The season is over and the draft order has been set. Here’s the latest 2018 NFL Mock Draft projecting every first round selection.
The debate will continue to rage on when it comes to the first overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft. Stud defensive end Myles Garrett from Texas A&M was the consensus No. 1 overall pick last year, but the board is wide open when it comes to the top pick in 2018.
From top to bottom, this years’ class looks to be extremely talented. It includes more than 100 underclassmen who declared early. Many of them will be early selections, but the decision to leave school early might not have been the right call for everyone.
Two teams lack a first round pick entering the 2018 NFL Draft. The Kansas City Chiefs gave up their first round selection this year to move up in last year’s draft and select Texas Tech gunslinger Patrick Mahomes. The Houston Texans find themselves in a similar position after trading away their first round pick this year to move up and draft Deshaun Watson out of Clemson in 2017.
Passers will be at a premium in the 2018 NFL Draft, but that doesn’t mean a quarterback will be the first player off the board after all. Let’s get started. With the first overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft, the Cleveland Browns select …
The Cleveland Browns had three first round selections in the 2017 NFL Draft. They used those picks to shore up some areas of weakness on the defensive line (No. 1 – Myles Garrett), the secondary (No. 25 – Jabrill Peppers) and tight end (David Njoku – No. 29). With two of the top four picks in the 2018 NFL Draft they’ll have plenty of options – but offense should be their priority.
Unless they absolutely fall in love with one quarterback in particular, they’ll have several good passers to choose from at No. 4. That gives them plenty of leeway with their No. 1 overall selection and in true Browns fashion, they’ll do something unconventional – draft a running back with the first overall pick.
A running back hasn’t been the top pick since the Cincinnati Bengals selected Penn State standout Ki-Jana Carter with the top pick in 1995. Saquon Barkley, another Penn State product, is worth the risk associated with taking a running back with the top pick.
Barkley amassed more than 5,000 all-purpose yards over three seasons at Penn State. He scored 43 rushing touchdowns, eight receiving touchdowns, two kick return touchdowns and even threw a touchdown pass. He’s the most versatile offensive player in the draft and the Browns need a home run threat.
If the Eli Manning era in New York isn’t over the it’s in the early, awkward stages of a messy breakup. The two-time Super Bowl MVP was benched in Week 13 of the NFL season, ending a streak of 210 consecutive starts. That decision was met with fury and frustration from the fanbase and the locker room and was an easy jumping off point for the eventual firing of head coach Ben McAdoo.
Whether it’s via trade or a roster move of some kind, the new regime has no reason to be loyal to Manning. His performance on the field this season, including a career low QBR of 41.7, indicate it’s time for New York to make a change.
Fortunately for the Giants, a terrible 2017 season positioned them with a top pick in the 2018 draft. They’ll have their pick of all the top prospects, including every available quarterback, sans one should the Browns opt to take a passer in front of them.
UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen is the perfect for New York. He’d be leaving one major media market, Los Angeles, for New York. He’s well spoken, bold and a leader. All the intangibles are there, but even more importantly so are measurables (6-foot-4, 218 pounds) and the football ability. Rosen threw for 26 touchdowns and 3,717 yards in his final season with the Bruins. He could start for the Giants on opening day next season, and he might have to.
The Indianapolis Colts were supposed to be perennial contenders in the AFC South behind the arm of gun slinging quarterback Andrew Luck. Rather than a playoff berth, the Colts find themselves with an early draft pick thanks to the absence of Luck from the football field in 2017. Without their star quarterback the offense was awful, no matter how well emergency backup Jacoby Brissett played.
If Luck can’t stay healthy this team isn’t going anywhere. Therefor, don’t be surprised to see the Colts invest as many early picks as possible on the offensive line. This year’s crop of lineman is superb, and they’ll have their pick of the best of the best at No. 3.
While tackles usually trump guards in the pecking order, Notre Dame’s Quinton Nelson is worth making an exception for. A finalist for the Outland Trophy, Nelson is as fine an offensive guard as the come. He paved the way for a multifaceted Irish rushing attack that ranked seventh in the nation in yards per game. More importantly, he’s an excellent pass protector as well.
Nelson was a unanimous All-American this season as well as being the highest graded offensive guard in the country, per Pro Football Focus. He will be an anchor for a long time on an Indianapolis offensive line that has way too many question marks.
