2018 NFL Mock Draft – WalterFootball

Last update: Thursday, April 26, 2018. Major changes.
Next update: Final update in the early afternoon. 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: Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming
Saquon Barkley may have been a legitimate option for the top pick at one point, but recent trades will apparently force the Browns into taking a quarterback first overall. I don’t necessarily agree with this, however. Given the recent reports that the Giants will select Barkley, it would be logical of Cleveland to take Barkley here, then get one of Josh Allen, Sam Darnold or Baker Mayfield at No. 4 overall. The Browns will be doing themselves a huge disservice by gift-wrapping the best player in the class to the Giants when they can easily take him without any sort of repercussions.

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. Darnold is also a strong option. I think it comes down to one of them, and I think I’d give Allen a slight edge right now, per recent reports. I know Peter King and others have Darnold mocked to the Browns, and they could be correct. We’re hearing differently, however, though the final decision may not be made yet, so we’ll try to keep you updated on this situation.

*** OTHER 2018 NFL DRAFT POSSIBILITIES: ***

1. Baker Mayfield, QB – Both Adam Schefter and Dan Patrick have reported that Mayfield is in the conversation. In fact, Patrick’s sources told him that Darnold is not in consideration to be the top pick. Mary Kay Cabot reported the same thing Wednesday, and then the legendary Bob McGinn mocked Mayfield to Cleveland.

2. Sam Darnold, QB – Darnold may not be out of the picture just yet.

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New York Giants: Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State
I don’t mind the Giants not selecting a quarterback. Why do so if they really don’t like any of them, which is what the scuttlebutt happens to be? Not trading down, however, seems like it would be a big mistake, as New York would be able to secure an impressive haul for this pick. I have a Broncos-Giants potential NFL Draft trade posted via the link, for example.

The other part of the rumors regarding this selection is that the Giants will take Saquon Barkley. Perhaps this is a ruse by the front office to get the Browns to trade up from No. 4 to 2, and if so, general manager David Gettleman deserves a ton of credit. However, Gettleman’s picks have been telegraphed through the media in the past; everyone knew the Panthers were going to take Christian McCaffrey last year.

If Gettleman was willing to take a runner who can’t shoulder a complete workload like McCaffrey at No. 8 overall, he’ll certainly be open to take Barkley with the second-overall choice.

*** OTHER 2018 NFL DRAFT POSSIBILITIES: ***

1. Sam Darnold, QB – Everything Gettleman has said during the pre-draft process indicates that he won’t select a quarterback, but perhaps he’s just a masterful liar. The owners sound like they’re pushing for a quarterback.

2. Bradley Chubb, DE – David Gettleman has a history of not trading in the draft, so it seems like the only other option is Chubb.
New York Jets: Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma
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 Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield are available.

Recent reports have linked the Jets to Mayfield, but that was assuming Darnold was going to be off the board. Darnold is available in this scenario, so I wonder if the Jets would select him over Mayfield, whom they love. I had Darnold here in my previous mock update, but I thought about it, and the Jets had an idea of whom they would select when they moved up to No. 3. They had to have thought that Darnold would be off the board, so it would make sense that Mayfield would be their primary target.

*** OTHER 2018 NFL DRAFT POSSIBILITIES: ***

1. Sam Darnold, QB – From all accounts, it sounds like the Jets will be deciding between Mayfield and Darnold.

2. Josh Rosen, QB – Rosen sounds like an outside possibility, but having him in Manhattan seems like major trouble.

Buffalo Bills: Sam Darnold, QB, USC
Trade! The Browns are losing out on the prospect they want the most in this class (Saquon Barkley), so they either have to select Bradley Chubb or trade down. Picking Chubb doesn’t make much financial sense because in 4-5 years, they’d have to give out three $100 million contracts to him, Myles Garrett and the quarterback they choose. It’ll be a financial nightmare.

The Bills, meanwhile, have to trade up. They don’t have a viable starting quarterback, and they’ve already moved up once. They plan on following the Eagles’ blueprint with a double trade.

Now, which quarterback will Buffalo trade up for? Speculation is that the Bills prefer the two California kids, and I’d have to think that Sam Darnold would be the choice over Josh Rosen. Josh Allen, if available, would also be a possibility.

*** OTHER 2018 NFL DRAFT POSSIBILITIES: ***

1. Bradley Chubb, DE (CLE) – This pick could happen, but I would hate it for the Browns because it would mean they would be in a financial nightmare in 4-5 years, as they’ll have to give out three $100 million contracts in that span.

2. Saquon Barkley, RB (CLE) – It doesn’t sound like Barkley will make it to No. 4, but if the Giants trade down, I can’t imagine Barkley making it past Cleveland.
Denver Broncos: Bradley Chubb, DE, N.C.State
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 moved up for 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 may have to move up to No. 2 to get whichever quarterback it wants.

