The NFL draft is tomorrow and after months of evaluating prospects it is almost time to find out who goes where.
No. 1 Cleveland Browns
The Pick: Sam Darnold QB USC
John Dorsey is leading a new Browns regime that is poised to take their quarterback of the future. Sam Darnold is perfect for this role, he showcased his tremendous accuracy and movement at USC’s pro day in the pouring rain in Southern California. Many sources around the league believe that Darnold will be the pick after his impressive set of interviews and workouts. While Darnold will probably not start right away, he can study Hue Jackson’s offense develop and lead the Browns offense for years to come.
No. 2 New York Giants
The Pick: Josh Rosen QB UCLA
Despite Giants management’s love for Saquon Barkley, quarterback is the necessary selection here. Eli Manning is 37 years old and Davis Webb is a wildcard having played zero regular season snaps. Although there have been many concerns about Rosen’s character, Dave Gettleman said in the pre-draft press conference that he believes Rosen does, in fact, love football. He is the best pocket passer and most NFL ready QB in this class, making him an ideal choice as Eli Manning’s successor.
No. 3 New York Jets
The Pick: Baker Mayfield QB Oklahoma
After missing on Christian Hackenberg and Geno Smith in the past, it is crucial for the Jets to get their franchise QB of the future in this draft. The Jets moved up with Indianapolis to ensure that they would get one of the top QB’s. Mayfield has the leadership qualities and charisma to lead an NFL offense, with the main question mark his size at 5 feet 11 inches. While he will need a year to study Jeremy Bates’s offense, Mayfield will finally put an end to the Jets QB woes.
No. 4 Cleveland Browns
The Pick: Bradley Chubb DE NC State
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Bradley Chubb is the best edge rusher in this year’s class and would create a frightening defensive line for Gregg Williams alongside Myles Garrett. Chubb is extremely versatile he can play inside or be used as an edge rusher, stopping the run and creating pressure. While selecting Saquon Barkley is extremely tempting, the Browns just signed Carlos Hyde and already have Duke Johnson, making Chubb the better option.
No. 5 Denver Broncos
The Pick: Saquon Barkley RB Penn State
Saquon Barkley is the best player in this year’s class but falls slightly because of the teams ahead need for quarterbacks. While there is a definite possibility the Giants could select him at two, John Elway finds his running back of the future. After cutting C.J Anderson, the Broncos are in need of a new number one back. Barkley can be used both as a running and receiving threat adding another dimension to the Broncos offense. This will take some of the pressure off of Case Keenum because defenses will need to gameplan for him.
No. 6 Buffalo Bills (Trade with Colts)
The Pick: Josh Allen QB Wyoming
Josh Allen is the boom or bust prospect of this year’s quarterback class. Allen has the best intangibles with great size and fantastic arm strength but also has shown some accuracy issues with a completion percentage of only 56.3%. Going to Buffalo allows Allen to work with offensive coordinator Brian Daboll for two years, while A.J McCarron is the starter. Developing his accuracy and spending some time as a backup will prove extremely beneficial for Allen in the long run.
No. 7 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Pick: Minkah Fitzpatrick DB Alabama
Minkah Fitzpatrick is the most NFL ready defensive prospect in this year’s class. Fitzpatrick is extremely versatile playing both safety and corner in college, under numerous defensive coordinators. The Buccaneers had the worst passing defense in the NFL last season allowing 261 passing yards per game. Mike Smith needs an anchor on the backend and Fitzpatrick will provide exactly that, instantly improving a Bucs defense that has a talented front seven.
No. 8 Chicago Bears
The Pick: Quenton Nelson G Notre Dame
Quenton Nelson is an absolute mauler and will be an outstanding player in the NFL for years to come. Nelson consistently drove opposing defenders off the line in college providing gaping holes for both Josh Adams and Brandon Wimbush. Matt Nagy gets an absolute steal at eight, a lineman that can protect Mitchell Trubisky against some of the tough defensive fronts in the NFC North. Nelson’s college offensive line coach, Harry Heistand was hired to the same position with the Bears. Heistand knows Nelson’s strengths and will help him further his success in the NFL.
