Pre-Combine Mock Draft

This is my first mock draft of the offseason. I usually wait until the season is over to start doing mocks drafts to get the correct order of teams. A coin flip at the Combine will determine who has the ninth and tenth pick between the San Francisco 49ers and the Oakland Raiders, considering those two teams tied when it comes to record and strength of schedule.

With the first pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, the Cleveland Browns select…

1. Cleveland Browns

   • Sam Darnold – Quarterback – USC – While Darnold may not be my highest ranked quarterback this year, I do believe he would be picked here if the Browns do decide to take a quarterback with the first pick. The Browns will be inclined to sign a quarterback in free agency to be a bridge for a rookie, someone like Sam Bradford or AJ McCarron. This would be a smart move considering Sam Darnold probably needs to sit and develop a season.

2. New York Giants

   • Josh Rosen – Quarterback – UCLA – The Giants need a fresh, young quarterback and  Davis Webb does not look like the answer. Rosen seems like the perfect fit this year at quarterback for the Giants. He can easily handle the New York media and he could step in and play right away if needed.

3. Indianapolis Colts

   • Bradley Chubb – Defensive End/Edge Rusher – NC State – The Colts have been in need of pass-rush for quite a while now. The Colts should consider taking Saquon Barkley here though to help take the pressure off Andrew Luck. They can probably get a running back in another round as the running back class this year is deep. Chubb can start right away and possibly be their best pass rusher.

4. Cleveland Browns (via Houston Texans)

   • Minkah Fitzpatrick – Free Safety/Cornerback – Alabama – Even though Alabama defensive backs worry me sometimes, I think Fitzpatrick will be great in the NFL. This is another spot where Saquon Barkley could’ve went. The Browns would love to get their franchise quarterback and running back in the same draft, but I could see them taking LSU running back Derrius Guice at the start of the second round. They need to get playmakers of defense.

5. Denver Broncos

   • Josh Allen – Quarterback – Wyoming – This pick really depends on what the Broncos do in free agency, especially if they sign Kirk Cousins. Say they don’t sign Cousins, they very well could draft a quarterback here. I could see them drafting either Josh Allen or Baker Mayfield here, but I think they go with Allen due to John Elway’s preference when it comes to quarterbacks (tall, strong arm).

6. New York Jets 

   • Baker Mayfield – Quarterback – Oklahoma – Mayfield is probably my favorite quarterback in the class. I love the way he plays and he will definitely continue to play well once he reaches the NFL. He would bring an interesting flair and personality to the Jets. Mayfield could absolutely start right away if needed.

7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

   • Quenton Nelson – Offensive Line – Notre Dame – Nelson might be the best player in this draft class. His college game tape is outstanding and he could probably play both guard and center throughout his career. The Buccaneers really need help all along the offensive line and Nelson would be a great starting piece.

8. Chicago Bears

   • Calvin Ridley – Wide Receiver – Alabama – This is the perfect opportunity for the Bears to get Mitch Trubisky and number one receiver.  Some people knock Ridley for his age (23 years old), but he was very good at Alabama without a very good quarterback and he is probably the best wide receiver in this class.

9. San Francisco 49ers

   • Saquon Barkley – Running Back – Penn State – Congratulations 49ers fans, you already won the draft. 4 out of the 8 teams that pick before the 49ers could have very well taken Barkley, but today the 49ers got lucky. They get their franchise running back to go along nicely with their new franchise quarterback, Jimmy Garoppolo. I said before Quenton Nelson could be the best player in this class, but Barkley is close in my eyes.

10. Oakland Raiders

    • Roquan Smith – Linebacker – Georgia – It’s crazy how much the Raiders need help at linebacker. There are a handful of linebackers that the Raiders could take here that would drastically help them. Roquan Smith was one of the best defensive players in college football this past season and he would start right away for Oakland.

