The college football season is coming to an end and the draft will soon be taking center stage. Who goes where in our 2018 NFL Mock Draft after Week 13?
Can you believe the 2017 college football season is coming to a close? It seems like just yesterday we were talking about Week 1, but the season has progressed and we are now heading into conference championship week.
Before we look at the conference title games, we will take a quick glance at where each of the nation’s top draft prospect could, and should, land in the 2018 NFL Draft.
Here’s what we think the NFL draft selection process should look like after Week 13.
A year ago the Browns went defense, selecting Myles Garrett and Jabrill Peppers with their first two picks of the first round. The need for a quarterback is still obvious, but no passer has emerged from the pack yet. Sam Darnold and Josh Rosen have each had their moments, but neither seem to elicit the same fervor they did before the season began.
With an additional pick later in the first round, Cleveland will opt to select “the best player available”. This year that honor falls to Penn State running back Saquon Barkley. In a route of Nebraska in Week 12, Barkley became the all-time leader in rushing touchdowns in Penn State history. He just makes plays.
Barkley with the ball in space is the perfect remedy for an offense that struggles to move the ball. He’s a capable pass catcher and a monster on special teams to boot. There’s nothing that this versatile play maker can’t do.
Drafting a running back this high will be criticized by some, but Ezekiel Elliot and Leonard Fournette are both evidence that some running backs are worth it when the talent outweighs the risk. That’s certainly true of Barkley.
Barkley finished the regular season with 1,134 yards rushing and 16 touchdowns with an additional 594 yards receiving and three touchdown receptions. He added a 16-yard touchdown pass for good measure.
The 49ers shored up their quarterback problem by trading for New England Patriot backup Jimmy Garoppolo earlier this season. They were rumored to be in the market for Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins, but that bid has been quelled, at least for this year. They have a good amount of pieces on offense to surround him, which turns the attention to the defensive side of the ball.
Minkah Fitpatrick could be the most versatile defender of this draft class. He’s played just about every spot in the defensive backfield for the Alabama Crimson Tide. The 49ers could put him at corner or safety and they need help everywhere. The 49ers secondary lacks a lock-down presence. Adding Fitpatrick to the likes of Ahkelo Witherspoon and Dontae Johnson on the edges would be an immediate improvement.
His vision in the open field is phenomenal. When he snags an interception he poses an immediate mismatch between himself and the scattered offensive players that he leaves in his wake. He’s a champion, a play-maker, and some that opposing offenses would do well to steer away from.
Fitzpatrick has 44 tackles and one forced fumble, one interception and five passes defended so far this season.
The New York Giants don’t have much of a choice. When healthy, their receiving corps can match up with every other group in the league. That doesn’t do much good when your quarterback can’t get them the ball. Eli Manning has fallen away from his Super Bowl-winning ways and his time at the helm in New York is coming to an end.
Manning isn’t out of gas, but he’s starting to show signs of wear. It’s time for the Giants to start looking for his successor and give that person a season or two to study under a successful NFL quarterback. New York will have their pick of passers at the top of the first round. Josh Rosen will be the first quarterback off the board in the 2018 NFL Draft.
Rosen and Sam Darnold were though to be 1A and 1B entering the 2017 season. As Darnold has struggled with interceptions, Rosen has been everything to his team. The UCLA defense ranks near the bottom of the Pac-12 in most every statistical category. That’s meant Rosen has to win every game by himself.
Highlighted by a comeback from a 34-point deficit against Texas A&M in Week 1, Rosen has been tremendous. He left the Bruins’ regular season finale early, but still managed to complete 13 of 18 passes for 202 yards and two touchdowns.
The Denver Broncos took a significant step forward a year ago when they drafted tackle Garett Bolles out of Utah. He’s had a stellar rookie season and been one of the few bright spots on an offensive that has resorted to trusting Brock Osweiler.
