The Josh Allen–to-Cleveland rumor mill is heating up this week, but it's still looking like a near-lock that the Browns will take USC quarterback Sam Darnold with the first pick of the NFL draft. At this point, there's far more uncertainty around what the Giants plan to do with the second pick: Will new general manager Dave Gettleman trade back (something he never did in Carolina), will he stay where he is and take a quarterback, or will he turn in the card for one of Saquon Barkley, Bradley Chubb, or Quenton Nelson? Only time will tell, but what the Giants do at that spot could change the entire complexion of the first round.
With that in mind, let's take a look at how things could shake out if New York does pick at no. 2—but instead of grabbing Eli Manning's successor, the Giants go with a blue-chip player at a different position. If they decide not to grab a passer, it'd push the quarterbacks down the draft and could give other QB-needy teams like the Cardinals and Bills a better chance to move up and grab one. That's what happens here, with two teams trading up into the top 10.
1. Cleveland Browns: QB Sam Darnold, USC
The Browns get the top quarterback in this class. The number of interceptions Darnold threw over the past two seasons (22) is a concern, but with a strong arm, accuracy down the field, and mobility to extend plays, he's got all the tools to develop into a top-tier starter. He'll be just 21 years old when training camp kicks off, and if he starts Week 1, he'd be the youngest quarterback to start in the NFL since the AFL-NFL merger. But with Tyrod Taylor under contract for at least a year, Cleveland will have the opportunity to bring its new face of the franchise along slowly.
2. New York Giants: DE Bradley Chubb, NC State
The Giants have undergone a mini-overhaul to their front-seven over the offseason as part of the switch to new defensive coordinator James Bettcher's attacking 3-4 scheme, adding linebacker Alec Ogletree and defensive linemen Kareem Martin and Josh Mauro. After trading away one of their top pass rushers in Jason Pierre-Paul, the team needs to add more explosive speed off the edge opposite Olivier Vernon. Chubb's their guy. He's not quite as talented as last year's top pick, Myles Garrett, but he's damn good—and he may be a more well-rounded player who can contribute on all three downs from day one. The former NC State star played standing up at times for the Wolfpack, so he shouldn't have any problem adapting to Bettcher's scheme, and he's versatile enough to play on either side of the line.
3. New York Jets (From Colts): QB Josh Rosen, UCLA
The Giants' decision to take Chubb is good news for the Jets, who end up with their pick of the remaining quarterbacks on the board. Rosen is a smooth, accurate pocket passer they can build around long term. He's good enough to start right away. He should get the chance to compete for the job, but after the Jets signed a pair of bridge quarterbacks in Josh McCown and Teddy Bridgewater, New York has the luxury of giving its new franchise player a year to develop on the bench.
4. Cleveland Browns (From Texans): RB Saquon Barkley, Penn State
The Carlos Hyde contract has a potential out after one year, so there is no barrier to Cleveland taking the top running back—and one of the best players in the draft—at this spot. In picking Barkley, the Browns grab an explosive breakaway threat on the ground and a talented route-runner in the passing game. By pairing Barkley with Duke Johnson, the Browns could be a matchup nightmare with creative two-back sets. Against lighter nickel and dime defensive looks, Cleveland could run the ball up the gut, and if teams line up in base personnel, it'd be tough to match up with a pair of running backs who can both flex out to the wing to run routes against slower-footed linebackers.
5. Denver Broncos: OG Quenton Nelson, Notre Dame
The Broncos could consider a quarterback at this spot, but after signing Case Keenum to a two-year, $36 million deal (which features $25 million in guaranteed cash), GM John Elway may decide that giving his new signal-caller as soft of a landing spot as possible is a more pressing priority. Nelson would certainly be a start toward that goal: The nasty, physical lineman would not only help give Keenum more time to throw, but would also provide a boost to Denver's anemic run game.
6. TRADE: Buffalo Bills (From Colts via Jets): QB Josh Allen, Wyoming
With the Giants and Broncos both passing on quarterbacks, the Bills pounce on the opportunity to move up and grab one—and find a willing trade partner in the Colts, who decide to move back again after watching Chubb, Barkley, and Nelson go off the board. The Bills surrender the 12th and 22nd picks to move up to no. 6 and select the strong-armed Allen (that's an overpay, per Jimmy Johnson's draft trade value chart, but it's the type of "attractive offer" GM Chris Ballard said he'd need in order to trade back again after moving out the third spot last month). The Wyoming star will need to improve his accuracy at the next level, but he's got prototypical size and athleticism, and with a cannon for an arm and big hands to grip the football, he'll be well equipped for the blustery, cold weather in Buffalo.
