Mock Draft Round 1: Baker Mayfield Dropping Fast!

---

Moon Man’s first Mock Draft for the 2018 NFL Draft is here. I have 5 quarterbacks going in round 1, two running backs and two trades both involving qbs. Baker Mayfield falls fast and is drafted by a team that causes controversy before the season even starts. Also, Eight defensive backs go off the board and wide receiver Christian Kirk finds himself going going to a Super Bowl contender late.

Mock Draft

1. Cleveland Browns will select USC’s Sam Darnold. Even though they should select Saquon Barkley #1 overall and put themselves in position to win this year. Tyrod Taylor is not a stand alone Super Bowl quarterback. However, he is a quarterback that will bring stability immediately to the position. I’d like to see the Browns select Barkley and follow it up with Guard Quenton Nelson or Defensive Back Minkah Fitzpatrick at #4. This will help Cleveland start winning now, bring in two immediate impact starters and change the culture.

2. New York Giants select defensive lineman Bradley Chubb. With the recent trade of Jason Pierre Paul, acquisitions of Alec Olgetree and Nate Solder. It just makes sense for the Giants to draft an immediate starter. Drafting a quarterback at number two may be good for the future but it is not happening. Bradley Chubb is an impact player and top notch edge rusher.

3. New York Jets moved up to draft their franchise quarterback in UCLA’s Josh Rosen.

4. Cleveland Browns will trade the 4th overall pick to the Buffalo Bills.The Bills will select Wyoming’s Josh Allen and he will start the season as the Bill’s qb.

5. Denver Broncos select Penn State’s Saquon Barkley and their offense becomes a 2018 fantasy football powerhouse. Filled with early season low cost options.

6. Indianapolis Colts are ecstatic that guard Quenton Nelson falls to six and so is Andrew Luck.

7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers draft defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick and plug him in at Free Safety. Suring up their secondary. Cornerbacks Vernon Hargreaves and Brent Grimes on the outside. JPP, Gerald McCoy, Vinny Curry, Kwon Alexander and Lavonte David looking good on paper.

8. Chicago Bears need help everywhere on defense. Marcus Davenportof UTSA is intriguing with his ability to rush the passer and/or play from the two point stance. His versatility would fit in nicely here and lead to an immediate impact in a tough division.

9. San Francisco 49ers need help in the secondary. With the signing of Richard Sherman. Florida State’s Safety Derwin James makes sense. Although the polished Calvin Ridley would be advantageous in Kyle Shanahan’s offense. I went back and fourth with this one. Ultimately going with James with the thought that the 49ers could find another wr later on. Leaving the #1 spot still in Pierre Garcon’s hands.

10. Oakland Raiders select Ohio State’s Denzel Ward with John Gruden’s first draft pick. Ward will start opposite last year’s first round pick. Fellow buckeye Gareon Conley.

11. Miami Dolphins trade pick to Arizona Cardinals who select quarterback Lamar Jackson. Sam Bradford and Mike Glennon will hold down the offense in 2018. Bradford at his healthiest is good for maybe 12 games at best and Glennon will start the other 4. An offense dependant on using running back David Johnson. Look for Lamar Jackson to start in 2019 as the Cardinals build around his mobility for the future.

12. Buffalo Bills (Cleveland Browns) draft nose tackle Vita Vea and forget about Danny Shelton.

13. Washington Redskins select cornerback Joshua Jackson of Iowa. He may not be a speedster but his ball skills are elite. The Redskins need help on the backend and the of acquisition of cb Orlando Scandrick isn’t cutting it.

14. Green Bay Packers draft wide receiver Calvin Ridley and make him the first receiver off the board. Polished, poised and ready to be a starter is a great fit for Aaron Rodgers who wants to win now. Ridley’s fantasy value becomes the talk of the off season.

15. Arizona Cardinals (Miami Dolphins) draft the best linebacker in the draft Roquan Smith. His sideline to sideline speed will be tested in the NFL against shady mccoy and all the Belichickanigans from the Patriots.

16. Baltimore Ravens select Alabama’s Da’Ron Payne and slot him in as the starting nose tackle.

17. Los Angeles Chargers select hybrid outside linebacker Tremaine Edwards. If Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram off the edge wasn’t ferocious enough. Adding the versatility of Edwards will make this defense a nightmare for opposing offenses. Whether it is off the edge, at outside lb or stuffing the run. Edwards stock is rising fast as the draft approaches.

