The 2018 NFL Draft is creeping closer, and now that the initial free agency and NFL trade flurry has passed, it's time to take another stab at mocking the first round of the draft.
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HERO Sports' Jim Oxley and Zach Prosba went back and forth mocking the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft — here's what they came up with:
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1. Cleveland Browns: Josh Allen, QB — Wyoming
Zach's Take: Allen fits the bill for an AFC North QB and can bide his time behind Tyrod Taylor as he prepares for the future.
COMPARE: Josh Allen to any player
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2. NY Giants: Saquon Barkley, RB — Penn State
Jim's Take: The Giants grab an instant playmaker in Barkley who can help build the foundation of what is likely to be a rebuild in the very near future.
COMPARE: Saquon Barkley to any player
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3. NY Jets (from Indy): Josh Rosen, QB — UCLA
Zach's Take: Darnold is still in play, but Rosen fits the bill of what the Jets need: swagger, ability, and potential.
COMPARE: Josh Rosen to any player
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4. Cleveland Browns (from Houston): Bradley Chubb, DE — NC State
Jim's Take: Cleveland uses its second pick on the best defensive lineman in the draft, giving them a bookend at defensive end with last year's No. 1 pick Myles Garrett.
OXLEY: Cleveland Browns Post-Trade 7-Round 2018 NFL Mock Draft
COMPARE: Bradley Chubb to any player
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5. Denver Broncos: Sam Darnold, QB — USC
Zach's Take: The Broncos could easily trade out of this slot, but grab the best value of the draft in a player many think is the best at his position.
COMPARE: Sam Darnold to any player
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6. Indianapolis Colts (from NY Jets): Quenton Nelson, OG — Notre Dame
Jim's Take: Many think Quenton Nelson is the best player in the draft, albeit at a position not highly valued. Indy grabs Nelson to help keep Andrew Luck upright for years to come.
COMPARE: Quenton Nelson to any player
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7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Derwin James, S — Florida State
Zach's Take: Tampa needs some big players in their secondary, and a local star such as James could make an instant impact roaming around.
COMPARE: Derwin James to any player
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8. Chicago Bears: Minkah Fitzpatrick, DB — Alabama
Jim's Take: The Bears add Fitzpatrick to a growing room of talented defensive backs to prepare for an NFC North that now features three huge arms.
COMPARE: Minkah FitzPatrick to any player
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9. San Francisco 49ers: Denzel Ward, CB — Ohio State
Zach's Take: The 49ers are a rising team and continue rising with the addition of the top corner in the draft. While a linebacker could be needed as well, the corner depth of instant impact players is not as big.
COMPARE: Denzel Ward to any player
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10. Oakland Raiders: Tremaine Edmunds, LB — Virginia Tech
Jim's Take: Oakland needs a linebacker, and Tremaine Edmunds gives them the versatility to use him in multiple ways.
COMPARE: Tremaine Edmunds to any player
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11. Miami Dolphins: Baker Mayfield, QB — Oklahoma
Zach's Take: Dolphins brass will be wrestling with this decision up until they are on the clock, seeing if they need to replace Ryan Tannehill. While Mayfield has some bust potential, Miami swings for the fences.
COMPARE: Baker Mayfield to any player
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12. Buffalo Bills (from Cincinnati): Lamar Jackson, QB — Louisville
Jim's Take: Buffalo probably will be trading up again from this spot to grab a quarterback, but we're not predicting trades in this mock so we'll send a QB their way.
COMPARE: Lamar Jackson to any player
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13. Washington Redskins: Vita Vea, DT — Washington
Zach's Take: After drafting Jonathan Allen from 'Bama last year, Washington dips back into the lineman pool with a pass rusher who can wreck the middle.
COMPARE: Vita Vea to any player
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14. Green Bay Packers: Josh Jackson, CB — Iowa
Jim's Take: The Packers needed defensive help and addressed the line in free agency with Muhammed Wilkerson. Signing Tramon Williams in free agency (he's 35 years old) isn't going to be the only move they make at corner this offseason.
COMPARE: Josh Jackson to any player
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15. Arizona Cardinals: Mike McGlinchey, OL — Notre Dame
Zach's Take: The Cardinals need a QB, but this would be a reach at this spot with the best ones off the board. Taking the best tackle in the draft will help them be able to slide in their future QB when they get one.
