2018 NFL Mock Draft: Sean Dyer’s First-Round Mock 4.0

Merry Draftmas everybody! The NFL Draft is finally here! It’s time to squeeze in one more first-round NFL mock draft!

It’s time for one more NFL mock draft! I’ve already released my final New York Giants mock draft and New York Jets mock draft. Now it’s time for the full first round. Rumors and reports have been swirling all week and new developments have even popped up today. It’s hard to tell what’s real and what’s a smokescreen, but here’s my final attempt at predicting the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft:

When Baker Mayfield said, “If there’s anyone who can turn [the Browns] around, it’d be me,” at the NFL Scouting Combine, it shocked people that a draft prospect would want to play for the Browns. Cleveland rewards Mayfield for his confidence and bravery by making him the first overall pick.

Sam Darnold will be tempting, as will trading back, but I think Dave Gettleman stand pat and takes the draft’s best player. The Giants few Barkley as a “near-perfect prospect” and he’s the gold jacket prospect Gettleman is looking for.

Trading three second-round picks to the Indianapolis Colts to move up three spots in the draft pays off as Sam Darnold slides to the Jets. Darnold is considered by many to be the draft’s top quarterback prospect. He can sit behind Josh McCown and Teddy Bridgewater until he’s ready.

Trading back and letting another QB-needy team come get Josh Allen or Josh Rosen is a consideration. However, the Browns are already loaded with draft capital and choose to cash in on the draft’s top defensive prospect. Chubb will pair with Myles Garrett to form one of the best young pass rushing duos in the league.

TRADE w/ DEN: Buffalo sends picks No. 12 & 22 along with a third-round pick (No. 65)

After the Browns pass on Allen, the Bills get aggressive and move up to select the quarterback with the highest upside in the class. After trading away Tyrod Taylor, it was obvious that Buffalo would have to do whatever it took to land one of the draft’s top quarterback. Allen is cold weather-ready and will battle AJ McCarron for playing time right away.

TRADE w/ IND: Chicago sends pick No. 8 along with a fourth-round pick (No. 105)

Harry Hiestand coached Quenton Nelson at Notre Dame and is now the offensive line coach for the Bears. Nelson is also the best player available at this point so general manager Ryan Pace gets aggressive to go and get his guy, similar to moving up one spot to draft Mitchell Trubisky last year.

The Buccaneers need help in their secondary and James is a do-it-all type player. He can be a hard hitter in the box or drop back into coverage. Tampa Bay keeps James close to home and should get the support of Jameis Winston.

TRADE w/ CHI: Indianapolis receives pick No. 8 along with fourth-round pick (No. 105)

The Colts should continue fielding trade offers. The Packers are rumored to want to trade up. A number of teams could look to move up and draft Josh Rosen. But ultimately, the Colts decide to add one of the best linebacker prospects in years in Roquan Smith. He’ll help ease Indy’s transition to a 4-3 defense.

Richard Sherman was a great signing by the 49ers, but he’s 30 years old and coming off a ruptured Achilles. Ward is the top cornerback prospect in the class and will eventually take over for Sherman. San Francisco has done a great job adding talent under John Lynch and drafting Ward could help complete the secondary.

TRADE w/ OAK: Green Bay sends pick No. 14 along with a fourth-round pick (No. 101)

The Packers have spent significant draft capital on their secondary, yet it still needs work. New general manager Brian Gutekunst will look to fix that and Green Bay is rumored to be looking to trade up. Ha Ha Clinton-Dix has worked out for the Packers so they go back to Alabama and add the versatile Minkah Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick could play cornerback, free safety, nickel, or a combination of all three.

The Dolphins moved on from Ndamukong Suh as part of a culture change that saw many talented players walk out the door. Miami needs talent in a number of areas but replacing Suh could take precedence. Vita Vea is the top interior defensive lineman in the class and a great athlete.

