2018 NFL MOCK DRAFT: Here's what the experts are predicting for all 32 first-round picks
Ron Jenkins/Getty Images
We are still more than a month from the 2018 NFL Draft, but the combine is now history, players and teams are jockeying for position, and experts have weighed in on who they think will be drafted by each team in the first round.
We surveyed 14 NFL Draft experts who have released mock drafts recently to get a consensus prediction for which players teams might be considering with all 32 first-round picks. Under this format, it is possible for the same player to appear in multiple spots and for some players with first-round talent to not appear at all if there is no consensus on where they might land.
The experts: ESPN's Mel Kiper, ESPN's Todd McShay, CBS Sports' Will Brinson, CBS Sports' Pete Prisco, NFL.com's Daniel Jeremiah, NFL.com's Bucky Brooks, The Ringer's Danny Kelly, NFL.com's Charles Davis, NFL.com's Charley Casserly, Walter Football, USA Today's Luke Easterling, Rotoworld's Josh Norris, The Sports Xchange's Rob Rang, and DraftTek (Half of these have been updated since the combine. We will update this list as more of the experts update their mocks).
1. Cleveland Browns — Sam Darnold, QB
Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images
Experts: 10 out of 14
School: USC
Other notable possibilities: Josh Allen (2), Saquon Barkley (2)
Key expert quote: McShay: "After the combine this past week, it's sounding as if this pick could come down to him or Saquon Barkley. Darnold is the best QB in this class, in my opinion. However, I also could see Josh Allen as the choice here, since he has more experience in the cold, the big arm and the hand size (10⅛ inches) to diminish fumbling concerns in bad AFC North weather. If Cleveland addresses its quarterback situation in free agency (AJ McCarron?), then I think Barkley is the pick here."
2. New York Giants — Saquon Barkley, RB
AP Photo/Chris Knight
Experts: 6 out of 14
School: Penn State
Other notable possibilities: Josh Rosen (4), Baker Mayfield (1), Quenton Nelson (1), Sam Darnold (1), Josh Allen (1)
Key expert quote: McShay: "The Giants could go a lot of different directions here. If they are really looking to win now with Eli Manning at QB, then they should take the best player in the draft, Barkley. Give Manning a running game and a little more pass protection (via free agency or later in the draft) and Giants fans would argue they are a playoff team. Bradley Chubb and Quenton Nelson are in play here as well."
3. Indianapolis Colts — Bradley Chubb, DE
Grant Halverson/Getty Images
Experts: 11 out of 14
School: North Carolina State
Other notable possibilities: Saquon Barkley (2), Sam Darnold (1)
Key expert quote: Kiper: "The Colts don't need a quarterback and can grab the draft's best pass-rusher. They ranked 31st in the NFL in sacks (25) last season. Chubb had 46.5 tackles for loss over the past two seasons. New defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus came over from Dallas, where Rod Marinelli and the Cowboys ran a 4-3 defense. Chubb is a great fit in a 4-3 as an edge rusher."
See the rest of the story at Business Insider
See Also:
- Take a look at the massive, sleek $2.6 billion stadium the Rams and Chargers will call home
- 24 examples of Kobe Bryant's insane work ethic
- College quarterback who flew under the radar during the season showed with 2 throws why the NFL world is gushing over his physical ability