Mark Cook’s 2018 NFL First-Round Mock Draft

1. Cleveland – USC  QB Sam Darnold
The Browns have earned the right to have the overall No. 1 pick in the draft the hard way. By winning a whopping one game in the last two seasons. And in typical Browns fashion they are selecting in a year when who is the best quarterback is still being wildly debated. Indications are it will be Darnold, although reports came out on Wednesday that they are considering Baker Mayfield as well. Cleveland fans are expecting the worst while hoping for the best. But even the Browns can’t screw up having two picks in the Top 5, can they?

Penn State RB Saquon Barkley – Photo by: Getty Images

2. New York Giants – Penn State RB Saquon Barkley
The Giants are picking second, but will end up with the best player in the draft if they go with Barkley. There are zero question marks with the Penn State product and he will be a superstar in New York. The Giants could use a future quarterback to replace the aging Eli Manning, but are getting the best running back since Adrian Peterson.

3. New York Jets – Oklahoma QB Baker Mayfield
Too small. Too cocky. Hands aren’t big enough. Blah, blah blah. The measure of a quarterback is showing up in big games and Mayfield made a career of it. And won a lot of football games in the meantime. The former Sooner has all the intangibles to be a success in the NFL and will be fan favorite in the Big Apple if he can turn around a Jets team that has been looking for their next Joe Namath for the last 46 years.

4. Cleveland – N.C. State DE Bradley Chubb
The Browns might finally be turning a corner. Maybe. But adding the best pure pass rusher in the NFL to team up with last year’s overall No. 1 pick Chubb with Myles Garrett, is definitely a good start. Chubb brings a nasty attitude to Cleveland and won’t accept the Browns being the NFL’s laughing stock.

5. Denver – Wyoming QB Josh Allen
It is hard to believe the Broncos have struggled to find a quality signal caller since Peyton Manning hung up his high-top cleats. Too bad their GM doesn’t know a lot about the quarterback position. I kid, but seriously, John Elway needs to make this pick count or his days in Denver could be numbered. Allen is a high-risk, high-reward player and Elway will roll the dice.

6. Indianapolis – Notre Dame G Quenton Nelson
The Colts are pleased to see the safest player in the draft is still on the board. There will be some temptation to trade the pick, but they stand pat and end up with a perennial Pro Bowler who will anchor the offensive line for at least the next 10 years. And having a player to help keep quarterback Andrew Luck upright is a bonus.

Florida State SS Derwin James – Photo by: Getty Images

7. Tampa Bay – Florida State SS Derwin James
Don’t confuse James with the last safety the Bucs took at No. 7 as James and Mark Barron are two completely different animals. James’ athletic ability is off the charts and will bring a swagger much need to combine with linebacker Kwon Alexander to give this defense a completely different vibe.

8. Chicago – Ohio State CB Denzel Ward
The best pure cornerback in the draft is Ward and the Bears are pleased to see him sitting there. While not the biggest corner in the draft, Ward is ready to start from the opening of training camp. He will bring a strong work ethic and high motor to Solider Field on Sundays.

9. San Francisco –Virginia Tech LB Tremaine Edmunds
The 49ers will get some calls for this pick, but GM John Lynch will be wise to stand pat and take the best linebacker in the draft by many accounts. Edwards looks to be an impact starter right out the gate and will help the 49ers compete for the NFC West title in 2018.

10. Buffalo – (Trade/Raiders) – UCLA QB Josh Rosen
Buffalo has been maneuvering to get in position to take a franchise quarterback and find their guy in Rosen who may be the most pro ready of all the quarterbacks taken on Thursday. The Bills will have to sweat a little, and give up their other first-rounder to make it happen, but couldn’t risk the Dolphins snatching Rosen ahead of them.

11. Miami – Georgia LB Roquan Smith
The Dolphins miss out on the quarterbacks they wanted but end up with a heck of a consolation prize. Smith basically played for a professional team while at Georgia and that will make the transition to the NFL that much easier. The Dolphins defense just got a lot better.

12. Oakland – Alabama S Minkah Fitzpatrick
Jon Gruden will high-fiving everyone in the war room after the Raiders end up with both of Buffalo’s picks to only drop back and still get a future Pro Bowl player. Fitzpatrick, like most players coming from Tuscaloosa is ready to contribute early and at a high level.

Washington defensive lineman Vita Vea – Photo by Getty Images

13. Washington – Washington DT Vita Vea
The Redskins need a lot of help but fill a big hole, literally, with the mammoth Vea. A man that big shouldn’t be as agile and as athletic as this one. The other Gruden brother is also a happy man on Thursday night.

14. Green Bay – Alabama DT Da’Ron Payne
The run on Crimson Tide players keeps going as the Packers get what they feel is a great value with the 14th pick in the first round. The Packers need cornerback help and also an edge rusher but can’t pass on Payne who can help collapse the middle of opposing offensive lines.

