2018 NFL Mock Draft: Fifth Edition

Here is my fourth edition of my 2018 NFL Draft.

1. Cleveland Browns- Sam Darnold, Quarterback, USC: Although they did trade for Tyrod Taylor, he's not the long term answer for a team that needs a long term/possible franchise quarterback for the future. Darnold could be that due to his leadership, good throwing arm, clutch play as he's shown at the collegiate level, and his athleticism.

2. New York Giants- Josh Rosen, Quarterback, UCLA: Some mock drafts have Big Blue taking Saquon Barkley or Bradley Chubb here, but after the blockbuster Jets-Colts trade, something tells me Dave Gettleman plans on taking Eli Manning's successor. Rosen is perhaps the safest bet in this draft (in terms of quarterbacks) due to his accuracy and refined throwing mechanics, but he does have concussion problems though.

3. New York Jets (from Indianapolis Colts)- Josh Allen, Quarterback, Wyoming: After missing out on Kirk Cousins, the Jets pivot and make a blockbuster trade to move up to 3. With Darnold and Rosen off the board, Allen is the choice. Allen has the most upside among the quarterbacks due to his athleticism, arm strength, and size and draws comparisons to Carson Wentz.

4. Cleveland Browns (from Houston Texans)-Saquon Barkley, Running Back, Penn State: The Browns did sign Carlos Hyde in free agency, but there is still talk of the Browns taking Barkley first and a quarterback fourth. Barkley is the drafts best player and he can do pretty much everything.

5. Denver Broncos- Baker Mayfield, Quarterback, Oklahoma: Although they did sign Case Keenum, he's not the long-term answer at quarterback. The Broncos love Mayfield and he has a ton of potential with his gunslinger mentality although due to his height and off the court antics, is compared to Johnny Manziel.

6. Indianapolis Colts (from New York Jets)- Bradley Chubb, Defensive End, North Carolina State: 
This was a home run trade for the Colts and it would become a grand slam if they land either Chubb or Barkley here. Chubb will be a great fit in the Colts 4-3 defense and he's a three-down back that would help them stop the likes of DeShaun Watson and Marcus Mariota within their division.

7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Quenton Nelson, Guard, Notre Dame: Secondary might be the bigger need, but they go with Nelson, who's best player available perhaps. Nelson seems like a sure thing and worthy of a top-ten pick and will help the Bucs on the interior of the offensive line and will serve good for Jameis Winston.

8. Chicago Bears- Denzel Ward, Cornerback, Ohio State: The Bears need secondary help as well as pass rush help and with Chubb gone, the Bears go with Ward here. Ward isn't the biggest cornerback in the draft but he can cover skills that are hard to come by in the league.

9. San Francisco 49ers- Minkah Fitzpatrick, Safety, Alabama: This would be a steal here for the 49ers, who improvised their secondary this offseason by signing Richard Sherman. Fitzpatrick's versatility makes him special and he's perhaps the best defensive player in this draft.

10. Oakland Raiders- Tremaine Edmunds, Linebacker, Virginia Tech: The Raiders biggest need is at linebacker and Edmunds would be a solid pick. Edmunds is nineteen years old and his athleticism would give the Silver And Black's defense a different look.

11. Miami Dolphins- Mason Rudolph, Quarterback, Oklahoma State: The Dolphins are a strong candidate to trade up for a quarterback, but I don't do trades in my mock drafts so here I have them selecting Rudolph. He's an experienced pocket passer with nice downfield touch. If they were to select a quarterback, it says a lot about how they feel about Ryan Tannehill.

12. Buffalo Bills (from Cincinnati Bengals)- Mike McGlinchey, Offensive Tackle, Notre Dame: After the trading of Cody Glenn, the Bills have a need on the offensive line. McGlinchey isn't that strong, but he's athletic and brings stability.

13. Washington Redskins- Derwin James, Strong Safety, Florida State: Perhaps the best defensive playmaker in the draft, James is the new NFL prototype as a safety capable of producing against the run or in both man and zone coverage. Florida State also used him as a pure edge rusher, where he regularly pressured the quarterback.

14. Green Bay Packers- Harold Landry, Linebacker, Boston College: With Ward off the board, the Packers go with Landry here to improve their pass rush. Landry did not have a great season in his final season at BC, but he should still be a solid pro.

15. Arizona Cardinals- Lamar Jackson, Quarterback, Louisville: The Cards are another trade up candidate, but here I have them selecting Jackson, who's a good decision maker and passer. The Cards know that Mike Glennon and Sam Bradford are not the long-term answers and Jackson would in theory be in a red-shirt situation here and a long-term foundation of Jackson and David Johnson is tough to pass up on.

