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Draft Order
2018 NFL Mock Draft: Final Mock 7 Rounds
Round 4
Chris Ransom follow @DraftUtopia Last Updated: April 26, 2018 with updates every Thursday leading up to Draft Day.
Green Bay Packers: Anthony Winbush, 3-4 ROLB, Ball State 
- Green Bay drafts a pass rusher for depth to push Kyle Fackrell and Vince Biegel for backup roles. Mike McCarthy is contempt with Fackrell and Biegel in their current roles, but I believe Winbush could be an upgrade over both.
- Other Green Bay Packers Selections
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Rashaad Penny, RB, San Diego State 
- The Buccaneers get a running back to replace Doug Martin here. Rashaad Penny at 5-11 224 lbs ran a 4.46 40-time at the 2018 NFL Combine. Penny had 2,248 rushing yards and 23 rushing touchdowns in 2017. Penny is great at catching out of the backfield as well on tape. He's got moments where his vision is through the roof and other moments where his vision is extremely questionable.
- Other Tampa Bay Buccaneers Selections
Houston Texans: Colby Gossett, RG, Appalachian State 
- Houston needs an upgrade over Jeff Allen at right guard. Colby Gossett is a fantastic value pick for the Texans this early in the fourth round.
- Other Houston Texans Selections
Indianapolis Colts: Simmie Cobbs Jr., WR, Indiana 
- Indianapolis gets a number two wide receiver that can take over for Donte Moncrief. Phillip Dorsett got traded to New England for Jacoby Brissett. Kamar Aiken who Indianapolis brought in as a slot receiver was a disaster with only 1 reception. Indianapolis needs multiple receivers next to T.Y. Hilton. Indianapolis had four quality receivers before trading for Brissett. Now they only have one which means Ballard has to get Andrew Luck a weapon at some point in the 2018 NFL Draft. Indianapolis may still need a slot receiver, but they can worry about that in the 2019 NFL Draft perhaps even with the Jets 2019 second round pick. For now they get a hometown big target like Simmie Cobbs Jr. He had a bad 40-time, but caught everything in the Gaunlet Drill. At some point you have to look past the 40-times with the NFL Combine in your own backyard.
- Other Indianapolis Colts Selections
Chicago Bears: Nick DeLuca, 3-4 MLB, North Dakota State 
- If Chicago passes on Roquan Smith for Minkah Fitzpatrick at 8 that's completely understandable. If they take Roquan they get their nickel corner here. If they get Minkah Fitzpatrick like I mocked them then Nick Kwiatkoski who Chicago has faith in gets some much needed competition from Nick DeLuca out of North Dakota State who did well in both the 2018 Senior Bowl and the 2018 NFL Combine. What Chicago does at 8 will ultimately determine what direction they go in at 105.
- Other Chicago Bears Selections
Denver Broncos: Allen Lazard, WR, Iowa State 
- Denver gets a wide receiver for depth to replace Cody Lattimer. Allen Lazard impressed at Iowa State's Pro Day despite struggling at both the 2018 Senior Bowl and 2018 NFL Combine. Denver has Demaryius Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders, and Carlos Henderson.
- I like his tape, yet he's a bigger project than most realize, plus you also have to look at the fact that he struggled versus Holton Hill when Iowa State played Texas. You could be getting a Martavis Bryant value pick in the fourth round, but you could also be getting someone who doesn't catch consistently like Sammie Coates.
- Baker Mayfield, who I gave Denver at 5 even praised Allen Lazard at the 2018 Senior Bowl even though Lazard dropped a lot of passes that week, Mayfield praised him for a huge catch. Denver may have bigger needs, but you can't ignore the value Lazard provides here.
- Other Denver Broncos Selections
New York Jets: Royce Freeman, RB, Oregon 
- New York gets Royce Freeman to be their feature running back with Matt Forte retiring. Royce Freeman dominated his first two seasons at Oregon before injuries caught up with him in both 2016 and 2017. He's got the vision, pass protection, and pass catching out of the backfield when healthy. Royce Freeman had 244 carries, 1,475 rushing yards, and 16 rushing touchdowns in 2017. Freeman has multiple seasons with 23 or more receptions. I still feel like he's a borderline starter if he can stay healthy.