The Browns already have their star tailback, now it’s time to fix the quarterback problem. The last two quarterbacks to win a football game for the Cleveland Browns are Robert Griffin III and Johnny Manziel. Three different players saw time under center in 2017: DeShone Kizer, Kevin Hogan and Cody Kessler, all failed to scratch across a win.
As if 0-16 wasn’t bad enough, none of their quarterbacks were even remotely successful. All three of them threw more interceptions than touchdowns and none of them posted a QBR better than 39. Cleveland had the opportunity to draft a quarterback in the first round last year and passed, now it’s time to pull the trigger.
Former USC Trojan Sam Darnold will be the Browns’ top choice. Although he struggled with turnovers in his final collegiate season the one-time Heisman hopeful can make every throw. Josh Gordon and Corey Coleman can fly they just need someone with the accuracy and arm strength to get them the football.
Darnold’s final game of his career, a Cotton Bowl loss to Ohio State, prove he has some growing up to do. If the Browns allow him time to develop coach Hue Jackson will be able to turn Darnold into a viable NFL quarterback – possibly the best passer in Cleveland in more than a decade.
The Denver Broncos made the decision to draft tackle Garett Bolles out of Utah in the first round last year’s NFL Draft. He made an immediate impact, but the Broncos’ still have question marks along the offensive line. John Elway has decisions to make at the quarterback position, but that problem could be solved by free agent passer Kirk Cousins. The Broncos will certainly be a suitor, but even if Cousins ends up elsewhere, the offensive line is in need of a major upgrade.
Ideally the Broncos would love a starting-caliber guard to slide in next to Bolles, but Notre Dame’s Quenton Nelson is unlikely to still be available. Although it might be unconventional, going back to the well and selecting an elite tackle might be the best move here.
Connor Williams, a left tackle out of the University of Texas, would bolster the entire offensive line. Coach Vance Joseph would love having to decide whether it would be Williams or Bowles that slides over to the guard position.
Williams fought through injuries during his final season, suffering a meniscus tear and PCL sprain. He returned before the end of the regular season. His health won’t deter a team from making him the first tackle off the board in 2018.
The New York Jets weren’t supposed to be competitive in 2017. Riding the surprisingly potent arm of Josh McCown the Jets got to 5-8, a much more respectable mark than anyone had thought they would have been able to achieve in the preseason. Them McCown went down with a hand injury and Bryce Petty was called upon to start the final three games of the season. He went 0-3.
Petty is now 1-6 as a started with four touchdowns and 10 interceptions spanning two NFL seasons. The Baylor product is 26-years old and hasn’t done anything notable that would suggest he has franchise quarterback potential. McCown is on the other end of the spectrum. A 16-year NFL veteran, the 38-year old passer is not the long-term solution in New York.
With a top-10 pick and plenty of quarterbacks to choose from, the New York Jets will opt for draft-darling Josh Allen out of Wyoming. Allen threw for 16 touchdowns and six interceptions, that’s not all that special, but scouts are more in love with upside of Allen than his current level of raw talent.
One AFC South official summed Allen up like this:
"Coaches are going to see this guy and imagine everything he can be, and they’re going to be all over their front offices to take him. He’s just really raw, so you have to make sure he goes to a place where the coaching is solid and knows what he needs. The talent is all there"
Allen is a risk, especially this high in the draft, but the Jets have been known to roll the dice before.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers ranked dead last in passing yards allowed last season. They’ve spent two top-50 picks over the past two drafts to select Vernon Hargreaves and Justin Evans, but there is more work to do. This year’s draft has plenty of depth at quarterback and in the trenches making it entirely possible that the Bucs will have their pick from every defensive player when their spot comes up in the first round.
Alabama do-everything defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick should be the easy, obvious choice. The All-American, two-time national champion has played everywhere in the defensive backfield and could fill multiple roles at the next level. Someone like Fitzpatrick would give defensive coordinator Mike Smith plenty of flexibility in the coming seasons.
Fitzpatrick dazzled in the final game of his career, stiffing Jake Fromm and the Georgia passing attack. Fitzpatrick played 33 coverage snaps against the Bulldogs and allowed three catches and 10 receiving yards. He’s the kind of player that the Bucs can plug in wherever they need him and see instant results. Most of his action in 2017 came in the slot, which was a big gap for the Bucs in 2017.
