With the Senior Bowl in the rear-view mirror and the Super Bowl behind us as well, it’s time to start mocking to get ready for April’s draft.
Here is Part 1 of the latest first-round mock.
(To skip ahead to Part 2, click here.)
1) Cleveland Browns: Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA
With the John Dorsey era officially starting, the Browns desperately need a quarterback. DeShone Kizer has been up and down, but hasn’t shown enough to keep the team from drafting the best quarterback in the entire draft.
While his big-name peers all possess at least one franchise trait, it’s Rosen who I always come back to as the most polished, pro-ready quarterback of the class with the ability to be competitive from Day 1.
The bigger question is, can the Browns coaching staff finally develop a young signal caller?
2) New York Giants: Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming
Put yourself in the Giants’ shoes. A pumped-up front office loaded with big egos will tell you their 3-13 record was an anomaly and won’t ever happen again. Knowing that, they don’t plan on picking inside the top-5 for a long time. This front office has to go get their quarterback of the future to develop behind Eli Manning right now.
Allen has the best size, arm strength and build than any of his peers without the red flags of a Rosen in the big city. He’s nowhere near his potential right now, but landing in New York gives both parties the luxury to sit back and learn the nuances of the NFL behind one of the league’s best pure pocket passers.
Allen failed to live 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 along with the best arm strength I’ve ever seen first-hand down at the Senior Bowl. Yes, his small-school background will scare away some, but after seeing Carson Wentz immediate impact, some team will pull the trigger on Allen’s upside in a league that’s starved for quarterback play.
3) Indianapolis Colts: Bradley Chubb, DL, NC State
The Colts have a lot of holes on their roster. However, none are more critical than surrounding their young franchise quarterback with help, even if that means building a legitimate defense on the other side of the ball first.
You could make a strong case for Chubb first overall. He’s a guy who will help change the locker room and culture of a franchise with unstoppable effort that he brings to work every day. In a game that’s won and lost in the trenches, adding Chubb to the mix is a game-changing selection.
4) Cleveland Browns (From Houston): Minkah Fitzpatrick, CB/S, Alabama
Nick Saban really knows how to prime these secondary players for the NFL. In a league that craves versatility, Fitzpatrick is the ultimate tool that could thrive at a Pro Bowl-caliber level at both safety positions, cornerback, nickel and even the “Joker” position. Pairing his ball-hawking skills and versatility up with Jabrill Peppers gives the defense a talented young core to build around.
5) Denver Broncos: Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma
The Broncos quarterback situation is a circus. None of Paxton Lynch, Trevor Siemian or Brock Osweiler panned out as the team planned, and it is time to once again hit the reset button as the team keeps searching for an answer post-Peyton Manning.
Luckily for them, Mayfield and his Heisman trophy get pushed down because of his short stature. Make no mistake, though: Mayfield has that special “IT” factor that can change a franchise. 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.
6) New York Jets: Josh Darnold, QB, USC
Did the Jets win too many games? They’re just on the outside looking in after watching three quarterbacks fly off the board in five picks. Luckily for them, Darnold and his big-time potential gets pushed down because of how he ended his Trojans career on a downward spiral.
Darnold will be just 20 years old on draft day and has the most tools and upside to become the best franchise-caliber quarterback of the group in five years. Five years from now this could be the pick that launched the Jets back into perennial playoff contention.
7) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State
While an offensive lineman or a fun defensive playmaker would be more than understandable, if the best player in the draft falls in their lap you have to pull the trigger. History shows us you get what you pay for at running back in the top-10 with guys like Todd Gurley, Ezekiel Elliott and Leonard Fournette all playing at Pro Bowl and even MVP levels. Barkley is a home-run hitter on every touch and a guy Jameis Winston can feed the rock to 25 times a game in both the run and passing game, finally.
8) Chicago Bears: Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia
Matt Nagy comes in with a splash and targets the best pure linebacker in the draft. Turn on the SEC Championship game, and you’ll see an absolute animal who is set to shred opposing ball carriers in the NFL. Smith is on that C.J. Mosley and Reuben Foster-type level of talent, instincts and production and adds some serious physical play into a tough-as-nails NFC North division.
9) San Francisco 49ers (pending coin flip): Quenton Nelson, G, Notre Dame
John Lynch got his GM career off to a blazing start starting with a great first draft and then nabbing their new franchise quarterback for just a second-round pick in Jimmy Garoppolo. Now, Lynch keeps the home runs coming with the second best player in the draft. Forget about his position, Nelson is a plug-and-play Pro Bowl player in Year 1.
10) Oakland Raiders (pending coin flip): Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State
Jon Gruden comes in with a splash, grabbing the best pure cover corner in the draft, helping turn a lingering weakness into a strength. Ward has some of the best feet and quick twitch to stay with any wideout at the next level. The Raiders hope Ward can make a similar impact that Saints rookie Marshon Lattimore had on their overall defense as a shutdown cornerback, which offers major flexibility in play calling.
11) Miami Dolphins: Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville
The Dolphins are stuck in quarterback purgatory with Ryan Tannehill and must quickly decide if they are pushing their chips all-in or folding. No question, Jackson has some major technical and fundamental issues with his throwing mechanics. However, underneath the flaws is one of the most exciting, explosive quarterback prospects since Michael Vick.
Ignore the critics who tell you Jackson needs to move to a different position. He’s shown far and away enough promise, decision-making and development from the pocket to blend with his off-the-charts athleticism.
12) Cincinnati Bengals: Orlando Brown, OT, Oklahoma
You can’t build them any bigger than this. Standing 6-foot-8 and 345 pounds, Brown is the son of the late Orlando Brown Sr. who stood out for the Browns over a decade ago. He’s a safe and secure pick to help regenerate the Bengals’ porous offensive line unit. Outside of Nelson, Brown is highly regarded as the best offensive line prospect with the frame to dominate in the league at both left or right tackle.
13) Washington Redskins: Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama
The Redskins are in a huge offseason as they’ve parted ways with Kirk Cousins and traded for Alex Smith. Smith has proven he can be a highly efficient quarterback, something Jay Gruden will love. However, the offense is in need of another consistent playmaker. Ridley is hands down the best wideout of the class with outstanding route running. Pairing him up with Josh Doctson is a saucy combination for years to come.
14) Green Bay Packers: Josh Jackson, CB, Iowa
No one would have thought the Packers would be picking this early, but here we are. It’s time to finally find a real cornerback that can grow and develop into a true shut-down player.
Jackson is arguably the best cornerback top to bottom with his physical playing style and tackling prowess. The pick gives the Packers secondary outstanding versatility, allowing younger players like Kevin King and Quinten Rollins to move to their best-suited playing positions. With Jackson’s talent as a man and press cover corner, the Packers can finally use different schematic designs to take advantage of their other playmakers.
15) Arizona Cardinals: Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame
Like Cincinnati, this is a secure pick to help regenerate the Cardinals’ porous offensive line. Some will say this is too high for McGlinchey, but with a thin pool of talent, it’s now or never when it comes to upgrading the Cardinals’ trenches.
16) Baltimore Ravens: Da’Ron Payne, DT, Alabama
Ozzie Newsome loves his Crimson Tide players, and for good reason. Payne was unblockable during the playoffs and showed off superb movement skills for his raw power. While wide receiver is an option here, adding a premium talent into Jim Harbaugh’s trenches makes an already great unit elite.
CLICK BELOW: Picks 17-32
Catch Luke every week on The Zone Coverage Football Machine
