It is officially Draft Day and that means it’s every Draftnik’s Christmas Day. The 2018 NFL Draft is going to be one for the ages as we’re going to likely see four quarterbacks go in the Top 10 for the first time in history. And with three trades involving first round picks already it’s only going to get more insane as teams will likely be trading around throughout the night to get the prospects that they want. Of course let’s not forget that we are less than 24 hours away from the draft and nobody has a real good idea of who is going to be the first overall pick. So let’s sit back an enjoy my Final 2018 NFL Mock Draft.
Final 2018 NFL Mock Draft
1. Cleveland Browns: Sam Darnold QB USC
2. New York Giants: Saquon Barkley RB Penn State
3. New York Jets: Baker Mayfield QB Oklahoma (From – Indianapolis)
4. Cleveland Browns: Bradley Chubb DE North Carolina State (From – Houston)
5. Buffalo Bills: Josh Allen QB Wyoming (Projected From – Denver)
6.Indianapolis Colts: Roquan Smith LB Goergia
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Quenton Nelson G Notre Dame
8. Arizona Cardinals: Josh Rosen QB UCLA (Projected From – Chicago)
9. San Francisco 49ers: Minkah Fitzpatrick CB Alabama
10.Oakland Raiders: Mike McGlinchey OT Notre Dame
11. Miami Dolphins: Tremaine Edmunds LB Virginia Tech
12. Denver Broncos: Denzel Ward CB Ohio State (Projected From – Buffalo)
13. Washington Redskins: Vita Vea DT Washington
14. Green Bay Packers: Josh Jackson CB Iowa
15. Chicago Bears: Harold Landry DE Boston College (Projected From – Arizona)
16. Baltimore Ravens: Calvin Ridley WR Alabama
17. Los Angeles Chargers: Derwin James S Florida State
18. Seattle Seahawks: Marcus Davenport DE Texas San Antonio
19. Dallas Cowboys: Leighton Vander Esch LB Boise State
20. Detroit Lions: Da’Ron Payne DT Alabama
21. Cincinnati Bengals: James Daniels C Iowa (From – Buffalo)
22. Denver Broncos: Will Hernandez G Texas El Paso (Projected From – Buffalo)
23. New England Patriots: Kolton Miller OT UCLA (From Los Angeles Rams)
24. Carolina Panthers: Frank Ragnow C Arkansas
25. Tennessee Titans: Rashaan Evans LB Alabama
26. Atlanta Falcons: Taven Bryan DT Florida
27. New Orleans Saints: Justin Reid S Stanford
28. Pittsburgh Steelers: Mike Hughes CB Central Florida
29. Jacksonville Jaguars: Hayden Hurst TE South Carolina
30. Minnesota Vikings: Isaiah Wynn G Georgia
23. New England Patriots: Lamar Jackson QB Louisville
32. Philadelphia Eagles: Jaire Alexander CB Louisville
Notable Picks
1. Cleveland Browns: Sam Darnold QB USC
Recent rumors have been all over the place for the Browns with several people saying the Browns are cooling on Darnold and that now they are deciding between Josh Allen and Baker Mayfield. While that may be true, I think it is all smoke and that they still plan to go with Darnold. I mean they have been linked to him for so long and the fact that Browns Owner Jimmy Haslem even met with Danrold’s parents at his Pro Day. Let’s not forget that a lot of the same traits we’ve heard that John Dorsey likes about Allen and Mayfield also apply to Darnold. I could be wrong and they may take Josh Allen, but I’m willing to take that chance.
8. Arizona Cardinals: Josh Rosen QB UCLA (Trade with Chicago)
All along this Draft Season I’ve felt that the Cardinals are desperate to add a young quarterback and if Rosen starts to fall I could see Arizona GM Steve Keim feeling the pressure and going after their next franchise guy. Sure the Cardinals have Sam Bradford but Rosen would give the Cardinals potentially their first elite quarterback since Kurt Warner. Rosen may not start right away but it would only be a matter of time.
10. Oakland Raiders: Mike McGlinchey OT Notre Dame
Notre Dame LT Mike McGlinchey showing the lateral quickness to mirror Bradley Chubb #NFLDraft #NotreDame pic.twitter.com/LAX0STceOc
— Brian Johannes (@Draft_Brian) April 8, 2018
Two things are clear, first the NFL is in dire need of offensive tackles and the 2018 offensive tackle class is razor thin. Mike McGlinchey is head and shoulders the best tackle in this class. Not only is right tackle a liability for the Raiders but starting left tackle Donald Penn is 34 years old and on the downside of his career. McGlinchey has experience playing both left and right tackle and could start his career on the right side initially before moving over to left tackle down the road.
26. Atlanta Falcons: Taven Bryan DT Florida
As we have seen the last several years the Falcons want to have a fast defense on all three levels. Along the defensive line they have Vic Beasley and TAk McKinley, but are weak upfront with the exception of Grady Jarrett. Taven Bryan is still a raw prospect that needs some development, but he has unreal explosion off the ball that we haven’t seen since Aaron Donald. Now with his size he is getting some JJ Watt comparisons and that is likely not true or fair, but he fits perfectly for the Falcons at the three technique where he can get upfield and disrupt helping take pressure off of their edge defenders. I wouldn’t be shocked to see the Falcons move up to secure him.
31. New England Patriots: Lamar Jackson QB Lousiville
With the recent trades of Jimmy Garoppolo and Jacoby Brissett the Patriots are left without a future replacement for Tom Brady as he is all but certain in his final years as the starter in New England. Lamar Jackson isn’t the traditional quarterback fro the Patriots, but offensive coordinator and likely head coach in waiting Josh McDaniels has shown in the past to look for developmental quarterbacks with big upsides. Jackson has all the traits to be successful in the NFL and with time to develop with McDaniels behind Brady it could be best case scenario for him.