Josh Allen

Jordan Katz: Prediction Mock Draft 1.0

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Welcome to the first prediction mock draft of 2018. This is the more conventional mock draft where I attempt to get every selection correct. In other words, this is the mock draft where I bash my head against a wall while trying to figure out which rumors have merit and which ones are smoke screens. There will be some massive changes here before the actual draft in late April, but this is what I think each team would do if the draft was tomorrow.

ROUND ONE

1) Cleveland Browns: Sam Darnold, QB USC- The number one overall pick from five months ago is back in his rightful spot. Having acquired Tyrod Taylor just a few weeks ago, the Browns are no longer forced to start the quarterback they select in this draft. Darnold has the highest upside of any quarterback in the draft, which makes him the ideal choice.

2) Buffalo Bills via New York Giants: Josh Allen, QB Wyoming- It’s going to be a tough sell to Giants fans if the new regime does not select Saquon Barkley at two, but I think it’s the right decision. The opportunity to haul three first round picks doesn’t come around often.

Buffalo comes up to select their quarterback of the future, and the present.

3) New York Jets via Indianapolis Colts: Baker Mayfield, QB Oklahoma- Speaking of quarterbacks of the future, the Jets gave three second round picks plus their sixth overall selection to get theirs. Gang Green has already met with Mayfield four times, including a private workout. If he’s on the board, the Jets are taking Baker Mayfield.

4) Cleveland Browns via Houston Texans: Saquon Barkley, RB Penn State- Many felt that Saquon Barkley was going to go first overall, and the logic behind that was sound. However, this is the reason it was never going to happen. By taking a quarterback at one, the Browns force the other quarterback needy teams to trade up if they want their guy. This lets Barkley fall to four, and right into the lap of General Manager John Dorsey.

5) Denver Broncos: Josh Rosen, QB UCLA- I think the reason the Jets made the move up to the third selection was to jump the Broncos. The Jets are ensured to land a QB they want, and Denver has to stay put at five and take whatever QB falls. In this case, that quarterback is Rosen.

6) Indianapolis Colts via New York Jets: Bradley Chubb, EDGE NC State- The Colts did a phenomenal job getting the Jets to overpay for the value of the third selection. With four picks in the top 64, the Colts have a ton of draft flexibility. Chubb is not only the best player available, but he’s the best player available at a position of need. Easy pick.

7) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Minkah Fitzpatrick, CB/FS/SS Alabama- The Buccaneers need impact defensive players and they’ve met with Fitzpatrick on a number of occasions. This seems like another easy selection.

8) Chicago Bears: Quenton Nelson, OG Notre Dame- Nelson hasn’t been linked to the Bears, but this is too much value to pass on. The Bears offensive line becomes one of the best units in the league with this pick.

9) San Francisco 49ers: Connor Williams, OT/OG Texas- The Niners still need some help along their offensive line. Williams has the athleticism to translate to multiple positions, giving the Niners the versatility to place him wherever they need him.

10) Oakland Raiders: Denzel Ward, CB Ohio State- The Raiders have a lot of options at this pick. Ideally, Connor Williams is on the board to help them rebuild their offensive line. If he’s not, addressing defensive needs is a good way to go. 

11) Miami Dolphins: Vita Vea, DT/NT Washington- I’m not sure how Vea and Jordan Phillips are going to line up next to each other in a 4-3, but the Dolphins don’t appear to be concerned. They met with Vea at the combine and, according to reports, came away impressed. Vea is one of the top five players in the class and incredibly athletic for his size. If Vea goes here and it works, the Dolphins front four becomes one of the best in football.

12) New York Giants from Buffalo Bills via Cincinnati Bengals: Tremaine Edmunds, EDGE/OLB Virginia Tech- By trading down, the Giants are able to acquire three first round picks and select a player that helps them complete their schematic change to a 3-4 under new defensive coordinator James Bettcher. Edmunds has the versatility to line up at multiple spots, he has tremendous athleticism, and he still doesn’t turn 20 years old until after the draft!

13) Washington Redskins: Roquan Smith, ILB Georgia- Smith would be a perfect fit in the middle of Washington’s 3-4 defense. Even though Washington hasn’t met with Smith yet, that doesn’t mean that they won’t. Nor does it stop them from taking him if he were to fall into their lap.

