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Draft Order
Tony Mario's 2018 NFL Mock Draft: 7 Rounds
Round 1 Picks 17-32
Tony Mario Last Updated: April 25, 2018.
Los Angeles Chargers: Connor Williams, RT, Texas 
- The Chargers offensive line consists of left tackle Russell Okung, left guard Dan Feeney who can move to center if Pouncey gets injured, center Mike Pouncey, right guard Forrest Lamp, and right tackle Joe Barksdale. I'm not sold on Barksdale as the right tackle moving forward plus Williams can play right tackle for a year and possibly move to left tackle in 2019. He may even start out as a swing tackle. Either way, the Chargers surprise everyone who expects them to go defense and take the top offensive tackle on the board here at 17.
- Other Los Angeles Chargers Selections
Seattle Seahawks: Josh Jackson, CB, Iowa 
- Seattle takes the best cornerback on the board. Josh Jackson is still a top 20 talent on tape even though he's not as fast as Ohio State cornerback Denzel Ward. Josh Jackson will be the new face for Seattle's Legion Of Boom.
- Other Seattle Seahawks Selections
Dallas Cowboys: Courtland Sutton, WR, SMU 
- Dallas only drafted two receivers in the first round under Jerry Jones. Those guys were big bodied wide receivers Michael Irvin and Dez Bryant. Courtland Sutton is not the route runner that Calvin Ridley or Christian Kirk is in my opinion. However Dallas will look past that because Jason Garrett was at SMU's Pro Day.
- Sutton didn't drop a single ball at SMU's Pro Day and even asked Garrett what other routes he needs to run or learn to run. Sutton may be raw on the surface, but many scouts believe he's got the highest ceiling at wide receiver because of his size despite this.
- Someone close to Dallas believes Courtland Sutton impressed the Cowboys so much that he ultimately influenced Dallas to eventually release Dez Bryant. They also pointed out while Sutton doesn't have the route tree you want at this point, his work ethic and attitude outweigh his on the field football intangibles which are raw. Sutton was asking questions like what other type of routes do you want me to run do you want me to learn. He was very humble about his Pro Day and even followed up by being assertive with Dallas when meeting with them, plus Dallas is the team Sutton wants to go to so he's putting in the work to be a Dallas Cowboy.
- It's unlikely Dallas goes defense at 19 unless they want a defensive tackle or linebacker. Randy Gregory is set to be reinstated and Jaylon Smith is working out without a knee brace for the first time since he was healthy at Notre Dame. That's why I think Courtland Sutton will be the pick at the end of the day.
- Dallas is the one team I see taking Courtland Sutton much earlier then he should go. Courtland Sutton at 19 makes a lot of sense when you look at how Dallas has taken wide receivers since Jerry Jones bought the team. I love Christian Kirk on tape, but I don't see Dallas drafting a 5-10 Chicken McNugget over a 6-4 215 lb receiver like Sutton after releasing their biggest target.
- Other Dallas Cowboys Selections
Detroit Lions: Da'Ron Payne, DT, Alabama 
- Detroit goes with a defensive tackle here. With Haloti Ngata gone, I'm really asking myself if the combination of A'Shawn Robinson, Sylvester Williams, and Jeremiah Ledbetter is enough to put Detroit over the top. Payne is a blue chip defensive tackle just like Vita Vea and there is no reason for him not to be picked in the top 20. Detroit takes Payne and gets their best defensive tackle since Suh at 20.
- Other Detroit Lions Selections
Cincinnati Bengals: Jaire Alexander, CB, Louisville 
- Cincinnati takes cornerbacks in even numbered years. Dre Kirkpatrick in 2012, Darqueze Dennard in 2014, and William Jackson III were all drafted in even numbered years. It looks like they hit with Kirkpatrick and Jackson, but missed with Dennard. They continue this trend and take Jaire Alexander to be their nickel cornerback at 21.
- Other Cincinnati Bengals Selections
Buffalo Bills: Isaiah Wynn, LG, Georgia 
- Buffalo gets Isaiah Wynn to be Ritchie Incoginto's replacement at left guard with Ritchie Incognito retiring. The last time Buffalo took a left tackle out of Georgia his name was Cordy Glenn that worked out pretty well. If you draft Lamar Jackson or another quarterback at 12, then you have to bolster the offensive line at pick 22.
- Wynn is fantastic in pass protection. He corrected his run blocking issues on tape at the 2018 Senior bowl. Wynn did not work out at the 2018 NFL Combine due to having shoulder surgery after the 2018 Senior Bowl. That caused him to miss Georgia's Pro Day too.
