I stole one of the best scouts in the business in J.R. and got his help collaborating for my December 2018 mock draft. Follow along as we alternate picks and give you a sneak peek at what positions are looking deep and what players have a chance to be the number one pick.
1) Cleveland Browns: Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA (J.R.)
With the John Dorsey era starting this week, the Browns desperately need a QB. DeShone Kizer has been up and down, but hasn’t shown enough to keep the team from drafting the best QB in the entire draft.
2) New York Giants: Minkah Fitzpatrick, S/CB, Alabama (Inman)
Nick Saban really knows how to prime these secondary players for the NFL. In a league that craves versatility, Fitzpatrick is the ultimate tool who could thrive at a Pro Bowl-caliber level as a safety, cornerback, nickel and even the “Joker” position.
Pairing his ball-hawking skills up with Landon Collins and Eli Apple gives the offense plenty of reassurance and helps balance out the roster.
3) Indianapolis Colts: Bradley Chubb, DE/DT, North Carolina State (J.R.)
The Colts have a lot of holes on their roster. They could’ve addressed a lot of areas, but they opt to take the highest-rated defensive player on the board. Chubb boosts their pass-rush immediately.
4) San Fransisco 49ers: Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State (Inman)
Anytime you can steal the best player in the draft four slots in, it’s a great start to your draft. GM John Lynch is loading up on blue-chip talent again and does the best thing a GM can do which is surround your young and developing QB with talent.
Jimmy Garoppolo and Barkley will make a dangerous duo for years as Lynch continues to build the foundation of his team.
5) Denver Broncos: Sam Darnold, QB, USC (J.R.)
The Broncos QB situation is a circus. None of Lynch, Siemian, or Osweiler panned out as the team planned and it is time to once again hit the reset button as the team keeps searching for a signal-caller post-Peyton Manning.
6) Cleveland Browns (From Texans): Derwin James, S/CB, Florida State (Inman)
Trading down and stockpiling more picks seems like the dream scenario. However, James is the last of the top-tier “can’t-miss” talent.
A surefire playmaker you can count on to always be around the ball, James will allow coaches to maximize Jabrill Peppers’ athleticism around the line of scrimmage, solidifying two positions with one pick.
7) Chicago Bears: Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama (J.R.)
It’s time to surround potential franchise QB Mitchell Trubisky with as many weapons as possible. Ridley brings lots of explosiveness and potential to an offense that sorely needs it.
8) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Arden Key, EDGE, LSU (Inman)
He’s a massive wildcard who could set your franchise back or elevate your pass rush to an elite level. Key will have to answer those questions during the pre-draft process. However, if he can do that, he will hear his name called in the top-10 picks. No team has struggled to get after the passer like the Bucs.
9) Jacksonville Jaguars: Cincinnati Bengals, Quenton Nelson, G, Notre Dame (J.R.)
The Bengals have lots of talent on offense, but their offensive line just hasn’t been the same since the loss of Kevin Zeitler. Nelson is a plug-and-play option for the franchise in hopes of filling that void.
10) New York Jets: Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma (Inman)
Mayfield’s charisma and Phillip Rivers-like enthusiasm for the game are just what the doctor ordered in New York. Like him or hate him, get used to Mayfield now, as he will be the most polarizing prospect throughout the entire 2018 pre-draft process with his Russell Wilson-like qualities on the field.
11) Washington Redskins: Derrius Guice, RB, LSU (J.R.)
It’s been musical chairs with the Redskins backfield. Guice provides immediate star potential and potentially gives that offense another weapon for head coach Jay Gruden.
12) Arizona Cardinals: Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville (Inman)
Who knows how long Bruce Arians will be around, but the dream is he gets one more chance to develop his own franchise signal caller, similar to his time in Indianapolis with Andrew Luck.
Ignore the critics who tell you Jackson needs to move to a different position. While his mechanics need a major overhaul, he has shown more promise and development from the pocket to blend with his off the charts athleticism. The NFL is desperate for more talent at the quarterback position, meaning someone will give Jackson a shot early in round one.
13) Oakland Raiders: Connor Williams, OT, Texas (J.R.)
The Raiders defense needs to give Khalil Mack help on the edges, but Williams’ value is just too good to pass up here at this point in the first round.
14) Miami Dolphins: Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming (Inman)
Allen never came close to living up to the preseason hype that many would say was unfair. However, you can’t argue Allen’s prototypical build at 6-foot-5, 225 pounds with a big-time NFL arm that can make all the throws.
Yes, his small-school background will scare away some, but after seeing Carson Wentz immediately make an impact, some team will pull the trigger on Allen’s upside in a league that’s starved for quarterback play.
While I, myself, have a fairly low grade on Allen, I’d still put money on him going in round one because of his attributes mentioned above.
15) Baltimore Ravens: Courtland Sutton, WR, SMU (J.R.)
This may seem like a bit of a reach, but the team has no problems going to get the WRs they covet early in the draft. Joe Flacco needs more weapons on the perimeter. The team’s receiving corps is in shambles. Sutton provides Flacco with a big-body target and a huge catch radius.
