With another week of college football and the NFL in the books, here’s a look at an updated first round 2018 NFL Mock Draft.
With Week 12 of the college football season in the books, not many shake ups occurred on NFL Draft boards over the weekend. However, the college football world did get to see two of the top quarterbacks in the nation go head to head when Sam Darnold of the USC Trojans and Josh Rosen of the UCLA Bruins battled it out in Southern California.
Darnold did come out on top over Rosen, but USC is a much better team than UCLA. A lot depends on if Darnold decides to actually declare for the 2018 NFL Draft. He’s made some contradicting statements to the media this year, but there’s a lot that indicates he might stay with USC.
However, the NFL season is now more than halfway done and things are really starting to take shape in the standings. The Cleveland Browns and San Francisco 49ers look destined for last place in the league and will be picking at the top of the order. If the Browns end up with the first overall pick, it does not look like Darnold would declare for the NFL Draft early.
College football only has one full week of action left in the regular season before conference championships and bowl season comes around. Especially the players that are not on teams that will be bowl eligible have little chance left to prove themselves in game action.
We know who the top prospects are in the upcoming draft and pre-draft speculation is the last thing to really take effect on the first round. The latest odds for the Super Bowl from Vegas Insider was used to determine the order.
Here’s the complete first round 2018 NFL Mock Draft after the conclusion of Week 12.
Picking a defensive end first overall worked out very well for the Cleveland Browns last season. Former Texas A&M Aggies superstar Myles Garrett has one of the brightest futures of any pass rusher in the NFL.
However, the first overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft is still up in the air. Picking a quarterback would be a huge mistake for the Browns. This is a deep class at quarterback, but picking that position never seems to work out for the Browns.
Instead, Cleveland goes with NC State defensive end Bradley Chubb to play opposite Garrett on the line. Former Oklahoma State pass rusher Emmanuel Ogbah has solid production (4.0 sacks) so far, but the Browns could always use more depth on defense.
Building the rest of the team around a quarterback, likely other than DeShone Kizer, would be the best route for the Browns to take. Chubb is a top 5 talent in the upcoming draft and is one of the safest options to pan out at the pro level.
Linebacker/edge rusher from the LSU Tigers, Arden Key, is possibly the most potent and talented option available in the 2018 NFL Draft. Key’s production has not been there in the last two years, but he definitely passes the eye test this season.
Through eight games, Key has four sacks and was all over the place even against the No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide. The San Francisco 49ers would be lucky to find a player like Key after parting ways with former All-Pro linebacker NaVorro Bowman.
San Francisco needs to find a new direction to take the franchise in now with the big acquisition of former New England Patriots quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo was brought over in a trade. Building up the defense would be a great move in this draft.
Injuries and consistency concerns could end up hurting Key’s draft stock come April. Yet, as the Browns showed us last season, injuries to a big time pass rusher do not have their chances of being a top 2 pick that much.
The New York Giants have issues bigger than just quarterback right now. Even though Eli Manning is aging and not the answer for the Giants anymore, the coaching situation with Ben McAdoo is a mess as well.
Picking up a fresh face at quarterback like UCLA’s Josh Rosen to be the new face of the franchise for the Giants could immediately revitalize the offense. Rosen has kept the Bruins in games all year, despite a bad team around him.
If the Giants can improve the overall roster and do well in the later rounds in the draft, quarterback is the top priority and it does not get better than Rosen. Going with Darnold would not be the worst move either, but Rosen does have the more consistent arm.
Building the Giants back up starts with a quarterback. Just look at the model of success that the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles set with young stars like Dak Prescott and Carson Wentz. Rosen is the obvious choice here.
If the Browns don’t end up getting the first overall pick or show a lack of interest in landing Darnold, he will likely declare for the NFL Draft. However, his success at the pro level is yet to be known with his lack of success in the spotlight this year at USC.
Both of USC’s biggest games this year, against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Washington State Cougars, resulted in losses that would knock the Trojans out of College Football Playoff contention.
If Darnold has the same type of struggles at the NFL level, he would have a short lived career as a starting quarterback. Yet, he does have all the physical tools necessary to make it and also have a short adjustment time to the pace of play.
Darnold would be a great fit with a New York Jets team that is putting up a surprisingly good fight in the AFC East this year. He has that same type of mentality to help his teams succeed and that’s why this seems like the perfect pick.
If Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard does not go with an offensive lineman in the first round, there is something wrong. The Colts have one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL, and it’s been that way for a while.
Whether the Colts decide to go with Notre Dame offensive guard Quenton Nelson, offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey, or Texas offensive tackle Connor Williams, the line needs to be upgraded. There’s other areas to build upon but none more important than the offensive line.
Related Story: Notre Dame Football: 3 takeaways from win over Navy
Notre Dame has one of the best ground games in the country, led by quarterback Brandon Wimbush and running back Josh Adams. If not for offensive lineman like McGlinchey and Nelson opening enormous holes up to run through, Wimbush and Adams would not be having the same type of production.
If franchise quarterback Andrew Luck wants any chance to have a successful career moving forward, he’ll need an offensive line to protect him. Even Jacoby Brissett is getting hit all the time trying to keep plays alive.
While Penn State running back Saquon Barkley might be the best overall prospect in this class, it’s unlikely that he’ll be selected first overall. Running backs aren’t valued the same that they used to be and more are available on the free agent market at a lower price tag.
Due to so many running backs getting picked up in the second, third, and fourth rounds that ultimately become starters in their first few years in the league, the value at the top of the first round is not there anymore.
The Cincinnati Bengals tried their hand at finding a running back in the later rounds last season in Oklahoma’s Joe Mixon. Cincinnati has not found a single option that’s worked in the backfield so far. Mixon, Jeremy Hill, and Giovani Bernard are all struggling.
The Bengals have so many needs, and finding a head coach could be one soon as well. Marvin Lewis is not getting it done and the roster is going to be in flux during the off-season. Barkley would fix the backfield issue at least.
Rookie quarterback Mitchell Trubisky is looking great with the Chicago Bears and the backfield is set too with Tarik Cohen and Jordan Howard. However, Trubisky could use some weapons around him with adding a top notch wide receiver.
Oklahoma State’s James Washington is the favorite to win the Biletnikoff Award and is the top deep threat in the nation. That deep threat ability will translate to the NFL as he’ll be able to burn defensive backs once he gets up to hit top speed.
The long strides from Washington allows him to really run any route needed, but to have the ability to take the top off of any defense. Moreover, since the Bears entered the year with Cameron Meredith as the primary receiver, it’s time to find a new answer.
Chicago has needs on both sides of the ball, but none more pressing than the offensive line and wide receiver. Either position picked would be a win for the Bears in the first round. Washington is a good fit here, though.
The Miami Dolphins made an interesting move by dealing out star running back Jay Ajayi earlier this season. Yet, this team still has a burned out quarterback like Jay Cutler on the roster. Adding a permanent solution at quarterback is a big priority.
However, the Dolphins might go with Ryan Tannehill for another season. Even though Tannehill is injury prone, he is effective when healthy. He’s also much better than Cutler and at least gives the Dolphins a chance to make the playoffs.
If Florida State safety Derwin James gets to stay in Florida and play for the Dolphins, it would be an ideal scenario. He would replace Michael Thomas and get to play alongside Reshad Jones, who just got a five year contract extension.
James is one of the most talented defensive players in this class and should be a guaranteed top 10 pick. The Noles are struggling in the ACC this year. But, that is mainly due to the injury to sophomore quarterback Deondre Francois, not the defense.
Senior Oklahoma State quarterback Mason Rudolph is a prime fit with the Arizona Cardinals offense. This team will get running back David Johnson back next season, and a quarterback with a big arm like Rudolph would be a great compliment to him.
Losing to the Kansas State Wildcats as a 20-point favorite does cast some doubt on the ability to Rudolph to handle clutch situations. Yet, that could be ironed out with a different situation and coaching culture in the NFL.
Related Story: Oklahoma State Football: 3 takeaways from upset loss to Kansas State
Rudolph makes all the wide receivers around him better and he has experience running a fast paced offense like that of the Cardinals. Many would be skeptical about the transition of a quarterback from the Oklahoma State scheme to an NFL playbook.
But, Rudolph might be the best overall quarterback in Oklahoma State history and he has all the tools needed to be a big time pro. At 6-foot-5, and with a big arm to make all the deep throws, Rudolph is a versatile option for the Cardinals.
It’s anyone’s best guess as to which Clemson Tigers defensive lineman will be the first off the board. However, defensive end Clelin Ferrell is having a better year than expected and that will reflect come draft day.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers need a defensive lineman to round out their whole defense. Moreover, the Buccaneers are not what numerous fans expected them to be with quarterback Jameis Winston even getting benched.
