The Rams and Patriots have shaken up the 2018 NFL Draft order and more change could be coming. Here’s new first round projections after the latest trades.
More: 2018 NFL Draft preview, player profiles and latest mock drafts
The 2018 NFL Combine must have been quite eye opening for NFL franchises such as the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets who have made a scramble to move up into the top five picks in the upcoming NFL Draft. The subsequent “pro days” that have followed the combine have filled in the missing pieces of the puzzle for this year’s draft class. With that, the New York Giants and Buffalo Bills are rumored to be working on a draft day trade.
Saquon Barkley was the most dominant performer at the Combine, and his measurables have him as the top player regardless of position, however, the value on running back might not ensure him the number one overall selection. The same goes for guard Quentin Nelson out of Notre Dame. Instead, the premium is on quarterback as the NFL becomes an increasingly pass-happy league and the pool of talented quarterbacks seems to have run dry in professional football.
The Cleveland Browns are still the first team on the clock and have the ability to completely change the course of their struggling franchise by owning the first and fourth overall picks in the 2018 NFL Draft. The Browns are in need of a franchise quarterback, but also the star power that jersey and ticket sales can boom from.
The Cleveland Browns are on the clock.
Needs: QB, CB, RT
The Cleveland Browns are in need of a franchise player, and most importantly a franchise quarterback, that can bring positivity to the Browns organization. They’re in need of jersey and ticket sales and have parlayed an 0-16 season into the first overall selection in the 2018 NFL Draft. The Browns, however, are not devoid of talent. They have weapons for a franchise quarterback to use to his advantage. That quarterback will be the Southern California Trojans’ Sam Darnold.
Darnold didn’t have the most impressive season statistically in 2017. Yet he is the first quarterback taken off the board because of potential- which is how the NFL drafts their players.
The Browns have one of the NFL’s most up and coming offensive lines and with the additions of Jarvis Landry and Carlos Hyde to Josh Gordon, Duke Johnson, and David Njoku– there are plenty of weapons at Darnold’s disposal. Darnold won’t have to start day one in Cleveland either. The Browns traded for former Bills’ starter Tyrod Taylor who can take the early lumps as the Browns free agents and rookies gel while Darnold learns the game.
Where Johnny Manziel and Deshone Kizer failed I believe the Browns organization is in a better position to succeed in 2018 than the prior few seasons. If Cleveland spends the rest of the 2018 draft outside of round one on defense they can be at the Jaguars level in two seasons.
Needs: QB, OT, RB
The Buffalo Bills are making draft moves to jump up to the second overall pick and draft a quarterback. The Bills have traded Tyrod Taylor to the Cleveland Browns and are positioning themselves to get a young franchise quarterback. The Bills haven’t had a true face of the franchise since Jim Kelly retired in the 1990’s. Since then, it’s been a revolving door of veterans and rookies that haven’t panned out for the Bills.
The Bills won’t have to run out and start their draft pick right away, either. This is why I think they will select Josh Allen, the quarterback from Wyoming, with the second overall selection. Allen has NFL size at 6-foot-5 and 235 pounds and a cannon for an arm.
Where Allen struggles is at accuracy and in his polish, which is what sitting a year or two behind AJ McCarron will help. McCarron is a heady quarterback that is a former national champion and uses his intelligence to overcome his pedestrian athleticism. That is the aspect of the game Allen really needs to improve – his football IQ and decision making.
The Bills have had to give up both of their first round picks to get into the second overall selection, but in order to get a quarterback of the future it seems like they feel it’s necessary.
Needs: QB, ILB, RB
The New York Jets made a huge trade with the Indianapolis Colts in order to move into the third overall selection, up from sixth, to draft a quarterback. That quarterback will need to be able to walk in at least by the bye week and start right away. Thus, the quarterback has to be intelligent, polished, and NFL ready.
The most NFL ready quarterback with the aptitude to succeed from the 2018 draft class is former UCLA Bruin Josh Rosen. Rosen will love being in New York City, can handle the big city spotlight since he’s from Los Angeles, and is NFL ready in his footwork, football IQ, and ability to take hits.
