With the 10th week of the college football season in the books, it’s time to take a look at our latest 2018 NFL Mock Draft.
As the college football season winds down, fans of the NFL have been zeroing in on the upcoming NFL draft. Sure, the 2017 season is far from over, but we are at a point in which talking about potential NFL draft selections isn’t considered “too soon”.
There’s plenty of talent in the upcoming draft class and it will be on display for the coming weeks and into bowl season for draft addicts to cling to. After a wild Week 10, we have given our best projection as to which top players will land with which teams, giving consideration to needs and best available.
Here’s a look at our latest 2018 NFL Mock Draft following Week 10 of the college football season.
Browns fans, what would you like to see happen with the No. 1 overall pick? There’s a solid chance Cleveland gets this pick for yet another season, but the Giants and 49ers are giving the Browns a run for their money.
There haven’t been many successful picks in the first round in years past for the Browns, as evidenced by their 0-8 start to the year. It seems like they botch every early pick, but Myles Garrett might buck that trend.
Derwin James would also be a safe bet to shift Cleveland’s tide back in the right direction. He is the best defensive back in the class and potentially the best athlete overall. I have a hard time believing the Browns would waste another top pick on a quarterback, so safety it is.
The Browns picked Jabrill Peppers last year but they could use plenty of help still. They rank 18th in the NFL in passing yards allowed, 24th in yards per attempt and third-worst in touchdown passes allowed. An athletic safety like James could change all that and he would be a nice complement to Peppers.
Why is Saquon Barkley so high if he hasn’t had a breakout game in recent weeks against some of the best defenses in the Big Ten? It’s because of his skill set. Barkley is considered the best athlete in college football and also the top running back.
Being an athlete doesn’t exactly make you a good football player, but for Barkley, it definitely helps. He’s strong, fast, smart, has great vision and great burst through holes. He’s also deceptively shifty for a 5-foot-11, 230-pound back.
While the 49ers have Carlos Hyde, he isn’t a game-changer like Barkley. Hyde is a strong runner who could be a third-down or goal line type of back if Barkley were to come to town, or the two could split carries. Either way, that San Francisco offense needs a major pick-me-up in the form of an elite weapon.
Moreover, Barkley is much more of a receiving back than Hyde. He could become one of the NFL’s top receiving running backs. On the season, he has 864 yards and nine rushing touchdowns to go along with 504 receiving yards and three more scores. Jimmy Garoppolo would love to have this weapon out of the backfield.
Finally, we have the first quarterback chosen in our 2018 mock. Are you surprised to see Sam Darnold picked before guys like Josh Rosen, Josh Allen, Mason Rudolph, Lamar Jackson, Luke Falk and Baker Mayfield? Well, you shouldn’t be.
Darnold was considered the favorite to win the Heisman Trophy before the season began, but he’s had an up-and-down year, dealing with the hype of being the nation’s best quarterback prospect. He has been able to handle it relatively well, despite USC being essentially knocked from the playoff race with two losses in the first eight games.
The Giants will soon need a replacement for Eli Manning. The 36-year-old quarterback hasn’t been quite effective since his Super Bowl years and he’s likely close to retirement. It’d be wise to pick a quarterback to groom under Manning until he does decide to hang it up.
Darnold is a fairly accurate passer who has seen his completion percentage drop four points this season compared to last and has 22 touchdowns to 11 interceptions with 2,869 yards. Rumor has it he may avoid the draft this year if Cleveland were to be the favorite to land him, but he could excel in New York — not so much with the bright lights, though, as he’s relatively low-key.
Prior to the season, I was extremely high on Arden Key. While I still am, I don’t believe he’s going to be the No. 1 pick like I had originally thought. He is still going to be a hot commodity, but missing the first number of games didn’t help his case.
It was a rough start to the season for Key who missed the first two games of the year and then struggled through a couple of weeks before finding his footing against Auburn, Ole Miss and Alabama. In fact, he had just 10 tackles in his first four games with 0.5 sacks and then 20 tackles and 3.5 sacks in those three.
Key’s stock is on the rise because of his recent play against SEC big dogs and could find himself in the top five. He has gotten down to his target weight and translates more to a linebacker in the NFL. He could be a blitzing master, though.