We’ve had the Broncos taking a player to protect Keenum for a while, but it appears as though they’re going in a different direction. They’d love to acquire a talented edge rusher to play across from Von Miller, as they were at their best, defensively, when Miller was paired with DeMarcus Ware.

*** OTHER 2018 NFL DRAFT POSSIBILITIES: ***

1. Sam Darnold, QB – I can’t imagine Darnold making it past Denver.

2. Denzel Ward, CB – If Darnold and Chubb are off the board, Ward would be the logical choice.

Pick change; previously Quenton Nelson, G

Indianapolis Colts: Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia
The Colts would love Bradley Chubb, but he’s not available in this update. It’s difficult to imagine Chubb making it past both the Browns and Broncos at Nos. 4 and 5, respectively (though I still don’t like the fit for Cleveland.)

With Chubb off the board, the Colts have three viable options: Roquan Smith, Quenton Nelson and Denzel Ward. Of the three Smith makes the most sense. Indianapolis’ new defensive scheme requires a play-making linebacker who can be on the field for all three downs, and the team lacks that at the moment. Also, there has been a lot of smoke connecting Indianapolis to Smith, who would finally solve the team’s woes as far as not being able to stop tight ends and pass-catching running backs are concerned.

*** OTHER 2018 NFL DRAFT POSSIBILITIES: ***

1. Quenton Nelson, G – Indianapolis must protect Andrew Luck, but guard isn’t a huge need right now.

2. Denzel Ward, CB – The Colts are in a prime position to trade down again. Maybe they’ll do that and get Ward at 12 or so.

Pick change; previously Bradley Chubb, DE
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Quenton Nelson, G, Notre Dame
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.

*** OTHER 2018 NFL DRAFT POSSIBILITIES: ***

1. Derwin James, S – 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.

Pick change; previously Derwin James, S

Arizona Cardinals: Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA
Trade! If one of Josh Rosen or Josh Allen falls into the 6-10 range, which is likely to happen, I could see the Cardinals trading up for a franchise quarterback. They signed Sam Bradford to a large contract, but they would be crazy to think they can rely on him for more than one season. It’s likely that Arizona envisions Bradford as the quarterback for just 2018, allowing them to hand over the controls to whichever signal-caller they move up for in this class.

I think it would make sense for Arizona to move up to this spot. General managers Steve Keim and Ryan Pace have a relationship that should help facilitate this, and I could see the Bears wanting to move out of the eighth spot if Quenton Nelson is off the board (and it’s very likely he will be.) Chicago doesn’t have a third-round pick, so it may want to recoup that by trading down.

*** OTHER 2018 NFL DRAFT POSSIBILITIES: ***

1. D.J. Moore, WR (at 15) – Arizona’s top target at 15 seems like it could be Moore, as the team will be looking to upgrade across from Larry Fitzgerald, all while finding a No. 1 receiver for the future.

2. Mike Hughes, CB (at 15) – The Cardinals have to replace Tyrann Mathieu’s production, and Hughes would be a strong option.
San Francisco 49ers: Minkah Fitzpatrick, S/CB, Alabama
Major news broke Wednesday, as Reuben Foster’s girlfriend, who previously accused Foster of assaulting her, told authorities that she had lied about the incident. There apparently happens to be video evidence corroborating this story.

Hopefully what she’s currently saying is true. It now sounds like Foster will be available for 2018, so the 49ers don’t have to push the panic button with a linebacker. Thus, they can pursue Minkah Fitzpatrick, whom they covet.

*** OTHER 2018 NFL DRAFT POSSIBILITIES: ***

1. Roquan Smith, LB – Smith wouldn’t be out of the picture if available, but he’s off the board.

2. Tremaine Edmunds, LB – Both of the top linebackers are in play here, as either can play with Foster.

Pick change; previously Roquan Smith, LB

Oakland Raiders: Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame
Donald Penn, 35 by the end of the month, is coming off a Lisfranc injury and reportedly won’t be ready to return for a couple of months. This is obviously a big concern. Meanwhile, Oakland has a huge hole at right tackle. Offensive tackle is a position absolutely must be addressed early in the draft.

Mike McGlinchey is the top tackle in this class, and there’s speculation that he’ll be a top-10 pick. This is the most logical destination for him in that range.

*** OTHER 2018 NFL DRAFT POSSIBILITIES: ***

1. Vita Vea, NT – We’ve had Vea here for a while. He would still be a strong option if Ward weren’t available, as the Raiders attempted to sign Ndamukong Suh.

2. Denzel Ward, CB – Corner is a huge need, and the ability to obtain the top player at the position is almost too good to be true.
Miami Dolphins: Tremaine Edmunds, LB, Virginia Tech
The Dolphins have been linked to Baker Mayfield or Josh Rosen, but it doesn’t sound as though they’ll be trading up. They’ll likely stay put and select the best prospect available, and from what it sounds like, they value Tremaine Edmunds very highly.

