Thursday 26 April 2018 06:11, UK
We gave Sky Sports presenter Neil Reynolds the task of picking 32 players, instead of six topics, here's how he sees the 2018 NFL Draft shaking out.
(1) CLEVELAND BROWNS
Pick - Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming
The Browns have to stop the bleeding at quarterback and this raw but physically-gifted phenom has risen up draft boards since the turn of the year. Allen can learn behind Tyrod Taylor and then unleash his 74mph fastball on the NFL when he is good and ready.
(2) NEW YORK GIANTS
Pick - Sam Darnold, QB, USC
(3) NEW YORK JETS
Pick - Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma
The Jets gave up a great deal to move into this slot and they didn't make the jump to grab anything other than a franchise quarterback. Common sense suggests the more polished Josh Rosen will get taken here, but the Jets are in love with the 2017 Heisman Trophy winner.
(4) CLEVELAND BROWNS
Pick - Bradley Chubb, DE, North Carolina State
The first non-quarterback off the board will be Chubb, who recorded 26 sacks in his final three years in college. Barkley will be very tempting in this spot but Browns GM John Dorsey has never taken a back this high and loves pass-rushers. Teaming Chubb with Myles Garrett leaves the Browns in good shape.
(5) BUFFALO BILLS (Trade with Denver)
Pick - Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA
There will be a handful of trades in round one but this is the only one I am going to lay out in this mock draft because I feel the Bills are most likely to make a move. Buffalo have to find a franchise quarterback and they would happily grab Rosen or Mayfield in this spot. But at what price?
(6) INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
Pick - Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State
This will represent a significant fall for a man described as "the best running back prospect in 25 years" by Saints head coach Sean Payton. The Colts might be tempted to take Notre Dame guard Quenton Nelson but Barkley will ease some of the pressure on Andrew Luck as he returns from injury.
(7) TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
Pick - Derwin James, S, Florida State
The Bucs need to upgrade a defense that ranked last in total yards, passing yards allowed and yards per play in 2017. James is a versatile and game-changing safety who can cover but also deliver big hits when bringing down ball-carriers and blitzing quarterbacks.
(8) CHICAGO BEARS
Pick - Quenton Nelson, G, Notre Dame
Best player available is not a bad approach for a Bears team that has needs across the board. Nelson is being dubbed as the safest pick in this entire draft and he instantly upgrades Chicago's attack. Nelson is a nasty, mauling difference-maker up front.
(9) SAN FRANCISCO 49ers
Pick - Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia
(10) OAKLAND RAIDERS
Pick - Minkah Fitzpatrick, S, Alabama
The Raiders might go linebacker here but their secondary still needs some major upgrading and Fitzpatrick is an ideal defender in today's NFL. He can line up in the slot and play corner or drop back and be a regular safety. He is also a coach's dream and will become an instant team leader.
(11) MIAMI DOLPHINS
Pick - Tremaine Edmunds, LB, Virginia Tech
The Dolphins need help on defense - specifically at linebacker - and take the youngest player in this draft in the 19-year-old Edmunds, whose father, Ferrell, was a Pro Bowl tight end with Miami.
(12) DENVER BRONCOS (trade with Buffalo)
Pick - Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State
The Broncos have pressing needs along the offensive line and a long-term itch that might need scratching at QB, but Ward is a top 10 talent and instantly negates the loss of Aqib Talib.
(13) WASHINGTON REDSKINS
Pick - Vita Vea, DT, Washington
The Redskins were ranked dead last in the NFL against the run in 2017 and need to add more muscle at the heart of their defense. Vea is a 340-pound gap-filler who can also get after the passer.
(14) GREEN BAY PACKERS
Pick - Mike Hughes, CB, Central Florida
The Packers tipped their hand regarding their desperate need for corners when they signed Chicago's Kendall Fuller to an offer sheet. Hughes is a complete defender. Packers could also go pass-rusher.
(15) ARIZONA CARDINALS
Pick - Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama
(16) BALTIMORE RAVENS
Pick - Hayden Hurst, TE, South Carolina
Would Baltimore be tempted to take quarterback Lamar Jackson? I think a safer play would be to get more weapons for Joe Flacco, starting with a complete tight end in Hurst, who has receiver-like skills.
