
It’s draft week, and that means the wait is almost over for this year’s crop of outgoing college stars.
The 2018 NFL Draft features plenty of intriguing storylines, and right now, no one is sure who the Cleveland Browns will take at No. 1.
As far as SEC players go, it’s unlikely a player from the conference will be taken in the top five, but that doesn’t mean the SEC won’t still win the first round.
In fact, in our projections, nine SEC players will hear their names called on Thursday night in Arlington. Here’s how we see the first round of the draft playing out this week:
(Note: Though there will almost certainly be trades in the first round on Thursday, this mock draft assumes each team will make its own pick when it is on the clock.)
1. Cleveland Browns — Sam Darnold, QB, USC
The Browns traded for Tyrod Taylor this offseason, but that doesn’t mean they won’t start the draft by selecting a quarterback. Darnold and Browns owner Jimmy Haslam are apparently already close, so this move makes the most sense for Cleveland.
2. New York Giants — Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State
The Giants have also been linked to a quarterback, but they can probably wait until 2019 to take Eli Manning’s eventual replacement. That leaves Barkley as the obvious choice here. Many consider him the No. 1 player in the draft, and the Giants’ offense could really use a dynamic running back.
3. New York Jets — Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA
Many analysts are talking about a potential slide for Rosen, but he really makes sense in New York. Yes, he speaks his mind, and yes, that matters to NFL teams for some reason, but the Jets can’t afford to pass on a player as talented as Rosen.
4. Cleveland Browns — Bradley Chubb, DE, NC State
The Browns used the No. 1 overall pick on Texas A&M DE Myles Garrett last year, but this year, they wait til the No. 4 spot to grab the best pass rusher in the class. With the NFL trending more toward passing, having players who can chase down quarterbacks is very important. Garrett and Chubb could become a fearsome duo in the coming years.
5. Denver Broncos — Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming
The Broncos are still searching for a long-term solution at quarterback, and Allen could end up being the best in the draft at the position. He’s a boom-or-bust candidate, and there are some major red flags about his game, but the Broncos’ front office is led by Hall-of-Fame QB John Elway, so if anyone can maximize Allen’s potential, it’s him.
6. Indianapolis Colts — Quenton Nelson, OL, Notre Dame
Nelson is considered by many to be a sure thing and potential All-Pro lineman within the first couple of years of his career. If there’s one thing the Colts need, it’s reliability, so Nelson makes sense here. If Andrew Luck comes back, he’s going to need better protection, and Nelson can offer that.
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Derwin James, S, Florida State
Alabama S Minkah Fitzpatrick (see below) has been a popular pick here, but he could fall a bit due to his lack of one true position. James is a pure safety, and considering he played in the state of Florida, he could be an enticing pick for the Bucs. You really can’t go wrong picking between James and Fitzpatrick, but we’ll give James the home-state edge here.
8. Chicago Bears — Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State
Again, Fitzpatrick is hurt by the fact that he played corner and safety at Alabama (the NFL is ridiculous, after all). Ward is a true corner and ran a 4.32 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, which tied for the fastest time. He’ll be a great fit in Chicago’s defense, which needs as many impact players as it can get right now.
9. San Francisco 49ers — Minkah Fitzpatrick, DB, Alabama
This represents a bit of a slide for the talented defensive back, but he’ll still be the first SEC player off the board. If he makes it all the way to No. 9, the 49ers will be wise to snatch him up. Considering their starting safeties are Jimmie Ward and Jaquiski Tartt, Fitzpatrick could be a Day 1 starter in the bay area.

10. Oakland Raiders — Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia
The Raiders have one of the best pass rushers in the league in Khalil Mack, but they could use a do-it-all linebacker to play beside him. Smith is the most well-rounded linebacker in the 2018 draft class, and if he’s still on the board here, the Raiders will likely scoop him up quickly.
11. Miami Dolphins — Tremaine Edmunds, LB, Virginia Tech
Having missed out on Smith, the Dolphins can still draft a talented linebacker. Edmunds recorded 202 tackles the past two seasons for the Hokies, and the Dolphins could use a tackling machine like him in the middle of their defense.
12. Buffalo Bills — Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma
Yes, the Bills traded for AJ McCarron this offseason, but that doesn’t mean they’re settled on him as their quarterback of the future. And, when you look at the stats, it often benefits a young quarterback to sit behind an established starter for a couple of years (see: Rodgers, Aaron). Therefore, if the Bills want to take a shot at finding a franchise guy, they should take a flier on the Heisman Trophy winner and let him learn from McCarron for a year or two. After all, McCarron knows a lot about winning from his time at Alabama.
