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

Last update: Wednesday, April 18, 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: Vita Vea, NT, Washington
    The Chargers have a great defense, but their one area of weakness is in the interior of the defensive line. Corey Liuget is a talented interior pass-rusher, but the Chargers lack a monstrous run-stuffing presence. That would change with this selection.

    Vita Vea is a freak athlete, as few man can do what he’s able to at his size. He could easily be chosen in the top 15, so this is a solid value pick.

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    Pick change; previously Roquan Smith, LB

  2. Seattle Seahawks: Marcus Davenport, DE, Texas-San Antonio
    The Seahawks will almost certainly trade down. After this selection, they don’t pick again until No. 120! Considering the amount of holes they have, they desperately need to acquire more resources.

    If, however, the Seahawks stay put, they’ll likely target Marcus Davenport if he’s available. Seattle lost some key members of its defensive line this offseason, and they haven’t been properly replaced. Davenport is a highly athletic edge rusher who has been generating tons of buzz lately. He could be a top-15 pick, so this is a nice bargain for him.

  3. Dallas Cowboys: Leighton Vander Esch, LB, Boise State
    The Cowboys’ defense has fallen apart in recent years when Sean Lee has been out of the lineup. Anthony Hitchens was developing into a solid second linebacker, but he signed with the Chiefs this offseason. Dallas needs help at linebacker.

    We published a report that one NFL team medically flunked Leighton Vander Esch. While this is 100-percent true, it’s also true that other teams really like Vander Esch and would consider taking him in the first round. I believe the Cowboys to be one of those teams.



  4. Detroit Lions: Taven Bryan, DT, Florida
    The Lions desperately need help on their defensive line. A’Shawn Robinson is a promising player, but he’s the only viable starter Detroit has in the interior.

    Taven Bryan is a rising player who could be chosen in the top 20. Charlie Campbell reported earlier that the Falcons like Bryan, but he may not make it to their pick.

  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. Buffalo Bills: Isaiah Wynn, G/C, Georgia
    Eric Wood retired this offseason. Cordy Glenn was traded. Now, Richie Incognito has opted to hang up the cleats as well. Buffalo’s offensive line is in shambles, so the team needs to spend multiple resources fixing it. Taking the best blocker available makes a lot of sense, and that could be Isaiah Wynn.

  7. New England Patriots: Joshua Jackson, CB, Iowa
    Malcolm Butler is gone after being inexplicably benched for the entire Super Bowl. Jason McCourty was brought in to replace him, but he’s just a temporary solution.

    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 D.J. Moore, WR



  8. Carolina Panthers: D.J. Moore, WR, Maryland
    As mentioned in the opening half of the first round, I expect receivers to be taken earlier than expected. Thus, don’t be surprised if three receivers are taken in the top 25. In fact, I don’t think D.J. Moore even lasts this long.

    Carolina has shown interest in Moore, which makes a ton of sense. The team currently lacks a No. 1 receiver, and the Panthers could use this pick to change that.

    Pick change; previously Sam Hubbard, DE

  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: Jaire Alexander, CB, Louisville
    This obviously is not an ideal situation for the Falcons, as I’m sure they’d like either Taven Bryan or one of the top receivers. All of those prospects are off the board, unfortunately.

    I don’t think Jaire Alexander is a bad pick, however. Cornerback isn’t a big need, but an upgrade would be welcome. Plus, Jaire Alexander fits the mold of players Atlanta has drafted recently.

    Pick change; previously Courtland Sutton, WR

  11. New Orleans Saints: Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville
    The Saints were going to pick Patrick Mahomes last year before the Chiefs jumped in front of them. They need a successor for Drew Brees, so it would make sense for them to take Lamar Jackson. Like Mahomes, Jackson has a big arm, and he’s also extremely athletic. Jackson needs a lot of work, as he’s very inconsistent with his accuracy and mechanics, but Sean Payton might believe that he can coach him up and have him ready to start in 2019 or 2020.

  12. Pittsburgh Steelers: Rashaan Evans, LB, Alabama
    I’ve had the Steelers taking Lamar Jackson in my previous updates, but with Ben Roethlisberger saying that he wants to play for three more years, it makes sense for the front office to look elsewhere.

    Pittsburgh obviously needs to replace Ryan Shazier, who won’t play in 2018. Rashaan Evans’ stock has slipped of late, but he could still be chosen in the opening round.

  13. Jacksonville Jaguars: Christian Kirk, WR, Texas A&M
    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.

    Christian Kirk has been a second-round selection in most of my mock drafts, but I’ve written previously that I now believe receivers will be chosen earlier than expected. I would not be surprised if five wideouts make it into the opening round (D.J. Chark being the potential fifth.)

    Pick change; previously D.J. Moore, WR

  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.

    Having said all of this, I expect the Eagles to trade down, as they don’t pick again until No. 130 after this selection.



  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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NFL Picks - Feb. 12






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2016 NFL Mock Draft (UPDATED 4/28): Round 1 /Picks 17-32 /Round 2 /Round 3 /Round 4 /Round 5 /Round 6 /Round 7
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2017 NFL Mock Draft (UPDATED 4/27): Round 1 /Picks 17-32 /Round 2 /Round 3 /Round 4 /Round 5 /Round 6 /Round 7
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2025 NFL Mock Draft (UPDATED 5/2): Round 1 /Picks 17-32
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