Everybody seems to love mock NFL Drafts.
Like eating ice cream, these mocks are never a bad idea as evidenced by the strong affinity shown for them by the fans. Indeed, the more mocks, the better.
I’ve not released one for this year. But I probably should have done so.
Possibly next year.
Uh, for sure next year.
But for now, here’s my mock draft for the 2018 draft’s first five picks, which, for a lot of Browns fans since their team has two of the first four selections, is all that really counts:
*1. BROWNS – JOSH ALLEN, QB, WYOMING – When I started beating the drum for him a while back, it was merely because I wanted to see the Browns take him. But I didn’t think they would. I didn’t think there was any chance they would. Every so-called expert and their brother had Sam Darnold being the choice for a long time. I didn’t like it, but I became resigned to it. Then things began to change, which happens a lot in these situations. Now I think they will indeed take him. He’s big and strong – he has the body of an AFC North quarterback – and he has a strong arm as well. He’ll sit and watch this season as all the Browns’ quarterback experts – and that includes starter Tyrod Taylor – school him 24/7.
*2. NEW YORK GIANTS – SAQUON BARKLEY, RB, PENN STATE – This is where it really gets interesting – where the draft will begin taking one of several different paths. Are the new-look Giants really that committed to an aging Eli Manning? I can’t believe they are. But they may be. And because of that, they will eschew taking Manning’s heir apparent and causing a quarterback controversy on the team, and instead select the best player in the draft and someone whose rushing skills will make the quarterback’s job a lot easier. But they could just as easily trade out of the pick if some team, say the cross-state Buffalo Bills, throw a too-good-to-refuse offer at the Giants so they can get their much-needed franchise quarterback. Or New York could stay at 2 and take the best defensive player in the draft – and the second-best player overall – defensive end Bradley Chubb.
*3. NEW YORK JETS – SAM DARNOLD, QB, USC – The Jets, who need a quarterback almost as badly as the Browns, take the safe way out and choose a guy who isn’t off the chart in any one area, but has limited weaknesses.
*4. BROWNS – BRADLEY CHUBB, DE, NORTH CAROLINA STATE – With their franchise quarterback in tow and Barkley off the board, this is an easy pick for the Browns – a veritable lay-up, as it were. Having Chubb at one end, Myles Garrett at the other end and Emmanuel Ogbah ready to spell ether one of them in a rotation, or join them in obvious passing situations, gives Cleveland the best group of young edge rushers in the league.
*5. DENVER BRONCOS – JOSH ROSEN, QB, UCLA – The guy making the decisions for quarterback-needy Denver, someone named John Elway, will think it’s Christmas in April when a talent like this falls into his lap without the team having to trade up to get him.
