With college football’s postseason starting on Dec. 16, the final opportunities for the nation’s best 2018 NFL mock draft prospects are drawing near.
With the 2017 college football regular season in the past, it’s time to look ahead to bowl season. The postseason starts on Dec. 16, with a good slate of bowl games on tap for the weekend. The College Football Playoff field is also set. For around half of the teams in the nation, there’s still a chance for a few of their players to make an impact on their NFL destinies.
Injuries in bowl games could also play an impact to some major names across the country. Florida State Seminoles safety Derwin James already announced he is sitting out of his bowl game. Moreover, UCLA Bruins junior quarterback Josh Rosen has a lot of encouragement to sit out the bowl game as well.
A player in a situation like Rosen’s or James’ has a reasonable case to sit out each of their bowl games. Yet, a few other names like Oklahoma State senior quarterback Mason Rudolph and senior wide receiver James Washington have been mentioned in terms of missing the Camping World Bowl. But, that’s a bowl featuring two top 25 teams and has a major impact on the program.
The order for the 2018 NFL Draft is starting to play out with the playoff picture shaping up. We are entering Week 15 of the NFL season and it promises to afford some excitement in the remaining three weeks of the regular season.
Here’s the complete first round mapped out for the 2018 NFL Draft, before bowl season begins.
Picking a quarterback has not gone well, when the Cleveland Browns have selected one in the first round, in recent memory. Even former Notre Dame quarterback DeShone Kizer showed potential at one point and does not look like the permanent answer for the Browns.
Rosen is the flat out most NFL ready quarterback in this class and he’s also the more likely one to declare coming out of the state of California. He’s also the best bet to be the first overall pick.
The Browns would be wise to start over on offense and finally find a quarterback they can successfully build around. Rosen is that guy that could start a new era on offense, in Cleveland.
Putting Rosen in the mix for the starting quarterback battle would also allow Kizer to have another chance at the starting job, and to help mentor for a season. If all works out, he could throw his name in the ring for a starting job with another team.
If both Rosen and USC sophomore quarterback Sam Darnold declare early for the 2018 NFL Draft, they should be two of the first of the first five players selected. The New York Giants need a quarterback just as bad as any other team in the league.
Landing a quarterback like Darnold would be huge for the Giants. He has that “it factor” that NFL scouts are always in search of. If the Giants can get the most out of Darnold (i.e. Rose Bowl version of him), they’ll have hit the jackpot.
But, Darnold does come with some level of risk. In losses to the Washington State Cougars and the Fighting Irish, Darnold did not look his normal self, and the Trojans were cost a shot at the Playoff. He did lead them to a PAC-12 Championship, though.
The Giants are in a rough situation with quarterbacks. Neither verteran Eli Manning, nor former Jets quarterback Geno Smith are having any sort of luck under center. Manning is getting phased out with the Giants. There’s still a lot of talent left in the receiving corps between guys like Odell Beckham Jr. and Sterling Shepherd. Darnold would put that talent to good use.
The Texas Longhorns are going to lose their best offensive lineman they’ve seen in Austin over the past decade. Offensive tackle Connor Williams is a former All-American that was seldom seen on the field because of injury. However, that will not limit his potential in the NFL.
For the Indianapolis Colts, this team is in a similar situation to that of the Seahawks. If they cannot figure out how to protect the franchise quarterback, Andrew Luck, they’ll have to start completely over. Luck took too many sacks to start his career and will end up missing the entire 2017 campaign.
Considering Jacoby Brissett is a talented quarterback, the Colts have not completely fallen apart this year. Yet, even Brissett has gone through concussion protocol already. This NFL Draft needs to start with picking up a quality offensive lineman, and Williams is the best this class has to offer.
When general manager Chris Ballard starts putting a good offensive line in front of Luck, the Colts can start contending again in the AFC South. For now, it’s about figuring out the right offensive lineman to fit in aside from who they draft with their first pick.