No. 9 San Francisco 49ers
The Pick: Roquan Smith LB Georgia
When Reuben Foster fell last year, John Lynch expected to draft their middle linebacker of the future. Unfortunately the reason Foster fell last season was because of off the field issues, which have reared their ugly head once again with domestic violence allegations. Smith plays a similar style to Foster, he is an excellent run defender and has excellent ball pursuit. He was the anchor of the Bulldogs defense last season and will look to do the same for San Francisco.
No. 10 Oakland Raiders
The Pick: Josh Jackson CB Iowa
John Gruden wants to establish a new culture in Oakland and needs to improve significantly on the defensive side of the ball. New DC Paul Guenther will look to bring his success in Cincinnati to Oakland. Jackson has some of the best ball skills in this year’s draft and has great size at six feet two inches to compete with opposing teams top WR’s. He had 8 interceptions last season, including three against J.T Barrett and the Ohio State Buckeyes. A new shutdown corner would be a great addition to the rebuilding Raiders defense.
No. 11 Miami Dolphins
The Pick: Denzel Ward CB Ohio State
Ward impressed at the combine, showing off his outstanding speed running a 4.32 forty tied for the fastest of all the corners in this class. The Dolphins have a lot of holes, but Ward can help on the back end along with Reshad Jones. One of Ward’s biggest criticisms is that he is undersized at five feet eleven inches. While Ward is undersized, he has excellent ball skills and vertical ability two important qualities in a quality NFL corner.
No. 12 Indianapolis Colts
The Pick: Tremaine Edmunds LBÂ Virginia Tech
Colts GM Ryan Ballard, already traded back once and will have no issue doing so again. In the midst of a rebuild, the Colts need to acquire as many draft picks as possible to fill the many weaknesses on their roster. Edmunds is still a little raw but has the best potential of all the linebackers in this year’s class. He is extremely fast over the middle and working with NFL coaches will allow him to refine his cover skills. While it may take some time for Edmunds to adjust to the pros, the Colts take a huge step in the right direction rebuilding their defense.
No. 13 Washington Redskins
The Pick: Derwin James S Florida State
Going into this season, James was one of the most sought-after defensive prospects, but his stock fell slightly because of injuries. He can move up into the box to stop the run and can also help in the passing game on the backend. Drafting James, allows Greg Manusky to have a versatile weapon he could use in different situations. In a division with Ezekiel Elliot, Odell Beckham Jr, and Carson Wentz building a strong defense is key.
No. 14 Green Bay Packers
The Pick: Marcus Davenport DE UTSA
Mike Pettine has the responsibility this offseason of trying to revamp the Packers defense after the departure of long time DC Dom Capers. Signing Muhammad Wilkerson was a good first step, but drafting Davenport will further improve the Packers d-line. Davenport is extremely athletic with massive hands that he uses to rip around opposing offensive linemen. He excelled in the one-on-one drills at the Senior Bowl, consistently using his long arms and speed to his advantage.
No. 15 Arizona Cardinals
The Pick: Lamar Jackson QB Louisville
Jackson is a tantalizing prospect for NFL scouts with outstanding ability to create plays with his feet and a cannon for an arm. The issue with Jackson is accuracy and footwork in the pocket. He needs at least a year to develop studying an NFL offense and will get to work with new OC Mike McCoy. Sam Bradford will start after getting paid $20 million this offseason, but Jackson should be the starter to begin the 2019-2020 season.
No. 16 New England Patriots (Trade with Baltimore)
The Pick: Mike McGlinchey OT Notre Dame
Alongside Quenton Nelson, McGlinchey helped make the left side of the Notre Dame offensive line so dominant. After losing left tackle Nate Solder to the Giants, the Patriots are in need of a long-term replacement to step in and protect Tom Brady’s blind side. Of all the tackles in this draft, McGlinchey has the best technique and footwork. He will be able to further develop his skills and become a reliable NFL starter working with one of the best offensive line coaches in football, Dante Scarnecchia.