- Other New York Jets Selections
New York Giants: Tarvarus McFadden, CB, Florida State 
- New York's top two nickel cornerbacks next to Janoris Jenkins and Carlton Davis who I mocked to New York at 69 are Eli Apple and William Gay. Both of those guys are nickel corners at best and even then competition for those two at the nickel job is needed. Tarvarus McFadden may be talented enough to unseat both of those corners and become the nickel next to Jenkins and Davis in New York.
- Other New York Giants Selections
Washington Redskins: M.J. Stewart, CB, North Carolina 
- Washington gets M.J. Stewart to push Fabian Moreau for the number two boundary cornerbck job next to Josh Norman. The loser of that training camp competiton can move to nickel cornerback.
- Other Washington Redskins Selections
Oakland Raiders: J.J. Dallas, CB, Louisiana Monroe 
- The Oakland Raiders get a cornerback for depth. They already got Gareon Conley and Rashaan Melvin starting next to each other. J.J. Dallas provides depth and competition for the nickel cornerback spot. He's only got 6 career starts, but I love his tape to the point where I can see him being a future nickel corner on a team like Oakland. He held Anthony Miller in check in his first career start this season after transferring from Houston to Louisiana Monroe.
- Other Oakland Raiders Selections
Los Angeles Rams: Alijah Holder, CB, Stanford 
- Los Angeles has Marcus Peters, Aqib Talib, and Sam Shields. Alijah Holder is a great cornerback for depth at this point in the fourth round for the Los Angeles Rams.
- Other Los Angeles Rams Selections
Cincinnati Bengals: Quenton Meeks, CB, Stanford
- Cincinnati gets a cornerback for depth. Quenton Meeks is an awesome value pick here and some like him better than his teammate Holder. Luckily for Cincinnati they got Dre Kirkpatrick and William Jackson III so they can put Holder in a nickel role even if he applies himself and manages to win a starting job.
- Other Cincinnati Bengals Selections
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Denver Broncos: Roc Thomas, RB, Jacksonville State
- Denver gets Jacksonville State running back Roc Thomas. Thomas really wowed me on tape kind of in the same way D'Angelo Henderson wowed me on tape. Thomas is great with pass protection and vision and he's got the speed you want on tape too.
- Other Denver Broncos Selections
Cleveland Browns: Auden Tate, WR, Florida State
- The Browns get a wide receiver for depth here. Josh Gordon has to avoid a suspension, Jarvis Landry is only 5-11, but he's a great possession receiver. He's not someone that will get 10 receiving touchdowns, but he's capable of 100 receptions and 1,000 receiving yards. Corey Coleman is an injury prone slot receiver. That's Cleveland's top 3 at wide receiver with no depth behind those three. Auden Tate is the biggest target in the 2018 NFL Draft. Cleveland gets him at 114.
- Other Cleveland Browns Selections
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Chicago Bears: DaeSean Hamilton, WR, Penn State
- Chicago gets a wide receiver for depth here. DaeSean Hamilton may be good enough to start right away, but he goes to a situation where he gets to learn behind a former Penn State veteran in Allen Robinson.
- Other Chicago Bears Selections
Dallas Cowboys: Troy Apke, FS, Penn State
- Dallas grabs the top safety on the board. Troy Apke showed the versatility to play strong safety or free safety in the 2018 NFL Collegiate Bowl. Apke also dominated the 2018 NFL Combine with the fastest 40-time among safeties and is way better in zone coverage than teammate Marcus Allen despite being a one-year starter. Apke is a legitimate riser.
- Other Dallas Cowboys Selections
Detroit Lions: Poona Ford, DT, Texas 
- Detroit grabs a defensive tackle who showed future starter ability in the 2018 East West Shrine Game and the 2018 Senior Bowl despite not getting an invite to the 2018 NFL Combine. Some teams had a second or third round grade on Ford prior to the 2018 NFL Combine simply due to how good his Senior Bowl week was. Ford was the smallest player in Mobile at 5-11 304 lbs. Ford only had 8 tackles for a loss in 2017, but did so well in both the 2018 East West Shrine Game and the 2018 Senior Bowl so he's someone Detroit should consider if they still need a defensive tackle when day 3 of the 2018 NFL Draft rolls around.
- Other Detroit Lions Selections
Baltimore Ravens: Dylan Cantrell, WR, Texas Tech 
- Baltimore takes the best player on the board. Dylan Cantrell can learn under former Red Raider Michael Crabtree for a few years. When Crabtree begins to age, Cantrell can come in and compliment Calvin Ridley. For now, he's a reserve receiver in a depth role on the Ravens.
