2018 NFL Mock Draft: Josh Allen leapfrogs Sam Darnold in QB pyramid
Every month of the 2017 season, theScore's Dane Belbeck and Mitch Sanderson have been projecting the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft. The draft order for most non-playoff teams has been set. Playoff seeding has been used to determine the order of the final 12 spots.
Here's the latest prediction:
1. Cleveland Browns - Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA
Despite a 1-31 record the past two seasons, the Browns have decided that Hue Jackson should remain as head coach. He'll look to the UCLA star to turn the franchise's fortunes around. Recent history shows nobody is equipped to do that, but Rosen is as talented as any quarterback Cleveland has had. - Belbeck
2. New York Giants - Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame
While their record in 2017 suggests otherwise, the Giants won't be in total rebuild mode this draft. Offensive tackle remains too big of an issue to expect a rookie passer to outperform Eli Manning yet. - Sanderson
3. Indianapolis Colts - Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State
The Colts have several major areas of need, but there's no way Jim Irsay allows a talent like Barkley to pass by at No. 3. Frank Gore's replacement is the most explosive player in the draft. - Belbeck
4. Cleveland Browns (via Texans) - Connor Williams, OT, Texas
If the Browns are taking a quarterback with a concussion history first overall, they'd better find him some more protection with their next pick, especially if Joe Thomas is weighing retirement. - Sanderson
5. Denver Broncos - Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming
John Elway will hit eject on the Paxton Lynch experiment and grab a quarterback at No. 5. The Super Bowl winner will surprise with his pick of Allen ahead of Sam Darnold. - Belbeck
6. New York Jets - Sam Darnold, QB, USC
Even if the Jets bring back Josh McCown to steer the ship for one more season, they need to start developing behind him. Christian Hackenberg, a second-rounder in 2016, has yet to see a single regular-season snap. - Sanderson
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Bradley Chubb, DE, NC State
The Buccaneers finished dead last in the league with only 22 sacks on the season. The other three teams in the NFC South all had at least 39. The electric pass-rusher from NC State immediately narrows that gap. - Belbeck
8. Chicago Bears - Quenton Nelson, OG, Notre Dame
Nelson may be the best offensive lineman in the draft. Pairing him with Kyle Long would allow the Bears to keep building the run game, while providing interior protection for Mitch Trubisky. - Sanderson
9. Oakland Raiders - Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia
While the Rose Bowl was an offensive shootout, Smith was arguably the best player on the field during his 11-tackle performance. He's the kind of player a veteran coach - Jon Gruden, for example - would love to have as the leader of his defense. - Belbeck
10. San Francisco 49ers - Minkah Fitzpatrick, DB, Alabama
Building the offense around Jimmy Garoppolo will certainly be near the top of John Lynch's to-do list; however, it would be awfully hard for a potential Hall of Fame safety to pass up on a defensive back with Fitzpatrick's talent. - Sanderson
11. Miami Dolphins - Arden Key, DE, LSU
The Dolphins ranked 26th in the league with just 30 sacks as a team last year. Cameron Wake remains a force, but he's not getting any younger. Adding Key to the mix will immediately help a pass rush that has to face Tom Brady twice a year. - Belbeck
12. Cincinnati Bengals - Derwin James, S, Florida State
The Bengals clearly need to address their offensive line. But Marvin Lewis said the team will start from scratch next season, so if that's the case, they should take the best player available and add James. - Sanderson
13. Washington Redskins - Orlando Brown, OT, Oklahoma
Washington battled offensive line injuries all season, starting a unit filled with backups in numerous games. That caused them to allow a whopping 41 sacks. Brown immediately fixes that and helps whatever quarterback the team trots out next season. - Belbeck
14. Green Bay Packers - Josh Jackson, CB, Iowa
The Packers' secondary is one piece away from being able to move pretty much everyone where they fit best. Jackson can lock down the outside and create a formidable young pairing with Kevin King. - Sanderson
15. Arizona Cardinals - Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma