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: DB Minkah Fitzpatrick, Alabama
No team gave up more passing yards than the Buccaneers last year (260.6 per game), and playing in a division with Matt Ryan, Cam Newton, and Drew Brees makes upgrading the secondary a primary concern for Tampa Bay. Fitzpatrick would bring versatility and coverage chops to the defense from day one. The former Crimson Tide star can line up all over the middle of the field, whether that's over the slot receiver, covering deep in the middle of the field, or playing a de facto linebacker role in subpackages.
8. Chicago Bears: DT Vita Vea, Washington
As subscribers to planet theory note, there are only so many human beings on earth who stand 6-foot-4, weigh 347 pounds, and can move like the former Husky. Vea's an incredibly strong and athletic big man, and it'd be fun to see him play the Justin Smith role in Vic Fangio's defense, drawing double-teams and pushing the pocket from the defensive end or nose tackle spots, freeing up Leonard Floyd and the team's other pass rushers off the edge.
9. San Francisco 49ers: DE Harold Landry, Boston College
Landry's seen his stock rise over the past few weeks after posting outstanding numbers at the combine, most notably a blistering 6.88-second three-cone time that illustrates his explosiveness in the short area. Landry's production wasn't great in 2017 (5.0 sacks, 8.5 tackles-for-loss) as he fought through an ankle injury, but the 49ers are banking on the Boston College star returning to his 2016 form. A healthy Landry posted elite numbers that season (16.5 sacks, 22 tackles-for-loss, and seven forced fumbles) and could be a day-one contributor at the team's LEO pass-rusher position.
10. TRADE: Arizona Cardinals (From Raiders): QB Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma
Another trade! Arizona's got Sam Bradford under contract for at least a year, but he's not the long-term answer for a roster in transition under new head coach Steve Wilks. The teams swap firsts here and the Cardinals give up their second-rounder (no. 47 overall) to leapfrog Miami (which has also shown interest in Mayfield) and take their future franchise signal-caller. (Again, this an overpay, but the Jimmy Johnson chart doesn't really apply when quarterbacks are involved). Mayfield's a dynamic playmaker who posted elite numbers at Oklahoma, and while a lack of height (he's just a shade over 6-foot) and his experience primarily in a spread system are red flags, his ability to aggressively throw downfield and extend plays while protecting the football (he threw 119 touchdowns and just 21 picks in three years in Norman) give him the chance to turn into a star at the NFL level.
11. Miami Dolphins: LB Tremaine Edmunds, Virginia Tech
The Dolphins need more talent on defense, and Edmunds could develop into an elite playmaker at the next level. The Virginia Tech product is big (6-foot-5, 253 pounds), fast (he ran a 4.54-second 40-yard dash at the combine), and versatile; he's shown potential to line up at multiple spots on the field, both in the middle or on the outside, and he can play the run and the pass.
12. TRADE: Indianapolis Colts (From Bills via Bengals): LB Roquan Smith, Georgia
After trading back twice, the Colts still end up landing an elite talent—and this could be a dream pick for new defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, a former college linebacker who cut his teeth coaching the position at both the college and NFL levels. Smith's an undersized but highly athletic coverage backer in the mold of Bobby Wagner or Deion Jones, the type of every-down playmaker Indy can build its defense around.
13. Washington Redskins: S Derwin James, Florida State
James is just the type of impact-maker that Greg Manusky's defensive unit needs. The former Seminole is rangy enough to run with backs and tight ends in coverage, is a one-setter against the run (important in a division that features Ezekiel Elliott and Jay Ajayi), and can even feature as a blitzer. He's an all-around playmaker who will make his presence known from the get-go.
14. Green Bay Packers: CB Denzel Ward, Ohio State
At 5-foot-10, 191 pounds, Ward's a little shorter than what the Packers typically look for at the cornerback position, but he makes up for that lack of size with explosive speed and elite short-area quickness. After dealing away Damarious Randall, Green Bay needs a guy like Ward who can play in the slot this year, and long-term, he'd replace Tramon Williams on the outside.
15. TRADE: Oakland Raiders (From Cardinals): DE Marcus Davenport, UTSA
Oakland's trade-back gamble pays off here as the Raiders land one of the highest-upside pass rushers in the draft. Davenport's raw, but throw him ou
0 Response to "The Ringer's 2018 NFL Mock Draft, Version 3.0 - The Ringer (blog)"
Post a Comment