18. Seattle Seahawks are in a transition stage but not a rebuilding stage. The offense is in Russell Wilson’s hands and he was glorious for Fantasy Football Friends last season. Expect the Seahawks to add an offensive weapon with Courtland Sutton at wide receiver. Spread the wrs out and let Russell use his mobility to make it happen. Sutton is a mutant athletically and has double digit touchdown potential with his 6’4 frame. Although Hayden Hurst at tight end would be a nice fit and with Russell’s baseball background. I’m sure the two would build chemistry off the bat.

19. Dallas Cowboys select cornerback Mike Hughes from UCF. Without a doubt, Dallas needs help on defense and Hughes provides an immediate improvement over questionable cbs on the roster. His special team abilities are appealing as well.

20. Detroit Lions select running back Derrius Guice of LSU. This means Ameer Abdullah gets traded. With no stability at the running back position. Guice offers this and Theo Riddick can return to his 3rd down role. Guice, Blount and Riddick would make for a potent trio of running backs.

21. Cincinnati Bengals draft linebacker Harold Henry. There are many questions surrounding Henry. Will he be effective in the 4-3? He is undersized as a defensive end with a high ceiling and the Bengals will take the risk at pick #21.

22. Buffalo Bills select Notre Dame’s Mike McGlinchey and continue to build in Sean McDermott’s second season as head coach.

23. Los Angeles Rams select Isaiah Wynn from Georgia. Wynn will play guard or center for the Rams and will prove to be valuable despite his critics.

24. Carolina Panthers cornerback Isaiah Oliver from Colorado. The Panther’s cornerback play continued to be a weakness in 2017. If they want to take advantage of their success window. Oliver may just be the best available cornerback at this point in the draft.

25. Tennessee Titans select outside linebacker/edge rusher Arden Keyand take on the risk. His talent is too much to pass on. He will give the Titans a pass rusher which they desperately need.

26. Atlanta Falcons draft wide receiver Christian Kirk from Texas A & M. Many reports have Kirk going outside round 1. However the Falcons need a proven slot wr to take the next step on offense. Julio Jones moved around often last season but is best suited on the outside. Kirk can be the difference maker the Falcons need. With a speedy defense that is top notch in it’s own right. Why not draft Kirk and take pressure off of Julio Jones/Matt Ryan?

27. New Orleans Saints are in a predicament. Either draft quarterback Baker Mayfield who has dropped or defensive lineman Taven Bryan from Florida? Adding Taven Bryan would make their front nastier, leading to the back end being even better. Ironically, last year the Saints became a top defense and with Bryan. Who Dat nation would surely be undefeated at home in 2018? It is a win now mentality in New Orleans and pick #27 is Taven Bryan.

Who am I kidding though. The Saints will wind up drafting a running back from Georgia.

28. Pittsburgh Steelers draft quarterback Baker Mayfield and the press goes wild.

29. Jacksonville Jaguars draft offensive tackle Kolton Miller. Kolton will move from left tackle to right tackle in the NFL.

30. Minnesota Vikings draft safety Ronnie Harrison of Alabama.

31. New England Patriots draft Boise State’s inside linebacker Leighton Vander Esch. The Patriots need alot of help on defense whether or not you agree. Never a fan of Matt Patricia and the “bend but dont break defense”. Nick Foles going off in the superbowl backed up my beliefs. Tom Brady is great but putting him behind the eight ball week in and week out is non sense. The 2018 draft will be an opportune time for Belichick to draft defensive depth starting with Vander Esch. Trading for cb Jason Mccourty and defensive tackle Danny Shelton is a great start. Defensive end Adrian Clayborn was a solid signing too.

32. Philadelphia Eagles draft cornerback Jaire Alexander from Louisville. At 5’10, 195lbs he ran a 4.38 forty yard dash. Alexander could be the round 1 steal of the draft at pick 32.

As Always,

(Teams Going Off + Thoughts Flexed In) = Combination Lineups

May the Fantasy Force Be With You.

Follow Moon Man on Twitter @FFPmoonman

https://ffphilosophy.com/2018/04/08/free-agent-navorro-bowman-signs-with/