No. 17 Los Angeles Chargers
The Pick: Vita Vea DT Washington
The Chargers have one of the best defensive lines in football with the outstanding edge rushing duo of Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram. As good as they are rushing the passer, DC Gus Bradley could you use someone to plug into the middle and help stop the run. Vea has great strength and is a mauler inside, which will make him a great complement to Bosa and Ingram off of the edge. At No.17 Vea is a steal, widely regarded as the best DT in this year’s class.
No. 18 Seattle Seahawks
The Pick: Da’Ron Payne DT Alabama
Pete Carroll and the Seahawks coaching staff need to undergo a defensive rebuild for the first time in a while. Although a lot of the players Seattle lost were in the secondary, stopping the run in a division with David Johnson and Todd Gurley is vital. Payne can slide right in alongside fellow Crimson Tide alum, Jarran Reed clogging up the middle. He is better at rushing the passer than Reed, which is also important in a division with talented young QB’s Jared Goff and Jimmy Garoppolo.
No. 19 Dallas Cowboys
The Pick: Courtland Sutton WR SMU
After cutting Dez Bryant, the Cowboys need a reliable receiver that can line up on the opposite side of Allen Hurns, Terrance Williams is inconsistent and Cole Beasley is a slot receiver. Sutton fits the mold perfectly with outstanding size at 6 feet 4 inches tall, making him an ideal red-zone target for Dak Prescott. He is also an easy target to throw to for Prescott, who has some accuracy issues missing high on some throws. One area of weakness for Sutton is his route running ability, which can be developed working alongside new wide receiver coach Sanjay Lal.
No. 20 Detroit Lions
The Pick: Harold Landry OLB Boston College
Coming into this season, Landry was considered a lock for a top ten pick, but an ankle injury hampered his production this season. In 2016, Landry led the NCAA with 16.5 sacks showing his explosive speed off of the edge. New coach Matt Patricia is going to love having him come off the edge. He has extremely long arms at 32 and 7/8 inches, making it easier for him to reach and strip the ball from opposing quarterbacks. Pairing him up with Jarrad Davis gives Patricia a young corps of linebackers to work with for years to come.
No. 21 Cincinnati Bengals
The Pick:Â Isaiah Wynn OG Georgia
The Bengals are making a concerted effort to rebuild their offensive line this season, after struggling mightily last season without Andrew Whitworth. Andy Dalton needs time to throw the ball to one of the best receivers in the league, A.J Green. GM Mike Brown already traded for left tackle Cordy Glenn and further improves the line with the selection of Wynn. He is an extremely versatile prospect who played both guard and tackle at Georgia in the tough SEC East. Wynn can play a similar role to current left guard Clint Boling who also went to Georgia.
No. 22 Indianapolis Colts
The Pick: Derrius Guice RB LSU
Ever since the departure of Frank Gore, the Colts have struggled to find an answer at the running back position. Guice can solve these issues, an excellent downhill runner who consistently bulldozed defenders in the SEC. Having a running back who can fight through contact, will be very helpful for Andrew Luck after he returns. One of the main concerns with Guice is his injury history, with a lingering knee issue that kept him out for portions last season. Ballard addressed the defense earlier in the draft and finds his running back of the future with this selection.
No. 23 Baltimore Ravens
The Pick: Leighton Vander Esch LB Boise State
The 2017 Mountain West Conference Player of the Year, does not get a lot of the recognition that he deserves after an outstanding season last year. Vander Esch was all over the field for the Boise State defense last season, showing off his athleticism and excellent cover skills for a linebacker. DC Don Martindale last year’s linebacker coach, will love to help develop Vander Esch alongside C.J Mosley. Mosley could serve as a great mentor for Vander Esch and the two would be outstanding pairing for the Ravens defense.
No. 24 Carolina Panthers
The Pick: D.J Moore WR Maryland
Moore finished with 1033 yards and 9 touchdowns last season, despite having the ball thrown to him by five different quarterbacks. He put on a show at the combine with the second highest vertical at 39.5 inches and the best broad jump 11 feet. New offensive coordinator Norv Turner was in College Park, for Moore’s pro day and saw first hand the skill set he has to offer. He could offer a nice complement to Devin Funchess whose strength and size can be counteracted by Moore’s quickness and versatility. Cam Newton will certainly be happy to have another weapon added to his arsenal.
