close to rushing for more than 100 yards yet in a single game. Foreman is starting to take some carries away from Miller also. Miller might be out of Houston before too long and Foreman might not be the best answer as a starter.
That’s where LSU running back Derrius Guice comes into play. Entering the college football season, both Guice and Saquon Barkley were considered the two clear cut best rushers in the country. Only injury problems have kept Guice from fulfilling that hype.
There’s no way that Guice should not be a first round pick in the upcoming draft. So many teams could use an upgrade to a running back of his caliber and should not pass up the opportunity late in the first round.
Penn State tight end Mike Gesicki might be considered the best straight up at his position in the nation. However, Oklahoma tight end Mark Andrews has the best potential at the NFL level. The Detroit Lions desperately need a tight end too.
Former North Carolina tight end Eric Ebron has not panned out at all with the Lions and his time has run out. Andrews could come in and immediately give starting quarterback Matthew Stafford a great target to throw to.
Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield has a plethora of weapons to throw to in the receiving corps. Yet, his favorite target seems to be Andrews. Not only does Andrews present a matchup problem with any payer defending him, he’s a great route runner.
Andrews was not considered to have much of a chance to be a first round pick entering the season, but that has changed quickly. As long as he stays healthy, he should be taken off the board before the end of the first round.
The USC defense is so stacked with talent that it’s hard to believe how many points they gave up to Notre Dame in Week 8. The Irish were able to put up 49 points on a Trojans defense loaded with five-star talent.
One of those former five-star talents that was recruited to play at USC is cornerback Iman Marshall. This guy has the size and ball skills to make it big against some of the better wide receivers in the NFL.
While he would really only have to worry about one elite talent if he played for the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC East (Odell Beckham Jr.), Marshall would fit in great with the Cowboys. He would get to stay with a well-recognized brand with a defense in need of help in the secondary.
With quarterback Dak Prescott and running back Ezekiel Elliott leading the way, Dallas should be set on offense. The offensive line is still stacked and would not need an upgrade unless one of the better lineman falls to the Cowboys.
The Clemson Tigers defensive line is the strongest in college football. Between Christian Wilkins, Clelin Ferrell, Austin Bryant, and Dexter Lawrence, there’s four potential first round picks among all four starters.
Moreover, this defensive line could catch fire as head coach Dabo Swinney and the Tigers try to stay alive in the race for the College Football Playoff down the stretch. Clemson’s loss to the Syracuse Orange was very disappointing.
On another note, the New Orleans Saints have caught fire of late. The Saints were even able to defeat the Green Bay Packers in former UCLA quarterback Brett Hundley‘s first start after the injury to Aaron Rodgers.
All the Saints really need is a boost to the defense right now. The NFC South is a run-heavy conference with teams like the Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers that can gash you if you don’t have a strong front seven. Wilkins would help from the word go.
The Kansas Jayhawks are having another rough season, especially after the 43-0 defeat at the hands of the TCU Horned Frogs. However, one of the lone bright spots has been defensive end Dorance Armstrong Jr.
He is one of the leaders on the team in total tackles and actually racked up 10.0 sacks last season on an abysmal Kansas defense. Armstrong has all the tools necessary for a team like the Green bay Packers to pick him up in the first round.
Green Bay does have bigger issues than the defensive line to worry about right now. Losing to the Saints at Lambeau Field in combination with having Aaron Rodgers injured both creates some worrying signs.
However, everything does seem to work out for the Packers in terms of quarterbacks. Boosting the defensive line seems like the next big project. Armstrong is a strong defensive end that would fit in great with this Packers defense.
Something needs to change with the Denver Broncos after getting shutout by the LA Chargers 21-0. That’s an embarrassing defeat for a team that should be in the thick of competition in the AFC West.
Yet, both the Broncos and Oakland Raiders are struggling to keep pace with the Kansas City Chiefs so far. Broncos quarterback Trevor Siemian is not getting it done this year with his eight touchdowns and six interceptions.
A shake up could be a good move for the Broncos as they could really use a change of pace at quarterback. Louisville quarterback and former Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson would be just that.
Jackson is once again putting up some incredible stats. He might not reach the 51 touchdown mark he achieved last season, but he’s a better pocket passer this season than he was last and he’s already got 28 total touchdowns through eight games.
It’s a bit surprising to see that it might take until the 25th pick in the first round of the NFL Draft to see a player from the Ohio State Buckeyes get taken. Yet, cornerback Denzel Ward is one of the candidates from the Buckeyes to be a first round pick in the upcoming draft.
Once again, Ohio State had a lot to replace in the secondary and once again they filled it with a bunch of former four and five-star recruits. Ward has been a part of a resurgent Ohio State squad that has rebounded big time after the loss to the Oklahoma Sooners earlier in the season.
The Minnesota Vikings could really use the versatility of a guy like Ward to come in and make an impact. If former Michigan State cornerback Trae Waynes does not end up working out, Ward could take his place in the Vikings secondary.
Minnesota is having a great year and have a key draft pick coming up with how good the future of the NFC North looks. The Detroit Lions and Green Bay packers will contend for another couple years and the Chicago Bears are improving under the direction of Mitchell Trubisky.
Even with all the injury that Louisville cornerback Jaire Alexander has dealt with this season, teams already know how good he can be. It won’t take another All-American type production from Alexander to get put in the first round conversation.