The Jets do have Teddy Bridgewater and Josh McCown but those aren’t franchise quarterbacks in 2018. Rosen could start by the bye week and command the Jets into the playoffs. The Jets were 5-11 in 2017 and Todd Bowles might be on his last year as the head coach if they can’t figure out how to win. Josh Rosen won’t quite have the weapons in New York that he would have with the Browns or Bills but Jeremy Langford, Clive Walford, and Jermaine Kearse are solid building blocks for the Jets’ offense.
The Jets could draft Baker Mayfield but his lack of size and experience in a major city are negatives compared to Josh Rosen.
Needs: QB, CB, RT
If the Browns are able to trade this pick back or for a talented veteran I think they would take the trade. However, if they’re stuck at number four, Cleveland goes with the best player available and that’s Saquon Barkley. Barkley added to an offense with the talented skill guys they have in Duke Johnson, Josh Gordon, Jarvis Landry, Carlos Hyde and David Njoku plus their talented offensive line makes the Browns an instant threat to score every play. The rest of Cleveland’s draft would have to be spent on linebacker and defensive back but you can’t pass up on Barkley at number four.
Barkley adds a weapon in the running game, obviously, but also in the return game as he is a home run threat on kickoff returns. Cleveland would now have two players they could sell merchandise and tickets around coming to see in Sam Darnold and Barkley. As a junior at Penn State, Barkley averaged 5.9 yards per carry and 11.7 yards per reception. He also averaged 28.4 yards per kickoff return with a total of 25 touchdowns for the 2017 season.
Barkley reminds me of Edgerrin James when he came out of Miami in the 1999 NFL Draft. Barkley, like James, has the size to run with power while also being a weapon in the receiving game.
Needs: OL, QB, ILB
The Denver Broncos have Case Keenum as their franchise quarterback and John Elway has to be excited to have that dilemma at least over with for the time being. Since Peyton Manning‘s retirement, Elway has gone through quarterback after quarterback such as Brock Osweiler, Trevor Siemian, and Paxton Lynch. With Keenum in place, Denver needs to be able to protect their star quarterback who led the Vikings to the NFC Championship Game in 2017.
Vance Joseph took over the Broncos for Gary Kubiak and finished 5-11 using this quarterback rotation of confusion. The Broncos have a solid running back in C.J. Anderson and receiving threats in Jake Butt, Emmanuel Sanders, and Demaryius Thomas. Keenum will walk right into an offense with firepower but it needs an offensive line to open running lanes and protect their new franchise passer.
That player is former Notre Dame guard Quenton Nelson. Nelson is on some draft boards as the top rated prospect in the 2018 NFL Draft class and at 6-foot-5 and 329 pounds has the size to be an NFL guard. Nelson hit 34 reps at 225 pounds in the bench press. NFL.com has his player comparison set as Larry Allen- if that’s true this is a franchise caliber lineman that will be a perennial pro bowler.
Needs: EDGE, OL, ILB
Bradley Chubb is the second most athletic player in the 2018 NFL Draft. Chubb is 6-foot-4 and 269 pounds of explosive athlete. He posted a 4.65 in the 40 yard dash, while his vertical leap was 36 inches and his broad jump measured 121 inches. Those numbers align with some of the highest rated players in combine history. Chubb is considered a sure-fire pro bowler and the Indianapolis Colts haven’t had a dominant pass rusher since Dwight Freeney.
The Colts need other positions, too. But in a pass-happy NFL the addition of Chubb to their defensive line will improve the play of their defensive backs in coverage. The Colts will eventually need to look at a quarterback once again. Andrew Luck and his shoulder issues have held him out of play. Luck and replacement Jacoby Brissett have one more season to prove they can play in the NFL. That requires more than talent as playing in the league also requires dependability which Luck hasn’t proven after sitting out the 2017 season.
The Colts have a new regime in place and a quarterback guru is now in charge in Frank Reich. Reich was just the Eagles offensive coordinator who used multiple low level draft picks at running back and won the Super Bowl having played two different quarterbacks including journeyman Nick Foles. Reich will need to find the same explosive play ability with the Colts he found with the Eagles.
Needs: CB, DE, RB
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers feel like this is a make or break season for both star quarterback Jameis Winston and head football coach Dirk Koetter. Winston is in the final year of his rookie contract and Koetter usurped Lovie Smith for the head role but slipped to 5-11 in year two.