14) Green Bay Packers: Derwin James, FS/SS Florida State- The Packers have met with very few prospects thus far, so this is more of an educated guess on my part. Green Bay actually has more roster holes than people may realize, and a big one is in the secondary. After losing Morgan Burnett and Damarious Randall, the Packers have to get some secondary pieces from a strong defensive back class.

15) Arizona Cardinals: Calvin Ridley, WR Alabama- The Cardinals receiving core is a mess. Calvin Ridley is number one on many scouts board at the receiver position, and the gap between him and the next person is considered to be very big. 

16) Detroit Lions via Baltimore Ravens: Marcus Davenport, EDGE UTSA- Detroit has met with Davenport multiple times thus far; he appears to be the guy they trust the most off the edge in this draft.

I think Ozzie Newsome has one more trade down in store for his final draft as general manager. Baltimore is in a good spot to go down a few spots if Ridley goes in front of them.

17) Los Angeles Chargers: Kolton Miller, OT UCLA- Miller is someone who hasn’t been in either of my personal mock drafts (I have a third round grade on him), but he is someone the media and scouts seem to like very much. It wouldn’t shock me if Miller cracked the top ten come April. Los Angeles needs a tackle, so they take advantage of Miller sliding a bit.

18) Pittsburgh Steelers via Seattle Seahawks: Derrius Guice, RB LSU- The Steelers met with Guice at the combine which has led to speculation of Pittsburgh selecting him in round one. Despite using the franchise tag on Le’Veon Bell, it’s no secret that the Steelers are struggling to lock him up long term.

Seattle needs to acquire assets in this draft during this rebuild their attempting to execute. They can use the idea of taking Guice at 18 to tempt the Steelers to come up in order to get their running back of the future.

19) Dallas Cowboys: Isaiah Wynn, OG Georgia- After a phenomenal senior season and a strong last few months, Wynn is going to be a top 20 pick come April. Dallas lost a lot of offensive line depth and still need a starter at left guard. They also met with Wynn at the combine. This seems like a good match at 19.

20) Baltimore Ravens via Detroit Lions: James Daniels, G/C Iowa- Baltimore lost Ryan Jensen in free agency, so they have to find a starting center in this draft. Fortunately for them, this is an incredibly talented interior offensive line group. Baltimore adds a third round pick and takes the center they would have selected at 16.

21) Cincinnati Bengals via Buffalo Bills: Da’Ron Payne, DT Alabama- I know the Bengals like a zero tech playing next to Geno Atkins in their 4-3, but Da’Ron Payne is worth a schematic change. Two athletic defensive tackles would be a matchup problem for opponents. If the Bengals are going to address defensive tackle, maybe a schematic tweak to incorporate the talented Payne is where they should go.

22) New York Giants via Buffalo Bills: Jaire Alexander, CB Louisville- Alexander is considered to be one of the top cover corners from a terrific draft class. After cutting Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, the Giants are either going to the season starting Eli Apple and without a nickel cornerback, or addressing both issues with one selection. I know what I would do.

Editor’s Note: The Giants seem content to address their offensive line issues through free agency, that’s why this pick wasn’t a guard or tackle.

23) Los Angeles Rams: Courtland Sutton, WR SMU- The Rams lost two key players this offseason, Robert Quinn and Sammy Watkins. They only have one pick in the first two rounds, so this selection is either a trade or one of those two positions.

Sutton jumped up draft boards after a strong combine, so even though he’s not high on my personal board, this is a logical spot for him.

24) Carolina Panthers: Isaiah Oliver, CB Colorado- After trading Daryl Worley, and Bashaud Breeland failing his physical, the Panthers must get a corner in the first two rounds. Oliver is another strong cover corner that tested well at the combine. 

25) Tennessee Titans: Leighton Vander Esch, ILB Boise State- Vander Esch is a multi-dimensional linebacker that can contribute to an NFL team from day one. Having lost Avery Williamson to the Jets, the Titans need a middle linebacker next to Wesley Woodyard in their 3-4 base defense.

26) Atlanta Falcons: Taven Bryan, DT Florida- Despite the emergence of Grady Jarrett on the interior, the Falcons defensive line still needs some help. Atlanta loves athletes throughout their front seven, and Bryan is one of the best pound for pound athletes in the class. He may not be technically polished yet, but I bet teams will fall in love with his athleticism and draft him highly on draft day.

