Here we go – it’s “Big Natural” Stoney Keeley’s 2018 NFL Mock Draft. It will be updated weekly through the NFL Draft. The only rule is “no trades.” Otherwise, there are no rules. Welcome to the thunderdome.
Big Natural’s 2018 NFL Mock Draft 1.0
1. Cleveland Browns: QB Sam Darnold – I still think the pick is Sam Darnold here. Darnold has been the pick all along, and I don’t think that’s going to change, no matter how sexy Josh Allen’s arm is.
2. New York Giants: RB Saquon Barkley – Pat Shurmur has said Eli Manning is his quarterback. The team invested a third round pick in Davis Webb last year, and they still haven’t really seen what they have in him. This isn’t the year they select a quarterback in the first round when a rare talent like Barkley, who also happens to fill a huge need, is on the board.
3. New York Jets (from IND): QB Josh Allen – I’m not a fan of Allen’s…at least not inside the top 10. But, NFL teams are enamored with his arm. The Jets didn’t make this trade with the hopes of landing any other position, and based on how Allen’s stock has risen, he’s the choice.
4. Cleveland Browns (from HOU): CB Denzel Ward – I think there’s a strong chance that a QB-needy team sneaks up and steals this pick away from Cleveland. But, since I don’t project trades, I’m going with their most dire need remaining: cornerback. Here, they get a guy who sits atop most analysts CB rankings after a stellar combine.
5. Denver Broncos: CB/S Minkah Fitzpatrick – This might not be a popular choice, but the Broncos lost Aqib Talib to the Rams, and could be searching for their next stud corner. Fitzpatrick can play anywhere in the secondary. They’re going to ride it out with Case Keenum at quarterback.
6. Indianapolis Colts (from NYJ): DE Bradley Chubb – It’s a steal for the Colts at this point, but they have needs all over the board. Should the Colts land Chubb, they’d be getting a guy who some have said is the best player in the draft.
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: G Quenton Nelson – Jameis Winston needs protection, and in Nelson, they’re getting one of the best guard prospects to come out in a long time.
8. Chicago Bears: LB Roquan Smith – The Bears have done well to alleviate the need for a receiver in free agency. So, getting a difference-maker on defense should be the priority.
9. San Francisco 49ers: WR Calvin Ridley – Nelson and Smith are off the board, so the Niners go with the best WR in the draft. They need a playmaker.
10. Oakland Raiders: LB Tremaine Edmunds – The Raiders are due for an upgrade in the linebacking corps, and Edmunds is one of the best in this class.
11. Miami Dolphins: DT Vita Vea – The Dolphins lose Ndamukong Suh, but it just so happens the best DT in the draft falls to them at #11.
12. Buffalo Bills (from CIN): S Derwin James – I wanted so badly to mock Baker Mayfield here, but I just can’t see James lasting any longer. The Bills won on defense, and add depth to their secondary with one of the best athletes in the draft.
13. Washington Redskins: CB Jaire Alexander – The R-Words need some help in the secondary and go after the CB who stole the show at the combine.
14. Green Bay Packers: OT Mike McGlinchey – To have been so consistently good for so long, the Packers find themselves with a ton of needs. Keeping Aaron Rodgers safe takes priority.
15. Arizona Cardinals: QB Josh Rosen – The Cardinals need an answer at quarterback and grab a guy who honestly could have gone at #3. The character concerns are the only thing from keeping the Rosen the top QB in this class, a distinction some have already given him.
16. Baltimore Ravens: WR Courtland Sutton – Adding Michael Crabtree wasn’t enough. This is an offense in dire need of play-makers. The Ravens aren’t that far away from being legitimate contenders.
17. Los Angeles Chargers: DT Da’Ron Payne – Between Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram, the ends of the Chargers defensive line are ridiculous. But, they need a guy in the middle of it.
18. Seattle Seahawks: DE Marcus Davenport – Bye bye, Michael Bennett. It seems the Seahawks dynastic window is closing. They have needs all over the place. But, they’re ecstatic to see such an athlete fall to #18.
19. Dallas Cowboys: LB Leighton Vander Esch – The Cowboys need some help at linebacker, and Vander Esch’s stock is soaring.
20. Detroit Lions: G Isaiah Wynn – The Lions need a total overhaul of their rushing attack. While Sony Michel may be tempting, they can’t pass up the guard help. Plus, it’s a deep RB class. They can grab a guy later.
21. Cincinnati Bengals (from BUF): G Will Hernandez – The Bengals need to continue beefing up their offensive line, and there isn’t really a CB that warrants selection here.
22. Buffalo Bills (from KC): QB Baker Mayfield – Well, well, well – the Bills stay put and end up with Mayfield anyway. I think he’s the best QB in this class.
23. Los Angeles Rams: LB Rashaan Evans – It almost doesn’t seem fair given the rest of the defensive talent they’ve added, does it? But, the Rams have a need at ILB since Alec Ogletree is gone. With Ridley and Sutton off the board, no WR made sense.
24. Carolina Panthers: DE/OLB Harold Landry – The Panthers, as usual, are in absolute dire need of a true play-maker on offense. But, that’s been the case for a couple of seasons now and they haven’t addressed it. Why would they start now?
25. Tennessee Titans: DE/OLB Sam Hubbard – James Daniels could very well be in play here, as the Titans have expressed an interest in him. But, pass rusher is the greatest need, and the team’s pretty interested in Hubbard just as well.
26. Atlanta Falcons: TE Hayden Hurst – Certainly don’t like the departure of Dontari Poe, but the Falcons have been searching for an elite TE since the retirement of Tony Gonzalez. Hurst is the best in the draft.
27. New Orleans Saints: G/C James Daniels – Keep feeding the beasts in Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara, and keep beefing up that offensive line.
28. Pittsburgh Steelers: S Ronnie Harrison – The Steelers don’t have a lot of serious needs. I anticipate they’ll be in a sort of ‘best player available’ mode. But, safety is probably their biggest need. I wouldn’t be surprised to see them go LB or even QB here.
29. Jacksonville Jaguars: WR Christian Kirk – I have no idea what the Jags are doing on offense. I like the idea of Lamar Jackson coming to town, but it seems like this regime is content with Blake Bortles. They absolutely can’t afford to pass on a WR here.
30. Minnesota Vikings: G/C Billy Price – He’s the best interior lineman on the board and solidifying the unit in front of prize free agent quarterback Kirk Cousins should be priority numero uno.
31. New England Patriots: CB Joshua Jackson – The Pats need a replacement for Malcolm Butler.
32. Philadelphia Eagles: WR D.J. Moore – The Eagles could use the chance to stockpile more weapons on offense. With the loss of Trey Burton, there’s a chance they go TE here, but I like the addition of Moore.
Check back next week for the 2.0.
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD and #BeBetter. “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Alabama Crimson Tide football, the WWE, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
Buy our shirt. Like us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter @SoBrosNetwork. Listen on SoundCloud. Watch on YouTube. Shop our store on Redbubble.
