2018 NFL Mock Draft: UCLA QB Josh Rosen To Cleveland Browns At No.1 Author : Bryan Luis It’s been a while since I’ve done this but I’ve been keenly watching college football this year and of course I think it’s time to do a mock draft. This might serve as a barometer for where players stand and where teams could look forward to this offseason. There have been a lot of surprises this NFL season, as well as the college season. There are a few QBs that are well deserving of high praise; this includes Josh Rosen, Sam Darnold, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, and Mason Rudolph. The RBs and WRs in this class are interesting as well, seeming that the groups aren’t as deep as past years. 1 / 10 We could also see three OTs drafted in the top 15, Trey Adams, Micah Hyatt, and Connor Williams. It’s particular to notice there is teams with major OL needs, but they could also start over of at QB too! Defensively, there’s a lot of talent! But not as deep of a defensive draft as last season. There are great talents like Minkah Fitzpatrick, Travarus McFadden, Arden Key, Derwin James, Christian Wilkins, and Harold Landry to name a few. With all that being said, lets get started! 1. Cleveland Browns- QB Josh Rosen/UCLA The Cleveland Browns are in a very unique situation; they had three 1st round draft picks last year, the Browns also drafted Notre Dame QB DeShone Kizer in the second round. Kizer made some serious strides in the preseason but that hasn’t translated in long-term confidence in the young QB. As noted by Walter Football and others, Kizer would fall to the same fate in this scenario as fellow Golden Domer Jimmy Clausen. Rosen was anointed “The Chosen Rosen” as a HS senior and throughout his time at UCLA. Rosen would be the best QB prospect CLE has had a chance to draft. But they also passed on Carson Wentz and Deshaun Watson by trading down. What the direction of the Browns is? There are quite a few guesses towards that. 2. San Francisco 49ers- QB Sam Darnold/USC Kyle Shanahan hasn’t secured a victory yet as a HC, but he seems to want to change the culture and has done that with the release of Navarro Bowman. This could leave to the departure of other players like Carlos Hyde, Eric Reid, and Joe Staley. The 49ers don’t have a lot of talent, so they should be looking for top-level talent. As for Darnold, I’m not sure he’s lived up to what he was expected, but I felt this way about Watson after some struggles last season until the playoffs. If USC and Darnold can bounce back, Darnold may just be the perfect top pick. 3. New York Giants- OT Connor Williams/Texas The New York Giants are freaking disaster, that OL is a train-wreck and it flat out sucks. The Giants also have to figure out what to do with Eli Manning, DRC, and some of the other veterans on the team. I’m also going to go on a limb and say that Jerry Reese and Ben McAdoo won’t be in the building when this occurs. The issue the Giants have at QB is that unless Eli Manning gets traded, they have to absorb a good amount of cap penalties to just cut him. So in this situation, trading down and taking an OT would be the ideal option. But in this mock, I can’t project a trade down, so I’ll give them Connor Williams a top OT. 2 / 10 I wouldn’t put it past the Giants to take Mike McGlinchey though; NY has adoration for Notre Dame. 4. Indianapolis Colts- OLB/DE Arden Key/LSU The Colts are actually in a good spot despite the lack of talent, they made a shrewd deal for Jacoby Brissett as a backup QB and gave themselves another asset; they also have Andrew Luck as well. They could still trade one of them and build on that. The Colts also could have a coaching search determine their direction. But if the Colts want to make progress, they need to garner talent, and Arden Key definitely depicts the idea of high-end talent. They used to employ a daunting pass rush of Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis, and this would be a great step to rebuilding that. 5. Oakland Raiders- DT Christian Wilkins/Clemson The Raiders won’t remain this bad, they’re just having woes because of the new OC. People, including myself, loved the Raiders coming into the season, with 4 straight losses, they need to recoup and stopping the run has been their biggest issue. The Raiders added Bowman and still have to develop Karl Joseph, Gareon Conley, and Eddie Vanderdoos. Wilkins could be a pass rushing force up the middle that the Raiders could definitely welcome aboard a defense that looks like tissue paper up the middle. If Bowman can return anything like his old form, the Raiders won’t regret passing on Jarad Davis. 