Post-FA NFL Mock Draft: Bills make another trade up for franchise QB
With NFL free agency virtually in the books, theScore's Dane Belbeck and Mitch Sanderson project the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft - and their latest prediction includes current info on this year's prospects and a few projected trades.
1. Cleveland Browns - Sam Darnold, QB, USC
Reactions from Darnold's pro day were unanimously in favor of Cleveland taking the USC quarterback with the first overall pick. He checks all the boxes for the Browns, who are essentially forced to take a quarterback first following the Jets' trade up. - Sanderson
2. New York Giants - Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA
The Giants seem content to let Eli Manning keep the starting job in New York, but they have to take advantage of holding the second pick in a quarterback-heavy draft. Rosen has shown he's ready for the bright lights of the big city and will give New York plenty to be excited about. - Belbeck
3. New York Jets (via Colts) - Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming
The Jets aren't fooling anybody by trading up with the Colts; they're taking a quarterback. The 6-foot-5 Allen has some mechanical issues to work out, but wouldn't be forced to start right away in New York with Josh McCown and Teddy Bridgewater on the roster. - Sanderson
4. Cleveland Browns (via Texans) - Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State
The Browns may not have won a game last year, but with Darnold and Barkley on board, there's plenty to like. Whether the Browns offer much improvement next year remains to be seen, but with the Penn State star on the field, they certainly won't be boring. - Belbeck
5. Denver Broncos - Bradley Chubb, DE, N.C. State
The Broncos need to reinforce the defense that led them to a Super Bowl and they can't have enough good pass-rushers. Chubb might be the best defensive player in the draft. - Sanderson
6. Indianapolis Colts (via Jets) - Quenton Nelson, G, Notre Dame
Taking a guard with the sixth pick may not be the sexiest move in the world, but Nelson is an absolute beast who is worthy of this high selection. The Notre Dame star will immediately anchor the Colts' offensive line that will be tasked with keeping Andrew Luck upright as he returns from injury. - Belbeck
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Minkah Fitzpatrick, DB, Alabama
The Buccaneers' secondary needs some help at cornerback and safety. Fitzpatrick is the most versatile defensive back available who can step in at safety and slot corner from Day 1. - Sanderson
8. Chicago Bears - Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State
A division featuring Aaron Rodgers, Matthew Stafford, and Kirk Cousins requires an elite-level secondary, and Ward immediately becomes a lockdown corner for the Bears. Chicago registered just 12 interceptions last year, and with the Ohio State star on board, that number is bound to rise. - Belbeck
9. TRADE: Buffalo Bills (via 49ers and Bengals) - Baker Mayfield, QB. Oklahoma
In the first projected trade of this mock, the Bills make another move up from the 12th pick to jump past the Dolphins and get their new franchise quarterback by swapping with the 49ers. Mayfield may not be their first-choice passer, but he'll be well worth the high pick if he can transfer his entertaining style to the big leagues.- Sanderson
10. Oakland Raiders - Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia
Smith gives the Raiders a defensive general that will likely be an opening-day starter. His tape at Georgia shows one of the best linebacker prospects in recent memory, something the 20th-ranked Raiders defense desperately needs. - Belbeck
11. Miami Dolphins - Vita Vea, DT, Washington
Cam Wake, Robert Quinn, and Andre Branch make up an above-average group of pass-rushers in Miami, but the interior defensive line's strength doesn't match up. Vea is the best defensive tackle in this class, drawing comparisons to All-Pro nose tackle Haloti Ngata. - Sanderson
12. TRADE: San Francisco 49ers (via Bills & Bengals) - Derwin James, S, Florida State
Despite moving out of the top 10 with a trade, the 49ers still land a premier talent in James. The Florida State star is arguably the best defensive playmaker in the draft, and will give Kyle Shanahan his leader on that side of the football for the foreseeable future. - Belbeck
13. Washington Redskins - Marcus Davenport, OLB, UTSA
The Redskins have done well in the past few drafts using the expertise of Scot McCloughan, but after the former GM left the club last year, it's tough to know what their strategy will be. However, it is easy to see their pass rush is aging and Davenport's high upside is as desirable to Washington as anyone. - Sanderson
14. Green Bay Packers - Tremaine Edmunds, LB, Virginia Tech
Edmunds is one of the most athletic players in the draft, regardless of position. While his instincts at linebacker may not be elite, his ridiculous athleticism makes up for it and gives new Packers defensive coordinator Mike Pettine a dangerous weapon at his disposal. - Belbeck
15. Arizona Cardinals - Connor Williams, OT, Texas
Possibly a trade-down candidate, the Cardinals have plenty of holes to fill while trying to remain competitive. It takes time to build a good offensive line, so they may as well start early with Williams, and work toward filling all their needs as the draft progresses. - Sanderson
16. Baltimore Ravens - Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama
The league's 29th-ranked passing attack desperately needs some talent at wideout, and Ridley is arguably the top receiver in the draft. The Alabama standout showed he can dominate games at the highest level in college, and will be called on often in the Ravens' offense. - Belbeck