The Chicago Bears found their quarterback of the future last season. They traded up from the No. 3 pick to the No. 2 pick to select North Carolina signal caller Mitchell Trubisky. During the same offseason the Bears had also inked journeyman Mike Glennon to a three-year, $45 million deal after cutting long-time starter Jay Culter.
With Trubisky entrenched as the starter going forward it’s time for the Bears to surround him with weapons. They have a pair of young, explosive tailbacks so their attention should turn to wide receiver. Both Alabama’s Calvin Ridley and Texas A&M’s Christian Kirk are in the mix to be the first pass catcher off the board, but the Bears need size just as much as they need speed. SMU receiver Courtland Sutton has both.
Chicago won’t be scared by the small school background – Corey Davis was the first receiver off the board in 2017 and he played at Western Michigan. What the Bears will see is a 6-foot-4 frame that’s a terror in the redzone.
Sutton grabbed 193 passes and 31 touchdowns in three seasons as a starter for the Mustangs. That’s pretty productive when you consider he caught passes from Ben Hicks and Matt Davis, neither of which has much of a future in the NFL. Sutton is the kind of receiver that can bail out his quarterback in a pinch, and as green as Trubisky is, that can only be a good thing.
The 49ers went from the dumps to the (proverbial) mountaintop on Halloween night. That’s when they pulled the trigger, sending a second-round pick to the New England Patriots for quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. In his seven career starts, two in New England and five in San Francisco, Garoppolo is a perfect 7-0. Now it’s time for the 49ers to surround him with playmakers.
Marquise Goodwin emerged late last season, and veteran Pierre Garcon can move the chains, but the 49ers need a home run threat. Alabama receiver Calvin Ridley is their guy. He was massively underutilized at Alabama given the focus on the ground game and the slow development of Jalen Hurts. The difference between Hurts and Garoppolo is seismic.
Ridley is elusive in the open field, taking even routine plays and turning them into first downs and then some. His 19 touchdowns and 12.4 yards per catch at Alabama are just a taste of what Ridley can become when he’s asked to become the focal point of an offense with a quarterback that’s not afraid to take shots.
Playing at Alabama, Ridley has already made the best collegiate corners look silly. He’s going to have the same dizzying effect on defenders at the next level.
The Oakland Raiders found out the hard way what happens when their offense sputters. They get blown out. Quarterback Derek Carr had a tough season, as did receivers Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree. That lack of productive on the offensive side of the ball was magnified by a porous secondary that finished 25th in the league against the pass.
Corners Travis Carrie and David Amerson were not able to slow down opposing wide receivers. An infusion of young talent is necessary if the team wants this unit to take a step forward in 2018. They won’t be able to do much better than Iowa’s lock down corner Joshua Jackson.
Winner of the 2017 Jack Tatum Award given to the nation’s best defensive back, Jackson led the nation with 25 passes defended and finish tied for the most interceptions, grabbing seven. He registered two pick sixes as well. His heroic defensive efforts earned him recognition as a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, also given to the nation’s best defensive back.
Standing 6-foot-1 and just under 200 pounds, Jackson will slide right into a starting role from day one. He’s the perfect fit to play on the outside and arguably the best true corner in this class.
Miami felt the repercussions of the loss of starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill in the preseason. The combination of Matt Moore and un-retired Jay Cutler had limited success, but with Tannehill back in the fold in 2018 things should be better. There will be some clamoring for a quarterback here, but the safe move would be to do everything in their power to keep their passer upright.
Drafting an offensive lineman early is something the Dolphins haven’t shied away from in the past. They selected Ja’Wuan James in the first round in 2014 and he’s nearing the end of his rookie contract. The team also drafted Mike Pouncey (2011) Laremy Tunsil (2016) in the first round of their respective drafts.
Oklahoma-product Orlando Brown has the versatility to slide into the right tackle position and take over for James should the Dolphins choose to move on. He anchored the Sooners’ front that protected Heisman winning quarterback Baker Mayfield. The Sooners offensive was extraordinary in 2017, finding success both through the air and on the ground.
Brown is 6-foot-8, 345 points. He’s the textbook definition of an immovable object. He’s not making it out of the first round and the Dolphins would do well to protect their franchise passer.
The Cincinnati Bengals thought they’d picked up the steal of the 2017 NFL Draft when they selected Oklahoma running back Joe Mixon with the No. 48 pick. The first round talent had fallen down draft boards because of his off-field issues, but the talent was never in question.
