Record 0-16
Team Needs QB, OL, RB

Sam Donald, QB, USC
New GM John Dorsey began his NFL scouting career in Green Bay, thus seeing the benefit of having players like Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers on the roster. He arrived in Kansas City in2013 as General Manager of the Chiefs and in that same year traded for Alex Smith from the San Francisco 49ers. He knows that winning at the highest level requires an elite quarterback and usually those come from the first-round with the No.1 overall pick.

Record 3-13
Team Needs RB, QB, CB

Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State
New General Manager David Gettleman has a lot on his plate to think about with the second overall selection. Take a quarterback of the future. Replace Jason Pierre-Paul and revive passing attack that finished tied for 29th last year with the least amount of sacks or find consistency in the running game. The Giants have had a leader in five of their last six seasons. Barkley is the pick with hopes of duplicating the Dallas Cowboys (Zeke Elliott) and Jacksonville Jaguars (Leonard Fournette) with instant playoff success.

Record 5-11
Team Needs QB, RB, OT

Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma
Buffalo might have showed their hand to early by trading up to the 12th overall selection previously held by the Kansas City Chiefs. New York realized that Buffalo still wanted to climb the draft ladder and acted. The Jets sent their sixth, 37th and 49th overall selections in this year’s draft and their second-rounder in 2019 to the Colts. Now New York, is primed to fetch the quarterback of their future. Mayfield seems to have leaped frogged noth Josh’s (Allen & Rosen) of late. Mayfield has that ‘It’ factor to win games and lead. A priceless quality to have as a quarterback.

Record Texans 4-12
Team Needs QB, OL, CB

Bradley Chubb, DE, NC State
Joe Thomas retired after 11 seasons with Cleveland and Quenton Nelson the Notre Dame guard has been slotted No. 4 for the longest time. Now with the Colts trading out of the third overall selection the flirtation to nab Chubb becomes the new flavor of the month. Chubb along side No. 1 pick Myles Garrett seems like a terrific tandem. Truth be told this pick should be a primed piece of prime real estate for any team aiming to move up in the NFL Draft.

Record 7-9
Team Needs OL, LB, DE

Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming
The lowest recorded temperature in the state of Wyoming is -66 degrees. It was observed on Feb. 9, 1933 in Yellowstone National Park. This -66 degree mark puts Wyoming at No. 4 of the 10 coldest temperatures recorded in towns nationally. Welcome to Buffalo Josh Allen, that weather with suit you just fine. A.J. McCarron missed out on the quarterback sweepstakes and settled for a two-year contract ($10 million) that keeps the seat warm for Allen. Expect offense to be addressed a lot in the draft for Buffalo after off-season additions to the defense.

Record 9-7
Team Needs DE, LB, QB

Josh Rosen, QB, ULCA
Ozzie Newsome will step down after the season from his title as General Manager of the Baltimore Ravens. Eric DeCosta assumes the role at the conclusion of the 2018 season. Newsome goes out with a bang making the jump to the sixth pick and acquiring what the team hopes to be the quarterback of the future for the team in Rosen. Joe Flacco turns 34 and his ailing back and lackluster play of late leaves this a real possibility.

Records 5-11
Team Needs DE, CB, RB

Denzel Ward, DB, Ohio State
The Buccaneers will select the closet thing to Ronde Barber with the selection of Dezel Ward. From the body of work by completed by all the defensive backs available in the 2018 NFL Draft, none is better than Ward as a true cover corner. The Buccaneers have many options here to dial in and make a solid pick with so much talent on the board.

Record 5-11
Team Needs OL, CB, LB

Derwin James, S, Florida State
The previous choice prior to free agency was Calvin Ridley the talented receiver out of Alabama heading to Chicago with this pick, but the Bears invested $68 million into two receivers (Allen Robinson, Taylor Gabriel) at the dawn of free agency. Now the Bears are in a position to take the best player available. James might be a bit of a surprise here, but his ability to impact the back end of a defense is special.

Record 6-10
Team Needs RB, WR, CB

Raquon Smith, LB, Georgia
The 49ers have been adding offensive pieces since trading for quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo then signed running back Jerick McKinnon to starters money (four years, $30 million) at the start of free agency. For a long time receiver Calvin Ridley held this spot, but last year’s (second) first round pick Reuben Foster has legals troubles and shows he may not be reliable enough to count on, plus Smith is a top-five talent.

Record 6-10
Team Needs LB, CB, RB

Vita Vea, DT, Washington
The Raiders have some needs on the defensive front and Vita should be the guy to help those calm those concerns. Khalil Mack becomes even more potent with the space eater defensive tackle with the ability to pressure quarterbacks. The first selection of Jon Gruden’s second era in Oakland.

