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Beginning today, the NFL Combine airs on the NFL Network. With that in mind, here’s my pre-Combine mock draft:
1st Round:
1. Cleveland Browns - Sam Darnold, QB, Southern California
The Browns have to take a quarterback here. Although all three top passers have their flaws, Darnold has the biggest upside. Besides, Rosen already came out and said he doesn’t want to end up in Cleveland.
2. New York Giants - Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA
The Giants need a replacement for Eli Manning. Taking Rosen here would allow New York to redshirt him for a year instead of forcing him into the starting lineup.
3. Indianapolis Colts - Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State
The Colts must capitalize on this golden opportunity to get Andrew Luck some help, and they can do that by taking Barkley, who will be a star in short order.
4. Cleveland Browns - Minkah Fitzpatrick, DB, Alabama
After getting their franchise signal-caller in Darnold, the Browns add Fitzpatrick, a versatile defender who will most likely line-up at corner in 2018.
5. Denver Broncos - Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming
What the Broncos do on draft night very much depends on how they address the quarterback position in free agency. Let’s assume Kirk Cousins lands elsewhere, and John Elway drafts another young QB.
6. New York Jets - Bradley Chubb, EDGE, NC State
The Jets are in a tough spot here. With all of the top QBs off the board, they shouldn’t reach for Mayfield. Take the sure thing; Chubb is a safe bet. A great pass rusher can never hurt.
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Quenton Nelson, G, Notre Dame
Tampa Bay had major problems protecting Jameis Winston and creating running lanes for the Bucs ball-carriers in 2017. Taking a guard in the top 10 isn’t flashy, but Nelson is a day-one starter and a possible rookie pro-bowler.
8. Chicago Bears - Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama
Although his numbers at Alabama don’t show it, Ridley is an elite receiving prospect. Getting Mitchell Trubisky a talented target out wide should be a priority in Chicago, and Ridley is a perfect fit.
9. Oakland Raiders - Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State
Khalil Mack needs some help on the defensive side of the ball, and Ohio State’s Denzel Ward is an elite cover corner. Oakland could take a linebacker here as well, but Ward is too talented to pass up.
10. San Francisco 49ers - Derwin James, S, Florida State
The 49ers desperately need a corner. However, after Denzel Ward, there is no one worthy of a top 10 pick. James is one of the best pure football players in this class, similar to Minkah Fitzpatrick in that he can play all over the field.
11. Miami Dolphins - Tremaine Edmunds, LB, Virginia Tech
Edmunds has been a trendy player of late, overtaking Georgia's Roquan Smith as the consensus top linebacking prospect. He has an impressive build (6’5, 250) and runs well.
12. Cincinnati Bengals - Connor Williams, T, Texas
Offensive line issues have plagued the Bengals in recent years (Andy Dalton has been sacked 80 times over the past two seasons). Williams can start at left tackle on day one.
13. Washington Redskins - Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia
Smith was widely regarded as college football’s best defender in 2017. A true sideline-to-sideline ‘backer who also has the physicality to stuff the run between the tackles.
14. Green Bay Packers - Josh Jackson, CB, Iowa
Davon House, Damarious Randall, Lenzy Pipkins, and Josh Hawkins. Those were Green Bay’s corners in 2017. Jackson would provide much needed talent in a depleted secondary.
15. Arizona Cardinals - Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma
As of now, the Cardinals don’t have a single quarterback under contract. Also, playing in a dome on the West Coast would suit Mayfield’s frame and style of play well.
16. Baltimore Ravens - Billy Price, C/G, Ohio State
Interior offensive line is an area of need for Baltimore, and Price is as safe as they come in terms of line prospects.
17. Los Angeles Chargers - Vita Vea, DT, Washington
The Chargers already have two stud defensive linemen in Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram, but adding Vita Vea to the equation would give LA a truly elite defensive front, as Vea provides top-notch run support.
18. Seattle Seahawks - Mike McGlinchey, T, Notre Dame
Seattle needs to do a better job protecting Russell Wilson, who has never played behind a good offensive line in his career. McGlinchey, similar to his collegiate teammate Quenton Nelson, would start immediately for the Seahawks. Defensive back would make sense here, too.
19. Dallas Cowboys - Da’Ron Payne, DT, Alabama
Payne’s stock as risen quite a bit after his dominant performances in the CFB Playoff. The Cowboys ranked in the bottom half of the league in yards per carry allowed in last year, so Payne would be a welcome addition to the Dallas front seven.
20. Detroit Lions - Rashaan Evans, LB, Alabama
With Matt Patricia taking over as head coach in Detroit, expect him to build the Lions defense in a similar fashion to his units in New England. Defenders should be versatile and (preferably) from Alabama. Evans is both.
21. Buffalo Bills - Maurice Hurst, DT, Michigan
The Bills are a team that may look to trade into the top five for a top quarterback, and they’ve got the assets to do it with these two first round picks. But we’ll assume they stay put and take Hurst along with an interior pass rusher with big upside.
22. Buffalo Bills - Orlando Brown, T, Oklahoma
Buffalo doubles down on the men in the trenches by taking Brown, who was the cornerstone of the offensive line that protected Baker Mayfield so well for the last three seasons.
