2018 NFL Mock Draft

Liberty NFL draft expert Donny Robinson makes his team-by-team first round predictions. The NFL draft is April 26-28

Donny Robinson, Reporter

1. Cleveland Browns

Sam Darnold – Quarterback, USC

It’s pretty obvious that a Quarterback is the Browns biggest need on their list and Sam Darnold has the highest Quarterback grade by the NFL analysts.

2. New York Giants

Josh Rosen – Quarterback, UCLA

Eli Manning is 37 and is clearly declining which means his career is more than likely coming to an end. Now with that being said, the Giants are looking for Eli’s successor and somebody that will throw to OBJ for a long time and hopefully bring them back to the playoffs.

3. New York Jets

Baker Mayfield – Quarterback, Oklahoma

Now that Alex Smith has been traded to the Washington Redskins, the Jets can safely say that their team can draft a new signal caller in the draft with the pick they traded up for. Also a quick note to add is the great Jets hall of famer Joe Namath has high praise for the Heisman Trophy winner looking to leave a mark on the league.

4. Cleveland Browns

Saquon Barkley – Running Back, Penn State

The Browns can pick either of the two following positions: Defense or college sensation Saquon Barkley. Saquon Barkley is almost bust proof and on the road to succeed as the next big thing. He had an amazing combine showing he can do it all and if Cleveland is smart enough to draft a Quarterback first then they can start building a very competitive squad.

5. Denver Broncos

Minkah Fitzpatrick – Cornerback, Alabama

The Broncos got Case Keenum in free agency repairing their problem but they traded Aqib Talib to the rising Rams so they need the future at this position.

6. Indianapolis Colts

Bradley Chubb – Defensive End, NC State

Andrew Luck is making progress to a hopeful return to the field at the beginning of the season next year which is the first good thing they got going for them. The second thing that they got going for him is that the best defensive player is right at their hands at the number 6 pick.

7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Derwin James – Free Safety, FSU

Tampa Bay’s defense has been on a decline as of late due to these two problems: Failure to defend the pass and no pass rush. They just got Jason Pierre-Paul which covers the pass rush problem but adding the next Kam Chancellor solves the secondary.

8. Chicago Bears

Denzel Ward – Cornerback, Ohio State

The Bears recently signed Allen Robinson in free agency which brings him to be the big star in town and that means the Bears can make the move on that much needed Cornerback position.

9.  San Francisco 49ers

Quenton Nelson – Offensive Guard, Notre Dame

San Francisco is on the rise now as they have recently acquired Richard Sherman which means they can pull the trigger on the much needed Offensive Guard to support Jimmy G.

10. Oakland Raiders

Tremaine Edmunds – Linebacker, Virginia Tech

Khalil Mack had trouble leading the charge last which basically means the Raiders Defense was bad. Adding a physical freak of nature like Tremaine Edmunds who has been compared to Anthony Barr would be a step in the right direction.

11. Miami Dolphins

Roquan Smith – Linebacker, Georgia

The Dolphins are in a tough situation at what they want but Linebacker is not a bad option for them.

12. Buffalo Bills

Josh Allen – Quarterback, Wyoming

The Bills traded up to this position for a reason and that was to get whatever Quarterback that wasn’t taken in the top 10. In this case it’s the Wyoming big gun Josh Allen with what would appear to be the best arm in the draft and great mobility for his size and most compared to Ben Roethlisberger.

13. Washington Redskins

Vita Vea – Defensive Tackle, Washington

Vita Vea is very athletic for his size and would fit almost perfectly with their defensive scheme.

14. Green Bay Packers

Mike Hughes – Cornerback, UCF

The Packers have a problem with defending the pass and they just recently traded away Damarious Randall to the Browns so they are definitely in need of a new guy.

15. Arizona Cardinals

Connor Williams – Offensive Tackle, Texas

Now that the Cardinals signed their hopeful Quarterback of the future Sam Bradford, they need to protect him on that shredded Offensive Line.

