The Utopia Of Sports
Draft Order
Tony Mario's 2018 NFL Mock Draft: 7 Rounds
Round 1 Picks 1-16
The 2018 NFL Draft could be quite the quarterback class.
Tony Mario Last Updated: April 25, 2018.
Cleveland Browns: Sam Darnold, QB, USC 
- Cleveland went 0-16. Sam Darnold showed that he's the top quarterback in this draft by correcting his mechanics at USC's Pro Day while also showing NFL Scouts he can throw in the rain. He's the top quarterback on the board taking Josh Allen here would be a really poor decision by the Cleveland Browns.
- Draft Utopia has a film session of Sam Darnold on their Youtube Channel. Here is the video for it. The bottom line is this, Ohio State had an outstanding defense and Sam Darnold is going first because a lot of his mistakes were due to missed assignments from teammates, plus he's shown he can correct this at USC's Pro Day.
- Other Cleveland Browns Selections
New York Giants: Bradley Chubb, LE, North Carolina State 
- New York needs a pass rusher with Jason Pierre-Paul now on my Buccaneers. New York always has been historically known for taking pass rushers whether its Lawrence Taylor, Michael Strahan, Osi Umenyora, Jason Pierre-Paul, or obtaining Olivier Vernon from Miami in Free Agency. Dave Gettleman also values building in the trenches on both the offensive line and defensive line so he does that and gives the Giants their next great pass rusher at 2.
- This film session on Bradley Chubb should show why he's the top player on the board at 2. Pass rushers of Chubb's caliber don't grow on trees plus he's the only premium pass rusher in the draft.
- Other New York Giants Selections
New York Jets: Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA 
- New York gets Josh Rosen at 3. The Jets are taking a quarterback here. They are looking at Josh Rosen and Baker Mayfield. There were reports on Bleacher Report that the Jets would take Josh Allen in October, but I believe that's a smokescreen. Baker has been getting more hype then Rosen as of lately, but I think the Jets are hyping up Mayfield so Buffalo moves up for Baker Mayfield at 2 allowing New York to get their guy Josh Rosen at 3.
- Josh Rosen looked better than Sam Darnold in this film session. I think it's pretty clear he's the top quarterback outside of Darnold.
- Other New York Jets Selections
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Cleveland Browns: Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State
- Cleveland gets the best player in the draft at 4 after getting the top quarterback at 1. With Sam Darnold and Saquon Barkley, Cleveland can field a competitive team for years in 2018 and beyond. Barkley is a stud running back whose improved his pass protection in 2017. He gives Darnold a stallion to hand the ball off to in the backfield.
- Saquon Barkley is the best player in the draft. SI even put him on the cover of their yearly draft special.
- Other Cleveland Browns Selections
Denver Broncos: Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming 
- John Elway will see a lot of himself in Josh Allen. That's why I think he gets him and drafts him at 5. I know there are rumors they want Mayfield or Rosen, but I believe that's a smokescreen so I'm mocking Josh Allen at 5. He's got the quickest release it only takes him 0.38 milliseconds to get rid of the football. He knows how to put a lot of velocity on the football as his fingers provide a sturdy grip. He's fixed his accuracy concerns through pre draft workouts and now looks like a top 5 pick.
- Other Denver Broncos Selections
Indianapolis Colts: Quenton Nelson, LG, Notre Dame 
- Indianapolis re-signed Jack Mewhort at left guard, added Matt Slauson, and added Mark Glowinski as a backup left guard behind Mewhort. Indianapolis also has Joe Haeg and Le'Raven Clark who can also be right guards for depth. The thing is Nelson is a special player and an upgrade for a Colts offensive line that is about as effective as the secret service under John F. Kennedy even with those additions.
- Nelson is a left guard that can keep Andrew Luck healthy and open things up for your running game. He's a mauler and a g. Indianapolis has to take him or else there is an outside chance AFC South front 7's go Lee Harvey Oswald on Andrew Luck in 2018.
- Other Indianapolis Colts Selections
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Derwin James, FS, Florida State 
- The Buccaneers get an immediate starter at free safety who compliments Justin Evans at strong safety. James may actually be a better fit at strong safety. Derwin James is just as versatile as Minkah Fitzpatrick in my opinion and the fact that he's a better blitzer off the edge is why he gets the landslide victory over Minkah Fitzpatrick despite turning down an invitation to work out with Tampa Bay. Tampa Bay has also shown much more interest in Derwin James. Both Derwin James and Minkah Fitzpatrick are superb in coverage and could both be defensive chess pieces coaches dream about. I just like James more as a blitzer when I watch both on tape.
- Other Tampa Bay Buccaneers Selections
Chicago Bears: Tremaine Edmunds, 3-4 MLB, Virginia Tech 
- Chicago needs an upgrade at 3-4 middle linebacker with Jerrell Freeman gone. Edmunds is more versatile as he can play 4-3 right outside linebacker, 4-3 middle linebacker, 4-3 left outside linebacker, 3-4 right outside linebacker, 3-4 middle linebacker, and 3-4 left outside linebacker. In addition, to being more versatile, Edmunds is younger, has a higher ceiling, and has the higher ceiling in my mind.