Drafting the best overall player might involve a player that had limited exposure over the past two seasons. Some mock drafts have Derwin James going first overall, as he has the ability to come in and be a star from day one. James is a special type of player that you don’t find in every class.
Florida State is going to miss him when he sits out the postseason. However, you cannot blame him for not wanting to play in the bowl game for the Noles. The head coach that recruited him (Jimbo Fisher) bolted for College Station and the Texas A&M Aggies unexpectedly.
With the San Francisco 49ers, James would be a good fit in a defense that is in complete rebuilding mode. The 49ers have the pieces in place to turn their offense around really quick. They traded for former Patriots quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and have a top tier running back, when healthy, in Carlos Hyde.
James gives the 49ers the building blocks to piece together a great defense. He could help this team become a competitor again in the NFC West.
Oklahoma State did not have the season anticipated for the Pokes in Stillwater in 2017. Losses to the TCU Horned Frogs and Kansas State Wildcats derailed dreams of a Big 12 Championship and Playoff appearance spearheaded by the best offense in the nation.
Rudolph led a high-powered attack for head coach Mike Gundy and the Pokes that have multiple players that will be playing on Sundays. Moreover, Rudolph’s physical tools make him a prime choice to run an NFL offense. He’s got the size, mobility, and arm strength to shred next level defenses.
The main question for Rudolph is if he can get past the accuracy issues and come through in the big time. Rudolph was not good when it counted for the Pokes against Kansas State and TCU. Even the Bedlam loss to the Sooners put the game in Rudolph’s hands and he did not come through when it mattered.
Overall, Rudolph’s athleticism and tools are going to make him a first round pick. The Denver Broncos have expressed interest in him already, with none of their current options looking up to par. Rudolph is a good fit with Denver’s offensive scheme as well.
The Browns have an opportunity to completely reshape their offense with two top 10 picks. If they’re able to snag a quarterback like Rosen first, the attention should then turn to running back. Isaiah Crowell could be a good option in a committee style backfield, but he’s not someone the Browns can consistently rely on.
Moreover, the Browns need a new core of players in the backfield to lead the offense. And, Rosen is arguably the best player in this class to start that process. If the Browns can add someone to the mix like Penn State Nittany Lions junior running back Saquon Barkley, the offense will start to round out before the start of the 2018 season.
Barkley is, hands down, the best running back in this class. Derrius Guice and Bryce Love (possibly even Nick Chubb) might fall in the initial round, but Barkley is the only guarantee. At one point, Barkley was the clear odds on favorite to win the Heisman.
Until a midseason rough patch hit Penn State, Barkley was the standalone best player in the nation. Losses to Ohio State and Michigan State put the Nittany Lions out of Playoff contention. Now, Penn State faces the Washington Huskies in the Fiesta Bowl.
There’s actually some hope now with the Chicago Bears. The offense is performing at a high level, at times, thanks to their top pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. Former North Carolina Tar Heels star quarterback Mitchell Trubisky put together an underrated performance through his rookie season.
With the quarterback and running backs looking good for the Bears, the receiving corps needs an upgrade. The duo of Jordan Howard and Tarik Cohen in the backfield makes the Bears dangerous on any play. Yet, they don’t have any receivers that counter the talent of Howard and Cohen.
To open up the offense a bit and give Trubisky a true primary receiver to work with, the Bears need to look in the direction of a player like James Washington. Despite some rough stretches from Rudolph, Washington was able to win the Biletnikoff Award, as college football’s top wide receiver.
Oklahoma State faces the Virginia Tech Hokies in the Camping World Bowl, on Dec. 28, and there’s a lot at stake for both programs. Rumors surfaced about Washington and Rudolph possibly sitting out for that bowl game, but it would be good to see them play together one last time.
Talk about a player that has the ability to be the No. 1 overall pick in this class. NC State’s senior star defensive end Bradley Chubb is a stud that will make one early picking team very happy. Chubb had a senior year filled with a ton of awards including being named an AP First-Team All-American.
