The 2018 NFL Draft is creeping closer, and now NFL teams have NFL Draft Combine data to add to the film they've already got on prospects. How does that change the 2018 NFL 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: Sam Darnold, QB — USC
Jim's Take: The Browns traded for Tyrod Taylor, but with the luxury of two top-5 picks in this draft will still likely be looking to draft a franchise quarterback. Here they take a chance on the USC signal caller, hoping he can be the future of the position.
COMPARE: Sam Darnold to any player
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2. NY Giants: Saquon Barkley, RB — Penn State
Zach's Take: The Giants get the gift of the draft after the Browns try yet again at QB. Barkley takes immediate pressure off of Eli, and can give the Giants their first premier back since Tiki Barber.
COMPARE: Saquon Barkley to any player
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3. Indianapolis Colts: Bradley Chubb, DE — NC State
Jim's Take: The Colts can go a couple different positions here, and trading back is a definite possibility. Instead, they take Chubb, who isn't an elite pass rusher, but is a very good all-around defensive end who can hold a starting spot for a long time.
COMPARE: Bradley Chubb to any player
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4. Cleveland Browns (from Houston): Minkah Fitzpatrick, DB — Alabama
Zach's Take: The Browns went quarterback first overall, leaving them with options at four. This spot will likely be open for business for trades, but since we are staying put for now, we take the best defensive back in the draft and put him near Lake Erie.
COMPARE: Minkah FitzPatrick to any player
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5. Denver Broncos: Josh Rosen, QB — UCLA
Jim's Take: Denver has yet to make a move in the offseason for a quarterback, and until they do, it seems like quarterback is definitely a top option here. With their pick of the board (outside of Darnold), they go with Josh Rosen, who has arguably the best combination of skills at the position.
COMPARE: Josh Rosen to any player
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6. NY Jets: Josh Allen, QB — Wyoming
Zach's Take: The Jets need a quarterback at the moment, and this could all change if they win the Kirk Cousins sweepstakes. Allen will need some seasoning, but he has a great arm and could be the potential heir to the AFC East throne after Tom Brady retires.
COMPARE: Josh Allen to any player
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7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Denzel Ward, CB — Ohio State
Jim's Take: Tampa Bay could set up their long term future at corner by adding Ward to 2016 first-round selection Vernon Hargreaves.
COMPARE: Denzel Ward to any player
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8. Chicago Bears: Calvin Ridley, WR — Alabama
Zach's Take: The Bears could look at defensive back here, but the lack of receivers did not help Mitchell Trubisky survive the trial by fire last season. Matt Nagy's new offense gets jolted with the premier wideout of the draft.
COMPARE: Calvin Ridley to any player
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9. San Francisco 49ers: Quenton Nelson, OG — Notre Dame
Jim's Take: San Francisco has the option to fill a couple major needs here at guard or defensive end, but chooses guard with Nelson, who's considered by some one of the best players in the draft, if it is at a position that's not regularly drafted early.
COMPARE: Quenton Nelson to any player
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10. Oakland Raiders: Roquan Smith, LB — Georgia
Zach's Take: The Raiders just need help all over the defense. Khalil Mack gains a partner in the front seven who can stuff the run and blitz at times to create another potential threat in the AFC West.
COMPARE: Roquan Smith to any player
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11. Miami Dolphins: Baker Mayfield, QB — Oklahoma
Jim's Take: Is Miami set on Ryan Tannehill as their quarterback of the future? Injured or not, it certainly wasn't a sure thing. Mayfield to Miami could be the first of many moves by teams to draft a quarterback even though they have some stability at the position.
COMPARE: Baker Mayfield to any player
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12. Cincinnati Bengals: Mike McGlinchey, OL — Notre Dame
Zach's Take: The Bengals made a mistake in losing Andrew Whitworth last year, and paid for it with the poor play of Andy Dalton. Protect Dalton, and Cincy could get back to the playoffs with other improvements.
COMPARE: Mike McGlinchey to any player
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13. Washington Redskins: Vita Vea, DT — Washington
Jim's Take: Washington has a need on the defensive line, and Vea presents an intriguing option. The DL goes from Washington (state) to Washington (D.C.) to begin his NFL career.
COMPARE: Vita Vea to any player
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14. Green Bay Packers: Marcus Davenport, EDGE — UTSA
Zach's Take: Much like the Raiders, Green Bay needs defensive help all over. They take the best remaining edge rusher to give them their first true threat since Clay Matthew's best years – which have gone by.
COMPARE: Marcus Davenport to any player
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15. Arizona Cardinals: Connor Williams, OT — Texas
Jim's Take: In this mock draft scenario, the Cardinals have a choice to make — grab Lamar Jackson, Mason Rudolph, or another quarterback prospect outside the generally considered top-4 surefire first round picks, or grab a player at a position that can help a free agent they sign. They do the latter.
COMPARE: Connor Williams to any player
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16. Baltimore Ravens: Lamar Jackson, QB — Louisville
Zach's Take: This might be surprise, but think of this like the Chiefs last year. The Joe Flacco/John Harbaugh era has now gone on for a decade, and it has one Super Bowl and nothing else. Not making the playoffs in the last three years puts both on the hot seat, and they take the eventual replacement for Flacco.
