2018 IE NFL Mock Draft

Me2SouthBend

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He already did for the Rams pick at #23. You?

That was to unload a player (Cooks) that was looking for big $ (or will be when his rookie contract runs out). I mean he doesn't move up (or package picks) in the draft to grab a player, generally speaking.
 

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WITH THE 4TH PICK IN THE 2018 NFL DRAFT, THE CLEVELAND BROWNS BEGRUDGINGLY SELECT SAQUON BARKLEY, RB PENN STATE.

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I did not want to make this pick, and find it hard to believe the Broncos don't covet a QB IRL, but I digress.

Barkley is a rare physical specimen. His combination of speed, elusiveness and ability to catch the ball out of the backfield should make #1 pick Sam Darnold's life a lot easier. We've seen many examples over the last few years of what a good safety net for a young QB a great RB can make. Zeke with Prescott in Dallas, Fournette with Bortles in Jacksonville, and Gurley with Goff in L.A. off the top of my head.

Barkley would be a nice addition to the Browns RB corps with Duke Johnson. He's another quick elusive back that can catch out of the backfield. Too often last season opposing defenses could anticipate our run and pass selections based on our RB packages. Isaiah Crowell being used primarily for run situation and Duke for passing downs. The addition of another back that can do both would help to keep opponents on their heels.

Barkley also brings a shot of excitement to a fanbase that has just sat through two seasons culminating in 1 win. No one is rushing out to buy season tickets to see another defensive end or a cornerback. Barkley is an explosive player and a great guy by all accounts. He seems like a perfect candidate to be our 3rd cornerstone.


My process of elimination:

Minkah Fitzpatrick, FS Alabama - I think Minkah is a special talent and will be a good NFL player. He'd been my go to guy at 4 for most of the early draft process. Due to a sub par combine, the belief that the Browns see him as a corner, and our acquisition of Damarious Randall I don't see Minkah as the fit I originally thought.

Quenton Nelson, G Notre Dame - The pound for pound best prospect in this class. It's unfortunate that guard is the one position that the Browns are top 5 in the league at. If I was more confident that Joel Bitonio could make the transition from LG to LT then Nelson would be the pick. However Bitonio's less than ideal arm length and his comments after the retirement of Joe Thomas lead me to believe that move isn't in the cards.

Denzel Ward, CB Ohio State - Ward is the best corner in the draft. In my book #4 is far too high to select a CB. Corner is a position that you can, and should, fill by committee IMO. Rarely does one CB have a large enough impact that is also sustained for a long enough period of time to justify a top 5 pick. Joe Haden while a nice player wasn't worth the #8 pick. I see Ward in a similar vein. Had I pulled off the trade with Buffalo he would have been my top target out of the trio of DBs I'd be hoping would fall to 12 (Ward, Fitzpatrick, James).

Bradley Chubb, DE N.C. State - The toughest call. When it came down to it I just don't think Chubb is that special. His 3 cone was pathetic, and him refusing to try and improve it at his pro day signals to me that it wasn't a fluke. I think he's a good run stopping end that doesn't have much versatility in the pass game. He's got a bull rush and that's about it. We already essentially have that player on our roster in Emmanuel Ogbah.

My biggest concern with Barkley isn't really even about him. It's a pure value calculation. I see 5 or 6 other RB's in this class that I feel can be really good NFL players. That being said I still do believe Barkley is the best of that group. So while I do think it's not a great value and might be slightly overdrafting, at least I'm confident I'm probably getting a superstar. Chubb just seems like a rotation guy to me.

Plus add in how stacked next years DE class seems (Nick Bosa, Rashan Gary, Dexter Lawrence, and Raekwon Davis that could all be better than Chubb) and I feel much more comfortable with this pick.
 
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A Pac

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With the 5th pick in the draft, the Buffalo Bills select Baker Mayfield, QB from Oklahoma. For the record, I want the Browns to take him at 1.
 

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With the 5th pick in the draft, the Buffalo Bills select Baker Mayfield, QB from Oklahoma. For the record, I want the Browns to take him at 1.

Yeah sure so you can get Rosen at 4 or 5.
 

ACamp1900

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If the Browns take that bust in training over Chubb I'd fight people IRL... just saying...
 

Blazers46

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WITH THE 6th PICK OF THE 2018 NFL DRAFT, THE INDIANAPOLIS COLTS SELECT:
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Quenton Nelson | G | Notre Dame
Height | 6-5

Weight | 330

Class | Senior

College Bio Page

It’s rare that an interior offensive lineman has a legitimate case to make as the best overall prospect in the draft, but Nelson is the exception. He could have been a fairly early pick in last year’s draft, but another season of experience and refinement has Nelson even more prepared to be an All-Pro right out of the gate.