A few other awards that Chubb brought to Raleigh include the Bronco Nagurski Award and the Ted Hendricks Award. Bleacher Report also named him their 2017 Defensive Player of the Year. It was truly a season to remember for both the Wolfpack and Chubb.
However, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are likely to pick in the top 10, at No. 8 overall, and could use some more help in the pass rush. Also, Chubb would be the best player left on the board at this point.
If the Bucs did bring Chubb to Tampa Bay, he would slide into a rotation with their 2017 first round pick, Noah Spence, in what could potentially be a vaunted pass rush. Chubb could end up as a Myles Garrett-like talent and the Bucs would love to add that to their roster.
The Notre Dame offensive line was nothing short of spectacular this year. Senior offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey formed with Quenton Nelson to complete a truly dominant line for the Fighting Irish. Notre Dame had one of the best running games in the nation because of it.
Junior running back Josh Adams and junior quarterback Brandon Wimbush combined for more than 2,000 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns thanks to the offensive line. McGlinchey will now take that pedigree to the NFL and he is the safest pick at offensive tackle in this class.
The Cincinnati Bengals are in dramatic need of some help along the offensive line. Quarterback Andy Dalton is sent scrambling for his life often. And, the backfield trio of Joe Mixon, Giovani Bernard, and Jeremy Hill cannot take full effect until the offensive line can create some sort of running room.
Not only is McGlinchey the type of player an offensive line can be built around, he lays it all on the line every game. You’ll catch him blocking downfield on numerous plays each game and he’s a leader that can help turn around the attitudes of a lot of Cincinnati’s lineman.
The Alabama Crimson Tide are due for another year of turnover in the secondary. Both Ronnie Harrison and superstar safety Minkah Fitzpatrick will not return to Tuscaloosa in 2018. Fitzpatrick, especially, is due for a big payday come NFL Draft time.
Head coach Nick Saban relied on Fitzpatrick as a staple for the entire secondary. Moreover, Fitzpatrick is second to possibly only Derwin James in terms of the best defensive backs in this class. Yet, Fitzpatrick and James offer different skill sets that fit in better with different schemes.
The New York Jets entered the season with a roster that many thought held the least talent in the league. Yet, the Jets have actually put up a good fight in the AFC East this year, despite not being a likely playoff participant. This off-season is a huge opportunity to bolster the roster to make a big jump in 2018.
This secondary needs help and Fitzpatrick would be one of the best players in this class to turn things around with the Jets. He’s solid in coming up and stopping opposing ground games and shutting down passing games.
The Washington Huskies have another talented defense that did not get the credit it deserved. One of those players that fell under the radar this year is UW junior defensive tackle Vita Vea. He’s likely to be the only Huskies defender that falls in the first round.
Furthermore, one Washington team could use a player like Vea from another Washington squad. Vea’s physical tools make him a safe pick to be successful at the next level. The Redskins vitally need help along the defensive line as well.
While Vea did not match his production from 2016, he showed that he’s still capable of being one of the best defensive players in the class. His 8.5 sacks combined over the past two years with the Huskies will translate to a powerful pass rusher as the anchor of an NFL defensive line.
There’s going to be a ton of questions as to how Wyoming Cowboys star quarterback Josh Allen will fare in the NFL. He’s had a rough go at things this year, and has spent much of the regular season injured.
It’s unknown whether Allen will play in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, against the Central Michigan Chippewas. If he does play, it could be a make or break outing in terms of his draft stock before the NFL Combine and Senior Bowl come around.
The physical tools that Allen presents will be hard for some teams like the Arizona Cardinals to turn down. Allen has valid comparisons to quarterbacks like Ben Roethlisberger and Carson Wentz.
With all the injuries to and the age of Carson Palmer, the Cardinals need to find a new solution at quarterback soon. Blaine Gabbert is obviously not the long term answer for the Cardinals.
