Kyle Kelly’s 2018 NFL Mock Draft 1.0

The NFL Draft is nearing and teams are starting to have a good sense of who they want to select. The tough part now for all 32 teams is figuring out who their opponents  like as well. I’ve done my best to gauge every team’s needs and where the top players in this year’s draft will land. There will be an absurd amount of trades (as always) on draft night, so it’s impossible to perfectly predict the outcome, but this is what I believe the teams in the NFL will do with my 2018 Mock Draft 1.0, which includes the first 35 picks, four of which are Browns’ picks.

Round 1

1. Cleveland Browns: QB Sam Darnold, USC
Cleveland, do not mess it up like you’ve done so many times before. Do not try to outsmart everyone and become too initiative. Darnold is the unanimous No. 1 quarterback this year, and the Browns prove their interest in Allen was just smoke.

2. TRADE: Buffalo Bills (from New York Giants): QB Josh Allen, Wyoming
There’s aren’t many trades I have a good read on in this year’s draft but there is one trade I’m sure of… Not to say this will be the exact trade for Buffalo to move up, but the Bills are in dire need of a franchise quarterback. Allen provides hope for Buffalo at the most important position in football.

3. New York Jets: QB Josh Rosen, UCLA
Rosen supposedly wants to play in New York and he’s going to seize his opportunity with the Jets. This could be a match made in Heaven for the Jets, or could be a potential disaster. I think New York finds their franchise quarterback, and a good one in Rosen.

4. Cleveland Browns: DE Bradley Chubb, NC State
Talking about matches made in Heaven, this one would be just that for Cleveland. It almost seems too good to be true. It’s a no-brainer pick for the orange and brown and one I believe Dorsey will not pass up. I outlined what else could potentially happen with the fourth pick right here.

5. Denver Broncos: QB Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma
I believe Denver could go Quenton Nelson here, or John Elway even surprising evaluators and draft Saquon Barkley. I do not think they can pass up the former Heisman Trophy winner that they saw close up during the Senior Bowl. Mayfield will lead the Broncos at quarterback in the future.

6. Indianapolis Colts: OG Quenton Nelson, Notre Dame
The Colts only traded back from No. 3 because they believed Chubb, Nelson, or Barkley would fall to them with the early run of quarterbacks. Indianapolis boosts their offensive line and refuses to run the risk of demoralizing Andrew Luck, who’s already on his last leg (or arm?).

7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: RB Saquon Barkley, Penn State
If Barkley somehow slides to No. 7, the Bucs are doing cartwheels to the podium. Tampa Bay adds another offensive weapon for Jameis Winston and a scary one in the backfield by selecting Barkley.

8. Chicago Bears: DE Marcus Davenport, UTSA
Chicago re-signed both Kyle Fuller and Prince Amukamara this off-season, and they cannot find themselves to draft Denzel Ward. The Bears add Davenport to the mix with former first-round pick Leonard Floyd, with a hope of going back in time when they had one of the best defensive lines of all-time.

9. San Francisco 49ers: CB Denzel Ward, Ohio State
Richard Sherman decided to remain in the NFC West with the 49ers, but that doesn’t stop them from drafting Ward. Sherman and Ward lead a fearsome secondary out west, as they hope to rival the hotheads in Los Angeles, Marcus Peters & Aqib Talib.

10. Oakland Raiders: LB Tremaine Edmunds, Virginia Tech
Oakland is in desperate need for linebackers and the best overall linebacker in the draft falls in their lap. Edmunds provides run-stopping insurance with opportunity off the edge as a pass rusher for the Raiders.

11. Miami Dolphins: DT Vita Vea, Washington
When you let a player the caliber of Ndamukong Suh go, you have to have some sort of backup plan. Vea replaces Suh as the premier interior defensive lineman in Miami, with some big shoes to fill.

12. TRADE: New York Giants (from Buffalo): RB Derrius Guice, LSU
Former Carolina Panthers general manager Dave Gettleman drafted Christian McCaffrey eighth overall last season, and now he’s the leader in New York. Guice boosts a rushing offense that was ranked 26th overall in average rushing yards per game last season.

13. Washington Redskins: LB Roquan Smith, Georgia
Smith is a freak at linebacker and Washington needs just that in their front seven. I could see them going with Minkah Fitzpatrick here, but they value Smith over the Alabama defensive back.

14. Green Bay Packers: DB Minkah Fitzpatrick, Alabama
If Fitzpatrick somehow slides this far, this is the definition of a no-brainer pick. This pick feels eerily similar to last year’s situation with Malik Hooker, even though Fitzpatrick’s injury report is clean. He is paired with former Alabama standout Ha Ha Clinton-Dix in the Packers defensive backfield.

15. Arizona Cardinals: QB Lamar Jackson, Louisville
No one has a clue how long Sam Bradford’s knees will hold up and Mike Glennon is not too appealing as a starter. If the Cardinals don’t trade up for a quarterback, I think Jackson could be the pick.

