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By Joe Giglio | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

It's officially NFL mock draft season, folks!

As the NFL playoffs come down the final four, 28 teams across the NFL are thinking about how to catch the Vikings, Eagles, Jaguars and Patriots.

While it's easy to make everything about the quarterback position, this year has proven once again how depth matters across every realm of a roster. That's why the NFL Draft is such a spectacle. Sure, it's about the future stars. But it's also about cogs in the machine every winning team needs.

Here's a look at my projected first round of the 2018 NFL Draft—including a huge shakeup at the top with a rare Giants-Jets trade.

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Kevin C. Cox

32. Eagles: Derwin James, S, Florida State

James would be a steal with this pick. With size (6’3”, 211) and the ability to play in the box, in coverage or at linebacker, the Eagles could line up the versatile star in multiple areas on defense.

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31. Patriots: Vita Vea, DL, Washington

A lock: New England will take a player you’ve heard very little about, then develop him into a key player on a winning team.

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30. Vikings: Billy Price, OG, Ohio State

If there’s a weakness on Minnesota’s offense, it still lies in the offensive line. Price is a smart, savvy player from Ohio State that could help at center or guard right away.

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29. Jaguars: Da'Ron Payne, DT, Alabama

This seems unfair, right? The Jaguars taking another talented defensive lineman? Tom Coughlin teams win in the trenches.

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David Zalubowski

28. Steelers: Ronald Jones II, RB, USC

Will Le’Veon Bell stay? Will he retire? Is there a chance the Steelers let the star back walk away to another team? Regardless of how the saga plays out, it would be wise to plan for the future at the position.

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27. Saints: Maurice Hurst, DL, Michigan

New Orleans deserves a ton of credit for drafting well in 2017 and putting together a competent defense for the first time in a long time. Now it’s about adding depth.

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26. Falcons: Sam Hubbard, DE, Ohio State

Atlanta’s defense rose to top-10 status in 2017. It can fly even higher with more depth and pass-rush skill.

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25. Titans: Jaire Alexander, CB, Louisville

When Tennessee turns on the AFC Divisional Round loss film to New England, this theme will emerge: Find cornerbacks.

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Kirby Lee/USA Today Sports

24. Panthers: Orlando Brown, OT, Oklahoma

Cam Newton’s prime is being wasted in Carolina. The 2015 MVP can’t continue to take hits at the clip he does. Newton should help protect him.

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Case Keenum to Giants?

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23. Rams: Dorance Armstrong Jr., DE, Kansas

Wade Phillips gets a new pass rusher to help chase around Russell Wilson, Jimmy Garoppolo and (eventually) Josh Allen in the NFC West.

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22. Bills: Derrius Guice, RB, LSU

LeSean McCoy is on the path to the Hall of Fame. But how much longer can the 29-year-old handle a huge workload and still run (and catch passes) at a high clip? This second first-rounder could give the Bills a chance to create a running back duo.

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21. Bills: Harold Landry, OLB, Boston College

Buffalo is fascinating at this spot in the draft. Playoff teams rarely have back-to-back first round selections, but kudos to the Bills for overachieving and earning this. First up: Landry’s pass-rushing ability to add to an already solid defense.

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Scott Olmos/USA Today Sports

20. Lions: Isaiah Oliver, CB, Colorado

Detroit should model itself after the Saints: Fix the defense and let the star quarterback find a way to score points.

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19. Cowboys: Christian Kirk, WR, Texas A&M

When watching the Cowboys in 2017, one thing stood out: Lack of speed on offense. Dez Bryant (assuming he’s not cut) no longer has top-end speed. If this offense is going to go, someone needs to take the top off the defense. Enter Kirk.

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18. Seahawks: Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame

If the Seahawks are going to find themselves again, protecting Russell Wilson will be crucial. McGlinchey can be a building-block type of player.

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17. Chargers: Rashaan Evans, LB, Alabama

Los Angeles has built a formidable defensive line. Now it’s time to add to the second layer.