The Buccaneers have great receiving weapons for Winston in O.J. Howard, DeSean Jackson, Mike Evans and Cameron Brate but need to find a feature back to take pressure off the passing game if they plan to move the football better in 2018. The Bucs also have to improve on defense, which during the Tony Dungy and Jon Gruden eras would have been next to sacrilege. However in 2017, Tampa Bay needs improvement.
That improvement will come from defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick . Fitzpatrick is a jack-of-all-trades type that can play as a free safety, or down in the box, or even over the nickel in the slot. With ideal size and speed, Fitzpatrick is a top ten quality defensive back. The Bucs don’t just have one need they have many in the backfield and Fitzpatrick being a corner/safety helps fill two places. With the addition of Jason Piere-Paul the Bucs have a pass rush threat that can help their defensive backs.
Needs: OL, CB, RB
The Chicago Bears are in a decade long need for offensive linemen and cornerbacks. Chicago finally has a franchise quarterback and is supporting him by signing Allen Robinson and Trey Burton. If Chicago can support Mitchell Trubisky with a running game the Bears will look good in a Matt Nagy offense.
That brings Bears fans to the defensive side of the ball. Much like with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Bears were a defense-first organization for years but that defense needs a facelift. The Bears will draft former Ohio State Buckeye cornerback Denzel Ward with the eighth overall selection.
Ward has elite speed running a 4.32 in the 40 yard dash while putting up a 39 inch vertical jump and eye popping 136 inch broad jump at the combine. He has the physical tools and the football IQ to start day one for the Bears on their defense. Ward teaming with Kyle Fuller and Prince Amukamara makes a formidable trio against three and four receiver sets which are so prominent in the NFL in this era.
Needs: EDGE, OG, CB
The 49ers have been beautifully masterminded together by former All Pro safety and NFL broadcaster John Lynch. Lynch has put the team together so quickly that there aren’t a ton of glaring needs on their roster.
One need however is pass rusher. The 49ers will also need an interior offensive lineman to protect quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and open running lanes for Jerick McKinnon. A player that will make John Lynch think of his days with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is Tremaine Edmunds.
Edmunds, a linebacker out of Virginia Tech, has size and athleticism. At 6-foot-5 and 253 pounds Edmunds can rush the passer or play the run and he has the speed as well being clocked in the 40 yard dash at 4.54 which is lights out for a rush end. But Edmunds can play linebacker in a 4-3 defense, too.
The 49ers defensive line itself has talent, it just needs a third and long pass rusher. Their linebacker corps could use a pick up and Edmunds will be a ‘wait and see’ prospect on the defensive side of the ball.
Needs: LB, DB, RB
Jon Gruden is the new head football coach of the Raiders and he is going to mold his defense the same way he had it at Tampa Bay when he won the Super Bowl with the Bucs. Those old Tampa 2 defenses ran by Monty Kiffin had Warren Sapp on the interior of the defensive line and the 2018 NFL Draft has another super athletic 300 plus pound tackle in Vita Vea.
A former Washington Huskie, Vea measured in at 6-foot-4 and 337 pounds but still posted a 5.1 in the 40 yard dash. That’s more Vince Wilfork than Warren Sapp but the main point is focusing the defense around the middle and Vea can be that focus.
The Raiders will also need help at defensive back, linebacker and running back but Gruden will try to build through the draft using the best players available and Vea is the best player at the tenth slot in the draft. Paul Guenther was known for his 4-3 defense with the Bengals and will need a true mike linebacker but Smith’s injury concerns have slid him down many draft boards. Vea will team well with the pass rush ability of Khalil Mack and Mario Edwards Jr.
Needs: OG, CB, RB, QB
The Miami Dolphins still have Ryan Tannehill as their starting quarterback in 2018. Tannehill is coming off of a season-ending knee injury that cost him all of 2017, and forced Miami to pay free agent Jay Cutler much more than he was worth to try and save the season.
That said, the Dolphins needs to draft a quarterback and Baker Mayfield is going to be a guy that could benefit from sitting a year before being called on. Sitting out will help Mayfield’s on and off the field maturity and get him acclimated to more snaps from under center and less tempo than he’s used to.
The Dolphins have also traded away their weapons in Jay Ajayi and Jarvis Landry and have been cash strapped with the contracts of Ndamukong Suh and Tannehill.