The last time the Raiders drafted a high profile edge rusher, it panned out pretty well. Now, the Raiders need help in the pass rush once again. While former Buffalo Bulls product Khalil Mack might still be the best defensive player in the league, he needs some assistance around him.
LSU outside linebacker/edge rusher Arden Key was once considered a candidate to be the first overall pick. However, injuries and motivational questions have caused his stock to drop. But, this is one of the most talented players in this class. There’s no doubting that.
Head coach Jack del Rio, and the Raiders, have shown the ability to develop mid-to-early picks of defensive players in the first round in the past four years. Former West Virginia safety Karl Joseph is a Pro Bowl level talent in the NFL.
While Key is not a “safe pick” per say, he’s about the best the Raiders would do at this point in the first round. Key has too much raw athleticism to fall out of the top 15.
Head coach Urban Meyer is churning out the defensive backs with the Buckeyes right now. Last year, he sent cornerback Marshon Lattimore and safety Malik Hooker to the NFL. This year, he has All-American cornerback Denzel Ward primed for a big NFL career.
Ward had an up and down season, but showed that he has the potential to be a truly dominant corner in the NFL. Ohio State’s secondary had a lot of turnover and was very young once again. They’ll be more experienced in 2018, but that should not matter to Ward.
The Miami Dolphins could go with a quarterback, to end the era of Ryan Tannehill and Jay Cutler. Yet, if Tannehill somehow stays healthy, he is their franchise quarterback. Drafting a quarterback in the later rounds would be a smarter move.
Miami’s secondary is aging and needs some youth to inject a spark in the defensive backs. The defensive line is anchoring down the Dolphins right now. Adding Ward to the mix immediately changes the dynamic of the Miami defense.
Few players in the nation have made a bigger name for themselves out of nowhere than Georgia’s Roquan Smith. This linebacker is hard to see falling out of the top 15 as NFL scouts should be drooling over his leadership and overall ability.
Georgia has been in the spotlight for the entire year, which allowed Smith to make the jump into this level of an NFL prospect. He’s had the talent the entire time, he just needed a spotlight to prove his worth.
The Los Angeles Chargers are making a surprisingly solid run in the NFC West this year, thanks to a rough patch from the Kansas City Chiefs and the Broncos. Even the Raiders had trouble staying in the divisional race, despite a big season in 2016.
Smith is a permanent solution for the Chargers with the linebackers. They do not have a leader in that group right now and Smith fits the bill in that role.
Missing Elliott in the backfield exposed a lot of holes with the Cowboys this year. Former Mississippi State Bulldogs quarterback Dak Prescott is all alone in trying to keep the Cowboys alive in the NFC playoff picture.
For the Cowboys to start building back in the right direction, the defense needs to get some more stops. The linebackers and defensive backs could both use a boost. LSU Tigers cornerback Donte Jackson is the next in line from the school nicknamed “DBU”.
LSU sends defensive backs to the NFL every year, and it’s rare not to see one picked in the first round. Dallas needs a boost in the secondary to stop teams like the Eagles and Redskins in the passing game.
Carson Wentz and Kirk Cousins can generally have their way with the Dallas defense and that could change in this NFL Draft. Once the Cowboys get Elliott back, a lot of these issues will be masked. But, at least the Cowboys know what they need to do.
We’ll kick off back-to-back picks along the defensive line of the Clemson Tigers with the lineman with the highest ceiling. Clemson defensive end Clelin Ferrell is putting together another season that could help the Tigers win a second consecutive National Championship.
If the Detroit Lions look anywhere on defense, it should start with the defensive line. The Lions need help in the pass rush, and there’s some very strong pass rushers available in this class. Whether the Lions pick a player like Ferrell depends on the front office’s mindset.
Ferrell offers value in both the pass rush and stopping the run. He set a career-high in tackles for loss during the regular season, with 17.0. And, he could still play in two more games this year. Racking up 20.0 tackles for loss is not out of reach for Ferrell.