Edmunds could go as high as No. 6 overall, so having him available is a dream come true for the Dolphins, who don’t have a strongside linebacker on their roster.

*** OTHER 2018 NFL DRAFT POSSIBILITIES: ***

1. Roquan Smith, LB – The Dolphins like both linebackers so much that they may move up a couple of spots to secure one.

2. Vita Vea, NT – It sounds like Vea is the backup plan for the Dolphins, and he should be available at No. 11.
Cleveland Browns: Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State
This is exactly why the Browns should select Saquon Barkley first overall. It’s absolutely mind-boggling as to why they’d risk losing out on the best player in the class when they won’t be missing out on one of the top three quarterbacks. I could understand it if they had the first and eighth picks, for example, but Nos. 1 and 4 allow them to do the logical thing and go with Barkley and then whichever quarterback is left over (Cleveland likes all three.) If they can’t trade down from No. 4 overall, it’ll be a complete disaster.

Fortunately for Cleveland, a trade is possible in this scenario. The Browns can take a player who makes more sense. With Mike McGlinchey off the board, they can select the best cornerback in this class, Denzel Ward, whom I mocked to the Browns at No. 4 several months ago.

*** OTHER 2018 NFL DRAFT POSSIBILITIES: ***

1. Mike McGlinchey, OT – McGlinchey is the other trade-down target, but I’m not confident he’ll be available at No. 12.
Washington Redskins: Vita Vea, NT, Washington
The Redskins looked completely helpless trying to stop Alfred Morris in a must-win game the week after Thanksgiving. They need to bolster their defensive front, and Vita Vea happens to be one of the best players available.

*** OTHER 2018 NFL DRAFT POSSIBILITIES: ***

1. Minkah Fitzpatrick, S – Fitzpatrick will certainly be in the conversation if he’s available, as he could be the top prospect on the board.

2. Da’Ron Payne, NT – I’ve had either Payne or Fitzpatrick slotted here in every single mock draft I’ve done since February. Until today.
Green Bay Packers: Derwin James, S, Florida State
The Packers had a huge need at cornerback going into the offseason. They seemed to be fine at safety, but they lost Morgan Burnett to free agency. Green Bay now needs serious help at both positions, so it’s no surprise that there are reports saying they’ll take the best defensive back available.

The top defensive back on the board is Derwin James. It’s very possible that James could go as high as No. 7 to the Buccaneers, so the Packers should consider this a steal, as their new general manager replaces Burnett.

*** OTHER 2018 NFL DRAFT POSSIBILITIES: ***

1. Denzel Ward, CB – The Packers will try to trade up for Ward.

2. Minkah Fitzpatrick, S – The value for safeties has dipped, based on how little interest they’ve received in free agency this offseason, so one of the top players at the position should be available for Green Bay.

Pick change; previously Minkah Fitzpatrick, S
Chicago Bears: Marcus Davenport, DE, Texas-San Antonio
General manager Ryan Pace loves high-upside talents, especially those from small schools. That’s all he drafted last year after taking Mitchell Trubisky! Marcus Davenport obviously fits that mold, and he should be selected in the teens.

The Bears are not only getting a high-upside prospect, but they’re also filling their biggest need. They have no viable edge rushers outside of Leonard Floyd, so that must change in a division with Aaron Rodgers, Matthew Stafford and now Kirk Cousins.

*** OTHER 2018 NFL DRAFT POSSIBILITIES: ***

1. Denzel Ward, CB (at 8) – Tony Pauline of DraftAnalyst.com said that the Bears love Ward. They’ve given out two substantial contracts to cornerbacks this offseason, but if they are smitten with Ward, they’ll consider taking him.

2. Tremaine Edmunds, LB (at 8) – Edmunds also fits the mold of player Ryan Pace has drafted as general manager of the Bears.

Baltimore Ravens: Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville
Ozzie Newsome promised everyone that they’d be shocked by this pick. Perhaps Lamar Jackson is what he was referring to.

While Newsome could have just been trolling the media, the fact remains that this is his final draft as Baltimore’s general manager, so he has nothing to hide. Considering that Newsome is leaving, this selection may have been decided for him by ownership.

*** OTHER 2018 NFL DRAFT POSSIBILITIES: ***

1. Hayden Hurst, TE – The Ravens could move down a few spots and select Hayden Hurst, who would provide a big upgrade at tight end.

2. Calvin Ridley, WR – Ozzie Newsome loves his Alabama players, and there happens to be a first-round prospect from that school who fills a huge need available at this juncture. Baltimore has major problems at receiver, so Ridley could potentially solve those issues.

Pick change; previously Calvin Ridley, 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.