The Dolphins are currently pulling off an NBA style move in throwing the 2018 season and doing a cash dump now in order to resurrect their salary cap situation and start rebuilding next season. The Browns used this same tactic and finished 0-16 but are currently loaded on offense and in need of a good defensive draft to turn their franchise around. Mayfield could be the quarterback of the future but on a roster that looks quite different by 2019.
Needs: DE, QB, OL, RB
The New York Giants won all four of their Super Bowls with a ferocious pass rush and have since seen the retirement of Michael Strahan and have traded Jason Piere-Paul. Without JPP, the Giants will need to draft a pass rusher here at the 12th overall pick. Luckily Marcus Davenport from Texas San Antonio is available.
Davenport exploded on the scene as a senior and the 6-foot-6 and 264 pound pass rusher will be another in the long line of Giants’ greats. New York knows the timetable for Eli Manning to win another Super Bowl is closing and Pat Shurmur will want to surround him with talent on both sides of the football.
Davenport is the best player available at the twelth slot and he is a need for the Giants. New York also needs to draft a quarterback of the future, an offensive tackle to protect Eli Manning, and a running back to give the Giants a run game that can take pressure off the aging Manning and balance out their offense.
Needs: DL, LB, WR
Washington is in need of a defensive lineman and with Vita Vea already off the board they’ll take another athletic big body in Da’Ron Payne. Payne, the former Alabama Crimson Tide national champion, has size at 6-foot-2 and 311 pounds plus speed as he was clock at 4.95 in the 40 yard dash. Payne has an extremely high draft grade which makes him a steal falling to thirteen and Jay Gruden also has a win-now attitude about his team.
Washington needs a linebacker and a wide receiver to round out their depth chart but with the old veteran Alex Smith at quarterback at least they know they have a leader that can win football games and get the franchise into the playoffs.
Daniel Snyder has shown extreme patience in giving Jay Gruden a fifth year as a coach with a 28-35-1 record in his time in D.C. Adding a play making defensive lineman will hopefully give Washington an edge on defense where they can focus on adding playmakers for Alex Smith in the rest of the draft.
Needs: OL, WR, CB
I’m sticking by my decision to draft Notre Dame offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey with the 14th overall pick. Offensive tackle seems to be the most argued point of who will be taken first in this year’s draft process. McGlinchey seems to be the most NFL ready and the Packers have a closing window with Aaron Rodgers at quarterback.
Rodgers did sit out the first three years of his career learning behind Brett Favre but he has had two seasons (2013, 2017) that ended in injuries in his career. McGlinchey has long arms, NFL size, and Notre Dame offensive linemen just always seem to put together solid NFL careers.
The Packers need to protect Rodgers while bolstering their receiver corps after losing Jordy Nelson. They did bring in tight end Jimmy Graham from Seattle and hopefully Graham can be a red zone target for Rodgers. The Packers can’t rely on Rodgers forever as he enters year fifteen in the NFL and Clay Matthews has logged ten seasons of grueling NFC North football. Mike McCarthy has only had two losing seasons as a head football coach- back in 2008 and this past season in 2017.
Needs: WR, QB, OL
The Arizona Cardinals have brought in stop-gap quarterbacks in Sam Bradford and Mike Glennon with the retirement of Carson Palmer. Bradford was 2-0 in 2017 completing 74 percent of his passes and averaged 8.9 yards per attempt. Those stats are well above his career averages but Bradford has been a seven-game winner four times with three different franchises.
The Cardinals have a really good running back in David Johnson and a first-ballot hall of fame receiver in Larry Fitzgerald. However, Fitzgerald is more of a possession receiver in his old age and the Cardinals need someone to take double teams off of him.
The 15th overall selection will be Calvin Ridley, the former Alabama wide receiver. Ridley has been all over draft boards from 13th overall to the mid second round. Ridley has size at 6-foot and speed after posting a 4.43 in the 40 yard dash at the NFL Combine. He also posted a 4.41 20 yard shuttle which shows quickness to go with his straight line speed.
Ridley averaged 15.3 yards per catch in Alabama’s offense but Jalen Hurts isn’t exactly a master of the deep ball. Ridley is a winner and playmaker that will work as the deep threat in the Cardinals new offense.