Bolstering the defensive line is priority one for the Buffalo Bills. The need for quarterback can be postponed past this pick after the departure of All-Pro defensive tackle Marcell Dareus. Trading Dareus was not a great move for the Bills and they’re paying for it right now.
For the Bills to build back up to being a strong defense against the run, they need some help up the middle. The AFC East traditionally has strong rushing attacks, or at least versatile offenses that will open up run defense (i.e. the Patriots).
Head coach Dabo Swinney built up a truly powerful defensive line with Clemson. There’s going to be a few players picked off this defensive line over the next two NFL Drafts, in the first round. Defensive tackle Christian Wilkins will be one of the first to go.
Wilkins offers a defensive tackle with a well-rounded game that would not need too much development. Yet, as a former five-star recruit, Wilkins does still have a lot of potential that has not been tapped into.
The Green Bay Packers are another team that should be looking in one direction and one direction only. There’s a huge need for the Packers at linebacker and there’s some good options at this point in the first round.
Kentucky Wildcats junior linebacker Josh Allen burst onto the scene this year, as a rangy and athletic option. The inside linebacker pool is rather thin this year, and Allen would be a common sense pick for the Packers if he falls to them.
Allen had his best season of his three year college career in Lexington, with seven sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss. He has the ability to play in both coverage and against the run. Allen is one of the most versatile defensive players that’ll be picked in the first round.
Another good option for the Packers would be Kansas Jayhawks defensive end Dorance Armstrong Jr. Both Allen and Armstrong Jr. are strong pass rushers that offer great value to this defense.
Some NFL Draft Big Boards have Notre Dame offensive guard Quenton Nelson among the top five players in this class. Yet, the need for offensive guard is not as large as the need for tackle, along the line this year.
However, a team like the Seattle Seahawks has a need for a lineman the pedigree of Nelson at guard, tackle, and center. It’s time for the Seahawks to allow their franchise quarterback, Russell Wilson, some actual time to throw from the pocket.
Seattle’s offensive line is so bad, that head coach Pete Carroll had to build the offense around Wilson getting the ball off in a matter of a few seconds. With the Seahawks trying to keep homegrown players on the defense while they’re commanding large dollar amounts, the offensive line suffered. Nelson can start the turnaround on Seattle’s line.
Few teams in the NFL have been harder to figure out than the Baltimore Ravens this season. They still have a solid chance to make the playoffs, in the Wildcard in the AFC. Yet, the Steelers are running away with the AFC North.
The Ravens need to add a player like Louisville Cardinals quarterback and former Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson to shake things up. Joe Flacco needs to be phased out in Baltimore with a more polarizing player starting at the position in the near future.
Jackson not only gives the Ravens a franchise quarterback to build around, they also have the opportunity to put a multitude of different skilled players in the offense. He showed the ability to evade the pocked this year, but to also stay patient and step up in it.
While Jackson’s stats were not as eye-popping this year as they were in 2016, he showed development in nearly every area of his game. There were questions as to Jackson’s ability to even play quarterback in the NFL in 2016, and now he’s widely considered worth a first round pick at quarterback.
The Bills have a wealth of picks in the first round, and should start with building on the defensive side of the ball. Quarterback is a huge need for the Bills, and should be addressed in the early rounds. But, if Darnold, Allen, Jackson, and Rosen are not available, the Bills need to wait.
With departures of players like Stephon Gilmore in the secondary, the Bills have some holes to fill there. Ole Miss Rebels cornerback Ken Webster has the ability to be a lock down corner in the NFL, and fits in well with the Bills’ defensive scheme.
Most SEC offenses did not look the way of Webster this year, since he was more experienced than the rest of Ole Miss’s defensive backs. Webster missed the entirety of the 2016 campaign and responded well with a solid season in 2017. His stat line in 2015 is what any NFL team that looks his way will hope to get out of him.
This would be a surprising pick to a lot of Atlanta Falcons fans. The Falcons already picked up former Florida Gators defensive back Keanu Neal last year. Yet, Neal is alone in trying to stop opposing offenses from the safety spot.
