NFL Mock Draft 1.0

The squad from the Loaded Box Podcast teamed up with two of the three members of the Beer Fueled Fantasy Football Podcast to produce our first mock draft leading up to the 2018 NFL Draft.

Why didn’t we invite the third and final member of the Beer Fueled trio you may ask (@ThuryBFF)?  Well, honestly, we have a feeling he’s going to end up on a not-so-favorable list that the government creates, and we’re not trying to be associated with that.

Take a look, enjoy, and let us know who you think did the best/worst as we mock our way through the first round.

1. Cleveland Browns (DJ Premo – @LoadedBoxDJ)
Sam Darnold, QB, USC

The Browns went out and got Carlos Hyde in free agency, which makes it clear that their priority in this draft isn’t running back.  This is their best chance to finally grab their franchise quarterback who will have a ton of talent around him.  If Darnold busts, then I will truly believe the Browns are cursed and every move they make is a lost cause forever

2. New York Giants (Logan Beatty – @Logeyj)
Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming

Eli Manning is getting traded on draft day, and the Giants select Josh Allen.  For all you nerds concerned about the stats, lemme tell ya something.  Have you heard how TALL THIS GUY IS?  Besides, his hands are massive.  Not Trump big, but pretty damn big.  Gotta have a QB in this league and Allen is definitely a QB.  Any questions?  I refer you to draftjoshallen.com

3. New York Jets (Robert Molnar – @RMolnar1010)
Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA

Rosen makes it three straight quarterbacks to lead off the draft.  While he does have an attitude problem, this issue should make him feel extremely at home with all the snot-nosed people of New York, allowing the Jets fans to loathe and love him all at the same time

4. Cleveland Browns (Ben Morgan – @LoadedBox_Ben)
Minkah Fitzpatrick, DB, Alabama

The Browns grabbed their quarterback of the future in Darnold, now they look at add on defense with Fitzpatrick.  Alabama products typically seem more pro-ready than your usual draft prospect, so Fitzpatrick is both the best player available and the safe pick here

5. Denver Broncos (Nick Spartz – @NickSpartz)
Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma

John Elway runs to the podium when he realizes his favorite quarterback is still available at No. 5, expecting to have to settle for a top-tier player at another position.  Mayfield gives them a top-tier prospect behind Case Keenum as a bridge QB, and Mayfield will get to plant his flag at Mile High by the end of 2018 when he takes over the starting job

6. Indianapolis Colts (Mikey Ostrowski – @MikeyOstrowski)
Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn St.

Barkley falls to the 6th-pick in astonishing fashion.  Though the Colts could use help elsewhere, passing up on this generational talent will be impossible.  If Andrew Luck somehow returns at 100 percent, the Colts’ offense suddenly looks terrifying with Barkley behind him

7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Kristopher Hopper – @HoppBFF)
Bradley Chubb, EDGE, North Carolina St.

The Bucs’ defense was pretty bad last year, and at this point, Jason Pierre-Paul is a rotational piece in my opinion.  Chubb is the best player on the board and playing on a line with William Gholston and Gerald McCoy suddenly gives the Bucs a good pass rush

8. Chicago Bears (Levi Brenneman – @LeviBrenneman)
Quenton Nelson, OL, Notre Dame

Nelson is hands down the best offensive lineman in this draft (eat your heart out Orlando Brown).  The Bears have their guy at quarterback with Mitchell Trubisky and the next step is keeping him protected.  You can’t have the sports car without getting insurance for it, and Nelson is the football equivalent of the Geico gecko

9. San Francisco 49ers (DJ)
Marcus Davenport, EDGE, UTSA

The 49ers addressed the cornerback position with the addition of Richard Sherman and could still use help at safety with the expected loss of Eric Reid.  That being said, the 49ers lack edge rushers, and the most important position on defense in the NFL is a pass rusher