23. Los Angeles Rams - Malik Jefferson, LB, Texas
Athleticism. That is what Malik Jefferson possesses. Coming out of high school, Jefferson put up a 4.38 40-yard dash at The Opening to go along with a 4.19 shuttle and 39.7-inch vertical. The Texas product is the prototypical modern day NFL linebacker. Think Deion Jones. LA was 30th in yards per carry allowed last year, so using a high pick on a front seven defender would be wise.
24. Carolina Panthers - Mike Hughes, CB, UCF
Hughes is a ball-hawk, recording 4 INTs and breaking up 11 passes in 2017. The Panthers ranked 24th in interceptions last year, and Hughes would help in this regard.
25. Tennessee Titans - Harold Landry, EDGE, Boston College
The Titans defense was incredibly solid this past year but lacked a dominant pass rusher, which was painfully evident as Tom Brady picked them apart in the postseason. Landry has the potential to be that guy.
26. Atlanta Falcons - Arden Key, EDGE, LSU
The Falcons could add another offensive playmaker in the first round, but Key has Pro Bowl talent, and if developed well, will become one of the league’s premier pass rushers. Once considered a top prospect, his stock fell after a disappointing year at LSU.
27. New Orleans Saints - Marcus Davenport, EDGE, UTEP
Following suit with the Falcons, the Saints take a raw pass rusher in hopes that he can develop into a dominant force off the edge. Davenport didn’t face top competition at UTEP, but he has the athleticism to compete in the NFL.
28. Pittsburgh Steelers - Ronnie Harrison, S, Alabama
In general, taking a defensive player from Alabama is a pretty safe bet. Harrison can run, hit, and cover. He’s a guy that could (try) to match up with Rob Gronkowski in a potential AFC Championship matchup.
29. Jacksonville Jaguars - Hayden Hurst, TE, South Carolina
A quarterback’s security blanket is often a reliable, play-making tight end. The Jags recently extended Blake Bortles’ contract, and Marcedes Lewis is old. Enter Hayden Hurst, a matchup nightmare from the SEC.
30. Minnesota Vikings - Brian O’Neill, T, Pittsburgh
Whoever is under center for the Vikings next season (Keenum? Bridgewater? Bradford? Cousins?) is going to need better offensive line play then what was provided to Case Keenum in 2017. O’Neill was underrated at Pitt throughout his career, and should be a solid NFL starter at tackle.
31. New England Patriots - Rasheem Green, DL, Southern California
The Patriots need defensive playmakers, and Green is a versatile one. He can line up on the edge and interior in a 4-3 or as a 3-4 end. His pass-rushing skills are much needed in New England.
32. Philadelphia Eagles - Isaiah Oliver, CB, Colorado
The Eagles have one of the most talented rosters top to bottom in the entire league, but one position they lack is corner. Oliver has size (6’1) and speed (4.42 40-yard dash) to become a productive starter.
2nd Round:
33. Cleveland Browns - Chukwuma Okorafor, T, Western Michigan
34. New York Giants - Ronald Jones II, RB, Southern California
35. Cleveland Browns - Sony Michel, RB, Georgia
36. Indianapolis Colts - Martinas Rankin, T, Mississippi State
37. New York Jets - Mason Rudolph, QB, Oklahoma State
38. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Sam Hubbard, EDGE, Ohio State
39. Chicago Bears - Dallas Goedert, TE, South Dakota State
40. Denver Broncos - Isaiah Wynn, G, Georgia
41. Oakland Raiders - Jerome Baker, LB, Ohio State
42. Miami Dolphins - Jeff Holland, EDGE, Auburn
43. New England Patriots - Jaire Alexander, CB, Louisville
44. Washington Redskins - Harrison Phillips, DT, Stanford
45. Green Bay Packers - Christian Kirk, WR, Texas A&M
46. Cincinnati Bengals - Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, EDGE, Oklahoma
47. Arizona Cardinals - Tyrell Crosby, T, Oregon
48. Los Angeles Chargers - WIll Hernandez, G, UTEP
49. New York Jets - Derrius Guice, RB LSU
50. Dallas Cowboys - Mark Andrews, TE, Oklahoma
51. Detroit Lions - Taven Bryan, DL, Florida
52. Baltimore Ravens - Courtland Sutton, WR, SMU
53. Buffalo Bills - Anthony Miller, WR, Memphis
54. Kansas City Chiefs - Carlton Davis, CB, Auburn
55. Carolina Panthers - Deon Cain, WR, Clemson
56. Buffalo Bills - Shaun Dion-Hamilton, LB, Alabama
57. Tennessee Titans - Mike Gesicki, TE, Penn State
58. Atlanta Falcons - Derrick Nnadi, DT, Florida State
59. San Francisco 49ers - M.J. Stewart, CB, North Carolina
60. Minnesota Vikings - Tim Settle, DT, Virginia Tech
61. Jacksonville Jaguars - Braden Smith, T/G, Auburn
62. Pittsburgh Steelers - Quenton Meeks, CB, Stanford
63. New England Patriots - Jamarco Jones, T, Ohio State
64. Philadelphia Eagles - Kolton Miller, T, UCLA
Want more on the draft? Check out Hamsky’s article Mel Kiper, Your Mock Draft Sucks
Written by Duncan Stephenson, Wayland MA
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