2018 IE NFL Mock Draft

[Rack Em]

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

Lamar Jackson, Quarterback, Louisville

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?

This sounds like a write up for RGIII. And that's exactly how I see Jackson's career playing out.

 

[IrishLion]

This sounds like a write up for RGIII. And that's exactly how I see Jackson's career playing out.

RGIII's downfall was that he was fragile. He was magnificent his first year and a half when he stayed healthy.

He also had a much better supporting cast in college than Jackson had. Baylor was loaded at WR and OL when RGIII was doing his thing. Jackson had zero help, and still made defenses look silly on the regular.

 

[dublinirish]

Plus RG3 ran that crappy Briles Baylor offense which never prepared him for the pro game

 

[daytonirish]

With the Lions only having a total of 6 picks in the draft they arevgoing to be looking at trading down in some of the early rounds. Anyone interested let me know as this draft is moving along quickly.

 

[Legacy]

With the sixteenth pick of the 2018 NFL draft, the Baltimore Ravens select Mike McGlinchey, OT from the University of Notre Dame.

Big Mike fills the biggest need for the Ravens, ROT. Mike would step into the starting role. He is the most pro-ready OT in this year's draft and has been rated higher than any OT in last year's draft including Cam Robinson, Ryan Ramczyk and Garett Bolles. Paired with former Notre Dame OT, Ronnie Stanley, Baltimore's LOT, they will provide Baltimore with bookend tackles for years to come. ROT may be the more natural position for Mike with his exceptional run-blocking as well as reliable pass protection for Joe Flacco. Mike has already handled most of the top Edge Rushers in this year's draft.
One need for the Ravens, WR, has been addressed in the offseason with the signings of Michael Crabtree and John Brown and is rumored to be the favorite for Dez Bryant. WR can be addressed now in a later round.

Good luck, Mike!! We're sure you will be very successful in the NFL.

 

[IrishLion]

PAGING INKELLYITRUST.

You are on the clock.

I'll send another PM. If the pick isn't made in the next four hours, we will open it up.

 

[IrishLion]

TRADE ALERT:

Detroit (daytonirish) trades the 20th overall pick in exchange for New Orleans' 27th overall pick, as well as picks in the fourth and fifth rounds.

 

[daytonirish]

Someone needsvto make the 17th pick so we can move on.

 

[arrowryan]

I'll make the pick for the Chargers if that's okay.

 

[IrishLion]

Go for it.

Disclaimer: I’m in a wedding this evening, so the commissioner will most likely be MIA until tomorrow afternoon.

 

[InKellyITrust]

LA Chargers selects Da'Ron Payne. Their only weak link on their defense is their run defense in regards to their interior defensive line. Payne has great athleticism and plays incredibly hard. Coming from Alabama, he is already technically sound as a run stopper. He has room to grow as a pass rusher and playing on the same defense as Bosa and Melvin Ingram will allow for plenty of 1 on 1 opportunities.

(I apologize about the delay in my response. I kept checking back but lost track of it as it was taking awhile)

 

[IrishLion]

All good bro! We’ve been moving good, and that delay was manageable lol

 

[ndfb3.1]

With the 18th pick of the 2018 NFL Draft, the Seattle Seahawks select Maurice Hurst from Meat Chicken.

Seattle should realistically trade down because they need to rebuild their defense. Seahawks decided to draft Hurst because Michael Bennett was traded, Cliff Avril might retire due to injuries, and Malik McDowell is most likely to be cut. Hurst is a DT who can help put pressure on the QB. Was also looking at CB, Safety and OL.

 

[Legacy]

Sounds like a total rebuild.

 

[BleedBlue&Gold]

With the 19th pick in the 2018 NFL draft, the DALLAS COWBOYS select LB Rasaan Evans of the University of Alabama. I know we have a huge void at WR with the release of Dez... I just believe that this draft is deep at WR, and with 9 picks in this draft we can fill that need later. Jaylon Smith did not have a great rookie season so let's cover our a** and get the best guy left on our board. We also have needs at Guard, Safety and TE wouldn't hurt.

 

[Legacy]

With the twentieth pick of the IE Mock Draft, the Saints select Mason Rudolph, QB.

Signing Drew Brees to a two year extension gives the Saints, Brees, and Sean Payton time to work with Rudolph to improve any weaknesses in their quarterback of the future. At 6'5" 235#, Rudolph has ideal size for a NFL QB. It's not often that a Johnny Unitas and Sammy Baugh awards winner is the sixth QB taken in a draft. He was second team QB in Big 10 this year to Mayfield. He led the FBS with 377 passing yards per game (4,904 total), completing 65 percent of his passes, finishing among the nation's leader with 37 touchdowns while throwing just nine interceptions. He has been compared to Dak Prescott. In a recent statistical projection of QB success, Rudolph was ranked third behind Darnold and Mayfield. The Saints can improve at Edge, LB, TE and WR, but have the luxury of not needing a plug and play player. Although in this draft, the Saints needed to trade up with Detroit to pick Rudolph tossing in 4th and 5th rounds picks and now do not have a second or fourth round pick, this was a necessary move to jump the Broncos and Patriots.

Laissez les bons temps rouler!

https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2018/4...backs-josh-allen-sam-darnold-projections-hype

 

[dublinirish]

Bump

 

[IrishLion]

With the 21st pick in the 2018 IE NFL Mock Draft, the Cincinnati Bengals select:

Will Hernandez, OG, UTEP

In awe at the size of this lad. Absolute unit.