16. Baltimore Ravens: WR Calvin Ridley, Alabama
For the second consecutive year, Ozzie Newsome drafts another Alabama standout. Baltimore needs receivers, even though they have an addiction to washed up veterans.

17. Los Angeles Chargers: DB Derwin James, Florida State
I don’t like James falling this far, but I have a problem finding a place for him. He can play all over the defensive backfield and gives the Chargers viscous versatility with his game-changing ability.

18. Seattle Seahawks: CB Mike Hughes, UCF
Seattle has done a complete roster overhaul and even though I think they could trade up for Fitzpatrick or James, they sit tight at No. 18 and draft Hughes. They do their best to replace Sherman’s outstanding press coverage with one of the best to do it out of this year’s prospect pool.

19. Dallas Cowboys: LB Rashaan Evans, Alabama
Sean Lee has trouble staying healthy and Jaylon Smith is a liability long term. Not to mention, they lost Anthony Hitchens to the Chiefs in free agency. Dallas fills their void with Evans.

20. Detroit Lions: DE Harold Landry, Boston College
Landry was regarded as potential top-10 pick entering last year’s draft. He decided to stay in school but battled injuries. Boston College’s defensive line coach Paul Pasqualoni is the Lions defensive coordinator now in Detroit. Landry is a solid compliment to Ezekiel Ansah. I see this as a lock.

21. Cincinnati Bengals: OL Will Hernandez, UTEP
The Bengals traded for Bills left tackle Cordy Glenn, but let’s not pretend that’s going to magically solve their mess up front on the offensive line. Cincinnati continues to upgrade upfront with Hernandez.

22. New York Giants: OT Connor Williams, Texas
The Giants signed Nate Solder in free agency, but that is not fixing the right side of their line. Williams is an upgrade over former first-round round pick Ereck Flowers and provides insurance for Solder, who has had trouble staying healthy.

23. New England Patriots: OT Mike McGlinchey, Notre Dame
Speaking of Solder, the Patriots need a replacement for him. McGlinchey was once regarded as a potential top-1o pick at tackle during his time with the Irish.

24. Carolina Panthers: WR Christian Kirk, Texas A&M
The Panthers traded away former first round wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin last season and have had trouble replacing him since. Kirk provides Cam Newton with another offensive weapon.

25. Tennessee Titans: TE Hayden Hurst, South Carolina
Delanie Walker is not getting any younger and Mariota needs a reliable tight end. Hurst is one of the best in his class.

26. Atlanta Falcons: DT D’Ron Payne, Alabama
Dontari Poe left for Carolina in free agency, leaving the Falcons with a hole to fill in the trenches. Payne is a run stuffer and replaces Poe with a similar skill set.

27. New Orleans Saints: TE Dallas Goedert, North Dakota State
The Saints were unsuccessful with their attempt to lure Jimmy Graham back to New Orleans. Brees is unstoppable and even better with a reliable tight end. Goedert is just that.

28. Pittsburgh Steelers: LB Leighton Vander Esch, Boise State
It’s tough to think that Ryan Shazier will ever play football again. Vander Esch relieves the unknown within Pittsburgh and gives them a linebacker that can try to replace a guy like Shazier, even though it will be tough to do.

29. Jacksonville Jaguars: WR Courtland Sutton, SMU
Jacksonville decided to let Allen Robinson walk in free agency and Allen Hurns was released. Wide receiver is a glaring need and Sutton is a steal for the Jags.

30. Minnesota Vikings: CB Josh Jackson, Iowa
The Vikings have a solid defense across the board, but it would not hurt them to have another solid cornerback. Jackson is one of the best in this year’s class. I also like Tavon Bryant and Maurice Hurst here.

31. New England Patriots: CB Jaire Alexander, Louisville
The run on cornerbacks has begun and it’s somewhat of a surprise that they have lasted this long. Alexander is expected to replace Malcolm Butler, who left for Tennessee.

32. Philadelphia Eagles: RB Ronald Jones III, USC
 LeGarrette Blount is now in Detroit and Jay Ajayi’s knees are only going to hold up for so long. Jones is explosive and a playmaker, a solid one for Carson Wentz.

Round 2

33. Cleveland Browns: CB Isaiah Oliver, Colorado
I think Cleveland has a hard time not trading up for an offensive tackle here. The Browns traded away Jason McCourty, and even though they signed a few veteran guys, which I broke down here, Dorsey brings in a solid shutdown corner in Oliver.

34. New York Giants: WR D.J. Moore, Maryland
No one has a clue what is going on with Odell Beckham Jr. and Brandon Marshall is washed up. Moore is a solid wide out that can stretch the field and could be deadly opposite OBJ.

35. Cleveland Browns: DT Maurice Hurst, Michigan
I’m not sure why, but I have a funny feeling about the Browns interest in Hurst. I’m going to be upset that they don’t draft Sony Michel here but I think Dorsey believes he can still find value at running back later on in the draft.