Jay Booden's 2018 NFL Mock Draft

Football fans! Our favorite time of year is upon us. The NFL Draft is coming up in a few days, and it’s looking like it will be an exciting one this year. In this mock draft, I am projecting a trade that makes sense, as well as providing an explanation for every pick. I’m not expecting you to agree with all of my picks, but that’s just the fun of mock drafts. Without further ado, let’s get into the first pick of my 2018 NFL Mock Draft.

Pick 1: Cleveland Browns – QB Baker Mayfield

Baker is the best pure quarterback in this draft class. He will end up bringing this team to the playoffs within the length of his rookie contract, and will be known as the “savior” of the Browns that Mayfield himself claimed he could be. Finally, Cleveland can take off their paper bags from their heads and cheer for the Browns again!

Pick 2: New York Giants – RB Saquon Barkley

All signs are pointing to this pick happening. Big Blue needs an impact running back that can take pressure off the offense, and Barkley gives them just that. While it is believed that teams can get most of Barkley in another player later in the draft, there is undeniable talent that should warrant this high of a draft selection.

Pick 3: New York Jets – QB Sam Darnold

Sam Darnold is the next Matt Ryan of the NFL. It will certainly be a good thing for his development to have journeyman quarterback Josh McCown as a mentor, as Darnold needs to learn traits only a seasoned veteran can teach. However, he will still be the best quarterback on roster come day one.

Pick 4: Cleveland Browns – EDGE Bradley Chubb

After picking their franchise quarterback of the future, the Browns need to turn to add the best remaining player in the draft. Adding Chubb does just that. Pairing him with Myles Garrett would be lethal for opposing offenses. New GM John Dorsey comes from a division that featured multiple great pass rushers, and he will use that knowledge to create what will be one of the scariest tandems in the NFL.

Pick 5: TRADE – Buffalo Bills – QB Josh Allen

Josh Allen is going to be a complete bust. That being said, Buffalo is desperate for a quarterback, and Denver wants to move back. Thus, this trade ends up happening. Unfortunately for Buffalo, the decision to give up multiple draft picks for a project quarterback will prove unwise, and this selection will be laughed at for years to come.

Pick 6: Indianapolis Colts – OG Quenton Nelson

Although the Colts could move back, they also need to improve the offensive line so their franchise quarterback doesn’t get hurt any more. Quenton Nelson is the safest player in the draft, and his all-around blocking prowess would be a major addition to a line that can’t seem to do its job as well as its talent level suggests it should.

Pick 7: Tampa Bay Buccaneers – S Minkah Fitzpatrick

Tampa Bay has a talented roster, but there are two areas that they desperately need to improve; offensive line and secondary. After the best offensive lineman in the draft is gone, the Bucs should turn to the best defensive back in the draft in Minkah Fitzpatrick. His versatility would be a great addition to this team. Tampa needs someone to cover division rival receivers such as Julio Jones and Michael Thomas, and Fitzpatrick can do just that.

Pick 8: Chicago Bears – CB Denzel Ward

Chicago has a pretty good defense. A good cornerback can bring that to the next level. Denzel Ward brings above average speed and coverage skills to the table, which is something that the Bears’ current corners lack for the most part. Ward would be the final piece that brings this defense from being pretty good to elite.

Pick 9: TRADE – Arizona Cardinals – QB Josh Rosen

Arizona is currently the only team in the NFC without a franchise quarterback. After the surprising slide of Josh Rosen, this team needs to make their move here. Rosen is going to be a lot better than people think. The Cardinals will be very lucky to get a quarterback of his quality here given the circumstances of this year’s draft.

Pick 10: Oakland Raiders – LB Roquan Smith

After a surprising season two years ago where this team made the playoffs, the Raiders took a couple steps back in 2017. New head coach Jon Gruden has made it clear that he is enacting a culture change. In order to do this effectively, Oakland needs to add some sort of defensive help for superstar pass rusher Khalil Mack. Roquan Smith is the best pass rushing linebacker in the draft, and he would fit perfectly into the Raiders’ newly improved scheme.

