Matt McKinnie 2018 NFL Mock Draft 1.0
Note: This Mock Draft is before the start of Free Agency and doesn’t feature any Mock Trades.
| Pick 1: Cleveland Browns select Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma I already talked up how much I like Mayfield, and I think NFL teams are taking notice as well. By the time of the draft, assuming Mayfield does and says the right things, he will end up going number one overall. This will finally give Cleveland the franchise Quarterback they’ve missed out on the last few years. |
| Pick 2: New York Giants select Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State 99% of the mock drafts you see currently have the Giants selecting a QB. However, I think that would be a mistake. I believe that Eli Manning has two years left in the tank if he has the proper weapons around him. Yes, he had a bad season last year, but people seem to be quick to forget how many of his weapons he had lost. I’m in the old school mentality that before you spend an early first round pick on a QB, an NFL team needs to have the proper weapons and offensive line in place. I do believe that there are enough options at WR/TE to be good for now. As many people are aware, the offensive line is still bad. But, why not give Manning the star running back he hasn’t had in years? (You could make the case he hasn’t had one since Tiki Barber retired.) They’re almost as bad as Detroit about not giving their guy behind center a balanced attack. Enter Barkley. Top RB prospect that will finally give the Giants a viable threat on the ground. Also, he can be used in the passing game and return game. Then, they can bring in some bulk to the offensive line in the next two rounds. |
| Pick 3: Indianapolis Colts select Bradley Chubb – Edge Rusher, N.C. State In this mock scenario, the Colts are left pretty upset as Barkley was the prospect they really wanted. So, where do they go next? You could make the case that the Colts have a couple of decent pass rushers, but no one that really scares you outside of Jabaal Sheard. This is where you plug in this year’s Myles Garrett: Bradley Chubb. Still plenty of holes to address in the later rounds, but this is a huge win for the team. |
| Pick 4: Cleveland Browns select Minkah Fitzpatrick – S, Alabama The Browns need help at multiple spots of their secondary, and Fitzpatrick is projected to be able to do just about any of those spots. I’m personally still not sold on Jabrill Peppers, so he also provides insurance if that doesn’t pan out. |
| Pick 5: Denver Broncos select Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA It’s been fairly obvious of the love this team has for Mayfield, but he is clearly no longer an option. The team needs a QB, but who do they pick here? If all prospects were automatically day one ready, I’d like Josh Allen. However, after this team has dealt with the Paxton Lynch debacle, I don’t see them going through selecting another project. So, it’ll come down to either Rosen or Darnold. I feel that Rosen is the better fit in their system, so that’s who they’d ultimately go with. |
| Pick 6: New York Jets select Sam Darnold, QB, USC Much similar to the Broncos, the Jets have been slamming their heads against the wall since they figured out how much of a mistake it was drafting Christian Hackenberg. They go with the safest of the remaining QB prospects by selecting Darnold. |
| Pick 7: Tampa Bay Buccaneers select Quenton Nelson, OG, Notre Dame A lot of Mocks have Nelson going at this pick and for good reason. He is simply the best offensive lineman, and in my top 3 of best overall prospects. Grade A+ pick if it actually ends up happening. |
| Pick 8: Chicago Bears select Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama Some might say that this is high for a Wide Receiver, but Mitch Trubisky needs help in the most desperate way for playmakers. This is one of the few times I’m A-OK reaching a bit in the draft, especially when it’s one of the top prospects at the position. |
| Pick 9: San Francisco 49ers select Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State Another really great pairing between team and prospect. Ward might have average height, but you could make the case he has the best coverage skills out of anyone in this draft. |
| Pick 10: Oakland Raiders select Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia I don’t believe I’ve seen another Mock Draft NOT have Smith going here to the Raiders and for good reason. He’s a great fit in their scheme, displayed fantastic leadership at Georgia, and would give Khalil Mack some much needed help. |
| Pick 11: Miami Dolphins select Marcus Davenport, Edge Rusher, UTSA A raw, small school prospect like Davenport might scare off some teams this high in the first round, but the Dolphins luck out here, getting the pass rusher with perhaps the highest ceiling in this draft. |
| Pick 12: Cincinnati Bengals select Connor Williams, OT, Texas The Bengals losing their top OL last offseason in free agency was felt throughout this past regular season. This selection helps begin to solidify the offensive line in what could be Andy Dalton’s last season as their starting QB. |
| Pick 13: Washington Redskins select Courtland Sutton, WR, SMU The Terrelle Pryor one year experiment failed miserably, so they need to fill that x receiver spot. In my opinion, with this outcome, they actually get whom I believe to be the best receiver in the draft. Alex Smith is going to be happy come training camp with his new team! |
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Pick 14: Green Bay Packers select Josh Jackson, CB, Iowa
I consider this a bit of a reach, but the Pack is in serious need of help in their secondary. Furthermore, the crop of corners in this year’s draft isn’t the best in comparison to recent years. They’d be better off looking in free agency, but this is going with the assumption that they decide to address the issue in the draft. (Of course.) |
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Pick 15: Arizona Cardinals select Orlando Brown, OT, Oklahoma
Speaking of teams in serious need of help at a position, Arizona skips out on reaching for a QB and instead picks up a solid option to protect the blind side of whoever they end up getting at QB to replace Carson Palmer. (I expect them in this scenario to go after a QB in the second round, if possible.) |
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Pick 16: Baltimore Ravens select Arden Key, Edge Rusher, LSU
Their top needs might be WR and OL, but I can’t think of a prospect that works at this pick from one of those position groups. So, where do they go then? They have to prepare for the eventual departure of Terrell Suggs, and Key is the key. (Sorry, I had to.) They groom him behind Suggs for a year or two, and it’d be the perfection situation for Arden. |
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Pick 17: Los Angeles Chargers select Tremaine Edmunds, LB, Virginia Tech
