2018 NFL Mock Draft: Sean Dyer’s First-Round Mock 3.0
By Sean Dyer
With just two days until the 2018 NFL Draft, we finalize our first-round NFL mock draft.
NFL Draft rumors, reports, and mock drafts have been swirling around the Internet since the 2017 NFL season came to a close. You won’t find two NFL mock drafts that are the same and not a single NFL mock draft you’ve read will be entirely accurate come draft day. However, we as writers love to try to predict the future and you as fans love to read our educated guesses.
As we are just days from the 2018 NFL Draft, which team will pick which player is starting to get a bit clearer, although it’s hard to tell which reports are credible and which are just smokescreens. This will be my third attempt at a full first-round NFL mock draft and if I’m lucky, it’ll be my most accurate. Make sure you check out my first and second versions as well!
player. Pick Analysis. QB. Sam Darnold. 1. Scouting Report. USC. 53
Previous picks: 1.0 – Sam Darnold, QB, USC; 2.0 – Sam Darnold, QB, USC
Tyrod Taylor is more than capable of starting for the Cleveland Browns in 2018 but they must look beyond this upcoming season. Is Tyrod the long-term option? Most likely not. It seems as though the No. 1 overall pick will come down to Sam Darnold and Josh Allen. Both have plenty of arm talent, but Darnold has turnover issues and Allen has accuracy issues. Darnold seems like the safer pick which should be a welcomed change for Browns fans.
Darnold is the most talented passer in this year’s class and could even push Taylor for playing time this season. He can also spend his rookie season learning not to turn the ball over from one of the best in the game at limiting turnovers in Tyrod. If Darnold lives up to his potential, the list of names on the back of the Browns quarterback jersey will finally come to an end.
31. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. RB. Saquon Barkley. Penn State. 2. player
Previous picks: 1.0 – Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State; 2.0 – Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming (Buffalo Bills)
The New York Giants could opt for their future quarterback here as well. They have Eli Manning but for how many more years? Well, new head coach Pat Shurmur believes Eli has multiple years left as a starting NFL quarterback. Shurmur also likes what he’s seen from Davis Webb.
With quarterback seeming unlikely for Big Blue, the No. 2 pick comes down to three options: Saquon Barkley, Bradley Chubb, or trade back. With the Buffalo Bills reportedly unlikely to move up to No. 2, the Giants may be best suited making this pick.
General manager Dave Gettleman wants this pick to be a future Hall of Famer and Barkley certainly seems to fit that bill. Barkley can anything you need him to do on the field and he’s also a high character guy with great leadership skills. Barkley will elevate Big Blue’s offense and become the face of their franchise for the next decade.
Oklahoma. player. 30. Pick Analysis. QB. Baker Mayfield. 3. Scouting Report
Previous picks: 1.0 – Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA; 2.0 – Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA
If the Browns take Josh Allen first overall, the New York Jets could look to draft Sam Darnold, whether that means trading up to No. 2 or taking him at No. 3. With Darnold off the board, however, it comes down to Baker Mayfield and Josh Rosen. ESPN’s Rich Cimini reports that the organization is leaning towards Mayfield.
Although Rosen has been the pick in my previous mock drafts, I also believe that Mayfield will be the pick. There are concerns over Mayfield’s attitude and character, but the same can be said of Rosen. Both quarterbacks seem like they could thrive in the Big Apple and have great arms, but Mayfield’s accuracy and mobility give him the edge.
player. 53. Bradley Chubb. DE. NC State. 4. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis
Previous picks: 1.0 – Minkah Fitzpatrick, DB, Alabama; 2.0 – Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State
The Cleveland Browns would probably like to see quarterbacks go one, two, three, leaving Saquon Barkley to fall into their laps. As it stands, the Browns still get a super talented player in Bradley Chubb.
Chubb is the top defensive prospect in this year’s class and was heralded as “Khalil Mack and Von Miller put together” by none other than Von Miller himself. With a need in their secondary, Minkah Fitzpatrick is a possibility but Chubb is just too talented of a player to pass up on. Pairing Chubb with last year’s top pick Myles Garrett would be a lethal pass rushing combo for Cleveland.