A massive mover with a rare combination of athleticism, physicality and awareness, Nelson is a 36-game starter who consistently dominates his competition. He should be a top-10 lock who is worthy of top-five consideration.

A steal for the Colts at #6. a position of need and probably best available, Colts cannot pass up on Q.
 
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Legacy

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Lots of rumblings that Denver may well pick Q at 5 if they do not trade back. Buffalo's two first rounders are attractive. Great pick, Blazer.
 
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Blazers46

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Lots of rumblings that Denver may well pick Q at 5 if they do not trade back. Buffalo's two first rounders are attractive. Great pick, Blazer.

I would almost think the Colts would then trade back again. They have needs EVERYWHERE.
 

Rack Em

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WITH THE 7TH PICK IN THE 2018 NFL DRAFT, THE TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS SELECT BRADLEY CHUBB, DE NC STATE.

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The Bucs were ready to select Derwin James to fill a need at Safety, but the opportunity to pick up a top 3 player in the draft is too enticing to pass up. Their starting DEs, Robert Ayers and William Gholston, combined for 2 sacks last year which is God awful. Chubb will immediately replace Ayers as the Edge rusher and will pair nicely as a 3 down lineman with Gerald McCoy (6 sacks in 2017). Tampa will look to bolster its secondary in round 2.
 

Legacy

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When does the second wave of QB drafting begin?

Of those possibly drafting one later, I see Miami (#11), Denver (#12), Arizona (#15), LAC (#17), NE (#23), New Orleans (#27) and Pittsburgh (#28).
 

IrishLion

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Also a reminder:

Be like Blazers and Rack Em. Post some reasoning and a picture/gif. It's much more funner that way.

Gattaca had a really good start, but then he wrote an entire book. We're looking for you to do a little less.
 

ACamp1900

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Also a reminder:

Be like Blazers and Rack Em. Post some reasoning and a picture/gif. It's much more funner that way.

Gattaca had a really good start, but then he wrote an entire book. We're looking for you to do a little less.

Pac def should have included Baker's arrest video.....
 

vinnymac2402

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With the 8 pick in the Draft the Chicago Bears take Denzel Ward corner from Ohio State. This is insurance in case Kyle Fuller is a flash in pan and that last year was an outlier. Ward will at least replace Prince at the other and solidify the back end of the defense
 

Armyirish47

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With the 9th pick in the 2018 IE Mock Draft the 49ers select.....

https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.saturdaydownsouth.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F12%2FUSATSI_10347570-718x490.jpg&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.saturdaydownsouth.com%2Fgeorgia-football%2Fnfl-com-analyst-compares-georgia-lb-roquan-smith-tampa-bay-buccaneers-legend%2F&docid=n3mxKbcDOnGiIM&tbnid=wtCDsGXHCG4tyM%3A&vet=10ahUKEwjYyrulysLaAhVGiqwKHTptADgQMwhTKAAwAA..i&w=718&h=490&hl=en-us&client=safari&bih=325&biw=667&q=roquan%20smith&ved=0ahUKEwjYyrulysLaAhVGiqwKHTptADgQMwhTKAAwAA&iact=mrc&uact=8

Roquan Smith from The University of Georgia!

Having spent the last few years drafting defensive lineman and trading for Jimmy the God we find ourselves in a unique position to be rebuilding and ring chasing simultaneously. We wish Nelson had fallen and would certainly prefer to move back for a bundle of picks to a QB needy team, but we will happily settle for a stud linebacker that can play sideline to sideline and NOT beat women. He can fit in anywhere and will have lots of space to seek and destroy behind Buckner and Thomas. I’m not crazy about the CB class but I can imagine we will address the secondary and WR in subsequent rounds.
 

Rack Em

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WITH THE 10TH PICK IN THE 2018 NFL DRAFT, THE OAKLAND RAIDERS SELECT TREMAINE EDMUNDS, LB VIRGINIA TECH

tremaine-577x400.jpg


With Roquan Smith off the board, and a big need at ILB, the Raiders select possibly the most athletic player at the position. Edmunds' athleticism is off the charts and he's only 19. He may need a year of seasoning before he can transition to full time starter. A combination of Edmunds and Khalil Mack would make for a potent pass rush for several years.
 

ACamp1900

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I would love Edmunds to the Browns... just sayin
 

NDdomer2

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With the 11th pick of the 2018 Irish Envy Mock NFL draft.....

The Miami Dolphins select....

