I should have known better than to release my “final mock” before the sun set on Draft Day. With that being said, seemingly just as I released “2018 NFL Mock Draft 3.0” Adam Schefter of ESPN reported that Baker Mayfield is going to be the first overall pick. At this point, I don’t know what to think anymore… But who am I to go against a guy as accurate and plugged in as he is? Obviously, this one shift at the top will completely alter every subsequent pick, which is forcing me to release a completely new mock draft...

As my Gramps always said “Kid, that’s why they put erasers on pencils.” So without further ado, here’s my revised and hopefully FINAL mock draft of the 2018 season…

1: Cleveland Browns | Baker Mayfield | QB | Oklahoma |

Boy, has this been a wild ride or what? From the day after the Super Bowl, up until the day before the draft, I had Sam Darnold slotted in as the Browns number one pick. Then last night I switched to Josh Allen because I had just worked for 21 hours straight and wasn’t in my right mind. And here I am now, being forced to change again because of damn Adam Schefter… But who am I to go against several reports, especially ones from someone as respected as Schefty?

According to Schefter, the Browns are going to pick Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield and while I was shredding the Browns for Josh Allen, I am more subdued with this pick. I actually like Baker a lot, but still think that Darnold should be the pick. Regardless, Browns fans should feel much better about this than they did a few hours ago.

2: New York Giants | Saquon Barkley | RB | Penn State |

I have battled until blue in the face, listing the many arguments on why the Giants would be making a colossal mistake passing on a quarterback here, but apparently it seems like a battle that I have lost. The Giants are reportedly sold on “winning now” and will be taking Barkley, regardless of how the pick before them plays out.

Having said this, at least they will be passing on a quarterback for an elite player, and not someone who will make little impact right away. Charlie Casserly of the NFL Network has gone on record that he sees Barkley as a better version of LaDainian Tomlinson (someone lock him up in an asylum already) and while that is a pretty big stretch, I could definitely see him having an immediate impact similar to that of Ezekiel Elliott and/or Alvin Kamara in their rookie years.

3: New York Jets (via Colts) | Sam Darnold | QB | USC |

And that brings us to the Jets, who like in 2015 ended up with the guy who should have gone number one overall in Leonard Williams, will be getting Sam Darnold this year – the draft’s best quarterback and the player who the Browns should take with the first pick… When Darnold falls into their lap, I’m curious to actually see how long it takes them to turn the pick in; I bet it will be the quickest selection of the night.

4: Cleveland Browns (via Texans) | Bradley Chubb | DE | N.C. State |

Plenty of reports are still out there that this could be a likely trade up spot for several teams, but for now I’m going to slot the Browns with a BPA pick… Chubb paired across from Myles Garrett will give the Browns the best DE duo in the NFL, without much argument.

5: Arizona Cardinals (via Broncos) |  Josh Rosen | QB | UCLA |

TRADE PREDICTION: Cardinals acquire 5th and 160th overall picks; Broncos acquire 15th, 47th, 134th overall, and a future 1st

As is tradition when trading up for a quarterback, the Cardinals had to overpay a bit here, but as also is tradition, it’s a risk that they have to take. Rosen is my number two rated quarterback in this draft and quite frankly could easily be my number one depending on how the wind is blowing tomorrow. While some question his respect for coaches and teammates and his outspoken nature, from all interviews I have heard, he simply sounds like one of the most honest and inquisitive athletes of recent memory. I think the media has him all wrong. Like Rory McIlroy in golf, Rosen never dodges a question and seems to be genuine in every response. He also displays an uncanny thirst for knowledge that should get him very far in this league. With all of that being said, he also shows very few flaws on tape, which should make this a slam dunk pick for Arizona. Fingers crossed that he can stay healthy though, as his injury history is my only concern going forward.

6: Buffalo Bills (from Colts, via Jets) | Josh Allen | QB | Wyoming |

TRADE PREDICTION: Bills acquire 6th & 104th overall picks; Colts acquire 12th & 22nd overall picks

With the Browns passing on Allen at number one, the Bills have a chance to go up and get their guy. Allen’s small town vibe will fit well in the small town of Buffalo, while his massive size, cannon arm, and experience in cold weather will fit in well with Buffalo’s essentially Canadian climate.  

7: Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Derwin James | S | Florida State |

This seems like the biggest lock in most mock drafts (which ironically, typically means that it won’t happen) and for good reason, as the Bucs need a versatile, physical, safety to anchor their ever-developing secondary. James has as much star potential as anyone in this draft class, which makes him more than worth the 7th overall selection.