6. Los Angeles Chargers- S Derwin James/Florida State The Chargers have lost some close games just like the Giants, but they’ve made the mistake of fielding a crap team around Phillip Rivers for so long. Despite having some talented guys on both sides of the ball, they can’t seem to put it together. As far as the draft goes, they could go with Minkah Fitzpatrick but I view him as a CB, and I don’t see them needing CBs with Verrett, King, and Heyward there. James is multi-dimensional and provides a center- fielder type; which could help create turnovers for a LAC defense. The Chargers have needed safety and passed on Malik Hooker why? 7. Chicago Bears- OT Micah Hyatt/Clemson The Chicago Bears have a young QB in Mitch Trubisky and two RBs in Tarik Cohen and Jordan Howard, they need to protect the QB and set the tone in that division of daunted pass rushers. They do need to figure out WR but I think a free agent could be a better solution to this. Micah Hyatt is a great run blocker, and protected Deshaun Watson at Clemson; he should prove to be a day one starter at either OT spot. The physical style they play with quickly suit the Clemson junior. 3 / 10 8. Cincinnati Bengals- CB/S Minkah Fitzpatrick/Alabama The Bengals started the season out like crap, but the more I see John Ross, Joe Mixon, Carl Lawson, and Jordan Willis sprinkled in, the more I think this team look like faster. The Bengals OL is still young at the OTs and they need to allow some growth there. With Adam Jones aging and Darqueeze Dennard not performing his draft expectation, Minkah Fitzpatrick and Travarus McFadden are the debate to be had here, and I’ll take Fitzpatrick, he’s better at causing turnovers and in zone coverage. 9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- OT Mike McGlinchey/Notre Dame The Buccaneers should be better than they have played, the way they lost the Patriots is the problem they have, and that’s not getting off to a fast start. The Bucs have weapons for Jameis, the defense has talent and despite Lavonte David, they’ve performed admirably. Tampa Bay needs to protect Jameis Winston, his recent injury is proof that this OL is just not as good as it needs to be for the future. It’s nice to have Marpet and Smith at G and C, but they need a LT and this is the chance to get it. McGlinchey is a guy who returned to school and will be battle tested having already played Harold Landry and will play Bradley Chubb. 10. Dallas Cowboys- LB Malik Jefferson/Texas The Dallas Cowboys have to deal with the Ezekiel Elliot suspension for the near future and they’ll be able to cope with that. I also think they’re in great position in the future with the draft picks they’ve made in the secondary and the options they have on the DL. With Anthony Hitchens as a free agent and Sean Lee often injury prone, Jaylon Smith (who has had his struggles) as the lone starter as someone to rely on. Malik Jefferson may seem like a reach here, but then again who saw Hasaan Reddick as top 15 pick last year? Jefferson is a stud, a guy who is ready physically to play in the NFL right now. 11. Baltimore Ravens- QB Mason Rudolph/Oklahoma State The Ravens have a lot of guys on IR, and the Ravens offense hasn’t posed a single threat all season long. The Ravens are at a crossroads, just like the Giants, Chargers, and the Steelers (considering Roethlisberger might flirt with retirement again). The Ravens don’t need to hire another OC, they don’t need another WR, they need a QB change! Joe Flacco hasn’t lived up to either contract extension he has signed with the Baltimore Ravens, that 11TD/0 INT playoff run in 2012 is distant memory at this point and is clouding the judgment of Ravens fans who may not want to see the writing on the wall. 4 / 10 Mason Rudolph is a proven leader, and I believe he can be the man in waiting to take over the offense. If anything, this can do what Mahomes did in KC; it provides a blanket for the coaching staff to have in case of struggles or injury.