11. Miami Dolphins

    • Denzel Ward – Cornerback – Ohio State – Miami has been in need of help in the secondary for a few years now. They have drafted some decent corners in the past couple years in Cordrea Tankersley and Xavien Howard but they really need to consider upgrading. Ohio State has been producing very talented defensive backs recently and Ward is the next one up. He is a little small and like most Ohio State players, he hasn’t really played all that much, but he is talented and has potential.

12. Cincinnati Bengals

    • Connor Williams – Offensive Tackle – Texas – The Bengals are in need of offensive line help with the departures of Andrew Whitworth and Kevin Zeitler and the slow development of Jake Fisher and Cedric Ogbuehi. Williams has been compared to Joe Thomas before but he was injured a bit this past season which affected his play. I do think he could develop into a very good offensive lineman and he also could move in to guard if needed.

13. Washington Redskins

    • Da’Ron Payne – Defensive Line – Alabama – For the second straight year the Redskins select an Alabama defensive lineman in the first round. Last year it was Jonathan Allen with the 17th pick. I think the two could pair up nicely to create a potentially unstoppable defensive front.

14. Green Bay Packers

    • Josh Jackson – Cornerback – Iowa – Jackson is one of my favorite players in this entire class.  I love defensive backs who get a lot of interceptions and this is exactly what the Packers need. In recent years the Packers have let go of some very talented defensive backs in Casey Hayward and Micah Hyde. Jackson would be a good replacement for one of them.

15. Arizona Cardinals

    • Mike McGlinchey – Offensive Tackle – Notre Dame – As much as the Cardinals need a quarterback, there really wasn’t one worth taking here unless they really like Lamar Jackson.  Other than a major need at quarterback, the Cardinals need to upgrade the offensive line and McGlinchey would be a very good addition. He could plug in right away at right tackle and probably stay there for the rest of his career.

16. Baltimore Ravens

    • Courtland Sutton – Wide Receiver – SMU – This would have been a perfect spot for Calvin Ridley but I really don’t see him getting past Chicago. Ravens fans, don’t be upset because I believe Sutton has the chance to be the better of the two in the NFL. Like Ridley, Sutton didn’t have a good quarterback to help him at all. Sutton has a good frame but he will never be the fastest or most athletic player on the team. He does have solid hands though and the Ravens really need help at the receiver position.

17. Los Angeles Chargers

    • Tremaine Edmunds – Linebacker – Virginia Tech – Edmunds is one of those players who has popped up out of nowhere over the past few months and for good reason. He is only 19 years old and has tons of talents. The Chargers need an athletic linebacker in the middle to go along with their amazing pass-rush and Edmunds fits the bill.

18. Seattle Seahawks

    • Orlando Brown – Offensive Tackle – Oklahoma – Brown’s transition to the NFL will be one of the mystery’s in this year’s draft. With that being said that makes this pick my least favorite. He has very intriguing size and potential but play style leaves too much of a question mark for the next level. For the Seahawks sake, hopefully, he works out considering how much they need help on the offensive line.

19. Dallas Cowboys

    • Derwin James – Safety – Florida State – The Cowboys get lucky and get an amazing talent for their young secondary. This pick would mean they would move the former first-round pick, Byron Jones, back to cornerback and plug James in right away at safety. James is super athletic but his level of play did drop a bit this past season.

20. Detroit Lions

    • Leighton Vander Esch – Linebacker – Boise State – I really don’t know a lot about him but I have heard some very good and intriguing things. Detroit also really needs help at linebacker anyways and from what I have heard he seems like he could help right away.

21. Buffalo Bills

    • Rashaan Evans – Linebacker – Alabama – I know, I know, the Bills recently traded former Alabama linebacker Reggie Ragland to the Chiefs, but Sean McDermott really needs someone to plug in the middle. Hopefully, someone to be his version of Luke Kuechly. Evans was another very good Alabama linebacker, which they seem to produce every year. He is a solid tackler and can even rush the quarterback a little bit.