TRADE w/ BUF: Denver receives picks No. 12 & 22 along with a third-round pick (No. 65)

Josh Rosen’s slide comes to an end and John Elway comes away looking like a genius. The Broncos are able to move back in the draft, pick up an extra first and third-round pick, and still land one of the top quarterbacks. Rosen is the most NFL-ready QB in the draft and could push Case Keenum for playing time right out of the gate.

The Redskins were the worst team in the NFL against the run in 2017. They address that glaring need with a run-stuffing defensive tackle in Da’Ron Payne. Payne also has enough athleticism to potentially provide a pass rush at the next level.

TRADE w/ GB: Oakland receives pick No. 14 along with a fourth-round pick (No. 101) 

Oakland is able to move back in the draft and still land one of the top players on their big board. McGlinchey will start at right tackle from day one and eventually take over for Donald Penn on the blindside. McGlinchey is the top offensive tackle in the class according to most scouts.

The Cardinals could consider Lamar Jackson here but I don’t see them reaching for a quarterback if they don’t love him. A cornerback opposite Patrick Peterson is also possible. However, drafting Calvin Ridley is a great pick for the present and the future. After losing John and Jaron Brown in free agency, Ridley will line up opposite Larry Fitzgerald, giving Sam Bradford a second quality target. Ridley will then replace Fitzgerald whenever the future Hall of Famer hangs ’em up.

After signing Michael Crabtree, John Brown, and Willie Snead in free agency, the Ravens pass on a first-round wide receiver, especially with Ridley off the board. Instead, Ozzie Newsome adds another pass rusher who could eventually replace Terrell Suggs. In his last draft as general manager, Newsome continues to bolster Baltimore’s defense.

The Chargers need playmakers at linebackers and are thrilled to see Tremaine Edmunds fall this far. Mike McGlinchey and Da’Ron Payne are likely at the top of Los Angeles’s big board at positions of greater need but with both off the board, they’ll happily put Edmunds in the middle of their defense. Edmunds could play inside or outside linebacker and is athletic enough to line up as an edge rusher on obvious passing downs as well.

TRADE w/ SEA: New England sends pick No. 23 along with a third-round pick (No. 95)

The Seattle Seahawks are without a Day 2 pick, so they’ll look to shop their first-round pick. The Patriots are able to use one of their first-round picks to move up and draft their replacement for Jimmy Garoppolo as their quarterback of the future. Lamar Jackson isn’t NFL-ready. He needs to improve his accuracy and add some bulk to his frame. Who better to learn from than Tom Brady and Bill Belichick?

After releasing Dez Bryant, the Cowboys are in dire need of a playmaking wide receiver. Terrance Williams has never been more than a secondary piece and Cole Beasley operates in the slot. Even tight end Jason Witten is getting up there in age. Dallas likely has an internal debate over whether to pick Courtland Sutton or D.J. Moore. They stick with the Texas kid as Sutton has great size and unbelievable hands. He’s the perfect replacement for Dez.

Derrius Guice will be a serious consideration here but with a deep running back class, the Lions will wait to address their running game. Instead, they add a talented pass rusher to join Ezekiel Ansah (and potentially replace Ansah if they can’t work out a long-term deal). Harold Landry can bend the edge better than most and knows how to get after the passer. He could use some bulk on his frame, but Matt Patricia will have no problem putting Landry in a position to succeed.

The Cincinnati Bengals need help along their offensive line, particularly in the interior. They acquired Cordy Glenn to solidify one tackle spot (if Glenn remains healthy), but they still haven’t replaced Kevin Zeitler at guard after losing him in free agency last offseason and they lost center Russell Bodine this offseason. James Daniels is the draft’s best pure center and he can also play guard when needed. This pick could come down to whether the Bengals like Daniels or Frank Ragnow better.

TRADE w/ BUF: Denver receives picks No. 12 & 22 along with a third-round pick (No. 65)

After releasing C.J. Anderson, the Broncos are in need of a playmaking running back. Look no further than Sony Michel, who’s been compared to reigning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Alvin Kamara. Michel can contribute in the running game and the passing game and extremely explosive. He and Josh Rosen would give Denver their backfield of the future.