For real, the Bengals biggest needs as a TEAM were all along the offensive line. They needed answer at tackle, guard, AND center.

They addressed the need at OT with a savvy trade with Buffalo for Cordy Glenn. Not only did they find an answer at LT by adding Glenn, but they also moved back into the perfect range to take one of the top guards or centers in the draft without reaching or over-valuing the positions.

It came down to whether we were picking center or guard... with no centers off the board thus far, we decided to take Quenton Nelson Lite at guard in the form of Will Hernandez.

He's a mauler that will be a pro-bowler based on run-blocking alone, and has good enough feet to deal with the NFL's interior pass-rushers as well. His short arms are a bit of a concern, but that's not a huge problem overall in terms of playing on the interior.

This also means the Bengals can draft a Center in round 2, barring an unlikely run on the top three guys at the position.

With one smart trade and one pick in the draft, they've nearly fixed their whole OL already.

 

[dublinirish]

The Bronco's are on the clock

 

[Me2SouthBend]

With the 22nd pick in the 2018 IE NFL Mock Draft, the Denver Broncos select Marcus Davenport, Edge Rusher from UTSA. At 6'6" and 264 lbs., Davenport provides lots of size and strength to come off the edge opposite Von Miller. The Broncos need help at the back end of the defense as well, having lost Aqib Talib last month. By improving the pass rush they will by extension help the secondary. Davenport does just that. The Broncos considered Harold Landry here and Jaire Alexander the CB out of Louisville well, but felt Davenport was a better fit.

 

[dublinirish]

New England is on the clock

 

[Legacy]

With the 22nd pick in the 2018 IE NFL Mock Draft, the Denver Broncos select Marcus Davenport, Edge Rusher from UTSA. At 6'6" and 264 lbs., Davenport provides lots of size and strength to come off the edge opposite Von Miller. The Broncos need help at the back end of the defense as well, having lost Aqib Talib last month. By improving the pass rush they will by extension help the secondary. Davenport does just that. The Broncos considered Harold Landry here and Jaire Alexander the CB out of Louisville well, but felt Davenport was a better fit.

I'd picked Minkah Fitzpatrick at 12 for the Broncos who will start at their nickel back. Last year's nickle back, Bradley Roby, will be a boundary corner at LCB, replacing Talib. All three CBs could play inside or outside. Another need on defense may be DE because Adam Gotsis has a pending arrest for rape. Offensive line could use some backup with the LT recently acquired having an injury history, LG having a back injury last year, and RG performing poorly per PFF (in the 30s), which is why they are considering Quenton Nelson at 5. Some good WRs may be considered with only one drafted so far and a couple of current WRs are in their thirties. They recently released their top RB, who gained over 1000 yards last year. Too early to address their TE need with no Bronco TE ranked in the top 50 and last year's TE drafted not playing all last year due to injury. Isaiah Wynn could be considered, too.

 

[wizards8507]

Someone pick for me.

 

[ndfb3.1]

With the 23rd pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, the New England Patriots select Jaire Alexander, CB from Louisville. After losing Malcolm Butler to free agency, the Pats need to reload at CB after they got dismantled by the Philadelphia Eagles 2nd string QB in the SuperBowl.

 

[Legacy]

Carolina on the clock.

 

[Legacy]

Mike Mayock's 2018 NFL Draft top 100 prospect rankings - NFL.com

Top ten highest remaining:
17. James Daniels, C, Iowa
18. Harold Landry, DE, Boston College
19. Frank Ragnow, C, Arkansas
20. Leighton Vander Esch, LB, Boise State
24. Isaiah Wynn, OL, Georgia
25. D.J. Moore, WR, Maryland
26. Taven Bryan, DT, Florida
27. Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama
28. Derrius Guice, RB, LSU
30. Mike Hughes, CB, UCF

 

[IrishLion]

With the 24th pick in the 2018 IE NFL Mock Draft, the Carolina Panthers select:

Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama

Cam Newton is dying for a no.1 WR, and Ridley answers the call.

DJ Moore was also considered, but the Panthers feel that Moore would benefit from going to a team that already has a no.1 WR, allowing him to line up wherever the matchups are advantageous, while Ridley is capable of shouldering the load as a the lead target himself.

This pick also makes Devin Funchess more productive and valuable, as his unique skillset can now be used how the staff sees fit, rather than just throwing him out there for lack of other options.

 

[dublinirish]

With the 25th pick in the 2018 IE NFL Mock Draft, the Tennessee Titans select:

Sam Hubbard, DE, Ohio State

The Titans desperately need to upgrade their pass rush and Hubbard can bring a lot to the table his rookie year. He's strong and relentless and will bring energy to their defensive front.

 

[daytonirish]

After losing Dontari Poe to FA the Atlanta Falcons select Taven Bryan DT from Florida. They have to fill this huge hole in thev1st round and Bryan should be able to step in and start for them. But this pick could change rather quickly in real life if things continue to be worrisome with Julio Jones. Who has yet shown up to off season workouts and according to espn he took down all ppicture related to him and the falcons off his twitter account.

 

[daytonirish]

With the 27th pick in the 1st round the Detroit Lions select OG Isaiah Wynn from Georgia. The Lions have needs at DE, DT, and the interior of the OL. I think Graham Glasgow is better suited for OC and the Lions should be able to get better value in the next few rounds to help as rotation players at DE and DT. Yes they seem to want to beef up the running game but no way they draft a RB in the 1st round. We can still get quality in rd 2 or 3 here.