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Free agency can make all previous mock drafts become worthless. With the rapid fire of reported deals on Tuesday, there has certainly be a shake up to mock drafts everywhere. Below is my latest mock draft, with one big trade.
1. Cleveland Browns - Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State
Because the Browns traded for Tyrod Taylor, they can afford to wait to take a quarterback, and take the best player in the draft with the first pick.
2. New York Giants - Sam Darnold, QB, USC
The Giants didn’t sign a quarterback, and end up with the best one as the Browns take Barkley first.
3. TRADE - Buffalo Bills - Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming
Buffalo seems to be primed to trade up, and the Colts appear a perfect spot to do so, especially when the Bills know Cleveland would take a quarterback at the fourth pick. Buffalo moves up and takes Josh Allen.
4. Cleveland Browns - Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA
Cleveland’s decision to take Barkley first doesn’t hurt, as they still end up with the immensely talented Josh Rosen, a player who would be discussed for them at the first pick if they went quarterback.
5. Denver Broncos - Quenton Nelson, OG, Notre Dame
The Broncos signed Case Keenum to a two year deal, which allows Denver to have more flexibility with this pick. Nelson is a generational talent at offensive guard, and with a weak offensive line, the Broncos can’t pass him up.
6. New York Jets - Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma
Even though the Jets have Josh McCown and Teddy Bridgewater, neither are signed long term. I don’t think the Jets have Bridgewater, the younger player, in their long term plans. Thus, the Jets add the next best quarterback available, Baker Mayfield.
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Bradley Chubb, DE, N.C. State
Tampa Bay is a big winner of free agency when it comes to the draft, as they wind up with the best pass rusher in the class, a player the Colts would have taken third had they not traded down.
8. Chicago Bears - Minkah Fitzpatrick, DB, Alabama
The Bears landed Allen Robinson and Taylor Gabriel, and thus won’t be in the market for a wide receiver at the eighth pick. Instead, Chicago bolsters its secondary with the immensely talented Fitzpatrick.
9. San Francisco 49ers - Tremaine Edmunds, LB, Virgina Tech
The 49ers don’t need to address the corner back spot as they signed Richard Sherman. San Francisco instead adds this 19 year old linebacker with insane upside.
10. Oakland Raiders - Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia
11. Miami Dolphins - Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State
12. TRADE - Indianapolis Colts - Marcus Davenport, DE, UTSA
The Colts still get a pass rusher after trading down, landing Davenport instead of Chubb.
13. Washington Redskins - Vita Vea, DT, Washington
The Redskins are out of the wide receiver market after landing Paul Richardson.
14. Green Bay Packers - Derwin James, S, Florida State
The Packers have been surprisingly active, but still need help in the secondary. Derwin James solves that.
15. Arizona Cardinals - Connor Williams, OT, Texas
The Cardinals won’t look for a quarterback after signing Sam Bradford and Mike Glennon, and they will instead improve it’s offensive line.
16. Baltimore Ravens - Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama
The Ravens signed two wide receivers on the first day of free agency, but the unit is still desperately in need of help. The money the Ravens gave to Ryan Grant was draw dropping, and John Brown is certainly not the solution the Ravens needed. Calvin Ridley slides as wide receiver needy teams above the Ravens filled their holes in the free agency.
17. Los Angeles Chargers - Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame
18. Seattle Seahawks - Mike Hughes, CB, UCF
After releasing Sherman and Jeremy Lane, Seattle will look to restock at cornerback, the talented Mike Hughes starts that rebuild.
19. Dallas Cowboys - Courtland Sutton, WR, SMU
The Cowboys may release Dez Bryant, which would mean they would need to draft a wide receiver. Sutton has some similarities to Bryant. Though Sutton’s combine 40 time wasn’t inspiring.
20. Detroit Lions - Derrius Guice, RB, Lions
21. Cincinnati Bengals - Josh Jackson, CB, Iowa
22. TRADE - Indianapolis Colts - Orlando Brown, OT, Oklahoma
23. Los Angeles Rams - Kolton Miller, OT, UCLA
24. Carolina Panthers - Christian Kirk, WR, Texas A&M
Adding Torrey Smith doesn’t alleviate a need for the Panthers at wide receiver.
25. Tennessee Titans - Arden Key, DE, LSU
The Titans improves its secondary with Malcolm Butler, and now get a pass rusher in Key.
26. Atlanta Falcons - Isaiah Wynn, OG, Georgia
27. New Orleans Saints - Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville
New Orleans signed Drew Brees to a two year deal, which figures to be the last contract of his career. New Orleans would be smart to bring in an heir to Brees, and with Jackson falling down this far, the Saints may be getting a steal.
28. Pittsburgh Steelers - Leighton Vander Esch, LB, Boise State
29. Jacksonville Jaguars - Dallas Goedert, TE, South Dakota State
30. Minnesota Vikings - Billy Price, C/OG, Ohio State
The Vikings won the Kirk Cousins sweepstakes, now they just need to protect him. Price will be back from his surgery for training camp.
31. New England Patriots - Harold Landry, DE, Boston College
32. Philadelphia Eagles - Rashaan Evans, LB, Alabama
The Eagles have loaded up on their defensive line, but their linebacking corps could still improve.