Welcome to the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft!
The time for prognostication and debate is over. Teams will be taking matters into their owns hands and selecting the players they think will give their franchises the best chance to compete for future championships.
The Denver Broncos went with edge rusher Bradley Chubb with their fifth pick, which should make him and Von Miller quite the terror to opposing quarterbacks next season.
Here is how the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft is playing out tonight.
First Round - 2018 NFL Draft Results
| Pick | Team | Selection | Pos. | School | Analysis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pick | Team | Selection | Pos. | School | Analysis |
| 1 | Cleveland Browns | Baker Mayfield | QB | Oklahoma | The Cleveland Browns get their franchise quarterback by selecting University of Oklahoma product Baker Mayfield. He's the third ranked quarterback on the board, but like I said in the Mile High Report NFL Draft podcast, his desire to win and be the best is unparalleled and the fire and energy he brings to the gridiron will elevate the players around him. All of Cleveland is hoping he can be the guy to finally bring their franchise back to being relevant. |
| 2 | New York Giants | Saquon Barkley | RB | Penn State | The New York Giants draft arguably the draft's most explosive playmaker in Saquon Barkley. He can help the Giants compete in the NFC East and has a chance to be an elite player in the league. |
| 3 | New York Jets | Sam Darnold | QB | USC | The New York Jets moved up a long time ago hoping to get one of the QB's they were comfortable with, and by the looks of their war room, they just got their top quarterback. Darnold has a lot of things to work on and his turnovers are a concern, but he can sling it and when the game is on the line, he usually delivers. |
| 4 | Cleveland Browns | Denzel Ward | CB | Ohio State | The Browns don't trade back from #4 and the player they select is Ohio State corner Denzel Ward. He is my ninth-ranked player overall, but is a special talent who can play inside and out and has a nose for the football. Good pick. |
| 5 | Denver Broncos | Bradley Chubb | EDGE | North Carolina State | In the past two years at NC State, Chubb racked up 20 sacks and four forced fumbles. He is the draft's best pass rusher and will form a dynamic duo alongside Von Miller. He was the number two player rated on my board and the highest defensive player I had. What an incredible get for the Broncos. He also provides insurance for the potential departures of Shane Ray and Shaq Barrett next offseason. |
| 6 | Indianapolis Colts | Quenton Nelson | OG | Notre Dame | The Indianapolis Colts needed someone to help protect Andrew Luck and they did just that by selecting Quenton Nelson, my number one player, from the University of Notre Dame. He will bring a nasty demeanor to their offensive line and has a shot at being a constant All-Pro player. Great pick! |
| 7 | Buffalo Bills (via Tampa Bay) | Josh Allen | QB | Wyoming | The Buffalo Bills trade both of their second-round picks and their first-round selection to move up and select Josh Allen. I didn't even have a first round grade on Josh Allen, but this seems like the guy Buffalo wanted from the get go. He has all the physical traits teams covet, but he has a long ways to go in regard to processing the field and the game. |
| 8 | Chicago Bears | Roquan Smith | ILB | Georgia | The Chicago Bears bring back the inside linebacker in a big fashion by selecting Brian Urlacher. Roquan Smith will probably remind Vic Fangio of Patrick Willis and bring sideline-to-sideline speed to their defense. |
| 9 | San Francisco 49ers | Mike McGlinchey | OT | Notre Dame | The San Francisco 49ers take Mike McGlinchey and find Joe Staley's heir at left tackle. I wouldn't have made this pick for the 49ers since there are better players on the board, but it's not a bad choice. |
| 10 | Arizona Cardinals (via Oakland) | Josh Rosen | QB | UCLA | The Arizona Cardinals move up five spots with the Oakland Raiders and select Josh Rosen to be their quarterback of the future. Rosen was my second-rated quarterback and I believe the most pro-ready in the entire draft. Best part about it? They only had to trade a third and a fifth to get him. |
| 11 | Miami Dolphins | Minkah Fitzpatrick | CB | Alabama | The Miami Dolphins at the ten slot take my tenth overall player: Minkah Fitzpatrick. He can play anywhere in the defensive backfield, but his best fit would be as a safety at the next level. |
| 12 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers (via Buffalo) | Vita Vea | DT | Washington | Tampa Bay goes out and gets Vita Vea, who was eleventh on my board, to pair next to Gerald McCoy. Opposing offensive lines need to take notice. Fantastic value. Great pick! |
| 13 | Washington Redskins | Da'Ron Payne | DT | Alabama | The Washington Redskins at the thirteenth pick take massive defensive lineman Da'Ron Payne out of Alabama. I had a late first-round grade (26th overall) on him, but he fills a huge void on their defensive line and has a shot at becoming a very good professional player if he refines his technique. |
| 14 | New Orleans Saints (via Green Bay) | Marcus Davenport | DE | UTSA | The New Orleans Saints gave up their future first-round pick (2019) to move up and get Marcus Davenport. He is my eighteenth rated player and a great pass rusher, but I don't think he is the type of prospect you move up that high for and give up that much. |