(17) LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
Pick - Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville
There is a good chance that Jackson will go higher in this draft and there are certainly more pressing needs for the Chargers. But if everything plays out as above, LA grab the future of their franchise.
(18) SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
Pick - Josh Jackson, CB, Iowa
Let's begin the building of the Legion of Boom II with the Seahawks taking Jackson, who led all of college football with eight interceptions in 2017. This big corner (6-1/192) fits the Seahawks mold.
(19) DALLAS COWBOYS
Pick - Courtland Sutton, WR, SMU
Some of the defensive line talent might be hard to ignore but I have a feeling the Cowboys are looking to add another receiver to the mix. Sutton could be the new Dez with his size, toughness and ability to win jump balls.
(20) DETROIT LIONS
Pick - Marcus Davenport, DE, Texas-San Antonio
(21) CINCINNATI BENGALS
Pick - Mike McGlinchey, T, Notre Dame
Talent-wise, McGlinchey should be a top 10 or top half of round one selection. If he is here at 21, the Bengals race to the podium to upgrade an offensive line that was well below par in 2017.
(22) BUFFALO BILLS
Pick - Da'Ron Payne, DT, Alabama
Buffalo gave up on Marcell Dareus last season and Kyle Williams is getting up there in years. Payne is a go-hard-every-down player that scouts love. He is a run-stuffing machine who can also rush the QB.
(23) NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
Pick - Kolton Miller, T, UCLA
I think the Patriots jump on Mike Hughes or Josh Jackson at corner if they fall in round one. Under this scenario though, they must address offensive tackle given Nate Solder's offseason departure.
(24) CAROLINA PANTHERS
Pick - Isaiah Wynn, G, Georgia
The Panthers simply cannot allow Cam Newton to take as many hits as he has in recent years. Wynn is a nasty and reliable upgrade to the offensive line who boasts Pro Bowl potential.
(25) TENNESSEE TITANS
Pick - Harold Landry, DE/Edge, Boston College
The Titans have other needs such as interior offensive line and receiver, but Landry will be too good to pass up in this spot. Landry is not the finished article but his explosiveness and first step is for real.
(26) ATLANTA FALCONS
Pick - Maurice Hurst, DT, Michigan
The Falcons took their lumps on the D-line this offseason but can replenish the position by drafting Hurst, who is a penetrating defender who makes plays in the backfield against the run and pass.
(27) NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
Pick - Dallas Goedert, TE, South Dakota State
Coby Fleener has been a disappointment and the Saints could not tempt Jimmy Graham back to New Orleans. Drew Brees needs an athletic TE target and this athletic small-school wonder fits the bill.
(28) PITTSBURGH STEELERS
Pick - Rashaan Evans, LB, Alabama
The tragic injury suffered by Ryan Shazier leaves the Steelers needing to find a linebacker who can control the middle of the field. Evans has outstanding instincts and can also rush the passer.
(29) JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
Pick - Christian Kirk, WR, Texas A&M
After losing Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns in free agency, the Jags can bolster their receiving corps with the promising-looking Kirk, who should become an immediate slot contributor in Jacksonville.
(30) MINNESOTA VIKINGS
Pick - Will Hernandez, G, Texas El-Paso
Isaiah Wynn is another option at guard here as the Vikings look to strengthen the middle of their offensive line. Hernandez has Pro Bowl potential and has been compared to Mike Iupati.
(31) NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
Pick - Leighton Vander Esch, LB, Boise State
With many of the best cornerbacks off the board, Belichick goes for a long, athletic and versatile defender with the vital intelligence required to thrive in his multiple schemes. A classic Belichick pick.
(32) PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
Pick - Derrius Guice, RB, LSU
The Eagles have the luxury of taking the best player available and could also go corner here. But Guice is a Marshawn Lynch-type who off-sets the departure of LeGarrette Blount.
All three days of the NFL Draft are exclusively live on Sky Sports with opening night getting underway from 12.30am on Friday April 27 on Sky Sports Action and Sky Sports Mix.
Check out our NFL Draft support programming with Neil Reynolds, Jeff Reinebold, Solomon Wilcots, the Around the NFL guys and MMQB's Peter King who will give us their informed opinion on what to expect and what happens in Dallas next week.
You can follow all the build-up to the NFL Draft with us at www.skysports.com/nfl and following us @SkySportsNFL.