Carson Palmer and Bruce Arians retired. Larry Fitzgerald, who remains brilliant, is another year older, and David Johnson is coming off a major injury. Arizona needs a spark on offense, and the electric Oklahoma star brings just that. - Belbeck
16. Baltimore Ravens - Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama
The Ravens need help on offense and general manager Ozzie Newsome loves players from Alabama. This just fits. - Sanderson
17. Los Angeles Chargers - Billy Price, C, Ohio State
Drafting an offensive lineman in the first round may not be the sexy pick, but Price is as solid a player as any in the draft. Philip Rivers should applaud this pick, as it will help keep the man upright as he ages gracefully. - Belbeck
18. Seattle Seahawks - Derrius Guice, RB, LSU
Guice is similar enough to Marshawn Lynch that the Seahawks could convince themselves to delay fixing their problems on the offensive line for at least another year. - Sanderson
19. Dallas Cowboys - Courtland Sutton, WR, SMU
With Dez Bryant scheduled to count for $16.5 million against the cap next season, he's a prime candidate to be cut by the Cowboys. Drafting Sutton makes that an even more real possibility. - Belbeck
20. Detroit Lions - Vita Vea, DT, Washington
Bob Quinn has not hidden his love for quality play at the line of scrimmage since taking over as Lions GM. Vea can be the nose tackle to replace Haloti Ngata and keep Detroit strong up front on defense. - Sanderson
21. Buffalo Bills - James Washington, WR, Oklahoma State
The Bills rank 31st in the league in passing and desperately need a deep threat to help boost that number. There's nobody better at that in the draft than the prolific Oklahoma State wideout. - Belbeck
22. Atlanta Falcons - Christian Wilkins, DT, Clemson
The Falcons never want to run short on fresh pass-rushers and run-stoppers. Wilkins has shown to be a consistent player on a very talented Clemson defensive line. - Sanderson
23. Tennessee Titans - Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State
It's no secret that Tennessee's secondary is among the worst in the AFC, and adding arguably the best cornerback in the draft is a great move for the club. - Belbeck
24. Carolina Panthers - Sam Hubbard, DE, Ohio State
The Panthers need some fresh blood for Julius Peppers and Charles Johnson to pass along their knowledge to. Hubbard looks to be the next defender in a long line of talented former Buckeyes to reach the pro ranks. - Sanderson
25. Buffalo Bills (via Chiefs) - Maurice Hurst, DT, Michigan
Hurst was virtually impossible to block in college and is the type of talent that Sean McDermott would love to have on his defensive line. - Belbeck
26. New Orleans Saints - Da'Ron Payne, DT, Alabama
The Saints' defense needs to keep improving to avoid falling back to its old habits. Sheldon Rankins has been a major reason for the turnaround. Pairing him and Payne together would keep that trend going. - Sanderson
27. Jacksonville Jaguars - Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville
The Jaguars will be the beneficiary of Jackson dropping well below where he should have been selected. While the Jaguars rolled to the AFC South title, Blake Bortles remains the biggest question on the team. Adding Jackson helps answer that by shoring up the position. - Belbeck
28. Los Angeles Rams - Chukwuma Okorafor, OT, Western Michigan
The addition of Andrew Whitworth did wonders for the Rams' offensive line this season, but the former All-Pro blocker is 36 years old and can only play one position. Okorafor can be the piece to eventually replace Whitworth and keep Jared Goff upright. - Sanderson
29. Minnesota Vikings - Tavarus McFadden, CB, Florida State
McFadden graded as a top-20 pick for most of the season, so the Vikings will opt for the best available talent and grab the talented Florida State player. - Belbeck
30. Pittsburgh Steelers - Carlton Davis, CB, Auburn
Artie Burns and Joe Haden have both disappointed at times this season, and neither looks to be a reliable No. 1 corner. Davis has all the tools to be that guy for the Steelers. - Sanderson
31. Philadelphia Eagles - Christian Kirk, WR, Texas A&M
It won't shock anyone who watched Texas A&M play the past few seasons if Christian Kirk wins Rookie of the Year. Adding the explosive wideout to an Eagles offense that will have Carson Wentz back is a scary prospect. - Belbeck
32. New England Patriots - Harold Landry, DE, Boston College
The Patriots need a pass-rusher and there's a great one already playing in Boston. What are the chances? - Sanderson
(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)