Pick 11: Miami Dolphins – LB Tremaine Edmunds

While Roquan Smith is the best pure pass rushing linebacker in this draft class, Tremaine Edmunds is the best all-around linebacker to come out of the draft in multiple years. The Dolphins need to spark a youth movement, and adding a top defensive talent such as Edmunds would do just that. Miami could draft a quarterback or any position on the defense, but I think passing up a defensive leader would be foolish.

Pick 12: TRADE – Denver Broncos – EDGE Harold Landry

After trading back with the Bills, the Broncos can look to bolster a defense that looked slightly off in 2017. Adding a top tier pass rusher in Harold Landry would help return this unit to its super bowl winning form. If Case Keenum can build upon his breakout season, then this team could easily win the AFC West… and in this scenario, they still have another first round pick.

Pick 13: Washington Redskins – DT Vita Vea

The Redskins have been linked to Vea a lot this offseason, and for good reason. The Washington product has a lot of talent, and a specimen like him would pair well with Ryan Kerrigan and Jonathan Allen. This is the final piece Washington needs to have a competitive defense that rivals other NFC East rivals such as the Eagles.

Pick 14: Green Bay Packers – S Derwin James

Green Bay has had some pretty sub-par secondaries over the past few seasons, but only after Aaron Rodgers got injured did teams see just how bad it was in 2017. This team desperately needs to add a difference maker to help out HaHa Clinton-Dix. Adding Derwin James is the best move here, as he is the best pure safety in the draft, and his great coverage skills will be needed against other NFC North recievers such as Adam Thielen and Allen Robinson.

Pick 15: TRADE – San Francisco 49ers – WR D.J. Moore

Even though the 49ers trade down, they still get exactly who they need. This team is looking pretty well rounded in most areas. However, there is a lack of weapons for new franchise quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo to play with. In terms of rising stock, D.J. Moore out of Maryland has done one of the best jobs in the draft at causing his draft stock to rise. While he isn’t the top receiver in the draft, San Francisco will still be getting a solid playmaker that will be a much needed outside presence for years to come.

Pick 16: Baltimore Ravens – EDGE Marcus Davenport

While this team could go quarterback or wide receiver, I think that the Ravens will once again be conservative in this year’s draft and bolster their already scary defense. Marcus Davenport is a solid pass rusher that can make an immediate impact on any team. The Ravens are in need of younger pass rushers. This pick is a match made in heaven, and makes too much sense not to happen.

Pick 17: Los Angeles Chargers – DT Da’Ron Payne

As Phillip Rivers gets older, drafting a new franchise quarterback for the future should become a priority for this team. However, since Lamar Jackson doesn’t fit Los Angeles’ system, they should instead turn to add another elite defensive lineman to pair with star pass rusher Joey Bosa. Da’Ron Payne fits the bill perfectly. He would fit right in on an otherwise crowded unit, and he and Bosa would create havoc on the line of scrimmage for a long time into the foreseeable future.

Pick 18: Seattle Seahawks – OT Mike McGlinchey

The Seahawks are in full culture change mode, but their main need hasn’t changed. Seattle is in desperate need of offensive line help at every position except left tackle. Picking the most NFL ready tackle in the draft makes the most sense for this team, and McGlinchey is just that. This will only be one of multiple picks that yield offensive linemen for Seattle, but it will certainly be the most impactful.

Pick 19: Dallas Cowboys – WR Calvin Ridley

Calvin Ridley is the closest thing in the draft that Dallas will find to replace Dez Bryant. After releasing the former pro bowler, finding his replacement should and will be a big focus for Jerry Jones and the Cowboys. Luckily for Dallas, Ridley will prove to be better than Dez ever was. The young offensive trio of Ridley, Ezekiel Elliott, and Dak Prescott will dominate the NFC for the next decade.

Pick 20: Detroit Lions – LB Rashaan Evans

New head coach Matt Patricia has inherited an aging defense. The defensive minded coach will look to add some youth in the front seven, just like his former team New England did often in the first round. Linebacker Rashaan Evans out of Alabama has the potential to be great and a relatively high floor, making him a safe bet for this pick.

Pick 21: Cincinnati Bengals – OG Will Hernandez

This team needs offensive line help. While they could certainly go tackle here, the Bengals need to add the best remaining offensive lineman at any position. That player is Will Hernandez, who is versatile enough to play guard or center. This pick is out of pure necessity, considering there are more playmakers that are still available to this point.

