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: #3 New York, #8 Chicago, #10 Oakland, #11 Miami, #13 Washington, #15 Arizona, #31 New England
BIG NATURAL’S 2018 NFL MOCK DRAFT 4.0
1. Cleveland Browns: QB Josh Allen – Okay, I’m finally going to cave in to the pressure. There’s an awful lot of smoke for there not to be fire. Reports are coming out this week that the Browns are leaning Allen – he fits what John Dorsey wants in a quarterback and scouts say he’s a better fit with Todd Haley. So, I’m going to buckle.
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. **UPDATE** New York Jets (from IND): QB Baker Mayfield – I think the Jets are the only team that I’ve changed my mind on each and every week that I’ve done this mock. It’s obvious they want a quarterback, but it’s not so obvious which one they want. First it was Josh Allen, then it was Josh Rosen, now reports are coming out that they’re all in on Mayfield. Can we just get the draft over with already?
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: 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. 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. **UPDATE** Chicago Bears: LB Tremaine Edmunds – 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. I think Roquan Smith’s projected slide is legit, so Edmunds is the call.
9. 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. **UPDATE** Oakland Raiders: DT Vita Vea – I’m finally going to bite on the Raiders wanting defensive line help. I’ve pegged linebacker and defensive back as bigger needs, but with Edmunds off the board and Smith’s tumble, I think Vea is the better value here.
11. **UPDATE** Miami Dolphins: LB Roquan Smith – I just can’t buy that Smith is going to fall past Miami. They need a boost in the pass rush
12. Buffalo Bills (from CIN): QB Sam Darnold – I really don’t see Darnold slipping to #12, but since I don’t mock trades, he goes to the next QB-needy team. I’d imagine the Bills would be ecstatic to see him fall to them here.
13. **UPDATE** Washington Redskins: CB Joshua Jackson – The R-Words need some help in the secondary and Jackson’s stock is SOARING as of late. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him come off the board here at all.
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. **UPDATE** Arizona Cardinals: QB Josh Rosen – The quarterback carousel continues. Seems like I’ve mocked Rosen to four different teams. But, that seems to be the book on the guy. I can’t remember a more polarizing quarterback prospect. But, the Cards need their guy.
16. 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 – The Seahawks need to rebuild their defense. Luckily, Davenport has the tools to become one of those foundational pieces.
19. Dallas Cowboys: WR D.J. Moore – Sure, they added Allen Hurns in free agency, but this receiving corps is on the brink of implosion. It looks like the Dez Bryant days are numbered. Jason Witten is still serviceable, but he’s not a game breaker anymore. Terrance Williams can’t stay healthy. It’s time to start thinking about the future.
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): WR Courtland Sutton – The Bills get Darnold at #12. Now, it’s time to get him some upgraded weaponry.
23. New England Patriots: LB Leighton Vander Esch – The Pats need some help in the pass rush, as it was completely anemic in the Super Bowl. Luckily, a pass rush specialist is available with their first pick.
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: 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. **UPDATE** New England Patriots: CB Jaire Alexander – The Pats need a replacement for Malcolm Butler. Alexander stole the show at the scouting combine. He could go as high as #13 to Washington, though.
32. Philadelphia Eagles: DE/OLB Sam Hubbard – The Eagles won the Super Bowl, okay? They obviously don’t have many dire needs. That’s why I think they use this opportunity to keep beefing up their defense. Hubbard is a weapon and a steal should he last to #32.
Check back next week for my FINAL mock draft of the year!
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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