While the line is better, it’s not quite on the level it needs to be for the Broncos to find consistent success on the ground and through the air. Selecting left guard Quenton Nelson out of Notre Dame would set them up on the left side of the line for the next four years.
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Nelson has been a fixture for the Irish up front for several years. He, alongside teammate Mike McGlinchey, could both hear their names called on the first night of the draft. They’ve anchored a front five that has paved the way for one of the most productive rushing attacks in college football. Both Josh Adams and Brandon Wimbush have found ample running lanes before this duo of elite protectors.
The offensive tackle class, led by guys like McGlinchey is much deeper than the guard class in this draft. Swiping Nelson early would be a huge pickup for a struggling Denver offense.
Colts quarterback Andrew Luck was a godsend. The one year in ages that Indianapolis was not good they had the elite passer fall into their laps. Luck has been as good as advertised, but that didn’t matter in 2017. Luck missed the entire season due to injury.
The Colts aren’t punting on their franchise quarterback, rather they’ll go all in with the first pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. Texas offensive tackle Connor Williams will be an excellent fit to protect Luck’s blind side and give the often-hit quarterback some semblance of hope.
Williams battled through injuries of his own in 2017. The star left tackle suffered a meniscus tear, MCL and PCL sprain in the Longhorns’ loss to USC. After spending the bulk of the season recovering, Williams rejoined the starting lineup against West Virginia and made his presence felt immediately.
Head coach Tom Herman summed it up rather succinctly, “Yeah, our guy can block that guy and he’s going to win more times than he doesn’t.” He’s a grinder in the trenches and the perfect safety blanket to keep an already brittle quarterback from winding up on injured reserve again.
The Bears thought their receiving corps had been depleted enough this season that trading for Chargers’ receiver Dontrelle Inman became their best option. Injuries played a part in that decision, but there’s no doubt that Chicago has not found a competent replacement for the departed Alshon Jeffery.
Quarterback Mitchell Trubisky needs some help. He’s not going to find extended success wihtout anyone to throw to. Jordan Howard and Tarik Cohen in the backfield have seen an increased workload as the young passer learns the offense. That’s not going to last forever and it demands improvements to the wide receiver depth chart this offseason.
Chicago will have their pick of receivers at this point in the draft. There are plenty of great options available, but the size and hands of SMU wideout Courtland Sutton will prove to be too tantalizing for them to pass up on. At 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds Sutton will be a handy redzone target in addition to tight end Zach Miller.
Sutton leads SMU in touchdowns and is averaging more than one score per contest. He was kept out of the endzone on Saturday, but caught six passes for 107 yards.
From L.A. to L.A. Sam Darnold might not even leave his own city to play professional football. It’s been a frustrating season for the Chargers. Quarterback Phillip Rivers is starting to fade and the Chargers’ offense has gone with it. The Bolts now rely on the legs of Melvin Gordon and lack the same spark that was once brought from the Rivers to Antonio Gates connection.
Darnold has reportedly been on the fence about whether he wants to leave school for the draft this season. He need not look further than the example of former USC quarterback Matt Barkley. The projected No. 1 overall pick in 2012, Barkley decided to roll the dice and return to school for his senior season. He fell all the way to the fourth round.
Interceptions have been a problem for Darnold this year. He has room for improvement. However, the potential is there and he has the makings of a prototypical passer if he can get the turnover bug squashed. At this point Darnold will be expected to make the jump to the NFL pending evidence of a change of heart.
The Trojans were off this week, but will play Stanford next weekend in the Pac-12 Championship game. Entering that game, Darnold maintains a 2:1 touchdown to interception ratio which is his biggest knock on his college numbers.
A year ago the Bengals went all in on offense selecting Washington speedster John Ross and Oklahoma running back Joe Mixon. Both have been somewhat of a work in progress in 2017. This time they’ll work to fortify the other side of the ball.
