1. Baker Mayfield – QB Oklahoma
Cleveland – The Brown’s go crazy! With a huge stunner they get their guy Baker with the #1 overall pick. A 2x walk on and heisman trophy winner, 48 hours ago most people had baker going in the teens, but all it takes is one team to fall in love and the mistake by the lake is that lovely lady! No one questions Mayfield accuracy or determination, however if you watched the second half of the Georgia game you know that his 4.85 speed and improv skills will not translate in the NFL. He needs to wok on planting his foot and releasing, a staple of the west coast offense and something I believe John Dorsey has brought along with him. Hue Jackson good luck.
2. Saquon Barkley – RB PSU
New York Giants – The Giants have decided that not only can they win now, but Barkley can be the face of their franchise for a decade. Everything I have read says the G-men love Barkley. With arguably the best young receiver in the game, Barkley should see less 8 man boxes than in college, also with no other RB on the depth chart worth talking about, this appears to be a slam dunk pick for both parties. Let it be known the Giants turned down a few great offers to stay put and get their guy.
3. Josh Rosen – QB UCLA
New York Jets – Their trade up with Indianapolis pays off and the J.E.T.S. get their guy. This has to feel great for Todd Bowles and company – not only getting their franchise QB, but also win the battle of New York. If the Giants trade out of 2, expect Rosen to be gone and the JETS to take either Baker Mayfield or Josh Allen here.
TRADE
4. Josh Allen – WR Wyoming
Buffalo – The Bills trade both their 1st round picks for Allen. There has not been a better arm coming out of college since John Elway, and I’m not even sure he compares. Allen average pass is 76 mph, even his touch passes are clocking at 55mph. Described as very coachable, this is a great situation for him to sit a year behind McCarron and learn the NFL game that way, for a year (hopefully). It’s no secret the weather in up-state NY is tough to play QB in, but Allen game should translate well. Coaches Culley and Daboll will have plenty to work on with Allen, but believe they got their guy!
5. Bradley Chubb – DE N.C. State
Denver – The Bronco’s decide to stay the course and build around their already strong defense. Case Keenum is going to get a chance to shine and Lynch is the backup. Chubb opposite Von Miller is going to wreak havoc on opposing teams O-Line and QB’s. Many people have come out and said Chubb is better than Miles Garrett from last year who went number one. There is still a chance Elway takes Baker here, but inevitably decides not to scratch the itch.
6. Denzel Ward – CB OSU
Indianapolis – In a bit of a surprise, the Colts take the consensus number one corner in the draft. Most people have Bradley Chubb slotted here, and the Colts like him, but end up going with the speedy Ward. After watching what recent OSU corners have done as rookies, the Colts decide to roll the dice in hopes of finding another gem that can now be paired with Malik Hooker the outstanding corner from 2017 draft.
7. Derwin James – S FSU
Tampa Bay – Outside of a few guys, James may be the most NFL ready and can’t miss option for the Bucs at seven. James ability to play in multiple positions, and at the highest level, make this choice easy for Tampa who badly needs to improve their defense from last year.
8. Quenten Nelson – OL Notre Dame
Chicago – The Bears have to be ecstatic that Nelson is still here at eight, and they can provide their stud sophomore QB with some much needed protection. The Bears might think about Calvin Ridley here, but with their recent poor results in taking a WR early, they pass for the big fella.
9. Harold Landry – LB Boston College
San Francisco – The 49ers immediately address the looming issue at LB by drafting this years tackling machine in Landry. Your guess is as good as mine, but Reuben Foster is probably released soon, which is not nearly the biggest problem (he’s facing 11 years in prison)! Landry appears to be a plug and play guy with smarts and great instincts. By far the biggest move, a week ago some had Landry going mid to late 2nd round.
10. Tremaine Edmunds – LB Virginia Tech
Oakland – The Raiders had their fingers crossed that Chubb would have fallen into their laps but SF gets him one pick earlier. Edmunds is another freak LB who can help shore up that terrible tackling unit from last season. Gruden might be tempted to take Minkah Fitzpatrick or Vita-Vea here but sticks with the sure thing in Edmunds.
11. Sam Darnold – QB USC
Miami – Adam Gase cannot pass on Sam here, even though he was prepared to take Calvin Ridley. A good situation for Darnold he can sit a year and work on a few things while Ryan Tannehill runs the team. No one questions Darnold accuracy or determination, however, he still is far from being ready to play in an NFL game.
12. Minkah Fitzpatrick – CB Alabama
Cleveland – Get extremely lucky and land Fitzpatrick, thought by some to be a top 5 pick. This is a perfect fit with Peppers, and both should anchor the back end in Cleveland for many years!
13. Mike Hughes – CB UCF
Washington – The best corner remaining on the board goes to Redskins at 13. Hughes speed and physicality will go a long way in DC. Many expect Jay Gruden to go heavy defense in this year’s draft, and with the rest of the NFC East loaded at Wide Receiver, it’s no surprise they go corner with 13.
14. Roquan Smith – LB Georgia
Green Bay – The Packers, like the rest of the NFL, have noticed that Clay Matthews is no longer the elite LB he use to be. Health has been a major factor and adding Smith to learn under one of the best to do it, for the pack, is a great decision. Last year, it felt destined for the Packers to take TJ Watt who was there at pick 30; however, they passed – which if they decide to not draft a LB this early again, expect them to look at Vita-Vea here.
15. Josh Jackson – CB Iowa
Arizona – The fifth DB taken shows where this league is headed. Corner is becoming more and more important with the pass happy league. Jackson is going to be a good pro. Lined up against some great WR’s in the Big Ten for years and did more than hold his own. Great pick by this first year coaching staff.