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Justin Ford

16. Ravens: Courtland Sutton, WR, SMU

Yearly NFL mock draft staple: Guess that the Ravens will take someone to give help to Joe Flacco.

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15. Cardinals: Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming

Even if the Cardinals land a veteran quarterbacks like, say, Alex Smith, it’s time to draft a young signal caller. Allen can sit and learn for a year or two.

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Josh Allen scouting report

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14. Packers: Josh Jackson, CB, Iowa

Green Bay should look at the two NFC Championship Game combatants to realize what’s needed moving forward: Lock-down corners. If the Packers are going to make it back to the big stage and compete, strength in numbers at corner is key.

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13. Redskins: Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville

Here comes a surprise! With Kirk Cousins off to the Buffalo Bills in a free agency shocker, Jackson lands in Washington as the new main man. Now it’s on Jay Gruden to coach him up.

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Matt Cashore/AP Photo

12. Bengals: Quenton Nelson, OG, Notre Dame

Nelson is this year’s Zack Martin: A total game changer on the offensive line. The Bengals got soft last year. Nelson will change that.

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11. Dolphins: Arden Key, DE, LSU

Miami doesn’t just need good players; they need culture changers. We’ll see if the LSU product can bring both.

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10. Raiders: Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia

Some will expect Jon Gruden to go offense with his first selection as Raiders coach, but don’t forget how the Gruden-led Bucs won it all: Defense.

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9. 49ers: Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State

All the talk in the Bay Area this offseason will be about the 49ers offense, but don’t discount a heavy-hitting defense that’s being put together by John Lynch.

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Mark J. Rebilas/AP Photo

8. Bears: Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama

New head coach Matt Nagy is an offensive guy and former quarterback. If the Bears are going to win with Mitchell Trubisky, it’s time to give him some weapons to work with.

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7. Buccaneers: Minkah Fitzpatrick, DB, Alabama

Best player on the board. Tampa Bay needs to continue to focus on the philosophy that’s earned them high draft grades in recent years.

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6. Giants*: Connor Williams, OT, Texas

New Giants GM Dave Gettleman gets to build the Giants in the way he wants: in the trenches, thanks to a trade with the Jets (more on that below). If Pat Shurmur can change the culture and a veteran quarterback hits the ground running in 2018, a quick turnaround could emerge. But is it the best long-term play?

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5. Broncos: Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma

John Elway is going to fall in love with this kid. The only problem? I don’t see the arm strength to consistently win down the field in the NFL.

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4. Browns: Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State

The no-brainer pick of the draft. If the Browns only had one selection, taking a running back would be tricky. But they don't, and Barkley is special.

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3. Colts: Bradley Chubb, DE, North Carolina State

For the first time in a long time, the Colts will start acting smart and drafting like a winning football team.

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2. Jets*: Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA

We have a trade! We have a trade!

Giants general manager Dave Gettleman and (likely) new head coach Pat Shurmur come to this conclusion: The Giants can win now, dump Eli Manning and still move down to collect major draft picks.

Out goes Manning in a separate deal for a third rounder. Out goes the No. 2 overall pick to the Jets for a haul that includes two future No. 1 selections. In comes one of Shurmur's free-agent quarterbacks from Minnesota (Sam Bradford? Case Keenum? Teddy Bridgewater?).

As for the Jets? The answer at quarterback finally arrives in Rosen. Get ready for an outspoken, thoughtful and fascinating character, New York! Oh, he can play the position at a star level, too—something the Jets haven't had in a long time.

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1. Browns: Sam Darnold, QB, USC

With John Dorsey in the front office, the Browns will go big and conservative at the same time. By taking Rosen, the future arrives. But by passing on the mercurial Josh Rosen, the more win-now talent is left on the board.

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Joe Giglio may be reached at jgiglio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JoeGiglioSports. Find NJ.com on Facebook.