The Utopia Of Sports
Draft Order
Tony Mario's 2018 NFL Mock Draft: 7 Rounds
Round 3
Tony Mario Last Updated: April 25, 2018.
Buffalo Bills: Jessie Bates III, FS, Wake Forest 
- Buffalo has Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer. Jessie Bates III has outstanding coverage. He needs to add more strength before being thrown into the starting lineup, and Buffalo is a great fit cause Jessie Bates III can add strength before replacing Poyer.
- Jessie Bates III has three games of tape in this film session. Watching Bates get stiff armed by Christian Kirk makes me question anyone mocking Bates ahead of Kirk.
- Other Buffalo Bills Selections
New York Giants: Rashaad Penny, RB, San Diego State 
- The Giants get their running back at 65. Rashaad Penny is someone worth taking this early in the third round, if the Giants take Bradley Chubb at 2.
- Other New York Giants Selections
Indianapolis Colts: Equanimeous St. Brown, WR, Notre Dame 
- Indianapolis needs a number two wide receiver next to T.Y. Hilton. So far Indianapolis got Quenton Nelson at left guard, Derrius Guice at running back, Tyrell Crosby at right tackle, and Equanimeous St. Brown as a wide receiver next to Hilton. With these weapons, plus the tight end duo of Jack Doyle and Eric Ebron, Andrew Luck is due for a huge season in 2018.
- Other Indianapolis Colts Selections
Houston Texans: Jamarco Jones, LT, Ohio State 
- The Texans can get their left tackle here. Julie'n Davenport moves to right tackle. Jamarco Jones had a strong Pro Day at Ohio State. Houston spent a lot of time with Jones at Ohio State's Pro Day. Getting Jamarco Jones allows Houston to solidify the offensive tackle spot and protect Deshaun Watson.
- Other Houston Texans Selections
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New York Giants: Chase Litton, QB, Marshall
- New York needs a successor to Eli Manning. I don't think Davis Webb is that guy. Now, Chase Litton could be that guy. He looked pretty good versus North Carolina State.
- Other New York Giants Selections
San Francisco 49ers: Desmond Harrison, LT, West Georgia 
- The 49ers get one of the quickest left tackles in the draft. Desmond Harrison has great foot speed. If he learns under Joe Staley for a few years he could be an elite blindside down the road.
- Other San Francisco 49ers Selections
Denver Broncos: Kerryon Johnson, RB, Auburn 
- Denver cut C.J. Anderson. I don't trust the duo of Devonta Booker and DeAngelo Henderson. Neither one emerged last season so they get another running back so their quarterback of the future has a running back he can turn to. Braden Smith was picked by Denver in the second round so now Braden Smith gets to block for one of his Auburn teammates in Denver.
- Other Denver Broncos Selections
New York Jets: Josh Sweat, 3-4 ROLB, Florida State 
- The Jets got an amazing secondary. They just need a pass rusher who can get double digit sacks on both sides. Josh Sweat wasn't the sack artist Demarcus Walker was, but he has far more athleticism than Walker did on tape so Josh Sweat gets drafted by the Jets at this pick in the third round.
- Other New York Jets Selections
Miami Dolphins: Derrick Nnadi, DT, Florida State
- Miami got Baker Mayfield his tight end in Hayden Hurst in the second round. Now they address the defensive side of the ball by taking Derrick Nnadi as a defensive tackle for depth.
- Other Miami Dolphins Selections
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San Francisco 49ers: Simmie Cobbs Jr., WR, Indiana
- San Francisco gets Jimmy Garoppolo a number target here. Simmie Cobbs Jr. is someone San Francisco can take here before moving Pierre Garcon to a number two role, and Marquise Goodwin to the slot.
- Other San Francisco 49ers Selections
Oakland Raiders: Tarvarus McFadden, CB, Florida State
- The Oakland Raiders have Gareon Conley as their number one field cornerback. The boundary cornerback competition is wide open. Even Free Agent Rashaan Melvin hasn't been guaranteed the job even after his terrific 2017 season in Indianapolis. Tarvarus McFadden could push Melvin for that job and be a great nickel cornerback for Oakland at the very worst.