The Cincinnati Bengals have two of the most experienced bookends on the defensive line in the NFL. Michael Johnson and Carlos Dunlap have a combined 17 professional seasons between them. They’ve been among the best at their craft for nearly a decade, but if they’re going to keep going for much longer they need someone to give them a breather.
Kansas State pass rusher Jordan Willis was a third round pick of the Bengals last year. Adding one more end could set the Bengals up at the defensive end position for another decade, especially if they elect to invest a premium pick in 2018. North Carolina State defensive end Bradley Chubb would be well worth the investment.
Chubb ranks near the top nationally in both tackles for a loss and sacks. The senior has posted back-to-back seasons with double-digit sacks and three straight years with 10 or more tackles for a loss. He’s a phenomenal pass rusher that has made his living in the defensive backfield and an easy first round selection.
The Oakland Raiders have tried to address their secondary in recent drafts, but there is still more work to do. They’ve added Gareon Conley, Karl Joseph and Obi Melifonwu in the past two offseasons. Those three, combined with veterans Reggie Nelson and Sean Smith were supposed to be a sturdy unit, instead the Raiders rank in the bottom 10 in pass defense.
Adding Derwin James to the struggling secondary would provide an instant boost. James recorded the highest grade for a safety in the Pro Football Focus era as a freshman in 2015. An injury caused him to miss nearly all of last season, but it didn’t cause him to lose any luster in the eyes of the nation media.
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James was the No. 1 player in Sports Illustrated’s top 100 entering the 2017 season. Florida State’s season has been a disappointment, but the defense has been one of the brighter spots. If James and the defensive backfield can rally the team to a bowl berth after the tough start it would not go unnoticed.
Florida State has one game left in their regular season after rescheduled a game delayed by Hurricane Irma. Entering that final game, James has 10 passes defended this season and two interceptions.
It’s safe to say that the Arizona Cardinals miss Calais Campbell. The veteran edge rusher is neck-and-neck with the sack leaders this season while the Cardinals have fallen back to the middle of the pack.
The defense on a whole has taken a step back. Part of that is attributable to the offense that is now without David Johnson and Carson Palmer. The added pressure on that side of the ball is unmistakable, making the need for depth more critical than ever before. It’s too late to make a big move during the season, but adding one of the most fearsome pass rushers in the college ranks would go a long way to preventing the problem from cropping up again.
LSU edge rusher Arden Key has been hobbled in 2017, preventing him from putting up another staggering stat line. However, when he is on the field he’s usually making plays in the offensive backfield. The 6-foot-6 linebacker/defensive end hybrid has four sacks in eight games this season, following an 11 game, 11 sack performance a year ago. There isn’t a team in the NFL that wouldn’t take a sack a game, making Key an attractive selection.
The Cleveland Browns locked up the most dynamic running back in this year’s draft by taking Saquon Barkley with the No. 1 overall pick. Now they’ll pair him with the most dynamic player in college football. Lamar Jackson might not be getting any Heisman Trophy love, but that doesn’t mean NFL teams haven’t noticed the progress he’s made this season.
For once the most obvious pick is the right one. Jackson’s calmness in the pocket and his ability to keep plays alive with his legs are second to none in the college game. Every passer in this draft class has their own questions. Even the two off the board before Jackson have rough edges.
Jackson is one of the few passers that could step in from day one. His raw talent makes him a scoring threat on every play in a way unlike any other quarterback available. Given how the Browns have handled their rotating mess of quarterbacks this year it’s hard too imagine them letting any passer the draft to sit much longer than a few weeks.
For the sixth straight week Jackson tallied more than 100 yards rushing. He rushed for 156 yards in the Governor’s Cup win over Kentucky. He also completed 15 of 21 passes for 216 yards and two touchdowns.
The Jets have gotten better at several places this year, but linebacker is not one of them. Neither Josh Martin or Jordan Jenkins have been anything special for the Jets at the linebacker position this season. Both outside linebackers have struggled leaving the Jets with no choice to make an upgrade at the position. Outside of Demario Davis, the linebacking corps could use a total face lift.
