The NFL Draft is not and never will be an exact science. Sometimes, all it takes is the right situation.
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Over the years we've seen mortal locks fail miserably, players come out of nowhere to make the Hall of Fame, and those who just toil away before landing somewhere after their rookie contract — and then blowing up. The right fit in the right place can make all the difference in the world. We've already listed the ideal picks for each franchise. To flip the exercise, we dove into discovering where would be the ideal fit for the top 20 NFL prospects. Some of the answers may surprise you.
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Bradley Chubb, DE — North Carolina State
New York Giants
While it remains to be seen what the Giants will do with the second pick, Chubb would absolutely flourish in New York. When you combine the Giants' storied defensive line history combined with the attention being deflected to the ongoing saga of Eli Manning's impending (?) retirement and Odell Beckham, Jr., Chubb can have free rein to run amok. Even if he needed time to settle in, the Giants have so many other publicity issues, Chubb would be an afterthought.
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Sam Darnold, QB — USC
Buffalo Bills
It would be shocking if Darnold dropped all the way to Buffalo at number 12. Who knows, though, Buffalo might trade up for the chance to get Darnold. If they do, it would be a match made in heaven. New offensive coordinator Brian Daboll would run something similar to what Darnold experienced at USC.
Give the priority of touches to All-Pro LeSean McCoy while keeping defenses honest with short and intermediate passes to a variety of options. Before Daboll joined Buffalo, he was the offensive coordinator for Alabama and part of New England's high-powered offense. He is the perfect guy to help Darnold take that next step.
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Josh Rosen, QB — UCLA
Arizona Cardinals
Rosen has tried to make it — subtly — clear, he wants no part in Cleveland. Who can blame him? While many expect him to go to the Giants or the Jets, the best fit for him would actually be Arizona. The Cardinals have the ultimate leader in Larry Fitzgerald who would take young Rosen under his wing and turn him into a professional.
Combine Fitzgerald with the return of David Johnson and Rosen has all the tools to succeed. The weather would also be much more akin to his liking, growing up in beautiful Manhattan Beach and playing his college ball at the equally beautiful, UCLA.
COMPARE: Darnold vs. Rosen
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Josh Allen, QB — Wyoming
Indianapolis Colts
I'm well aware that there's already a franchise quarterback in tow in Indy, but the fact that Luck has only progressed to throwing mini footballs at this point has to be concerning. Allen is known for his unique arm strength but still has much to learn at the position. He would benefit greatly from learning under Frank Reich who was instrumental in the development of Carson Wentz and Nick Foles' re-emergence this year.
If Luck comes back, Allen would be fortunate to learn from one of the best in the game, before he is ultimately dealt for a first-round pick, but still given time to grow.
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Saquon Barkley, RB — Penn State
San Francisco 49ers
There is not a more ideal situation for Barkley to enter than to be teamed up with Kyle Shanahan, Jimmy Garoppolo and Jerick McKinnon. The similarities between this 2018 team and the 2016 Atlanta Falcons team that was one of the best offenses, ever, would be striking. The 9ers also have one of the best left tackles in the game — Joe Staley — and a player like McKinnon who can shoulder some of the workload, especially on third downs.
It would bear resemblance to the Devonta Freeman–Tevin ColemanTevin Coleman dynamic duo down south. In Freeman's two years with Shanahan, he scored 27 touchdowns.
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Baker Mayfield, QB — Oklahoma
Cleveland Browns
Would Mayfield being selected by the Browns cause some Clevelanders to have flashbacks to a certain quarterback from Texas A&M, maybe. Having said that, Mayfield would bring a certain kind of swagger and confidence to Cleveland that would infect the Browns like a virus.
Cleveland has had two winning seasons since the "new" Browns took effect back in 1999. They don't need a quarterback, they need a exorcist culture change. Mayfield went from walk-on to a Heisman trophy winner. He has the mental and physical make-up to be that player for Cleveland.
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Lamar Jackson, QB — Louisville
Jacksonville Jaguars
While many first-round talents have spent the months since their college football careers ended trying to increase their respective draft status, Jackson has been forced to prove he can play quarterback. Let me rephrase that. The 2016 Heisman Trophy Winner has to prove he can play quarterback at the next level.
Going to a place like Jacksonville would be the perfect scenario. It would allow him to grow and be groomed while Blake Bortles stumbles through another season. When Jackson's number is called give him the opportunity to truly succeed with a defense that is capable of widening the margin error for a rookie quarterback.
He would be compared to Bortles which is not a tall task and the freedom to do what he does best at the position. Not only that, the people of Jacksonville would absolutely love the kid from their home state and the athletic skills he brings to the table.