The 6-foot-6, 255-pound end/linebacker is showing more burst since losing the target weight and looks more like himself from last season when he finished with 11 sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss. The Colts, 21st in the NFL in sacks, could use a potentially dominant pass rusher.
The Buccaneers have been one of the most disappointing teams in the NFL this season. The offense is playing poorly, Jameis Winston has been underwhelming, the run game hasn’t gotten off the ground and the secondary is third-worst in the league.
Tampa Bay can’t seem to get off the field defensively because teams have been able to burn the Bucs through the air for first downs almost at will. They do have the lowest sack total in the league by a relatively wide margin, but there are so many problems on the defense it’s tough to pinpoint.
Minkah Fitzpatrick brings superstar potential to the defensive backfield and that’s exactly what the Buccaneers need. The defense needs a safety who can effectively cover receivers as well as step up in the run game. Fitzpatrick does both of those extremely well.
Some consider him the most well-rounded defensive back in the class and NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah even thinks he could be a bigger version of Tyrann Mathieu. That’s high praise.
The debate rages on: Josh Rosen or Sam Darnold? That seems to be the consensus quarterback talk heading into the 2018 NFL Draft as the crosstown rivals might be duking it out for the No. 1 overall spot in the upcoming process. Who is more worthy of being selected first overall, though?
Although I didn’t peg him as the No. 1 pick, I did mock Darnold to the Giants at No. 3 overall because I don’t think the Browns will go quarterback again. Also, Darnold seems to be valued more than Rosen at this point, but that could change in the coming weeks.
There could be injury concerns with Rosen, along with decision-making flaws, but other than that, he might be 1B to Darnold’s 1A on draft boards. He had a four-game stretch this season in which he threw all eight of his interceptions, but then he followed that up with two straight pick-less performances.
It’s always interesting to see which Rosen you’re going to get in any given week. That inconsistency makes him the No. 2 quarterback in this mock with the potential to be No. 1. If he played like he did in the second half of the Texas A&M comeback earlier this season, I wouldn’t think twice about picking him No. 1 overall.
Only two Alabama players in the top seven picks this year? Is it a down year for the Tide? All jokes aside, it’s refreshing to see an offensive player come from Tuscaloosa as a first-round talent like Calvin Ridley. The junior wide receiver is the closest thing to a star that the offense has, other than Jalen Hurts and Damien Harris.
Ridley would be the latest in a line of Alabama wide receivers to be drafted early and star in the NFL. He would join Julio Jones and Amari Cooper, but could he be the best of the bunch? It would be mighty tough to surpass Jones, but Ridley could be on that same level as Cooper, or even slightly more consistent catching the ball.
The Bears could use another receiver option to assist Mitch Trubisky who has just taken over as the team’s starter this season. It’s been tough for him without both Kevin White and Cameron Meredith who suffered season-ending injuries and were expected to be the top-two options.
Ridley would come in right away and bring a No. 1 mentality with him. He’s older than most draft prospects as a junior as he will be 23 by the draft, but that shouldn’t hurt his stock — it’s not like he’s damaged goods. He has 44 receptions for 584 yards and two touchdowns this year.
The Raiders have struggled in 2017 and much of it has had to do with that defense. Although they have solid young pieces such as Khalil Mack and Karl Joseph, there needs to be some added depth.
They just selected Gareon Conley a season ago at cornerback, so the defensive backfield shouldn’t be the main target in round one. Instead, I could see the Raiders going after a linebacker of defensive lineman.
Bradley Chubb might be the best defensive end in the class and his frame is made for that defensive line. He could be a star on the opposite side of Mack and his pass rushing skills will cause havoc for opposing lines. Mario Edwards Jr. is currently the start on the opposite end, but he hasn’t been completely healthy.
Chubb is a future Pro Bowler and the Raiders’ defense would instantly improve with him up front, at least to provide depth early in his career. He has 53 total tackles and 7.5 sacks this season. If he’s still available at No. 8, the Raiders would be foolish to pass him up.
Why haven’t we heard the name Josh Allen in a while? Well, it’s because the junior quarterback hasn’t had the breakout season everyone had expected, but he will be drafted on potential. He plays a position that potential is usually more important that results and it’s why Allen is valued over guys like Baker Mayfield, Lamar Jackson and Luke Falk.