Texas might not be back, but Malik Jefferson sure is. Jefferson spent a good portion of his sophomore season away from his natural position on the outside. When Tom Herman came to town he moved Jackson backed the the outside and the results speak for themselves. He’s nearly double last year’s tackle total and he’s found himself at the center of some big plays.
Jefferson leads the Longhorns in tackles and ranks among the leaders in the Big 12 in total tackles this season. He’s been a steady force for an improved Longhorn defense and will do the same for the Jets, provided they decide to draft the 6-foot-3, 240 pound versatile outside linebacker.
Jefferson picked up another 10-tackle day in a losing effort against Texas Tech on Thanksgiving week. That gives him 81 tackles on the season.
The Washington Redskins have been susceptible to opponents on the ground this season Their 3-4 defensive scheme leaves them vulnerable if the center of that front isn’t playing at a high level. Ziggy Hood, a veteran out of Missouri, has been having a rough season. Pro Football Focus puts him outside the top 100 defensive tackles in the league. There are only 32 NFL teams. You do the math.
Assuming that the front office decides to resign or at least franchise tag Kirk Cousins, the defensive interior is where this they need to look first. Vita Vea, a 6-foot-5 and 340 pound tackle out of Washington, could start for this team from day one.
Vea has seen his role on the Husky defense increase since his freshman season in 2015. A junior, Vea has become the anchor of a defensive front seven that is arguably the most formidable in the Pac-12. The Huskies lead their conference in both passing and rushing defense, befitting greatly from Vea’s ability to engage multiple blockers.
Vea added another half sack in Washington’s Apple Cup win over Washington State in Week 13.
The Miami Dolphins traded starting running back Jay Ajai to the Philadelphia Eagles mid season. That decision stemmed moreso from injury concerns than any amount of faith in the backs that were behind him on the depth chart. Damien Williams and Kenyon Drake have each had opportunities to seize a meaningful role in the offense but neither has done much.
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Running back is suddenly a much higher need for the Dolphins that is was a few months ago. With starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill set to return from injury next season they could use one more weapon to put along side him in the backfield.
LSU running back Derrius Guice is poised to follow in the footsteps of former teammate Leonard Fournette. Last season Fournette was selected in the first round by the Jacksonville Jaguars. This year it could be Guice’s turn to hear his name called on the first night of the draft. Once Fournette’s backup, Guice has continued to run roughshod over one the most physical conferences in college football.
Guice capped off what could be his final game at Tiger Stadium with 127 yards rushing and a touchdown against Texas A&M.
The defensive line of the Tampa Bay Bucaneers reads a lot better than it produces. Robert Ayers, Gerald McCoy, Chris Baker and William Gholston have plenty of Pro Bowl appearances between then. The linebacking corps of Kendell Beckwith, Kwon Alexander and Lavonte David is equally recognizable. But there numbers have been lacking in 2017.
Tampa Bay has registered 15 sacks this year a number which is tied for 30th in the NFL. It appears that some of those once revered stars have lost a step or two. To alleviate their pass rush woes, they’ll need to bring in a fresh face – Boston College standout Harold Landry.
Landry finished led the nation in sacks in 2016, registering 16.5 for a meager BC team that did not go bowling. He’s tallied five sacks this season, missing several of the past games with an ankle injury. When he’s healthy, he’s one of the most intimidating edge rushers in college football.
His technique and open field tackling are second to none. He can read plays well as they develop and is quick to the ball when he makes his decision.
The 2017 season has not been kind to the Dallas Cowboys. The suspension, then non-suspension, then suspension of starting running back Ezekiel Elliot was just one piece of a bumpy year. Starting left tackle Tyron Smith has missed time with injuries and quarterback Dak Prescott has come hurtling back to earth after an unbelievably great rookie campaign.