Needs: ILB, TE, WR
Roquan Smith is rumored to have been red flagged for health by the NFL at the Combine. Smith is already undersized and in my book this slides him from 10th overall down to 16th and to the Ravens. He measured in at 6-foot-1 and 236 pounds at the combine and ran a 4.43 in the 40 yard dash.
Smith also flashed quickness with a 4.41 20 yard shuttle. His power was less impressive as he only scored a 31 inch vertical leap and 110 inch broad jump. If scouts are worried about his size the fact that he didn’t bring a lot of hip power with him is troubling as well.
The Ravens took a risk on another 6-foot-1 inside linebacker back in the 1996 draft. You might have heard of him, his name is Ray Lewis. Lewis was another linebacker praised for speed but said to be too small. The two-time Super Bowl champion and hall of famer worked out for the Ravens and with General Manager Ozzie Newsome entering his last NFL Draft of his career he may be looking to recreate some of that magic from the 1996 draft.
The Ravens are in need of a wide receiver and a tight end to give Joe Flacco playmakers to distribute the ball to and I also dabbled with Courtland Smith here at No.16, but this pick will be Roquan Smith if he falls this far.
Needs: ILB, QB, DL
The Chargers will eventually need to draft a replacement for Phillip Rivers. Rivers, like Eli Manning, is entering the twilight of his career. The Chargers have been able to rely on him to start all sixteen regular season games since 2006. That’s quite miraculous given the pounding of the NFL season and his multiple playoff runs.
That said, Rivers’ replacement will have to be drafted either this year or next. The Chargers, however, need to draft defensive linemen and an inside linebacker. Luckily, Leighton Vander Esch has climbed draft boards since the Combine and pro days.
Vander Esch, the former Boise State Broncos inside linebacker, is 6-foot-4 and 256 pounds and can still run a 4.65 in the 40 yard dash. Vander Esch also recorded a 39.5 inch vertical jump and 124 inch broad jump which puts him up there with 200 pound running backs in the explosiveness category. He finished 2017 as the Mountain West defensive player of the year. He’s the perfect fit in the Chargers athletic defense alongside a star in the making in Joey Bosa.
Needs: C, CB, DE
The Seattle Seahawks offensive line has struggled mightily since trading center Max Unger for tight end Jimmy Graham before the 2015 season. While Graham did catch double-digit touchdowns the Seahawks line hasn’t been the same and Russell Wilson has been sacked 129 times over the three years since the trade. The Seahawks will right the wrong in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft with James Daniels.
Daniels, the former Iowa Hawkeyes center, is graded out as an instant starter by NFL.com. At 6-foot-3 and 306 pounds, Daniels has NFL size and put up a solid but not eye-popping 21 reps at 225 in the bench press.
Where Daniels impresses is with his football IQ and technique while his weaknesses are taking on a bull rush against a 3-4 defense nose tackle. Daniels will improve the protection schemes at the line of scrimmage which will buy Wilson more time in the passing game. He’ll also be expected to open running lanes for whoever winds up the feature back in Seattle in 2018.
Needs: WR, DT, LB
The Dallas Cowboys are coming off of a 9-7 2017 season after a 13-3 2016 season. Rumors swirled about Jerry Jones firing Jason Garrett but the former Cowboys backup quarterback turned head football coach is still in charge in Big D.
Dallas needs a strong playoff run after their divisional rival, the Philadelphia Eagles, just won the Super Bowl. The Cowboys have the NFC’s best offensive line that includes three Pro Bowl players and young talents at quarterback in Dak Prescott and running back in Ezekiel Elliott. The Cowboys need to add a young wide receiver to that mix for Prescott to improve the passing game.
That receiver will be Courtland Sutton from SMU. The former Mustang is a big target at 6-foot-3 and 218 pounds and still has NFL quality speed after being clocked at 4.54 in the 40 yard dash. Sutton flashed quickness with a 4.11 in the 20 shuttle and explosiveness with a 124 inch broad jump. That makes him a tough opponent for any cornerback in the NFL as he has size, power, and quickness to beat them off the ball either with his hands or feet.