8: Chicago Bears | Quenton Nelson | OG | Notre Dame |

Another pick that makes a lot of sense and is being heavily rumored around the draft community. For the Bears, they would be getting not only the draft’s best player in Nelson, but also the player who will help the development of their young quarterback. As I have always said… From the day you draft a quarterback, every subsequent pick should be spent making him directly better. This pick does exactly that.

9: San Francisco 49ers | Roquan Smith | LB | Georgia |

Considering what I just said about young quarterbacks and surrounding them with talent, I really wanted to give the 49ers Calvin Ridley – the best receiver in the draft. With that being said though, I just couldn’t in good conscience, considering their suddenly glaring need at linebacker after the developments in the Reuben Foster situation.

instead, the Niners get Roquan Smith – the best linebacker in the draft.

Many – including myself – think that Smith has hall of fame traits on the field in terms of sideline-to-sideline speed and an instinctual GPS for the football, however the reason he falls this far is because of his supposed physical limitations for the position. Many scouts fear that he’s too short and too light for the position to hold up long term in the NFL, but if you just pop in the tape, it won’t take long to tell that he’s a baller. The Niners won’t be disappointed here.

10: Oakland Raiders | Vita Vea | NT | Washington

While the Raiders have certainly done their homework on Vea and the need at the position is there for them, I’m going to admit that I made this pick simply based off of the fact that I couldn’t get Gruden’s announcer voice, describing the size and power of Vea, out of my head. With the need at the position combined with the fact that Gruden is likely to be enamored with him, Vita Vea seems like a lock for Oakland – provided Roquan Smith and Quenton Nelson (two other guys he would fall in love with)  – are off the board.

11: Miami Dolphins | Denzel Ward | CB | Ohio State |

The Dolphins have a few more glaring needs – particularly at linebacker and perhaps quarterback – but it is time that the Denzel Ward plummet ends. According to my rankings, Ward is the best cornerback in the draft, despite his underwhelming size for the position. In Ward, the Dolphins would be getting a guy who allowed zero completions in seven different games last season, while they would also be getting a guy who ran a blazing 4.32 40-time. He’s rather flawless as a prospect, so the slide could go no further than 11. An excellent BPA selection for Miami here.

12: Indianapolis Colts (from Bills, via Bengals) | Harold Landry | Edge | Boston College |

TRADE PREDICTION: Colts acquire 12th & 22nd overall picks; Bills acquire 6th & 104th overall picks

With the Colts trading back and gaining an extra first round pick, they have the opportunity to use at least one of them on the best player available. While according to my book that player would be Minkah Fitzpatrick, Harold Landry – who is right behind him on my board – better fits what they are looking to do defensively. Landry is the most accomplished edge rusher in the class, possessing traits in the Vic Beasley/Von Miller stratosphere. Minkah Fitzpatrick on the other hand may be a redundant pick for them considering the Malik Hooker selection of last year.

13: Washington Redskins | Minkah Fitzpatrick | DB | Alabama |

It seems like in every mock draft that I have done so far this offseason, the Redskins end up with a much better player than their draft slot would typically offer. Almost no draft analyst has Fitzpatrick outside of their top-10 on their big board, while Dane Brugler of nfldraftscout.com has him ranked 2nd overall – the highest I have seen so far. Simply put, the Redskins will be getting an excellent player; a versatile playmaker who can pick the ball off as well as he can be physical in the run game. Where a lot of teams worry that he doesn’t have a defined position, like they did with Jalen Ramsey, they will soon realize that he’s just good in a lot of places. Expectations are that Fitzpatrick is best suited as a nickel corner, but he can line up anywhere along the defensive secondary really.

14: Green Bay Packers | Tremaine Edmunds | LB | Virginia Tech |

The Packers have needed to invest an early selection on a linebacker for quite some time now, and in Edmunds they will be getting one with plenty of talent and versatility. He’s the youngest player in the draft at just 19 years of age, while his Combine testing numbers put him Vic Beasley territory. He’s still raw as sushi, but by playing next to Clay Matthews and Jake Ryan, Edmunds will have the tools to learn both the inside and outside linebacker positions at a high level.

15: Denver Broncos | James Daniels | C | Iowa |

TRADE PREDICTION: Broncos acquire 15th, 47th, 134th overall, and a future 1st; Cardinals acquire 5th and 160th overall picks

The Broncos have made it no secret that they are looking to trade out, likely because they are not enthralled with this crop of young quarterbacks. By moving out, they got themselves a nice haul that should help them quickly revamp their suddenly deteriorating roster.