Previous Pick: Arden Key, RE, LSU
- Other Chicago Bears Selections
San Francisco 49ers: Minkah Fitzpatrick, FS, Alabama 
- San Francisco grabs a safety at 9 with Eric Reid gone. I don't trust Tartt or Ward as long-term safety options. Minkah Fitzpatrick is the best player on the board plus he can be the Kam Chancellor or Earl Thomas type of game changer that Richard Sherman needs in San Francisco.
- Minkah Fitzpatrick is great in coverage. He had trouble wrapping up some tackles in this film session and is quite suspect with blockers on tape. I don't see that with Derwin James at all even if people believe Minkah is more versatile.
- Other San Francisco 49ers Selections
Oakland Raiders: Roquan Smith, MLB, Georgia 
- A source close to the Raiders told me Oakland would be exstatic if any of these three players fell to them at 10. Those players are Minkah Fitzpatrick, Roquan Smith, and Vita Vea. Tremaine Edmunds impressed them throughout the draft process, but didn't wow them like Fitzpatrick, Smith, and Vea did. I think Roquan Smith is the most logical fit in this situation with Fitzpatrick off the board at 9 after Chicago took Edmunds at 8.
- Oakland gets their middle linebacker at 10. I see Roquan Smith as a pure middle linebacker rather than a plug in play guy Edmunds. He's more consistent on tape though and there is a realistic possibility he goes ahead of Edmunds. Regardless, Roquan Smith is a top 10 talent.
- Roquan Smith misses quite a bit of tackles in this film session of him versus Oklahoma. He also needs to get better at winning blocks. Roquan is a project for me because of this, but if he cleans up those two areas of his game he could be special like Ray Lewis. Lewis had the same concerns coming out of Miami FL.
- Other Oakland Raiders Selections
Miami Dolphins: Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma 
- Miami gets their quarterback at 11. The Dolphins met with Baker Mayfield at the 2018 Senior Bowl, 2018 NFL Combine, Oklahoma's Pro Day, a private workout at Oklahoma, and brought Baker to Miami for an individual workout. Baker Mayfield may slip out of the top 10. He won't make it past Miami though.
- Baker Mayfield is good. He does make some careless decisions at the same time. You can also check out Baker Mayfield frog hunting TCU in this video.
- Other Miami Dolphins Selections
Buffalo Bills: Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville 
- Buffalo gets the final first round quarterback on the board here. Lamar Jackson is not the quarterback Buffalo wants, but he's the only one they ca get at 12 unless they move up.
- Other Buffalo Bills Selections
Washington Redskins: Vita Vea, NT, Washington 
- The Redskins get the best player on the board in Vita Vea. Vea has four down ability at 6-5 345 lbs. A big bodied nose tackle with those traits is someone worth a top 15 pick. Dontari Poe was picked by the Chiefs at 12. Vea goes to the Nations Capital one pick later since his game is very similar to Poe coming out of Memphis.
- Other Washington Redskins Selections
Green Bay Packers: Mike McGlinchey, RT, Notre Dame
- The Packers take my top ranked offensive tackle in the 2018 NFL Draft. Remember, Green Bay took Bryan Bulaga to develop for a year in 2010 in the late first round even though he was ready to start right away. Chad Clifton remained effective at left tackle, but right tackle Mark Tauscher got injured. Bulaga claimed the starting right tackle job, helped Aaron Rodgers win Super Bowl 45 and never looked back. McGlinchey enters the exact same scenario as the top offensive tackle in this draft, and if Bulaga gets injured again, Green Bay won't have to worry about Aaron Rodgers if they take Mike McGlinchey at 14. McGlinchey knocked the guy Mark Sciubba mocked to Green Bay flat on his ass plus even if McGlinchey begins his career as a backup, he can correct his foot speed and learn under Green Bay's offensive tackles for a year.
- Other Green Bay Packers Selections
Arizona Cardinals: Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State 
- Arizona takes the best player on the board at a position of need instead of a quarterback. I like Denzel Ward slightly more over Calvin Ridley in this scenario. A cornerback tandem featuring Patrick Peterson and Denzel Ward allows Arizona's secondary to really frustrate opposing quarterbacks.
- Other Arizona Cardinals Selections
Baltimore Ravens: Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama
- Baltimore is taking the exact same approach Oakland took when they brought in Crabtree and drafted Amari Cooper. Coincidentally Ozzie Newsome takes a page from Reggie McKenzie and drafts his weapon from Alabama too. It reminds me of when Baltimore signed Brandon Carr in Free Agency last year and still took Marlon Humphrey at 16.
- Ridley is the best route runner this draft has period. He also has 4.4 speed and showed he could run 30 routes just like Christian Kirk and Anthony Miller on tape.
- Other Baltimore Ravens Selections