27) New Orleans Saints: Lamar Jackson, QB Louisville- The Saints signed Drew Brees to a two year extension, but they are still looking for their quarterback of the future. Jackson has a big arm and his strengths as a passer could be very attractive to an offensive minded coach like Sean Payton.

Editor’s Note: The reason the Saints don’t trade out and take Jackson in round two is to get the potential fifth year option on him. If Drew Brees were to retire and Jackson were to inherit the keys to the franchise, they get three years out of Lamar before needing an extension.

28) Seattle Seahawks via Pittsburgh Steelers: Mike McGlinchey, OT Notre Dame- Let’s see how simple I can make this analysis; the Seattle Seahawks need offensive line help.

29) Jacksonville Jaguars: Rashaan Evans, ILB Alabama- I’m not sure about Evans’ fit in a 4-3 defense, but many scouts appear to think he’s a three down linebacker. If that’s the case, he should make the transition to a 4-3 easily. The Jaguars could also kick Telvin Smith inside and play Evans at 4-3 outside linebacker, so this pick gives them some versatility as well.

30) Minnesota Vikings: Will Hernandez, OG UTEP- Minnesota’s offensive line was much improved in 2017, yet it still needs some fine tuning on the interior. Hernandez is a beast in the run game, something the Vikings offense will still lean on even with the addition of Kirk Cousins.

31) New England Patriots: Brian O’Neill, OT Pittsburgh- The Patriots are in an interesting draft position with this first selection. They have a number of team needs, but predicting which one Bill Belichick will value the most is just an impossible task. I think the lack of depth at offensive tackle as well as the loss of Nate Solder means that the Patriots will try to select a tackle at the backend of round one.

O’Neill’s athleticism would be attractive to the Patriots because lineman coach Dante Scarnecchia can teach offensive line technique to the tackling dummies.

32) Tampa Bay Buccaneers via Philadelphia Eagles: Ronald Jones II, RB USC- Philly only has one selection during the first two days of this draft, so they have to trade down here to acquire some assets.

Having missed out on Jerick McKinnon in free agency, the Bucs trade up for Ronald Jones to jump the Giants and Colts, who both need running backs.

Trades In Round One

1) Buffalo Bills trade the #12, #22, #53, a 2019 1st and a 2019 3rd to the New York Giants for the #2 overall pick.

2) Detroit Lions trade the #20 and the #82 to the Baltimore Ravens for the #16 overall pick.

3) Pittsburgh Steelers trade the #28 and the #60 to the Seattle Seahawks for the #18 overall pick.

4) Tampa Bay Buccaneers trade the #38 and the #108 to the Philadelphia Eagles for the #32 overall pick.

Round Two

33) Cleveland Browns: Carlton Davis, CB Auburn

34) New York Giants: Sony Michel, RB Georgia

35) Cleveland Browns via Houston Texans: Tyrell Crosby, OT/OG Oregon

36) Indianapolis Colts: DJ Moore, WR Maryland

37) Indianapolis Colts via New York Jets: Mike Hughes, CB Central Florida

38) Philadelphia Eagles via Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Christian Kirk, WR Texas A&M

39) Chicago Bears: Harold Landry, EDGE Boston College

40) Denver Broncos: Mo Hurst, DE/DT Michigan

41) Oakland Raiders: Martinas Rankin, OT Mississippi State

42) Miami Dolphins: Kerryon Johnson, RB Auburn

43) New England Patriots via San Francisco 49ers: Josh Jackson, CB Iowa

44) Washington Redskins: Billy Price, OG/OC Ohio State

45) Green Bay Packers: Braden Smith, OG Auburn

46) Cincinnati Bengals: Austin Corbett, OL Nevada

47) Arizona Cardinals: Arden Key, EDGE LSU

48) Los Angeles Chargers: Justin Reid, FS Stanford

49) Indianapolis Colts from New York Jets via Seattle Seahawks: Ronnie Harrison, SS Alabama

