NFL fans don’t have long to wait until the 2018 NFL Draft finally arrives. There has been a ton of hype surrounding the top prospects – namely a stacked quarterback class – and on April 26th, we will finally get to see where they all land.
Draft season is one of hope. This is a time where the Cleveland Browns and other losing teams can attempt to rebuild their franchise the right way.
It’s also a season of retooling and putting on finishing touches.
Perhaps the Indianapolis Colts can get back into the playoff conversation if they make the right moves. Maybe borderline title contenders like the Green Bay Packers or Carolina Panthers are a pick or two away from making a deep playoff run.
Even if the draft goes as planned, it will be months and possibly years before teams know for sure if things worked out in their favor.
Fortunately, sports bettors don’t have to wait that long to enjoy the fruits of their labor.
Instead, you can freely bet on the 2018 NFL Draft and be rewarded instantly, depending on which NFL Draft prop bets you target and how hard you bet on them.
One great way to correctly gauge said props, of course, is to map out the first round of the draft.
If you can do so somewhat accurately, you can potentially convert some fun props and enjoy the draft both as a fan and as a winning bettor.
I’ll do my best to aid readers in that process as I hand out my final 2018 NFL mock draft.
If you’re picking here and you don’t have a franchise passer, you better get one. The Browns have gotten the quarterback position so wrong for so long, so they might as well aim high.
Sam Darnold feels safer, but nobody has the upside Allen does. With a solid option like Tyrod Taylor in place as a stop-gap, Allen can take his time to develop.
He had accuracy issues in college, but his size/arm/athleticism combination demands comparison to Cam Newton and Carson Wentz. This has to be Cleveland’s pick.
Considering Allen still carries just +120 odds to go first overall at Topbet.eu and other NFL Draft betting sites, you’re getting a solid bargain here.
The Giants struggled to get after the quarterback last year (29th) in sacks, and they also were terrible as a rushing unit (26th in rushing yards per game).
They need to fix one of those areas with this pick, and I think considering Barkley might be a generational talent, he’s the easy call.
For those keeping score at home, the G-Men bypassing a quarterback and beefing up their running game nixes a Topbet.eu wager that asks if the top three picks will all be passers.
The Baker Mayfield Jets rumors are starting to gain serious steam, so I’ll bite and assume he’s their guy.
Unless Cleveland shocks everyone and takes the Sooners star first overall (+1200 odds), the Big Apple appears to be his destiny.
New York has a lot of problems to address, but they still lack a franchise signal caller. Josh McCown was retained, and Teddy Bridgewater is an interesting one-year flier, but neither of those guys can be counted on as a long-term solution.
Mayfield has size and character concerns but was otherwise a flat-out gamer in college. The Jets are making a bold (but likely smart) choice here.
It’s very possible the Browns just trade out of this #4 pick, but I’m not in the trade-predicting game.
Should they stand pat, they have a shot at getting a number of elite options, and I think a stud corner like Fitzpatrick should be high on their list. If so, he wins a Fitzpatrick vs. Derwin James prop (-110) by being drafted first.
Some people seem to think they can get away with trading down and still getting someone like Fitzpatrick, but I don’t buy it.
You can’t go 1-31 over the last two years and keep trading down out of spots where you can nab elite prospects. Cleveland needs to bite the bullet and snatch up a lockdown cover man here.
John Elway has made it his mission to find the next Broncos franchise quarterback. He signed Case Keenum away from Minnesota, and that should give the offense a boost for the immediate future, but he has to know he can’t stop there.
Picking in the 5th spot, Denver has an amazing opportunity to snatch a starting caliber quarterback that can be their answer for years to come. I think that’s Darnold, who lost some luster because he’s more safe than flashy.
The Colts appear to be fully backing Andrew Luck now that they traded out of the #3 spot, which means they won’t be taking a quarterback. They also won’t have a chance to land Saquon Barkley, which tells me this is a trenches play.
Bradley Chubb could be an option to ignite the pass rush here, but what makes more sense than anything is beefing up the offensive line.
Quenton Nelson is without a doubt the top o-line prospect on the board, and this team needs help creating running lanes and protecting a quarterback that just spent a year away from football.
If Chubb lasts this long, he’s a lock for the Buccaneers. Tampa Bay has some talent on defense, and they did just trade for JPP, but you can never have too many high-level pass rushers.
Chubb is a pick for 2018 and beyond, as Tampa Bay really left a lot to be desired on the edge (dead last in sacks).
This is a move to bolster Tampa Bay’s pass rushing rotation, while Chubb should eventually end up providing them with an elite pass rushing presence for years to come.
I would have said corner here a few months ago, but the Bears brought back Kyle Fuller and seem set here for the time being. They do need to keep adding defensive pieces, with linebacker arguably topping the list.
Smith feels like a logical pick here, as he’s an elite athlete and can potentially excel on the inside. Chicago hasn’t had a truly great linebacker in years, and he could give them one.
I was going to project a wide receiver here, seeing as the Niners seem to be making all the right moves but still lack a go-to #1 option.
The Reuben Foster noise has me thinking San Francisco may protect themselves in this spot.
