Mock NFL Draft 2018

by Jake Austin

The NFL Draft happens every year in April, and it is where the teams pick in order of worst to best for the best college players in America. This event is crucial in building a championship roster and so every year analysts give their views of how the draft will go. With this, I tried to give my own prediction of how the draft will go.

1. Cleveland Browns

Sam Darnold, QB, USC

The browns FINALLY solve their Quarterback problem and made the smartest pick by getting Darnold who will make an immediate impact for a team who couldn’t win a game last year and can s develop if he needs to behind Tyrod Taylor.

2.            NY Giants

Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA

Even though the giants have needs on the O-line, they need to utilise their unusually high draft position by getting their eventual successor for Eli Manning in Josh Rosen, who can backup and develop his game before taking over the team.

3.            Indianapolis Colts

Bradley Chubb, DE, NC state

The Colts choose a player to give them much needed pass rush to help their struggling defense who finished second to last in the league last year in sacks.

4.            Cleveland Browns

Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn state

The Browns pick the best player available whose talent and ability is exceptionally rare to give them a three down back who, with Sam Darnold and free agency acquisition Jarvis Landry, will transform the browns on offense.

5.            Denver Broncos

Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming

John Elway picks a younger version of himself who can develop with a still stout defense and reliable running game (if they fail to pick up Kirk cousins in free agency).

6.            NY Jets

Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma

The Jets get a QB who fits the NY market with his unapologetic attitude and solve their QB problem (if they fail to pick up Kirk Cousins in free agency).

7.            Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Quenton Nelson, G, Notre Dame

The Buccaneers pick the best player available and help the worst component of their team to help an offense that significantly underperformed last year.

8.            Chicago Bears

Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama

The Bears pick a young star to help 2nd year Quarterback Mitch Trubisky by giving him a true number one receiver to throw to.

9.            San Francisco 49ers

Minkah Fitzpatrick, S, Alabama

San Fran pick up the best player available in order to help a weak defense with this tenacious leader and versatile playmaker to pair with Richard Sherman.

10.          Oakland Raiders

Jaire Alexander, CB, Louisville

The Raiders pick up Alexander to pair with former first rounder Gareon Conley to help a poor pass defense and help take pressure off of Khalil Mack as the one man show for their defense.

11.          Miami Dolphins

Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio state

The dolphins need someone else in the secondary to help pro bowl safety Rashad Jones and Denzel Ward will make a significant impact from day one.

12.          Cincinnati Bengals

Connor Williams, T, Texas

The Bengals replace Andrew Whitworth with Williams and even though he may struggle at tackle he can still contribute greatly to a poor O-line even if he is moved to Guard.

13.          Washington Redskins

Da’Ron Payne, DT, Alabama

The Redskins get Payne to pair with last year’s first round pick ,Jonathan Allen, to help their defense and give them a new dynamic defensive line to pressure opposing quarterbacks.

14.          Green Bay Packers

Vita Vea, DT, Washington

Green Bay fills a hole on defence still there from the retirement of B.J. Raji with Vea, a top 10 talent who will add a physical presence to a poor D line.

15.          Arizona Cardinals

Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville

The Cardinals get their QB of the future for new Head coach Steve Wilks, with the most athletic QB since michael Vick who will be able to impact the game on the ground and through the air.

16.          Baltimore Ravens

Michael Gallop, WR, Colorado State

Baltimore strengthen their weak receiving corps with one of the most productive college receivers over the last two years who will provide an instant upgrade over Jeremy Maclin and Mike Wallace.

17.          LA Chargers

Tremaine Edwards, LB, Virginia tech

The Chargers create a dominant defense with Edwards to patrol the middle of the field and slot in between the best pass rush duo in football and a stout secondary.

18.          Seattle Seahawks

Marcus Davenport, DE, UTSA

The seahawks get Michael Bennett's replacement with Davenport who should be a productive player off the edge for the team to pair with Frank Clark, if Cliff Avril is released or retires due to injury.

19.          Dallas Cowboys

Mike Hughes, CB, UCF

 as the team is expected to part ways with Orlando scandrick Dallas solve their secondary problems with Hughes a versatile DB who can also make an impact as a returner.

20.          Detroit Lions

Derrius Guice, RB, LSU

Detroit moves on from Amir Abdullah and gets some support for Matthew Stafford with a thumping running back that this offense really needs.

21.          Buffalo Bills

James Daniels, C, Iowa

The Bills replace the retired Eric Wood with a class talent who will help protect whoever the Bills have under centre next year.

22.          Buffalo Bills

Leighton Vander Esch, LB, Boise

The Bills help secure the middle of the field in this up and coming defense, who can develop with Lorenzo Alexander and become a scary talent.

23.          LA Rams

Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia

The Rams replace Alec Ogletree with Smith who can do everything on the field, and will thrive under defensive coordinator Wade Phillips.

24.          Carolina Panthers

D.J. Moore, WR, Maryland

The panthers replace Kelvin Benjamin with a speedy top reciever who will provide an upgrade to the receiving corps from his first day in the building.

25.          Tennessee Titans

Harold Landry, LB, Boston

The titans bring youth to their ageing LB core with a promising young pass rusher who has the skills to match the production of best pass rushers in the league.

26.          Atlanta Falcons

Maurice Hurst, DT, Michigan

The falcons add strength to their D line (in the event of Dontari Poe leaving in free agency) with Hurst, whilst also picking the best player available. Hurst, to some a top 5 pick, will provide this young D with an exceptional talent who can do it all.

27.          New Orleans Saints

Hayden Hurst, TE, South Carolina

The saints add another aspect to their multifaceted offense, giving Brees another reliable target and red zone threat to throw to, who can contribute in all aspects of the game.

28.          Pittsburgh Steelers

Harrison Phillips, DT, Stanford

The steelers help upgrade a weak spot on their Defense with Phillips, who next to Cameron Heyward will help give the Defense an identity.

29.          Jacksonville Jaguars

Dallas Goedert, TE, South Dakota

The jags add depth to replace the ageing Marcedes Lewis and the dynamic TE adds a new dynamic to the offense and should help Blake Bortles.

30.          Minnesota Vikings

Billy Price, C/G, Ohio state

The Vikings strengthen their O line and replace Joe Berger at Guard, who is probably leaving in free agency, by playing him next to his college teammate Pat Elflein.

31.          New England Patriots

Donte Jackson, CB, LSU

The Pats replace Malcolm Butler with Jackson, who should flourish under Bill Belichick and help an average defense.

32.          Philadelphia Eagles

Shaquem Griffin, LB, UCf

The one handed linebacker adds to the strength of the Eagle‘s defense and , whilst providing the best feel good story of the year, he adds youth to a linebacking core and can learn under the veterans in the group.