50) Dallas Cowboys: Dante Pettis, WR Washington

51) Detroit Lions: Donte Jackson, CB LSU

52) Baltimore Ravens: Dallas Goedert, TE South Dakota State

53) New York Giants via Buffalo Bills: Orlando Brown, OT Oklahoma

54) Kansas City Chiefs: MJ Stewart, CB North Carolina

55) Carolina Panthers: Jessie Bates, FS/SS Wake Forest

56) Buffalo Bills via Los Angeles Rams: Malik Jefferson, ILB Texas

57) Tennessee Titans: Genard Avery, LB Memphis

58) Atlanta Falcons: DJ Chark, WR LSU

59) San Francisco 49ers via New Orleans Saints: Josh Sweat, EDGE Florida State

60) Seattle Seahawks via Pittsburgh Steelers: Sam Hubbard, EDGE Ohio State

61) Jacksonville Jaguars: Joseph Noteboom, OT TCU

62) Minnesota Vikings: Harrison Phillips, DL Stanford

63) New England Patriots: Mark Andrews, TE Oklahoma

64) Cleveland Browns via Philadelphia Eagles: Nathan Shepard, DT Fort Wayne State

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Jordan Katz- 2018 NFL Mock Draft 1.0: Two Rounds

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Finally… Jordan Katz HAS COME BACK to the land of Mock Drafts! Now that the regular season has finished, it’s officially the offseason for 20 NFL teams. This year’s offseason packs more of a punch than normal years because of the amount of quarterbacks on the market. Not only will guys like Kirk Cousins and Alex Smith most likely be free agents, but there’s a ton of quarterbacks worthy of high selections. Quarterback play dictates the success of each team and this year will be full of quarterback changes.

This year’s draft has a ton of talent elsewhere too. Offensive line is loaded, the playmakers on offense and defense are better than people think, and there are some explosive edge rushers.

As always with my mock drafts, this is my personal opinion of what each team should do at each selection. Unlike other mock drafts you may see online, I like to include potential trades. Mock Drafts should be your own evaluation of the players and team needs. If that’s the case, why not throw in a trade if it makes sense?

A few notes before getting started. For the sake of the mock draft, I assumed Kirk Cousins returned to Washington. The entire offseason will change the minute Cousins signs somewhere. However, without any information as to where he could wind up, I had him re-sign.

The second note of importance is that Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson are not in my first two rounds (I currently have a 3rd round grade on both). While some in the mock draft community love these two, I think they both have a lot of technical work that they need to improve on. Neither are particularly accurate either.

The best time of the year is upon us: Mock Draft season. Let’s get to it!

ROUND ONE

1) Cleveland Browns: Josh Rosen, QB UCLA- In my opinion, Rosen is the top quarterback in the draft right now. Rosen, Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield are very close on my personal board, but what separates Rosen from the other two is his physical attributes. He’s got NFL size and mobility, he’s the best pure passer in the draft, and he did it all with very little talent around him. If the Browns don’t grab a quarterback this year, I think Roger Goodell has to make them fold as a franchise.

2) Denver Broncos via New York Giants: Sam Darnold, QB USC- The Giants are in the same position the Dallas Cowboys were in a few years ago. They’re a talented team that underachieved, and now they sit with a top five pick. Just like Dallas, that gives you two options; take the best player available or trade down. While the Cowboys wound up with their quarterback of the future in that draft, many people forget the plan was for Tony Romo to play a few more seasons, not for Dak Prescott to start day one.

That year I suggested it was in the Cowboys best interest to trade down. It’s very rare that you get a free opportunity to acquire draft assets. So, with the Giants content on playing Eli for a few more seasons, I would have the Giants trade down.

With plenty of offers to choose from, the Giants trade down to the Broncos pick. This keeps them in the top five, and gets the Broncos their franchise quarterback on a cheap contract.

Editor’s Note: Despite his down year, Darnold still translates well for the NFL. He’s got an NFL arm, good size, mobility and he can make any throw. I believe the kinks will get worked out and he will become a quality NFL quarterback.

3) New York Jets via Indianapolis Colts: Baker Mayfield, QB Oklahoma- Once again, the Jets enter a draft not having a franchise quarterback. Mayfield is tailor-made for a west coast system. He’s got a bigger arm than people think, he’s incredibly accurate, and most importantly for the Jets, he’s a true leader. The Heisman Trophy winner would thrive under the bright lights of the “Big Apple.” 

Editor’s Note: Regardless of how much their owner wants Saquon Barkley, the Colts need so much that they have to trade down and acquire assets.

4) Cleveland Browns via Houston Texans: Saquon Barkley, RB Penn State- Let’s make this simple; Saquon Barkley is the best prospect in this draft. He’s the best running back prospect since Adrian Peterson. He’s a better pro prospect than Ezekiel Elliott, Leonard Fournette, and Christian McCaffrey. If the Browns can land him at four, that could go a long way towards expediting their rebuild that’s been going on since 1999.

