2018 NFL Mock Draft: Round 1 – Picks 17-32

Last update: Wednesday, March 28, 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:
2024 NFL Mock Draft (UPDATED 4/25): Round 1 /Picks 17-32 /Round 2 /Round 3 /Round 4 /Round 5 /Round 6 Other 2024 Mock Drafts: Charlie Campbell (4/25) /April Fools Mock (3/31)
2025 NFL Mock Draft (UPDATED 5/2): Round 1 /Picks 17-32
Other 2025 Mock Drafts: Charlie Campbell (5/2)
(More links to previous NFL mock drafts at the bottom of this page)


    *** This mock draft will be updated each week. Check out old versions of this 2018 NFL Mock Draft in the archived mock section. Follow @walterfootball for NFL Draft updates. ***




  1. Los Angeles Chargers: Leighton Vander Esch, LB, Boise State
    The Chargers have a great defense, but they need help at nose tackle, safety and linebacker. They figure to address one of those positions with this pick unless they choose an offensive lineman, so Leighton Vander Esch makes sense if Vita Vea and Da’Ron Payne are off the board.

    Vander Esch’s stock is rising. I’ve had him going to the Steelers for quite a while, but Pittsburgh may have to move up to get him.

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    Pick change; previously Vita Vea, NT

  2. Seattle Seahawks: Isaiah Wynn, G/C, Georgia
    The Seahawks have to focus on their offensive line this offseason, as they can’t allow Russell Wilson to run around like a chicken with its head cut off for another year. Taking the best offensive lineman available makes a lot of sense, and that could be Isaiah Wynn.

  3. Dallas Cowboys: Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia
    Tony Pauline has reported that Roquan Smith has been medically red flagged, so he has dropped about 10 spots in a recent mock draft update. It’s unclear how serious the injury is, but we saw Reuben Foster fall for similar reasons last year.

    Still, Smith is a great enough prospect that the Cowboys could consider him at this juncture. Their defense falls apart whenever Sean Lee gets hurt, so having Smith on the roster would prevent that from happening.



  4. Detroit Lions: Joshua Jackson, CB, Iowa
    The Lions wanted to sign Malcolm Butler, but lost out on him to Tennessee. They failed to find a legitimate No. 2 cornerback across from Darius Slay, so that’s what they’re doing in this mock draft update.

    Joshua Jackson improved on his 4.56 40 from the combine, running a 4.42 recently. Pro Day Results are available via the link.

    Pick change; previously Sony Michel, RB

  5. Cincinnati Bengals: James Daniels, C, Iowa
    I have to think someone like James Daniels is Cincinnati’s target. The Bengals are desperate for offensive linemen, but all of them would be reaches at No. 12, with the exception of Quenton Nelson, who wouldn’t be available. It’s too early for a big center upgrade like Daniels at No. 12, but he’s much more reasonable at No. 21 overall.



  6. New York Giants: Rashaan Evans, LB, Alabama
    The Giants acquired this pick in the proposed Bills-Giants NFL Draft Trade.

    New York didn’t address a need with the first pick it acquired from Buffalo. This is a case where the Giants are plugging a huge hole, however. They acquired Alec Ogletree in a trade, but he’s not enough. Another talented linebacker needs to be obtained, and Rashaan Evans certainly qualifies as one.

  7. Los Angeles Rams: Courtland Sutton, WR, SMU
    The Rams have reported interest in Odell Beckham Jr., which makes sense, given that they lost Sammy Watkins this offseason. If they can’t trade for Beckham, Courtland Sutton would be a nice consolation prize. Sutton could be chosen much earlier than this, as I had him in the top 10 recently.

    Pick change; previously Sam Hubbard, DE



  8. Carolina Panthers: D.J. Moore, WR, Maryland
    The Panthers have a dismal receiving corps. Devin Funchess, an injured Curtis Samuel and a decrepit Torrey Smith are Cam Newton’s top three options. Carolina’s front office can’t allow that to be the case entering 2018, so using a first- or a second-round pick on a wideout seems likely.

    Pick change; previously Donte Jackson, CB

  9. Tennessee Titans: Harold Landry, DE/OLB, Boston College
    The Titans have Brian Orakpo and Derrick Morgan as their starting edge rushers, but the former will turn 32 in July. He’ll also be a free agent next March. Tennessee needs to look toward the future, and that would mean acquiring a long-term edge rusher who can hound Deshaun Watson and Andrew Luck.