COMPARE: Lamar Jackson to any player
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17. LA Chargers: Tremaine Edmunds, EDGE — Virginia Tech
Jim's Take: The Chargers have more of a need at inside linebacker than outside linebacker, but Edmunds is versatile and an athletic freak and much too good of a player to pass up at this point in the draft.
COMPARE: Tremaine Edmunds to any player
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18. Seattle Seahawks: Derwin James, S — Florida State
Zach's Take: James is one of the best players in the draft who slides due to the run on quarterbacks. He will fit in perfectly with the Seahawks as they look to create another Legion of Boom following the departure of Richard Sherman and potential loss of Kam Chancellor.
COMPARE: Derwin James to any player
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19: Dallas Cowboys: Da'Ron Payne, DT — Alabama
Jim's Take: The Cowboys are a piece away from building a dominant defensive line. Da'Ron Payne could be that missing piece.
COMPARE: Da'Ron Payne to any player
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20. Detroit Lions: Jaire Alexander, CB — Louisville
Zach's Take: Alexander was a Combine standout who vaults his way into the first round on big numbers. The Lions need o-line help, but get a better value with the former Cardinal.
COMPARE: Jaire Alexander to Any Player
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21. Buffalo Bills: Taven Bryan, DT — Florida
Jim's Take: With the first of their back-to-back picks, the Bills address the defensive line. Marcell Dareus was traded to Jacksonville and with the impending free agency of Kyle Williams, it's a big-time need.
COMPARE: Taven Bryan to Any Player
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22. Buffalo Bills (from Kansas City): James Daniels, C — Iowa
Zach's Take: Buffalo lost Eric Wood to a career-ending injury, and get a plug-and-play center to replace him. Daniels is one of the more technically refined linemen in the draft, and could be a future Pro Bowler.
COMPARE: James Daniels to Any Player
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23. LA Rams: Harold Landry, EDGE — Boston College
Jim's Take: L.A. is on fire right now this offseason, dealing players and picks left and right. After adding Aqib Talib and dealing Alec Ogletree, the Rams could use help more in the linebacking corps than in the defensive backfield.
COMPARE: Harold Landry to any player
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24. Carolina Panthers: Courtland Sutton, WR — SMU
Zach's Take: Carolina did trade for Torrey Smith, but they need more weapons for Cam Newton to work with. Sutton can be a key third or fourth receiver and grow into a premier option on the outside.
COMPARE: Courtland Sutton to Any Player
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25. Tennessee Titans: Josh Jackson, CB — Iowa
Jim's Take: The Titans just drafted Adoree Jackson in the first round last year, but could dig into the corner well once again with Josh Jackson, who could form terrifying Jackson CB duo with Adoree.
COMPARE: Josh Jackson to any player
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26: Atlanta Falcons: Will Hernandez, OG — UTEP
Zach's Take: Guard is the weakest spot on the entire Falcons' roster, and they fill it with one of the best interior linemen of the class. Hernandez may have played at a small school, but his talent will definitely make him a big addition.
COMPARE: Will Hernandez to Any Player
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27. New Orleans Saints: Dallas Goedert, TE — South Dakota State
Jim's Take: New Orleans might have just one or two years left with Drew Brees. Instead of drafting a potential future replacement, why not give him one more weapon — one who can also block for Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara — to make a run at the Super Bowl.
COMPARE: Dallas Goedert to Any Player
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28. Pittsburgh Steelers: Rashaan Evans, LB — Alabama
Zach's Take: The unfortunate injury to Ryan Shazier forces the Steelers to find a new middle linebacker to captain their defense. While Evans has an injury history, he has the speed and coverage abilities that Shazier had, just not to the Pro Bowl levels.
COMPARE: Rashaan Evans to any player
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29. Jacksonville Jaguars: Mike Gesicki, TE — Penn State
Jim's Take: Blake Bortles was signed to a long-term deal, and the QB desperately needs weapons in the receiving game, especially if Allen Robinson and/or Marqise Lee end up elsewhere in free agency. Gesicki is arguably the best receiving tight end in the draft, and could be a security blanket for Bortles.
COMPARE: Mike Gesicki to Any Player
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30. Minnesota Vikings: Maurice Hurst, DT — Michigan
Zach's Take: A heart condition may force Hurst to fall, but his talent is undeniable. An interior pass rush to go with Anthony Barr and Everson Griffen makes the Vikings even more dangerous on the defensive side.
COMPARE: Maurice Hurst to any player
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31. New England Patriots: Harrison Phillips, DT — Stanford
Jim's Take: The Patriots are likely going to be big players in free agency this year to rebuild some key parts of the defense, but they can fill one hole with Harrison Phillips, who put up some big numbers at the combine (42 reps on the bench to lead all participants).
COMPARE: Harrison Phillips to any player
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32. Philadelphia Eagles: Christian Kirk, WR — Texas A&M
Zach's Take: Philly traded away Torrey Smith to shed some cap space, and replace him with another home run hitter on the outside. He just lacks the height that Smith brought.
COMPARE: Christian Kirk to Any Player
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