Record 6-10
Team Needs OG, LB, DE

Quenton Nelson, OG, Notre Dame
Miami signed four players on the first day of free agency. Two receivers in Albert Wilson and Danny Amendola then they retained defensive back/safety Walt Aikens and signed defensive end William Hayes. Other needs remain, but Nelson slipping to 11th overall is a great value pick and need for Miami. Guards typically do not exeed the top ten and the highest selected one in recent memory was Jonathan Cooper going seventh overall in the 2013 NFL Draft. The position does not demand the value from NFL GM’s.

Record 5-11
Team Needs OG, QB

Minkah Fitzpatrick, CB, Alabama
The height of the recent success of the Broncos was their superb defense and one of the key figures was Aqib Talb who was let go this off-season. He departure leaves a void in the secondary and Fitzpatrick is the perfect prescription to remedy for the Denver defense. Fitzpatrick has the ability to play safety or cornerback. HIs versatility sets him apart from most others at the position.

Record 7-9
Team Needs LB, DL, S

Da’Ron Payne, DT, Washington
Washington still has holes on defense even after taking Jonathan Allen in the first round last year out of Alabama. The team is average in plenty of areas, which serves them well at this point, since plenty of talent is on the board at 13 overall. Payne and Allen will be the cloest thing they have in terms of projected excitement on the defensive line since the glory days of Charles Mann and Dexter Manley.

Record 7-9
Team Needs CB, OL, WR

Tremaine Edmunds, LB, Virginia Tech
The Packers need defensive back help, they were thin and bad at the position before they traded cornerback Damarious Randall to the Cleveland Browns. The Packers received second-year quarterback DeShone Kizer and swapped their fourth-and-fifth round picks, allowing Green Bay to pick earlier. Despite the need in the secondary Edmunds is their guy in the first-round. Clay Matthews enters his 10th season and they need to rekindle the fire at the position.

Record 8-8
Team Needs QB, OL, WR

Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama
The last time the Cardinals drafted a quarterback in the first round it was Matt Leinart from USC (2006) with the 10th overall selection. Arizona signed Sam Bradford to a one-year deal worth $20 million and followed it up with giving ex-Bears back-up Mike Glennon $8 million over two years. That means the Cardinals fight the urge to move up in the draft to take a quarterback and draft Calvin Ridley so they don’t have a glaring need after Larry Fitzgerald decides to retire.

Record 4-12
Team Needs DE, LB, OL

Marcus Davenport, DE, UTSA
Wow, what did the previous regime do to this roster. GM Chris Ballard has his work cut out for him and Davenport helps the rebuilding process for a organization without much luck (no pun intended) as of late. This young man has a crazy set of skills and gives a no name defense some life, plus Davenport’s humble character and hungry attitude should endear him to Ballard.

Record 9-7
Team Needs OT, QB, LB

Kolton Miller, OT, UCLA
The Chargers must be pretty happy to get Miller this late and he provides the huge relief for a need to the offensive line position. It also shows the lack of high-end talent from the offensive tackle position, these picks are usually reserved for the top five guys.

Record 9-7
OT, CB, OG

Taven Bryan, DT, Florida
Seattle selected Malik McDowell in the second-round last year and fellow teammate Ahtyba Rubin enters his 11th season leaving Bryan as a future piece for the Seahawks defensive interior. Seattle would love to add offensive line help as well but the grades aren’t worth the investment where they currently sit in the first-round.

Record 9-7
Team Needs TE, DT, CB

Rashaan Evans, LB, Alabama
Sean Lee is hurt too much, but fantastic when he is healthy. Anthony Hitchens was lost in free agency. Reality hits the defense with a hard slap in the face in Dallas. Defensive Coordinator Rod Marinelli has done a superb job over the last few years with very little to work with but even he can’t keep this boat afloat anymore. Zero players signed on the first day of free agency so the Cowboys have a lot of work to do to chase the NFC East title.

Record 9-7
Team Needs DE, OG, RB

Derrius Guice, RB, LSU
Matt Patricia may be the happiest new head coach in the league, with the Lions signging five defensive players on day one of free agency. The Lions invested over $47 million on the defensive side of the football, which must make Patricia a very happy camper in Detroit. Guice is that pick that never happens, becasue it just seems to obvious. It is like being wet but not accepting a towel to dry off. The Lions running game stinks and free agent addition Legarrette Blount (31 years old) is not answer for long-term success.

Record 9-7
OL, DE, QB

Mike McGlinchey, OT, UCLA
Andy Dalton was not his best last season as was the entire Bengals offense and one reason was their lack of talent on the offensive line. They are still in recovering mode after losing Andrew Whitworth and Kevin Zeitler in 2016 free agency. The Bengals are teetering on becoming a bottem dweller again and although Dalton is not considered elite, he remains a above average quarterback. Their window for success is being shut as his career grows in tenure.