- Other Baltimore Ravens Selections
Los Angeles Chargers: Devron Davis, CB, UTSA 
- The Los Angeles Chargers draft a cornerback for depth. The Jason Verrett, Casey Heyward, and Desmond King trio is very effective. The problem is Verrett has landed on injured reserve the last two seasons. Devron Davis didn't receive an invite to the 2018 NFL Combine. We were fortunate enough to interview him on the Draft Utopia podcast. Devron is someone that can come in for the Chargers and be a depth role player and earn a starting spot at some point if one of these three cornerbacks gets injured. Devron lives for football and watches film off the field.
- Draft Utopia was fortunate enough to interview Devron Davis on our podcast. Here is a Youtube video of our interview with Devron Davis.
- Other Los Angeles Chargers Selections
Seattle Seahawks: Justin Lawler, LE, SMU 
- Seattle gets a pass rusher off the edge here. Justin Lawler could be one of the gems of the draft. I think he's got enough talent to start right away and I like him more than I liked Margus Hunt who went in the third round a few years ago.
- Other Seattle Seahawks Selections
Buffalo Bills: Cedrick Wilson, WR, Boise State 
- Buffalo gets a wide receiver for depth and Boise State wide receiver Cedrick Wilson is the best player on the board. He dropped a lot of passes in the 2018 NFL Combine which was one of his issues on tape at Boise State.
- I did a film session of Cedrick Wilson. He's talented enough to be a borderline starter and had a good 2018 Senior Bowl week. I had a third round grade on Cedrick Wilson prior to this film session and the 2018 NFL Combine. Now I have a late fourth round grade on him.
- Other Buffalo Bills Selections
Kansas City Chiefs: Deontay Burnett, WR, USC 
- The Chiefs get a wide receiver for depth. Deontay Burnett is a receiver Kansas City can add for depth. He balled out for Sam Darnold early in the season against quality opponents before struggling down the stretch.
- Other Kansas City Chiefs Selections
Miami Dolphins: Steve Ishmael, WR, Syracuse 
- Miami grabs a second receiver for depth in the late fourth round. One of the players that did not get an invite to the 2018 NFL Combine was the 6-2 209 lb Steve Ishmael out of Syracuse. Ishamel dominated in 2017 with 105 receptions, 1,347 receiving yards, and 7 receiving yards. He broke Amba Etta-Tawo's record for receptions in 2017. He also broke Marvin Harrison's record for receiving yards.
- Look at what Steve Ishmael did against quality opponents. Ishmael had 8 receptions for 139 receiving yards versus Central Michigan's cornerback tandem. He followed that up with 11 receptions, 123 receiving yards, and 1 receiving touchdown the following week versus LSU's cornerback tandem. Later in the season Ishmael had 12 receptions, 143 receiving yards, and 1 receiving touchdown versus Florida State. Ishmael had 14 receptions, 145 receiving yards, and 1 receiving touchdown versus Wake Forest. He wrapped up his season with 11 receptions, 187 receiving yards, and 1 receiving touchdown versus Boston College.
- Steve Ishmael is someone I need to study more. His stats versus teams with quality cornerback prospects in the 2018 NFL Draft are through the roof.
- Other Miami Dolphins Selections
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Kansas City Chiefs: P.J. Hall, NT, Sam Houston State
- The Chiefs get the top nose tackle on the board here. They brought back their fullback from last season back so I don't see them getting Dimitri Flowers now.
- Other Kansas City Chiefs Selections
Tennessee Titans: Dane Cruikshank, SS, Arizona 
- Tennessee gets a safety for depth. Dane Cruikshank can play nickel cornerback, strong safety, or free safety.
- Other Tennessee Titans Selections
Atlanta Falcons: Jake Wieneke, WR, South Dakota State 
- Atlanta lost Taylor Gabriel as their slot receiver. Here they get a wide receiver to push Justin Hardy for the slot receiver job. Jake Weineke is quite a bargain at this point in the fourth round.
- Other Atlanta Falcons Selections
New Orleans Saints: Jerome Baker, ROLB, Ohio State 
- The Saints get a future starter at outside linebacker here. Jerome Baker is one of the only starters left in the 2018 NFL Draft making him an awesome value pick late in the fourth round.
- Other New Orleans Saints Selections
San Francisco 49ers: Levi Wallace, CB, Alabama 
- San Francisco grabs a cornerback for depth. Levi Wallace is the best player on the board and a clear steal at this point in the fourth round.