Through 10 games, Ferrell already has 7.5 sacks. He’s a threat off the edge and has the athleticism to translate that in the pros. He has also improved every year he’s been with head coach Dabo Swinney at Clemson.
These Clemson defensive lineman look to all successfully transition to the NFL. He could take over for either Robert Ayers or William Gholston at one of the defensive end spots.
It’s time for the Los Angeles Chargers to make one last run under quarterback Philip Rivers. Putting up a better offensive line in front of him would be a good start considering the array of weapons at the skill positions, when healthy.
Led by wide receiver Keenan Allen and running back Melvin Gordon, this Chargers squad could make some noise in the AFC West next year with some good off-season work. Notre Dame offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey is the most reliable option at his position.
Both McGlinchey and Nelson are sure fire first round picks from Notre Dame and should have long pro careers. McGlinchey could be a better option for the Chargers than injured tackle Joe Barksdale. Or, he could fill in for Russell Okung.
Anyway you look at it, the Chargers need help on the offensive line. Rivers spent too many years of his great career running for his life and trying to salvage seasons from a rough Chargers roster. Giving him a lot of talent to work with would pay dividends.
The Houston Texans are set on offense with former Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson having a historic season until he injured his knee. However, the defense has more work to do than the offense, mainly in the secondary.
While the AFC South is not the strongest passing division, the Texans could use more assurance with the defensive backs. James and Alabama safety Minkah Fitzpatrick are the two best defensive backs on the board.
And, Fitzpatrick could command the back end of this defense and make a difference right away. Finding him at No. 12 in the first round might not happen, but he would be a Malik Hooker-like steal at this point.
Head coach Nick Saban just churns out defensive backs at Alabama now. Fitzpatrick is the next one in line to make the jump to start what could also be a great NFL career.
If Heisman contender and Stanford running back Bryce Love does decide to declare for the NFL Draft after his junior year concludes, he would be a sought after prospect in the first round. He’s showed a new level of speed and home run ability this year.
Love is going to set a career high in yards per carry, right now he’s close to 9.0, as well as already setting career marks in rushing yards and touchdowns. He’s leading the nation in yards with 1,723 and has 16 touchdowns as well.
The Denver Broncos relied heavily on former Kansas City Chiefs star running back Jamaal Charles a lot this season. New blood is needed in the backfield for the Broncos to take the next step to get back to Super Bowl contention.
They might also need to find a new quarterback that’s not Trevor Siemian. The AFC West is a very good division and the Broncos need to find a running back that can help the offense compete with teams like the Chiefs and Oakland Raiders.
The way that the Buffalo Bills handled their quarterback situation with Tyrod Taylor and Nathan Peterman was nearly laughable over the weekend. While Taylor was benched, Peterman threw five interceptions before finally getting pulled.
Since the Bills clearly have a lack of trust in Taylor, it might be time to head in a new direction. They could find that with Oklahoma quarterback and clear Heisman favorite Baker Mayfield. With the Sooners looking to win the Big 12 and make an appearance in the Playoff, Mayfield will be riding a lot of confidence.
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Once Darnold and Rosen are gone, the quarterback situation is going to get interesting. Mayfield and Rudolph both have the talent and the resumes to go in the first round, but there’s many skeptics about both quarterbacks.
For the Bills, they need a proven winner who could come in and immediately steady the offense and give the coaching staff someone who they can trust. That is what an experienced and proven college quarterback like Mayfield could bring to the table.
The Baltimore Ravens are the toughest team to figure out in the NFL right now. Baltimore dominated the Green Bay Packers to the tune of a 23-0 win just after a loss to the Tennessee Titans the week before.
Yet, quarterback Joe Flacco is on his way out in Baltimore and a replacement is needed now. Wyoming quarterback Josh Allen is having an up and down year with the Cowboys, but he is oozing NFL potential.
If Allen could finish the year with some type of consistency and solid efforts under his belt, it would go a long way to making NFL scouts look more into his case for being a top 5 pick. Yet, going to a team that could make a playoff run next year like the Ravens is not a bad spot for him to end up.
Allen was once considered to be among Darnold and Rosen as one of the best three quarterbacks heading into the 2018 NFL Draft. Yet, some poor performances on the field dropped his stock to be a mid-late first rounder.