While I don’t always agree with that, especially since I think Mayfield could be a star, Allen does stand out on film. He’s a strong-armed quarterback who has dual-threat ability that teams love these days. He is like a poor man’s Carson Wentz.
The 6-foot-5, 233-pound gunslinger from Wyoming could be the top quarterback chosen, although I don’t think that’s likely with Josh Rosen and Sam Darnold being valued higher, but the Jets need to figure out that position. They have failed to adequately select a quarterback in recent drafts and Geno Smith, Bryce Petty and Christian Hackenberg are proof.
Allen seems to have a higher ceiling than those three did. On the year, he has passed for just 1,588 yards and 12 touchdowns with six picks, but he has 222 rushing yards and four more scores. His numbers are a fraction of what they were last season, but Allen’s stock is built on potential of which he has plenty.
This was supposed to be the year Mason Rudolph led Oklahoma State to a Big 12 title over Oklahoma. While that’s still technically possible, his Cowboys have lost two conference games, including a home matchup with those Sooners. It was, in fact, Bedlam.
Despite the loss, Mayfield had an impressive game, passing for 448 yards, his third-highest total on the year, and tying his season-high with five touchdowns. He did also have two interceptions in which he just tried to force the ball, but he looked like an overall solid NFL prospect.
The Arizona Cardinals may be one step closer to replacing Carson Palmer as the veteran NFL quarterback suffered another season-ending injury this year, forcing fellow vet Drew Stanton into action. Rudolph could be the replacement for the former USC great, especially if injuries don’t allow him to be the same quarterback he once was.
Rudolph could work on his decision-making, but has been strong all season, passing for 3,314 yards, 27 touchdowns and seven picks. He’s the ideal height at 6-foot-5 and he’s fairly accurate with about a consistent 63 percent completion rate.
Why doesn’t anyone talk about Harold Landry as one of the best defensive ends in the country? Probably because he plays for the forgotten Boston College Eagles. Luckily for him and his draft stock, the Eagles have been much improved this season, looking like a team that might just make a bowl game.
If that’s the case and he can show off his skillset in postseason play, he might actually bet a top-10 pick. For now, though, he looks like a guy who could land anywhere from 10-20.
The Bengals haven’t exactly been a poor pass-rushing team, but they could use some youth at defensive end. Michael Johnson, 30, anchors one side while Carlos Dunlap, 28, stars on the other end. They drafted Jordan Willis out of Kansas State in the third round last season and he could be the future, but Landry could join him.
In eight games this season, Landry has 38 total tackles and five sacks, coming off a breakout junior year where he finished with 50 tackles, 22 for loss and 16.5 sacks. This kid has superstar potential.
Clemson has one of the top defenses in college football, led by that vaunted front-seven — most notably the defensive line. Dabo Swinney has excelled in the recruiting circuit over the past few classes and adding guys like Clelin Ferrell, Dexter Lawrence and Christian Wilkins is proof of that.
The Browns will get a pick from the Texans and even though they drafted Myles Garrett No. 1 overall last season, adding another defensive lineman can’t hurt. They aren’t going to pick another quarterback in the first round, that’s what DeShone Kizer is for, and they have needs just about everywhere, so why not Wilkins?
The junior tackle from Springfield, Mass., stands 6-foot-4 and weighs about 300 pounds, but don’t let that size fool you. Wilkins is an athlete. He has 37 tackles and three sacks this season to go along with a forced fumble and is as disruptive as any defensive linemen in the class.
That big body can eat up blocks, making it easier for the linebackers to get a nice blitz going or someone like Garrett to get freed up for a run at the quarterback. Garrett and Wilkins on one line? Yikes.
The Lions have a nice developing defensive line, although it’s been quiet in the past few weeks against the pass. There hasn’t been quite as much of a rush in the past few games, resulting in losses, as there was in the first few weeks.
Ezekiel Ansah is a growing star at defensive end and he could use someone on the other side of the line to help out. Anthony Zettel has been a nice piece at end, but there isn’t much depth. Clelin Ferrell could be that guy to come in on third down and really bring the pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
The redshirt sophomore for Clemson has already shown his prowess as an edge rusher, racking up 6.5 sacks in nine games this season. He has also recorded 48 total tackles, a forced fumble and a pass deflection.
