It's never too early to start looking at how the 2018 NFL Draft could play out. Needs are becoming more and more evident for NFL teams throughout the league as injuries and inconsistencies mount.
Here's a look at how teams could attack the 2018 NL Draft after week 11 of the college football season (Draft order inverse of league standings after 10 games).
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1. Browns (0-10)
The pick: Josh Rosen, QB – UCLA
Cleveland has to keep trying to land their franchise QB. They've missed or passed on opportunities to land quarterbacks Jared Goff, Carson Wentz, and Deshaun Watson in just the past two seasons, and can't afford to draft a QB later than the first round.
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2. 49ers (1-9)
The pick: Saquon Barkley, RB — Penn State
San Francisco seems to have landed their QB of the future in trading for Jimmy Garoppolo from the Patriots. Now they can add a dynamic playmaker like Saquon Barkley to a backfield that already features the bruising Carlos Hyde. We've seen how god New Orleans has been with the combination of Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara — could this duo be just as good?
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3. Giants (2-8)
The pick: Sam Darnold, QB — USC
New York has been one of the biggest disappointments in the NFL this season, but the bad season allows them to go out and land Eli Manning's eventual replacement. Whether they move on from Manning next season or decide to try to sit Darnold for a season is a decision for another time.
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4. Colts (3-7)
The pick: Connor Williams, OT — Texas
Indianapolis has struggled mightily without Andrew Luck (although Jacoby Brissett has been better than expected) but even with their star quarterback, how good would the Colts have been? Protecting Luck has to be priority No. 1, and Williams helps do that.
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5. Broncos (3-7)
The pick: Mike McGlinchey, OT — Notre Dame
The Broncos have also struggled through mediocre quarterback play this season, and the offensive line hasn't helped. McGlinchey goes to the Broncos in a draft that's top-heavy with offensive tackle talent.
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6. Bears (3-7)
The pick: Calvin Ridley, WR — Alabama
Chicago went out and got their QB of the future in Mitchell Trubisky last season in the draft, and this year they get him his wide receiver. Six might be a little high for the Alabama product, but he's got the goods to be one the best receiver in this class.
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7. Jets (4-6)
The pick: Josh Allen, QB — Wyoming
The Jets are in the same boat as the Browns right now, if not for some minor success with "band-aid" veteran quarterbacks. They need to find a guy they can count on for years to come — could Allen be that?
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8. Dolphins (4-6)
The pick: Bradley Chubb, DE — NC State
Miami sees Bradley Chubb literally fall into their lap in this scenario. Chubb is a top-5 talent and will make defensive coordinators beg their GM's to select him.
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9. Bengals (4-6)
The pick: Minkah FitzPatrick, DB — Alabama
Minkah FitzPatrick is an impact player in the defensive backfield, and like Chubb in front of him, feels like a steal at No. 9. Cincinnati could use some more youth in the defensive backfield.
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10. Texans (4-6)
The pick: Quenton Nelson, OG — Notre Dame
While Deshaun Watson's injury was disheartening for Texans fans, Houston can start to plan for the future by drafting an offensive lineman to protect him for years to come. Quenton Nelson has helped himself this season by paving the way for Josh Adams to have a big year, and it looks like the big fella is headed for a top-10 draft spot.
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11. Chargers (4-6)
The pick: Christian Wilkins, DT — Clemson
The Chargers can add another piece to a defensive line that already features a young star in Joey Bosa and veterans Melvin Ingram and Brandon Mebane, as well as breakout defensive end Darius Philon. It's not a position of great need, but Wilkins will be tough to pass on.
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12. Raiders (4-6)
The pick: Rashaan Evans, ILB — Alabama
The Raiders added Navorro Bowman this season, but the aging linebacker won't be around forever. Rashaan Evans can provide stability on the inside immediately and help improve a front seven that already has some excellent pieces.
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13. Redskins (4-6)
The pick: Derwin James, S, Florida State
Washington's pass defense is in the bottom third in the league right now in terms of yards allowed. Adding Derwin James would give them a versatile playmaker who can help at all levels of the defense.
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14. Buccaneers (4-6)
The pick: Arden Key, EDGE — LSU
Tampa Bay's pass rush has been poor. Wait, poor is the wrong word….it's been awful. The Bucs are tied for second to last with just 15 sacks through 10 games, so adding an EDGE defender like Arden Key would immediately put a talented player next to Gerald McCoy on the defensive line.