If the Washington Redskins do decide to keep quarterback Kirk Cousins on hand, it would be time to bolster the defense some. Adding a young defensive back like Alabama’s Ronnie Harrison would make it harder on division rivals like the Eagles and Cowboys.
The Redskins are currently counting on an extremely old DeAngelo Hall (34 years old) to man one of the safety spots. Hall is a veteran option for the team, but not a permanent answer for anything.
Harrison brings a physical aspect and ball hawking ability that is unmatched by most defensive backs in the college ranks. He’s also able to run down rushers without a problem and is the type of safety to be able to lead a team in tackles.
Playing alongside Fitzpatrick surely helps Harrison look better. But, he’s a proven winner that has the athleticism necessary to be a good NFL defensive back and compete with some of the best receivers in the NFC East.
When you think of sure fire first round picks from a certain school, the Kansas Jayhawks probably are not the first that comes to mind. However, stud defensive end Dorance Armstrong Jr. is a great fit with the Packers.
The Packers run a 3-4 scheme that has featured an apparent lack of a pass rush. That doesn’t help anything considering the Green Bay defense needs to help quarterback Brett Hundley out as he gets comfortable with the offense.
Losing superstar quarterback Aaron Rodgers hurt the Packers in many ways. If the Packers can build up a decent roster around Rodgers, it would help in situations like this. Armstrong Jr. could bring his 10 sacks from last year and turn that into success in the NFL.
The Oakland Raiders could use some help on the interior defensive line. They have one of the best in the league, not just at his position but as a whole, rushing the passer from the left side in former NFL Defensive Player of the Year Khalil Mack.
Bringing in another talented defensive lineman like Alabama defensive tackle Da’Ron Payne could help the Raiders get back to the competitiveness level they saw during the 2016 campaign. Right now, the Raiders are 4-6.
While the Raiders might have little chance to make the playoffs this year, this is still a team that features top talents like quarterback Derek Carr, wide receiver Amari Cooper, and Mack. It would not take much to get them back to the top of the AFC West again.
Payne already has 40 total tackles from the interior defensive line spot, and one sack. His pass rushing ability is not as strong as his ability in the ground game. Yet, that does not take away from the fact that he’s a force to be reckoned with up the middle.
It’s no secret that this Detroit Lions offense is not the same without former star wide receiver Calvin Johnson. Golden Tate and Marvin Jones Jr. are good options for quarterback Matthew Stafford, but not great.
Drafting a talent like Alabama wide receiver Calvin Ridley would automatically give Stafford a target that could be one of the best in the league when he’s in his prime. However, if the Lions do look in a different direction, the receiving corps does have some depth.
Going with a tight end would not be the worst move either here for the Lions. Current starting tight end and former North Carolina Tar Heel Eric Ebron is seemingly injured each and every season.
Yet, this Lions team runs through the offense and is at its best when Stafford is productive. Giving him another weapon to work with would help the window for the Lions to contend stay open for a while longer.
Washington Huskies head coach Chris Peterson did a great job turning this team into something that is consistently producing NFL talent. Peterson sent multiple players from his defense last year to the NFL ranks and looks to do the same again.
Washington does not always get the top notch recruits, but Peterson definitely knows how to use the ones he gets. Defensive tackle Vita Vea is having a big year with the Huskies, looking to win his second consecutive PAC-12 Championship with the team.
Vea could end up with a career mark in sacks for the second consecutive year with three games likely remaining on tap. He has 3.0 sacks right now, an impressive number for a defensive tackle. He needs five to set that mark.
For the Dallas Cowboys, bolstering the defensive line is important to making sure this is a complete team that can compete on both sides of the ball. Vea is a playmaker that could help this defensive line immediately.
The Boston College Eagles are about to lose an integral part of their defense. Defensive end Harold Landry is an All-American level talent that will succeed in the NFL, and the Tennessee Titans would be lucky to get him.
While the Titans, Texans, and Jacksonville Jaguars all duke it out for the right to take the AFC South crown, it does not seem like either of the three have much of a chance at the Super Bowl. The Titans should continue to focus on bringing youth to Nashville to make this team better over the long haul.
Tennessee has something good going right now with their roster and things need to continue that way. Landry racked up a whopping 16.5 sacks last season and has 8.0 already this season. He’s missed some time due to an ankle injury.