Mixon plus a backfield that featured NFL veterans Giovani Bernard and Jeremy Hill were supposed to be the perfect balance to a passing game that already had plenty of weapons. That included the Bengals’ first round pick last year, John Ross.
The Bengals finished 30th in the NFL in open field yards, defined by Football Outsiders as the percentage of carries in which running backs earn more than 10 yards. The team isn’t going to bail on Mixon, but they can beef up their offensive front and add the most experienced, elite running blocking lineman in this year’s class, Notre Dame’s Mike McGlinchey.
Teammate of fellow projected first rounder Quenton Nelson, McGlinchey was also named a first team All-American. He paved the way for Josh Adams and dual threat quarterback Brandon Wimbush in college and can create a running lane off the edge for Mixon. The Bengals need to get Mixon into open space and there’s not a better way to do that than a road-grating tackle like McGlinchey.
The Washington Redskins have made their quarterback decision. A week prior to the Super Bowl they ‘Skins traded for Kansas City starter Alex Smith, signaling the end of the Kirk Cousins era in Washington. With that settled the team can address other needs, starting with the defensive front seven.
Washington will look to beef up their defense with the addition of premier linebacker Roquan Smith. A leader of Georgia’s College Football Playoff squad, Smith was an absolute monster. He led the Bulldogs in tackles with 137, that’s 58 more than the next highest total on the team. He also topped the team in tackles for a loss (14) and sacks (6.5).
Smith wasn’t asked to as much pass coverage in college, but his instincts in the open field are second to none. He was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Year and also took home the Butkus Award, honoring the nation’s top linebacker.
The Redskins could use some fortification in the middle of their defense. Neither Zach Brown or Martrell Spaight were particularly incredible last season. Smith would be the best inside linebacker on the team and a surefire starter from day one.
The injury to quarterback Aaron Rodgers derailed Green Bay Packers’ 2017 season. Backup Brett Hundley was tasked with the impossible task of taking over for a Super Bowl MVP midway through the year and he wasn’t able to right the ship.
What Hundley’s stint as the starter did reveal, however, was the need for more weapons in the Packers’ receiving corps. The Packers’ have a “who’s who” on their wide receiver depth chart with the likes of Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb and Davante Adams. With Cobb rumored to be a cap casualty and limited production from Nelson apart from Rodgers, it’s time for Green Bay to bring in another playmaker.
James Washington, the former Oklahoma State standout, had the benefit of playing with Mason Rudolph. He put up a ridiculous 1,549 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns in his senior season in Stillwater. If he can do that with Rudolph just imagine how dangerous he’ll be with Rodgers throwing him the ball.
Washington is known for his sure hands as well as his ability to stretch the field. Although the route tree in a spread offense like Oklahoma State’s is limited he’d be landing in a place with plenty of capable veterans able to get him up to speed.
After an impressive career, Carson Palmer announced in January that he would retire from the NFL. That came shortly after the retirement announcement from Arizona Cardinal’s head coach Bruce Arians. The team has since hired Carolina Panthers’ defensive coordinator Steve Wilks as their new head coach, but the quarterback position remains a mystery.
Blaine Gabbert and Drew Stanton are not the answer. They’ve both had their chances in the NFL and neither has proven to be starting quarterback material – at least not to the level of being viewed as a potential long-term solution. It’s more likely that one of the two will serve as a bridge to their quarterback of the future, Lamar Jackson.
The former Heisman Trophy winner, Jackson will be passed over in the draft for some of the more “pro-ready” passers. That’s more or less what happened last year with Deshaun Watson, and he turned out alright.
Jackson beat out Watson for the Heisman Trophy in 2016 and improved this season. He’s elevated his passing game and improved significantly on pocket presence. Jackson threw for 7,203 yards and 57 touchdowns in his final two seasons at Louisville. He’s much more than the run-first quarterback that some have made him out to be. There will be a learning curve, but the raw athleticism will prove too enticing for the Cardinals to pass up.
The Baltimore Ravens need a game-breaker. A down year from quarterback Joe Flacco was all it took to prove that the Ravens lacked the player that could take over a game with one monster play. Running back Alex Collins flashed late, but he was more of a power runner than a home run hitter.
Texas A&M’s Christian Kirk is the Ravens’ answer. The school leader in punt return touchdowns, Kirk will make an instant impact on special teams. His shiftiness in the open field will make him the best slot option on Baltimore’s roster immediately.