- Other San Francisco 49ers Selections
Jacksonville Jaguars: Michael Gallup, WR, Colorado State 
- Jacksonville takes another wide receiver for depth here. Michael Gallup dominated the 2018 Senior Bowl. He fell because scouts have questions with his work ethic. Gallup struggled at his Pro Day despite an okay NFL Combine. I like him as a borderline starter and he can push for a roster spot.
- Other Jacksonville Jaguars Selections
Philadelphia Eagles: Dimitri Flowers, FB, Oklahoma 
- Philadelphia gets a fullback here. Flowers is the top fullback in the draft and this is an awesome value pick here.
- Other Philadelphia Eagles Selections
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Miami Dolphins: Justin Jackson, RB, Northwestern
- The Dolphins addressed all of their needs. They now have the luxury to ignore need and take the best player on the board. Justin Jackson had four consecutive seasons with 1,000 rushing yards. He's the pick here if he makes it this far.
- Other Miami Dolphins Selections
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Philadelphia Eagles: Byron Pringle, WR, Kansas State
- Philadelphia has Alshon Jeffrey and Nelson Agholor as their top two receiving targets. Torrey Smith got traded to the Carolina Panthers for Daryl Worley. They got Mike Wallace, but he's not a long-term answer. Byron Pringle is the best player on the board. Despite being undersized he caught everything in the Gaunlet drill at the 2018 NFL Combine before running a 4.35 and dominating Kansas State's Pro Day. He got 20 yards of separation on wheel route versus Oklahoma State. Pringle is probably better at executing wheel routes than any wide receiver in this class.
- Other Philadelphia Eagles Selections
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Green Bay Packers: Ranthony Texada, CB, TCU
- Green Bay got this compensation pick at 133 thanks to T.J. Lang signing with Detroit. Texada did not get a 2018 NFL Combine, but his performance where he held Courtland Sutton to a goose egg with 1 reception for 0 receiving yards was beyond impressive and it validates why Courtland Sutton is not a first round receiver despite the immense hype Sutton is getting. It also validates how Texada is being completely disrespected by the media. This is a 5-9 corner that held a 6-4 receiver in check completely so he's not getting talked about even though he's very talented on tape.
- Other Green Bay Packers Selections
Arizona Cardinals: Jarvion Franklin, RB, Western Michigan 
- Arizona got this compensation pick at 134 thanks to Tony Jefferson signing with Baltimore. Arizona gets a running back for depth behind David Johnson. Jarvion Franklin ran a 4.44 at Western Michigan's Pro Day. I like his pass protection and vision and unlike Ronald Jones I see a borderline starter who can be a nice three down back so Jarvion gets a landslide edge over Ronald Jones here who has great speed, but lacks the pass protection or vision to be a three down running back.
- Other Arizona Cardinals Selections
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Los Angeles Rams: Davin Bellamy, 3-4 ROLB, Georgia
- New York got this compensation pick at 135 thanks to Jonathan Hankins signing with Indianapolis. New York traded this pick to the Rams for Alec Ogletree since teams can trade compensation picks. Davin Bellamy is my final 3-4 outside linebacker with a starting grade. The Rams get him knowing they need someone off the edge. Remember the Chiefs took Justin Houston in the fourth round and if they get a Justin Houston type of player with Bellamy, then you'd have to worry about him along with Suh, Brockers, and Donald on the defensive line which is just scary.
- Other Los Angeles Rams Selections
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Los Angeles Rams: Jamarco Jones, RT, Ohio State
- New England got this compensation pick at 136 thanks to Jabaal Sheard signing with Indianapolis. However, the Los Angeles Rams got this compensation pick thanks to the Brandin Cooks trade. Here they get a right tackle who may be talented enough to beat out the ineffective Rob Havenstein for the right tackle job. If not, you can make Jones the swing tackle and groom him behind Andrew Whitworth for a few years.
- Other Los Angeles Rams Selections
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Dallas Cowboys: Rasheem Green, LE, USC
- Dallas got this compensation pick at 137 thanks to Ronald Leary signing with Denver. They get the 6-3 275 lb Rasheem Green who lined up at 4-3 defensive tackle and has the body of a 4-3 left end. Green had 10 sacks in 2017 and is a great value pick for the Dallas Cowboys to wrap up the fourth round.
- Other Dallas Cowboys Selections
