We’re continuing our prognostications for the 2018 NFL Draft with Part Two of the New Year’s Eve Mock Draft. So read this while you drunkenly celebrate the ball dropping and the end of the 2017.
Check out Part One by clicking here.
12. Arizona Cardinals – Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma
2017: 6-1, 200 pounds, 71 completion percentage, 4,340 yards, 41 touchdowns, five interceptions
Like the Jets, the Cardinals have screwed around for years and not drafted a quarterback. If Bruce Arians does come back, he needs to finally get his head out of his ass and realize that Carson Palmer is a problem, not a solution. If Mayfield makes it to 12, turn that card in and just weep in each other’s arms for an hour.
13. Miami Dolphins – Quenton Nelson, OG, Notre Dame
2017: 6-5, 329
Considering that the Dolphins’ season was ruined by losing Ryan Tannehill, it would be smart to invest in the offensive line to keep him healthy for a run next season.
14. Washington Redskins – Derwin James, Safety, Florida State
2017: 6-3, 211 pounds, 84 tackles, 5.5 for a loss, one sack, two interceptions, one defensive touchdown, 11 passes defended
James may not last this long come April, but with the team needs ahead of the Redskins and the quarterbacks taken have him falling to them at No. 14. If this happens in April, they all need to spend the following Sunday in church.
15. Los Angeles Chargers – Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming
2017: 6-5, 233 pounds, 56.3 completion percentage, 1,812 yards, 16 touchdowns, six interceptions
Is that five quarterbacks going in the first round? You better believe it and I’m not done yet. The Chargers are in the midst of the Twilight of Philip Rivers. They’re wasting it with a horrible head coaching hire, but at least they can start prepping for the future by drafting his replacement.
16. Green Bay Packers – Kolton Miller, OT, UCLA
2017: 6-8, 310
The Packers have locked up all their receivers and are set for another five years with Aaron Rodgers, barring anything insane happening. With the injuries they had to deal with on the offensive line this season, it makes sense to invest in guys with starter capability, even if they won’t start with the current roster. Rodgers is the money maker and the Packers need to keep him on the field.
17. Dallas Cowboys – Maurice Hurst, DT, Michigan
2017: 6-2, 280 pounds, 58 tackles, 13 for a loss, 5.5 sacks, one pass defense, one forced fumble
In any other draft, Hurst would probably be a Top Five pick. In my prediction here, he lasts until No. 17 where the Cowboys charge the stage so quickly to turn in that card they cause a rip in space time and, for a moment, peak into an alternate universe.
18. Buffalo Bills – Vita Vea, DT, Washington
2017: 6-5, 340 pounds, 43 tackles, 5.5 for a loss, 3.5 sacks, four passes defended
Vea is the second consecutive defensive tackle in my mock draft here and replaces the departed Marcel Dareus for the Bills. Yes, this team needs a quarterback as much as the Jets and Cardinals do and has screwed around in past drafts. But with the guys left they can wait, especially with a second first round pick.
19. Seattle Seahawks – Chukwuma Okorafor, OT, Western Michigan
2017: 6-6, 300 pounds
If you’ve watched the Seahawks play this year and don’t think they need to draft offensive line with their first three picks in this draft, you’re probably their general manager. Thanks for reading, John Schneider. You were my favorite Duke boy.
20. Detroit Lions – Bryce Love, RB, Stanford
2017: 5-10, 196 pounds, 263 carries, 2,118 yards, 19 touchdowns
The Lions haven’t put a running game on the field since James “Little Man” Stewart suited up for the team. Ameer Abdullah hasn’t been the answer. This is the biggest hole in their offense and Love should help suture it up.
21. Baltimore Ravens – Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, DE/OLB, Oklahoma
2017: 6-1, 240 pounds, 79 tackles, 17 for a loss, eight sacks, two passes defended, two fumble recoveries, three forced fumbles
Terrell Suggs can’t play forever. With Okoronkwo falling here to No. 21, there’s no excuse not to snatch him off the board and make him the heir apparent. Baltimore needs a wideout too, but they’ll just have to address that later.
22. Atlanta Falcons – Minkah Fitzpatrick, Safety, Alabama
2017: 6-1, 202 pounds, 52 tackles, six for a loss, 1.5 sacks, one interception, six passes defended, one forced fumble
The Falcons have disappointed all season, but still had a shot to make the playoffs again on the season’s final day. Regardless of what happens there, they need to continue working on their defense. Fitzpatrick is the best safety on the board at 22.
23. Tennessee Titans – Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama
2017: 6-1, 190 pounds, 55 catches, 896 yards, three touchdowns
Ridley had a down year in an Alabama offense not built for his talents. The Titans have a solid group of receivers already, but Eric Decker is old and may not be back. There aren’t a lot of gaping holes on this team other than its current head coach. They’d be smart to add Ridley here and team him up with Corey Davis and Rashard Matthews.
24. Carolina Panthers – Anthony Miller, WR, Memphis
2017: 5-11, 190 pounds, 96 catches, 1,462 yards, 18 touchdowns
The Panthers chucked their best wideout in a trade this season and wanted to add more outside speed. Miller fits that bill.
25. Buffalo Bills – Ryan Finley, QB, N.C. State
2017: 6-4, 210 pounds, 65.1 completion percentage, 3,514 yards, 17 touchdowns, six interceptions, 194 rushing yards, three rushing touchdowns
That’s right, I’ve got six quarterbacks going in the first round in this mock draft. Do I think that’ll happen when April 26 rolls around? I have no clue. Hell, there could be seven if dumbass teams fall in love with Lamar Jackson during the combine. The Bills must take a QB and choose Finley over Jackson because they already had Jackson in Tyrod Taylor.
26. New Orleans Saints – Joshua Jackson, CB, Iowa
2017: 6-1, 192 pounds, 48 tackles, 0.5 for a loss, eight interceptions, two defensive touchdowns, 18 passes defended
Let me ask you this, why doesn’t anybody call this guy “Pacey?” Like, I didn’t even watch that God-forsaken show, but I still know that a perfect nickname for this kid would be Pacey. Come on, people. Get with it here. Yep, I have the Saints taking a corner for the second year in a row. They need one. New Orleans’ defense made plenty of strides this year. Time to keep building that, but I would be very intrigued to see Lamar Jackson go here to the Saints as the guy to eventually replace Drew Brees. With Sean Payton and Brees training him to play QB, he could end up being the most dangerous weapon in the league.
To be continued…
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