It’s that time of year again. The NFL draft is approaching. Teams are looking to find their next superstar or bolster their roster to help them become contenders. We are here to predict what’s going to happen. Note that we will not be accounting for potential trades among teams in the draft

1. Cleveland Browns

Saquon Barkley, RB (PSU)

The Browns made a lot of moves during free agency to help them recover from their 0-16 season. They traded for Jarvis Landry and Tyrod Taylor to give the team some offensive weapons. They also signed Carlos Hyde but he is not on the same level as Saquon Barkley. Barkley would absolutely turn this offense around and be a threat to opposing defenses on every play. Whether it’s pounding the rock through the tackles, catching out of the backfield, or returning punts and kickoffs. He can do it all. He is one of the best running back prospects in years and should tear it up in this league. It’s a little risky to take a running back with the first pick but Saquon is worth it and the Browns can grab their QB of the future with the 4th pick.

2. New York Giants

Sam Darnold, QB (USC)

The Giants had a terrible season. After going 11-5 in 2016 they dropped to 3-13 in 2017. Experts thought they were going to take a step forward but injuries and poor coaching held them back. The Giants now have an offensive minded head coach in Pat Shurmur who will bring them back to relevance. However, the Giants haven’t had a pick this high in a while and should use it to draft their QB of the future. Eli Manning isn’t getting any younger and drafting Darnold to learn behind him for a few years and then taking the reins would be a good strategy.

3. New York Jets (via Colts)

Josh Rosen, QB (UCLA)

This may seem like a questionable pick, but think about it for a second. If the Jets were going to take Baker, they wouldn’t have traded up from the 6th pick. In my opinion, Rosen is the most pro-ready quarterback in this year’s draft, ranking him above Josh Allen. Josh Allen is a project, and will take a couple years to develop. The Jets need a quarterback now, and Josh Rosen is a perfect fit in the big apple. Plus, imagine a Rosen/Darnold rivalry in New York for years to come.

4. Cleveland Browns (via Texans)

Josh Allen, QB (Wyoming)

If the Browns can grab Saquon Barkley and Josh Allen with their two first round picks then they will have done superb drafting. Allen is a project. He is not ready to start in the NFL. He has all of the things you look for in a quarterback except for the numbers to back it up. His build is insane, he has huge hands, and possesses a cannon for an arm. Drafting Allen and having him learn behind a veteran like Tyrod Taylor for a few years is what the Browns should do. Allen could be a stud in this league but he needs the right development and coaching if he is going to find success.

5. Denver Broncos

Bradley Chubb, DE (NC State)

I don’t think the Broncos will choose a QB in the first round, since before their Super Bowl 50 win, Denver has been a predominantly defensive team. In the past 2 years, all of that has gone to waste, and with the signing of Case Keenum, the Broncos should be set at the quarterback position, for now at least. New head coach Vance Joseph struggled in his first year, however, I personally can see him succeeding in years to come, given he has the right personnel. Chubb would be the right pick for Denver due to his athleticism and the ability to shed the block and get to the quarterback. While he may not be the best defensive player in the draft this year, he’s by far the best defensive end and the best fit for the Broncos.

6. Indianapolis Colts (via Jets)

Quenton Nelson, G (Notre Dame)

The Colts have the worst offensive line in the NFL. Simple as that. They haven’t been able to protect Andrew Luck for his entire career and because of that he missed all of 2017 and may never be the same player he once was. Even with Luck out, the Colts gave up the most sacks in the league with 52 as Jacoby Brissett played under center. They Colts need Quenton Nelson. He can immediately make a difference on the line and bring some much needed protection and run blocking to the team. Experts have said that Nelson might be the best player in the draft and if he slips to the Colts at number 6 they should pounce on the opportunity to draft him.