A Thanksgiving loss to the San Diego Chargers has turned the pressure up on head coach Jason Garrett. His future in Dallas is uncertain. If he does get another year he’s going to need to fix this offense.
After Dez Bryant and an aging Jason Witten the Cowboys don’t have anyone reliable pass catchers. Terrence Williams and Cole Beasley aren’t every down players. They’ve never played that role yet and they’ve been unable to seize a bigger workshare over the past two season. If the Cowboys are going to beef up their receiving corps it will have to be through the draft and free agency.
James Washington is the best receiver in one of the best offenses in the country. He torched the Kansas defense over the weekend, tallying 106 yards and a touchdown on eight receptions.
Florida State hasn’t exactly had the season that everyone expected, but star cornerback Tarvarus McFadden is no slouch. He’s considered one of the top cornerbacks in the class and he has ideal size for a player of that position in the league. He stands 6-foot-2, 198 pounds and plays an aggressive style that frustrates opposing receivers.
The junior defensive backs has played in 10 games this season, recording 26 total tackles and five pass deflections and even scored his first career touchdown on a blocked field goal a week ago. While he doesn’t have a single interception this season, he has shown that he’s more than capable of causing turnovers, picking off eight passes in 2016.
Buffalo could use a quarterback as well as some defensive back help. The quarterback could come with their second pick in the first round, but this spot is a good opportunity to select someone the caliber of McFadden. He has plenty of room to grow, but he has the pieces to make him a lockdown corner.
There’s no doubt about it, the Green Bay Packers need some help on the offensive line. While the Aaron Rodgers injury wasn’t necessarily caused by a missed block but rather the agile quarterback rolling out to make a play and was hit on the run and dragged down, he still needs to be protected better.
That’s where Notre Dame offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey comes into play. He’s considered one of the top tackle prospects in this year’s draft and, in my opinion, it’s between him and Connor Williams for that top selection from the position — and it’s very close.
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The fifth-year senior passed up an opportunity to go in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft to return to Notre Dame and help turn things around and he did just that. He’s on a rock-solid offensive line as the leader and he’s one of the top run blockers in the class. He can protect against the pass as well, making him an ideal dual-threat up front.
Rodgers would have no choice but to be OK with this pick as he wants to play for a while longer and it starts with a strong offensive line leading the way.
The first round might have plenty of offensive linemen selected, especially if they keep stepping up like they have been throughout the college football season. Orlando Brown is another guy who has impressed me with his athleticism in the trenches and brute strength as well.
It’s tough to find a combination from big linemen these days, but Brown has it. You might look at the 6-foot-8, 345-pound behemoth and think that he might not have the stamina to play major snaps in the NFL, but he has slimmed down, if you can believe it, and the athleticism is there.
Like the Packers, the Falcons need to protect the franchise quarterback and the offensive line is a need for Atlanta. Coming into the season, he was a raw prospect, but he has grown into his own and is one of the main reasons why Oklahoma has the scariest offense in the Big 12 — a conference known for scoring points.
The Sooners’ offensive tackle would fit right into that offensive line and he’s versatile enough that he could start out at right tackle or even guard — although he’d be a mammoth there.
Playing on a 1-11 team can’t be easy, especially for someone with the talent level of Dorance Armstrong Jr. The Kansas Jayhawks had a forgettable season, but Armstrong Jr. remained level-headed throughout and that’s almost as impressive to scouts as production.
How can players handle adversity? That’s something they’ll face a ton of in the NFL, win or lose. Armstrong Jr. had a monster sophomore season with the Jayhawks in 2016 to put himself on the map but his numbers took a step back in 2017, despite still being solid.
In fact, he finished with 59 total tackles, 9.5 for loss and just 2.0 sacks after finishing with 10 sacks and 20 tackles for loss last year. Based on potential alone, he’s considered a potential first-rounder and the Lions have succeeded with that kind of pick before.