22. Buffalo Bills (via Kansas City Chiefs)

    • Maurice Hurst – Defensive Tackle – Michigan – It’s pretty cool to have back-to-back picks in the first round and the Bills continue to build up their defense. Kyle Williams isn’t getting any younger and they traded away former first-round pick Marcell Dareus to the Jaguars recently. Hurst is one of many talented defensive linemen in this class and he could step in right away if needed for the Bills.

23. Los Angeles Rams

    • Harold Landry – Defensive End – Boston College – Isaiah Oliver would be a good pick here but the Rams just traded for Marcus Peters so the Rams can look at improving another defensive position. Harold Landry is still a good pick considering there have been rumors the Rams are wanting to get rid of Robert Quinn, Landry could fit in right away on this very talented Rams team.

24. Carolina Panthers

    • Billy Price – Center – Ohio State – Sorry to the Vikings fans who really want Price, but the Panthers need to find a replacement for Ryan Kalil who is getting up there in age and has been injured pretty often over the past few seasons. Price could also start right away at guard if the Panthers decide not to bring back Andrew Norwell.

25. Tennessee Titans

    • Isaiah Oliver – Cornerback – Colorado – The Titans need help at cornerback and Oliver would fit in nicely. He would plug in right away for new head coach Mike Vrabel’s defense.  Colorado produced talent last year at cornerback and they look to do it again this year. He also has good size at 6’1″ and 195lbs.

26. Atlanta Falcons

    • Isaiah Wynn – Offensive Guard – Georgia – Wynn is a very dominant guard who would help rejuvenate the Falcon’s run game.  Plus, Wynn played at Georgia so there is a bit of a connection.

27. New Orleans Saints

    • Marcus Davenport – Defensive End – UTSA – If you want someone with lots of potential but they might not be ready right away, Davenport is your man. The Saints had an amazing draft last year and they start this one off right with taking a high-potential pass-rusher who had a great year with UTSA.

28. Pittsburgh Steelers

    • Malik Jefferson – Linebacker – Texas – Some people might consider this pick a reach but I think it is a perfect fit. Not only does Jefferson fit what the Steelers like in a linebacker (pass rush, able to move around at different positions), he also could potentially fill in for the injured Ryan Shazier, who we all hope can make a full recovery.

29. Jacksonville Jaguars

    • Ronnie Harrison – Safety – Alabama – With the contract extension to Blake Bortles, Lamar Jackson to the Jags is obsolete. The Jaguars really don’t have many needs but safety may be one. Harrison has great size, 6’3″, and he is a solid tackler and good in coverage. I think he could fit in nicely playing beside Barry Church. That’s a pretty scary secondary.

30. Minnesota Vikings

    • Lamar Jackson – Quarterback – Louisville – Some will love this pick and some will absolutely hate it.  It all depends on what the Vikings decide to do in free agency or if they resign one of their three free agent starting quarterbacks. Jackson is super athletic and exciting. He has a good arm but struggles some with accuracy. With the right coaching, he could develop into a good NFL quarterback.

31. New England Patriots

    • Harrison Phillips – Defensive Tackle – Stanford – This is the definition of a Patriot pick.  Phillips can play all along the defensive line and he is a great guy. He has had success getting after the quarterback in his past two seasons at Stanford (14.5 sacks) and he is also a good run defender.

32. Philadelphia Eagles

    • Mike Hughes – Cornerback – UCF – This is another pick I really struggled with. Eagles could easily go with running back here but Mike Hughes would be a great value pick here. Plus he will be able to fill a need. He isn’t the biggest cornerback at 5’11” but he had a good season at UCF (Four interceptions) this past year. He has had some off-field issues in the past (arrested for assault in 2015). Overall, Hughes adds more depth to this very talented Eagles roster.

Contact Information:

• Twitter – @Dak54_NFL_Scout
• Email – codyjmiller43@gmail.com