The 2018 NFL Draft will be defined by the QB position. Josh Rosen, Sam Darnold and Josh Allen are the three big early entries that head up the class. However, there are two Heisman Trophy winners, Baker Mayfield and Lamar Jackson, and a couple of very accomplished seniors Mason Rudolph and Luke Falk that add intrigue at the position. Underclassmen have until January 15th to declare and NC State’s Ryan Finley and Missouri’s Drew Lock are two more interesting prospects that could enter the draft although it looks like they will return to school. Rosen and Darnold are the favorites for the overall #1 spot and while each one has their strengths they have their flaws too. Allen is a lottery ticket with his great athleticism and powerful arm. He could be the next Brett Favre or the next Kyle Boller. Mayfield and Jackson are polarizing prospects because they don’t fit the traditional NFL QB profile but they are serious playmakers. Two other major positions of strength on offense are the offensive line and running back. Saquon Barkley, Derrius Guice, Bryce Love, Ronald Jones II and Kerryon Johnson are underclassmen that are all special talents. Georgia’s duo of Nick Chubb and Sony Michel are highly accomplished and San Diego St’s Rashaad Penny and Iowa’s Akrum Wadley also had storied collegiate careers. After last year’s lackluster offensive line class this draft class features five offensive tackles that should be first round picks (Mike McGlinchy, Orlando Brown, Connor Williams, Chukwura Okorafor and Kolton Miller) and one of the highest rated OGs, Quenton Nelson, in quite some time. The defensive side isn’t quite as strong but DE Bradley Chubb, DB Minkah Fitzpatrick, LB Roquan Smith and S Derwin James are top-notch players at their positions.
- Cleveland Browns (0-16): Josh Rosen QB UCLA
The Browns never-ending quest to find a QB continues as they have passed up guys like Carson Wentz and Deshaun Watson the last couple of years and have learned to regret those decisions. Rosen doesn’t want to go to Cleveland, and I can’t blame him but he goes #1 overall so he’ll get over it. I called Rosen as the #1 overall pick of the 2018 draft two years ago when he was playing out of his mind as a freshman starter for the Bruins. He has every physical gift you could want and can make every NFL throw. There are two things teams have to investigate, his health and his attitude. Rosen has missed time the last two seasons and this year it was concussions that were an issue. That’s never a good thing when looking for a long-term solution at any position but the Browns need a full-time answer at QB not a question mark. Rosen is a different guy also, he has a bit of a golden boy image and that can rub people the wrong way. I would take the chance that Rosen ends up being closer to Tom Brady than Jimmy Clausen and the Browns have to find a solution at QB. I think Rosen is the more consistent player on the field than Darnold.
- New York Giants (3-13): Mike McGlinchy OT Notre Dame
Everybody wants to talk about the Giants replacing Eli Manning with this pick but unless the Browns pass on a QB again or they really like Darnold, I’m not buying it. The Giants have ignored their offensive line issues for too long and it’s time to get things straightened out. McGlinchy isn’t flashy but he’s long and talented and he would be a massive upgrade at LT over Ereck Flowers. I’ve said it since the Giants drafted Flowers but he needs to be a RT not a LT. Drafting McGlinchy, inserting him at LT and moving Flowers to RT would improve two positions on the line and help the offense immensely. They shouldn’t stop with just one o-lineman either, think at least 2 or 3 in this draft. The only thing that makes me think the Giants might go another way is that new GM Dave Gettleman routinely ignored the offensive line in the draft when he was running the Panthers so it’s possible he goes with DE Bradley Chubb, that would be a very Giants thing to do.