The Lions already have a strong run defense, but an improved pass rush could definitely help that secondary. They rank 26th in the NFL in sacks and Ferrell would be an instant upgrade on the line.
My pick to be the first offensive lineman chosen in the 2018 NFL Draft is Connor Williams out of Texas. The Denver Broncos’ offensive line has been horrid this year, allowing 25 sacks through eight weeks which ranks as the sixth-most in the league.
There’s a reason Trevor Siemian has struggled and Brock Osweiler as well and it’s because that offensive line has been like Swiss cheese. The run game does rank ninth in the league, but pass protection has been the main issue.
That’s where Williams comes in to play. He is a strong run blocker who knows how to play to the whistle, but he’s also impressive in pass protection. He’s one of the main reasons D’Onta Foreman had such a strong year running the ball in 2016 and why Shane Buechele broke out as a freshman.
Unfortunately, he suffered a knee injury in the first couple weeks of the 2017 season and he’s been out ever since. Tom Herman says he’s close to a return, but there’s a chance he may have played his last football with Texas. Do the Broncos get scared away by injury concerns? He’s talented enough that they shouldn’t.
Quite possibly one of the most underrated prospects in this entire draft class, Dorance Armstrong has plenty of potential. The defensive end from Kansas doesn’t get as much exposure as the rest of the guys in this class from national contenders, but he has just as much talent.
Being the best player on a mediocre team isn’t easy, especially when opposing offensive lines only have to worry about stopping him. Kansas is just 1-8 and Armstrong has still found a way to make an impact defensively.
The former three-star prospect has exceeded expectations at the collegiate level and has done so with his motor and impressive athleticism. His 6-foot-4, 246-pound frame might not be big enough for the NFL end position, but he could transition to linebacker with that athleticism.
In 2017, he has 47 total tackles, a sack, three forced fumbles and three pass deflections. He makes an impact even when the rest of his team can’t. He has shown the ability to rush the pass, picking up 10 sacks and 20 tackles for loss a year ago.
The Redskins could use more edge rushers and Armstrong would be an instant contributor — although he needs to work on finishing.
The Baltimore Ravens aren’t known for having a poor offensive line, but they also don’t have one of the best in the league. They rank right in the middle in terms of sacks allowed, but depth is always welcome up front, especially with Joe Flacco constantly taking hits.
Notre Dame’s Mike McGlinchey has been one of the best offensive linemen in college football this season and he might even be the first tackle chosen in this draft, depending on how much teams drop Connor Williams based on his injury.
Why not add McGlinchey to a growing offensive line with former first-round pick from Notre Dame Ronnie Stanley? The two have played together before and McGlinchey could move over to the right side for the Ravens in order for both to start.
Austin Howard is getting up there in age and McGlinchey would be a nice replacement for the 30-year-old tackle from Northern Iowa. You know Flacco wouldn’t say no to this pick.
Ohio State had a rough start to the 2017 season defensively. The Buckeyes couldn’t stop anyone through the air, and that wasn’t exactly Denzel Ward’s fault. The defense blew far too many coverages and showed its youth and inexperience.
Since then, the Buckeyes have grown and figured themselves out. Unfortunately, they’re coming off yet another couple shaky performances against Penn State and Iowa. Ward has been a consistent cornerback for this team, though.
I know what you’re thinking. Why would the top passing defense in the NFL through nine weeks need to draft a cornerback in the first round? That’s a good question, but I think they could use a defensive lineman and there won’t be any worth reaching for at this pick.
The Jaguars could very well trade down to boost that last-ranked run defense in the league, but padding to the already-impressive secondary wouldn’t be so bad. The offense already has solid, young and growing pieces, but the defense could use some padding. Ward is a potential lockdown corner.
The Titans’ 3-4 scheme might actually fit Malik Jefferson perfectly. The Texas Longhorns’ talented inside linebacker has been one of the main reasons the defense in Austin has seen a resurgence. Tom Herman’s squad can seemingly stop anyone in college football.
