PapaL
Loose Screw
1) Cleveland Browns
Sam Darnold, QB, USC
I still believe the Browns need to address the QB position here, and any of the top four quarterbacks are in play now that Darnold and Josh Rosen have officially declared for the draft. This pick obviously changes (or is up for grabs via trade) if Cleveland lands Kirk Cousins in free agency. Between off-field issues for Rosen and his tools and intangibles on the field, Darnold should be the pick. I understand why Kiper went with Josh Allen in his first mock, but Darnold is a little safer. He's the best of the bunch at this point.
2) New York Giants
Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA
New coach Pat Shurmur has publicly supported 37-year-old Eli Manning as New York's starting QB next season, so this pick remains the same as my last mock. The Giants could take Rosen as the heir apparent, but I wouldn't be surprised if a team traded with New York to get ahead of the Jets and Broncos in an effort to grab Rosen. Drafting Saquon Barkley to pair with Odell Beckham Jr. could be a possibility as well. The Giants have a lot of options.
3) Indianapolis Colts
Bradley Chubb, DE, NC State
Indianapolis has needs all over the roster but is one of the few teams in the top 10 that should be set at QB, assuming Andrew Luck comes back healthy. One of their needs is an edge rusher, and Chubb is the best one available. He's a grinder with a great motor and has played his way into being a top-10 pick. The Colts will be another potential team looking to trade back if someone wants to move up for a QB.
4) Cleveland Browns (via Houston Texans)
Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State
The Browns have a lot of needs (CB, WR, DE opposite Myles Garrett among them), but they have a real chance to finish off a home run draft in this scenario. With a new QB at No. 1, running back is also a need. Isaiah Crowell is a pending free agent, and Duke Johnson has one year left on his deal. Barkley is better than both players and is No. 1 on my list of the top 32 prospects. He's the best player in this draft.
5) Denver Broncos
Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma
The Broncos have to accept that they missed on Paxton Lynch (No. 26 overall in 2016) and are still looking for a franchise QB. This is another potential landing spot for Cousins or another free-agent QB, but if Denver doesn't get one in free agency, it will likely use an early pick on a signal-caller. John Elway was at the Senior Bowl and scouted both Mayfield and Josh Allen. This will be a really interesting pick if both are on the board. Mayfield had an impressive week in Mobile and checked the biggest remaining box with his measurements (6-foot, 216 pounds, 9½-inch hand span). He's rising.
6) New York Jets
Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming
Yes, it's a running theme -- this is another landing spot for Cousins. If the Jets don't sign him in free agency, Allen makes a lot of sense if Mayfield is off the board. There is a significant drop-off in talent after the first four QBs in this draft, so the Jets need to make sure they grab one here. Allen had an impressive performance at the Senior Bowl, showing off his arm and his mobility. There are still concerns about his accuracy and ability to make multidimensional throws consistently, but all the tools are there. And he has the prototypical QB build (6-4 7/8, 237).
7) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Minkah Fitzpatrick, S, Alabama
The Bucs were dead last in the NFL with 17 sacks last season, and the defense was been porous (31st in total points). They still need another edge rusher opposite Noah Spence, but drafting the best possible player is better than reaching for a pass-rusher here. Fitzpatrick is a shutdown cornerback with the versatility to play safety and can be plugged in immediately.
8) Chicago Bears
Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama
The Bears desperately need playmakers on the outside for second-year QB Mitchell Trubisky and can't count on Kevin White to stay healthy. Ridley is the clear No. 1 wideout in this class, and while I don't think he's a true No. 1 NFL wide receiver, he's much better than his stats in a run-heavy Alabama offense indicate. Denzel Ward would be another consideration here.
Sam Darnold, QB, USC
I still believe the Browns need to address the QB position here, and any of the top four quarterbacks are in play now that Darnold and Josh Rosen have officially declared for the draft. This pick obviously changes (or is up for grabs via trade) if Cleveland lands Kirk Cousins in free agency. Between off-field issues for Rosen and his tools and intangibles on the field, Darnold should be the pick. I understand why Kiper went with Josh Allen in his first mock, but Darnold is a little safer. He's the best of the bunch at this point.
2) New York Giants
Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA
New coach Pat Shurmur has publicly supported 37-year-old Eli Manning as New York's starting QB next season, so this pick remains the same as my last mock. The Giants could take Rosen as the heir apparent, but I wouldn't be surprised if a team traded with New York to get ahead of the Jets and Broncos in an effort to grab Rosen. Drafting Saquon Barkley to pair with Odell Beckham Jr. could be a possibility as well. The Giants have a lot of options.
3) Indianapolis Colts
Bradley Chubb, DE, NC State
Indianapolis has needs all over the roster but is one of the few teams in the top 10 that should be set at QB, assuming Andrew Luck comes back healthy. One of their needs is an edge rusher, and Chubb is the best one available. He's a grinder with a great motor and has played his way into being a top-10 pick. The Colts will be another potential team looking to trade back if someone wants to move up for a QB.
4) Cleveland Browns (via Houston Texans)
Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State
The Browns have a lot of needs (CB, WR, DE opposite Myles Garrett among them), but they have a real chance to finish off a home run draft in this scenario. With a new QB at No. 1, running back is also a need. Isaiah Crowell is a pending free agent, and Duke Johnson has one year left on his deal. Barkley is better than both players and is No. 1 on my list of the top 32 prospects. He's the best player in this draft.
5) Denver Broncos
Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma
The Broncos have to accept that they missed on Paxton Lynch (No. 26 overall in 2016) and are still looking for a franchise QB. This is another potential landing spot for Cousins or another free-agent QB, but if Denver doesn't get one in free agency, it will likely use an early pick on a signal-caller. John Elway was at the Senior Bowl and scouted both Mayfield and Josh Allen. This will be a really interesting pick if both are on the board. Mayfield had an impressive week in Mobile and checked the biggest remaining box with his measurements (6-foot, 216 pounds, 9½-inch hand span). He's rising.
6) New York Jets
Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming
Yes, it's a running theme -- this is another landing spot for Cousins. If the Jets don't sign him in free agency, Allen makes a lot of sense if Mayfield is off the board. There is a significant drop-off in talent after the first four QBs in this draft, so the Jets need to make sure they grab one here. Allen had an impressive performance at the Senior Bowl, showing off his arm and his mobility. There are still concerns about his accuracy and ability to make multidimensional throws consistently, but all the tools are there. And he has the prototypical QB build (6-4 7/8, 237).
7) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Minkah Fitzpatrick, S, Alabama
The Bucs were dead last in the NFL with 17 sacks last season, and the defense was been porous (31st in total points). They still need another edge rusher opposite Noah Spence, but drafting the best possible player is better than reaching for a pass-rusher here. Fitzpatrick is a shutdown cornerback with the versatility to play safety and can be plugged in immediately.
8) Chicago Bears
Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama
The Bears desperately need playmakers on the outside for second-year QB Mitchell Trubisky and can't count on Kevin White to stay healthy. Ridley is the clear No. 1 wideout in this class, and while I don't think he's a true No. 1 NFL wide receiver, he's much better than his stats in a run-heavy Alabama offense indicate. Denzel Ward would be another consideration here.