- Indianapolis Colts (4-12): Bradley Chubb DE NC State
Despite the fact that the Colts are picking third they might actually have the worst roster in the NFL. If they hold on to TY Hilton and Donte Moncrief then they don’t need a WR but that’s about the only position they don’t need help. They are counting on Andrew Luck to get healthy and return to full strength at QB but even that isn’t guaranteed. That means they are in a position to go with the best talent available and that’s Chubb. Luckily the Colts could really use some help rushing the passer so he’s a great fit. He has some versatility and could be a 4-3 DE or a 3-4 OLB depending on who’s coaching the Colts next year. I could also make a pretty good argument for drafting RB Saquon Barkley (Frank Gore can’t play forever), DB Minkah Fitzpatrick (the secondary is atrocious) or even OG Quenton Nelson (they should really try to keep Andrew Luck alive). The Colts almost can’t go wrong…I said almost.
- Cleveland Browns (from Houston 4-12): Saquon Barkley RB Penn St.
As bad as the Browns were this season it mostly falls on the offense as the defense was actually in the top half of the league (12th overall). The defense has some solid building blocks like DE Myles Garrett, LBs Jaime Collins and Christian Kirksey and S Jabrill Peppers. The offense gets Rosen first but they need more playmakers. The best thing you can do for a young QB is get him a good, reliable RB to lean on. Barkley is a special talent and is a powerful runner and a fantastic pass catcher. Isaiah Crowell is simply a solid RB but he’s not a game breaker. The Browns spent some money on their offensive line last offseason with a new C and OG and if Joe Thomas comes back healthy they could really open things up for Barkley. I could make an argument for DB Minkah Fitzpatrick as the Browns pass defense was behind their rush defense and an argument could be made for WR Courtland Sutton if they team doesn’t want to count on Josh Gordon. Barkley is a special talent and if they really want to give their offense and new QB Josh Rosen a chance they should draft Barkley.
- Denver Broncos (5-11): Quenton Nelson OG Notre Dame
This will be a popular place to put a QB in mock drafts and with the depth chart in Denver having Brock Osweiler, Trevor Simien and Paxton Lynch on it that’s not a terrible idea. I could argue that the best option on the roster for the Broncos next season at QB could be Chad Kelly, a rookie that spent the entire year on injured reserve. I think John Elway is more likely to make a move for Kirk Cousins or try to pry Eli Manning away from the Giants than draft a QB to be his starter. This team, the defense especially, is built to win now not 3-4 years from now. Whoever lines up behind center next season would be better off if they Broncos improve their offensive line. It’s rare to see a OG go this high but the consensus is that Nelson is a special blocker and he could put some punch back in the Broncos run game, that would certainly help any QB they get. If he moves in at LG he could also help LT Garrett Bolles who had an inconsistent rookie season for the Broncos.
- New York Jets (5-11): Sam Darnold QB USC
The Jets somehow managed to not completely suck this year and they are sticking with their GM/Coach combination. It’s seems like they want to bring back Josh McCown but clearly Bryce Petty and Christian Hackenberg are not the future at QB and Darnold is full of potential. It’s possible Darnold is gone by this spot and if that’s the case they could reach for Allen. If the Jets don’t like their QB options they could make an even smarter choice and try to fix their offensive line. OTs Orlando Brown, Connor Williams or Kolton Miller would all be solid choices. The offensive line is a deep position this year so they could wait until round 2 to address it, but they really do need to address it. I’m not a huge Darnold fan. I see the potential teams are looking at but really, he only looked good for 7 games last year and a few times this year. He’s inconsistent, turnover prone and really could have used more playing time in college. If the Jets draft him and bring back McCown so they can bring him along slowly that would be a much better move. They have to fix their offensive line before throwing an untested kid out there or they are likely to destroy him before he ever gets started (think Houston Texans and David Carr).
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-11): Minkah Fitzpatrick DB Alabama
Fitzpatrick is listed as a DB because he could end up being a safety or a corner depending on the needs of the team that drafts him and in this case the Buccaneers need both so he’s a great choice. The Bucs pass defense was dead last in the league this year and while they could improve it with a better pass rush too Fitzpatrick is a far higher rated player than any pass rusher unless Chubb falls this far (not going to happen). He could be a replacement for Brent Grimes and be the bigger CB complement to the slightly shorter Vernon Hargreaves or he could replace Chris Conte or TJ Ward at safety. A versatile defender with superior upside is exactly what the Bucs defense needs.