Jefferson has had a heck of a season thus far, recording 86 tackles through nine games to go along with 8.5 for loss and four sacks. The Longhorns have depended heavily on him to stop the run as well as rush the quarterback and he keeps getting the job done.
There aren’t many linebackers worthy of being chosen in the first round this season and Jefferson might be the only worthy top-20 pick at the position. He has a quick first step, has strong play recognition and doesn’t miss many tackles.
The Titans could use some depth at linebacker and Jefferson fits that scheme nicely. Could this be a match made in heaven?
Regarded as potentially the secondor third-best safety in this year’s class (yes, I’m sticking with Derwin James as No. 1), Ronnie Harrison has risen on just about everyone’s draft board because of his physical play in the defensive backfield and the Cowboys could use more game-changers on defense.
Harrison, likely a strong safety at the next level, has combined with fellow safety Minkah Fitzpatrick to form one of the scariest defensive backfields in college football. He is aggressive against the run and has the coverage skills to make him one of the toughest guys to burn in the nation.
Dallas drafted Jourdan Lewis last season to the secondary and added Byron Jones a couple of years ago via the first round of the draft, but he would look good alongside Harrison.
The Cowboys rank right in the middle of the NFL in terms of passing yards allowed per game and that could change with another young athletic safety addition. He has 44 tackles, two sacks, two interceptions and two pass deflections this season for the Tide.
The Packers could use some help on the offensive line to protect franchise quarterback Aaron Rodgers. We all saw what happened when protection breaks down and Rodgers gets hit as those knockdowns seemed to wear on the All-Pro passer.
This season, though, he was rushed and brought down on what looked to be a normal hit on the quarterback, but he landed on his shoulder and was ruled out for the year with a broken collarbone. That has ruined the Packers’ hopes of a division title.
If that hasn’t scared the front office into drafting an offensive lineman, I don’t know what will. Notre Dame guard Quenton Nelson stands 6-foot-5 and weighs about 330 pounds. He would be a nice addition to that line that seems to break down each season.
The Fighting Irish have gotten lucky this season with Nelson playing at a high level and Mike McGlinchey as well. You have to protect the franchise and a strong-bodied lineman line Nelson would be a good start.
Will Lamar Jackson translate to a quarterback at the next level? With how impressive his arm is, I will say yes. In years past, we have seen dual-threats such as Terrelle Pryor, Denard Robinson and Braxton Miller transition to different positions in the NFL because they just didn’t have a strong enough passing attack to compete at that level.
Jackson is different. While he’s arguably the most explosive dual-threat in college football right now, although Khalil Tate is giving him a run for his money, he can also sling the ball around a bit.
People seem to forget he won the Heisman Trophy a year ago just because Louisville isn’t having the best season. He’s not to blame for that, though, but rather it’s the Cardinals’ defense that seems to be struggling. He has passed for 2,808 yards and 18 touchdowns with only six picks while rushing for another 1,029 yards and 14 scores. He’s on pace to surpass his Heisman-winning numbers.
The Dolphins found out how difficult it is to win with backup quarterbacks after Ryan Tannehill went down this year, making a potential franchise quarterback a solid option in the first round. Jackson is slightly raw, but he has improved since last season, if you can believe that.
What happened to the Atlanta Falcons this season? Ever since the Super Bowl collapse against Tom Brady and the Patriots, the Falcons have looked like nothing more than a middle-of-the-pack NFL squad with an average defense.
The defensive backfield hasn’t been that great ever since the meltdown in the Super Bowl and it ranks 14th in the league against the pass. That’s not awful, but to get back to being one of the league’s top teams, it has to be closer to the top-third, defensively.
Adding a guy like Tarvarus McFadden would instantly upgrade the cornerback position. Although Desmond Trufant has hammered down the starting spot, Robert Alford has struggled, at times, on the other side.
McFadden might not start right away, but the Florida State corner has the potential to be one of the brightest young stars on defense in the league. He has 15 tackles and five pass deflections this year with no picks, but he has shown the ability to pluck the ball, finishing with eight interceptions as a sophomore in 2016.
Oh yeah, and his 6-foot-2, 198-pound frame is coveted for a corner in the NFL.
