The 2018 NFL Draft is exactly a month away, and there is plenty of intrigue at the top of the draft. Last week, the New York Jets moved up to pick #3 in the draft after sending their 6th overall pick, picks 39 and 47 in the second round this year, and their 2019 2nd rounder to the Indianapolis Colts. The New York Jets clearly paid a hefty price to move up to 3rd overall, and it’s clear that they will be selecting their next franchise signal caller with the pick.
The Cleveland Browns seem poised to select a quarterback at pick #1. Most draft analysts seemed to be slotting Sam Darnold in to the Browns after his stellar Pro Day in the rain this past week. Browns’ owner Jimmy Haslam was seen in the stands sitting with Darnold’s parents as well. The draft really gets interesting at pick #2 where the New York Giants are currently sitting. The Giants just traded Jason Pierre-Paul and a 4th round pick to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for a 3rd and 4th round pick. Some now believe that Bradley Chubb could make his way to the Giants on draft night. The Giants could also select star running back Saquon Barkley, or they could even go with the top lineman in the class, Quenton Nelson. Maybe they will even take their quarterback of the future at #2. With teams looking to move up for a quarterback, trading back could land the Giants a plethora of high picks not only this year, but next year as well.
There could be several teams looking to move up to obtain their quarterback of the future in this draft class as well. The Buffalo Bills are poised and loaded with picks to move up for one of the top four quarterbacks in the draft. They already moved up from the 21st pick this year to pick #12 after trading Cordy Glenn to the Bengals. They also have the 22nd pick in the draft this year as well. Will the Bills be able to make a deal with the Giants at pick #2 and jump the Jets at pick #3? If not, they will certainly try to make a deal with the Browns at pick #4 to get ahead of the Denver Broncos. The Browns could get a massive haul from the Bills if three quarterbacks go in the top three picks. The Bills will certainly not want to miss out on one of the top four QBs in this draft class. The Cardinals are another team that needs to obtain a younger QB option after signing the injury-prone Sam Bradford and journeyman Mike Glennon this offseason. The Dolphins are also rumored to like the 2018 quarterbacks, especially Baker Mayfield.
Overall, this draft has a ton of intrigue, and we still have a long way to go before draft night.
Note: There are no trades being made in this mock draft. I would be shocked if the Buffalo Bills were not drafting within the top 4 picks come draft night.
1. Cleveland Browns- QB Sam Darnold
2. New York Giants- RB Saquon Barkley
3. New York Jets- QB Josh Rosen
4. Cleveland Browns- DE Bradley Chubb
5. Denver Broncos- QB Josh Allen
6. Indianapolis Colts- OG Quenton Nelson
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- S Minkah Fitzpatrick
8. Chicago Bears- DB Denzel Ward
9. San Francisco 49ers- S Derwin James
10. Oakland Raiders- LB Roquan Smith
11. Miami Dolphins- QB Baker Mayfield
12. Buffalo Bills- LB Tremaine Edmunds
13. Washington Redskins- DT Da’ron Payne
14. Green Bay Packers- DB Jaire Alexander
15. Arizona Cardinals- OT Mike McGlinchey
16. Baltimore Ravens- LB Rashaan Evans
17. Los Angeles Chargers- DT Vita Vea
18. Seattle Seahawks- DB Josh Jackson
19. Dallas Cowboys- LB Marcus Davenport
20. Detroit Lions- RB Derrius Guice
21. Cincinnati Bengals- G/C Isaiah Wynn
22. Buffalo Bills- OT Connor Williams
23. Los Angeles Rams- OLB Harold Landry
24. Carolina Panthers- WR Courtland Sutton
25. Tennessee Titans- OLB Arden Key
26. Atlanta Falcons- DT Taven Bryan
27. New Orleans Saints- TE Mike Gesicki
28. Pittsburgh Steelers- LB Leighton Vander Esch
29. Jacksonville Jaguars- QB Lamar Jackson
30. Minnesota Vikings- OT Kolton Miller
31. New England Patriots- OLB Lorenzo Carter
32. Philadelphia Eagles- WR Calvin Ridley