As for James Daniels, he’s not only a prospect that they have done quite a bit of work on this offseason, but he’s also a guy who can come in and start at either center or guard, right off the bat. Plug and play picks always make for great first round selections.

16: Baltimore Ravens | Calvin Ridley | WR | Alabama |

He isn’t the biggest, strongest, or even the fastest, but he’s explosive, sudden, and runs the full NFL route tree at an extremely high level. I liken Ridley to Davante Adams, in that both players measured in and tested almost exactly the same at the NFL Combine, while they also both are incredibly versatile for the position – can play inside or outside, have possession, deep threat, and red zone traits, etc. While the Ravens added some talent at the position in free agency, Ridley would still join this roster as an immediate starter and would serve as an excellent number two option behind Michael Crabtree.

17: Los Angeles Chargers | Leighton Vander Esch | LB | Boise State |  

The Chargers seem to stun us every year with their first pick, so I figured why not go with a player who very few are connecting to them… All joking aside, LVE as he is being called now, would be a great fit in the Chargers ever-developing defense. He has the size and athletic traits to man the middle or play outside at a high level in this league. While he’s a bit raw at the moment, his development towards the second half of last season proved to me that he will quickly pick up the NFL game too.

18: Seattle Seahawks | Marcus Davenport | DE | UTSA |

I wouldn’t be surprised to see Seattle trade out of this pick, but I just couldn’t find the right partner for them. While they have seen an exodus of talent on the defensive end over the last couple of seasons, it is time for the Legion of Boom to reload. Davenport has enough talent and promise to make many consider him in the top-10, however his general football rawness is what will make him slide towards the second half of the first round. This is a long-term play for the rebuilding Seahawks.

19: New Orleans Saints | Lamar Jackson | QB | Louisville |

TRADE PREDICTION: Saints acquire 19th overall pick; Cowboys acquire 27th, 91st overall picks and a future 3nd rounder

With their board largely being wiped out at 19, it makes sense that Dallas would look to move back, especially with a quarterback still on the board… That's where the Saints come in.

The Saints desperately wanted to draft Patrick Mahomes last season, until of course the Chiefs surprisingly swooped in, right in front of them. Instead they settled for Marshon Lattimore – the future defensive rookie of the year – and the rest was history I suppose... With that being said, that doesn’t change the fact that they are still looking for their quarterback of the future.

In this scenario, Lamar Jackson would be able to sit behind and learn from a Hall of Fame quarterback in Drew Brees, would work with one of the game’s best offensive minds in Sean Payton, and would develop alongside one of the league’s most young and explosive offensive rosters. For Jackson, this would be the best case scenario.

20: Detroit Lions | Isaiah Wynn | G | Georgia |

Behind Quenton Nelson – the best overall player in the draft – most agree that Isaiah Wynn is the best offensive lineman out there. He played left tackle at a high level in college, but is likely to make the transition to guard in the pros. Detroit can not only play the board BPA here, but they also will be filling a huge need.

21: Cincinnati Bengals (via Bills) | Mike McGlinchey | OT | Notre Dame |

Rumor has it that the Bengals viewed McGlinchey as their top target back when they had the 12th overall pick, so they will be especially thrilled to get him now with the 21st selection. As a day one starter, the Notre Dame product will take his massive 6-foot-8 frame to the right tackle spot or even inside at guard, while eventually he projects to be an anchoring left tackle.

22: Indianapolis Colts (via Bills, from Chiefs) | Will Hernandez | G | UTEP |

TRADE PREDICTION: Colts acquire 12th & 22nd overall picks; Bills acquire 6th & 104th overall picks

While the Colts took a luxury pick of sorts at 12, this selection directly will help the returning Andrew Luck, specifically by establishing a consistent ground game and a more reliable pocket to pass from. Think of Hernandez as a plug and play starter from day one, most closely resembling the play style of the now retired Richie Incognito.

23: New England Patriots (via Rams) | Rashaan Evans | LB | Alabama |

The Patriots are certainly in the market for a new linebacker, and based off of their pre draft visits, they haven’t exactly tried to keep that a secret either. Evans is a traditional, downhill thumper, who will work perfectly in the Pats multiple defensive scheme. Wouldn’t be surprised in the slightest if Evans racked up 120 tackles each season for the next decade-plus – he’s that type of nasty.

