2018 NFL Mock Draft: Seventh Edition

Here is my seventh 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 Allen, Quarterback, Wyoming: 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. With all the smoke Jim Mora is throwing at Josh Rosen, the Giants take Allen, who has the most upside among the quarterbacks due to his athleticism, arm strength, and size and draws comparisons to Carson Wentz.

3. New York Jets (from Indianapolis Colts)- Josh Rosen, Quarterback, UCLA: Rosen's stock is dropping due to his concussion issues and his former coach Jim Mora throwing him under the bus. Rosen is perhaps the safest bet in this draft (in terms of quarterbacks) due to his accuracy and refined throwing mechanics.

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- Minkah Fitzpatrick, Safety, Alabama: This would be a steal here for the Bucs, who have a bigger need for a pass-rusher, so instead take Fitzpatrick to bolster their secondary. Fitzpatrick's versatility makes him special and he's perhaps the best defensive player in this draft.

8. Chicago Bears- Quenton Nelson, Guard, Notre Dame: The Bears have a need at edge rusher and with Chubb off the board, they address their need at left guard and Nelson fits the bill. Nelson seems like a sure thing and worthy of a top-ten pick and will help the Bears on the interior of the offensive line and will serve good for Mitch Trubisky.

9. San Francisco 49ers- Tremaine Edmunds, Linebacker, Virginia Tech: The Niners snag Edmunds here to improve their linebacking corps. Edmunds is nineteen years old and his athleticism would give the Niners young defense a different look to go with Reuben Foster.

10. Oakland Raiders- Denzel Ward, Cornerback, Ohio State: Ward dropping this far would be a steal for the Silver And Black. Ward isn't the biggest cornerback in the draft but he can cover skills that are hard to come by in the league.

11. Miami Dolphins- Roquan Smith, Linebacker, Georgia: Smith brings speed and athleticism and that would be much needed for this Dolphins defense, that needs some youth. This is a possible steal here.

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- Isaiah Wynn, Guard, Georgia: Wynn would bring a nice upgrade to a Seahawks offensive line to protect Russell Wilson and take pressure off the running game. Wynn can play tackle if needed but will succeed as a guard instantly. He plays with outstanding leverage and has the athleticism to mirror pass-rushers.

19. Dallas Cowboys- Maurice Hurst, Defensive Tackle, Michigan: Hurst had a heart condition at the combine and that shouldn't drop him out of the first round. 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.

20. Detroit Lions- 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. He would be a great fit in Matt Patricia's defense.

21. Cincinnati Bengals (from Buffalo Bills)- Leighton Vander Esch, Linebacker, Boise State: Vander Esch is rising up many peoples mocks drafts of late. With Vontez Burfict suspended to start the season and his future with the team up in the air, the Bengals take Vander Esch to bolster their linebacking core.

22. Buffalo Bills (from Kansas City Chiefs)- Mason Rudolph, Quarterback, Oklahoma State: The Bills 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.

23. New England Patriots (from Los Angeles Rams)- Marcus Davenport, Defensive End, UTSA: Davenport is a bit of a wild card since he's from a Group Of 5 school. The Pats are a nice landing spot for Davenport as he gets to learn under Bill Belichick and that defensive staff and would provide much needed youth to the Pats pass rush.

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- Rashaan Evans, Linebacker, Alabama: 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.

26. Atlanta Falcons- Taven Bryan, Defensive End, Florida: The Falcons don't have any major needs, but bolstering the defensive line could be necessary if Dontari Poe leaves in free agency. Bryan has drawn comparisons to JJ Watt and will bring depth to the Falcons defensive line.

27. New Orleans Saints- Dallas Goedert, Tight End, South Dakota State: Goedert's draft stock is trending up although there are some concerns due to injury. Goedert would be a nice weapon for Drew Brees.

28. Pittsburgh Steelers- Mike Hughes, Cornerback, UCF: Hughes is a player trending up many peoples mock boards and people have him pegged in the top 15, but I don't see him being drafted that high. Hughes would fit nicely with Artie Burns in the Steelers secondary.

29. Jacksonville Jaguars- Courtland Sutton, Wide Receiver, SMU: With the Jags losing Allen Robinson in free agency, they replace him with Sutton, who could be a steal. 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.

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- 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.

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.