10. Oakland Raiders (Logan)
Tremaine Edmunds, LB, Virginia Tech

Coach Jon Gruden wants to go back to the old way of doing things, and nothing spells old like drafting a stand-up linebacker in the top 10.  Dude went to VT so BEAMERBALL IN DA HAAAAAUUSE!  Guy has great instincts.  Instincts so good that if he were around that fateful day coach Beamer was standing next to that gas can, he would have sensed it coming and pushed coach out of the way

11. Miami Dolphins (Robert)
Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia

The Miami Dolphins get the linebacker they desperately need with this pick.  Pairing Smith with Kiko Alonso and Raekwon McMillan, the Dolphins linebacker corps should be a major upgrade over their 2017 counterparts

12. Buffalo Bills (Ben)
Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville

Recently acquired A.J. McCarron is fine for 2018, but he’s not the long-term solution in Buffalo.  The fifth quarterback comes off the board as the Bills take advantage of this deep QB class and select Jackson.  If McCarron produces, you have trade bait in Jackson.  If McCarron struggles, you have another option in Jackson.  If both end up struggling, you draft a quarterback again in a couple of years

13. Washington Redskins (Nick)
Vita Vea, DT, Washington

With holes all over the defense, the Redskins want to make this a team that doesn’t need Alex Smith to go win games for them.  They grab the best nose tackle in a decade who should immediately improve their run defense and act as an anchor for their defense

14. Green Bay Packers (Mikey)
Derwin James, S, Florida State

Green Bay’s secondary is a mess, however, James could be a gigantic piece of the puzzle.  James is big, fast, mean and has what it takes to be a truly elite safety in the NFL.  He’s also a great locker-room presence with the ability to lead his team defensively.  The Packers may have hit the jackpot at No. 14

15. Arizona Cardinals (Kristopher)
Courtland Sutton, WR, SMU

This team is a mess and has a ton of holes.  They need a Larry Fitzgerald heir apparent but also a receiver that can contribute as they attempt to hold onto what’s already gone (their window as contenders).  With two safeties gone already, they grab the best wide receiver off the board and solidify their WR1 post-Fitzgerald

16. Baltimore Ravens (Levi)
Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama

The Ravens are hurting badly at wide receiver.  Breshad Perriman still has time to develop into something respectable, but they can’t bank on just him to catch Joe Flacco’s ducks.  Ridley is one of the best receivers available and he played college ball at Nick Saban’s factory for future NFL stars.  He’ll be able to step in and contribute right away

17. Los Angeles Chargers (DJ)
Rashaan Evans, LB, Alabama

Last year the Chargers were great against the pass but 31st in rush yards given up.  They had more hold in their defense than I can find to put my dick in.  Evans is the perfect linebacker to bring in to clog up a couple of those holes; sorta like a good butt plug

18. Seattle Seahawks (Logan)
Isaiah Wynn, OL, Georgia

Might be the most unsexy pick I have seen since DJ sent me that Snapchat of him wearing a banana hammock while laying in a banana hammock.  Anywhooooooo, the guy is an athletic guard who can maul, and Lord knows the Seahawks need all the help they can get up front

19. Dallas Cowboys (Robert)
Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio St.

The ‘Boys need receiver help, but with the only first-round prospects already off the board, they go best player available and select Ohio State cornerback, Denzel Ward

20. Detroit Lions (Ben)
Derrius Guice, RB, LSU

It’s time to supply Matthew Stafford with the running back he’s needed since being in the NFL.  Guice is the RB you can lean on to put games away in the fourth quarter and will fill one of the biggest holes Detroit has remaining

21. Cincinnati Bengals (Nick)
Connor Williams, OL, Texas

The Bengals traded for a franchise left tackle and they’ll add one of the best players in this draft.  Plus, he’s a better run blocker so they can put him either at right tackle or guard to solidify the line

22. Buffalo Bills (Mikey)
Mike Hughes, CB, Central Florida

They’ll take this raw but talented corner with their second pick of the first round.  He’s not an immediate answer, but with some time he could develop into a CB1 in this league