As the Aggies’ offense sputtered during the final years of Kevin Sumlin‘s tenure in College Station, Kirk remained consistent. He makes mediocre quarterbacks look great and can run himself open. An excellent route runner, Kirk was seemingly always open. He led the team in receptions in all of his three collegiate seasons.
Kirk is the most versatile wide receiver in this draft class. He has the elusiveness to break a screen pass for a big game and the pure speed to blow past elite safeties. He did it over and over again in the SEC and he’ll be doing it in the AFC North soon.
The Los Angeles Chargers have options with their first round selection. Quarterback Philip Rivers isn’t getting any younger. They have some issues on the offensive line and could also use some additional depth at the linebacker position.
Los Angeles finished fifth in the NFL in total sacks in 2017, racking up 43. The pass rush might not be the most prominent need but the Chargers won’t miss the opportunity to grab Bradley Chubb if he falls this far down the draft board.
Chubb is not regarded to be as polished as Myles Garrett, last year’s top defensive end. However, the 2017 ACC Defensive Player of the Year is coming off back-to-back 10-sack seasons and already looks to be pro-ready. Chubb was awarded the Ted Hendricks Award, given to the nation’s best defensive end as well as the Bronco Nagurski Award, given to the nation’s most outstanding defensive player.
He led the ACC in sacks and tackles for a loss. At 6-foot-4 and 275 pounds, Chubb is only going to get stronger and more dangerous at the next level. Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram are a terrifying duo, but having too many pass rushers is a nice problem to have and defensive coordinator Gus Bradley will find a way to utilize all of them.
The Legion of Boom hasn’t disappeared, but it has lost a step. Richard Sherman missed the tail end of the season after rupturing his Achilles tendon and the secondary as a whole is a tad bit slower than it once was. They need speed. Cornerback Denzel Ward will prove to be one of the faster prospects in the 2018 draft class.
More than just speed, Ward hails from a defensive back factory at Ohio State. The Buckeyes have produced four first round corners in the past four seasons. Ward will make that number improve to five first rounders in five years.
A second-team Big Ten selection, Ward has shared the defensive back field with Marshon Lattimore (drafted 2017, No. 11 to the New Orleans Saints) and Gareon Conley (2017, Oakland Raiders). His stat sheet might look a bit sparse when compared to some of the other defensive backs in this class, but Ward has waited his turn and has equally high expectations in the professional ranks.
Ward is a little on the shorter side, checking in at 5-foot-10, but makes up for it with incredible route recognition and ball skills. He’ll be a staple in the Seattle defensive backfield for years to come.
Sean Lee has been a centerpiece of the Dallas Cowboys’ defense for nearly a decade. Not only is the two-time Pro Bowl selection nearing the end of his career, he’s struggled to stay healthy from the beginning. Lee has never played a full 16 game season in his eight year NFL career and he missed the 2014 season in its entirety.
A vocal leader, Lee’s presence in the locker room is important. That makes extending his career a priority for the Cowboys. Since they don’t have to fill a major gap at the linebacker position they can afford to go with a riskier pick, LSU edge rusher Arden Key.
Whether Key plays with his hand in the dirt or stood up in a timeshare with Lee, he’s proven he has the talent to make game-changing plays. The concerns with Lee come off the field. The junior left the team in February before returning for the 2017 season.
Whatever the situation the Cowboys will have been made aware of it and it probably won’t influence their decision. They’ve rolled the dice with much more dubious characters before. Jerry Jones seems primarily concerned with how his players produce on the football field. In that respect, Key is an easy selection.
Every year there are a few guys from lesser-known schools that find their way into the first round. Last year it was Corey Davis from Western Michigan and Haason Reddick from Temple. This year it will be UT-San Antonio pass rusher Marcus Davenport.
His meteoric rise up the draft board was spurred from a combination of measurables, Senior Bowl activities and freakish highlights like this:
Louisiana Tech pales in comparison to the offensive line talent that exists in the NFL, but Daveport’s combination of size (6-foot-7, 255 pounds) and raw power make him a tantalizing prospect.
The Lions still have to make a decision concerning star defensive end Ezekiel Ansah. After five seasons with the Lions Ansah is set to enter free agency after being unable to reach a deal with Detroit. That doesn’t preclude him from returning to the Lions, but it does indicate that the team is considering other alternatives.