The cornerback position might not be as deep as it was a season ago, but there is still some solid depth with some defensive backs that will get picked up near the end of the first round. Alexander could also end up being the first cornerback selected.
He has only played in three games this season and is without an interception after nabbing five picks in 2016. The injury issues, mainly with his knee, could keep some teams away from drafting him.
The Carolina Panthers have a bigger secondary need than most any other team in the league. James Bradberry turned out better than expected but Daryl Whorley could be replaced. Alexander would be an upgrade over both, though.
The Atlanta Falcons have some work to do on defense if they want to make it back to the Super Bowl anytime soon. The offense is set, but the front seven could really use some help to support former Clemson edge rusher Vic Beasley.
Texas Longhorns junior linebacker Malik Jefferson is as hard nosed of a football player as you will find in the college ranks. Jefferson was a top recruited linebacker before committing to Texas and has showed why so many top tier programs went after him.
Jefferson is easily on pace to reach a career-high in total tackles and tackles for loss. He might also set a career-high for sacks as well. He’s the heart and soul of a defense that has played very well this year.
Texas has managed to shut down the high-powered offenses of the USC Trojans, Oklahoma Sooners, and Oklahoma State Cowboys. Once Jefferson leaves, we should see what type of an effect it will have on the Longhorns defense.
It would be a foolish decision for the Seattle Seahawks to select another first round at any other position aside from the offensive line. Quarterback and face of the franchise Russell Wilson barely has any time to throw at all.
Notre Dame offensive guard Quenton Nelson is the clear best at his position in this draft. With offensive lineman likely to be a popular option at the top of the draft, Nelson could end up sliding end on some boards also.
The Irish have an embarrassment of riches right now with both Nelson and Mike McGlinchey on the offensive line. They have been able to stay healthy up to this point and it’s helped out Notre Dame to an extreme degree.
Nelson has helped block for one of the best run games in the country with quarterback Brandon Wimbush and running back Josh Adams. He could help to have the same affect with the Seahawks and Wilson.
Alabama safety Ronnie Harrison will be forever known as one of the players in college football who had a huge impact on the entire outcome of the landscape. Harrison was the Alabama player who knocked out Florida State quarterback Deondre Francois for the rest of the season.
No defense has been more intimidating to opponents this season than the Crimson Tide. The only points that the Tennessee Volunteers scored against Alabama in Week 8 was from a pick six of backup quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.
Part of the reason for Alabama having such a strong defense this year is players like Harrison and Minkah Fitzpatrick in the secondary. It’s extremely hard for anyone to pass on the Crimson Tide with so many athletes waiting to pick off the ball.
Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Steelers have a rapidly improving secondary and really could just use a “best player left on the draft board” sort of strategy with this pick. Think about the strength of a Steelers secondary with former Miami cornerback Artie Burns and Harrison on it.
The Philadelphia Eagles are looking like geniuses right now for their recent drafts, especially with Carson Wentz. Yet, former Tennessee defensive end Derek Barnett is the last first round pick for the Eagles and he has not done much so far.
Adding a player like Clemson defensive end Clelin Ferrell would shore up the depth on this Philadelphia front seven. Ferrell is just one of a handful Clemson defensive lineman that could be picked in the first round of the upcoming draft.
This guy is easily on pace to set a career-high mark for sacks in one season with 5.5 already. His career-high is six from the 2016 campaign. Ferrell is an underrated athlete that can get to the quarterback in the blink of an eye.
Few pass rushers in this draft should be more of a safe pick to be a success at the NFL level. For a team on the come up like the Eagles that would be a valuable thing to add. More than anything, we’ll see if the Eagles ultimately hold off the Cowboys and Redskins in the NFC East.
If the Kansas City Chiefs had the chance to make an immediate difference in their receiving corps and miss out on it with a talent like Alabama wide receiver Calvin Ridley, it would be quite the tragedy.
The Chiefs are in situation where they could really contend for a Super Bowl this year, but the time with quarterback Alex Smith under center is running out. That’s why the Chiefs invested in former Texas Tech quarterback Patrick Mahomes in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft.
There’s a small chance that Ridley, Christian Kirk, and James Washington even make it out of the first round. Yet, this class of wide receivers is a very unique group. Each of those three players each possess a different skill set.
Ridley is more of a true receiver that could the next in line of top tier pass-catchers from Alabama in the NFL. He could join the ranks of guys like Amari Cooper of the Oakland Raiders and Julio Jones of the Atlanta Falcons with the Chiefs if Ridley ends up there.
The defense for the Oklahoma Sooners has struggled through the start of Big 12 play. Nothing has come easy to the Sooners, especially when they were upset by the Iowa State Cyclones at home. However, edge rusher Ogbonnia Okoronkwo has been a different story.
Okoronkwo should easily set a career-high mark and lead the Sooners in sacks this season. In fact, he has six already and has forced three fumbles, including a key one against the Longhorns in the Red River Shootout.
The New England Patriots should jump on the chance to improve their defense with an emerging name like Okoronkwo. He’s been the heart and soul of the Sooners defense this season, alongside senior cornerback Jordan Thomas.
Next: Who is the most disappointing team in each conference?
One of the parts of the New England defense that could use the biggest upgrade is the pass rush. Yet, the pass defense has not been great either. The pass defense could end up getting better if the pass rush is better, though.