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. Updates will be denoted week-to-week. Welcome to the thunderdome.
Changes this week: #5 Denver, #7 Tampa Bay, #9 San Francisco, #12 Buffalo, #16 Baltimore, #22 Buffalo, #23 New England, #25 Tennessee, #31 New England.
Big Natural’s 2018 NFL Mock Draft 2.0
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. **UPDATED** Denver Broncos: G Quenton Nelson – I love Minkah Fitzpatrick here, but I just can’t convince myself that the Broncos will pass over a dire need with an o-line prospect such as Nelson on the board. It’s time to give this pipe dream up.
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. **UPDATED** Tampa Bay Buccaneers: CB/S Minkah Fitzpatrick – The Bucs signed Jason Pierre-Paul and Vinny Curry, so I don’t think they’ll need as much help in the pass rush any longer. Secondary now becomes a concern since there’s no running back worth taking here.
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. **UPDATED** San Francisco 49ers: S Derwin James – The Niners need a playmaker on offense, but who am I kidding? It’s way too early for Calvin Ridley. They end up with maybe the best safety in this draft class.
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. **UPDATED** Buffalo Bills (from CIN): QB Baker Mayfield – I still think there’s a good chance the Bills try to move up to grab a QB. But, if they can stay put at #12 and land Mayfield, they’d be getting the best QB in this draft class in my opinion.
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. **UPDATED** Baltimore Ravens: WR Calvin Ridley – Would’ve mocked him here before but he was off the board to SF. The Ravens would be ecstatic to see Ridley fall to #16.
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. **UPDATED** Buffalo Bills (from KC): WR Courtland Sutton – The Bills get Mayfield at #12. Now, it’s time to get him some upgraded weaponry.
23. **UPDATED** New England Patriots: CB Josh Jackson – The Pats still need help in the secondary, but the way Jackson has been rising up draft boards, they’ll have to use their newly acquired 23rd pick to get him.
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. **UPDATED** Tennessee Titans: ILB Rashaan Evans – Evans was off the board in 1.0. Right now, I think I’m leaning on this selection being either Evans, Landry, or Sam Hubbard. Evans is the best in my mind.
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. **UPDATED** New England Patriots: DE/OLB Sam Hubbard – The Pats’ pass rush had no teeth in the Super Bowl and it cost them dearly. Time for an upgrade.
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 3.0.
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
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