7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Minkah Fitzpatrick, DB (Alabama)

More than likely the most versatile and possibly the best defensive player in the draft. Minkah Fitzpatrick, a two-time all american and an all around threat in the eyes of any quarterback, is ready and able to play either safety or cornerback. I can see Fitzpatrick tearing it up not only in Tampa Bay, but in the league as a whole for years to come. Due to his 33-inch vertical as well as a 4.46-second 40 yard dash time, it would be evident that Minkah would become an instant starter for the Bucs. Not only that, but in the 2017 season alone, he recorded 60 total tackles, showing that he is the real deal

8. Chicago Bears

Tremaine Edmunds, LB (Virginia Tech)

The Bears are a dark horse contender for the playoffs next season. They rounded out their offense and got Mitchell Trubisky some weapons such as Allen Robinson. The Bears already had a pretty good defense in 2017 and adding Edmunds would be another piece to add. He racks up tackles and can also get to the quarterback. He finished his final season at Virginia Tech with 108 tackles, 5.5 sacks, and a whopping 14 tackles for loss. Edmunds is also extremely fast for how big he is, he ran a 4.54 40 yard dash at the combine while standing at 6’5 and 253 pounds. He will be a problem for opposing offenses if Matt Nagy uses his talents correctly.

9. San Francisco 49ers

Denzel Ward, CB (Ohio State)

Picking a player for the 49ers to draft is somewhat difficult due to the shaky season they had this past year. With the addition of former Patriots backup quarterback, Jimmy Garoppolo, San Francisco look to improve on their 6-10 season. Starting off 0-9, the 49ers were looking bad, however, they turned it around after their game 8 loss against the Eagles, traded for Jimmy G, and somehow went 6-10. To add to that, they recently signed 3x all-pro corner Richard Sherman who, after being released by the Seahawks, signed with San Francisco. Ward would be a good fit for the 49ers because, alongside Sherman, they would create a defensive secondary that could possibly do some real damage.

10. Oakland Raiders

Roquan Smith, LB (Georgia)

There are some players that stay in the same spot in mock drafts. Never go up never fall down. Roquan Smith is one of those players. In almost every mock draft that I have seen, Roquan is slotted at number 10 to the Raiders. The more I think about it, the more I realize that the two are a perfect match for each other. Smith was a stud at Georgia and now that the Raiders have hired a defensive minded head coach in Jon Gruden I’m sure he’ll want to improve on that side of the ball, considering that the Raiders were terrible on defense last year. Pairing Smith with Khalil Mack would be lethal for opposing offenses and would give the Raiders an incredible core on the front 7 to build around for the future.

11. Miami Dolphins

Derwin James, S (FSU)

Derwin James is the perfect blend between stopping the run and defending the pass, he can do it all. The guy is a human highlight reel when it comes to the defensive side of the ball, and with Miami’s Reshad Jones reaching the wrong side of 30 years old, it may just be time for a change in the Dolphins’ secondary. At Florida State, James reached 91 total tackles in just his freshman season, not to mention the 84 he had last year. James would be the perfect fit for a team who is a couple talented players away from being a contending team.

12. Buffalo Bills (via Bengals)

Baker Mayfield, QB (Oklahoma)

It’s no secret that the Bills have been craving for a franchise quarterback for a long time. It looked like they had one with Tyrod Taylor, but the Bills did not see it that way. Ever since Tyrod signed his extension in 2016 the Bills have been trying to get him to restructure his deal or ship him off to another team. In 2017, Tyrod and the Bills got to the playoffs for the first time since 1999. You would think ending the longest playoff drought in all of pro sports would get the front office to like you, but you would be wrong. The Bills traded Taylor to Cleveland and are now on the hunt for their QB of the future. Baker Mayfield can be that guy. Mayfield has all the potential in the world to be a stud in the NFL, but Johnny Manziel comparisons have lowered the Heisman winners draft stock. Baker has been trying to prove to NFL teams that he is not like Manziel and will do anything that it takes to win games in the league. Taking him with this pick might be a reach for the Bills but they can risk it because they have another first round pick and if they’re looking for a superstar who will bring attention to their team, Baker is their guy.

13. Washington Redskins

Vita Vea, DT (Washington)

The Redskins need help on the D-Line. They had one of the worst run defenses in the NFL last season and desperately need to beef up on the line. The Redskins allowed the most rushing yards per game in the league with 134.1 per game. The Redskins had the injury bug most of the season and that includes their first round pick Jonathan Allen. Pairing a healthy Allen and Vea on the line together would definitely help the Redskins stop the rush and get to the QB. Vea is an interesting prospect due to his large size, he stands at 6’5 and weighs 340 pounds. Even with his size he got to quarterback for 3.5 sacks and had 5.5 tackles for loss. Vea would be a huge help for the Redskins and they should snatch him up if he is still available at 13.

