1. BROWNS - Sam Darnold, QB, USC
Rosen wants no part of Cleveland. Reportedly the Browns are not crazy about him either. It wouldn't surprise me if they took Mayfield here, but this is the team that drafted Manziel and got burned. Fair or unfair (and I believe its the latter), I can see the Manziel comparisons, including his size, scaring the Browns away from Mayfield, so its Darnold or Allen.
2. GIANTS - Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA
Its no secret Rosen is popping off about Cleveland because he'd love NY where there is a large Jewish population, and I'm sure the Giants love his talent and upside too. There are some concerns about Rosen's maturity and leadership, but no questions about his size and skill. Giants can sit him for a year behind Eli.
3. COLTS - Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State
A few years ago a RB this high would have been preposterous, but guys like Elliott, Gurley and Fournette have changed all that. Look what all three did for young QB's, how much pressure they took off their young QB's to carry the whole load, and Barkley, who grades out as highly as the aforementioned three, can do likewise for Andrew Luck. Their current starter at RB is a washed up Frank Gore, and there's nothing to speak of behind him either. This is a perfect fit and a no brainer.
4. BROWNS - Bradley Chubb, DE, NC State
Chubb and Myles Garrett can give them one of the most lethal pass rushing bookends in the league, for a long time. Pressuring the QB is the second most important thing in pro football. Obviously first is having a franchise QB of your own. They'll hope thats been settled too with the #1 Pick.
5. BRONCOS - Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming
Yes, there are concerns about his Comp% so it wouldn't surprise me if the Broncos opt for the smaller but more dynamic and accurate Mayfield, but at the end of the day I think Elway takes the guy who reminds him of, well, himself. Of course I'm not suggesting Allen is on Elway's level, that would be absurd, but there are similarities. Like Elway, Allen is a big kid, strong kid with mobility, and most importantly, an absolute cannon for an arm. We're talking rare, Elway'esque arm talent, and that kind of arm strength doesn't grow on trees. When it comes to QB's I think Elway is old school, not interested in smaller and/or new breed QB's like Mayfield you might have to structure a spread offense for. I think he wants a guy who resembles the prototype and reminds him a little of himself.
6. NY JETS - Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma
That said, I still see Mr. Excitement falling into our laps. If I'm wrong and its Allen, I won't shed any tears. Incidentally it wouldn't shock me if Allen goes ahead of Rosen and/or Darnold. If that happens and one of those two slides to us instead, its hard to complain about that either. But right now this is still how I see it falling and I'll be thrilled to snag Mayfield here. This kid threw for a million yards and TD's with a Comp% of +70%, not as a dink and dunk artist, but as a gunslinger and downfield passer. At worse he has drawn comparisons to Johnny Manziel, but at best he has drawn comparisons to Brett Favre and Drew Brees. I think he's closer to the latter because he's way more of a thrower than a runner, despite his mobility. Some people say he's too cocky, but you know what, NOBODY can be cockier than the last and only QB who won a Super Bowl for this wretched franchise.
7. BUCS - Marcus Davenport, ER, UTSA
This kid is drawing comparisons to another small school edge rusher who surprised some people and went this high in the draft, Demarcus Ware. Like Ware, his measurable's are off the charts, and by all indications so is his film. For a long time the Draftniks have been sleeping on this kid, myself included, but from what I'm hearing he's a TOP 10 Pick with terrific size and skill.
8. BEARS - Minkah Fitzpatrick, DB, Alabama
I'm sure they would love to get a potential #1 WR in this spot for Trubisky, and O-line is a real possibility too, but they also have a glaring need to upgrade their defensive backfield and most people are giving Fitz a TOP 5 Grade, so he'll be hard to pass on if he falls to 8 for the Bears.
9. 49ERS - Quenton Nelson, OG, Notre Dame
Now that they stole their potential FQB from the Pats for a 2nd RD Pick, its time to build around him with WR's and OL's. The highest rated of the two at this point appears to be Nelson.
10. RAIDERS - Tremaine Edmunds, OLB, Virginia Tech
The Raiders desperately need to upgrade their linebacking core and Edmunds could be a steal in this spot. Like Devenport, Draftniks appear to have slept on a player the scouts love. My research in recent days suggests Edmunds is routinely viewed as a TOP 10 talent who could be a monster at the next level.