5) New York Giants via Denver Broncos: Quenton Nelson, OG Notre Dame- The Giants have to find an offensive line this year if they want any chance of competing next season. Nelson is the top offensive lineman in the draft. His game is complete and he’s a team captain, something the Giants organization loves.

6) Indianapolis Colts via New York Jets: Connor Williams, OT Texas- Hey Indy, quick thought on the future of your franchise. If you want Andrew Luck to succeed, then maybe it’s time to GET HIM AN OFFENSIVE LINE!

7) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Bradley Chubb, DE NC State- The Buccaneers need a number of things this offseason, and at the top of that list is an edge rusher. Chubb is a fluid athlete with the ability to dip and bend effortlessly around the edge. His instincts and ability to win at the point of attack make him a three down player, something the Bucs desperately need up front.

8) Chicago Bears: Minkah Fitzpatrick, CB/FS/SS Alabama- Jamal Adams 2.0 this year will be Minkah Fitzpatrick. He’s got the talent to go higher, but because of needs he may fall into some team’s lap. Fitzpatrick has the ball skills to play safety and the press cover ability to line up at corner. Easy pick for a team that needs a game changer in their secondary.

9) San Francisco 49ers: Arden Key, EDGE LSU- Arden Key came out of the gate slow this year. However, when he got back to his normal playing weight, scouts were able to see the athleticism and move-set that made Key a top pick preseason.

The Niners have to get Jimmy Garoppolo some targets this offseason, but in my opinion, there are no top ten caliber receivers in this class just yet. Having failed to trade down, the Niners take the best player at a position of need.

10) Oakland Raiders: Roquan Smith, ILB Georgia- Smith plays downhill with aggression, he’s a terrific tackler, and he’s a rangy linebacker. The Raiders need an anchor in the middle of their defense. Smith would have an immediate impact on a team that allowed the second most yards per game on the ground.

11) Miami Dolphins: Tremaine Edmunds, OLB/EDGE Virginia Tech- Edmunds is an athletic freak with the ability to play in off coverage as well as rush the passer. His tape is impressive for someone that is still developing. Edmunds could dominate as a LEO linebacker at the next level.    

12) Cincinnati Bengals: Mike McGlinchey, OT Notre Dame- The Bengals offensive line struggled during the 2017 season. McGlinchey is a plug and play right tackle from day one. He is great at attacking defensive lineman on running downs, getting his hands on quickly and gaining leverage to dictate where the lineman goes. 

13) Green Bay Packers: Braden Smith, OT/OG Auburn- Just like the Colts, the Packers are desperate for a solid offensive line. Yes, some of the Packers issues are more about injuries than a lack of talent, but there’s still work to be done. Smith is a terrific run blocker, and his athleticism will make him a successful guard at the next level.

14) Washington Redskins: Derwin James, FS/SS Florida State- James might be the enigma of the first round. He has got a ton of talent, but his effort was nowhere to be found in 2017. If that’s a concern for GM’s, he could fall out of round one with a bad combine. If he has a good combine, it should put the effort rumors to bed, seeing as half of Florida State’s squad was injured this year.

15) Arizona Cardinals: Orlando Brown, OT Oklahoma- Brown had a really strong 2017 campaign where he showed all the traits of a pro bowl left tackle. He’s more athletic after cutting weight, which has improved his footwork drastically. The Cardinals are desperate for a quarterback of the future, but with the big three off the board (and me not being a fan of Josh Allen) it’s better to take talent at a different position than reaching for a quarterback.

16) Baltimore Ravens: Anthony Miller, WR Memphis- Allow me to introduce you to the best receiver in this draft and the one no one is talking about. Miller runs picturesque routes; he is one of the quickest receivers in the draft. He makes catches with his hands first, he can high point the ball extremely well, and he makes a ton of contested catches. The All American from Memphis would give Joe Flacco a legitimate target, something the Ravens desperately need.

17) Atlanta Falcons via Los Angeles Chargers: Christian Wilkins, DT Clemson- It’s a crime shame that Wilkins fell this far. His hands are incredibly fast, he’s terrific at gaining leverage and controlling gaps, and in case you thought his game had weaknesses, he’s got the move-set and athleticism to dominate as an interior pass rusher. Atlanta will be in need of a defensive tackle after Dontari Poe leaves, so they trade up to land a game changer in the middle.