Some have regarded 6-foot-4, 215-pound receiver Courtland Sutton the best in the draft class, and it’s certainly possible. He has size, speed, athleticism and strong hands to compete at the next level and could be an all-pro in this offense.
It was believed that Kelvin Benjamin would be that guy for the Panthers when he was drafted, but he struggled to stay in shape and live up to his potential and was traded to the Bills. This pick would just make sense for the Panthers now that there’s a void at receiver.
Devin Funchess is the top guy, but management has said how it wants quicker receivers and that’s why Benjamin had to go. Sutton doesn’t have eye-popping speed, but he is a quicker receiver than Benjamin and is nearly the same height.
Sutton would instantly become the No. 1 receiver, in my opinion, and would surely help Cam Newton. He has 48 receptions for 752 yards and nine touchdowns on the season. He has serious big-play potential.
Seattle’s secondary has been one of the best in the NFL for years now. Guys like Cam Chancellor, Richard Sherman and Earl Thomas roam the defensive backfield for the Seahawks and they’ve been a major reason why the league’s top quarterbacks hate facing Seattle and the Legion of Boom.
Well, those guys are getting older, although none are over 30, and Shaquill Griffin could use some competition at the other corner spot. Jaire Alexander has the potential to be a lockdown corner and has been one of the best at the collegiate level in his short time with Louisville.
Alexander has struggled to stay healthy this season for the Cardinals, recording just five total tackles, but that’s why teams draft on potential and not necessarily production. He’s been out with a broken and and it seems as if he can’t catch a break — no pun intended.
Last year, he broke out with Louisville and was a major reason why that defense was one of the best in the ACC. He finished with 39 tackles, nine passes defended and five picks. He would be a nice protege of Sherman and Co.
Are Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp long-term solutions for the Los Angeles Rams’ passing attack? Potentially, but they don’t provide as much explosiveness and potential All-Pro ability as a guy like Christian Kirk would.
While the Rams did trade for Sammy Watkins to help growing star Jared Goff out, they could still use more weapons to improve his confidence as his career progresses. Kirk would excel with the right quarterback and he’s proven that over the years with the Texas A&M Aggies.
The junior wide out might not be having his best season, but the uncertainty at the quarterback position has been the main reason for that. The 5-foot-11, 200-pound star has 42 catches for 455 yards and five scores.
The Rams already have an improving defense and a young quarterback-running back tandem, but adding youth at receiver can’t hurt. Kirk could become the second-best receiver in Los Angeles behind Keenan Allen.
Buffalo has been one of the surprise teams in the NFL this season and it’s been the play of Tyrod Taylor, LeSean McCoy and the offense, plus taking advantage of home field has helped, too.
However, the Bills need to get stronger up front. The defense has been lackluster this season, allowing about 250 yards per game through the air, which isn’t going to win many games in the NFL. That’s not strictly on the defensive backfield, though — not saying the Bills wouldn’t draft a defensive back here — but also the line.
There has been next to no push up front as the Bills rank 25th in the league in sacks with just 13 through nine weeks. That’s not good.
Enter, Maurice Hurst. The big Michigan defensive tackle has been gaining steam on draft boards this season for his ability to eat blocks and be flat-out disruptive with his huge frame and sneaky athleticism in the middle. He has 38 tackles, nine for loss and 2.5 sacks and could be a perfect pick here.
Another in the long line of successful Ohio State defensive linemen, Sam Hubbard has what it takes to compete at the highest level, despite not having the best 2017 season so far. He has played in eight of the Buckeyes’ nine games, recording 26 total tackles and only two sacks.
While those numbers are slightly off the pace of what he finished with last season, Hubbard has proven himself in the past two seasons as a strong edge rusher. As a sophomore, he finished with 46 total tackles, 8.5 for loss and 3.5 sacks and he had 6.5 sacks as a freshman.
Scouts may want to see more from him in the final month of action, but the 6-foot-5, 265-pound end could be a steal at this point in the draft. His lack of adequate production this season has scared away some scouts, but he has the ability, there’s no doubt about that.
This would look all too familiar, right? In 2015, the Pittsburgh Steelers selected Penn State tight end Jesse James in the fifth round after he played three years for the Nittany Lions. Although Mike Gesicki is a senior and has more potential as a receiver, the situations are similar.