COMPARE: Mike McGlinchey to any player
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16. Baltimore Ravens: Calvin Ridley, WR — Alabama
Jim's Take: Baltimore signed Michael Crabtree in free agency, and add Calvin Ridley to try to recreate the best of the Amari Cooper-Michael Crabtree Raiders offense for the Ravens.
COMPARE: Calvin Ridley to any player
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17. LA Chargers: Leighton Vander Esch, LB — Boise State
Zach's Take: The Chargers need some playmakers on defense and LVE has been rising up the charts. A three-down middle linebacker, the former Bronco would be a day one starter for LA.
COMPARE: Leighton Vander Esch to any player
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18. Seattle Seahawks: Marcus Davenport, EDGE — UTSA
Jim's Take: Davenport on the board at 18 would be a steal for the Seahawks, who would love to get their hands on this mobile defender.
COMPARE: Marcus Davenport to any player
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19: Dallas Cowboys: Taven Bryan, DT — Florida
Zach's Take: Dallas could opt for a linebacker here, but a great pass rush masks deficiencies in the backfield. Pair Bryan with DeMarcus Lawrence and Dallas is in business.
COMPARE: Taven Bryan to Any Player
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20. Detroit Lions: Sam Hubbard, DE — Ohio State
Jim's Take: Hubbard is shooting up draft boards, and his lengthy frame is ideal for the Detroit defense.
COMPARE: Sam Hubbard to any player
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21. Cincinnati Bengals (from Buffalo): Isaiah Wynn, G — Georgia
Zach's Take: The Bengals got Cordy Glenn but still need line help. Wynn is an underappreciated prospect who could be a instant starter protecting Andy Dalton.
COMPARE: Isaiah Wynn to any player
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22. Buffalo Bills (from Kansas City): Roquan Smith, LB — Georgia
Jim's Take: Roquan Smith is still on the board? Yes, please.
COMPARE: Roquan Smith to any player
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23. LA Rams: Harold Landry, EDGE — Boston College
Zach's Take: The Rams beefed up their secondary over the last two years, now they add depth to the pass rush with one of the college game's best.
COMPARE: Harold Landry to any player
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24. Carolina Panthers: D.J. Moore, WR — Maryland
Jim's Take: Moore is another name shooting up draft boards after strong workouts. He could give Carolina another weapon for Cam Newton.
COMPARE: D.J. Moore to any player
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25. Tennessee Titans: Da'Ron Payne, DT — Alabama
Zach's Take: After getting rid of lineman Karl Klug, the Titans need to beef up their defensive front and do so with one of the best big bodies in the class.
COMPARE: Da'Ron Payne to any player
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26: Atlanta Falcons: Maurice Hurst, DT — Michigan
Jim's Take: Atlanta lost Dontari Poe in free agency and adds Hurst to replace him.
COMPARE: Maurice Hurst to any player
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27. New Orleans Saints: Mike Gesicki, TE — Penn State
Zach's Take: After losing out on bringing back Jimmy Graham, the Saints grab the best pass-catching tight end in the draft. The Nittany Lion star would be a red zone demon for Drew Brees' final years.
COMPARE: Mike Gesicki to any player
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28. Pittsburgh Steelers: Rashaan Evans, LB — Alabama
Jim's Take: The Steelers need to fill a linebacker spot after Ryan Shazier's unfortunate injury.
COMPARE: Rashaan Evans to any player
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29. Jacksonville Jaguars: Kolton Miller, OT — UCLA
Zach's Take: The Jags need a QB but this is too early. Miller is an athletic tackle who could provide depth early in his career and challenge Cam Robinson.
COMPARE: Kolton Miller to any player
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30. Minnesota Vikings: Mike Hughes, CB — UCF
Jim's Take: Offensive line is probably a bigger need, but a potential impact corner is on the board — the value is better.
COMPARE: Mike Hughes to any player
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31. New England Patriots: Orlando Brown, OT — Oklahoma
Zach's Take: Brown is starting to creep back up the draft boards after his pro day showing, and manages to make it into the back of the first round. A player who could be an instant starter with his technique, Belichick will get the best out of him.
COMPARE: Orlando Brown to any player
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32. Philadelphia Eagles: Lorenzo Carter, EDGE — Georgia
Jim's Take: Philly saw a lot of success last season with its rotation on the defensive line. They lost Vinny Curry to free agency, but Carter could immediately step into the rotation.
COMPARE: Lorenzo Carter to any player
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