Fellow starting safety Ricardo Allen would sit behind a first round pick in the upcoming NFL Draft. Stanford Cardinal safety Justin Reid could plug the hole in the secondary that the Falcons have. Reid is a safe pick that can start immediately.
Stanford’s defense had a strong output under head coach David Shaw in 2017. Reid was the spirited leader for this defense, anchoring it down from the secondary. His five interceptions were among the nation’s best this year.
If the Falcons are looking to bring in a difference maker for an already good defense, look no further than Reid. The NFC South is an increasingly competitive division, and poor drafting would drop the Falcons out of contention fast.
After dealing former Florida State wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin to the Bills earlier in the season, the Carolina Panthers are in need of an upgrade at the position. Quarterback Cam Newton is having another great season, production-wise.
Devin Funchess does not work as a primary receiver on any contender in the NFL. Newton is used to working with some oddball players in the receiving corps in the past few seasons in Charlotte, but that narrative should change soon.
In terms of raw talent, Alabama’s Calvin Ridley is hard to compete with in this receiver class. His problem is the lack of targets in an offense like the one that Alabama boasts. Ridley is a good target, but so are running backs like Bo Scarbrough and Damien Harris.
First round pick Alabama receivers have a positive track record in the NFL right now. Amari Cooper with the Raiders, and Julio Jones with the Falcons, are both good examples of what Ridley could turn into with the Panthers.
The Auburn Tigers are going to miss a defensive back like Carlton Davis, who is able to bring the entire defense together. Davis faced some of the best wide receivers in the SEC in nearly every game down the stretch for Auburn.
While Auburn was defeated by the Georgia Bulldogs in the SEC Championship Game, Davis did get the experience of facing a breakout receiver like Terry Godwin. He also shut down Ridley in the Iron Bowl win over the Crimson Tide.
If the Tennessee Titans are able to move the Jaguars aside in the AFC South, they’ll be in prime position to post the best result the franchise has seen in quite a few years. Yet, the weakest part of the entire depth chart is the secondary.
The Titans need a boost at defensive back, to fortify the secondary alongside Logan Ryan and Adoree Jackson. Bringing in Davis fills the biggest need at hand for the Titans and also adds a player that is used to facing NFL level talent.
The Jacksonville Jaguars took the league, and the AFC South, by storm this season and all the great drafting over the past two years looks to be paying off. However, the biggest position of need for this team could also be the most significant position on the field.
Former UCF Knights quarterback Blake Bortles is holding the Jaguars back, as they could be a real contender in the AFC with a better talent under center. Jacksonville could roll the dice with a quarterback like Oklahoma Sooners All-American quarterback Baker Mayfield.
The Heisman Trophy winner was the best player in the nation, by a long shot, in 2017 and could shake things up for this franchise. Mayfield brings a new dynamic to an offense with a ton of young talent.
If you add a Mayfield that’s able to transition well to an NFL offense in combination with Leonard Fournette and Allen Robinson, you get a championship contender on that side of the ball.
Very few teams in this mock draft have the strategy of going with the best player left on the board. Yet, the Los Angeles Rams were one of the surprise stories of 2017, and have a very complete roster all-around.
That leaves the Rams with a strategy of picking the best player available at a position where they could use a boost. Wide receiver is likely the weakest part of this offense, even though they’ve seen a few names really breakout this season.
With former West Virginia Mountaineers product Tavon Austin getting moved around a bunch and not really finding a true role yet, the Rams could take the offense to the next level by picking a potent receiver.
SMU Mustangs wide receiver Courtland Sutton was the primary source of offense for head coach Chad Morris this year. He would make a seamless transition to the NFL, and could help Rams quarterback Jared Goff out tremendously.
The New Orleans Saints will have to start moving in a new direction on offense soon. For now, veteran superstar quarterback Drew Brees is leading his squad to what could be a great playoff run this season.