Edmunds would give them an elite linebacker to use next to Foster if all goes well, but should they end up cutting ties with their star linebacker, Edmunds could simply replace him.
Both strategies are fine, seeing as Edmunds is an elite athlete and versatile difference-maker. The Niners wouldn’t have minded reaching for a stud receiver, but at this point, bolstering an improving defense might be the right call.
You could make a case for corner or safety here, but one way or another, the Raiders probably need to address a defensive backfield that ranked just 26th in 2017.
There are still some consistency issues, but James is a future stud that could help reshape a previously-regressing Oakland defense.
There are a few ways Miami could go in this spot. One is replacing quarterback Ryan Tannehill, and another is beefing up the defensive line.
Both are fine directions, but when a stud corner prospect like Denzel Ward falls into their lap, they won’t have much choice but to snatch him up.
Miami’s pass defense was just a middle-of-the-pack unit a year ago, and they are young at the position, so it makes sense to add another talented body to the pile.
Perhaps it is Miami that jumps at a free-falling Rosen here, or maybe the Bills trade up to ensure they get the franchise passer they covet. No matter; I’m mocking a slide for Rosen, and I think the Bills would be happy to have him.
A.J. McCarron feels like a band-aid for Buffalo right now, and after passing on Tyrod Taylor, I’m doubting they’re interested in playing with another dual-threat option like Lamar Jackson.
Instead, the Bills will look to start from scratch with Rosen, who was at one point seriously in consideration for the #1 pick.
The Redskins could go after an impact wide receiver here, but odds are they’ll keep adding to an improving defense. Washington has nice pieces on defense already, but they could use a man-eater up front.
They should be able to get that in Payne, who can immediately help sniff out the run and with time may develop into a balanced interior presence.
Jackson is a common player mocked to the Packers, and for two very good reasons: he has the talent to be an elite cover man, and Green Bay still needs help in the secondary.
The Packers added some veteran help in free agency, but they shipped one of their young guys to Cleveland in a trade and badly need to add more talent at the position.
Jackson should last about this long in round one, even though he provided elite ball-hawking ability at Iowa. Poor timed speed has him slide a bit, but he has the tools to be a beast for a bad Packers secondary.
The Cardinals have been in the market for a quarterback all offseason, as they were desperate enough to take a chance on the often-injured Sam Bradford.
Bradford is a solid get if he can stay healthy, but nobody seems to assume that will happen. That must force Arizona to think about the future under center, and someone as dynamic as Lamar Jackson has to be quite appealing.
There is a very real possibility Jackson is long gone by now, but if he slides this far, the Cardinals should snatch up the explosive Louisville product.
I feel like Baltimore is in play for a wide receiver or tight end on a yearly basis, but this is the first time in a while I’m personally not biting on it happening.
Whether they’re beefing up at guard or getting a new center, I think the versatile Billy Price can help them out.
The Bolts are another team with a ton of talent on both sides of the ball, but they just need to add a few players to round things out.
Los Angeles could be in play for another defensive piece, but I think adding another piece to their o-line should be the play.
McGlinchey is a high-upside tackle who brings the frame and athleticism to the table that teams covet. The Chargers need a long-term fix on either side, so provided he can add some muscle, he’s a logical fit.
Seattle has done nothing but let people go over the past few seasons, and one area they fail to truly address is wide receiver.
Golden Tate and Paul Richardson have left in recent years, while this passing game continues to lack a true difference-maker.
Maybe the Seahawks are content with who they have now, but if they really want to open things up, they’ll make a splash and snag the draft’s top wide receiver.
I wouldn’t normally project a wide receiver here, as Dallas has other fish to fry – namely on defense. That puts a defensive tackle in play at this spot, while it wouldn’t be bad for the ‘Boys to bring in linebacker, cornerback, or safety help.
That being said, the Cowboys don’t have a whole lot to get excited about at wide receiver now that Dez Bryant is gone.
They can spend the rest of the draft tacking on pieces to their defense, but they may want to take the time to land an impact receiver like Sutton first.
The Lions ranked in the bottom 12 at rushing the passer a year ago, so even though they re-signed Ziggy Ansah, boosting their defensive line has to be a priority.
They could look for long-term help up front with someone like Vita Vea, or they could add a young defensive end to pair with Ansah.
Davenport makes that the better play, as he has the size, physicality, and athleticism to be a beast on the outside.
Geno Atkins remains a strong presence up front, but he’s 30 now, and the rest of Cincy’s interior bodies don’t offer a ton of upside.
Vea could give the Bengals a big body to rotate in immediately, while he has the talent to be a future star in the middle of the defensive line.
The Bills grabbed their future franchise passer in Josh Rosen earlier in round one, and they’ll go get him a weapon via Moore with their second pick.
This is a solid class for wide receiver, and the combination of talent and need should give Moore a shot at getting taken in round one.
Buffalo let Jordan Matthews go this offseason and dealt Sammy Watkins before last year started, so it’s no shock they could be interested in adding some help at receiver.
Another NFL prop bet to keep an eye on is the number of wide receivers to be selected in round one.
