Bradley Ylitalo’s Scouting Notebook: 2018 NFL Mock Draft 2.0, Part One

Bradley Ylitalo

As a Viking fan, it’s admittedly not going to be easy to focus these next few days as we grow nearer and nearer to Sunday’s showdown. Obviously, I’m tremendously excited. The matchups between Mike Zimmer and Sean Payton, Xavier Rhodes and Michael Thomas, Marshon Lattimore and Adam Thielen/Stefon Diggs, and others should be a true treat to take in. I just can’t wait. As for the early afternoon contest on Sunday, I’m definitely intrigued to see if the Steelers can avenge their week five blowout loss at the hands of the Jaguars. Pittsburgh is favored heavily and rightfully so, but it will be interesting nonetheless.

Enough talk about the divisional round, I know you fans of eliminated teams want to begin focusing on the future. What do you get when you pair a quarterback-heavy draft with a quarterback-needy league? Chaos. That’s exactly what draft day will be. Can you already feel yourself getting excited?

This is how I see round one shaking out. Here we go!

1) Cleveland Browns (0-16): Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA

Ultimately, newly-hired GM John Dorsey is going to have to choose between Josh Rosen and Sam Darnold. I don’t think there’s any way around that. Given how desperate Cleveland is for any kind of stability at the position, I say it’s Rosen, the safer of the two. A consensus top-five talent who has dominated the Pac 12 for three seasons, Rosen could finally be Cleveland’s franchise quarterback.

Mock Draft 1.0 Selection (1): Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA

2) New York Giants (3-13): Sam Darnold, QB, USC

Sure, he may not be the first pick, but I would like to be in Sam Darnold’s shoes a whole lot more than Rosen’s in this mock. Landing in New York with a supporting cast of Odell Beckham Jr., Evan Engram, and Sterling Shepard? Yes, please. Darnold has had his fair share of struggles, but the framework to become a top ten quarterback is still there in full.

Mock Draft 1.0 Selection (3): Sam Darnold, QB, USC

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3) Indianapolis Colts (4-12): Bradley Chubb, EDGE, NC State

Chubb has pulled away from Harold Landry in the race to be the top-ranked edge defender. Terrorizing the ACC with 25 sacks over the last three seasons with a 6’4, 275 lb frame, and amazing athleticism, he’s pretty much a lock to go in the top ten. Pair Jabaal Sheard and Johnathan Hankins with Bradley Chubb and you have yourself a nice defensive front forming in Indy.

Mock Draft 1.0 Selection (4): Harold Landry, EDGE, Boston College

4) Cleveland Browns (from Houston Texans (4-12)): Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State

After Cleveland snags who could be the most valuable offensive piece in the draft, they now grab the most talented one in Saquon Barkley. Every bit as good as advertised, the Nittany Lion should be their franchise back from the day he inks his contract. With Rosen and Barkley in town, facing Cleveland would no longer be an automatic win when looking at the schedule.

Mock Draft 1.0 Selection (8): Minkah Fitzpatrick, DB, Alabama

5) Denver Broncos (5-11): Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming

Denver is about as ugly as it gets at the quarterback position. With the prime of the defense beginning to dwindle, they need to take a chance at a franchise signal caller and perhaps create another championship window before the likes of Von Miller and Chris Harris Jr. start to decline. Allen is a pick some fans will love and some will hate, but overall, it’s the best move for Denver at number five.

Mock Draft 1.0 Selection (7): Bradley Chubb, EDGE, NC State

6) New York Jets (5-11): Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma

Put Baker Mayfield under the bright(ish) lights of East Rutherfurd and you’ll reignite a fanbase in need of a team leader and household name. Mayfield wouldn’t have much to work with as far as skill positions, but he’s more than capable of creating plays on his own and getting the best of his receivers. Would Mayfield sink or swim in New York? I don’t know, but I sure know I would be watching.

Mock Draft 1.0 Selection (11): Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming

7) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-11): Minkah Fitzpatrick, DB, Alabama

This is somewhat of a steal if there is such a thing so early in the draft. Tampa Bay lands one of the best talents in the draft in Minkah Fitzpatrick. Suited to play just about anywhere along the defensive backfield, he may just be a plug and play superstar. If Tampa Bay can hit on their first-round pick, we could easily see them in the 2018 playoffs.

Mock Draft 1.0 Selection (10): Arden Key, EDGE, LSU

8) Chicago Bears (5-11): Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama

Matt Nagy is inheriting a group of players I would certainly say is intriguing. The defense finished ranked tenth in yards and the offense may just have their long-term leader. With a nice one-two punch at running back, it’s the receivers that need a fresh infusion of talent. Enter Calvin Ridley. Someone who should slide in and produce right away as a flanker, Ridley is worth the top ten investment for Chicago.