With the running back duo of Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara giving the Saints an extremely dynamic offense, there’s not much need at any of the skill positions. Yet, this offensive line could use an upgrade.
Oklahoma Sooners offensive tackle Orlando Brown is used to protecting a top notch quarterback that is around the same size as Brees. Brown fits in great with a Saints offense that is more similar to that of the Sooners than most in the NFL.
If Brown is available at this point in the first round, he’s a can’t miss pick for the Saints. His size and athleticism allows him to make an immediate transition to starting on Sundays.
Former Michigan State Spartans cornerback Trae Waynes is not panning out for the Minnesota Vikings. He is one of the weakest links on one of the best defenses in the NFL. Waynes was originally a first round pick with All-Pro hype.
Minnesota could still give Waynes a chance, just in a backup or rotation role. It’s time to find a player who could take better advantage of the opportunity with a Super Bowl contender. Waynes is holding the safeties back as well.
This is where All-American and Louisville Cardinals cornerback Jaire Alexander fits into the picture. Alexander is one of the top defensive backs in the NFL Draft pool for 2018, when healthy. The Vikings betting the house on Alexander depends on how he looks in the coming months.
Alexander was once a sure fire first round pick. However, some teams can overlook the injury issues if they see enough promise in the prospect. Alexander would be worth the risk for the Vikings, who have a usually good track record in developing defensive backs.
Ohio State and Clemson both have produce NFL level defensive lines. Both teams nearly had a rematch in the Playoff Semifinals as well. Yet, the Buckeyes fell just outside the Playoff field and turn their attention to a New Year’s Six Bowl appearance.
The New England Patriots are in a prime position for another Super Bowl run through the AFC. Yet, the Steelers will have something to say about that once again. For the Patriots to overtake the Steelers for the next few years, they need to bolster the defense.
This defense for the Patriots has held back the entire team all year. The two blemishes the Patriots have on the record right now are largely due to the one of the 10 worst defenses in the NFL.
Ohio State defensive end Sam Hubbard is a great fit with the Patriots defense. He helps out in both pass rush and run stopping. Hubbard is an All-American level talent that might fall past the first round, but is likely to get taken around this point.
The Philadelphia Eagles do have a few needs that would be great to fill if some certain players fall. Offensive lineman Jason Peters is a solid tackle, but he seems to always be injured. If the Eagles can land a player like Williams or Brown late in the first round, or trade up, that’s the ideal move.
Yet, chances are that neither of those two lineman fall to a pick as late as the Eagles. That’s where LSU junior running back Derrius Guice comes into play. Guice could be argued as the rusher with the most raw talent in the nation.
Adding running back depth at this point in the first round is never a bad move. When the Cowboys drafted former Ohio State product Ezekiel Elliott, at running back, the move was widely criticized. But, look at the Cowboys now with Elliott in the backfield.
Guice gives the Eagles a solution in the backfield for nearly the next decade. If Guice holds up past some injury issues this year, he should be a sure fire early round pick. He could help the Eagles keep their current post in the NFC.
The Pittsburgh Steelers now look like the favorite coming out of the AFC. Yet, the defense could still use a boost, especially with the scary injury to star linebacker Ryan Shazier. If the Steelers can pick up a steal at linebacker here (excuse the pun), it’s the right move.
However, if linebackers like Smith and Allen are not available at this point, upgrading the next level of the defense is the next best move. Talented safety for Alabama, Ronnie Harrison, should fall in the first round, no matter what.
Harrison played alongside Fitzpatrick to form one of the best, if not the overall best, safety duo in the nation. If the Steelers can continue to build the defense while hanging onto top level skill position players on the offensive side of the ball, they’ll be a top dog in the AFC for years to come.
Next: Predicting all 41 bowl games and CFB Playoff
The AFC North is an unknown for the immediate future. Teams like the Ravens, Browns, and Bengals have a murky future, at best, on offense. However, Pittsburgh can get ahead of the ball by upgrading the defense while they’re still ahead in general.