14. Green Bay Packers

Josh Jackson, CB (Iowa)

Josh Jackson isn’t going to go higher than this, and to be honest, I’m not really sure why. The Junior finished with 8 picks and 2 touchdowns as a result, as well as an All-American title to add to his résumé. On the professional side of football, sit the Green Bay Packers, who allowed 67.8 of passes to be completed, the third worst in the NFL, and could use some improvement on the defensive side of the ball. Jackson could bolster a struggling Packers defense, and give Aaron Rodgers a little bit of a break during games.

15. Arizona Cardinals

Calvin Ridley, WR (Alabama)

When it comes to being ready for the pros, Calvin Ridley is the best prepared. Over his 3-year career for Alabama, he showed glimpses of greatness, even in his 1000+ yard freshman season for the Crimson Tide. With Larry Fitzgerald on the way out soon, the Cardinals’ receiving core is going to take a major loss in skill level. Ridley could very well be the Cards’ best receiver in a couple of years, given the right development. This is a value pick due to the fact that Ridley thinks he’s being underrated, and it’s not just him, many analysts have put him as the number one wide receiver in the draft class, and rightfully so.

16. Baltimore Ravens

Mike McGlinchey, OT (Notre Dame)

Mike McGlinchey has seen his draft stock fall significantly in the past few months. McGlinchey started off the college season as a top 10 lock. Due to his inconsistent play over his season he has been overshadowed by his Notre Dame teammate Quenton Nelson. This deep in the draft though McGlinchey would be a great pick for the Ravens. He will definitely need to be coached up and developed by the Ravens coaching staff before he plays in an NFL game. The Ravens could add McGlinchey to a line featuring Marshall Yanda and Ronnie Stanley. If McGlinchey plays to his true potential then the Ravens could have the steal of the draft.

17. Los Angeles Chargers

Da’Ron Payne, DT (Alabama)

Da’Ron Payne, obviously one of the best defensive players in this draft is going as low as this because Vita Vea is just a little bit better than him. Weighing in at 308 pounds, the 6’2 defensive lineman tore things up at Alabama, notching 53 total tackles in 14 games for the Crimson Tide. With former Defensive Rookie of the year, Joey Bosa, Payne would dominate in the Chargers’ defense, and with the new residents of Los Angeles inching closer to a playoff spot every year, it’ll be no time before he becomes a star.

18. Seattle Seahawks

Marcus Davenport, DE (UTSA)

Marcus Davenport was virtually unknown until the Senior Bowl where he put on an absolute show for NFL scouts. Since then, his draft stock has gone through the roof. The Seahawks grabbing him at 18 would be a great, young replacement for Michael Bennett. The Seahawks parted ways with a lot of players on their roster this offseason and need to kill it in the draft if they want to stay in contention. It’s no secret that Russell Wilson needs protection but there is nobody worth taking at this point in the draft and the Seahawks need to draft the best available player. If Seattle wants to stay a defensive powerhouse in the league then Davenport is their guy.

19. Dallas Cowboys

Courtland Sutton, WR (SMU)

Dez Bryant is gone, now, assuming that Courtland Sutton doesn’t go prior to this pick, it’d be an absolute steal for the Cowboys. Sutton was a standout at SMU, posting 1085 yards and 12 touchdowns, adding to his 3220 yards over 4 years. Sutton is big, standing at 6’4, and weighing in at 215 pounds, I could see him becoming a major redzone threat that any defense would be worried about. Think about it, out with the old, and in with the new, Dez leaves, and Sutton comes in, joining Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott to create a three-headed monster behind their already-stacked offense.

20. Detroit Lions

Derrius Guice, RB (LSU)

Getting a running back should be priority number one for the Lions. They haven’t had a decent running back since Reggie Bush was on the squad. Derrius Guice could change all of that. Guice was overshadowed by Leonard Fournette in his time at LSU but still put up incredible numbers for a second option. During his college career Guice rushed for 3,074 yards and 29 touchdowns while averaging 6.5 yard per carry. Matt Stafford needs a weapon in the backfield that can compliment his style of play and take some of the load off of his back. Guice can be the piece that takes the Lions to the next level and help them return to the playoffs.

