The 2018 NFL Draft is still a few months away, but there's no time like the present to debate the potential draft results.
[divider]COMPARE:
NFL Teams | NFL Players
College Teams | College Players[divider]
How does the board shake out as we head into the Super Bowl?
Here's a look:
[divider]
1. Cleveland: Sam Darnold, QB – USC
Cleveland holds the top pick of the draft, and at this point in the process Sam Darnold is considered by most the top quarterback prospect. It wouldn't be surprising to see Cleveland try to trade this pick considering they have the No. 4 pick and would likely still be able to get one of the top three quarterbacks in the draft, but they need to take a stance and draft a QB.
COMPARE: Sam Darnold to any player
[divider]
2. NY Giants: Saquon Barkley, RB — Penn State
In this scenario the Giants are either rolling with Eli Manning for another year or have dealt him and signed another free agent quarterback, say Kirk Cousins. They give him a dual threat running back to add to the weapons at wide receiver.
COMPARE: Saquon Barkley to any player
[divider]
3. Indianapolis: Bradley Chubb, DE — NC State
Bradley Chubb, arguably the best player in the draft, falls to No. 3 and the Indianapolis Colts, who will also get Andrew Luck back from injury next season.
COMPARE: Bradley Chubb to any player
[divider]
4. Cleveland (via HOU): Minkah FitzPatrick, DB — Alabama
Cleveland adds to their haul by grabbing the best defensive back on the board with the No. 4 pick. They continue to add good, young players to the team. Now, they just need to put it all together — from the roster to the coaches to the front office — to turn around a franchise that's been downright awful for years.
COMPARE: Minkah FitzPatrick to any player
[divider]
5. Denver: Josh Allen, QB — Wyoming
Did John Elway and the Broncos' coaching staff like what they saw from Allen and Baker Mayfield, who they coached in the senior bowl? Allen impressed in the game, and goes off the board to Denver here.
COMPARE: Josh Allen to any player
[divider]
6. NY Jets: Josh Rosen, QB — UCLA
New York has had a mess at QB for awhile, and can't keep hoping to get an above average season out of an aging veteran. They grab Josh Rosen, who the New York media will love.
COMPARE: Josh Rosen to any player
[divider]
7. Tampa Bay: Marcus Davenport, DE — UTSA
Davenport is flying up draft boards after a strong showing in the Senior Bowl, and has established himself as the best defensive end in the draft not named Bradley Chubb. Line him up next to Gerald McCoy and see what happens.
COMPARE: Marcus Davenport to any player
[divider]
8. Chicago: Denzel Ward, CB — Ohio State
The Bears addressed offense with their first pick last season, and add to the defense this year. The Bears retained the services of Vic Fangio, the most sought after defensive coordinator this off-season, and Fangio would love to put Ward to work.
COMPARE: Denzel Ward to any player
[divider]
9. San Francisco: Connor Williams, OT — Texas
The 49ers landed their QB of the future, Jimmy Garoppolo, last year in a trade with New England. Now it's time to protect him.
COMPARE: Connor Williams to any player
[divider]
10. Oakland: Roquan Smith, LB — Georgia
Roquan Smith just feels like a linebacker Jon Gruden can't wait to coach up in his return to the NFL.
COMPARE: Roquan Smith to any player
[divider]
11. Miami: Quenton Nelson, OG — Notre Dame
Miami is a piece or two away from a really solid offensive line, and Quenton Nelson will help the team prepare for Ryan Tannehill's return.
COMPARE: Quenton Nelson to any player
[divider]
12. Cincinnati: Vita Vea, DL — Washington
Domata Peko was a stalwart on the Cincinnati defensive line for a decade since he was drafted in 2006, but his absence was noted last season. Vea can take his place and beef up the defensive line.
COMPARE: Vita Vea to any player
[divider]
13. Washington: Baker Mayfield, QB — Oklahoma
Like we noted above, this mock draft is operating under the situation that sees Kirk Cousins sign elsewhere (potentially the Giants). The Redskins need to draft a QB who can play right away, and Mayfield has had time to develop, although he's far from a perfect product.
COMPARE: Baker Mayfield to any player
[divider]
14. Green Bay: Calvin Ridley, WR — Alabama
The Packers haven't selected a wide receiver in the first round since 2002 (Javon Walker, 20th overall), when Ted Thompson was not yet the general manager. With Thompson no longer in charge, does new GM Brian Gutenkunst take a shot at a wide receiver who can pair with Davante Adams and help ease the burden on an aging Jordy Nelson?
COMPARE: Calvin Ridley to any player
[divider]
15. Arizona: Josh Jackson, CB — Iowa
The Cardinals have a dilemma on their hands, as they need a quarterback but can't expect to draft one of the top guys at 15. They're an ideal candidate to move up in the draft, but if they stay at this spot they could do what they've done well in the past, draft a talented cornerback.
COMPARE: Josh Jackson to any player
[divider]
16. Baltimore: Orlando Brown, OT — Oklahoma
Baltimore lost Rick Wagner after the 2016 season in free agency, and Austin Howard was average in his place. Brown wouldn't need to be an immediate starter, but could be a long term answer for the Ravens.
COMPARE: Orlando Brown to any player
[divider]
17. LA Chargers: Da'Ron Payne, DL — Alabama
The Chargers are a year away from both Brandon Mebane and Damion Square hitting free agency. They can get ahead by adding Payne to the mix now, giving them the ability to focus on one of their interior defenders next offseason.
COMPARE: Da'Ron Payne to any player
[divider]
18. Seattle: Derwin James, DB — Florida State
It seems unlikely Seattle drafts at No. 18 as they're typically a trade-back type of team, but we'll go with the best prospect at a position of need, which is easily Derwin James, once thought of as a top-10 pick.
COMPARE: Derwin James to any player
[divider]
19. Dallas: Maurice Hurst, DL — Michigan
The Cowboys could use some depth on the interior of the defensive line, and Hurst is the best available at this point.
COMPARE: Maurice Hurst to any player
[divider]
20. Detroit: Mike Hughes, CB — UCF
The Lions could be thin at cornerback because of free agency (both Nevin Lawson and DJ Hayden are both free agents), and can add Hughes to last year's second-round pick Jalen Tabor to continue the rebuild of the position.
COMPARE: Mike Hughes to any player
[divider]
21. Buffalo: Christian Kirk, WR — Texas A&M
Buffalo could use a burner to pair with Kelvin Benjamin, and Christian Kirk does NOT lack for speed.
COMPARE: Christian Kirk to any player
[divider]
22. Buffalo (via KC): Mason Rudolph, QB — Oklahoma State
With their second pick in the first round the Bills take their potential quarterback of the future, choosing Mason Rudolph over Lamar Jackson.
[divider]
23. LA Rams: Tremaine Edmunds, EDGE — Virginia Tech
Edmunds is expected to be a combine monster. The Rams grab the rusher as he's the best player available at this point in the draft.
COMPARE: Tremaine Edmunds to any player
[divider]
24. Carolina: Courtland Sutton, WR — SMU
Carolina continues to build up their firepower, adding Sutton to a group of playmakers that includes Christian McCaffrey and Devin Funchess.
COMPARE: Courtland Sutton to any player
[divider]
25. Tennessee: Harold Landry, EDGE — Boston College
Tennessee adds a talented edge rusher in Boston College's Harold Landry to a defense who's best edge defender last season was 31-year-old Brian Orakpo.
COMPARE: Harold Landry to any player[divider]
26. Atlanta: Mike McGlinchey, OT — Notre Dame
Atlanta could use some help on the offensive line with multiple starters hitting free agency in a year (Jake Matthews and Andy Levitre). McGlinchey had some injuries this season, but is considered one of the top linemen in the draft.
COMPARE: Mike McGlinchey to any player
[divider]
27. New Orleans: Billy Price, C — Ohio State
Could New Orleans spend another first rounder on a lineman after drafting Ryan Ramczyk last year? The fans probably wouldn't love it, but with the tandem of Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara as well as possibly one last year with Drew Brees, the offense is already special and could benefit from added depth on the line. Price played three years of guard and one at center in college, so he can move all over the line.
COMPARE: Billy Price to any player
[divider]
28. Pittsburgh: Rashaan Evans, LB — Alabama
Pittsburgh has a hole to fill in the linebacker rotation, and Evans looks like a potential day one starter in the NFL.
COMPARE: Rashaan Evans to any player
[divider]
29. Jacksonville: Lamar Jackson, QB — Louisville
Does Jacksonville sign Blake Bortles to a long term contract after the Jags went to the AFC Championship? Or do they move on and look to the future? It's anyone's guess, but they could take a shot on the Louisville QB and ride out the last year of Bortles' contract.
COMPARE: Lamar Jackson to any player
[divider]
30. Minnesota: Chukwuma Okorafor, OL — Western Michigan
The Vikings don't have a ton of holes on their roster, but could use help on the offensive line as they look to get Dalvin Cook back from injury.
COMPARE: Chukwuma Okorafor to any player
[divider]
31. Philadelphia: Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, LB — Oklahoma
Another team without a ton of needs, one spot that could use some extra help is at linebacker, and Okoronkwo lived in the backfield last year.
COMPARE: Ogbonnia Okoronkwo vs. any player
[divider]
32. New England: Arden Key, EDGE — LSU
Arguably the best player on the board, New England takes the value play and grabs Key out of LSU to close out the first round.
COMPARE: Arden Key to any player
[divider]