Davenport has upped his production every season at UTSA, going from 2.5 tackles for a loss and 2.5 sacks as a freshman to 17.5 tackles for a loss and 8.5 sacks as a senior. It’s not out of the question that his best, given NFL-caliber coaching and training, is yet to come.
The Buffalo Bills made it abundantly clear how they felt about their starting quarterback midway through the 2017 season. They benched Tyrod Taylor in favor of rookie backup Nathan Peterman in Week 11 against the Los Angeles Chargers. The results were extraordinary.
Peterman threw a shocking five interceptions, lost a fumble and did not account for a single touchdown in the 24-54 defeat. The Bills went back to Taylor, but were forced to play Peterman in the final drive of their Wild Card Playoff Game after Taylor suffered an injury. Peterman was 1-3 in relief with an interception that sealed the Bills’ elimination.
The Bills need someone who will take charge of the locker room and be a general on the field. Baker Mayfield, swagger and all, is the perfect fit. The former walk on and reigning Heisman trophy winner led Oklahoma to the College Football Playoff. He accounted for 49 touchdowns this season in 14 games and threw for 4,627 yards while completing 70.5 percent of his passes.
Mayfield is accurate, intelligent and poised in the pocket. He can make plays with his legs when he has to, but unlike Taylor, he’s a passer first. Peterman is not the answer, so it’s time to find someone who could fill that role.
In 2016 Derrius Guice was the backup to Leonard Fournette. Following that season Fournette would be drafted No. 4 overall and become the workhorse running back that carried the Jacksonville Jaguars to the AFC Championship Game. But it was Guice, not Fournette, that led the Tigers and the SEC in rushing yards the year they shared the Tiger backfield.
A year removed from leading the SEC in rushing, Guice finished fourth in the conference in 2017. He finished 140 yards behind leader Kerryon Johnson. Had Guice not missed time with injuries he might have led the conference that prides itself on wining in the trenches in consecutive seasons.
Buffalo has do-it-all tailback LeSean McCoy, but he’ll be entering his 10th professional season in 2018. He’s still got gas left in the tank, but he’s not getting any younger. The Bills would do well to cement their offensive backfield of the future with by taking Guice to complement Mayfield with their back-to-back first round selections.
Guice looks to be every bit as much as physical and quick as Fournette is. The Bills are looking at an RB1 at the back end of the first round. That’s an easy call to make.
The Los Angeles Rams’ offense exploded in 2017. Jared Goff and Todd Gurley blasted opposing defenses and sent the Rams to the playoffs. The defense had their moments, but started to show leaks down the stretch, particularly in the secondary.
Starters Trumaine Johnson and Troy Hill both had respectable seasons, but neither are considered to be a lock down corner. The depth chart behind them is lacking at best, making that position the number one priority for the Rams this offseason. Colorado’s Isaiah Oliver would be an instant upgrade at a spot that needs more consistency.
Oliver has elite-level ball skills and understands how to position his body in space. He blanketed receivers this season, tallying 12 passes defended and two interceptions. The junior had 25 passes defended in three seasons with the Buffaloes. When Oliver lines up on one side of the field it’s usually best to look the other way, that’s how dominant he was in college.
At 6-foot-1, 195 pounds he’s not going to get pushed around on the outside. He’s comfortable playing on an island and has already proven he can do it against some of the best passers in the college ranks. Playing in the Pac-12 gave him plenty of exposure to NFL-caliber quarterbacks like Josh Rosen, Sam Darnold and Luke Falk.
The Carolina Panthers front seven has a host of some of the most highly respected and highly impactful defenders in the NFL. That includes veterans like Julius Peppers and Kawann Short in front are supported by Thomas Davis and Luke Kuechly on the second level. Those stars are aging, and the depth behind them is slim. In order to keep that front producing on a high level the Panthers need to continue to invest in fresh talent.
Michigan’s Maurice Hurst is regarded as the best interior defender in the 2018 NFL Draft class. The 6-foot-2, 280 pound enforcer managed 13 tackles for a loss and 5.5 sacks in his senior season with the Wolverines. The thought of him paired alongside Short in the trenches for the Panthers is somewhat terrifying.
Short is one of the best tackles in the league, but his counterpart Star Lotulelei has struggled. The Panthers drafted Lotulelei in the first round of the 2013 draft. His contract expired following this season and there’s been no indication from the Panthers that they’d like to bring him back. That’s even more unlikely if they can get Hurst midway through the first round of the 2018 draft.