I really believe that it would take this mock scenario to play out exactly in order for Edmunds to fall this far, as he is easily a top 10 talent. That being said, he’s a great fit at Inside linebacker, with great traits in both coverage and rushing the passer. He might need some polishing, but he has a chance for such a great career! |
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Pick 18: Seattle Seahawks select Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame
As I’m writing this, Kam Chancellor’s contract got guaranteed for the 2018 season. So, under the assumption that they are going to have their fingers crossed that Kam comes back healthy, they pass on going Safety here. Part of me would even consider running back here, but they ultimately need O-line help. Germain Ifedi has simply not been cutting it, so the drafting of McGlinchey makes a lot of sense here. Ifedi has a chance to compete on the inside, go to the bench, or even potentially be cut. |
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Pick 19: Dallas Cowboys select Vita Vea, DT, Washington
I don’t think Dallas could make this pick quick enough. Their Defensive Line still needs a lot of improvement, and this would go a long way. Obviously, this all hinges on them being able to keep Demarcus Lawrence. (Which I expect them to do, no matter what it takes.) |
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Pick 20: Detroit Lions select Derrius Guice, RB, LSU
This might be the lazy pick to go with, but there is no denying that unless Detroit picks up an every down back in free agency, they’ve got to finally get one for Matthew Stafford in this draft. |
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Pick 21: Buffalo Bills select Mason Rudolph, QB, Oklahoma State
Regardless if they keep Tyrod Taylor or not, I see them picking up their Quarterback of the future at this spot. It would be the far better situation if they were able to keep Taylor a year or two in order for Rudolph to sit on the bench and learn, but that remains to be seen. |
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Pick 22: Buffalo Bills select James Washington, WR, Oklahoma State
It seriously has to be the best feeling in the world picking back to back in the draft, during the first round no less. (Remember how there was a chance the Browns could of done this at the top of the draft, had the season for a couple of different teams gone slightly different?) Anyway, part of me wants to go defense here for the Bills. That being said, why not make your QB of the future even more excited after just being drafted by selecting his former teammate as well? It makes sense from a team perspective, and will make Rudolph’s transition into the NFL that much easier. Plus, how fun of a story would that be to cover? On top of that, a lot of Mockers have the Bills in drastic need of a new starting Center with Eric Woods having to retire. I’ve watched the film on Ryan Groy from this past season, and I think he’s capable of taking over for Woods full time. |
| Pick 23: Los Angeles Rams select Christian Kirk, WR, Texas A&M I simply don’t see them keeping Sammy Watkins. I think he’s going to ask for too much money, and that will result in them looking towards the draft for players that fit into Sean McVay’s offensive scheme. Kirk is one of those players. |
| Pick 24: Carolina Panthers select Anthony Miller, WR, Memphis Mark my words, I believe Miller goes in the first round. He’s explosive as they come and has the production. If he had played at a bigger school, he’d be going top 5 in this draft. That’s how confident I am that he will end up being drafted in the first round. I could be wrong, but I’ve got a good feeling. Anyway, Miller would be a good fit in this offense to finally replace Kelvin Benjamin as their number one WR. (By George, I think we just had our first crazy run of players at one position in this draft!) |
| Pick 25: Tennessee Titans select Billy Price, C, Ohio State Despite being projected as a Center, the Titans could use some help in their interior and go with Price regardless. He could easily be put at one of the Guard spots, and eventually make the move to Center down the line. |
| Pick 26: Atlanta Falcons select Isaiah Wynn, OG, Georgia The Falcons have a similar weakness in the interior of their offensive line like the Titans before them. If I were doing trades in this mock, I would of had the Falcons trade up to grab Price, but I’m sure they would find Wynn a nice settlement prize. |
| Pick 27: New Orleans Saints select Rashaan Evans, LB, Alabama Mockers seem very keen on the Saints going TE or WR, but I think that they could still use some help at LB, and they’d certainly get plenty with Evans. Their defense took a big step forward last season, and the addition of Rashaan would help out even more. |
| Pick 28: Pittsburgh Steelers select Derwin James, S, Florida State I’m pretty sure the Steelers would literally jump over people’s seats and shove people to the ground to get this pick in. I’m a bit shocked at myself that in this scenario James was able to fall so far. That being said, he is a GREAT fit in this defense. He’s a younger, faster version of Mike Mitchell, who I expect the team to release later on in the offseason. A great pairing with Sean Davis. |
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Pick 29: Jacksonville Jaguars select Dallas Goedert, TE, South Dakota State
Another lazy pick here on my part. That being said, he’d be a great fit for their offense, and could learn a thing or two from long time resident, Marcedes Lewis.
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Pick 30: Minnesota Vikings select Da’Ron Payne, DT, Alabama
As great as their defense was last year, Defensive Tackle has to be addressed. I’m doubtful that Sharrif Floyd returns and Tom Johnson is a free agent. The rich get richer though, with a player of this caliber falling down the draft this far.
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Pick 31: New England Patriots select Harold Landry, LB, Boston College
The pass rush has to get better. There’s absolutely no doubt about that. If James Harrison is your best option in the playoffs, you’ve got an issue. (No offense, Deebo.) Insert Landry into the fold, and you instantly get better and younger. Great value for the Pats
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Pick 32: Philadelphia Eagles select Malik Jefferson, LB, Texas
This could easily change to Cornerback, depending on how free agency shakes up. That being said, for now, they need at third linebacker. I’m personally not sold on him, but I do believe that Jefferson squeezes his way into the first round this year.
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Alright gang! Let me know your thoughts down below in the comments! I’ll be back for my next Mock Draft once Free Agency starts up! Cheers.