- Chicago Bears (5-11): Orlando Brown OT Oklahoma
Mitchell Trubisky looks like he’s a keeper at QB and that’s great news for a franchise that’s been looking for a QB for forever. Jordan Howard and Tarik Cohen make a nice duo at RB so the Bears have a few pieces on offense they can build around. Their WR corps leaves a lot to be desired as they can’t count on Kevin White to be healthy and they need Cameron Meredith to return to health next season. WR has some players they could grab but this might be a bit high for anyone not named Courtland Sutton. They like LT Charles Leno, Jr even if he’s not an elite LT. However, RT Bobbie Massie needs to be replaced. Brown is a gigantic human being at 6’8 360 lbs. and would a massive upgrade over Massie and he could eventually replace Leno if he struggles. Brown could help their running game by opening holes for Howard and Cohen. At this point an OT is more valuable to them then a WR so Brown is the better choice.
- San Francisco 49ers (6-10): Courtland Sutton WR SMU
The 49ers found their QB in Jimmy Garoppolo now they have to get him some help. Marquise Goodwin became a favorite target of Jimmy G but he needs a complement. Goodwin is a small and fast WR while Sutton is 6’4 215 lbs. beast that will add a dimension they don’t currently have. They could choose to add one of the many OT prospects to protect their new franchise QB but getting him a top WR seems more pressing. If they go OT it could be Kolton Miller or Connor Williams but the depth at OT is better than the depth at WR so they can wait. They gave up their 2nd round pick to get Garoppolo but that was a price well worth paying for a franchise QB.
- Oakland Raiders (6-10): Kolton Miller OT UCLA
The Raiders need defensive help especially at CB but unless they are willing to grab Josh Jackson from Iowa or Denzel Ward from Ohio St. they will have to look elsewhere. Jackson and Ward are good prospects but this seems a little high all the way up at 10. The other thing this team found out this year is their offensive line was a huge part of their success in 2016 and the failure of that line really hampered them in 2017. Donald Penn ended the season injured and he’s 34 years old. Grabbing a young, athletic OT like Miller to protect Derek Carr’s blindside for the foreseeable future is a pretty good idea. Jon Gruden is coming back to coach this team so I would guess he’ll work to get the offense back on track before fixing the defense.
- Miami Dolphins (6-10): Roquan Smith LB Georgia
If you look at the numbers it was the Dolphins offense that was the problem this year and their defense wasn’t horrible but that’s a case of misleading stats. This won’t be their offense next year as I expect them to bring back Ryan Tannehill and give Adam Gase a chance to work his magic again. They need some help at OG but that can come later. They lost Raekwon McMillan before he ever had a chance to do anything and now Kiko Alonso hurt his neck in week 17. Lawrence Timmons is 100 in football years and Mike Hull is just a guy, this team needs LBs. Smith is the top guy at the position and they could use his speed and playmaking ability. If for some reason they cut bait on Tannehill and don’t bring in a real veteran option (Jay Cutler doesn’t count) then I suppose drafting Josh Allen is a possibility but I can’t see them starting over at QB just yet.
- Cincinnati Bengals (7-9): Chukwura Okorafor OT Western Michigan
Okorafor comes from Western Michigan but don’t let his level of competition fool you, this kid can dominate. He’s 6’6 330 lbs. and would make a great blindside OT for the Bengals. The Bengals two young tackles Cedric Ogbuehi and Jake Fisher haven’t distinguished themselves and both are dealing with ailments. Okorafor can step in at LT and let Ogbuehi and Fisher fight it out to be the RT. Having the loser of that competition be the third tackle would allow the team to not have to rely on Eric Winston, they need to let that man retire in peace. The team could be looking to move on from Andy Dalton but if they do they will likely just try to bring back AJ McCarron and give him a shot. Regardless of which QB they go with they could really use some steady blocking up front, they missed Andrew Whitworth more than they care to admit.
