Two-Round 2018 NFL Mock Draft

Doug Green Posted On February 13, 2018

I’ve always had a love of mock drafts. I’m a sucker for them no matter the sport or time of year. I’m also a Bears fan and as I go through the scouting process, there are always players I would like to see land on my favorite team.

Recently I decided to put these two ideas together. I would really (like really, really) like for Chicago to draft Bradley Chubb, the best pass rusher in the draft, from North Carolina State in round one. I then want the to come back in round two and pick up Oklahoma State wide receiver James Washington.

I’d been reading some early mocks. Many had Chubb landing in Indianapolis at the third overall pick. If he made it past there, he would most commonly land in Tampa Bay at pick seven, one selection before the Bears. Washington was the easier of the two to get him where I wanted him to go.

Either way, I wanted a realistic mock that could prove that my dreams weren’t just delusions. I wasn’t just going to put together a mock where someone takes a punter in the top five just so I get my guy. It had to be something that could reasonably happen. I also didn’t want to throw in trades and make this really hard, so this is the way the draft order is right now. Obviously free agency can throw a major wrench into all of this.

One caveat I want to make before I start: I haven’t completed the scouting process yet, so this order will definitely change as I move through draft season. Also, I never watch offensive linemen, so I would take those picks with a grain of salt.

1. Cleveland Browns – Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA

The Browns need a quarterback. Rosen is the best of the bunch.

2. New York Giants – Sam Darnold, QB, USC

If you are this high and your quarterback is that old, you pull the trigger. (Whispers: you’ll see why in round two).

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3. Indianapolis Colts – Quenton Nelson, OG, Notre Dame

This was the pick I struggled with the most, but it’s the key selection. The Colts aren’t taking a QB. I needed Saquon Barkley to fall just a few selections. Normally a guard wouldn’t go this high, but he’s easily the best offensive lineman in the draft, so I’m declaring best player available.

4. Cleveland Browns – Minkah Fitzpatrick, S, Alabama

The Browns just need great football players and Fitzpatrick might be the most polished in the draft.

5. Denver Broncos – Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma

I’m not overthinking this. The Broncos requested to coach him at the Senior Bowl. That means something. Lock it in.

6. New York Jets – Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming

First, let me state I’m not Allen’s biggest fan. However, I think there is enough buzz that warrants me mocking him here. The Jets need a quarterback, so in he goes.

7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn St.

This is the lynchpin of the whole dang process. The Bucs aren’t going to take Chubb if Barkley is on the board. He fills a more drastic need and the Tampa has shown a penchant for taking offensive players in round one.

8. Chicago Bears – Bradley Chubb, DE, NC State

Come to Papa Bear.

9. San Francisco 49ers — Tremaine Edmunds, LB, Virginia Tech

Plugging Edmunds in next to Reuben Foster gives the 49ers a swift linebacking corps that can tackle and hit.

10. Oakland Raiders — Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia

Smith is the best linebacker in the draft, but he’s a better fit for the Raiders defense since San Francisco already has Foster.

11. Miami Dolphins — Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama

Jarvis Landry is almost certainly walking after the season. Ridley can plug right in and take over as he plays a similar game as Landry.

12. Cincinnati Bengals — Orlando Brown, OT, Oklahoma

This year’s tackle class is pretty weak but Cincy has a major need and Brown is best of the bunch.

13. Washington Redskins — Da’Ron Payne, DT, Alabama

The trade for Alex Smith takes quarterback off the table. Payne was a one-man wrecking crew during the National Title game. He can generate an internal push that Washington needs.

14. Green Bay Packers — Josh Jackson, CB, Iowa

Jackson fits the Packers’ blueprint for cornerbacks. Plus, he has excellent coverage skills.

15. Arizona Cardinals — Lamar Jackson, QB Louisville

This one might be a bit of a shocker, but I can’t see the Cardinals losing Carson Palmer, bringing in a new coach and not grabbing a quarterback in the first round.

16. Baltimore Ravens — Christian Kirk, WR, Texas A&M

Some will say that this is too high for Kirk, but I think he has a developed enough route tree and everyone knows that the Ravens love them some speedy wideouts. Kirk is exactly that.

17. Los Angeles Chargers — Vita Vea, DT, Washington

I have to admit, I’m in love with this pick. Vea can play nose or slide outside. Pairing him with Joey Bosa gives the Chargers a nasty front line.

18. Seattle Seahawks — Derwin James, S, Florida State

Sometimes matches make too much sense not to put together. James is an Earl Thomas clone and could step right into Seattle’s secondary with no drop off.