Mock Draft 1.0 Selection (9): Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State

*9) Oakland Raiders (6-10): Connor Williams, OT, Texas

Jon Gruden is getting a team fresh off an extremely disappointing season in which his franchise quarterback dealt with back issues. Expect him to make sure he’s properly protected. With Donald Penn holding down the fort on the left side, Williams would be able to get his feet wet at right tackle before finding his long-term home after Penn leaves or retires. A fantastic blend of footwork, hand strength, and body technique, the Longhorn should be a franchise tackle.

Mock Draft 1.0 Selection (13): Derwin James, SS, FSU

* Picks Nine and Ten will be decided by a coin flip.

*10) San Francisco 49ers (6-10): Quenton Nelson, OG, Notre Dame

Suddenly, San Francisco looks like it has one of the brighter futures in football. What does GM John Lynch need to do now? Add quality players. That’s exactly what Quenton Nelson is. A surefire instant starter with All-Pro potential, it’s really hard to go wrong with someone so dominant. Capable of playing anywhere along the interior of the offensive line, Kyle Shanahan should have no problem finding a spot for the Notre Dame product.

Mock Draft 1.0 Selection (2): Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State

* Picks Nine and Ten will be decided by a coin flip.

11) Miami Dolphins (6-10): Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia

An incredibly cerebral player with a knack for making big-time plays, Roquan Smith is exactly what Adam Gase and the Dolphins need. The Bulldog would provide much needed fresh talent to a linebacker group that has grown old and frankly, mediocre. A great athlete and tackler in space, Smith would begin to give Miami an identity on Matt Burke’s defense.

Mock Draft 1.0 Selection (16): Tarvarus McFadden, CB, FSU

12) Cincinnati Bengals (7-9): Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame

Whoever is taking snaps for Marvin Lewis’s team next year, they need to be better protected than Andy Dalton was this season. So with the 12th pick, I have Cincinnati grabbing the other half of the heralded left side of the Notre Dame offensive line, Mike McGlinchey. With quick feet and a strong upper body to go along with his 6’8 frame, it’s hard not to drool over this kids potential. Throw in the fact that he’s a multi-year captain, it’s hard to see McGlinchey falling past the top twenty.

Mock Draft 1.0 Selection (5): Connor Williams, OT, Texas

13) Washington Redskins (7-9): Derwin James, SS, Florida State

A prospect I have ranked in my top ten, Washington would be getting quite a haul at number 13. The future is far from clear in the nation’s capital especially in regards to the quarterback, so grabbing a young signal-caller may be tempting. But you can never go wrong grabbing a player as talented as James is. Combine a 6’3 body with ridiculous athleticism, ball skills, and tackling, he would provide an instant boost to a defense certainly in need of one.

Mock Draft 1.0 Selection (14): Derrius Guice, RB, LSU

14) Green Bay Packers (7-9): Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State

We saw it first hand this season – aside from Aaron Rodgers, the Packers have very little star power. Some nice pieces have been forming on the defensive side of the ball, but lots of help is still needed. Considering the fact that Green Bay is picking in the middle of the first round, landing the draft’s best corner should be music to Mike McCarthy’s ears. Ward doesn’t have that 6’0 frame we look for, but his hip quickness, man to man skills, and ball skills are off the charts.

Mock Draft 1.0 Selection (20): Malik Jefferson, LB, Texas

15) Arizona Cardinals (8-8): Courtland Sutton, WR, Southern Methodist

With no shortage of needs on the offensive side of the ball, Arizona is going to think about a lot of different options here. With no other quarterbacks worth spending a top 15 pick on here, the best choice may just be Courtland Sutton. A beautiful blend of size, athleticism, and after the catch ability, it’s easy to see why many are mesmerized by the Mustang. Under the tutelage of Larry Fitzgerald, Sutton may just become Arizona’s next star wideout.

Mock Draft 1.0 Selection (15): Courtland Sutton, WR, Southern Methodist

16) Baltimore Ravens (9-7): Clelin Ferrell, EDGE, Clemson

Clelin Ferrell just makes too much sense here for Harbaugh and the Ravens. With Terrell Suggs now at 35 years old, and a need at the OLB position in their 3-4 defense anyway, Ferrell would be a first-round pick well spent for Ozzie Newsome. Wherever this franchise may be headed, he would be a more than welcome addition.

Mock Draft 1.0 Selection (12): Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama

Check back soon for the second half of the mock!

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