15. Arizona – Louisville QB Lamar Jackson
Arizona looked to trade up but just didn’t have the ammo to do so and end up “settling” on the dynamic former Louisville Heisman winner. Jackson won’t have to be thrust into the starting lineup right away, but don’t be surprised to see him start before the season is over.

16. Baltimore –  South Carolina TE Hayden Hurst
The college stat sheet might not look too impressive but the potential and intangibles are there that say Hurst can be productive in the NFL. The Ravens give Joe Flacco another weapon and also gives the running game an excellent blocker.

17. L.A. Chargers – Notre Dame T Mike McGlinchey
With Chargers’ QB Phillip Rivers entering his 30th year in the league (sarcasm) the need to keep him healthy is even more of a priority. McGlinchey can play both tackle positions but the Chargers hope he can be successful protecting Rivers’ blind side.

18. Seattle – Boston College DE Harold Landry
After trading Michael Bennett and revamping their secondary, the Seahawks will have a new-look defense in 2018. Landry and his pass-rushing ability will be a big part of it, and Seattle hopes he can duplicate his production from college in the NFL.

19. Dallas – Alabama WR Calvin Ridley
With Dez Bryant no longer a Cowboy, Dallas was hoping to find a younger and more productive version. They are thrilled to see Ridley still available and don’t hesitate to being him to the Lone Star state. Jerry Jones hopes he can have the career that former Tide receivers Julio Jones and Amari Cooper have been able to have in the NFL.

UTSA DE Marcus Davenport – Photo by: Jeff Heuhn

20. Detroit – UTSA DE Marcus Davenport
Raw but athletic, the Lions hope to have the same success developing Davenport the same way they did Ziggy Ansah. Davenport most likely won’t be thrust into the lineup and can take  a year to learn and develop his craft in the NFL.

21. Cincinnati – UTEP G  Will Hernandez
How much of a difference is there between the top-rated guard and the second? The Bengals don’t think it’s very much and are pleased to nab Hernandez at No. 21. The former UTEP standout will be bring a nasty and physical presence to the the Bengals offensive line.

22. Oakland – UCLA T Kolton Miller
Donald Penn has been a terrific NFL tackle for a number of years, but will be rehabbing an injury through the offseason and can’t play forever. Miller is viewed as the future and should be able to sit back and learn from Penn this season before eventually transitioning into Penn’s role, or he could end up playing on the right side as a rookie.

23. New England –  Alabama LB Rashaan Evans
Evans rounds out the long list of Crimson Tide first rounders and will be able to contribute early for Bill Belichick’s defense that will be adjusting to a new coordinator with Matt Patricia moving on to Detroit. Evans is a thumper and gives the middle of the Patriot defense excellent speed and athleticism.

24. Carolina –  Georgia G Isaiah Wynn
The Panthers are looking to find a replacement for Andrew Norwell who departed in free agency and are excited to see one of the best in the draft available when it is their turn on the clock. Wynn is versatile but looks to be a better guard prospect at the next level. The Panthers also need better production on the ground and Wynn is a guy that can help.

25. Tennessee – Michigan DT Maurice Hurst
Hurst was a beast on the interior for the Wolverines and if he checks out medically, the Titans will be getting one of the best defensive tackles in this year’s draft.

26. Atlanta – Florida DT Taven Bryan
The production or some would say, lack of production at Florida is a bit of a head-scratcher. Bryan has all the tools needed to be successful but can it show up on the state sheet? The Falcons think so and are thrilled to add the former Gator to their defensive line.

27. New Orleans – South Dakota TE  Dallas Goedert
The rich get richer and Drew Brees get another exceptional weapon in Goedert. While some would shy away from his small school background, Sean Payton is already in his lab drawing up plays to get the ball in Godert’s hands.

28. Pittsburgh – Louisville CB Jaire Alexander
Mike Tomlin knows defensive backs and can’t believe his fortune to see Alexander still on the board this late. Speed, size and athleticism has Tomlin’s big eyes bugging out a little bigger late on Thursday night.

SMU WR Courtland Sutton – Photo by: Getty Images

29. Jacksonville – SMU WR Courtland Sutton
Sutton fills a big hole for the Jaguars who need playmakers that can make something happen with the ball in their hands. The Texas native fits that bill and is welcomed with open arms by Blake Bortles.

30. Minnesota – Boise State LB  Leighton Vander Esch
Vander Esch doesn’t have a ton of tape, but what there is shows an extremely productive player who will fit in nicely with the Vikings already terrific defense. Only a starter for one  year, Vander Esch made the most of it and sneaks into the first round.

31. New England – LSU RB Derrius Guice
Some think Guice is the best running back in the draft – even better than Barkley. He is violent runner who doesn’t shy away from contact. Guice should make an already great Patriots offense even better.

32. Philadelphia – Maryland WR D.J. Moore
The Eagles already have a ton of weapons for quarterback Carson Wentz but can’t resist Moore who some think is the best receiver in the draft. He is still raw, but very explosive and will fit in nicely in the Eagles offense.