Just a few years ago, they chose Ezekiel Ansah even though he was a raw prospect out of BYU and the defensive end has become a force for Detroit. Put Armstrong Jr. on the other side of that line, with Anthony Zettel, and you have a strong group up front.
Baltimore needs receiver help. Jeremy Maclin was brought in this season to give Joe Flacco more options through the air, but he hasn’t been as effective as he once was.
The 29-year-old receiver has just 31 receptions for a team-leading 344 yards and 31-year-old wide out Mike Wallace is second on the team with 24 catches for 323 yards. This team lacks a true No. 1 receiver and Texas A&M’s Christian Kirk could provide that.
Although he’s not a big wide out, standing just 5-foot-11 and weighing 200 pounds, Kirk has the potential to be one of those dependable pass-catchers that just terrorizes opposing defenses. He is a pass-catching machine, racking up over 80 in each of his first two years with the Aggies, but he finished the 2017 regular season with 58 for 730 yards and seven scores despite lackluster quarterback play.
Kirk will likely forgo his senior season and he’s surely ready for the next level. He could be a guy who catches 5-7 passes per game for 60-70 yards and a touchdown. Every team needs a reliable target like that, especially for a quarterback like Flacco to succeed.
There are few needs for the Titans these days as they have built up the team with young players from the past few draft classes. The offensive line is set, the quarterback position is rock-solid, running backs are in good shape and the receivers look to be as well.
That brings into question the defensive side of the ball. The Titans could use an edge rusher as well as maybe some help in the defensive backfield as they rank just 21st in the league in passing yards allowed per game. A young lockdown cornerback like Jaire Alexander would be a nice choice at No. 22.
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The 5-foot-11, 192-pound cornerback has been hampered with injuries this season, but scouts shouldn’t be too worried about that as he returned to form when he was healthy, looking down receivers at an impressive rate.
Alexander played just five games during the regular season, finishing with 19 total tackles, an interception and four pass deflections. This kid can flat-out ball and there will be a high demand for him in the NFL draft.
It’s relatively clear that the coaching staff in Buffalo doesn’t trust Tyrod Taylor. Just weeks after he led the Bills to a red-hot start to the season, Sean McDermott benched Taylor in favor of rookie quarterback Nathan Peterman who threw five interceptions in the first half of his first career start.
Suffice to say, Peterman’s starting job was instantly lost and Taylor took over again. He is completing 64 percent of his passes for 1,842 yards, 11 touchdowns and just three picks this season while helping Buffalo achieve a 6-5 record through 12 weeks.
Still, the Bills will likely be looking to move on from Taylor, or at least to draft a more effective backup than Peterman. That’s where Oklahoma State’s Mason Rudolph comes into play. He’s one of the best pure passers in college football today and even though the Cowboys had a disappointing 9-3 season, which is a great year for some programs, he had a huge season.
Rudolph has passed for 4,553 yards, 35 touchdowns and nine interceptions for the top passing offense in the Big 12. He may not be on the same Heisman level as in-state rival Baker Mayfield, but he’s looked at as a slightly better pro prospect because of his measurables.
Honestly, the range of potential landing spot for Bryce Love has been from 15th overall to mid-second round. The Stanford running back could be one of those guys who slips to late in the first or early second round because teams just don’t know if he’s capable of being effective at the pro level.
What do I mean by this? Love has put together a Heisman-caliber junior season with Stanford just one year after Christian McCaffrey dominated the Pac-12 for the Cardinal. He has 1,848 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2017, his first full season as the starter, averaging 8.6 yards per touch.
Those are incredible numbers for a guy who spent his first two years with Stanford as the backup and averaged over 7.0 yards per touch in limited action. However, the biggest knock on Love is his size. He stands just 5-foot-10 and weighs only 196 pounds. The NFL is not kind to smaller running backs, but he could break that mold.