The Tennessee Titans need some help on the defensive line. Jurrell Casey, a three time Pro Bowl selection, has been a fixture of the Tennessee front seven since the Titans drafted him in 2011, but he can’t do it all on his own. The team has brought in veteran talent at the linebacker position, but a pass rush specialist could take this unit from good to great.
Boston College edge rusher Harold Landry would be the perfect complement to Casey and could be the best true pass rusher in this 2018 draft. After a somewhat quiet beginning to his career, Landry exploded onto the scene during his incredible junior season. That year he finished with 22 tackles for a loss and 16.5 sacks.
Landry leaves BC fourth all-time in sacks. There’s a good chance he could have climbed higher, perhaps to second behind Eagle legend Mathias Kiwanuka, if injuries hadn’t derailed the end of his senior campaign.
Casey and Landry together on the same line would give the Titans one of the better pass rush combos in the NFL. Landy has also proven himself as a top-notch run defender. Being that well-rounded makes him a relatively safe pick at the back end of the first round.
The Atlanta Falcons came up short once again. This season ended in a less painful fashion than their Super Bowl defeat, but they were one play shy of defeating the Philadelphia Eagles, the NFC’s top seed.
The Falcons’ failures this season seemed to stem more from play calling than personnel. If they can get that sorted out the Falcons may be one of the few teams that can afford to take the “best player available”.
Florida State’s Derwin James is one of the most versatile defenders in this draft class. The jack-of-all trades safety is comfortable at the line of scrimmage and playing center field. He’s the type of playmaker that the Falcons could use anywhere on the field. The “where” is up to them, but slotting him in a free safety next to Keanu Neal seems like a natural fit.
The Seminoles’ dismal 2017 campaign did James no favors when it comes to his draft stock, but a regression in pure statistics won’t cause him to fall beyond the first round. Sports Illustrated named James the number one player in college football entering the season. Pro Football Focus graded him as the highest rated safety in the country during both of his healthy seasons at Florida State, 2015 and 2017.
Marcus Williams saw a successful rookie season end with turmoil. New Orleans Saints fans will be hard-pressed to forget where they were when he botched the final play of the Vikings game and allowed Stefon Diggs to race into the endzone as time expired.
The decision makers aren’t going to act in a knee-jerk fashion come draft day, but they won’t shy away from bolstering their secondary with Alabama’s Ronnie Harrison still available. Harrison notched three interceptions, four passes defended and 2.5 sacks during his junior season in Tuscaloosa.
The Saints saw their identity morph in 2017. Drew Brees‘ role took a step back as the running game emerged and the defense took a significant step forward. When the team does part way with Brees they’ll keep that new-found identity, making defensive depth a priority for the time being.
Harrison will challenge Williams at the free safety spot for New Orleans next season, but that’s only going to make both players better. Harrison, like Williams, is a playmaker and the more of those the Saints can add to the secondary, the better.
“Maybe I don’t have it anymore” is not what any general manager wants to hear from this franchise quarterback. But that’s exactly what two-time Super Bowl champion Ben Roethlisberger told the media after an upset loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 5. Ben has since admitted that he may have been overreacting and intends to come back next season, but the future at the quarterback position for the Pittsburgh Steelers still needs to be addressed.
Letting rookie quarterbacks sit for a season or two and learn has become a forgotten tradition. The Kansas City Chiefs gave first round pick Patrick Mahomes a year to study, and that same process that would work well for the Steelers.
Oklahoma State’s Mason Rudolph is a fringe first round prospect, but its more important that the Steelers get the right guy than the right “value”. Rudolph lit up the Big 12, throwing for 4,904 yards and 37 touchdowns in his senior season. In three seasons as the full-time starter he never threw double-digit interceptions.
Rudolph’s transition from a spread offense at Oklahoma State to a pro-style offense in Pittsburgh might take some getting used to, but it’s nothing he won’t be able to handle.
The Jacksonville Jaguars boasted a surprisingly potent offense in 2017. The Jags finished fifth in the NFL in scoring, averaging 26.1 points per game. Powered by Leonard Fournette, they led the NFL in rushing but finishing in the middle of the pack in passing production.
Blake Bortles did enough down the stretch to earn himself more leeway in Jacksonville. The Jags have announced they’re sticking with their former first round pick. That means instead of drafting a passer, they’re going to have to find their current quarterback more weapons.