16. Marcus Davenport – DT UTSA
Baltimore – John Harbaugh knows Terrell Suggs is on the back 9, and who better to teach this raw monster in Davenport? Time will tell how Baltimore looks this year; staying healthy was the problem last year – having put more players on IR than any other team in the league. Adding depth is very important to Ozzie Newsome, and they get off to a great start here.
17. Connor Williams – OL Texas
San Diego – The Chargers were much closer to a deep playoff run than people realize. A few close games and some questionable calls probably cost them two games last season. With the majority of their team coming back, a great defense and multi-dimensional offense, the coaching staff invests in some protection for an aging Phillip Rivers.
18. Da’Ron Payne – DT Alabama
Seattle – A quick replacement for Michael Bennett – Pete Carroll sticking with his best player on the board approach. Also, a position of need after the unexpected injury to their first round pick in 2016 Malik McDowell, who may not return to football. There is a chance that Seattle looks hard at Justin Reid here as well to replace Richard Sherman.
19. Calin Ridley – WR Alabama
Dallas – The plan was to take a LB here, and most thought Rashan Evans, but another Crimson Tide stud falls right in their lap and Jerry Jones can’t get the call into the NFL quick enough. This young offense now has the best OL, top 10 rb and qb, and now Ridley to stretch the field. My early pick for ROY, America’s Team steals one!
20. Vita Vea – DT Washington
Detroit – The Lions luck out and get a guy that they never expected to be available to them here at 20. Expect multiple offers from other teams to come up to 20 to draft Vea, but ultimately, the Lions stay put and draft Vea. New coach Matt Patricia finds his Vince Wollfork in his first draft; what a great outcome for the Lions.
21. Rashan Evans – LB Alabama
Cincinnati – The Bengals get their much needed depth at Linebacker. Evans fits perfect in Marvin Lewis scheme and could be an anchor for years to come. The Vikings are rumored to really like Evans as well and may try to move up into this spot or sooner to take him. Another guy to watch here is Tavon Bryan (DE) from the gators
22. Jaire Alexander – CB Lousville
Cleveland – The Browns solidify their back-end by adding a great cover corner to go along with Minkah Fitzpatrick. Trading out of the 2 netted the Browns two incredible defensive backs and additional picks. This has to be seen as a A+ outcome for the fans and staff.
23. Will Hernandez – OL UTEP
New England – The Patriots waste no time replacing the 2 starting OL they lost in this year’s free agency. Known for his maturity and work ethic, Hernandez should be an immediate plug and play option for the new look Patriots O-line.
24. Dallas Goedert – TE South Dakota State
Carolina – With Greg Olsen rumored to be in line for a job at fox (or a new contract), this is a great pick and safe by all accounts. The undisputed top TE on the board will be a nice addition to the Panthers run and pass attack. The thought was Carolina would address the TE position in the draft but most likely not this early because Goedert should be gone. This will be a tough decision for the staff as there are other clear needs: OL, WR, and DB to name a few.
25. Christian Kirk – WR Texas A&M
Tennessee – The Titans add another weapon for Marcus Mariota and this strong offensive line. Eric Decker did not work out, and Kirk is elite. Prior to this year, he was ranked as the number 1 WR and a top 10 pick. Poor QB play and poor coaching led to a lackluster finish to an otherwise incredible 3 years at A&M.
26. Isaiah Oliver – CB Colorado
Atlanta – The Falcons add much needed help in the secondary with Oliver. The Buffaloes have now sent 4 defensive backs to the NFL the past 2 seasons and all of them have turned out to be studs. There is no reason to think this trend will not continue with Oliver.
27. Lamar Jackson – QB Lousville
New Orleans – The NFL is officially being put on notice with this pick. Sean Payton is light years ahead of the NFL in his offensive thinking and does it again here. Drew Brees has, at most, 2 years left and may bow out next year after what should be a championship contending team. Jackson will be brought in to learn from a hall of famer and most likely be used in some odd packages. Expect Lamar to be the starting QB in NO for the future starting as early as the 2019 season. NFL get ready, arena football coming to New Orleans, and soon!
28. Justin Reid – S Stanford
Pittsburgh – The Steelers always seem to run into a stud late in the first round. They do it again here with Reid. A guy who can come in and immediately fill in for Ryan Shazier. A student of the game, the Steelers get a Richard Sherman type player with incredible ability and very little risk.
29. DJ Moore – WR Maryland
Jacksonville – A similiar player to Allen Robinson and much cheaper. The Jags have let 2 of their top 3 WR go this year in Free Agency. They address that here with Moore, who they are most likely very happy has fallen to them. Some GM’s have Moore graded higher than Kirk and even with Ridley in skill set. Feels like a great fit for both.
30. Billy Price – OL OSU
Minnesota – The Vikings stick with their recent strategy in drafting ready-to-go OL from big name schools. Price, although out until training camp, is a sure bet. Had he not of got hurt at combine, odds are he would of come off the board much earlier. A great value pick for Minnesota who will look to make a few tweaks to a playoff bound roster.
31. Maurice Hurst – OL Michigan
New England – Bill Belichick does it again. An absolute steal, the Patriots draft one of, if not the most disruptive and quick twitch DL in recent memory. Hurst was compared to another DT from the Big Ten in Ndamukong Suh and for good reason. A concern about his heart at the combine created some buyer beware, but after a great pro day and medical clearance this son of an NFL player is going to be great.
32. Arden Key – LB LSU
Philadelphia – The Eagles get one of the best athletes with the highest ceiling in the draft. Key was a monster at times in Baton Rouge but also very average at times. He was on most people’s top 5 after his sophomore season, but the shine began to wear. There are a few other teams in the 20’s who like Key and may decide to take him, but if he falls to the last pick in first round, expect the Champs to not hesitate.