- Washington Redskins (7-9): Derwin James S Florida St.
If the Redskins let Kirk Cousins walk in free agency then all bets are off on this pick but it’s hard to see them grabbing Josh Allen, Baker Mayfield or someone else here. The Redskins run defense hasn’t been very good and while you don’t normally think of a safety being drafted to fix a run defense James isn’t your usual safety prospect. Going into the year the thought of James falling to 15th overall was crazy but he didn’t have a great year, much like the rest of the Seminoles. However, he’s a unique talent that can play all over and will improve the Redskins defense in many ways. Washington needs help in a couple of places in the middle of the defense and James’ versatility would be a welcome addition.
- Green Bay Packers (7-9): Anthony Miller WR Memphis
The Packers spent some money to lock up Devante Adams to be their top WR going forward but questions about Jordy Nelson’s longevity and Randal Cobb’s free agency means Aaron Rodgers could need some new targets. Miller isn’t tall but he’s strong and he’s accomplished and he should be able to step into any offense next season and produce. He could be the perfect replacement for Cobb and after spending money on Adams they may be looking to save a little with a rookie instead of paying Cobb. Miller catches everything and Rodgers will love him. The Packers could look to grab an OT with the season ending injuries to starter Bryan Bulaga and backup Jason Spriggs but there is some depth at OT so they can grab a backup later.
- Arizona Cardinals (8-8): Josh Jackson CB Iowa
The Cardinals have tried many players opposite Patrick Peterson over the years and none of them have been particularly good. Currently Tramon Williams is the starter and he’s 34 years old. Good CBs are hard to come by and Jackson and Denzel Ward are the next tier of players at the position after Fitzpatrick. Jackson is taller than Ward and he’s a fantastic athlete with superior ball skills. He and Peterson would make passing against the Cardinals a risky proposition. The Cardinals could look to the offensive line where they suffered season ending injuries to OTs DJ Humphries and Jared Veldheer and OG Mike Iupati but if those guys get healthy they should be good. They could look to grab Carson Palmer’s replacement at QB but Jackson looks like too good of a value pick here. They can look for a guy like Mason Rudolph or Ryan Finley later in the draft if they don’t like their free agent options. Jackson fills a big need they haven’t been able to fill in quite some time.
- Baltimore Ravens (9-7): Calvin Ridley WR Alabama
It’s a cliché to give Ozzie Newsome and the Ravens an Alabama player at this point given Newsome’s preference for players from his alma mater. In this case Ridley fills a gigantic need in Baltimore. Mike Wallace is their best and at this point only consistent threat at WR. Former 1st round pick Breshad Perriman simply hasn’t produced due to injuries or simply being a bust. Free agent addition Jeremy Maclin got hurt and in the season finale that the Ravens lost to knock them out of the playoffs they had 2 healthy WRs on the field. Ridley wasn’t as dominant as he should have been but Joe Flacco is a better passer than Jalen Hurts so give Ridley a QB and his talent will shine through.
- Los Angeles Chargers (9-7): Connor Williams OT Texas
The Chargers have two glaring weaknesses; 1. The offensive line, 2. Their run defense. On defense they have a good pass rush and a very good secondary but they lack great run stuffers up front and they are well below average at middle LB. On the offensive line Russell Okung was an upgrade at LT but that isn’t saying much. Last year they drafted two interior offensive linemen; Forrest Lamp who missed the season with an injury and Dan Feeney who took some time to get his footing. Williams could help solidify the line in front of Phillip Rivers and make Melvin Gordon even more effective. If Williams hadn’t been hurt all year he very well could have been the top OT in the draft. He is also likely to be a long-term replacement for Okung.
