Take on the Experts in the 2018 NFL Mock Draft Contest

• Who will the Browns take with the first-overall pick?
• See how the experts believe the first-round of the 2018 NFL Draft will play out 
• Take on your friends and the experts with our 2018 NFL Mock Draft Contest

The Cleveland Browns have unofficially been on the clock since December 24th, 2017, after a Week 16 loss to the Bears resulted in the Browns clinching the first overall pick for a second straight year. Since then, we have heard speculation of that pick being any of Sam Darnold, Josh Rosen, Josh Allen, Baker Mayfield, Saquon Barkley, Bradley Chubb, and even Minkah Fitzpatrick for a brief period.

Come 8:00 PM ET on Thursday (April 26th), the Browns will officially be on the clock, and all the guessing will come to an end a few minutes later.

But while we’re still here enjoying the matchmaking, here’s what our experts are anticipating for the First Round of the 2018 NFL Draft. And don’t forget to print off your own blank version so you can partake in the Mock Draft Contest for the title of true NFL Draft Guru.

Matt McEwan’s 2018 NFL Mock Draft – Lead NFL Writer

>> View Matt McEwan’s 2018 NFL Mock Draft <<

Draft notes:

• The Bills move up to no. 2, through the Browns at no. 4, to select Josh Allen
• Cleveland gets the Bills’ 12th and 22nd-overall picks in the 2018 Draft
• The Giants move back to no. 4 and receive a pair of second-round picks, as well
• The Miami Dolphins move up to no. 5 to take their QB of the future, Josh Rosen

There is no way the Cleveland Browns, who have come so far in the last couple of years – in terms of gathering talent, not actual wins – can bet their entire bankroll on Josh Allen. Yes, he can throw the ball harder and further than anyone else in this draft, but that’s not all that goes into the making of a franchise QB.

It does make sense for the Bills to make such a move, though. Allen is the anti-Tyrod Taylor. The Wyoming product has no hesitancy to let it rip and would never be mistaken for a game-manager who just protects the ball.

After Baker Mayfield marks the third consecutive QB selected, the Miami Dolphins will see their opportunity at finding their franchise pivot begin to disappear. The result will be a trade with the Broncos to move up from no. 11 to 5, and grab who I believe is the best signal-caller in the draft, Josh Rosen.

Lamar Jackson will come off the board in the first-round, as well, marking the fifth QB selected. But he will be waiting a while after the Arizona Cardinals pass on him at no. 15. Jacksonville will gladly bring him in to compete with Blake Bortles for the starting spot, and don’t be surprised if they make a move up the board to go get him.

Another team to keep your eye on is the San Francisco 49ers, who seem to be a great fit for free agent WR Dez Bryant. If they don’t land Dez, they may instead try to find Jimmy Garoppolo’s go-to receiver with the ninth-overall pick. And don’t assume Calvin Ridley is going to be the first wide receiver off the board. My sleeper pick there is Courtland Sutton.

Sascha Paruk’s 2018 NFL Mock Draft – NFL Odds Expert

>> View Sascha Paruk’s 2018 NFL Mock Draft <<

Draft notes:

• The Buffalo Bills move up to no. 6, trading with the Indianapolis Colts, to take QB Josh Rosen
• The New Orleans Saints move up from no. 27 to no. 23 to take TE Hayden Hurst

I shied away from trades. While I’m confident there will be a lot more trades than I’ve predicted, I am not confident I know which teams will move to which spots. (Knowing which trades make sense is not the same as knowing which trades will occur, not in a league where Ryan Pace is still a GM.)

The fact that I have all four of the top QBs going early is not an endorsement of their status as top-ten prospects. It’s a recognition that the Jets gave up four first/second-round picks to move up three freakin’ spots, and the move was not widely criticized. That’s just the kind of league this is right now.

Alexander Kilpatrick’s 2018 NFL Mock Draft – Lead NCAAF Writer

>> View Alexander Kilpatrick’s 2018 NFL Mock Draft <<

Draft notes:

… I think my mock speaks for itself.

Jon Shepherd’s 2018 NFL Mock Draft – NFL Writer

>> View Jon Shepherd’s 2018 NFL Mock Draft <<

Draft notes:

• Bills trade picks no. 12, 22, 56, and 96 to the Browns for the 4th-overall
• The Patriots trade nos. 23, 31, 63, and 95 to the Browns for the 12th-overall selection
• Tennessee flips their 25th and 57th-overall picks to move up to no. 18

Instead of trading down or selecting their QB of the future, the Giants opt for the potential face of the league for the next half-decade and draft Saquon Barkley. Yeah, that’s right, a running back at no. 2.

After making the leap up the board from no. 12 to 4, the Bills pass on Josh Allen and select arguably the best QB in the class, Josh Rosen, leaving Allen for John Elway and the Broncos. Third times a charm for Elway with QBs in the draft, right?

Last season, the Buccaneers secondary was abused like Jeff Goldblum’s career. They’ll take the best defensive back in the draft in Derwin James to help slow down the high-powered offenses in the NFC South.

The New England Patriots make a giant move up the board, and do so to find the next heir to Tom Brady. Lamar Jackson finds a great home and gets to sit behind a legend for a year or two.

Quarterbacks continue coming off the board, with Mason Rudolph to the Cardinals marking the fifth pivot selected in the first-round. Sam Bradford may be the plan in Arizona for 2018 – for four games, anyways – but Rudolph will be the future.