21. Cincinnati Bengals (via Bills)

Will Hernandez, OG (UTEP)

The Cincinnati Bengals have a bunch of no-names on their offensive line. They struggle under a mediocre coach, and just when you think it might be their year to win a playoff game, they lose, just like they have in their last seven playoff appearances. With such a low pick after their trade to the Bills, it’s hard to predict who they’ll take. Especially with their most dire team need being a lineman, and the pool of them being scarce in this draft class. Their best option at this point is Will Hernandez, a small school guard who, standing 6’3, 330 pounds, could improve the Bengals’ offense as much as possible. They’re trying to beef up their line, I’ll give them that, they haven’t been good for 2 years, and they want to rebuild a little. Hernandez could help create holes for Joe Mixon, a sophomore running back this season who will be looking to make an impact.

22. Buffalo Bills (via Chiefs)

Christian Kirk, WR (Texas A&M)

Now that the Bills got their QB of the future with the 12th pick, it’s time to get him a wide receiver to throw to. Christian Kirk had 919 yards receiving this year along with 10 totals touchdowns. Kirk will give Baker a downfield threat who can outrun defensive backs and go up and get the ball. The Bills have a decent wide receiving core with Kelvin Benjamin and Zay Jones but bring in Kirk would add to their depth and give them another shot at making the playoffs. Kirk and Mayfield can be the duo of the future in Buffalo and turn them into contenders year in and year out.

23. New England Patriots (via Rams)

Rashaan Evans, OLB (Alabama)

The Patriots may be in a bit of a hard place right now. Yeah, they have two first round picks this year, this being the first, but they have lost a lot of depth since the beginning of last season. With Gronk in question about coming back next year, and Tom Brady possibly hanging up his cleats in 2019, the Pats have to act fast in order to secure their future. That’s where Rashaan Evans comes in, already a good player, he won’t need too much of a development period, making him possibly the perfect fit for what New England needs. With 74 tackles, 13 for a loss, and 6 sacks, Evans might just be the perfect way for Bill Belichick to save his team for the upcoming years. But who knows, Belichick is usually good at drafting, so give him a couple of 5th-rounders and I’m sure he’d be just as fine.

24. Carolina Panthers

Mike Hughes, CB (UCF)

The Panthers have a very well rounded roster that can stay in contention if the play to their full potential. The only place that the Panthers roster is lacking is in the defensive backfield. Ever since the departure of Josh Norman they have not had a shutdown corner who can lock down opposing wide receivers. Mike Hughes has the potential to be the Panthers go-to option at cornerback. Hughes was on the only undefeated team in college football and had 4 picks for them. The Panthers need to upgrade their defensive backfield and Hughes is the way to go.

25. Tennessee Titans

Billy Price, C (Ohio State)

With a mobile quarterback such as Marcus Mariota, an above-average offensive line is more than important. The Titans, have a pretty good offensive already. They have Jack Conklin, Taylor Lewan, and Josh Kline, however, they do not have a center that can help the run game and pass game. Adding Billy Price to the Titans line will help them open up holes for Derrick Henry and Dion Lewis while also giving Marcus Mariota more time to throw in the pocket. The Titans can stay in contention if they upgrade at the right positions and center is where they need to start.

26. Atlanta Falcons

Taven Bryan, DT (Florida)

The Falcons underwhelmed in the 2017 season. After reaching Super Bowl 51 and dramatically falling to the Patriots, experts thought they would bounce back in the next season and run away with the NFC. Things didn’t go as expected however and they were bounce out in the wild card game by the eventual Super Bowl champs. The Falcons signed Dontari Poe to a 1-year deal last offseason. He did well for them, but during this offseason, he signed with their division rival, the Carolina Panthers. Now the Falcons need a replacement for Poe and Taven Bryan can be that guy. Bryan can stop the run and get to the quarterback. He stands at 6’5 and weighs 293 pounds. In his final season at Florida he had 4 sacks and 6 tackles for loss. Bryan can be a very good addition to the Falcons, he will help them beef up their defensive line and keep them in contention.