Usually backs come out of college and succeed in the NFL with big bodies, but Love has the talent to break stereotypes and become a shifty runner with 5.0-plus yards per carry average ability. The Seahawks could use an elite back and Love is just that.
Many believe the Jaguars need to add more pass-catchers at the receiver position and I tend to agree with that to a degree. This season has been proof that no depth is safe when the No. 1 option goes down in the first month of the year.
Allen Robinson went down early in the season due to a torn ACL and the depth was tested. Marqise Lee and Allen Hurns were then looked to as the top options with Dede Westbrook, a top pick from last year’s draft class, recently returning from injury to make his NFL debut.
Yes, it would seem as if the Jaguars could use some receiver help, but Robinson will return and Westbrook is only going to get better. Lee is a solid No. 2 or No. 3 option and Hurns provides plenty of depth. Instead, Jacksonville should go with a talented tight end here to help the passing game in a different way.
Penn State’s Mike Gesicki is the top tight end in the draft class and could be an instant contributor for the Jaguars. The 6-foot-6, 250-pound tight end would be a nice, shiny new toy for Blake Bortles and he has elite pass-catching abilities. He has 51 receptions for 501 yards and nine touchdowns in 2017.
The Los Angeles Rams have been one of the biggest surprises in the NFL this year, but that doesn’t mean they are void of needs. They don’t have many, though, as the defense has been strong and the offense has been effectively behind budding star Jared Goff at quarterback and Todd Gurley in the backfield.
The offense doesn’t have many needs, outside of maybe some line help, but the defense could use some depth at cornerback and linebacker. However, adding an edge rusher like Sam Hubbard at this point in the draft can’t hurt. This is more of a best available pick rather than a need.
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Los Angeles already has Aaron Donald and he’s arguably the top defensive lineman in the NFL. Imagine Hubbard on that line with him.
Ohio State’s star defensive end hasn’t even had his best season yet he’s making an impact with over 10 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. He surpassed his sack total from a season ago and he’s still growing as a player. While he’s not at the level Joey Boss was, he still has a ton of potential as a pass rusher.
Carolina has a budding star at receiver in former Michigan Wolverines tight end Devin Funchess. It’s taken him a couple of years to adjust to the NFL’s style of play, but he leads the Panthers with 535 receiving yards and five touchdowns on 43 catches.
Funchess had a solid counterpart by the name of Kelvin Benjamin, but the Panthers traded him to Buffalo, meaning that there will be a need for receiver in the upcoming NFL draft. Curtis Samuel is an up-and-coming star at the position as well, but he’s one of two receivers on the team not named Funchess to have over 10 receptions this year.
That needs to change and a good start would be with Alabama’s star wide out Calvin Ridley. He has put together a strong junior season with the Tide despite having a career-low in receptions with 55 for 896 yards and three touchdowns. He’s approaching 3,000 receiving yards for his three-year career in Tuscaloosa and is a dominating wide out in the SEC.
Although he’s just 6-foot-1 and 190 pounds, he’s been known to rise up and win 50-50 balls as well as burn defenders deep. He’s a versatile receiver and could be a serious weapon for Cam Newton. A future receiving corps of Funchess, Samuel and Ridley is quite frightening.
With a number of first-round potential quarterbacks this year, the Patriots could look at a replacement for Tom Brady at the end of day one.
Wyoming’s Josh Allen is a safe pick. There are plenty of characters such as Lamar Jackson, Mason Rudolph, Josh Rosen and Sam Darnold to choose from, but each of those guys is likely to be gone by the time the Patriots are set to select.
Allen hasn’t had the best season with the Cowboys, but he will be selected based on potential and measurable. He stands 6-foot-5 and weighs in at an imposing 233 pounds, making it difficult to bring him down. He’s able to tuck and run with the ball, too, and could learn under Brady for a year or two.
No, Allen isn’t ready to start right away nor is Brady ready to retire. This could be a perfect match since the Wyoming quarterback needs to realize his potential and Brady could help him do just that. He’s cut down his turnovers this season, but his yardage and touchdown numbers have also been slashed.