The Patriots seem to be interested in nabbing Tom Brady’s heir apparent, but they may have to trade up to get the guy they want. That, or they think they can get him elsewhere.
I don’t see them reaching here, especially when a quality cover man like Alexander is there for the plucking. The team let Malcolm Butler go this offseason, and bringing in a young corner to help replace him going forward makes good sense.
The Panthers are really lacking playmakers in the passing game. Not only did they trade away Kelvin Benjamin last year, but Greg Olsen is getting older, and the team’s big offseason move was signing an aging Torrey Smith.
Carolina needs to get serious about helping Cam Newton out. They started the process by drafting the dynamic Christian McCaffrey last year, and now they can solidify their passing attack by selecting Kirk.
Kirk gives the Panthers a strong possession receiver who can work the middle of the field and also help the offense take shots over the top of the defense.
The Titans seem to be just about set offensively going into 2018, so their job is to shore up an improving defense. Tennessee is heading in the right direction, but they could use a linebacker to kick inside and direct the defense.
There has been a lot of praise thrown Vander Esch’s way, with some even comparing him to a young Brian Urlacher.
I’m not sure he’s that guy just yet, but there is no doubt he has the size, length, and athleticism of a stud linebacker. Now the Titans just need to use him correctly.
Grady Jarrett has been a nice find for the Falcons, but they could still have some work to do up front with nobody else really standing out next to him.
Hurst has some size and health questions, but he has a great burst and knows how to slip through the cracks inside.
He could potentially give the Falcons a huge jolt in the pass rush, while it will be interesting to see if adding his penetration skills also translates to the run game.
The Saints got a lot better on defense last year, but they can’t stop trying to improve now. While they made some strides, they were a joke just over a year ago, and they need to make sure they don’t suddenly regress again.
The Saints actually ranked 7th in the NFL in sacks in 2017, but they have multiple pass rushers coming into 2018 at less than full strength.
Landry doesn’t have to push for a big role right away, but adding some depth that can make an impact as part of a rotation keeps their defensive pressure a strength.
Nobody knows what the future holds for star linebacker Ryan Shazier, but the Steelers probably have to move forward as if his playing career is over.
That’s likely the case, while adding a solid linebacker probably wouldn’t be a terrible idea, either way. Evans is a fine talent to bring in, as the Crimson Tide product has good size and all of the athletic traits (namely speed) to excel as a sideline-to-sideline menace.
If Pittsburgh is looking for a Shazier replacement, Evans certainly fits the bill.
The Jaguars are pretty set across the board, but they could use a little extra meat in the trenches on offense.
Offensive tackle is a position of need, and a guy like Connor Williams has the ability to set up shop on the right side or even kick in at guard in a pinch.
Jacksonville could also look for a big impact wide receiver late in round one, but Williams feels like a steal here.
Minnesota is another team that is looking pretty good across the board, so they could take this opportunity to land a highly-versatile offensive lineman.
Will Hernandez is about as good as anyone at this point and figures to be a stud guard at the next level. Thanks to his strength, agility, and athleticism, Hernandez could give Minnesota a flexible guard to be used on either side.
The Vikings really need help all over the o-line, but starting on the interior with a guy this versatile makes a lot of sense.
The Pats can’t hold their breath on Tom Brady for forever. He’s going to call it a career at some point, and not having a backup plan simply isn’t an option.
New England could still move up in a trade, but I think they risk it and see if someone like Rudolph can just slide into their hands at #31 overall.
I think that’s likely, as Rudolph is a borderline round-one prospect but profiles as a Brady-esque clone.
Not many view Rudolph as an elite franchise passer, but he plays well within the pocket and can take the top off of the defense. He feels a bit raw in terms of accuracy and decision-making, but under Brady and Bill Belichick’s watch, he could develop into a star.
Lastly, the Eagles could be in the market for another body in their offensive backfield. LeGarrette Blount left for Detroit in free agency, so a running back spot may be opening up.
Philly has done well to address most of their pressing needs, so they can afford to make a luxury pick with the final pick in the first round.
I don’t hate the idea of them snatching up Guice, who is a first-round talent but is clearly in danger of sliding into round two. The team seems to like Jay Ajayi plenty, but they also want to keep their running game split up amongst a committee.
While Guice helps the rich get richer, he also may help sports bettors. One more 2018 NFL Draft prop bet to consider is how many running backs will be taken in round one.
Topbet.eu has the Over/Under set at 1.5, but if Guice can crack the first 32 picks like I think he can, the Over (-260) could be an easy call.
That does it for my look at the 2018 NFL Draft. There are sure to be a lot of rumors floating around, and there should even be big trades that go down.
However, I think this shines a light on some team needs and gives you an idea of which prospects are solid bets to hear their name called in round one.
With all of this in front of you, it’s possible to take advantage of some NFL Draft prop bets and hopefully win some cash this year. Good luck with that, and I hope you enjoy the draft!
The post 2018 NFL Mock Draft: Predicting the Entire First Round appeared first on GamblingSites.com.
No comments:
Post a Comment