COMPARE: Jackson vs. Mayfield
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Calvin Ridley, WR — Alabama
Carolina Panthers
Have you ever had a friend who just went from bad relationship to bad relationship? Then once they found a good person, they latched onto them like the leaches from "Stand By Me?" That would be Cam Newton and Calvin Ridley. Newton has not had a number one receiver since Steve Smith went to Baltimore. Ridley would get all the passes and all the love that follows. Let's just hope Newton does not pass any fashion tips to Ridley in the process.
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Marcus Davenport, EDGE — UTSA
Los Angeles Rams
Davenport is a raw talent with unbelievable ability. If you put him under Wade Phillips tutelage, he might be in the Pro Bowl after his rookie season. Should he get to learn from Aaron Donald, Ndamukong Suh, Aqib Talib and Marcus Peters, the sky is the limit. No young defensive player could do much better than to have those players and Phillips as the defensive coordinator to succeed.
COMPARE: Chubb vs. Davenport
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Quenton Nelson, OG — Notre Dame
Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks are so desperate for linemen to protect Russell Wilson, owner Paul Allen may offer Microsoft stock options to incentivize the best offensive lineman in the game. Nelson will get free Starbucks, free Amazon Prime, free Nordstrom shopping spree and probably a free Boeing jet should he come to Seattle. They need good line-play that bad.
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Denzel Ward, CB — Ohio State
Green Bay Packers
New defensive coordinator Mike Pettine is credited with helping to turn Darrelle Revis from a good cornerback into Revis Island. It would be too much to compare Ward to Revis, but having the same coach there to help along the way can't hurt.
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Derwin James, S — Florida State
New England Patriots
Bill Belichick has been called a lot of things over his career, some good, some not so much. What can't be argued is that the man is a defensive genius. Give him someone like James, a guy who can play all over the field and guard almost any skilled position across the board, and you can imagine Belichick sitting in his office laughing to himself thinking of all the different ways he would utilize such a unique player.
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Roquan Smith, LB — Georgia
Oakland Raiders
Roquan Smith is an old school linebacker who will lower the crown of his helmet, dominate the ball-carrier and pay the fine. John Gruden is just as old school, and will love having a guy who will share that passion for inflicting pain. Won't be bad for Smith to share the defensive side of the ball with all-everything Khalil Mack.
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Minkah Fitzpatrick, DB — Alabama
Chicago Bears
Fitzpatrick is arguably the best defensive back prospect and can play either corner or safety. Vic Fangio's defense was one of the few bright spots on Chicago. Fitzpatrick would fit in nicely and help solidify an emerging squad in the NFC North.
COMPARE: Fitzpatrick vs. Ward
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Tremaine Edmunds, LB — Virginia Tech
Pittsburgh Steelers
Whether you refer to them as "Blitzburgh" or not, there's one thing that is almost guaranteed, Pittsburgh loves its linebackers. If Edmunds was to somehow end up in "Black and Yellow" that city would embrace him like a Primanti Bros. sandwich.
COMPARE: Smith vs. Edmunds
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Vita Vea, DT — Washington
Miami Dolphins
It has to be a dream come true for Vea to get a chance to fill the shoes of Suh on the defensive line for Miami. Even better for the Dolphins who replace one stout interior defensive lineman with another one — only younger — and without the extracurricular activities.
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Leighton Vander Esch, LB — Boise State
Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore loves its defensive players. For Vander Esch, an opportunity to play with Terrell Suggs and wear the same black and purple that Ray Lewis did — and follow that tradition. Hard to not love that opportunity.
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Christian Kirk, WR — Texas A&M
Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys have been searching for a wide receiver to line up opposite or next to Dez BryantDez Bryant since Bryant entered the league in 2010. Kirk would be the perfect compliment, and would carry with him an embedded fan base from his days playing down the road (a very long road) in College Station.
Unlike most first-round receivers, Kirk would not be expected to be a number one guy, but would rather face single coverage due to Bryant and running back Ezekiel Elliott. A perfect combination to be productive. Bryant, Kirk, Elliot and Dak Prescott would be one heck of a skills unit.
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Mike Hughes, CB — Central Florida
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Hughes landing fewer than a hundred miles away from where he played his college ball would be put him in an incredible position. Tampa Bay's front seven will be one of the best in the league, allowing Hughes to make some mistakes due to the pressure that will undoubtedly come opposing quarterback's ways.
Also due to some off-the-field issues, having veterans like Vinny Curry, Gerald McCoy, Jason Pierre-Paul, Lavonte David and fellow cornerback Brent Grimes to keep him in check, will be a nice insurance policy.
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Dallas Goedert, TE — South Dakota State
New Orleans Saints
Drew. Christopher. Brees.
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