#1 Cleveland Browns: Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma
This pick has come at somewhat of a surprise as there were rumors all over the table as to who the pick would be. The prevailing rumor was Josh Allen. There was also speculation that this pick will be Sam Darnold. Overall, the Browns took the most confident quarterback. The question is can he make all the throws to be a franchise quarterback.
#2 New York Giants: Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State
The Giants went ahead and took arguably the best non-quarterback prospect in the draft. Barkley was a star at Penn State with big runs and splash plays. The also tore up the combine. Now the Giants are set at running back for the next five years. They look to go with Eli Manning for the near future. Adding Barkley is an offense that already features Eli and OBJ makes the Giants a good bet at online sportsbooks.
#3 New York Jets: Sam Darnold, QB, USC
The Jets traded up for this pick about a month ago, and now they look brilliant. Anyone could have told you the Jets wanted a quarterback, and now they have the best one in the draft. Darnold has the arm and confidence to become the quarterback in New York.
#4 Cleveland Browns: Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State
Why the Browns didn’t go Bradley Chubb here is a big surprise. The benefit of Ward is that he is the top player at an impact position. Ward has elite cover ability, so then the only question with him is his size.
#5 Denver Broncos: Bradley Chubb, OLB, NC State
John Elway said it all when he said when Bradley Chubb falls to you; you take him. Bradley Chubb has the production and raw skills you want in a pass rusher. Looking forward to watching Bradley Chubb and Von Miller rushing the QB at the same time.
#6 Indianapolis Colts: Quenton Nelson, OG, Notre Dame
The Colts trade down and win with the pickup of Quenton Nelson. Nelson is probably the most-complete prospect at this position in the draft. He also is probably one of the best guard prospects we have had in years. The Colts will be able to plug him in and run the ball all day. He also will help protect Andrew Luck.
#7 Buffalo Bills: Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming
The Bills trade up from the #12 spot to take a quarterback ahead of the Dolphins. It comes as kind of a shock to me that they did not take Josh Rosen here. Allen has the tools to be a star quarterback, but this low completion percentage in the Mountain West Conference comes as a disappointment. He will probably have to sit behind AJ McCarron until he is ready.
#8 Chicago Bears: Roquan Smith, ILB, Georgia
Roquan Smith is a star linebacker and may be the most talented defender at his position. The only hole that is clear in his game is taking on inside blocks. He can stop the run from sideline to sideline and has great speed to cover.
#9 San Francisco 49ers: Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame
So the 49ers have needs all along the team but continue their rebuilding effort with Mike McGlinchey. McGlinchey is probably going to slide in and play right tackle for the 49ers opposite Joe Staley. They now have shored up their protection for Jimmy Garoppolo.
#10 Arizona Cardinals: Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA
The Cardinals probably make the best pick of the draft trading from #15 to #10 to get Josh Rosen. They were lucky that Rosen was still on the board and now they have a quarterback of the future after Carson Palmer retired. Josh Rosen is the most accurate passer in this draft and will be able to step in if Sam Bradford gets hurt again.
#11 Miami Dolphins: Minkah Fitzpatrick, S, Alabama
This is the first of many Alabama prospects to come off the board. Minkah Fitzpatrick is versatile enough that he can play the deep safety and cover in the slot. He is well regarded by Nick Saban who said that Fitzpatrick is both a talented player as well as a hard worker.
#12 Tampa Bay Buccaneer: Vita Vea, DT, Washington
The Buccaneers were smart to trade down if what they wanted was a run-stuffing defensive tackle. This is a player that you can get at a discount and can help your defensive line. The knock on him is his motor, but if he works on his conditioning, he can be a plugger in the middle.
#13 Washington Redskins: Da’Ron Payne, DL, Alabama
The Redskins bolster themselves up the middle taking another defensive lineman after Vita Vea. Payne is arguably a better pick who is probably a better pass rusher. Payne has the size to rush from the middle in the base and the athleticism to rush from the interior.
#14 New Orleans Saints: Marcus Davenport, DE, UTSA
The Saints traded up to get an edge rusher. Davenport will probably start with his hand in the dirt and create pressure from the edge. They traded up for this pick because there are not a lot of alternative edge rushers that will be available later in the first round.
#15 Oakland Raiders: Kolton Miller, OT, UCLA
The Raiders made a surprise move picking Josh Rosen’s left tackle. Although people are denouncing this pick, I think the Raiders shored up the right side of their line with this pick. I’m glad they didn’t reach for Orlando Brown or tried to make Connor Williams a tackle here.