- Other Oakland Raiders Selections
Green Bay Packers: DeShon Elliott, FS, Texas 
- The Packers seem to reload at the safety position every year. HaHa Clinton-Dix enters a contract year. Elliott was considered a first round prospect prior to the 2018 NFL Combine even though I never bought into the hype. Green Bay can take Elliott as a project safety here and mold him for the future kind of like how they molded Josh Jones for the future last year in 2017.
- Other Green Bay Packers Selections
Cincinnati Bengals: Armani Watts, FS, Texas A&M 
- Cincinnati gets the best free safety on the board here. I am more confident in Armani Watts as a free safety than Kyzir White after rewatching both on tape. Cincinnati gets a new starter at free safety here.
- Other Cincinnati Bengals Selections
Kansas City Chiefs: Deon Cain, WR, Clemson 
- The Chiefs get another weapon for Patrick Mahomes. They already got Sammy Watkins and Tyreek Hill. Someone like Deon Cain in the slot would be nice for Mahomes to have though.
- Other Kansas City Chiefs Selections
Arizona Cardinals: Auden Tate, WR, Florida State
- Arizona gets a wide receiver in the third round here. Auden Tate reminds me of a bigger Anquan Boldin. He'd be an ideal receiver for Larry Fitzgerald to mentor.
- Other Arizona Cardinals Selections
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Houston Texans: Uchenna Nwosu, 3-4 LOLB, USC
- Uchenna Nwosu provides depth behind Jaedveon Clowney and Whitney Mercilus here. Nwosu is a great pick for the Texans at 80.
- Other Houston Texans Selections
Dallas Cowboys: Tim Settle, DT, Virginia Tech 
- Dallas hasn't drafted a starting defensive tackle yet, and it's round three now. Dallas has to settle for Tim Settle out of Virginia Tech.
- Other Dallas Cowboys Selections
Detroit Lions: Mike Gesicki, TE, Penn State 
- Detroit gets a tight end here in the third round because the value is too good to pass on. Some believe Mike Gesicki is the top tight end. Even with Detroit's multiple additions at tight end in Free Agency, Mike Gesicki may be a better long-term upgrade at tight end for Detroit than someone like Luke Willson or even Levine Toilolo who are both depth tight ends compared to Gesicki.
- Other Detroit Lions Selections
Baltimore Ravens: Brandon Parker, LT, North Carolina AT&T 
- Baltimore has their blindside in Ronnie Stanley. They gave last years right tackle James Hurst a four year extension so a swing tackle like Brandon Parker is needed. I've only seen Parker line up at left tackle even though the Ravens need a right tackle for depth in the worst way possible.
- Other Baltimore Ravens Selections
Los Angeles Chargers: Lorenzo Carter, ROLB, Georgia 
- The Los Angeles Chargers get a linebacker for depth behind Denzel Perryman. Perryman missed half of the season last year, and the Chargers had no backup plan. That changes with this team drafting Lorenzo Carter and his 4.4 speed here.
- Other Los Angeles Chargers Selections
Carolina Panthers: D.J. Reed, CB, Kansas State 
- Carolina picks here. D.J. Reed has the size of a nickel cornerback. Carolina is so thin at cornerback that he may have to play the boundary.
- Other Carolina Panthers Selections
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Kansas City Chiefs: M.J. Stewart, CB, North Carolina
- The Chiefs get a cornerback who can replace Marcus Peters here. Stewart won't have the same impact as Peters, but he could end up starting in the first week of the season when you consider how thin Kansas City is at cornerback.
- Other Kansas City Chiefs Selections
Los Angeles Rams: Jordan Whitehead, SS, Pittsburgh 
- The Rams are loaded at cornerback, yet thin at safety. Jordan Whitehead is the top safety on the board here.