Needs: OG, DE, LB
The Detroit Lions need to improve their defense, but after locking up Matthew Stafford with a record $135 million contract they also need to protect their investment. The Lions have an elite backfield with Ameer Abdullah, LaGarrette Blount and Theo Riddick to take pressure off of Stafford and shoring up their offensive line will benefit Stafford and new head coach Matt Patricia as he tries to rebuild the defense through scheme and coaching and later round picks.
Isaiah Wynn isn’t the sexiest first rounder for the Lions but he is the most sure-fire pick they could make at 20th overall. Wynn is a former Georgia Bulldog so he has been coached well under Mark Richt and Kirby Smart.
Wynn has size at 6’3-foot-and 313 pounds and NFL.com has graded him out as an instant starter at guard but he can play center as well. Having that versatility is huge in the NFL where most teams only carry eight offensive linemen.
Needs: OL, LB, TE
Marvin Lewis is back for another season in orange and black as the head football coach of the Cincinnati Bengals. While Lewis is considered a defensive minded coach his offenses have always been uber-talented. Case in point, the Bengals have Andy Dalton, Giovanni Bernard, Joe Mixon, AJ Green, and Tyler Eifert. Quarterback Andy Dalton has plenty of targets to keep the offense improving in 2018. But the defense needs to add
Rashaan Evans, the former Alabama linebacker, is a great fit for Lewis’ 4-3 defensive scheme. Evans will join Vontaze Burfict who will be suspended to start the 2018 season and the Bengals would welcome a younger more athletic linebacker to their fold.
At 6-foot-3 and 234 pounds, Evans has the NFL size to play in the middle and enough speed and quickness to play inside or outside in the 4-3. With Preston Brown coming over from Buffalo that gives the Bengals versatility to move Evans around during his rookie year.
NEEDS: OL, QB, RB
The New York Giants would have addressed their need for an elite pass rusher with their first pick of the first round which is 12th overall. At 22nd overall, the Giants need to establish their left tackle of the future that can protect their aging quarterback in Eli Manning. Taking a running back at No. 22 doesn’t make sense as after Saquon Barkley there’s a big drop off.
If the Giants want a true left tackle they’ll need to draft Kolton Miller. Miller, the former UCLA Bruin, has the measurables NFL scouts drool over. At 6-foot-9 and 310 pounds, Miller has the reach to keep defensive ends away from his face which is a technique necessary for blindside tackles. Size isn’t his only attribute, Miller is an athlete. He was clocked at 4.95 in the 40 yard dash while also benching 24 reps at 225 and a 121 inch broad jump. The knock on Miller is his thin lower body but as he matures and lifts weights in the NFL he can improve his leg drive in the run game.
The Giants will now have their pass rusher and left tackle of the future and will need to draft a running back in the second round to give Eli the right combination to be successful as his career winds down.
Needs: CB, QB, OT
The New England Patriots have traded Brandin Cooks to fall into this 23rd overall selection. Cooks was a one year rental that made New England’s loss of a first round pick in 2017 negligible by getting this selection from the Rams for 2018.
New England is another franchise with an aging quarterback, and holes along their offensive line that needs to be good to protect Tom Brady from injury. The Patriots also need to replace the departed cornerback Malcolm Butler who was benched for the Super Bowl.
New England will draft former Louisville Cardinals cornerback Jaire Alexander. Alexander is slight of size at 5-foot-10 and 196 pounds but has elite speed after being clock at 4.38 in the 40 yard dash. His quickness also stands out as he logged a 4.39 in the 20 shuttle making Alexander one of the quickest players in the 2018 draft class.
A 35 inch vertical jump and 127 inch broad jump detail Alexander’s explosiveness which should negate his short stature in jump ball situations. Alexander is a player that can immediately improve the Patriots’ issues at defensive back for the 2018 season.
Needs: DB, WR, OL
The Carolina Panthers have seemingly needed offensive line and wide receiver help since Cam Newton became their starting quarterback. The Panthers will roll with Torrey Smith, Devin Funchess, and Greg Olsen as their major targets in the passing game with hybrid wingback type Chris Samuel and multi-talented running back Christian McCaffrey being the main ball carriers in 2018. Cam Newton needs improved protection, but he also needs a defense if the Panthers are going to make a serious playoff run in 2018.