Pick 22: TRADE – Denver Broncos – CB Jaire Alexander

With this pick, Denver goes out and gets its replacement for Aqib Talib. The cornerback out of Louisville has great ball hawking skills, and his above average coverage in zone schemes make Alexander a sleeper pick that the Broncos will greatly benefit from.

Pick 23: New England Patriots – QB Lamar Jackson

Admittedly, if the former Heisman Trophy winner slips down this far in the draft, then the Patriots would be very lucky. While Baker Mayfield may be the best pure quarterback in the draft, Lamar Jackson is the best dual threat to come out of the draft since Michael Vick. Jackson would be a great fit in New England, and he would be able to keep the dynasty in the northeast going for a few years longer than it should stay alive.

Pick 24: Carolina Panthers – RB Derrius Guice

After releasing franchise rushing leader Jonathan Stewart, this team needs a bruiser to pound the rock on third down and goal line situations. Derrius Guice is the best option remaining in the draft to do that. Pairing him with Christian McCaffrey out of the backfield is a scary concept, one that Carolina should explore.

Pick 25: Tennessee Titans – DT Taven Bryan

This team is getting closer and closer to AFC contention. Right now, they need receiver help and another defensive lineman to help out star pass rusher Jurell Casey. I think they should go with the ladder, as Taven Bryan fits Tennessee’s scheme perfectly. Adding Bryan will help this defense get closer to the level that division rival Jacksonville’s was at in 2017.

Pick 26: Atlanta Falcons – DT Maurice Hurst

After slipping due a heart condition, Maurice Hurst finally finds a home in Atlanta. In my opinion, he is the most ready defensive tackle in the entire draft, and the Falcons are getting extremely lucky to snag him so late.

Pick 27: New Orleans Saints – LB Leighton Vander Esch

While Maurice Hurst slipped unnecessarily due to medical reasons, linebacker Leighton Vander Esch will not slip as far, even though he has a neck injury. New Orleans should snag in and take him, as his talent is undeniable, and his injury won’t keep him off the field for long.

Pick 28: Pittsburgh Steelers – TE Hayden Hurst

The Steelers best tight end is Jesse James. This needs to change if the Steelers want to take their offense to another next level, and Hayden Hurst helps them do just that. Hurst is the best pass catching tight end in the draft, and Pittsburgh could certainly use his services after Jesse James’ dropped pass cost them the #1 seed in 2017.

Pick 29: Jacksonville Jaguars – WR Courtland Sutton

After losing its top reciever in free agency, this team’s primary focus should be adding an offensive difference maker. Courtland Sutton has the ability to be a good NFL reciever in the slot or on the outside, but Jacksonville needs a reciever either way. Sutton will be a good young piece that will help continue quarterback Blake Bortles’ slow but sure development.

Pick 30: Minnesota Vikings – CB Josh Jackson

Even though the Vikings had one of the best defenses in 2017, I think it could still benefit from adding a cornerback that would be better than Trae Waynes. Josh Jackson will be a good CB2 in the NFL, and Minnesota could use one in a division that now features Allen Robinson.

Pick 31: New England Patriots – OT Connor Williams

After letting left tackle Nate Solder walk in free agency, this pick is almost a necessity if New England wants to experience continued success. The Patriots would be lucky if Connor Williams fell this far in the draft, but his above average blocking skills and his talent level should ensure that he doesn’t fall any further than this.

Pick 32: Philadelphia Eagles – OT Orlando Brown

After franchise left tackle Jason Peters got injured last season, this team needs to find his replacement before he inevitably regresses in 2018. While Orlando Brown had a disappointing Combine and suspect Pro Day stats, I think Philly should trust the tape with this pick and take Peters’ replacement for years to come.

That concludes my 2018 NFL Mock Draft. The order has been changed many times throughout the offseason, but I finally feel confident in this order only a few days before the actual draft. I don’t expect to be fully right, but these picks are what I think should happen as well as a little of what I would like to happen (within reason). Now all that’s left is watching the draft in a few days to see what happens. Until then though, thanks for reading my mock draft! Go check out some of our other articles on the website, including fellow analyst Bracton Abella’s mock draft.