18) Seattle Seahawks: Derrius Guice, RB LSU- I know the Seahawks need offensive line, but one of the reasons their offense stalled at times this year was a lack of a true running game. Guice is an incredibly talented back with the ability to change the dynamic of the Seahawks offense.

19) Dallas Cowboys: Dante Pettis, WR Washington- With the rapid decline of Dez Bryant, pass catcher has become priority number one for the ‘Boys. Pettis’ deep threat ability could provide a true home run threat to the Cowboys passing game. It would also help alleviate coverage from 88, which could help him bounce back in 2018.

20) Detroit Lions: Marcus Davenport, EDGE UTSA- Credit to former Draftstock contributor Mike Reynolds for this call. Back in late October, Mike told me to look out for Davenport as a first rounder, and boy was he right. Davenport is long and athletic with the move-set to match. He dips and bends around the edge with ease as well. He would be an immediate upgrade to a team that has to rush the passer better in 2018.

21) Buffalo Bills: Christian Kirk, WR Texas A&M- What a tremendous job Sean McDermott and his staff did this year in Buffalo. Despite an offense that doesn’t scare you on paper and a young defensive unit, McDermott has the Bills back in the playoffs for the first time in 18 years. If the Bills want to make it back to back appearances in 2018, then they will need to get more weapons for Tyrod Taylor.

Kirk is an explosive route runner with good hands and a quick release. His presence would give the Bills a chain mover on the outside.

22)  Los Angeles Chargers via Atlanta Falcons- Chukwuma Okorafor, OT Western Michigan- Priority number one for the Chargers this offseason is upgrading the offensive tackle position. In a year with plenty of offensive line prospects to go around, this puts them in an excellent position to trade down, acquire assets, and still select a quality lineman.

Okorafor “checks all the boxes,” in terms of his measurements and athletic ability, but he’s still fairly raw in terms of his technique. What makes him an attractive prospect, in my opinion, is the fact that he’s already played both tackle positions despite picking up the game of football at a later age. That shows a knowledge and passion for the game that you can’t teach.

23) Tennessee Titans: Clelin Ferrell, EDGE Clemson- Tennessee needs to get younger and more athletic up front in 2018. Derrick Morgan and Brian Orakpo are both free agents after next season, and the Titans need to start saving money to re-sign Marcus Mariota. Ferrell has a quick first step and terrific athletic ability off the edge. I like him better in a 4-3, but he’s got the versatility to play both systems in the NFL at a high level.

24) Carolina Panthers: Denzel Ward, CB Ohio State- Do not sleep on this cornerback class. As a group, they may not have the size and athleticism of years past, but there are plenty of guys with the technique to succeed at the next level. Ward has good ball skills and he is terrific when trailing receivers. He’s one of the best athletes in the entire draft class as well. Pairing him with James Bradberry would make for an underrated secondary tandem in Carolina.

25) Buffalo Bills via Kansas City Chiefs: Vita Vea, NT Washington- The Bills were 29th in the NFL in rushing defense. They have to clean that up if they want to take the next step defensively in 2018. Vea is a space eating monster with the athleticism to rush the passer if left isolated. He would have an immediate impact on the middle of the Bills defense.

26) New Orleans Saints: Ronnie Harrison, SS Alabama- It’s hard for Alabama defenders to be “under the radar,” during draft season, yet this year they all are going unnoticed. Harrison is a hard hitting safety with freaky athleticism. He also shows enough knowledge and ball skills in coverage to be a multi-dimensional safety at the next level. Kenny Vaccaro is a free agent this year, so finding a cheap option to replace him makes sense for a team that needs to re-sign Drew Brees.

27) Jacksonville Jaguars: Billy Price, OG/OC Ohio State- Price translates well at guard and center at the next level. He’s intelligent, good at the point of attack, and he sees the second level well in the running game. Price would add more stability to an improving offensive line in Jacksonville.

28) Los Angeles Rams: Jaire Alexander, CB Louisville- Even if the Rams sign Trumaine Johnson to an extension, they still need a number two corner in the offseason. Alexander is my top cover corner in the draft, but his size (he will most likely measure in at 5’10) and his health concerns put him below Davis and Ward on my big board. Despite these concerns, if Alexander opts to enter the 2018 NFL Draft, his ball skills and technique should make him a top 40 selection with ease.