| 15 | Oakland Raiders (via Arizona) | Kolton Miller | OT | UCLA | The Oakland Raiders make by far the worst pick in the draft so far (outside of what the Saints just gave up) and selected Kolton Miller, OT from UCLA. He had a late second-round grade (#63) on my board. He performed well at the combine, but his tape was garbage. This selection was pathetic, but that's not surprising given what franchise made it. |
| 16 | Buffalo Bills (via Baltimore) | Tremaine Edmunds | EDGE | Virgina Tech | The Buffalo Bills moved up again and wind up with my fourth ranked player in the entire draft: Tremaine Edmunds. I'm not sure what they gave up for him, but I love the selection. He is only 19 years old and could grow into a very special player. A+ pick for Buffalo, who make up for taking Josh Allen earlier. |
| 17 | Los Angeles Chargers | Derwin James | DB | Florida State | The Los Angeles Chargers get great value by selecting Derwin James at seventeen overall. I had him as the eighth best player in the draft. He has incredible range and is always around the football. This is a fantastic pick for the Chargers. |
| 18 | Green Bay Packers (via Seattle) | Jaire Alexander | CB | Louisville | The Green Bay Packers moved back and then moved back up and selected Louisville corner Jaire Alexander, as I stated in my Top 100 (I had him at #14): Alexander’s a tough evaluation because he missed a lot of time this past year due to injury, but his coverage skills, understanding of route concepts and ability to stick with defenders are on par with the best in this year’s class. Great value. |
| 19 | Dallas Cowboys | Leighton Vander Esch | ILB | Boise State | With the 19th pick, the Dallas Cowboys take linebacker Leighton Vander Esch, who was 19th on my big board. He's a one-year wonder, but he has the instincts and athleticism to be a difference maker for their defense. Great pick. |
| 20 | Detroit Lions | Frank Ragnow | C | Arkansas | The Detroit Lions take center Frank Ragnow from Arkansas, who was 24th on my board. He also has versatility and experience at right guard and should contribute immediately as a rookie. |
| 21 | Cincinnati Bengals | Billy Price | C | Ohio State | The Cincinnati Bengals desperately needed help on the interior of their offensive line, particularly center and they land one of the best in this year's draft with Billy Price from Ohio State. His tape was first-round caliber, but I dropped him to the beginning of the second-round (value wise) because of his injury. Solid pick. |
| 22 | Tennessee Titans (via Baltimore) | Rashaan Evans | ILB | Alabama | The Tennessee Titans move up ahead of the Patriots and take linebacker Rashaan Evans. He can play off the ball, but excels getting through the gaps and terrorizing quarterbacks on blitzes. Great fit, but I don't think he's a first-round player. |
| 23 | New England Patriots | Isaiah Wynn | OT | Georgia | The New England Patriots take Georgia OL Isaiah Wynn at 23 overall. This is a great pick for the Patriots, who get a prospect who can play tackle or guard. I had him ranked 28th overall. |
| 24 | Carolina Panthers | D.J. Moore | WR | Maryland | The Carolina Panthers select the first receiver in this year's draft and it's D.J. Moore out of Maryland, who was my 25th overall ranked player and my top receiver. He will probably remind some of their fans of Steve Smith. Incredible selection. |
| 25 | Baltimore Ravens (via Tennessee) | Hayden Hurst | TE | South Carolina | The Baltimore Ravens take Hayden Hurst, tight end from South Carolina. I really like Hurst, but felt he was more of a second-round talent. Dallas Goedert is my highest rated tight end, I'd of taken him over Hurst if I were the Ravens. |
| 26 | Atlanta Falcons | Calvin Ridley | WR | Alabama | The Atlanta Falcons get wide receiver Calvin Ridley from Alabama at 26. I had him at 29th overall, so this is good value for him. He should come in and help the Falcons aerial attack right away. |
| 27 | Seattle Seahawks (via Green Bay) | Rashaad Penny | RB | San Diego State | The Seattle Seahawks took Rashaad Penny. This is way too early for him and there are a lot of better running backs in this class, but he pounds it like they like to do, so maybe it will work out. Worst value of the draft so far. |
| 28 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Terrell Edmunds | S | Virginia Tech | Terrell Edmunds is taken by the Pittsburgh Steelers. I had a late third round grade on him, so this is quite early for me, but their coaches and team do a great job of putting players in a spot to succeed, so we will have to wait and see on this one. |
| 29 | Jacksonville Jaguars | Taven Bryan | DT | Florida | Taven Bryan was #30 on my big board and goes to an already stacked Jaguars defensive front. He will learn a lot from Calais Campbell, Marcel Dareus and Malik Jackson. |
| 30 | Minnesota Vikings | Mike Hughes | CB | UCF | Mike Hughes is a great selection for the Vikings. He can play multiple corner spots and is a phenomenal returner as well. I had him as a Top 20 player. |
| 31 | New England Patriots | Sony Michel | RB | Georgia | Sony Michel is one of the best playmakers in this year's draft, but his fumbling rate is alarming and medical history are a cause for concern. If he can over come those two issues, he could be one of the best running backs in the NFL. |
| 32 | Baltimore Ravens (via Philadelphia) | Lamar Jackson | QB | Louisville | Lamar Jackson is my QB4, but he has enormous potential. A creative play-caller can get the most of his abilities, and he will have that with Harbaught in Baltimore. As I mentioned in my scouting report, he improved every year in college, but still struggles to make key plays through the air on third down, especially if it’s third and long. He won't start year one Baltimore, but in his second year, he could be ready to make some sparks fly. |