Pittsburgh could dip right back into nearby Penn State for the top tight end as he’s considered the No. 1 player at the position in this draft class. He stands 6-foot-6 and weighs 250 pounds, but runs routes and catches passes like a receiver.
James is coming off a career year with the Steelers in which he caught 39 passes for 338 yards and three touchdowns, but Ben Roethlisberger could use another Heath Miller-caliber pass-catcher at the position and that’s where Gesicki comes into play.
In fact, he had a chance to come out as a top tight end after his junior season, but decided to return. He had 48 catches for 679 yards and five scores last year and has 38 receptions for 374 yards and four touchdowns in 2017. He could be a game-changer.
Starring for one of the surprise teams in college football this season, Micah Kiser has really made a name for himself. He’s not going to jump off the tape with athleticism or big plays, but he’s as consistent as they come at the middle linebacker position.
The Vikings arguably have one of the best defenses in the NFL and linebacker isn’t exactly a need, especially with someone like Eric Kendricks roaming the middle of the field, but it wouldn’t hurt to add depth with a player like Kiser and even move him to the outside.
Kiser stands 6-foot-2 and weighs about 240 pounds, making him the ideal size for a backer in the league and he’s a wild man on the field. He already has 77 tackles, seven for loss and five sacks through eight games in 2017 and could be the future of any defensive group.
Imagine a Vikings defense with Kiser as the backup middle linebacker or even in that starting group with Anthony Barr and Kendricks. That would likely be one of the top units in all of football, if it isn’t already.
Tom Brady has his fair share of targets in the Patriots’ offense such as Rob Gronkowski, Brandin Cooks, Danny Amendola, Julian Edelman (when healthy) and Chris Hogan. However, a guy like Deon Cain would instantly become a different type of playmaker on that offense.
Cooks is the only true deep threat the Patriots have in the passing game and for Brady, that limits what he can do. He can dink and dunk the ball to guys like Hogan, Amendola and Edelman and occasionally they will break loose for a big pass play but adding another deep threat would make the rich even richer.
Cain has been trying to develop into more of an all-around receiver instead of being labeled just a deep-threat and has 37 catches for 440 yards and four touchdowns this season. He has been catching more short and intermediate routes, averaging 11.9 yards per reception as opposed to 19.1 a year ago.
This improves his stock tremendously although decreasing yards per catch might seem like a negative. This shows he’s been running more of the route tree and he can be a possession guy as well as a speedster. Another weapon for Brady could be bad news.
LeSean McCoy is having a heck of a season with the Bills. Although his yards per carry average (3.7) is far below where he’d like it to be, he has still compiled 546 yards and three touchdowns to go along with 38 catches for 242 yards.
Why would the Bills need to go after another running back? Well, it’s time for them to plan for the future. With the second pick in the first round, coming from the Chiefs, the Bills should go for a long-term need.
McCoy is 29 years old and will be 30 by the start of the 2018 season. It’s not a guarantee that he will have 2-3 more good years left in those legs as the shelf life for an NFL running back is usually 5-10 years.
USC’s Ronald Jones II would be a nice replacement and he’s an electric runner just like McCoy and both have the same body type. In his junior year with the Trojans, he has broken out as a first-round prospect, amassing 1,082 yards and 13 touchdowns on 6.8 yards per carry in nine games — including 410 yards and five scores in his last two.
Penn State’s Week 10 performance against Michigan State wasn’t exactly the smoothest defensively, allowing 400 yards through the air, but the Nittany Lions didn’t get burned deep which is a testament to Marcus Allen.
The senior safety isn’t just a marvel in the pass game, but he can step up and stop the run as well. He stands 6-foot-2 and weighs about 205 pounds and he is a tackling machine. He’s not afraid to lay the lumber on a receiver over the middle.
Although he is an aggressive tackler, he needs to work on his coverage skills a bit more. Still, Philadelphia could use the star safety from nearby Penn State. If the Eagles have one weakness this season, it would have to be the secondary.
Next: College Football Playoff rankings projections for Week 11
In fact, Philadelphia ranks No. 27 in the NFL in passing yards allowed and with a little development, Allen could be one of the better young safeties in the league.