Rosen wants no part of Cleveland. Reportedly the Browns are not crazy about him either. It wouldn't surprise me if they took Mayfield here, but this is the team that drafted Manziel and got burned. Fair or unfair (and I believe its the latter), I can see the Manziel comparisons, including his size, scaring the Browns away from Mayfield, so its Darnold or Allen.
2. GIANTS - Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA
Its no secret Rosen is popping off about Cleveland because he'd love NY where there is a large Jewish population, and I'm sure the Giants love his talent and upside too. There are some concerns about Rosen's maturity and leadership, but no questions about his size and skill. Giants can sit him for a year behind Eli.
3. COLTS - Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State
A few years ago a RB this high would have been preposterous, but guys like Elliott, Gurley and Fournette have changed all that. Look what all three did for young QB's, how much pressure they took off their young QB's to carry the whole load, and Barkley, who grades out as highly as the aforementioned three, can do likewise for Andrew Luck. Their current starter at RB is a washed up Frank Gore, and there's nothing to speak of behind him either. This is a perfect fit and a no brainer.
4. BROWNS - Bradley Chubb, DE, NC State
Chubb and Myles Garrett can give them one of the most lethal pass rushing bookends in the league, for a long time. Pressuring the QB is the second most important thing in pro football. Obviously first is having a franchise QB of your own. They'll hope thats been settled too with the #1 Pick.
5. BRONCOS - Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming
Yes, there are concerns about his Comp% so it wouldn't surprise me if the Broncos opt for the smaller but more dynamic and accurate Mayfield, but at the end of the day I think Elway takes the guy who reminds him of, well, himself. Of course I'm not suggesting Allen is on Elway's level, that would be absurd, but there are similarities. Like Elway, Allen is a big kid, strong kid with mobility, and most importantly, an absolute cannon for an arm. We're talking rare, Elway'esque arm talent, and that kind of arm strength doesn't grow on trees. When it comes to QB's I think Elway is old school, not interested in smaller and/or new breed QB's like Mayfield you might have to structure a spread offense for. I think he wants a guy who resembles the prototype and reminds him a little of himself.
6. NY JETS - Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma
That said, I still see Mr. Excitement falling into our laps. If I'm wrong and its Allen, I won't shed any tears. Incidentally it wouldn't shock me if Allen goes ahead of Rosen and/or Darnold. If that happens and one of those two slides to us instead, its hard to complain about that either. But right now this is still how I see it falling and I'll be thrilled to snag Mayfield here. This kid threw for a million yards and TD's with a Comp% of +70%, not as a dink and dunk artist, but as a gunslinger and downfield passer. At worse he has drawn comparisons to Johnny Manziel, but at best he has drawn comparisons to Brett Favre and Drew Brees. I think he's closer to the latter because he's way more of a thrower than a runner, despite his mobility. Some people say he's too cocky, but you know what, NOBODY can be cockier than the last and only QB who won a Super Bowl for this wretched franchise.
7. BUCS - Marcus Davenport, ER, UTSA
This kid is drawing comparisons to another small school edge rusher who surprised some people and went this high in the draft, Demarcus Ware. Like Ware, his measurable's are off the charts, and by all indications so is his film. For a long time the Draftniks have been sleeping on this kid, myself included, but from what I'm hearing he's a TOP 10 Pick with terrific size and skill.
8. BEARS - Minkah Fitzpatrick, DB, Alabama
I'm sure they would love to get a potential #1 WR in this spot for Trubisky, and O-line is a real possibility too, but they also have a glaring need to upgrade their defensive backfield and most people are giving Fitz a TOP 5 Grade, so he'll be hard to pass on if he falls to 8 for the Bears.
9. 49ERS - Quenton Nelson, OG, Notre Dame
Now that they stole their potential FQB from the Pats for a 2nd RD Pick, its time to build around him with WR's and OL's. The highest rated of the two at this point appears to be Nelson.
10. RAIDERS - Tremaine Edmunds, OLB, Virginia Tech
The Raiders desperately need to upgrade their linebacking core and Edmunds could be a steal in this spot. Like Devenport, Draftniks appear to have slept on a player the scouts love. My research in recent days suggests Edmunds is routinely viewed as a TOP 10 talent who could be a monster at the next level.
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