16) L.A. Chargers: Orlando Brown, OT, Oklahoma (Inman)
Simply put, he’s the biggest and strongest offensive lineman you’ll find in this draft. While a switch back to the right side is necessary, Brown is a blocker who could thrive in the NFL as a physically-imposing mauler.
When you think about the idea of Forrest Lamp coming back from injury as well, the Chargers could have themselves an outright dominant offensive line for the first time in maybe a decade.
17) Dallas Cowboys: Christian Wilkins, DT/DE, Clemson (J.R.)
There aren’t any WRs left with value that make sense to draft at this point. Jerry Jones opts to help out the middle of his defense. Wilkins is an extremely versatile defensive tackle to add to a talented defensive front led by DeMarcus Lawrence.
18) Detroit Lions: Roquan Smith, ILB, Georgia (Inman)
Get on board with Smith while you still can. After these next two playoff games, you’ll see him shoot up boards as the best pure linebacker in the draft. While the Lions used last year’s first-round pick on another linebacker in Jarrad Davis, they still have plenty of room to elevate their front-seven play, and Smith is too good a talent to pass up.
19) Green Bay Packers: Harold Landry, EDGE, Boston College (J.R.)
Clay Matthews is getting older and the Packers don’t have any young pass rushers currently on the roster. Landry helps give a boost to Dom Capers’ defense and pass rush.
20) Seattle Seahawks: Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame (Inman)
He might be the safest offensive tackle of the entire class, and although I prefer him at right tackle, he will be a major upgrade to the Seahawks’ unit and a huge value here in the 20s.
21) Buffalo Bills (From Chiefs): Rashaan Evans, LB, Alabama (J.R.)
Sean McDermott’s defense needs an identity. Evans immediately provides him with that as he was the heart and soul of the Alabama defense. Evans fills a huge need at LB.
22) Buffalo Bills: Vita Vea, NT, Washington (Inman)
A monster of a human, Vita clogged lanes and was a major reason you saw his teammates were able to fly around the field and make plays. The Bills are able to make a overhaul to their front seven with back-to-back picks.
23) Atlanta Falcons: Maurice Hurst, DT, Michigan (J.R.)
The Falcons defensive front is built on speed. Hurst’s first step with Grady Jarrett’s ascension makes the defending NFC Champions’ front four very scary for a long time.
24) New Orleans Saints: Taven Bryan, DT, Florida (Inman)
The best player no one’s heard of. Bryan is an animal who dominated the trenches with very little help around him. Also: Thanks to NDT Scouting for turning me onto him.
25) Tennessee Titans: Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State (J.R.)
Despite drafting Adoree’ Jackson in the first round a year ago, the team still needs help on the back end. GM Jon Robinson keeps adding depth by taking the talented Buckeye cornerback.
26) Jacksonville Jaguars: Bryce Love, RB, Stanford (Inman)
Another running back? While Fournette is the rock when the Jaguars play physical football, Love is a phenomenal change of pace in a different mold that will still offer top-tier home run ability.
A nightmare to tackle, Love will be moved around all over the field to maximize his talents, while softening the blow of free agent wideouts Allen Robinson and Marqise Lee.
27) LA Rams: Isaiah Oliver, CB, Colorado (J.R.)
This continues the run on cornerbacks. Trumaine Johnson’s future is uncertain with the team as he’s scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent, and the team doesn’t have any depth after him. Oliver can step in and be a day one starter in that secondary
28) Carolina Panthers: Anthony Miller, WR, Memphis (Inman)
The Panthers offense doesn’t look the same and is trying to find its new groove with the addition of Christian McCaffrey and the departure of Kelvin Benjamin. Miller gives Cam Newton more options and his receiving unit major depth.
29) Minnesota Vikings: Joshua Jackson, CB, Iowa (J.R.)
The Vikings are in position to take the best player available. Xavier Rhodes and Trae Waynes are a promising duo, but Terence Newman is close to retiring, and everyone knows that Mike Zimmer loves having endless defensive backs.
30) New England Patriots: Marcus Davenport, DE, UTSA (Inman)
Leave it to the Patriots to draft the first small-school player defensive player. Bill Belichick doesn’t care where you come from; instead, he looks for lumps of clay to mold. Davenport is a lot of clay at 6-foot-7 with long arms and a ferocious motor. If anyone is going to turn Davenport into the next Chandler Jones, it’s Bill.
31) Philadelphia Eagles: Chukwuma Okorafor, OT, Western Michigan (J.R.)
Jason Peters is close to 36 and coming off a season-ending knee injury. Lane Johnson has proven to be a solid left or right tackle. Okorafor provides the Eagles with another offensive tackle to eventually replace Peters in the future.
32) Pittsburgh Steelers: Tremaine Edmunds, ILB, Virginia Tech (Inman)
You just don’t find 6-foot-5 inside linebackers with the range, football IQ and tackling ability like Edmunds. Edmunds has football genes as his father was a tight end and will immediately fit the mold of what a Pittsburgh linebacker looks like.
What could be a rare talent also helps fill a major hole in their linebacking unit with the sad uncertainty whether Ryan Shazier will play again.
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