CHDraftScouting Chase Hammes’ 2018 Full 1st Round Mock Draft
Chase Hammes with CHDraftScouting brings us his projections for the entire first round of the 2018 NFL Draft with the latest version of his mock draft.
Pick 1. Browns – Sam Darnold, QB, USC
The Browns have made several great moves this offseason, but still need a franchise quarterback.
Darnold needs some time to sit and learn: he would be a great fit behind Tyrod Taylor and would give Cleveland a QB to develop for the future.
Pick 2. Bills – Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming
The Bills trade up to pick two to acquire a quarterback. Despite adding A.J. McCarron in free agency, this is a smart move for Buffalo. (Who knows how good McCarron really is.)
My opinion is that McCarron will be a bridge QB, as Allen has a huge ceiling. It would be great learning behind McCarron for some time.
Pick 3. Jets – Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA
The Jets gave up a bunch of picks to move up to pick three: this selection has to be Rosen. He is one of the better quarterback prospects in a few years and the Jets need to find their franchise guy.
Pick 4. Browns – Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State
Saquon is my number one ranked player in the class. The Browns could use a force in the backfield with their new acquisitions. He would change their offense from day one and set them in a positive direction for many years.
Pick 5. Broncos – Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma
The Broncos need to find their guy too. Elway hasn’t done a good job of getting a quarterback since Peyton Manning left. Mayfield is my top quarterback in the draft and he would change this team with his fiery attitude.
Pick 6. Colts – Bradley Chubb, DE, NC State
The Colts have a bunch of needs but Chubb is a great pass rusher and run stopper. He would give Indy a major piece to build around on defense.
Pick 7. Buccaneers – Minkah Fitzpatrick, FS, Alabama
Fitzpatrick is a great football player and is basically another coach on the field. The Bucs haven’t had a star on their back end since Ronde Barber.
Pick 8. Bears – Tremaine Edmunds, LB, Virginia Tech
The Bears have a bunch of talent on offense but they need a star on their defense. Edmunds will give them exactly that.
(Did I mention he’s only nineteen years old!)
Pick 9. 49ers – Quenton Nelson, OG, Notre Dame
The Niners need some receiver help for QB Jimmy Garoppolo but why not get the BPA (Best Player Available) here at pick nine?
Nelson would give San Fran an All-Pro talent that would instantly change their offensive line.
Pick 10. Raiders – Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia
The Raiders and Smith are a match made in heaven. The Raiders need a sideline to sideline tackler and Roquan is just that.
Pick 11. Dolphins – Derwin James, FS, FSU
The Dolphins are probably in full-on tank mode. Might as well take the BPA… James is an athletic freak and will change their locker room.
Pick 12. Giants – Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State
I have the Giants trading with the Bills and picking up Ward. They’re moving Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie to safety. Eli Apple has been a cancer to the team and pretty unreliable.
At worst Ward is a very good nickel corner.
Pick 13. Redskins – Da’Ron Payne, DT, Alabama
The Skins need some talent on the Defensive line. Payne is a monster and dominated in the College Football Playoffs. He also tested very well for a player of his size at the combine.
Pick 14. Packers – Josh Jackson, CB, Iowa
The Packers showed how weak their team is without Aaron Rodgers. They have a bunch of needs but J.J. is a ball hawk and would help get the ball back to Rodgers.
Pick 15. Cardinals – Connor Williams, OT, Texas
I don’t think there is a quarterback worth taking here, and the Cardinals need offensive line help. Williams has franchise left tackle potential and they need to keep improving their offense. He’s a good fit.
Pick 16. Ravens – Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama
The Ravens offense is weak and they need some talent to help out the below average play of QB Joe Flacco. Ridley can be a number one receiver if given the chance, and Baltimore desperately needs that.
Pick 17. Chargers – Kolton Miller, OT, UCLA
This may be a bit of a surprise. The Chargers could use a developmental quarterback behind Philip Rivers but, for now, they need to protect him. Miller is a big athletic tackle that didn’t have good coaching but has a lot of upside.
Pick 18. Seahawks – Isaiah Oliver, CB, Colorado
The Seahawks are in rebuild mode right now. Richard Sherman is gone, and needs replaced.
Oliver is a long athletic corner very similar to Sherman and should fit his role nicely.
Pick 19. Cowboys – Vita Vea, NT, Washington
With Maurice Hurst having the setback at the combine with medicals, I think Vea replaces him here. The Cowboys could use a solid one tech and Vea can move for a guy his size.
Pick 20. Lions – Harold Landry, EDGE, Boston College
Even with the Lions keeping Ziggy Ansah they need more of a pass rush. Landry is a pass rushing demon similar to Vic Beasley, and should instantly improve the Lions defense.
Pick 21. Bengals – Will Hernandez, OG, UTEP
The Bengals need offensive line help badly. Hernandez is a big athletic run blocker that will clear running lanes for last year’s pick, Joe Mixon.
Pick 22. Giants – Isaiah Wynn, OG, Georgia
The Giants added Nate Solder at left tackle, which is a position they desperately needed. Wynn is a versatile blocker and will help solidify the Giants offensive line so they can keep Eli Manning from being hit often.
Pick 23. Rams – Rashaan Evans, LB, Alabama
Evans is a monster in the middle and is a very underrated athlete. The Rams are one of the most improved teams so far this offseason: Evans makes their defense deadly.
Pick 24. Panthers – Jaire Alexander, CB, Louisville
The Panthers need help at receiver but they also need a corner upgrade. Injuries aside, Alexander is debatably the best corner in the class.
Pick 25. Titans – Marcus Davenport, EDGE, UTSA
The Titans need to address their pass rush. Davenport is raw but has the size teams love. Adding him could make the Titans a force next year.
Pick 26. Falcons – Maurice Hurst, DT, Michigan
The Falcons need inside help next to Grady Jarrett. Hurst had a problem come up at the combine but I don’t think it will be an issue.
Pick 27. Saints – Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville
This is one of my personal favorite picks in this mock. Brees has a little bit left in him, and Jackson could sit for some time behind him. Jackson, given time, could be a monster quarterback.
Pick 28. Steelers – Justin Reid, SS, Stanford
I hope my SCU teammates enjoy this pick!
Pittsburgh needs a safety upgrade and Reid is good in coverage and can come up to the box.
Pick 29. Jaguars – James Daniels, OC, Iowa
The Jaguars have few holes on their roster so this was a hard one. Daniels is the BPA and could probably move to guard if they wanted him too.
Pick 30. Vikings – Billy Price, OL, Ohio State
The Vikings could use a center or a guard. Even though Price got hurt during the combine’s dumbest event, he’s a fit here.
I believe his addition could make the Vikings a Super Bowl contender next season.
Pick 31. Patriots – Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame
The Patriots lost Nate Solder in free agency, so McGlinchey is a pick out of necessity. He’s a solid player who can play left or right tackle.
Pick 32. Eagles – Leighton Vander Esch, LB, Boise State
The Eagles could use another linebacker. LVE is a big athletic player who can play either linebacker spot.