TRADE w/ NE: Seattle receives pick No. 23 along with a third-round pick (No. 95) 

Richard Sherman is now a 49er and Jeremy Lane is still looking for work. The Legion of Boom is no longer and the Seahawks need to address their secondary. There are a handful of talented cornerbacks still on the board but Seattle goes with Josh Jackson because of his length and ball skills. Jackson led the nation with eight interceptions in 2017 and is the perfect press-man corner for the Seahawks.

Saying that the Carolina Panthers need help at wide receiver is an understatement. Devin Funchess seemed to put things together last season, but he’s not a true No. 1 wideout, and Torrey Smith really just runs deep routes. There’s a reason running back Christian McCaffrey led the Panthers with 80 receptions last year. D.J. Moore should help as he’s a quick receiver with solid hands who’s dangerous after the catch.

Avery Williamson signed with the New York Jets, leaving the Titans in need of linebacker help, especially one who can defend the run. Rashaan Evans makes plays all over the field with sideline to sideline speed. He’s a solid tackler and a great blitzer. Mike Vrabel will enjoy having Evans in the middle of his defense.

The Atlanta Falcons have been looking for a pass-catching tight end since Tony Gonzalez. Dallas Goedert is no Tony G but he’s the top tight end prospect in this year’s class. He makes highlight reel catches at all three levels of the field and is a respectable blocker. He just needs to prove he can succeed against top competition after his career at Div. I-AA South Dakota State.

TRADE w/ NO: Cleveland sends pick No. 33 along with a fourth-round pick (No. 114) and a future pick 

The Cleveland Browns have three second-round picks and I expect them to find a way to turn a package of picks into a third first-round pick tonight. Jaire Alexander has been a rising name throughout the pre-draft process and the Browns make him a first-rounder here. Cleveland needs help at cornerback with Damarious Randall moving to free safety and Alexander would be a great addition. Even with the questionable selection of Mayfield, the Browns will be winners of the first round after landing Chubb and Alexander.

TRADE w/ PIT: Indianapolis sends pick No. 36 along with a fourth-round pick (No. 104) and a future pick 

The Colts have three second-round picks after acquiring two from the New York Jets to move back in the first round. Indianapolis uses one of those extra second-rounders to move back into the first round and draft a difference maker on the defensive line. Taven Bryan is a great athlete with the potential to be very disruptive at either defensive tackle or end. Adding Bryan and Roquan Smith will get Indy’s defense headed in the right direction.

With Paul Posluszny headed to retirement, the Jacksonville Jaguars have a need at middle linebacker. They’re able to seamlessly fill that hole with Leighton Vander Esch, an instinctive linebacker who is always around the football. With LVE on board, the Jaguars defense is going to be dominant once again.

The Minnesota Vikings invested heavily in the offensive line last offseason by signing Riley Reiff and Mike Remmers. Remmers moved to guard by the end of the season due to injuries but Minnesota likely wants him back at tackle considering they are paying him like one. Isaiah Wynn was a left tackle at Georgia but his lack of size has scouts projecting him at guard in the NFL. Last year, the Vikings drafted Pat Elflein, a guard/center. The more versatile linemen the Vikings add, the better their offensive line will be.

After losing Nate Solder in free agency, the New England Patriots need help at offensive tackle. Who better to replace Solder than a prospect who’s been compared to him? Kolton Miller is a massive lineman who is also athletic enough to potentially stick at tackle. He’ll need some development but that’s music to Dante Scarnecchia’s ears.

The Philadelphia Eagles are coming off their first Super Bowl championship and they are loaded. They have very few holes and will have the luxury of drafting the best player available or addressing future needs. With Connor Williams, the Eagles are drafting their future left tackle for when Jason Peters calls it a career. The All-Pro left tackle is coming back from a torn ACL and MCL, so it’s uncertain how many years he’ll have left. While Williams waits to take over at left tackle, he can provide Philadelphia with depth at guard as well.

Next: Sean Dyer's First-Round Mock Draft 3.0

There’s my final first-round NFL mock draft! Good luck to everyone tonight as they watch their favorite team either make them cheer or make them cry!