2018 NFL Mock Draft – WalterFootball

Last update: Wednesday, March 21, 2018. Major changes.
Next update: Occasionally. Follow me @walterfootball for updates.

The order of this 2018 NFL Mock Draft is based on the real 2018 NFL Draft Order.

NFL Draft Recent Links:

2025 NFL Mock Draft (UPDATED 11/13): Round 1 /Picks 17-32 /Round 2
Other 2025 Mock Drafts: Charlie Campbell (11/15)
2026 NFL Mock Draft (UPDATED 7/24): Round 1 /Picks 17-32
Other 2026 Mock Drafts: Charlie Campbell (10/26)
(More links to previous NFL mock drafts at the bottom of this page)

archived mock section

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Cleveland Browns: Sam Darnold, QB, USC
I’ve slotted Saquon Barkley atop my 2018 NFL Mock Draft for a while now, and he’s the player Cleveland wants the most. However, recent trades will force the Browns into taking a quarterback first overall because they’ll almost certainly be able to obtain Barkley with the fourth-overall choice.

The Jets have traded up to No. 3 – go here for my NFL Trade Grades page to see what I’ve given the Jets and Colts – and it’s likely that the Bills, Broncos or Cardinals wil make a move to grab the second-overall selection from the Giants. Thus, if the Browns want a specific quarterback, they can just get him here and then snag Barkley at No. 4.

The Browns have been linked to every quarterback not named Josh Rosen. Josh Allen has the biggest arm in this class, and he makes sense for Todd Haley’s offense. Sam Darnold is also a strong option. I think it comes down to one of them, and I think I’d give Darnold a slight edge right now, per recent reports.

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Pick change; previously Josh Allen, QB
Buffalo Bills: Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming
The Bills acquired this pick in the proposed Bills-Giants NFL Draft Trade.

Eli Manning just turned 37, and he’s in obvious decline. Pat Shurmur has indicated that he wants to keep Manning on for one more year, but he’ll want his own franchise quarterback for 2019 and beyond.

If the Giants don’t take a quarterback, they have three options. They can select Saquon Barkley if he’s available. They can nab Quenton Nelson even though No. 2 overall for a guard isn’t ideal. Or, they can trade down. This is what I have happening here, which is the Bills-Giants NFL Draft Trade I discussed in the link.

I normally don’t like to project trades in my mock drafts, but it’s obvious that the Bills are getting ready to trade up again for a quarterback, much like the Eagles did in their two-step process to get Carson Wentz. Besides, if the Bills don’t make the move, the Broncos, Cardinals and Dolphins could all move up as well.

Buffalo’s target could be Josh Allen. The Wyoming product has to really work on his accuracy, mechanics and field vision, but he has top-five overall physical talent.

Pick change; previously Sam Darnold, QB
New York Jets: Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA
The Jets will be looking for a new quarterback, and that is obvious in the wake of their trade to No. 3 overall (go here for my NFL Trade Grades.) Their preference could be Josh Allen, as Charlie Campbell pointed out in his Senior Bowl Rumor Mill. Allen, however, is off the board, but Josh Rosen is available.

NFL coaches and owners are wary of the sort of things Rosen has discussed to the media, and his open views could hurt him. Scouts have told us that his teammates don’t like him either, so that’s a major strike against him. And for the cherry on top, even if his high school coach criticized him. Rosen was prolific in some big games last year, so that could push him into the top spot, but as Charlie Campbell reported, two NFL general managers have expressed major concern about Rosen.

Cleveland Browns: Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State
As discussed earlier, the Browns will almost certainly be able to obtain Saquon Barkley at No. 4 overall. This is their dream, as they want to establish a strong running game with the best prospect at the position in a very long time. The obvious comparison for Barkley is Marshall Faulk. He’ll be more than just some running back, as he’ll be a big factor in the passing attack as well.
Denver Broncos: Quenton Nelson, G, Notre Dame
Case Keenum signing with the Broncos does not take them out of the quarterback sweepstakes. Take a look at the Bears. They brought in Mike Glennon with a big contract last offseason, yet they took Mitchell Trubisky anyway. However, it does make it more likely that Denver could wait until 2019 or 2020 for their franchise signal-caller because it’ll have to move up to No. 2 to get whichever quarterback it wants.

This may seem a bit too early for a guard, but Quenton Nelson is the best player in this class behind Saquon Barkley. Besides, the Redskins used the fifth-overall selection on Brandon Scherff several years ago, and that panned out. Denver desperately needs to improve its blocking, and Nelson is the only prospect worth taking at No. 5.

Indianapolis Colts: Bradley Chubb, DE, N.C.State
The Colts are the winners of this draft. They’ll likely be in a position to select either Bradley Chubb or Quenton Nelson at No. 6 overall, and they’ll get one of them after picking up three second-round picks in the trade with the Jets. Crazy.

