Quarterback abundance. Trading a whole city to move up in the draft. Cleveland having the first pick. This 2018 draft has it all, and will definitely go down as one to remember. At least five quarterbacks are expected to be taken in the first round with the draft class being compared to the one in 1983. Mock drafts are mostly horribly wrong, but they are fun to do.
Photo Credit: USA Today
The Patriots have two picks in the first round this year, and there has been a plethora of rumors about them moving up in the draft to select their quarterback of the future. It is impossible to know exactly what Belichick will do come draft day, but let’s try anyways. This is Boston Sports Extra’s second and final mock draft:
1. Cleveland Browns – Baker Mayfield, QB
Yes, I know. Ten million other mock drafts have Sam Darnold as this pick. However, Cleveland has a lot riding on this pick. They have to look at the intangibles here. Mayfield is a born leader with a fiery determination. He has that prove-it mentality and is willing to do whatever it takes. Cleveland could use his command of the offense, and he can be the future of their franchise.
2. Buffalo Bills – Sam Darnold, QB (via mock trade with NYG)
I have read so much on how Dave Gettleman will go with a running back or defensive player here. The Bills have been desperate to trade up, so I’m thinking of a way to satisfy everyone’s needs here. Bills get their man to develop along with AJ McCarron. Stay tuned for the Giants.
3. New York Jets – Josh Rosen, QB (via IND)
The Jets traded THREE second round picks, as well as number six to move up to this spot. They have been linked to Mayfield, but with him off the board they take a proven passer in Mr. Chosen Rosen.
4. Cleveland Browns – Saquon Barkley, RB
They passed on him at number one, but they won’t here. Barkley is a rare talent and can be a humongous spark in this revamped team. Imagine having Mayfield, Barkley, and Landry leading that offense. Kinda scary if you think about it.
5. Denver Broncos – Josh Allen, QB
Elway has had a serious problem trying to find the future quarterback for this team in the draft. Paxton Lynch might have been the biggest waste of a first round pick that I have seen. The Broncos go with the strong-armed quarterback in Allen to develop behind Keenum who, let’s face it, is not a long term plan at quarterback.
6. Indianapolis Colts – Bradley Chubb, DE (via NYJ)
They traded down and still got arguably the best defensive player in this draft. The Colts could go with Quentin Nelson to protect Andrew Luck, but Chubb is too good a prospect to pass up.
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Derwin James, S
James is an amazing talent at his position. He’s learned from Pro-Bowlers, Landon Collins and Jalen Ramsey, and he’s ready to make a difference, no matter the team. The Buccaneers would greatly improve their secondary by adding James, who has that certain attitude and skill set they need.
8. Chicago Bears – Quentin Nelson, OG
The Bears have been focused on building around Mitchell Trubisky, and will continue here. With Josh Sitton gone, this seems like the perfect pick. Another option they could go with here is Tremaine Edmunds.
9. San Francisco 49ers – Roquan Smith, LB
Man, the 49ers just can’t stop winning. They won five straight with Jimmy G. They won the coin flip to get this pick, and they draft an absolute stud with it. Reuben Foster, who had great promise, will be cut if he is found guilty of his charges. That leaves a hole in the roster which Smith can definitely fill.
10. Oakland Raiders – Tremaine Edmunds, LB
Raiders can use all the help on defense they can. Their secondary looks better with Gareon Conley and Rashaan Melvin, so they look to improve their linebacker corps with arguably the best linebacker in the class.
11. Miami Dolphins – Vita Vea, DT
Dolphins have shown interest in drafting a quarterback, but choose to address a 307 pound hole in the defense. Vea is an absolute MONSTER. If you don’t believe me, watch his film against UCLA – or against anyone to be honest. Perfect fit for the Hawaiian who will love the beaches in South Florida.
12. New York Giants – Harold Landry, DE (via mock trade with BUF)
I mentioned how I had a way before how Buffalo and New York can get what they need. Harold Landry is an absolute beast with amazing technique. He can absolutely replace JPP.
13. Washington Redskins – Marcus Davenport, DE
Davenport is an untapped freak of nature. He can complement Jonathan Allen on a defensive line that faces Zeke and Ajayi twice a year.
14. Green Bay Packers – Denzel Ward, CB
Ward is the perfect person to pair with Kevin King to improve the Packers depleted secondary. Another option here could be a pass rusher.
