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.



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