- Seattle Seahawks (9-7): Maurice Hurst DT Michigan
This wouldn’t be the ideal scenario for the Seahawks having the top 6 offensive linemen off the board when they come up. They may need to make a move up considering their major need up front on the offensive line. Instead, they make the most of the pick by grabbing Hurst who can come in a fill the shoes of Michael Bennett. Bennett feels like he won’t be back in Seattle and I agree with him. Hurst can play that hybrid E/T position on the line Bennett currently holds and he’s younger and will be cheaper. The Seahawks could go CB with Richard Sherman suffering an injury this year and having no depth but Denzel Ward really doesn’t fit their profile. LT Duane Brown was a nice addition through a trade this year but the Seahawks will really want to consider moving up to get one of the better linemen in this draft before they shorten Russell Wilson’s career.
- Dallas Cowboys (9-7): Denzel Ward CB Ohio St.
The Cowboys spent two draft picks on Jourdan Lewis and Chidobe Awuzie last season but neither one has proven to be a top-notch corner and they still relied heavily on Orlando Scandrick. Scandrick is 30 years old and has back issues that ended his season so the Cowboys still need a CB1. Ward is only 5’10 but he plays bigger than that and he has the strength to matchup with bigger WRs. There is a lot of talk that the Cowboys will look to move on from Dez Bryant and if they do they could go with another Oklahoma St. WR in James Washington or perhaps they like the other Oklahoma St. WR Marcel Ateman better. Like I said before CB doesn’t have deep top-level talent in this draft so Ward is better value than a WR here.
- Detroit Lions (9-7): Marcus Davenport DE UT-San Antonio
I really want to give the Lions LSU RB Derrius Guice because Ameer Abdullah is terrible and Theo Riddick isn’t a true RB but I think they can grab a good RB later, there will be talent well beyond the first round. They have to hedge against losing their only good pass rusher Ezekiel Ansah in free agency and even if they keep him he needs help. Anthony Zettel did okay this year but he isn’t the threat Davenport could be. Davenport isn’t a household name, that’s what happens when you play at UTSA but scouts know him. He’s 6’7 255 lbs. and athletic. His combine and individual workouts could move him higher than 20th in this draft, even as high as 10-15. Ansah has been doing the pass rushing mostly alone for the Lions, I’m sure he would appreciate some assistance. They should grab a real RB in round 2.
The order from here is subject to change as the playoff outcomes dictate order, for now it goes by seed.
- Buffalo Bills (9-7): Christian Wilkins DT Clemson
There was a time when Wilkins was talked about as a potential #1 overall pick in this draft and while he slips here he’s still really good. He may not seem like he was as productive as he could have been a lot of that has to do with the ridiculous talent around him on Clemson’s line. He had to share the wealth. GM Brandon Beane and head coach Sean McDermott were in Carolina when they drafted Star Lotulelei and Kawann Short so they know the importance of interior defensive lineman. The team traded Marcel Dareus because he was more trouble than he was worth and Kyle Williams isn’t getting any younger. They have one undersized DT in Adolphus Washington so Wilkins size would be a welcome addition. This team needs help on the offensive line too but that will have to come later. It’s possible they look at QB given Nathan Peterman’s less than stellar debut this season and their obvious antipathy towards Tyrod Taylor. I could see them looking for a trade candidate like Alex Smith or Blake Bortles or a second-tier free agent like Sam Bradford or they also have another pick just a few picks away.
- Atlanta Falcons (10-6): Vita Vea DT Washington
Vea is a different kind of DT and his size makes him a good fit for Atlanta. Vea is 6’5 344 lbs. and the Falcons may be looking to replace Dontari Poe who is 6’3 346 lbs. They need a guy with some heft because their other starting DT is Grady Jarrett who is a bit undersized. Vea is a fantastic athlete for a human being as large as he is and he’s a heck of a football player. He holds the point of attack very well and he can collapse a pocket when asked to do so. He would keep the Falcons fast LBs clean and allow them to make the plays they need them to make. Poe was on a 1-year deal and it’s possible the Falcons will look for a cheaper alternative with Vea.