#16 Buffalo Bills: Tremaine Edmunds, MLB, Virginia Tech
The Bills traded back up for this pick and what a good linebacker prospect they got. He is young and full of speed and toughness. The Bills upgraded the linebacker room here.
#17 Los Angeles Chargers: Derwin James, S, Florida State
Although the Chargers have needs on the offensive line and at receiver, the Chargers drafted the best player available on the board in Derwin James. James is a playmaker, and that is exactly the kind of spark the Chargers need to be competitive in the AFC West.
#18 Green Bay Packers: Jaire Alexander, CB, Louisville
It was very clear that the Packers were looking to improve at the cornerback position. Alexander was expected to go later in the first round, but on the bright side, the Packers upgrade their secondary. I think this pick is a sign they are not happy with last year’s second rounder Kevin King.
#19 Dallas Cowboys: Leighton Vander Esch, LB, Boise State
This is a player with a high upside, and the Cowboys do need to improve their defense. As much as it would have been nice to take a receiver here, there really isn’t a receiver in this draft that is an immediate #1.
#20 Detriot Lions: Frank Ragnow, C, Arkansas
The first center off the board is somewhat a surprise. Frank Ragnow was pegged as a second rounder, but an underrated one. Now the Lions have shored up their offensive line.
#21 Cincinnati Bengals: Billy Price, C, Ohio State
The Bengals needed offensive line help, and they get a polished interior lineman here. My feeling is this is another piece but not the finished product of what the Bengals want their line to be.
#22 Tennessee Titans: Rashaan Evans, ILB, Alabama
The Titans get a good player here who can step in and start for their already talented defense. The Titans had a good top of the draft and have solidified themselves as one of the more talented defenses in the league.
#23 New England Patriots: Isaiah Wynn, OG, Georgia
The Patriots go unconventional again. They had a need at left tackle and took a college left tackle in Isaiah Wynn. The surprising part of this move is that Wynn was supposed to be drafted as a guard. The Patriots think outside the box again.
#24 Carolina Panthers: DJ Moore, WR, Maryland
The Panthers did have a need at Wide Receiver, but I think they reached for this pick. I think DJ Moore was more of a second round value. I also thought better receivers were on the board like Calvin Ridley.
#25 Baltimore Ravens: Hayden Hurst, TE, South Carolina
Some were surprised that this was the pick in the first round. I think Hurst is the most complete tight end in this draft. I think the problem was that he is 24 and spent some of his early years playing minor league baseball.
#26 Atlanta Falcons: Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama
I think this is a good value pick at this position. The Falcons are a pretty robust team to start. Adding Calvin Ridley behind Julio Jones makes this offense more dangerous.
#27 Seattle Seahawks: Rashaad Penny, RB, San Diego State
Now I think this is a good player, but I did think this was early to take him. Penny adds the ability to run and return kicks. I just thought there were better backs on the board like Derrius Guice.
#28 Pittsburgh Steelers: Terrell Edmunds S Virginia Tech
I think even Terrell Edmunds was surprised by this pick. The Steelers did need to upgrade themselves at the safety position with the down year of Sean Davis and the cutting of Mike Mitchell. I thought Edmunds was more of a third-round value.
#29 Jacksonville Jaguars: Taven Bryan, DT, Florida
Taven Bryan is a good value pick at this spot and the only reason they probably got him is because defensive tackles are just not drafted as high. Bryan will add an interior rush to an already stout Jacksonville defense.
#30 Minnesota Vikings: Mike Hughes, CB, UCF
The Vikings desperately need help on the offensive line, but still, take a defensive player in Mike Hughes. Hughes is a corner who can probably step in the slot and maybe develop into an outside corner. The Vikings love to draft corners.
#31 New England Patriots: Sony Michel, RB, Georgia
Michel has a strong player comparison to Alvin Kamara which ended up being a pretty strong pick. The Patriots lost Dion Lewis in free agency, and this gives them a new smaller and speedier back.
#32 Baltimore Ravens: Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville
Ozzie Newsome, the Ravens general manager, hinted that the Ravens pick could surprise some people. I think this pick did as the Ravens traded with the Eagles for #32. Lamar Jackson is probably the most interesting player as he is a running quarterback with the ability to throw the deep ball. The question is: does he have the accuracy to make the shorter to intermediate passes?