Let’s get one thing straight before we dive into this pick: Minnesota doesn’t have many needs on the defensive side of the ball. Heck, the Vikings barely have needs on offense as the receivers, such as Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen, have been solid, Kyle Rudolph is a top-tier tight end, there are three viable quarterbacks on the roster and Dalvin Cook, when healthy, is one of the best young backs in the league.
The most obvious need for the Vikings is on the offensive line. They need to load up that group up front in order to protect a potential franchise quarterback in Teddy Bridgewater or Case Keenum and open running lanes for Cook.
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Washington’s Trey Adams is a solid option at this point in the draft. He could actually be gone by this pick, but if he’s there, the Vikings needs to jump on the opportunity to draft him. There has been talk that Adams is planning on returning for his senior season with the Huskies after suffering a season-ending injury, but until it’s official, we have to assume he will enter the draft.
The 6-foot-8, 327-pound offensive tackle is one of the most physically-imposing players in the class and he’s a strong force up front. He’s not someone defensive linemen like matching up with because he plays to the whistle and usually has a huge size advantage.
Drew Brees is getting up there. The potential Hall of Fame quarterback has pieced together an impressive career despite being labeled as undersized coming out of college at Purdue.
He was selected 32nd overall in 2001 by San Diego and found a home with the Saints. He has passed for over 68,000 yards and 480 touchdowns, but he will be 39 by the start of the 2018 season. Realistically he has about 1-2 seasons left with the Saints before his retirement, even if he’s not playing like he’s close to the end of his career.
Chase Daniel is currently the backup for the Saints, but I doubt they see him as a franchise quarterback. That could mean a first-round selection will be spent on a gunslinger. Why not draft a guy with nearly the same size as Brees in Baker Mayfield.
The Oklahoma quarterback is the front-runner for the Heisman Trophy this year and he looks like a potential future All-Pro passer. He has more of a dual-threat ability than Brees and he’s every bit as accurate, completing over 70 percent of his throws. The only question mark is his lack of maturity. The Saints should take a chance, though. This kid has the talent.
From Happy Valley to the Steel City, Marcus Allen could be a nice addition to a Pittsburgh secondary that ranks third in the league against the pass. While the defensive backfield has been a pleasant surprise this season, the Steelers could use some help at safety.
The Upper Marlboro, Md., native won’t have to travel far to play at the next level if the Steelers make this selection and it would make sense. The safety position is relatively open for a guy like Allen to come in and compete right away. He has the talent to be a starter in the NFL and it could take a little molding for that to happen.
Standing 6-foot-2 and weighing in at 207 pounds, Allen looks like the ideal safety and the Steelers would be making a pick to solidify a position for years to come.
Although Penn State has struggle against the pass for the past few weeks, Allen has been consistent all year long. The tackling machine has 64 takedowns this season after accounting for 110 last year and 81 the season before. An aggressive safety playing for the Steelers? You don’t say.
Another in the long line of successful defensive backs to play for Urban Meyer at Ohio State, junior cornerback Denzel Ward looks like the real deal. He played sparingly as a freshman before getting his chance in 2016 and didn’t disappoint.
In fact, he broke out with 23 tackles and nine pass deflections in 10 games and looked like the next lockdown corner for the Buckeyes. With the mass exodus in the defensive backfield, he was forced to step up as a leader in 2017, and has done just that. He has 26 tackles, his first career interception and 11 pass deflections in his nine outings.
The Eagles might not need a cornerback above everything else, but adding some depth to the position can’t hurt. They rank 20th in the league in passing defense and offensive line is much more of a need, but this pick could pay off and get the Eagles into the top-half of the league in passing defense.
Next: College Football Playoff Ranking Projections: Week 14
Watch out for a value pick rather than a selection of major need from the Eagles. Sometimes it pays off to draft best available rather than top needs.