With the premier wide receivers off the board don’t be surprised to see Jacksonville elect to go the tight end route. Julius Thomas was a failed experiment and Mercedes Lewis is entering his 13th NFL season. There are a couple of options at the position in the 2018 draft, but Mark Andrews out of Oklahoma will be the first off the board.
Andrews was elevated by the athleticism of Baker Mayfield, but the big-bodied pass catcher isn’t just a product of the Sooners’ offensive system. The 6-foot-5, 254 pound pass catcher notched 62 receptions for 958 yards and eight touchdowns. His physicality and his strong hands will make him the safety blanket Bortles needs to keep the chains moving.
The Minnesota Vikings offense fought through injuries this season to reach the NFC Championship Game. Teddy Bridgewater, Sam Bradford and Dalvin Cook all missed meaningful parts of the season, and the Vikings still had plenty of offensive punch. The offense will be better in 2018, giving the Vikings the opportunity to go after the player that fits their system the best.
Interior defensive lineman don’t often merit first round selections. It takes a special player to earn an exception and Alabama’s Da’ron Payne is that one of a kind player. The 6-foot-2, 308 pound defensive tackle is an incredible talent that’s more versatile than might be expected. Payne intercepted Clemson quarterback Kelly Bryant in the College Football Playoff Semifinal and caught a touchdown pass of his own to cap off the Alabama victory.
Payne is a block-shedding tackle with a lightning fast first step. He can get to the quarterback from the interior and plays the run exceptionally well to boot. Head coach Mike Zimmer won’t shy away from the opportunity to fortify his defensive line. The Vikings don’t have a ton of massive holes to fix, which gives them the opportunity to snag this elite defender.
Tom Brady isn’t going to play for forever. The New England Patriots have had their opportunities to take highly regarded quarterbacks in the past, but the guys they did draft are no longer on the roster. They’ll grab another passer eventually, probably in the 2018 draft, it just won’t be in the first round.
The Patriots sent rumblings through the NFL when they signed linebacker James Harrison at the tail end of the 2017 season. People wondered whether or not he’d give away all of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ secrets. An upstart Jacksonville Jaguars squad squelched any truth that may have existed in that storyline, knocking the Steelers from the Playoffs.
Harrison wasn’t brought in to be snitch, he was much-needed depth for a linebacker unit that lacks a star. Virginia Tech’s Tremaine Edmunds could be just that. An NFL scout could barely put Edmunds’ potential into words, “Good luck with your player comp on this one,” he said, “They don’t come like him. I don’t think there has ever been a linebacker that has had his size and speed. You’re better off comping him with a basketball player.”
Whether its arrogance or deserved confidence, the Patriots and Bill Belichick have always taken pride in their ability to take a talented athlete and make him better. Edmunds is raw, but every bit the build and look of an NFL linebacker.
Edmunds led the Hokies in tackles (109), tackles for a loss (14), sacks (5.5) and forced fumbles (3) during his final season in Blacksburg. The first-team All-ACC defender is only going to get stronger and more instinctive as a pro. That makes Edmunds the consummate Patriots selection. The floor is high and the upside might be ever higher.
The Philadelphia Eagles’ incredibly postseason run came without several key players who were injured during the regular season. Carson Wentz had thrown his name into the MVP discussion before suffering a torn ACL, but he wasn’t the only Eagle to go down with a season ending injury in the fall.
Left tackle Jason Peters was carted off the field following the Eagles’ Monday night win over the Washington Redskins. The 35-year old veteran suffered a torn ACL and MCL and the Philadelpha offensive line was forced to figure out a way to replace a nine-time Pro Bowl tackle. They made do with former fifth-round pick Halapoulivaati Vaitai, but a long-term solution looks like it might be necessary should Peters and the team part ways to avoid a $11.7 Million cap hit.
One of six finalists for the Outland trophy, Western Michigan’s Chukwuma Okorafor has been among the nation’s best tackles over the past two seasons. A back-to-back first team All-MAC selection, Okorafor helped paved the way for a top 25 rushing offense. At 6-foot-5, 330 pounds he’s not easy to go through.
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Okorafor has the athleticism and the strength to protect the Eagles’ franchise quarterback for a long while, and keeping Wentz healthy has to be head coach Doug Pederson‘s number one offseason priority.