Indianapolis has some nice edge rushers in Jabaal Sheard and John Simon, but neither is the elite talent Chubb happens to be. Chubb steadily moved up my mock drafts during the season. At 6-4, 275, Chubb has a great blend of size and speed, and he’s been dominant this season. There’s some talk that Chubb is viewed as the top defensive prospect in NFL circles.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Derwin James, S, Florida State
There’s a ton of pressure on the Buccaneers to win this season, and for them to do so, they’ll need Jameis Winston to finally play up to his potential. He’ll be able to do that if properly protected, and Quenton Nelson is the top offensive lineman in this class by a mile. I believe he’ll be the pick if he’s available unless Saquon Barkley or Bradley Chubb slip by some miracle.

Nelson is off the board, however, so the Buccaneers can look to address their woeful secondary. Derwin James is the play-making safety the Buccaneers are missing, and he could take their defense to a new level. As Charlie Campbell reported, some teams have Derwin James rated ahead of Minkah Fitzpatrick.

Chicago Bears: Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State
The Bears weren’t in a great spot in one of the most recent versions of my mock draft. This update is different, however, as Denzel Ward happens to be available. Ward had a tremendous combine, solidifying his status as the top cornerback in this class. The Bears have a big need at the position, so this is an obvious match.
San Francisco 49ers: Courtland Sutton, WR, SMU
The 49ers have tons of options at this juncture, including wide receiver. They were coveting Allen Robinson in free agency, but missed out on him. They failed to acquire a No. 1 receiver for Jimmy Garoppolo, so they may target one with this selection.

This may seem a bit early for Courtland Sutton, but the SMU product was terrific at the combine. Plus, we saw receivers like Corey Davis and Mike Williams go earlier than expected last year, so perhaps the same thing will happen this April.

Pick change; previously Tremaine Edmunds, LB

Oakland Raiders: Tremaine Edmunds, LB, Virginia Tech
The Raiders added a couple of semi-decent linebackers in free agency, but they still need a stud player at the position if they don’t want to field one of the weakest units in the league again.

Compared to Anthony Barr by some, Tremaine Edmunds is a very athletic linebacker with great instincts.

Pick change; previously Minkah Fitzpatrick, S
Miami Dolphins: Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma
There’s enough interest for Baker Mayfield that if he isn’t taken in the top six, one team will trade up for him. I had the Saints doing so in a recent update, and now I have the Dolphins opting to pull the trigger in this version.

The Dolphins have been linked to Mayfield, and reports indicate that they are ready to move on from Ryan Tannehill as their quarterback. Perhaps they’d move up in a trade of some sort, much like the Bills.
New York Giants: Marcus Davenport, DE, Texas-San Antonio
The Giants acquired this pick in the proposed Bills-Giants NFL Draft Trade.

New York gets to fill tons of needs with all of the picks it has acquired from the Bills. This, however, is an instance in which the team has the luxury to take the best player available, and that would be Marcus Davenport.

The Giants don’t need an edge rusher right now, but that hasn’t stopped them in the past from making picks like this. Besides, it doesn’t sound like Olivier Vernon will be on the team much longer.

Davenport is a highly athletic edge rusher who has been generating tons of buzz lately. He could be a top-15 pick with a strong pre-draft process.
Washington Redskins: Minkah Fitzpatrick, S/CB, Alabama
I’ve had the Redskins taking Da’Ron Payne for a while, and I still believe he’s a very likely selection. However, that would change if Minkah Fitzpatrick falls to them. Fitzpatrick is a stud defensive back, and it would be difficult for Washington to pass on him.

And yes, it’s possible for Fitzpatrick to fall to No. 13. Teams will trade up for quarterbacks, and we’ve seen the safety market move very slowly in free agency. Plus, as Charlie Campbell reported in the NFL Hot Press, some teams have Derwin James rated above Fitzpatrick.

Pick change; previously Da’Ron Payne, NT
Green Bay Packers: Jaire Alexander, CB, Louisville
The Packers had a huge need at cornerback going into the offseason. And then the Damarious Randall trade happened. Now, Green Bay is even weaker at corner after dealing the top player at the position.

Jaire Alexander was the best cornerback at the combine, and it doesn’t seem like teams are too concerned about his injury issues.
Arizona Cardinals: Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame
I’ve had the Cardinals taking a quarterback for quite some time now, but it’s clear that they’ll have to trade up, and I don’t know if they’ll have the resources to do so.

Speaking of which, I expect Arizona to go with the best blocker available, and that would arguably be Mike McGlinchey, whom Mike Mayock called the top tackle in this class.

Baltimore Ravens: Da’Ron Payne, DT, Alabama
The Ravens are taking the best player available in this scenario, and it happens to be a defensive player from Alabama. When have we seen that before?

I think Baltimore would have a very difficult time passing on Da’Ron Payne if he fell to them. Brandon Williams is a talented presence in the interior, but he’ll be a 30-year-old due $9.25 million next offseason. For a team with cap issues, the Ravens may find it difficult keeping him, so Payne could supplant Williams in 2019 and beyond.

Pick change; previously Courtland Sutton, WR

Go to 2018 NFL Mock Draft: Picks 17-32

Sorry for cutting this into two halves; I’ve received complaints about load times and putting the mock draft on two pages saves bandwidth.