19. Dallas Cowboys — Marcus Davenport, DE, Texas-San Antonio

Dallas can’t help itself when it comes to project pass rushers. Davenport has a ton of potential, but he’s still raw.

20. Detroit Lions — Derrius Guice, RB, LSU

Again, he make too much sense not to slot in here. I could see the Lions also taking Davenport if they are thinking defense.

21. Buffalo Bills — Rashaan Evans, LB, Alabama

He’s got a bit of an injury history, but he’s a solid run defender.

22. Buffalo Bills — Maurice Hurst, DT, Michigan

Going back-to-back has its advantages, like solidifying the middle of your defense.

23. Los Angeles Rams — Kyzir White, S, West Virginia

The Rams need some help in the secondary and White can play either safety spot.

24. Carolina Panthers — Jaire Alexander, CB, Louisville

He’s a physical defender in the mold of Josh Norman.

25. Tennessee Titans — Harold Landry, OLB, Boston College

He suffered through some injuries this season, but he’s one of the most dominant pass rushers in the draft.

26. Atlanta Falcons — Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State

I’ve seen Ward mocked as high as number eight to Chicago. He’s an aggressive corner who can shut down a team’s best wide receiver.

27. New Orleans Saints — Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame

Saints have weapons, but need to make sure Drew Brees can stay upright.

28. Pittsburgh Steelers — Ronnie Harrison, S, Alabama

He’s a prospect I need to dig deeper on, but the draftniks all love him.

29. Jacksonville Jaguars — Connor Williams, OT, Texas

He’s a mauler in the run game, and that’s exactly what Jacksonville specializes in.

30. Minnesota Vikings — Mike Hughes, CB, UCF

That Vikings front seven is a mean group. Now it’s time to clean up the secondary.

31. New England Patriots — Harrison Phillips, DT, Stanford

Phillips is another Senior Bowl standout who brings the brains that Bill Belichick loves.

32. Philadelphia Eagles — Will Hernandez, OG, Clemson

He dominated Senior Bowl practices and the Eagles get a steal this late in the draft.

Now on to Round Two.

Cleveland Browns — Nick Chubb, RB, Georgia
New York Giants — Sony Michel, RB, Georgia
Cleveland Browns — Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, OLB, Oklahoma
Indianapolis Colts — Arden Key, DE, LSU
New York Jets — Kerryon Johnson, RB, Auburn
Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Andrew Brown, DT, Virginia
- He’s the big body Tampa needs next to Gerald McCoy.
Chicago Bears — James Washington, WR, Oklahoma State
- Part Two completed. I think he plays like Steve Smith.
Denver Broncos — Isaiah Wynn, OG, Georgia
New England Patriots — Malik Jefferson, LB, Texas
- He’s regressed the past couple of years, but this is a steal for the Pats.
Miami Dolphins — Mark Andrews, TE, Oklahoma
Oakland Raiders — Courtland Sutton, WR, SMU
- Jon Gruden is not going to let a wide receiver slip by him..
Washington Redskins — Hayden Hurst, TE, South Carolina
Green Bay Packers — Equanimeous St. Brown, WR, Notre Dame
Cincinnati Bengals — Dallas Goedert, TE, South Dakota State
Arizona Cardinals — Michael Gallup, WR, Colorado State
Los Angeles Chargers — Shaquem Griffin, OLB, UCF
- This would make a dangerous defense.
New York Jets — DJ Chark, WR, LSU
Dallas Cowboys — DaeSean Hamilton, WR, Penn State
Detroit Lions — Tyquan Lewis, DE, Ohio State
Baltimore Ravens — Ronald Jones II, RB, USC
Buffalo Bills — Mason Rudolph, QB, Oklahoma State
Kansas City Chiefs — Braden Smith, OG, Auburn
Carolina Panthers — Allen Lazard, WR, Iowa State
- Lazard is a big-bodied receiver that fits Carolina’s mold.
Buffalo Bills — Tim Settle, DT, Virginia Tech
Tennessee Titans — Fred Warner, LB, BYU
- He elevated his stock at the Senior Bowl.
Atlanta Falcons — James Daniels, OL, Iowa
New Orleans Saints — Mike Gesicki, TE, Penn State
- He’s a Jimmy Graham clone and there’s nowhere better for him to go.
Pittsburgh Steelers — Troy Fumagali, TE, Wisconsin
Jacksonville Jaguars — Luke Falk, QB, Washington State
- I don’t know if he’s an upgrade from Blake Bortles, but he’s the best quarterback left on the board at this point.
Minnesota Vikings — Bradley Bozeman, OL, Alabama
New England Patriots — Nick DeLuca, LB, South Dakota State
Philadelphia Eagles — Derek Nnadi, DT, Florida State