16. Baltimore Ravens

Calvin Ridley – Wide Receiver, Alabama

The Ravens picked up Michael Crabtree which means they could create a devastating duo in the league with the addition of the college football championship winner.

17. Los Angeles Chargers

Da’Ron Payne – Defensive Tackle, Alabama

The Chargers would have a scary defensive front by adding a massive Defensive Tackle with tremendous power and is also agile and quick.

18. Seattle Seahawks

Joshua Jackson- Cornerback, Iowa

The Seahawks got rid of long time “Legion Of Boom” member Richard Sherman to division rival San Francisco and now they’re out of a Cornerback spot so to fill it they need to draft someone to fill his shoes and trash talk.

19. Dallas Cowboys

Courtland Sutton – Wide Receiver, SMU

The Cowboys picked up Allen Hurns but lost Dez Bryant in the process leaving the spot still in void.

20. Detroit Lions

Marcus Davenport – Defensive End, UTSA

The Lions need to support Ziggy Ansah with an athlete of equal raw and physical ability to assemble a scary defensive front.

21. Cincinnati Bengals

Rashaan Evans – Linebacker, Alabama

The Bengals swapped picks in exchange for a position they were going to draft when they were at number 12 but now that it is filled they can draft the next biggest need which is an upgrade at Linebacker.

22. Buffalo Bills

Mike McGlinchey – Offensive Tackle, Notre Dame

Here we are at the Bills second pick (of what will be a successful draft for them) which features the replacement of the position they traded to the Bengals for the swap of the 12th pick in an Offensive Tackle.

23. New England Patriots

Kolton Miller – Offensive Tackle, UCLA

Nate Solder and Dion Lewis both left for different money in free agency but Nate Solder leaves the biggest hole behind at Offensive Tackle.

24. Carolina Panthers

D.J. Moore – Wide Receiver, Maryland

The Panthers trade of Kelvin Benjamin to the Bills clearly put a dent into their receiving options which left them without a chance to make a deeper playoff run.

25. Tennessee Titans

Harold Landry – Defensive End, Boston College

The Titans Defense can’t reach that next step without a continuous Pass Rusher.

26. Atlanta Falcons

Isaiah Wynn – Offensive Guard, Georgia

Matt Ryan obviously needs more time in the pocket to throw the ball as seen this past season and Isaiah Wynn would work pretty good in the scheme they run and he could play Offensive Tackle if need be.

27. New Orleans Saints

Mike Gesicki – Tight End, Penn State

The Saints threw the ball Michael Thomas’s direction way too much so they need to get the best Tight End in the draft to finally fill in the long needed space they’ve had ever since Jimmy Graham got traded.

28. Pittsburgh Steelers

Leighton Vander Esch – Linebacker, Boise State

Pittsburgh needs another man in the middle on Defense after Jacksonville made them look like minced meat after the divisional round and not to mention the fact that Ryan Shazier won’t play the entire season.

29. Jacksonville Jaguars

Dallas Goedert – Tight End, South Dakota State

Dallas Goedert has been compared as the next Rob Gronkowski from some experts and the Jaguars need a new Tight End to complete as one of the best receiving groups in the entire league especially with the return of Allen Robinson.

30. Minnesota Vikings

Will Hernandez – Offensive Guard, UTEP

The Vikings are going to sign Kirk Cousins to be the new guy in town in terms of Quarterback and not to mention the fact that they cleaned house with all of their Quarterbacks. Now with that being said the Vikings are going to need to upgrade the interior if they want Kirk Cousins to bring them back to where they got last year.

31. New England Patriots

Isaiah Oliver – Cornerback, Colorado

The Patriots clearly have problems in the secondary such as the exiting of Super Bowl 49 hero Malcolm Butler who entered the secondary of their divisional round opponent the Tennessee Titans.

32. Philadelphia Eagles

Jaire Alexander – Cornerback, Louisville

The Eagles Cornerback position is an issue because Patrick Robinson needs to be resigned and they need Sidney Jones needs to stay healthy so getting Jaire Alexander is for just in case.