27. New Orleans Saints

Hayden Hurst, TE (South Carolina)

The Saints aren’t in need for a whole lot. They drafted excellently last year bringing in the likes of Ryan Ramczyk, Alvin Kamara, and Marshon Lattimore. Losing Willie Snead to free agency took a major offensive target away from Drew Brees. Hayden Hurst can be argued as one of the better tight ends in this draft class, and would make for a great offensive weapon in his later years with New Orleans. While he wasn’t utilized in the passing offense for South Carolina, I could see him becoming a blocker, creating holes for Kamara and Mark Ingram, and catching the ball when needed as well.

28. Pittsburgh Steelers

Jaire Alexander, CB (Louisville)

The Steelers need help on defense, they had an absolute steal of a draft pick with linebacker TJ Watt late in the first round of last years’ draft, but that kept their secondary up for improvement. The addition of veteran corner Joe Haden late last year was a step in the right direction, but Haden’s age is catching up with him, and SteelerNation needs to plan for the future. When it comes to Jaire Alexander, at this late stage in the round, Pittsburgh may have to settle. Alexander had a great sophomore season for Louisville in 2016, with 5 picks in 13 games for the Cardinals. However, injuries plagued Jaire as he was held to only 1 interception in 6 games in 2017. I think the Steelers have a good pick in this one, and I think Alexander will turn out to be a gem, but he’ll have to stay healthy in order for that to happen.

29. Jacksonville Jaguars

Lamar Jackson, QB (Louisville)

Blake Bortles is not the answer. Jacksonville is a contending team in my opinion and need a franchise quarterback to make dreams come true for “Sacksonville”. Lamar Jackson is ready for the pros, despite constant belittling due to his mobile nature, he is ready to make an instant impact in the NFL, and I think the Jaguars are the perfect team for him to do that at. The defensive side of the ball for the Jags is more than covered, with stars and role players riddling their depth chart, but the offense needs some help, in the form of a quarterback out of Louisville. Winning the Heisman in 2016, Jackson came away with 48 touchdowns, 21 of them being on the ground alone. There was speculation about whether Lamar would change positions from quarterback to wide out. Personally, I doubt that’ll happen, unlike Terrelle Pryor, Jackson is a good enough quarterback to hold his own from a passing perspective. I can see Lamar Jackson becoming a mobile superstar, much like Michael Vick did during his prime.

30. Minnesota Vikings

Connor Williams, OL (Texas)

The Vikings lost all three of their QBs to free agency in the offseason. However, they won the Kirk Cousins sweepstakes and are in a better position to win the Super Bowl than they were last year. Their number one priority now should be to protect Kirk Cousins. Connor Williams could be the steal of the draft. He has so much potential and if Mike Zimmer can get him comfortable in Minnesota’s system then Cousins may never feel the pressure of the rush again. The Vikings may already have one of the best rosters in the NFL and adding depth to it is never a bad thing. Williams could very well be the final piece to the puzzle for the Vikings and help them finally get to the promiseland.

31. New England Patriots

Mason Rudolph, QB (Oklahoma State)

It’s sad to say it, but Tom Brady won’t be around forever. The Patriots need to find his replacement very soon. They had Jimmy G but they traded him to San Francisco and caused a lot of controversy in the Patriots locker room and front office. Even through all the drama, the Pats still made it to the Super Bowl and fell to the Eagles. Now is the time for the Patriots to start thinking about the future. Mason Rudolph can be the QB that takes over for Brady when his time to hang it up come. Rudolph had insane numbers in college. In his entire collegiate career he threw for 13,618 yards and 92 touchdowns. Those are the numbers of a true gunslinger. Rudolph gets overlooked because he is in the Big 12 but the Patriots know how to find great talent late in the draft. Rudolph is the perfect person to take over for Brady and will help keep the Pats relevant.

32. Philadelphia Eagles

Sony Michel, RB (Georgia)

The Eagles, coming off of a dominant season, ending in a Super Bowl win, don’t have much they can improve on. The loss of LeGarrette Blount may have a small impact on Philly’s season next year, but with the addition of Jay Ajayi late last season, the half back role may be just fine. In an effort to substantiate that role, however, I would draft Sony Michel with their first-rounder, assuming they don’t trade. Sony would be a perfect addition to Doug Pederson’s offense and would have an impact years down the road as he continues to develop. The Eagles can turn this pick into something great if the draft Michel, as he ran for over 1200+ yards, punching in 16 touchdowns for Georgia as well.

Carter Mallory and Bobby Osborne, Sports