But, Landry should be back for Boston College’s final game of the regular season and back for the bowl game as well. He tends to notch at least one sack per game over the course of his college career and scouts cannot doubt that kind of production.
Fans of the Louisville Cardinals really need to enjoy having Heisman Trophy winner and junior quarterback Lamar Jackson on the roster for a few more games. He’s the most polarizing player in college football right now, but he’ll likely declare for the NFL Draft after this season.
Louisville fans saw Jackson run wild in a convincing win over the Syracuse Orange in Week 12, 380 total yards and four touchdowns. Jackson also did not turn the ball over once in an impressive performance all around.
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Considering Jackson is a vastly improved pocket passer compared to his sophomore campaign, he should be garnering more national attention for the NFL Draft than he is right now. The NFL Combine is going to be a place that Jackson will need to shine.
Despite his crazy stats that he’s posted the last two years with Louisville, there’s still going to be a ton of doubters saying that he should even move to a different position. Jackson showed too much improvement this year for him to consider that.
The Atlanta Falcons have regressed a bit from a season ago. The defense was one of the bigger concerns for this team considering how explosive the offense was last year and that it carried them all the way to the Super Bowl.
Yet, there’s still a ton of time for this Dan Quinn coached team to put everything back together and make the same kind of run we saw them make a season ago, during the 2018 campaign. Picking up Clemson defensive end Christian Wilkins would help.
Wilkins already won one National Championship with Clemson and will have a shot at another if the Tigers take care of business against the Miami Hurricanes in the ACC Championship Game. Miami is a real threat, though.
Wilkins already set a career mark in sacks this year with 4.5, compared to 3.5 from 2016. Yet, he might not reach the same point in tackles for loss he did in 2016, where he finished with 13. 5. He has 7.5 through 10 games.
The Carolina Panthers are making things interesting with the New Orleans Saints in the NFC South this year. Quarterback Cam Newton looks re-energized and is dancing again while the Panthers continue to rack up the wins.
Carolina carries a 7-3 record, but did have a bye in Week 11. Yet, if there’s one place along this offense that needs any help, it’s in the receiving corps. Trading former Florida State product Kelvin Benjamin did not help the depth situation at all.
Former Michigan receiver Devin Funchess is about the best option that the Panthers have right now, aside from tight end Greg Olsen. The Panthers did help Newton out by adding former Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey in the 2017 NFL Draft.
This team needs to add some depth in the receiving corps and the next man up at this point might be SMU’s Courtland Sutton. As a real contender for the Biletnikoff Award, Sutton is having one of the best years of any receiver in the country.
Patience seems to be running thin with former Michigan State cornerback Trae Waynes with the Minnesota Vikings. The NFC North looks like a battle between the Vikings and the Lions right now, with the victor coming from whoever does not falter from inferior competition.
Yet, with the Vikings 38-30 win over the Redskins in Week 11, they established a two game lead over the Lions which gives them a healthy cushion. Yet, they should not back down before the playoffs come around.
For the Vikings, keeping the secondary strong should be a priority since the strength of this team is the defense. Despite the 30 points given up against the Redskins, the Vikings do have one of the best defenses in the NFL.
Drafting a player like Ole Miss’s Ken Webster, who is possibly the best cornerback in this class, would pay dividends. Webster won’t get any postseason exposure because the Rebels are not eligible for a bowl game no matter what.
Much like the situation with the Colts, the Seattle Seahawks would be foolish to pass on an offensive lineman in the first round. Seattle also has one of the worst offensive lines in the league because they’ve had to invest in keeping their best defensive players around.
This offensive line is actually so bad that the Seahawks have to design their offense around quarterback Russell Wilson so that he gets rid of the ball in such a short manor of time that he will not get hit. Or, that he’s able to roll out and out run the defenders.
Rebuilding this offensive line is going to have to come through the NFL Draft. The Seahawks do not have the cap space to be offering top notch line talent in free agency. That’s where drafting Oklahoma’s Orlando Brown comes into play.
The Oklahoma offensive line is the best in the Big 12 and continues to open up room for Mayfield and running back Rodney Anderson. The Sooners should be playing in the Playoff come post-season time and Brown is a large reason why.
Head coach Kevin Sumlin helped his case for keeping his job for a little while longer with a big win over Ole Miss in Week 12. Yet, he’ll see possibly his best player on the roster depart College Station no matter what.