17. Los Angeles Chargers - Da'Ron Payne, DT, Alabama
The Chargers are solid across the board. Their edge rushers have been superb, but the middle of the defensive line is getting too old to keep up. Payne is an ideal fit to play nose for Los Angeles and suck up blockers to make room for Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram. - Sanderson
18. Seattle Seahawks - Mike Hughes, CB, Central Florida
With Richard Sherman gone, the Seahawks grab some cornerback depth with the athletic UCF star. Hughes is an athletic freak that was among the most impressive performers at the combine, and should carry on the Legion of Boom tradition in Seattle. - Belbeck
19. Dallas Cowboys - Courtland Sutton, WR, SMU
The Cowboys are gluttons for drama and love to make splashy picks early in the draft. With rumors of Dez Bryant's release swirling, adding Sutton just fits Dallas. He's a risky pick, but has more upside than any receiver in the draft, with ideal size and strength. - Sanderson
20. Detroit Lions - Josh Jackson, CB, Iowa
Detroit will opt for the best available talent at the 20th slot and grab the Iowa cornerback. The rangy Jackson will give the Lions' impressive secondary another weapon to deal with Rodgers and Cousins in the pass-happy NFC North. - Belbeck
21. TRADE: Los Angeles Rams (via Bengals & Bills)- Harold Landry, DE, Boston College
In the second projected trade, the Rams swap with the Bengals to move up from No. 23 to ensure they get the final piece to their puzzle on the defensive line. With Aaron Donald and Ndamukong Suh in the middle, Landry will have a wonderful transition to the NFL as the Rams' new primary edge rusher. - Sanderson
22. Buffalo Bills (via Chiefs) - Rashaan Evans, LB, Alabama
The athletic Alabama linebacker reads the game as well as anybody and would be an ideal fit for Sean McDermott's defense in Buffalo. The Bills' offense requires serious help, but if Evans is available at No. 22, it will be tough to pass. - Belbeck
23. TRADE: Cincinnati Bengals (via Rams, & Bills) - Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame
The Bengals move back twice in the first round and still get to address their top need with a worthy first-rounder while acquiring picks to improve in other areas. McGlinchey has been characterized as another on-field coach who can play either left or right tackle. - Sanderson
24. Carolina Panthers - Isaiah Wynn, G, Georgia
Wynn is a natural fit for the Panthers' offensive line after Andrew Norwell left for Jacksonville in the offseason. The Georgia standout played some tackle in college but will be a guard at the next level. A technically sound blocker to help Christian McCaffrey in the running game is a wise move here. - Belbeck
25. Tennessee Titans - Arden Key, OLB, LSU
The Titans managed to put together a decent pass rush by committee in 2017, but no one stepped up as the go-to edge rusher. Key has the athletic ability to be an elite pass-rusher in the NFL, but his focus and dedication have been called into question. - Sanderson
26. Atlanta Falcons - Maurice Hurst, DT, Michigan
After losing Dontari Poe in free agency, the Falcons take his replacement with the Michigan standout at No. 26. After a heart condition kept him out of the combine, Hurst has been cleared for action. The super-athlete should pair well with Grady Jarrett to terrorize opponents' offensive lines. - Belbeck
27. New Orleans Saints - Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville
The Saints have yet to make an honest effort to find 39-year-old Drew Brees' successor. However, they seem to be more vocal about adding Jackson than any other passer during Brees' tenure. The ultra-athletic Jackson could prove to be the Saints' best-ever pick if he's awarded a few years to learn (a la Aaron Rodgers) before being paired with Sean Payton. - Sanderson
28. Pittsburgh Steelers - Jaire Alexander, CB, Louisville
The Steelers ranked 22nd in yards allowed per passing attempt last season, a stat they will address with the addition of Alexander. The Louisville standout is among the better athletes at the position, and should give the Steelers a much-needed playmaker in the back end. - Belbeck
29. Jacksonville Jaguars - Will Hernandez, G, UTEP
The Jaguars gave Leonard Fournette some help by signing Andrew Norwell, the top guard on the free-agent market, and can continue to improve their top-ranked rushing attack by drafting Hernandez. The UTEP product is one of the strongest and toughest players in the draft. - Sanderson
30. Minnesota Vikings - Billy Price, C, Ohio State
The Vikings already have Pat Elflein at center from last year's draft, but won't hesitate to grab his former college teammate Price. The duo gave Ohio State one of the country's best interior lines in 2016, and with Price moving to guard, they will do so yet again with the Vikings. - Belbeck
31. New England Patriots - Kolton Miller, OT, UCLA
The Patriots lost left tackle Nate Solder in free agency and need to do something to make sure Tom Brady is as protected as possible. Miller may be a bit of a reach considering the names still available, but he's the best tackle on the board and impressed at the combine with his athleticism - something Solder excelled at too. - Sanderson
32. Philadelphia Eagles - Isaiah Oliver, CB, Colorado
The defending champions hold as deep a roster as any team in the league, allowing them to simply take the best available talent at the end of the opening round. That is Colorado cornerback Isaiah Oliver, a young man who will instantly give one of the league's best secondaries another weapon. - Belbeck
(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)