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15. Cardinals (4-6)
The pick: Orlando Brown, OT — Oklahoma
Arizona would love to get its hands on one of the top QBs in this class, but will need to trade up to do so. Instead, they solidify the offensive line to keep things flowing in the right direction for David Johnson and help keep Carson Palmer on his feet for another season.
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16. Bills (5-5)
The pick: Christian Kirk, WR — Texas A&M
Buffalo could use a do-it-all wide receiver to go along with their do-it-all running back LeSean McCoy. Kirk is an explosive playmaker who
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17. Ravens (5-5)
The pick: Harold Landry, OLB — Boston College
Harold Landry is a beast on the outside and feels like a perfect fit for Baltimore's linebacker scheme.
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18. Cowboys (5-5)
The pick: Da’Ron Payne, DT — Alabama
Dallas' front seven has a couple of holes in it — Da'Ron Payne would fill those holes with a very large 6-foot-2, 300-plus pound frame.
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19. Packers (5-5)
The pick: Clelin Ferrell, DE — Clemson
Green Bay's defense was exposed even more this season without Aaron Rodgers to keep the Packers in games. The Packers have a young secondary that would benefit mightily from a big-time pass rusher.
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20. Falcons (6-4)
The pick: Denzel Ward, CB — Ohio State
Atlanta has struggled on offense this season, but the defense isn't perfect either. Adding a corner from a school that has produced a few good ones lately is always a good idea.
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21. Titans (6-4)
The pick: Maurice Hurst, DT — Michigan
Tennessee could add some beef on the defensive front seven and Mo Hurst has been as good as they come this season.
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22. Chiefs (6-4)
The pick: Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, DE — Oklahoma
Kansas City could add another talented EDGE defender to an already impressive group of defensive ends and outside backers. Okoronkwo is more likely suited for linebacker than defensive end because of his size, but he has the chance to be special.
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23. Lions (6-4)
The pick: Bryce Love, RB — Stanford
Detroit hasn't had a 1,000-yard rusher since Reggie Bush eclipsed the number by six yards in 2013. Bryce Love is a bell cow the Lions could lean on.
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24. Seahawks (6-4)
The pick: Chukwuma Okorafor, OT — Western Michigan
Seattle traded for Duane Brown but their offensive line troubles are far from over. Enter Okorafor from Western Michigan, who can get into the starting rotation immediately.
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25. Jaguars (7-3)
The pick: Baker Mayfield, QB — Oklahoma
Jacksonville is faced with a decision — overpay massively for Blake Bortles or move on. If they decide to do the latter, they could take a chance on likely Heisman winner Baker Mayfield.
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26. Panthers (7-3)
The pick: Cameron Smith, LB — USC
The Panthers defense has been downright bad when Luke Kuechly isn't on the field. Cameron Smith has the makings of an immediate starter and could help out the Panther D right away.
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27. Rams (7-3)
The pick: Sam Hubbard, DE — Ohio State
L.A. oddly doesn't have a ton of holes. I know, weird, right? Sam Hubbard is one of the best players available at this point, and would make for a nice addition in the front seven.
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28. Patriots (8-2)
The pick: Isaiah Oliver, CB — Colorado
New England has solved some schematic problems on defense, but could still use some more talent in the defensive secondary. Isaiah Oliver is the next in a line of Colorado CB's to head to the next level.
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29. Steelers (8-2)
The pick: Courtland Sutton, WR — SMU
Pittsburgh has had a bevvy of offensive weapons for the past few years and they keep adding to them with this pick. Assuming Martavis Bryant is no longer a Steeler at some point in the near future, Antonio Brown and JuJu Smith-Schuster are joined by Sutton for a fearsome trio.
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30. Vikings (8-2)
The pick: Martinas Rankin, OT — Mississippi State
The Vikings have a bunch of injured players expected to return next season, including Dalvin Cook and potentially Teddy Bridgewater, if he doesn't return yet in 2017. Minnesota always seems to need help on the offensive line — insert Rankin.
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31. Saints (8-2)
The pick: Vita Vea, DT — Washington
The Saints traded away Brandin Cooks and still have one of the most explosive offenses in the league.They could still use some help on defense, and Vea is a monster.
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32. Eagles (9-1)
The pick: Tarvarus Mcfadden, CB — Florida State
Philly has been the most impressive team in 2017. They could go a number of different ways with this pick — adding another wide receiver or adding an offensive lineman. But they grab Florida State defender Tarvarus Mcfadden to beef up the secondary.
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