23. Los Angeles Rams (Kristopher)
Leighton Vander Esch, LB, Boise St.

The Rams really only have a handful of glaring needs, two of which are an outside rusher and a linebacker that can run contain, the likes of which they haven’t had since James Laurinaitis’ heyday.  Vander Esch can do both and has a history of being dominant.  He racked up 141 tackles and four sacks and has the talent to be a cornerstone of that defense for years to come

24. Carolina Panthers (Levi)
Isaiah Oliver, CB, Colorado

If the Lord has blessed your TV package with the PAC-12 network, then you will already know that Oliver is going to be a solid, lockdown NFL cornerback.  The Panthers need some help in the secondary and Oliver, after some polishing under NFL coaches, can provide help in a big way.  He’s got this size and speed to play at a high level, but most importantly, he has that “fuck you” mentality that a lockdown corner needs to have

25. Tennessee Titans (DJ)
Josh Jackson, CB, Iowa

Tennessee has one of the worst secondaries in the league and they need to improve badly.  I tell ya what Jaws, this guy right here, this Josh Jackson, I like this guy.  This guy had TWO interceptions returned for touchdowns in one game!  You can’t team those kind of instincts.  I want this kid on my team

26. Atlanta Falcons (Logan)
Maurice Hurst, DT, Michigan

The Falcons offense took a step back in 2017, but it’s still the strength of this team.  With that said, Atlanta selects one of the most dominant defensive lineman in this draft in Hurst.  The Michigan product provides solid run support while also commanding attention to help free up Vic Beasley and last year’s first-round pick, Takkarist McKinley

27. New Orleans Saints (Robert)
Da’Ron Payne, DT, Alabama

The Saints get the interior lineman that they need.  With the defensive line being the biggest need on this team, Norleans goes with a mix of need and BPA and ends up with Alabama standout, Da’Ron Payne

28. Pittsburgh Steelers (Ben)
Malik Jefferson, LB, Texas

Ryan Shazier is back to doing pull-ups, but that exercise is very low risk and doesn’t involve other human missiles flying near your head.  Shazier can hopefully return to the football field when the time is right, but for now, the Steelers need to add another high-quality player to the position.  Insert Jefferson

29. Jacksonville Jaguars (Nick)
Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame

The Jags are set almost everyone but WR1, EDGE and offensive line.  Since this draft sucks for receiver and EDGE they’ll grab the best pure tackle to set themselves up for a ground-and-pound offense to pair with their elite defense

30. Minnesota Vikings (Mikey)
Kolton Miller, OT, UCLA

The Vikings aren’t missing much, but their offensive line isn’t exactly “stellar”.  Miller has experience blocking for Josh Rosen, who is one of this year’s top prospects at quarterback, so he’s obviously been trusted with big responsibility before.  Is he a stud?  Probably not.  But this is probably the best the Vikes can get here

31. New England Patriots (Kristopher)
Orlando Brown, OT, Oklahoma

The combine slide stops here.  Tom Brady took the fourth-most sacks of his career last year and this team goes as he goes.  They need to keep him from breaking a hip.  Bill Belichick takes a chance on upside here and protects his ticket to the Hall of Fame.  But let’s be honest.  It will be someone no one has a first or event second-round grade on, because it’s the Patriots

32. Philadelphia Eagles (Levi)
Sony Michel, RB, Georgia

This draft class has some future standout running backs in it not named Saquon Barkley.  Michel is another guy that combos speed with power so well that I think he’s good enough to pull the trigger here with this pick.  Yes, the Eagles have Jay Ajayi, but stealing a weapon like Michel, late in the first round, could pay off big time

Check out the latest episode of the Loaded Box Podcast as the guys breakdown the offseason and NFL Draft plans for those in the AFC North.  We also recap the Barely 18, Sweet 16 March Madness Bracket Championship between Kelly Kapowski and Topanga Lawrence

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