Record 9-7
Team Needs QB, LB, WR

D.J. Moore, WR, Maryland
Derrius Guice finally is removed from the Bills pick but that is just because Ridley takes a bit of a slip from the previous Mock Draft. The Bills can find a running back later in the draft but may not have an easier selection for receiver with Moore being on the board. Kelvin  Benjamin was brought in via a trade from the Carolina Panthers last year after the team offed Sammy Watkins the Los Angeles Rams. Zay Jones their second round pick showed potential but his latest off the field incident leaves the position with red flags.

Record 13-3
Team Needs DB, OL, LB

Leighton Vander Esch, LB, Boise State
We all know that offensive tackle and defensive back are big needs, but Vander Esch is a great catch this late in the first round. Think Jamie Collins type replacement. Derek Rivers was the teams first pick last year (3rd round) and his return from a training camp ACL injury and the addition of Vander Esch provides a nice pulse to the defense that struggled on many different fronts last season.

Record 11-5
Team Needs OL, RB, CB

Will Hernandez, G, Texas El-Paso
The Panthers love their gaurds to be big bodies and at 348 pounds, Hernandez is a perfect selection. Carolina could also take a deep look at center James Daniels from Iowa, since Ryan Kalil enters his 12th season in the league. Kalil is still anchor up front but it is just worth mentioning. Hernandez was a beast at the Senior Bowl, showing power and balance to warrent his first-round selection. Love that watching him play.

Record 9-7
Team Needs OG, DE, TE

Isaiah Wynn, OG, Georiga
The Titans signed two defensive ends on day one of free agency, that include DaQuan Jones and David King. The additions change the higher need now to offensive line help and the interior of it, hence the selection of the talented Bulldogs guard in Wynn. Newly signed running Dion Lewis will also like seeing this pick as he pairs with Derrick Herny in the Tennessee backfield.

Record 10-6
Team Needs DT, OG, S

Harold Landry, DE, Boston College
Speed is Dan Quinn’s way to winning on defense.Tak McKinely was taken in the first-round last year out of UCLA and they could provide a wicked one-two punch off the edges for years to come in Atlanta. Landry was the highest rated senior when spring grades arrived last year around this time and his potential is as good as any, especially in Atlanta where he should be coached up to be a real force.

Record 11-5
Team Needs QB, TE, WR

Mike Gesicki, TE, Penn State
This is a fabulous talent and serves a need for New Orleans. Many thought Jimmy Graham would return to the Crescent City, but decided to head to Green Bay and play for the Packers. Gesicki has shown too many qualities at the position to not warrant a day one grade and Saints head coach Sean Payton nabs him.

Record 13-3
Team Needs DB, LB, S

Jaire Alexander, DB, Louisville
Pittsburgh did not sign anyone on day one of free agency but they did send three secondary players packing their bags. William Gay, Robert Golden and Mike Mitchell. The did sign Morgan Burnett who spent his first eight seasons in the NFL with the Green Bay Packers. He provides a strong veteran presence and that allows the team to take Alexander to boost a unit that needs to get up to speed quickly if Pittsburgh wants to challenge for another Super Bowl appearance. Harold Landry the Boston College edge rusher doesn’t fit the mold but keep an eye on him here.

Record 10-6
Team Needs TE, OG, WR

Frank Ragnow, C/G, Arkansas
Jacksonville has done a great job of adding free agent pieces to team needs before the April 26th NFL Draft. Austin Seferian-Jenkins cures the tight end need (Two years, $10 million) and guard Andrew Norwell (Five years, $66.5 million) both serve as immediate upgrades as starters.Ragnow is can center or guard due to this great size (6-foot-4 315 pounds).

Record 13-3
Team Needs OT, OG, DL

Justin Reid, S, Stanford
Harrison Smith is still tip top and Andrew Sendejo is solid but Reid provides a whole other level to the Vikings defense. Reid can play everywhere due to his versatility. He posssesses NFL DNA, with his brother Eric Reid was a first round pick by the 49ers. Huge pick for the Vikings getting a guy of his talent this late in the first round.

Record 13-3
Team Needs OT, DT, CB

Josh Jackson, DB, Iowa
New England allowed Nick Foles to look lilke Joe Montana in the Super Bowl. The defene is bad but the secondary was awful and that same unit will not get them back to the big show. The Patriots have drafted defensive help with their first pick in each draft dating back to 2012. The guys that really pan out Chandler Jones or Jamie Collins are jettison out of town to avoid big contracts and what remains is not exactly top shelf. Hence the reality to defense has soured. Should be mentioned the last offensive player taken in round one was Nate Solder in 2011, he signed with the New York Giants on day one of free agency this past March.

Record 7-9
Team Needs LB, DL, S

Lamar Jackson, QB, Lousiville
Alex Smith was in Kansas City last year when the Chiefs moved to draft Patrick Mahomes and the Redskins play deja vu’ on Smith once again by moving up and taking the extremely athletic quarterback in Jackson. Washington has shown no direction by allowing Kirk Cousins to leave and at least this pick gives the team a glimpse of the future.