- Tennessee Titans (9-7): Ogbonnia Okoronkwo DE/OLB Oklahoma
The Titans got into the playoffs by the skin of their teeth and while their offense could best be described as middling I’m not sure they can draft anyone that can fix it, unless they can draft a different coach. On the other hand, their defense was terrible against the pass and they need to generate more pressure. OLB Brian Orakpo is on the wrong side of 30 and OLB Derrick Morgan is solid but unspectacular. Okoronkwo is undersized at 6’1 242 lbs. but he would excel in their 3-4 defense. He’s a natural pass rusher that could learn from two veterans while providing a pass rushing specialist until he’s needed as a starter in a year or two.
- Carolina Panthers (11-5): Arden Key DE LSU
Julius Peppers, Charles Johnson and Mario Addison are all on the wrong side of 30 (Peppers is really far on the wrong side) and the Panthers defense is built around a strong front 7. Key hasn’t produced this year as expected but LSU wasn’t exactly great so it’s understandable. He’s a long, lean athlete that can bend the edge and while he needs to add some weight (he’s around 240 lbs.) Peppers, Johnson and Addison could still be around for another year to give him some time to do so. The Panthers also need offensive line help but that’s been true for years and they seem to not care. The other possibility is a WR where they traded Kelvin Benjamin during the year. They said they did it because he and Devin Funchess were similar big bodied WRs and they wanted to get some speed on the field. Well James Washington from Oklahoma St. has deep speed and would be a very good complement to Funchess and a better WR option than Russell Shepard.
- Buffalo Bills (from Kansas City 10-6): Josh Allen QB Wyoming
The Bills picked up this pick from the Chiefs last year when Kansas City wanted to move up to grab Patrick Mahomes, their future QB. It’s only fair the Bills grab a QB of the future and the present going forward. I have no idea what they want to do with Tyrod Taylor but I know they probably shouldn’t count on Nathan Peterman as their starter going forward. Allen didn’t have the breakout year some were predicting. that could have vaulted him to the top of this draft class, however, there is plenty of talent in the kid that is easy to see. He’s big, athletic and has a fantastic arm. He throws the ball well everywhere on the field and he’s simply a playmaker. If I were the Bills I might try to bring Taylor back for a year or two to give Allen time especially since the Bills offensive line isn’t great. Let Taylor run around back there for a few years until you fix it, then let Allen take over.
- New Orleans Saints (11-5): Baker Mayfield QB Oklahoma
This one may seem like a little bit of a shocker but Drew Brees is almost as old as Tom Brady and technically he’s a free agent this offseason. I don’t think there’s a snowball’s chance in hell he leaves the Saints but I don’t think the Saints are going to be handing him a 5-year deal either. New Orleans simply doesn’t have a plan for life after Brees and Mayfield could be the guy. There have been some that have compared Mayfield to Brees, he’s a little short and highly accurate so there’s that but I see him a little differently. I think he’s more Russell Wilson than Drew Brees. Mayfield’s ceiling is being Russell Wilson, that’s a pretty good ceiling, his floor is being Colt McCoy, that’s a pretty low floor. I’m not a huge fan but he could be really good and considering the Saints have no succession plan in place for when Brees hangs them up, this isn’t a bad idea.
- Jacksonville Jaguars (10-6): Hayden Hurst TE South Carolina
The Jaguars defense has been amazing and Blake Bortles hasn’t totally sucked so they can look elsewhere in round 1. If the team decides to let Marqise Lee walk they could grab a WR but they could really use a TE. Mercedes Lewis has been there forever but he’s not exactly dominant. Hurst isn’t a household name and he wasn’t an overly productive TE but he’s athletic, skilled and he’ll be a better pro. If Bortles is back next year he could really use a reliable TE. Hurst is an early entry prospect giving up his final year of eligibility but he’s actually 24 because he played pro baseball for a few years before going to South Carolina. He would give their offense another dimension and his blocking would also help Leonard Fournette.