Derwin James is a lot like Minkah Fitzpatrick in that he can play free safety, but also can roll into the box and play the run. James doesn’t have Fitzpatrick’s natural coverage abilities but did post a 4.47 in the 40 yard dash showing he has NFL caliber speed. James has size too, at 6-foot-2 and 215 pounds and is a sure tackler.
His 40 inch vertical jump and 132 inch broad jump show that he is far removed from the season ending injury that held him out of 2016. James has been listed on draft boards anywhere from a top ten pick to going around 25th so at 24th James is a steal for Carolina.
Needs: EDGE, CB, OL
The Tennessee Titans have a new head football coach in Mike Vrabel. Vrabel was a jack of all trades linebacker for the New England Patriots for most of his career excelling at harassing quarterbacks both via his pass rush abilities and his pass coverage technique. Vrabel ended his fourteen season run in the NFL with 57 sacks and 11 interceptions.
In my previous mock I had the Titans drafting an offensive guard but after signing Josh Kline Vrabel will look to draft his protegé. Harold Landry, the former Boston College Eagle pass rusher, fits the Vrabel mold.
Landry has the athleticism to drop into coverage while having the size and speed to rush the passer in the NFL. He has been up and down draft boards from the middle of the first to the middle of the second round but at 6-foot-3 and 259 pounds I see him fitting the strong side linebacker role for the Titans.
Landry tested extremely well at the Combine running a 4.64 in the 40 yard dash, and scoring a broad jump of 119 inches and a vertical jump of 36 inches. His quickness was next level as well, clocking in at 4.19 in the 20 yard shuttle. He will be an immediate starter with the Titans.
Needs: OG, DL WR
The Atlanta Falcons have an owner who cares about the city of Atlanta and his franchise in Arthur Blank and he’s in full support of head football coach Dan Quinn. Quinn led the Falcons to the Super Bowl two seasons ago and the core nucleus of that team is still in tact. The Falcons need a few finishing touches to stay in the elite level of the NFL and one could come from drafting a play making defensive tackle up to Quinn’s high standards.
Taven Bryan will be that defensive tackle. A former Florida Gator, Bryan is 6-foot-4 and 291 pounds out of Casper, Wyoming of all places. Bryan tested really well for a near 300 pound lineman running a 4.98 in the 40 yard dash and a 4.48 in the 20 yard shuttle. He put up 30 reps of 225 in the bench press, and measured a 35 inch vertical jump and 11 inch broad jump.
Bryan has NFL caliber explosiveness in his hips and has learned really solid technique down in Gainesville. NFL.com grades him out as an instant starter and that’s what the Falcons need in a first round draft pick.
Needs: TE, WR, QB
The New Orleans Saints are another franchise that needs to prepare for life after their starting quarterback. Drew Brees is going into his 18th season as an NFL quarterback and has started for seventeen of those seasons.
The NFL is a grueling process and Brees has made playoff runs both in San Diego and New Orleans, where he won a Super Bowl with the latter, adding miles on his body. Franchises get stuck in a bind where they need to decide with their first round pick if they’re going to draft for the future or for a final run before the window closes. New Orleans is going to draft a weapon for Drew Brees.
That weapon is D.J. Moore. Moore, a former Maryland Terps wide receiver, put up amazing measurables at the NFL Combine. The 6-foot and 210 pounder ran a 4.42 in the 40 yard dash while jumping 39.5 inches in the vertical and 132 inches in the broad jump. that shows he has enough size, mixed with elite speed and explosion to get up and over defenders, out-run cornerbacks off the press, and he showed the ability to score during his college career, too. Brees needs a speedy target to go with Ted Ginn, Ben Watson, and Alvin Kamara on offense.
Needs: QB, ILB, DB
The Pittsburgh Steelers are going to draft for the future with their first round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. With Lamar Jackson falling to the Steelers at 28th overall, they won’t be able to pass on the playmaking quarterback.
The hotly debated Jackson does have NFL size at 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds and is the epitome of a modern era quarterback. Jackson waited to throw at his pro day and impressed scouts with his accuracy and arm strength. According to the Courier Journal, Jackson scored a 13 on the Wonderlic Intelligence Test but Dan Marino and Jim Kelly scored 16 and 15 and it didn’t seem to hurt their Hall of Fame careers.