- Wynn has the versatility to play left tackle, left guard, right tackle, or right guard. Someone at Georgia told me Isaiah Wynn was medically cleared from his shoulder surgery last week and that Chris Ballard worked him out at a private workout with the Colts being really impressed with Wynn. If this is true, Wynn will be picked on day 1 in the first round.
- Watch this Wynn tape. You'll see why he belongs in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft.
- Other Buffalo Bills Selections
New England Patriots: Marcus Davenport, RE, UTSA 
- New England gets Marcus Davenport here. Trey Flowers had a good season for New England, but he enters a contract year. Davenport also has a much higher ceiling so even if Davenport sits out and develops in 2018 as a situational pass rusher. I see Belichick taking Davenport and then pairing him with Derek Rivers to form an extremely lethal combination off the edge. Davenport reminds me of Chandler Jones on tape.
- Davenport isn't a sack artist coming out of college. He reminds me a lot of Chandler Jones coming out of Syracuse in terms of work ethic, leadership, and decision making on tape. Bill Belichick will get a lot out of Davenport.
- Other New England Patriots Selections
Carolina Panthers: Will Hernandez, LG, UTEP 
- The Panthers grab Andrew Norwell's replacement here. Will Hernandez can pass protect for Cam Newton and run block for Christian McCaffrey.
- Other Carolina Panthers Selections
Tennessee Titans: Harold Landry, 3-4 ROLB, Boston College 
- Tennessee gets a pass rusher to groom for a year with both Brian Orakpo and Derrick Morgan in contract years. Landry can be a stud if he develops swim and spin moves to compliment his deadly rip moves. If he plays for Vrabel in Tennessee he gets to do that. I also considered Leighton Vander Esch, but he is not going to test well medically and expect him to fall to the second round. Landry impressed me more leading up to the draft then either Rashaan Evans or Leighton Vander Esch.
- Other Tennessee Titans Selections
Atlanta Falcons: Taven Bryan, DT, Florida 
- Atlanta is taking a defensive tackle at 26. Atlanta loves Payne and Vea, they could trade up for either one. If they stay put at 26, they get the third best defensive tackle in this draft with Taven Bryan out of Florida.
- Other Atlanta Falcons Selections
New Orleans Saints: Sam Hubbard, LE, Ohio State 
- New Orleans needs to bolster the defensive line. Sam Hubbard compliments Cameron Jordan at 4-3 left end after being Ohio State's 4-3 right end. Hubbard had an awesome 2018 NFL Combine before struggling at Ohio State's Pro Day. It's not a very strong defensive end group outside of Chubb, and I can see teams that really need pass rush help right now reaching for guys due to the demand for the position.
- Other New Orleans Saints Selections
Pittsburgh Steelers: Rashaan Evans, 3-4 MLB, Alabama
- Pittsburgh has their pick of the litter between Rashaan Evans and Leighton Vander Esch at 28. The Steelers do the smart thing and get a huge steal in Evans to fill in for Ryan Shazier this season. The Leighton Vander Esch rumors to Pittsburgh seem like a smokescreen to me.
- Other Pittsburgh Steelers Selections
Jacksonville Jaguars: James Daniels, C, Iowa
- Jacksonville addressed all of their needs in Free Agency. They use a luxury pick and take the top player on the board in James Daniels who is the only center worthy of a first round grade. Jacksonville gave Brandon Linder a long-term extenstion, but the Jaguars have the luxury to go this route.
- Other Jacksonville Jaguars Selections
Minnesota Vikings: Kolton Miller, RT, UCLA 
- Minnesota has Riley Reiff at left tackle and the ineffective Mike Remmers at right tackle. They develop Kolton Miller for a year and then have him take over for Remmers in 2019.
- Other Minnesota Vikings Selections
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New England Patriots: Mike Hughes, CB, Central Florida
- The Patriots use their pick at 31 on a cornerback. Mike Hughes has first round talent on tape. I wouldn't put too much stock into his off the field concerns.
- Other New England Patriots Selections
Philadelphia Eagles: Martinas Rankin, LT, Mississippi State 
- Philadelphia gets another offensive tackle to develop. When Jason Peters retires, a new left tackle will be needed so Martinas Rankin is the fourth offensive tackle drafted in the first round, and the only left tackle drafted in round one.
- Other Philadelphia Eagles Selections