15. Arizona Cardinals – Calvin Ridley, WR
Arizona could go quarterback, but instead choose to develop a wide receiver under the great Larry Fitzgerald. Look for them to draft an offensive linemen in the later rounds to protect their injury-prone quarterback.
16. Baltimore Ravens – Lamar Jackson, QB
Flacco is on the back end of his career, so the Ravens could look to develop an amazing athlete. They addressed the wide receiver position in free agency, but can still go with that here if it’s someone they really love.
17. Los Angeles Chargers – Minkah Fitzpatrick, DB
The influx of quarterback picks allowed Fitzpatrick to fall. Chargers would definitely not pass him up, and he would be an amazing replacement for Tre Boston.
18. Seattle Seahawks – Mike McGlinchey, OT
Seattle’s reign is over. There are so MANY holes on this team. I think the first option they should go is to protect their quarterback so he doesn’t run like a chicken with his head cut off every play. Look for Seattle to draft cornerback here as another option.
19. Dallas Cowboys – D.J. Moore, WR
Goodbye, Dez Bryant. Hello, D.J. Moore. Dak gets another weapon, so he doesn’t have to rely on Zeke for their offense to be productive. We saw last year how that turned out.
20. Detroit Lions – Da’ron Payne, DT
Lions need help on the interior. Matty P should love the ‘Bama product. Welcome to the House of Payne.
21. Cincinatti Bengals – Will Hernandez, OG
Bengals drafts Hernandez to have a powerful player for Joe Mixon to run behind.
22. New York Giants – Derrius Guice, RB (via mock trade with BUF)
Instead of taking Saquon at No. 2, they trade down and take an end to replace JPP and a running back to give a spark their offense desperately needs. Guice’s 2016 season was remarkable, and he would be rated higher if it wasn’t for his injury plagued 2017.
23. New England Patriots – Rashaan Evans, LB
If Rosen and Mayfield are off the board early, Patriots won’t trade up. Instead they elect to pick an absolute Saban-bred stud in Evans. If you want to know why, then click here.
24. Carolina Panthers – Jaire Alexander, CB
Alexander is not far behind from Ward as a top cornerback. Hip movement is fluid and coverage is excellent. He honestly shouldn’t fall this far.
25. Tennessee Titans – Leighton Vander Esch, LB
Mike Vrabel will love having this extremely athletic linebacker to help the depleted core. ‘Nuff said.
26. Atlanta Falcons – Taven Bryan, DT
I still think Bryan is a perfect fit for Atlanta. His versatility on the line can help a team who lost both Dontari Poe and Adrian Clayborn.
27. New Orleans Saints – Mike Gesicki, TE
I’m sticking with my pick if Gesicki here. The trio of Thomas, Kamara, and Gesicki is a matchup nightmare. Brees will love having a Jimmy Graham-like target
28. Pittsburgh Steelers – Josh Jackson, CB
Jackson has a lack of experience, but his seven interceptions this year should not go unnoticed. Maybe he can finally help the Steelers beat the Patriots this year (probably not).
29. Jacksonville Jaguars – Dallas Goedert, TE
Defense is definitely not the priority here. If I were the Jaguars, I would go with Mason Rudolph here. However, this is the same team that just gave Bortles a long contract, so I doubt they will listen to me. I don’t think Austin Sefarian- Jenkins is a No. 1 tight end, so Goedert seems like the more likely approach for the Jag.
30. Minnesota Vikings – Connor Williams, OT
Vikings spent big bucks on a flashy, new quarterback and now have to make sure that they can protect him.
31. New England Patriots – Justin Reid, S
Patriots fans are probably scared of drafting this player because he is a Stanford safety, and our last Stanford safety is absolutely terrible (*cough* Jordan Richards). Well, you guys can RELAX. Reid is the real deal- smart, versatile, and great in coverage.
32. Philadephia Eagles – Hayden Hurst, TE
Yeah, I particularly don’t like making a pick here to make this team better (I’m not salty, you are). Anyways, the GM of the Eagles doesn’t think like that. Looking at the Eagles depth chart, they don’t have a lot of holes in the roster. There is not a lot of depth behind Zach Ertz, however. Enter Hurst, a huge catch machine who can create matchup issues for opposing defenses.
So Where’s Brady’s Heir?
Photo Credit: NESN
I do realize what I put in the title. I’m not about clickbait garbage. I do think the Patriots will draft their future quarterback – just not in the first round. Mason Rudolph at No. 43 is a potential prospect. Other later round picks could be Kyle Lauletta, Luke Falk, Logan Woodside, and Alex McGough.