Then again, Jackson threw for over 9,000 yards averaging 8.3 yards per attempt while also rushing for over 4,000 yards and scoring 119 career touchdowns at Louisville. Jackson can sit and learn the game behind Ben Roethlisberger, who has won two Super Bowls as the quarterback of the Steelers, and digest the playbook and life of an NFL passer until he moves on.
Big Ben has taken a lot of hits and sacks over his career and the Steelers can use a formidable backup now, while grooming that player to be a starter of the future.
Needs: TE, WR, OL
The Jacksonville Jaguars are going to stick with Blake Bortles, at least for the time being. The Jaguars have an elite running back in Leonard Fournette and solid wide receivers in Marquis Lee and Donte Moncrief. What the Jags need is a tight end that can create mismatches and guarantee Bortles first down catches. Since trading away Julius Thomas the Jags haven’t had that kind of weapon.
Jacksonville can immediately add to their offensive arsenal by drafting Mike Gesicki. Gesicki, the former Penn State Nittany Lions tight end, hasn’t been rated this highly on most draft boards but every draft has a shocker.
Gesicki tested out of this world at the combine measuring 6-foot-5 and 247 pounds while running a 4.54 in the 40 yard dash. The big bodied tight end used his volleyball skills and impressive power to jump 129 inches in the broad jump. Gesicki doesn’t just have straight line speed- he also was clocked at 4.1 in the 20 yard shuttle. Gesicki scored 15 touchdowns at Penn State and averaged 14.1 yards per reception as a junior in 2016.
Needs: OL, DT, CB
The Minnesota Vikings missed the Super Bowl by one tackle and decided that Teddy Bridgewater and Case Keenum, their starting quarterbacks, could leave town. Bridgewater is in New York while Keenum is in Denver.
The Vikings signed Kirk Cousins away from Washington to have a more veteran quarterback presence in the twin cities. The less mobile Cousins will need protection to stay upright and healthy and that’s exactly where the Minnesota front office will draft in the first round.
The Vikings will draft Will Hernandez out of UTEP with the 30th overall selection. Hernandez is a stout lineman at 6-foot-2 and 327 pounds who dominates at the point of attack. He has experience starting 37 game over his college career all at left guard. That will be pivotal for the Vikings in getting him on the field day one which is the expectation.
Hernandez repped 225 pounds 37 times at the combine but isn’t only a strong body. He also ran a 4.7 in the 20 shuttle and broad jumped 109 inches. NFL.com grades him out as an instant starter and that fits perfectly into the Vikings plans.
Needs: CB, QB, OT
Any time New England has two first round draft picks you have to get excited about what the greatest dynasty in NFL history is about to do next. I have the Patriots drafting a cornerback with their 23rd overall pick they acquired from the Rams for Brandin Cooks. At the 31st overall spot New England is going to add a pass rusher even though it’s not an immediate need, it is something they showed a weakness in against Nick Foles in the Super Bowl.
New England will love former Ohio State Buckeye defensive end Sam Hubbard. Coming off of an injury Hubbard didn’t run the 40 at the combine, but he did jump an impressive 36 inches in the vertical for a guy that’s 6-foot-5 and 265 pounds.
Hubbard added a 4.32 in the 20 shuttle and 116 inch broad jump to show he has quickness, and explosiveness. Hubbard didn’t have elite production at Ohio State but still logged 30 tackles for loss and 17 sacks over his three seasons in Columbus.
Needs: LB, RB, WR
The Philadelphia Eagles are your defending Super Bowl Champions, but it’s not like they don’t have needs after the free agency market opened up. The Eagles need to find a feature back and Jay Ajayi isn’t the long answerterm. Philly has the talent to make another run at the Super Bowl and a solid running game can take pressure off of Carson Wentz as he returns from injury.
The Eagles should draft Darrius Guice as their feature back. With the 32nd overall pick you can go where ever you want, it doesn’t have to be need or best player available. Philly won’t even have to start Guice as they still do have Ajayi and can ease him in to an NFL career.
Next: Top 10 QBs in the 2018 NFL Draft
Guice has an explosion to his running style and was timed at 4.49 in the 40 yard dash at 5-foot-10 and 212 pounds. NFL.com grades Guice out as an instant starter and having another weapon on offense who averaged 6.5 yards per carry over his three-year college career gives the Eagles that explosive playmaker.