Vita Vea
Defensive Tackle
Washington
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The Dolphins really wanted to go Quarterback if one dropped and may move up on draft day. They also have large need at linebacker. However, Smith and Edmonds just came off the board.

Derwin James and Minkah Fitzpatrick were both on the board and you couldn't blame anyone for those picks at 11.

But, the dolphins need to replace Suh, and Vita Vea offers the best interior rush in the draft.
 

Legacy

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Crazy draft this year. With the twelfth pick of the 2018 NFL Draft acquired in the trade with the Buffalo Bills, the Denver Broncos select Minkah Fitzpatrick.

Minkah-Fitzpatrick-by-Chris-Kirschner_j9xjft_hglenf.jpg


Fitzpatrick is considered by many as a top 5 prospect and was in the discussion for the Broncos #5 pick. Fitzpatrick will fit perfectly in the Broncos "No-Fly Zone". Trading Aqib Talib opened up a hole at CB. Bradley Roby could move from the slot CB to LCB opposite All-Pro Chris Harris at RCB. Nickel packages are now the norm providing flexibility and to counteract spread offenses with teams utilizing them 63% of the time. Fitzpatrick can match up with slot receivers, big Tight Ends like Travis Kelce, and RBs out of the backfield like Kareem Hunt. The Broncos secondary has versatility with Harris, Roby and Fitzpatrick able to play inside or outside. Fitzpatrick describes this modern DB role he fills:
“It’s kind of a combination between corner and safety. You can make calls like a [corner]. You can make calls like a safety. You can rush, you can fill the holes and the gaps like a safety. But then you can cover man to man on pass downs when you need to, just like a corner. So I like playing both corner and safety, so I think slot corner’s just the optimal position.”

Derwin James was the other possibility. Denver also has needs for an Coverage Linebacker but Edmunds and Roquan had been taken and too early for Evans. It's also too early at 12 to fill Broncos needs for the next QB prospect, the next RB like Guice, a Developmental ROT like McGlinchey or an Interior OL like Wynn.

If only Fitzpatrick had gone to ND....
 
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GATTACA!

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Also a reminder:

Be like Blazers and Rack Em. Post some reasoning and a picture/gif. It's much more funner that way.

Gattaca had a really good start, but then he wrote an entire book. We're looking for you to do a little less.

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Irish Man3

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With the 13th pick in the IE NFL Mock Draft the Washington Redskins select Derwin James from FSU.

The Redskins are not a great team and they have plenty of holes. However, with the uncertainty of Sua Cravens, the departure of Kendall Fuller via the Alex Smith trade, and Breeland's likely departure, this was a no brainer.

Via and Minkah would be a little higher on the board but both players came off the board just before the 13th pick.
 
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dublinirish

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With the 14th in the 2018 NFL Draft the Green Bay Packers select

Josh Jackson. Cornerback. The University of Iowa.

joshJackson-if-were-looking-for-one-in-the-future.jpg


Cornerback is a dire need for Green Bay after they lost Sam Shields in free agency. Jackson is a tall corner at 6'1" who can match up well with physical receivers. He originally played on the opposite side of the ball but was converted to DB. He earned first-team AP All-American and first-team All-Big Ten honors as a 13-game starter with 48 tackles, a forced fumble, and a blocked kick. He could possibly come in and compete for a starting role as a rookie.
 

IrishLion

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With the 15th pick in the 2018 IE NFL Mock Draft, the Arizona Cardinals select:

Lamar Jackson, Quarterback, Louisville

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The Cardinals get a QB that they had rated more highly than Josh Allen, and they get him at pick 15 ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Jackson's accuracy issues aren't quite as alarming as Josh Allen's to us. He played tougher defenses than Allen ever did, and he brings an extra dynamic to the game that Allen doesn't possess with his running ability.

He was playing in a pro-style system under Petrino where he was asked to make tough throws all game long every week, and he did it with an abysmal OL in front of him and an abysmal cast of WR's on the receiving end. It's actually astounding that he put up the numbers he did when you consider that he was quite literally running for his life on every play, and that his receivers were dropping passes at an alarming rate.

The Cardinals have plenty of big needs right now. They have needs at QB, WR, LB, and across the entire secondary (Peterson needs help with the departure of the Honey Badger).

Ultimately, we felt Jackson's value as a QB in this spot was much better than the value presented by any of the remaining DB's or LB's since the run that started with pick 8, and we feel the value here is MUCH better than reaching for a WR like Moore or Ridley. Both guys could be good, but they have questions just like Jackson.

If you're going to take a shot on a guy, why not make it a QB that won the Heisman trophy and crushed the record book despite an absolutely abysmal supporting cast?
 
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