16. Baltimore Ravens- Calvin Ridley, Wide Receiver, Alabama: The Ravens have lacked a big-threat receiver for years now and they get one here with Ridley, although they did sign John Brown and Michael Crabtree. Ridley brings a downfield, speedy option on the outside that would bring a different look to the Ravens offense.

17. Los Angeles Chargers- Da'Ron Payne, Defensive Tackle, Alabama: The Chargers pose what is arguably the best edge rushing duo in the league with Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram. Adding someone like Payne would only make that defensive line better.

18. Seattle Seahawks- Josh Jackson, Cornerback, Iowa: The Legion of Boom is dead. The Seahawks need youth and athleticism in their secondary and Jackson can provide that. Jackson is excellent in man-to-man coverage and comes off a season in which he led the nation in interceptions.

19. Dallas Cowboys- Vita Vea, Denfensive Tackle, Washington: Vea, a massive presence in the middle of a defensive line, will go a long way toward fixing that deficiency, while also providing enough quickness to penetrate into the backfield on some third downs.

20. Detroit Lions- Derrius Guice, Running Back, LSU: The Lions do have a need on the pass rush, but they also have a need at running back so they snag Guice here to improve their running game. Guice is getting some buzz and is moving up draft boards and he can prove to be a serviceable back.

21. Cincinnati Bengals (from Buffalo Bills)- Rashaan Evans, Linebacker, Alabama: The Bengals can use a linebacker now with Vontaze Burfict's suspension to start the season amid trade rumors. Evans brings an athletic presence who can fill multiple roles. He was more of an edge defender early in his career, and he pressured the quarterback on 67 of his 284 career rushes. However, he also showed well in a more traditional role over the last two years.

22. Buffalo Bills (from Kansas City Chiefs)- Courtland Sutton, Wide Receiver, SMU: With all the top quarterbacks off the board, the Bills go with Sutton to improve their receiving core. Sutton put together back-to-back seasons of 1,000 yards and 10 TDs, and he scored 32 times in all in his three seasons with the Mustangs.

23. Los Angeles Rams- Kolton Miller, Offensive Tackle, UCLA: Miller put together a great final season at the collegiate level and could end up becoming a starting tackle on this Rams team protecting Jared Goff. Miller is raw, but has the length and athleticism to succeed in the league.

24. Carolina Panthers- Will Hernandez, Guard, UTEP: No brainer pick here as the Panthers find their replacement for Andrew Norwell. Hernandez is big and powerful and he provides mobility.

25. Tennessee Titans- Leighton Vander Esch, Linebacker, Boise State: Vander Esch is rising up many peoples mocks drafts of late. The Titans have a need at linebacker with Avery Williamson departing in free agency and Vander Esch would be a nice replacement, who brings great athleticism, speed, and has incredible size and length.

26. Atlanta Falcons- Maurice Hurst, Defensive Tackle, Michigan: Hurst had a heart condition at the combine and that shouldn't drop him out of the first round as the Falcons find a replacement for Dontari Poe. Hurst doesn't have the size that teams are generally looking for in an interior defensive lineman, but his quickness more than makes up for that deficiency and makes him in particular a great threat rushing the passer on third downs.

27. New Orleans Saints- Arden Key, Defensive End/Linebacker, LSU: Key is a prospect trending down on mock boards. The premier pass-rusher dealt with injuries himself in 2017, but he's impressed against top SEC talent and should be a constant sack threat in the NFL if he can stay on the field and would be an interesting fit on a young Saints team.

28. Pittsburgh Steelers- Mike Gesicki, Tight End, Penn State: Gesicki is perhaps the best tight end in this draft class and would give Ben Rothlisberger yet another offensive weapon. Gesicki would be an upgrade at the position.

29. Jacksonville Jaguars- Christian Kirk, Wide Receiver, Texas A&M: Even after bringing back Marquise Lee and signing Donte Moncrief, the Jags have a need at receiver after losing Allen Robinson. Kirk provides stability for long plays although he is short, he would be a nice weapon for Blake Bortles.

30. Minnesota Vikings- Billy Price, Guard, Ohio State: Price would be a nice addition to a Vikings team that can use offensive line help to protect Kirk Cousins. Price would be a great target for them as a potential replacement for Joe Berger inside. Price would be one of the better starting centers in the league, so the Vikings have the option of sticking him at the pivot immediately and having Pat Elflein compete at a guard spot.

31. New England Patriots- Orlando Brown, Offensive Tackle, Oklahoma: The Pats have a huge need at tackle now with Nate Solder's departure in free agency. Brown could be a steal here and it would be a very Belichick of him to take Brown here to protect Brady in his last few seasons in the league.

32. Philadelphia Eagles- Connor Williams, Offensive Tackle, Texas: The Eagles don't really have any needs. Williams is one of the better offensive lineman in this draft and the Eagles offensive line is aging so this would be a solid pick.