  10. Atlanta Falcons: Taven Bryan, DT, Florida
    The Falcons’ defense was incredibly soft against the Eagles in the divisional round of the playoffs. They have to strengthen the interior of their defensive line, and they can do that with this selection.

    This mock selection was influenced by Charlie Campbell’s Senior Bowl rumor mill report, where he discussed that the Falcons like some defensive tackles in this class, including Taven Bryan.

  11. New Orleans Saints: Sam Hubbard, DE, Ohio State
    New Orleans’ defense made great strides in 2017. However, the team still needs to make some upgrades on the stop unit. One is finding a better edge rusher to play across from Cameron Jordan.

    I’ve been moving Sam Hubbard around in my mock draft quite a bit. That’s because he has great talent, but seldom lived up to it at Ohio State. However, he had a strong finish to his 2017 campaign, so he could still go in the first round.

  12. Pittsburgh Steelers: Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville
    I mocked Lamar Jackson to the Steelers back in January, and I’m going back to that selection. With all of the linebackers off the board, there aren’t any obvious choices that fill needs.

    Ben Roethlisberger said he wants to play for three more years, but his stance could change at any moment. The Steelers are in the same position the Packers were in 2005 when they selected Aaron Rodgers at No. 24 overall. It would make a ton of sense for Pittsburgh to select Lamar Jackson.

    Jackson has a big arm, and he’s also extremely athletic. He needs a lot of work, as he’s very inconsistent with his accuracy and mechanics, but the Steelers could coach him up for a couple of years and have him ready to go by 2020 or 2021.

    Pick change; previously Leighton Vander Esch, LB

  13. Jacksonville Jaguars: Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama
    Jacksonville’s receivers did a good job this past season in the wake of Allen Robinson’s injury, but none of them projects as a true No. 1. Robinson signed with the Bears, so I suspect the Jaguars will consider a replacement in the first couple of rounds of the 2018 NFL Draft.

    Calvin Ridley, once projected to go in the top 10, now may fall out of the first round. He tested extremely poorly at the combine. However, Tom Coughlin might be someone who scoffs at analytics and just chooses Ridley because he believes he’s a good player. A crazy concept, I know.

  14. Minnesota Vikings: Will Hernandez, G, UTEP
    The Vikings just gave Kirk Cousins a fully guaranteed $84 million contract. They would be foolish not to protect their new quarterback as well as possible, and they currently have a hole at one of the guard spots. Will Hernandez, if available, would be a terrific solution to that problem.

  15. New England Patriots: Kolton Miller, OT, UCLA
    Nate Solder signed with the Giants. It wasn’t a surprise that the Patriots opted not to keep him. Solder is obviously very talented, but he’s had severe injury problems over the past several seasons, so he was too risky to give a big contract to, despite what the Giants just did. Regardless, the Patriots need a new blind-side protector.



  16. Philadelphia Eagles: Maurice Hurst, DE/DT, Michigan
    Doug Pederson comes from the Andy Reid school of thought where bolstering the trenches is paramount. He spent last year’s first-round pick on Derek Barnett despite already having Brandon Graham and Vinny Curry, so I don’t think it’s out of the question that he could opt for a talented defensive tackle to play in a rotation with Fletcher Cox and Timmy Jernigan. Both of those players stayed healthy in 2017, but what if that doesn’t happen in 2018? It would be great to have a terrific insurance policy like Maurice Hurst, especially if Michael Bennett can’t play because of his legal issues.

    Hurst, as you may have heard, was sent home from the combine because of a heart condition. Reports indicate that it doesn’t seem too serious, so the Eagles could take him here, as they seem to be in a great position to gamble. We saw them do this with Sidney Jones last year, so I believe they’d try their luck with Hurst.

    Pick change; previously D.J. Moore, WR



  17. Go to 2018 NFL Mock Draft: Round 2




    Go to 2018 NFL Mock Draft: Round 3 | Go to 2018 NFL Mock Draft: Round 4


    Go to 2018 NFL Mock Draft: Round 5 | Go to 2018 NFL Mock Draft: Round 6


    Back to 2018 NFL Mock Draft: Picks 1-16 | Go to 2018 NFL Mock Draft: Charlie Campbell


    Go to 2019 NFL Mock Draft | Go to 2020 NFL Mock Draft







2024 NFL Mock Draft - April 23


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