No. 25Â Tennessee Titans
The Pick: Raashan Evans LB Alabama
New head coach Mike Vrabel will be excited to draft a linebacker especially one that plays with the grittiness and toughness that he did. Evans played in the tough SEC West for three years and has great speed over the middle. There is no better place for Evans to learn than under new DC Dean Pees from Baltimore and Vrabel an outstanding linebacker himself. Wesley Woodyard left in free agency for the Jets, so drafting someone
No. 26 Atlanta Falcons
The Pick: Maurice Hurst DT Michigan
Hurst’s stock falls a little on draft day because of his inability to perform at the combine because of a heart issue, which has since been cleared. He was an outstanding run stuffer at Michigan who helped lead the talented Wolverines defensive line. After losing defensive tackle Dontari Poe to the division rival Panthers, new DC Marquand Manuel needs someone to pair Grady Jarrett with. For his size Hurst is extremely quick, and will need to continue that solid run defense facing off against Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram twice a year.
No. 27 New Orleans Saints
The Pick: Calvin Ridley WR Alabama
Ridley is one of the fastest wide receivers in this year’s class and is also the most polished route runner. Drew Brees is in need of another receiver, after the departure of Willie Snead to the Ravens. His blazing speed allows him to fly past defenders when given a free release off of the line. Working with one of the best QB’s in the NFL will only help Ridley’s development to become a solid NFL receiver. However, he will need to bulk up and get stronger facing off against NFL corners week after week.
No. 28 Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pick: Jaire Alexander CB Louisville
Alexander is one of the most physical corners in this year’s class and the Steelers need some help at corner with Artie Burns and the aging Joe Haden. He has great speed running a 4.38 forty at the combine and is also extremely athletic. His stock fell a little bit this season because he was bothered by knee issues, that limited him to only six games. DC Keith Butler gets a steal here at 28 with a very aggressive and tough corner that can matchup with opposing team’s number one receivers.
No. 29 Jacksonville Jaguars
The Pick: Mike Gesicki TE Penn State
Blake Bortles is in need of some more red zone weapons after the departure of starting tight end Mercedes Lewis and top receiver Allen Robinson to the Bears. Gesicki will be an ideal red zone target, he is an athletic freak standing at six feet six inches tall and ran a 4.54 forty. He will create similar matchup problems with safeties and linebackers that Evan Engram did for the Giants last season. While he is not a great blocker, the Jaguars have a solid offensive line and a power back Leonard Fournette who makes a living running over opposing defenders.
No. 30 Minnesota Vikings
The Pick: Will Hernandez OG UTEP
Hernandez is one of the strongest offensive linemen in this year’s class, benching 37 reps at the combine. His strength and excellent agility for his size makes him a very enticing selection this late in the first round. At the Senior Bowl, he impressed consistently overpowering opposing defensive linemen and driving them back. The Vikings do not have many holes on their roster, but drafting Hernandez is a no-brainer this late in the first round.
No. 31 Baltimore Ravens
The Pick: Dallas Goedert TE South Dakota
The Baltimore Ravens are in desperate need of a tight end after revamping their receiving corps this season. Joe Flacco does not have much of a window left and providing him as many weapons as possible will certainly not hurt. Goedert was a human highlight reel in college, catching numerous one-handed passes. He has massive hands and will be another weapon for Flacco to use, particularly in the red zone.
No. 32 Miami Dolphins (Trade with Philadelphia)
The Pick: Mason Rudolph QB Oklahoma State
Ryan Tannehill is coming off a torn ACL and the Dolphins need to have a reliable backup option that they can develop. Rudolph has great size standing at six feet three inches and has a solid arm consistently connecting on deep passes with James Washington in college. He is not ready to start immediately and will need at least 2-3 years to develop behind Tannehill working with Adam Gase. In college, he had some issues with ball security that will need to be worked out for him to succeed at the next level.
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