29) Pittsburgh Steelers: Rashaan Evans, ILB Alabama- This is a bit of a reach for me, but the Steelers are so desperate for an inside linebacker. With the uncertainty of whether Ryan Shazier will ever play in the NFL again, the Steelers need a run stopping signal caller in the middle of their defense. Evans can be just that.

30) Minnesota Vikings: Da’Ron Payne, DT Alabama- Payne’s athleticism and quickness off the ball would allow him to thrive next to a space eater like Linval Joseph. After the loss of Sharrif Floyd, the Vikings need to find someone to play next to Joseph in order to keep their defense “tip top,” in 2018.

31) Philadelphia Eagles: Martinas Rankin, OT Mississippi State- Philadelphia needs to bolster their offensive line this offseason. Jason Peters is an aging veteran coming off of an injury and Halapoulivaati Vaitai didn’t show the ability to be his replacement.

I’m a big fan of offensive lineman that possess good technique and have played multiple positions because it shows the knowledge needed to play the game at the next level. That is Martinas Rankin.

32) New England Patriots: Josh Jackson, CB Iowa- Whatever we collectively thought New England’s secondary was going to be this year, it surely was not. Now the Patriots are set to lose Malcolm Butler to free agency, with Eric Rowe and Jonathan Jones set to be free agents the year after. Jackson is a lengthy corner with great ball skills and a really good understanding of technique in tight coverage as well as off coverage. He’s a perfect fit in New England.

TRADES IN ROUND ONE

1) Denver Broncos trade the #5, #37 a 2019 1st and a 2019 3rd to the New York Giants for the #2 overall pick.

2) New York Jets trade the #6, #50 and a 2019 1st round pick to the Indianapolis Colts for the #3 and a 2019 3rd round pick.

3) Atlanta Falcons trade the #22, #86 and a 2019 3rd round pick to the Los Angeles Chargers for the #17 and the #161

 

ROUND TWO

33) Cleveland Browns: Isaiah Oliver, CB Colorado

34) New York Giants: Brian O’Neill, OT Pittsburgh

35) Indianapolis Colts: Hercules Mata’Afa, EDGE Washington State

36) Cleveland Browns via Houston Texans: DeShon Elliott, FS Texas

37) New York Giants via Denver Broncos: Ronald Jones II, RB USC

38) New York Jets: Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, OLB Oklahoma

39) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Justin Reid, FS Stanford

40) Chicago Bears: Calvin Ridley, WR Alabama

41) New England Patriots via San Francisco 49ers: Ryan Finley, QB NC State

42) Oakland Raiders: Holton Hill, CB Texas

43) Miami Dolphins: Will Hernandez, OG UTEP

44) Cincinnati Bengals: Mike Edwards, FS/SS Kentucky

45) Green Bay Packers: Frank Ragnow, OG/OC Arkansas

46) Washington Redskins: Tegray Scales, OLB/ILB Indiana

47) Arizona Cardinals: Jarrett Stidham, QB Auburn

48) Baltimore Ravens: Dallas Goedert, TE South Dakota State

49) Los Angeles Chargers: Malik Jefferson, ILB Texas

50) Indianapolis Colts from New York Giants via Seattle Seahawks: Kendall Joseph, ILB Clemson

51) Dallas Cowboys: Josh Allen, OLB Kentucky

52) Detroit Lions: Wyatt Teller, OG Virginia Tech

53) Buffalo Bills: Mitch Hyatt, OT Clemson

54) Atlanta Falcons: Michael Gallup, WR Colorado State

55) Tennessee Titans: Harrison Phillips, DL Stanford

56) Carolina Panthers: Sam Hubbard, EDGE Ohio State

57) Kansas City Chiefs: Mason Cole, OL Michigan

58) San Francisco 49ers via New Orleans Saints: Quenton Meeks, CB Stanford

59) Jacksonville Jaguars: Mark Andrews, TE Oklahoma

60) Buffalo Bills via Los Angeles Rams: Jamarco Jones, OT Ohio State

61) Pittsburgh Steelers: Bryce Love, RB Stanford

62) Minnesota Vikings: Uchenna Nwosu, OLB USC

63) Cleveland Browns via Philadelphia Eagles: DJ Moore, WR Maryland

64) New England Patriots: Dorance Armstrong Jr., EDGE Kansas

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