- Los Angeles Rams (11-5): Taven Bryan DL Florida
The Rams are the single biggest surprise of the season and Sean McVay has their offense humming along. Wade Phillips did a fantastic job with their defense but their run defense still has some issues. One of the issues is that Phillips preferred 3-man front needs the right kind of defensive linemen. While Aaron Donald is a dominant force they still need a more typical 3-4 defensive end opposite him. Bryan is a 6’5 295 lbs. end/tackle that can do just that. A more effective player there would make Donald and OLB Robert Quinn even more disruptive. They could grab a CB like Isaiah Oliver from Colorado but Bryan is good value.
- Pittsburgh Steelers (13-3): Derrius Guice RB LSU
I think there is a chance the Steelers don’t hold onto LeVeon Bell in the offseason. He is going to command a lot of money and franchising him again will not make him a happy camper. Even if they do, he’s a RB and they have a short shelf-life unless they are Frank Gore. Guice shouldn’t be available here but in this draft, he is because I can’t find a place for him. He’s a fantastic prospect and really is just Barkley with less hype. He has the skillset to replace Bell and be fantastic. The Steelers could look to find an LB like Tremaine Edmunds given Ryan Shazier’s injury but good teams like the Steelers rarely draft for need if there is a guy as good as Guice still on the board. Guice is just too valuable here even if Bell does return.
- Minnesota Vikings (13-3): Will Hernandez OG UTEP
The Vikings defense has been outstanding and while they could look to find some youth for their defensive line (Linval Joseph, Brian Robison and Everson Griffen will all be over 30 next year). However, they could still use some interior help on the offensive line and while Hernandez isn’t a sexy pick he could pay huge dividends especially for Dalvin Cook when he returns at RB. They could also protect whomever they decide to employ next season at QB. Hernandez is huge and would be a road grader and a long-term solution inside. The team spent money on Riley Reiff and Mike Remmers last year at OT and drafted C Pat Elflein. Those moves all paid off with better line play, Hernandez could be the next piece to the puzzle.
- Philadelphia Eagles (13-3): Isaiah Oliver CB Colorado
The Eagles have been one of the best teams all season and while they don’t have a lot of holes they could use some help at CB. Jalen Mills and Ronald Darby have done a decent job this season but they are replaceable. They are hoping last year’s flyer on Sidney Jones from Washington is going to pay off. They took Jones despite his torn Achilles that occurred during his pro day. If Jones fully recovers he’s a fantastic talent. Oliver is 6’1 so he’s got some nice length and would make a nice pairing with Jones going forward for the Eagles. He isn’t as highly ranked as Jackson or Ward but he’s probably the best of the next tier.
- New England Patriots (13-3): Clelin Ferrell DE Clemson
There’s about a 900% chance the Patriots trade this pick because they have the 49ers 2nd rounder from the Garoppolo trade so they will use this one to gain extra picks. If they do make the pick it’s either going to be a CB (Jaire Alexander-Louisville, Holton Hill-Texas, Carlton Davis-Auburn, all possible) or a pass rusher. Trey Flowers and Lawrence Guy were serviceable this year but there is no depth and no pure pass rushing specialist. Ferrell is a young guy with tons of potential and could be molded into a real threat. The Patriots could look for a OT but there isn’t great value here. Tremaine Edmunds would be a nice addition at LB but that makes too much sense. My dark horse choice here is Bill Belichick completely messing with everyone’s minds and taking QB Lamar Jackson. For the record, I’m not a Jackson fan unless they are planning on playing him at WR, he just doesn’t seem like an NFL QB to me. I think he’s Vince Young not Cam Newton.
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