24: Carolina Panthers | Jaire Alexander | CB | Louisville |

The Panthers are not only looking for cornerback help, but Alexander also happens to be the best player left on the board. On top of that he’s a North Carolina kid, who would love to play for the Panthers. Sure he’s undersized, but his tape plays big, while his Combine performance was otherworldly. A home run pick for the Panthers here.

25: Tennessee Titans | Lorenzo Carter | LB | Georgia |

In terms of readymade talent, this is a serious reach, but in terms of potential, this is a pick that can seriously pay off. Considering this is Mike Vrabel’s first season as a head coach, he will be given at least enough time to see a raw player through his initial development. Carter projects as the classic Patriots hybrid linebacker who can play all four spots in the 3-4 base, which would make sense considering the identity that Vrabel is trying to build in Tennessee. While I can’t stress enough how raw he is, think of Carter like Jamie Collins in terms of size, athleticism, versatility, and potential.

26: Atlanta Falcons | Taven Bryan | DT | Florida |

With the loss of Dontari Poe, the Falcons will likely be kicking Grady Jarrett back inside to the nose, while they will be looking for another penetrating three technique in the draft. Despite being greener than grass in terms of football IQ and knowhow, Bryan flashes elite potential as an up-the-field disruptor. He may take a little bit of time, but eventually Bryan will fit right in with this already ultra-athletic defensive unit.

27: Dallas Cowboys | DJ Moore | WR | Maryland |

TRADE PREDICTION: Cowboys acquire 27th, 91st overall picks and a future 3nd rounder;  Saints acquire 19th overall pick

It’s no secret that the Cowboys are looking to replace Dez Bryant, but I also don’t consider it much of a secret that they have more glaring needs than the wide receiver position. Unfortunately for Dallas, much of their board has been wiped out which leaves them settling for the best receiver available. At least in this scenario, they manage to get some compensation for settling.

28: Pittsburgh Steelers | Malik Jefferson | LB | Texas |

It’s no secret that the future of Ryan Shazier’s football career is up in the air at the moment. Considering that, as sad as it is to come to terms with, linebacker has to be the number one draft priority for the Steelers. At this point in the mock, four linebackers have already come off the board, and while only those four are consensusly considered as first rounders, I have a sneaky feeling that the Steelers would have no problem reaching for Malik Jefferson with the 28th overall pick. Not only have they met with him on three separate occasions – more than any other prospect – during this draft process, but Jefferson also possesses natural gifts that would warrant a first round selection. Only issue that I have here is that he’s not yet the sum of his parts, but late in the first round, all of the true first round prospects are gone anyway.

29: Jacksonville Jaguars | Hayden Hurst | TE | South Carolina |

While he’s ranked third on my list of tight ends, the consensus – if there is one – amongst draft pundits  is that Hurst is the best of the bunch. The Jags are a team with few holes, and while I would rather have stuck them with an awesome slot corner like M.J. Stewart or Duke Dawson, this spot is both too rich for them and seemingly locked into an offensive player. Hurst is a guy whom they have done a ton of pre draft work on so they likely are comfortable with his advanced age (will be a 25 year old rookie) and his issues with anxiety and depression (the “yips” ruined his once promising baseball career).

30: Minnesota Vikings | Connor Williams | OL | Texas |

In what turned into a BPA selection, the Vikings also fill a huge need here. Williams is a guy who struggled with injury rust last season but has some pretty bad ass 2016 tape on his resume. He will immediately start as a guard or center in this league, while he has the potential to even serve as a franchise left tackle somewhere down the line.

31: New England Patriots | Kolton Miller | OT | UCLA |

The Patriots don’t usually have issues letting guys go; it’s kinda their thing really… However losing left tackle Nate Soldier is something that they will feel next season. In this pick, they try to recreate the magic that they had with Soldier by drafting another massive (6-foot-9, 310 lbs.), insanely athletic (4.95 40-time; 1.67 10-yard-split), left tackle. Sure, Miller may eventually turn into something, but right now he’s not even close to the sum of his parts… Quite frankly his tape stinks and the Patriots better not plan on having him start right away. I guess though this is one one of the benefits of having two first round picks – you can use one on a project player.

32: Philadelphia Eagles | Derrius Guice | RB | LSU |

Teams coming off of Super Bowl victories, possessing rosters with very few holes, can truly take the best player available to close out the first round. Unfortunately for those other teams in the NFC East, that player happens to be Derrius Guice – a player fully capable of terrorizing the division for the foreseeable future. While he has the talent to start from day one, at worst, he will take over the lead gig once Jay Ajayi’s contract runs out after next season. Chances are though that Guice makes an immediate impact both on the field and as a fantasy contributor.