All-American wide receiver Christian Kirk is one of the top receivers in this class and offers value in more than just the passing game. He’s the type of player that will return kicks and punts and still be a threat in multiple ways on offense.
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If Sumlin was able to get Kirk the ball more on offense, he would have much better production this year. The flux between quarterbacks with the Aggies cost Kirk a shot at his best season in college in what will be his final year.
This Los Angeles Rams team looks destined for at least the NFC Championship Game this year and second-year quarterback Jared Goff is putting on a show. The Rams are one of the most complete teams in the NFL and adding Kirk would only make them more dangerous.
The Chiefs are starting to get old on offense, between the receivers, quarterbacks, and offensive line. They could use some bolstering, starting with whoever is the best player left on the board on the offensive line at that time.
Kansas City already has former Texas Tech quarterback Patrick Mahomes in waiting for when Alex Smith will get phased out. They also have wide receiver Tyreek Hill as one of the best and most explosive players in the league.
Yet, if the Chiefs could pick up a player that is also a leader by example on the field like Mississippi State offensive tackle Martinas Rankin, it would go a long way to helping Mahomes get settled in whenever that time may be.
Head coach Andy Reid has a very methodical way of doing things, and knowing when and where he will be able to upgrade the offensive line is important.
The Saints just won their eighth game in a row and seem like the Falcons of this season. While the Falcons and Panthers both could make it to the playoffs as well, the Saints are in prime position to take the NFC South altogether.
The one part of this Saints roster that can always use help is the secondary. Ohio State defensive back Denzel Ward is the best of the bunch for the Buckeyes and will either be a late first or early second round pick.
It does seem a bit weird that this could be the first player from Ohio State selected. However, head coach Urban Meyer lost a lot of his talent to the last NFL Draft, including Marshon Lattimore and Malik Hooker. Ward, Jerome Baker, and Raekwon McMillan will be gone after 2017 as well.
It’s scary to think of what the Saints could do if this momentum is carried over to next year with the addition of a player like Ward to even make the secondary better. Ward could join another Ohio State stud in wide receiver Michael Thomas to make the Saints even more of a Super Bowl contender.
The linebackers for the Pittsburgh Steelers stepped up in a big way of late. Even Vince Williams has six sacks already in what is shaping up to be a breakout campaign for him. Bud Dupree, Ryan Shazier, and T.J. Watt are all solid as well.
Yet, this pick for the Steelers should either come from one of two places, the best player on the board or a quarterback. With Ben Roethlisberger’s days in Pittsburgh numbered before retirement, a new quarterback of the future should start getting groomed soon.
Landry Jones does not seem like that quarterback of the future for this team. But, junior linebacker Malik Jefferson of the Texas Longhorns could be the best player available at this point and he’s well worth the first round pick.
Jefferson is a linebacker with elite speed who can chase down almost anyone. Even if the Steelers wanted him as a depth guy or to actually contribute to the rotation, he would be a welcome addition to the squad.
The Eagles go with the depth pick here and ensure the future of their star quarterback in Carson Wentz with a pickup of Texas offensive tackle Connor Williams. As the second consecutive Longhorns players taken in the first round, first-year head coach Tom Herman looks good here.
With some injuries hampering what will be Williams’ final season in Austin, his draft stock could fall some. This is a good offensive tackle class at the top with a lot of first round options viable here.
Injuries to offensive lineman in their final season in college can scare off quite a few teams that might have been interested originally. Yet, Williams is too good on the offensive line to drop out of the first round completely. It would be a huge mistake for a team that could win the Super Bowl this year like the Eagles to pass on Williams at this point.
The New England Patriots are once again the Super Bowl favorites and it’s a favorite move of this franchise during the tenure of head coach Bill Belichick to add some depth to the defense with a late first round pick.
One of the recent risers on draft boards is Florida defensive tackle Taven Bryan. While this has been a brutal season for the Gators and the fans in Gainesville, Bryan has been one of the lone bright spots.
He’s already racked up a career high 3.0 sacks, 4.0 tackles for loss, and 30 total tackles. Florida always has a ton of athleticism on the defensive side of the ball and Bryan could be the first name taken from the Gators.
Next: Projected College Football Playoff Rankings: Week 13
New England could replace an aging Andre Branch on the interior defensive line or just bring in another player to add to the rotation. Either way, Bryan is a great fit with the last pick in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft.