3/12/2018
By: Collyn Foster
After this past weekend, I came to two realizations: waking up at 5 am on three hours of sleep for football isn’t bad at all, and that the NFL Draft is just around the corner, which gave me a little tickle in my stomach. Watching the prospects on the field perform and run through drills, although monotonous, was a lot of fun, and I loved every second of it. After watching the combine for years on TV, being able to experience it firsthand and actually see the prospects on the field gave me a sense of fulfillment and joy like never before. When I put together this mock draft I factored in the Combine but did not make it solely based on the Combine- if I did, it would look a lot different. This is my second installment in the mock draft series, and we will get a much better picture of how the draft will play out after the NFL year starts with free agency on March 14.
Round 1
1. BROWNS: Saquon Barkley, RB
2. GIANTS: Quenton Nelson, OG
3. COLTS: Bradley Chubb, EDGE
4. BROWNS: Sam Darnold, QB
5. BRONCOS: Josh Allen, QB
6. JETS: Baker Mayfield, QB
7. BUCCANEERS: Minkah Fitzpatrick, CB/S
8. BEARS: Denzel Ward, CB
9. 49ERS: Tremaine Edmunds, LB
10. RAIDERS: Roquan Smith, LB
11. DOLPHINS: Josh Jackson, CB
12. BENGALS: Connor Williams, OT
13. REDSKINS: Da’Ron Payne, DT
14. PACKERS: Harold Landry, EDGE
15. CARDINALS: Josh Rosen, QB
16. RAVENS: Calvin Ridley, WR
17. CHARGERS: Vita Vea, DT
18. SEATTLE: Derwin James, S
19. DALLAS: Courtland Sutton, WR
20. LIONS: Marcus Davenport, EDGE
21. BILLS: Maurice Hurst, DT
22. BILLS: James Daniels, C
23. RAMS: Isaiah Oliver, CB
24. PANTHERS: Mike McGlinchey, OT
25. TITANS: Sam Hubbard, EDGE
26. FALCONS: Isaiah Wynn, OG
27. SAINTS: Rashaan Evans, LB
28. STEELERS: Malik Jefferson, LB
29. JAGUARS: Ronnie Harrison, S
30. VIKINGS: Billy Price, OG
31. PATRIOTS: Carlton Davis, CB
32. EAGLES: Will Hernandez, OG
Round 2
33. BROWNS: Christian Kirk, WR
34. GIANTS: Derrius Guice, RB
35. BROWNS: Jaire Alexander, CB
36. COLTS: DJ Moore, WR
37. JETS: Ronald Jones II, RB
38. BUCCANEERS: Sony Michel, RB
39. BEARS: Braden Smith, OG
40. BRONCOS: Mike Hughes, CB
41. RAIDERS: Leighton Vander Esch, LB
42. DOLPHINS: Tyrell Crosby, OT
43. PATRIOTS: Taven Bryan, DT
44. REDSKINS: James Washington, WR
45. PACKERS: Dallas Goedert, TE
46. BENGALS: Justin Reid, S
47. CARDINALS: Kolton Miller, OT
48. CHARGERS: Harrison Phillips, DT
49. JETS: MJ Stewart, CB
50. COWBOYS: Da’Shawn Hand, DT
51. LIONS: Nick Chubb, RB
52. RAVENS: Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, EDGE
53. BILLS: Martinas Rankin, OT
54. CHIEFS: Donte Jackson, CB
55. PANTHERS: Jamarco Jones, OT
56. BILLS: Mason Rudolph, QB
57. TITANS: Kyzir White, S
58. FALCONS: Derrick Nnadi, DT
59. 49ERS: Auden Tate, WR
60. STEELERS: Marcus Allen, S
61. JAGUARS: Lamar Jackson, QB
62. VIKINGS: Rasheem Green, DE
63. PATRIOTS: Ochenna Nwosu, EDGE
64. BROWNS: Frank Ragnow, OG
Key Picks:
1. Cleveland Browns: Saquon Barkley, RB
In my previous mock draft I had Barkley going #4 to the Browns, but after his performance at the NFL combine he put himself head and shoulders above the rest of the prospects in this class. He ran a 4.40 sec 40 yard dash and recorded a 41.5” vertical jump. Those stats alone are enough to make his time in Indy special, but the way he moved on the field was unlike anyone else out there. In my eyes, Barkley confirmed his status as the number one overall player in the draft. And why would you not take him first overall? This pick for the Browns could be franchise changing, and although their need for a quarterback may change their minds, with another pick at #4 they have a chance to grab Barkley at #1 and then go get the quarterback they want at #4. Picking Barkley puts the Browns in a position that would take pressure off of whoever is under center for them next year and for the next 5 years (at least).
15. Arizona Cardinals: Josh Rosen, QB
Let me start this off by saying by no means at all do I think that Rosen will be available at #15. I actually don’t think he should make it out of the top 10, and he will likely go there. I fully expect some QB needy team to trade up into the top 10 to go and grab him if he happens to fall past the top 5. But as it stands right now there are not many QB needy teams in the top half of the draft, so Rosen falls to the Cardinals. If, somehow, someway, Rosen is still on the board at #15, and the Cardinals haven’t traded up, I expect the Cardinals pick to be in about 15 seconds. Rosen is the most NFL ready passer in this draft. He has a great touch and can make almost any throw on the field. He is the perfect player to come in and start right away for a team, and the Cardinals should not and would not pass up this opportunity.
19. Dallas Cowboys: Courtland Sutton, WR
There has been talk about the future in Dallas for Dez Bryant, so why wouldn’t they go out and get themselves another big play receiver. Coming out of SMU, Sutton doesn’t quite have the hype that Bryant had coming out of OSU, but he does fit the mold of a Dez-type replacement. Sutton impressed scouts with his athleticism at the Combine and proved he’s a better athlete than some may have thought. Regardless of Dez staying or leaving, the Cowboys need another playmaker on the outside for Dak Prescott. Sutton is a big, physical receiver that can go up and win the 50/50 balls and also burn you down the field with his straight-line speed. I expect the Cowboys to look for a new WR this draft at some point, and reaching for a DT here seems a little rich.
34. New York Giants: Derrius Guice, RB
The Giants are in the process of rebuilding a team that was one of the biggest disappointments this past season. They have come out and said that they are committed to Eli Manning for the 2018 season. And against all of my better judgment, I predicted them to pass on a QB and take Quenton Nelson in the first round. After going out and getting the best offensive lineman (if not the best player) in the draft, they continue to add talent and weapons to the offense in Guice. Guice was very successful during his time at LSU and is one of my favorite prospects in this draft. After watching the tape, I’m excited to see what he can do; the best way I can describe his style of running is “angry.” He would be the answer to the Giants RB woes and would help take the pressure off Eli and the offense.
61. Jacksonville Jaguars: Lamar Jackson, QB
The Jags go and get their QUARTERBACK of the future in Jackson and should be ecstatic that he fell this far. Jackson was another player who stood out to me in Indianapolis- he made a couple of beautiful throws, and I was very impressed. The Jaguars would be fooling themselves if they think Blake Bortles is the caliber of QB they need to win a Super Bowl. Jackson’s playmaking ability and his ability to scramble so successfully leads many to compare him to the great Michael Vick. The Jaguars have the amazing opportunity to bring someone like Jackson in and let him sit, learn, grow, develop, and train for a year or two before letting him compete for the starting job. This will give Jackson time to work on his mechanics, improve his footwork, and develop his decision making.