2018 NFL Mock Draft: Quarterbacks making 19-year old history
6. Indianapolis Colts: Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia
The Indianapolis Colts need impact players in this draft.
If a quarterback falls to the sixth pick, they should trade this pick away to the highest bidder, and hope for the best at whatever pick they end up with.
This draft may need to be about quantity for the Colts, but I’m not projecting any trades in this mock and thus, the Colts come away with a playmaker at linebacker that can change the culture of their defense quickly.
Their top pick last year — Malik Hooker — unfortunately had his season shortened due to injury. With Hooker returning and the addition of a player like Smith, the Colts’ defense could very quickly turn things around.
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State
If the Buccaneers are facing this scenario, I think they would do backflips in the draft room.
They may even consider moving up to ensure they get Barkley in this scenario, but running back remains their primary need heading into the 2018 NFL Draft, and Barkley is the best back in a talented class.
This move would be the final piece of the puzzle for the Bucs, who have top picks at every skill position offensively (Jameis Winston, Mike Evans, O.J. Howard), a pair of second round picks anchoring the offensive line (Donovan Smith, Ali Marpet), and a big free agent acquisition snapping the ball (Ryan Jensen).
Barkley would be the Buccaneers’ dream scenario on draft night.
8. Chicago Bears: Quenton Nelson, OG, Notre Dame
The Chicago Bears, like the Buccaneers before them, would probably be jumping for joy if Quenton Nelson were still on the board with the 8th overall selection.
Nelson is the nastiest, most consistent offensive lineman I have evaluated since I came on board at NFL Mocks in 2011.
The hiring of Harry Heistand by Matt Nagy in Chicago ever so slightly gives away the Bears’ desire to pick this player in the top 10.
What makes their interest even more obvious is that they created a hole at this position by letting go of Josh Sitton and they’ve not done anything to fill it with someone who is going to take a starting position, no questions asked.
Therefore, Nelson would be a plug-and-play for this new-look Bears offense, which was fully stocked with big time weapons in free agency.
9. San Francisco 49ers: Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State
The San Francisco 49ers seem to be hitting one home run after another in the John Lynch/Kyle Shanahan era, but one area this team needs an influx of new, young talent is at the cornerback position.
Denzel Ward is not the biggest cornerback in the draft, but he is one of the fastest, toughest, and most technically sound.
After signing Richard Sherman this offseason, Ward would be able to come in and play some nickel for the 49ers right away, allowing last year’s third round pick Ahkello Weatherspoon to stay outside if the 49ers so choose.
Otherwise, he could come in and provide this team with an instant impact player on the outside, similar to what we saw from his former teammate at Ohio State Marshon Lattimore last year with the Saints.
10. Oakland Raiders: Minkah Fitzpatrick, DB, Alabama
The Raiders need to take the best defensive player on their board with this pick, and it wouldn’t shock me in the slightest if that player were Minkah Fitzpatrick out of Alabama.
Fitzpatrick is getting knocked in the pre-draft process for not having a solidified position, but I actually think that could help him with a creative defensive coordinator.
Fitzpatrick is a weapon for your secondary, and he might remind Jon Gruden (here comes a lofty hot take comparison) of Charles Woodson in his Packers days, where he was capable of lining up with players outside, playing in the box as a safety, or roaming around the back end of the defense.
I think the Raiders would do well to pick Fitzpatrick here to round out the top 10 picks.