- Other Los Angeles Rams Selections
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Carolina Panthers: Michael Gallup, WR, Colorado State
- Carolina gets a wide receiver for Cam Newton. Michael Gallup is the best target on the board at this point ih the third round.
- Other Carolina Panthers Selections
Tennessee Titans: Frank Ragnow, C, Arkansas 
- Tennessee gets a center upgrade. Frank Ragnow is a steal at this point.
- Other Tennessee Titans Selections
Atlanta Falcons: Terrell Edmunds, FS, Virginia Tech
- Atlanta needs to keep Brian Poole in the nickel with Jalen Collins getting suspended again. Terrell Edmunds as a backup to Ricardo Allen makes a lot of sense here.
- Other Atlanta Falcons Selections
New Orleans Saints: Luke Falk, QB, Washington State 
- The New Orleans Saints draft a quarterback to groom behind Drew Brees. I'm more confident in Luke Falk's mechanics and deep ball then I am with Kyle Lauletta. Both could be great starters under the tutelage of Drew Brees, but Falk gets the nod here.
- Other New Orleans Saints Selections
Pittsburgh Steelers: Jayln Holmes, 3-4 RE, Ohio State
- Pittsburgh gets a five technique for depth. Jayln Holmes is someone who provides depth behind Cameron Heyward and Stephon Tuitt here in the third round.
- Other Pittsburgh Steelers Selections
Jacksonville Jaguars: Dante Pettis, WR, Washington 
- Jacksonville gets a wide receiver for depth. Dante Pettis didn't get much exposure in front of NFL Scouts, but his tape speaks for itself. Matt Waldman calling Pettis the top receiver in the entire draft may be enough for Pettis to creep into day 2 of the 2018 NFL Draft.
- Other Jacksonville Jaguars Selections
Minnesota Vikings: Marcell Ateman, WR, Oklahoma State 
- Minnesota gets a wide receiver for depth. Some people like Ateman more than James Washington. He's bigger too, so Ateman may sneak into day 2 of the 2018 NFL Draft. Be prepared for it.
- Other Minnesota Vikings Selections
New England Patriots: Kyle Lauletta, QB, Richmond 
- The New England Patriotts get Tom Brady's successor. Another FCS quarterback just like Jimmy Garoppolo.
- Kyle Lauletta does not throw the deep ball well on tape. He had issues throwing the deep ball at the 2018 NFL Combine. Maybe McDaniels and Tom Brady can mold him into something special.
- Other New England Patriots Selections
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Buffalo Bills: Holton Hill, CB, Texas
- Buffalo uses this pick from Philadelphia to get a cornerback next to Tre'Davious White. Holton Hill can be a good starting corner if he stays off the weed man.
- Other Buffalo Bills Selections
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Arizona Cardinals: Shaquem Griffin, 3-4 LOLB, Central Florida
- Arizona got this compensation pick at 97 thanks to Calias Campbell signing with Jacksonville. Arizona needs someone next to Chandler Jones. Maybe Shaquem Griffin can give Arizona a hand.
- Other Arizona Cardinals Selections
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Houston Texans: Mark Andrews, TE, Oklahoma
- Houston got this compensation pick at 98 thanks to A.J. Bouye signing with Jacksonville. Houston needs to upgrade their tight end situation with C.J. Fiedorowicz retiring.
- Mark Andrews was very inconsistent in this film session. I'm not sure why Draft Utopia still has a top 50 grade on him.
- Other Houston Texans Selections
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Denver Broncos: Tony Brown, CB, Alabama
- Denver got this compensation pick at 99 thanks to Russell Okung signing with Los Angeles. Denver gets an ALabama cornerback for depth here.
- Other Denver Broncos Selections
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Cincinnati Bengals: Archie Lewis, RG, Boise State
- Cincinnati got this compensation pick at 100 thanks to Kevin Zeitler signing with Cleveland. Archie Lewis can play right guard for Cincinnati.
- Other Cincinnati Bengals Selections