13. Washington Redskins — Vita Vea, DT, Washington
There aren’t many players in the game who take up more space than the 6-5, 340-pound Vea. The Redskins’ defensive tackles are veterans, so drafting Vea would allow them to take him under their wings for a couple of years before letting him take over as the leader of the defensive line, along with last year’s first-round pick, former Alabama DL Jonathan Allen.
14. Green Bay Packers — Mike Hughes, CB, UCF
Every year, the Packers’ secondary ends up looking like a MASH unit by the midway point of the season. Therefore, they need to draft talent at the position early and often this draft. Hughes was an incredible player for the Knights, recording 4 interceptions, 11 pass breakups and 49 tackles. He has the kind of athleticism that the Packers always look for, so he’d be a great fit in Green Bay.
15. Arizona Cardinals — Josh Jackson, CB, Iowa
The Cardinals’ secondary needs some work behind Patrick Peterson, and Jackson would be a nice fit in the desert. The Cardinals could also go with a receiver at this position, but they still have Larry Fitzgerald and other nice offensive weapons, so cornerback is a bigger need.
16. Baltimore Ravens — Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama
It’s been ages since the Ravens have had a true impact receiver, and that’s what Ridley can be if used properly. We can (and have) debated Joe Flacco’s eliteness, but giving him a weapon like Ridley will undoubtedly make him better. It’ll be interesting to see if a team tries to trade up to No. 14 or No. 15 to steal Ridley from the Ravens, but if he makes it to this point, expect Baltimore to grab him.
17. Los Angeles Chargers — Da’Ron Payne, DL, Alabama
The Chargers already have a strong defensive line with Joey Bosa, Melvin Ingram and Corey Liuget, but you can never have enough bodies in the trenches. Payne is one of the top defensive linemen in this draft class, so the Chargers would be wise to scoop him up here.

18. Seattle Seahawks — Harold Landry, DE, Boston College
The Seahawks need to start replenishing their depth on defense, as several key players have left the past two offseasons. Landry will be able to step in and help their pass rush right away, which is something they’ll need if they want to make it back to the playoffs in 2018.
19. Dallas Cowboys — D.J. Moore, WR, Maryland
The Cowboys cut ties with Dez Bryant this offseason, so they need to bring in another dynamic receiver to take his place. With Ridley off the board, Moore is considered by many to be the No. 2 receiver in this draft class.
20. Detroit Lions — Marcus Davenport, DE, UTSA
Davenport has gotten better every year at UTSA, improving his totals to 17.5 tackles for a loss and 8.5 sacks this season. With a need at defensive end, the Lions can’t afford to let a dynamic pass rusher like Davenport get past them.
21. Cincinnati Bengals — Will Hernandez, OL, UTEP
The Bengals are nearing a crossroads, as they have some major decisions to make about a number of aging players. With plenty of needs, they should just take the best player available. At No. 21, that will likely be Hernandez, an absolute road-grader of an offensive lineman.
22. Buffalo Bills — Courtland Sutton, WR, SMU
Since the Bills traded all their wide receivers to the Rams last year, it is now a position of need. They still have Kelvin Benjamin and Zay Jones, but neither is overly reliable, so Buffalo might take a flier on Sutton here. Sutton had 195 catches for 3,220 yards and 31 touchdowns during his SMU career, so he’d be a great weapon for AJ McCarron and the Bills’ offense.
23. New England Patriots — Kolton Miller, OT, UCLA
As Tom Brady ages, the Patriots are going to have to invest more in their offensive line to keep him upright. Miller is the best offensive tackle remaining, so if the Pats don’t trade this pick, they’d be wise to grab the former Bruin.
24. Carolina Panthers — Derrius Guice, RB, LSU
The Panthers have Christian McCaffrey, but he’s really more effective as a receiver than as a running back. Adding an elite running back like Guice could give the Panthers a duo like the New Orleans Saints — their NFC South rivals — have with Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara.
25. Tennessee Titans — Maurice Hurst, DT, Michigan
There have been concerns about Hurst’s health, as he discovered he had a heart irregularity at the NFL Combine. However, he’s been cleared to play, and he’d be a steal for the Titans at the No. 25 spot in the first round. He can be an impact tackle when he’s at full strength, and the Titans need some star power along their defensive line.
26. Atlanta Falcons — Taven Bryan, DL, Florida
The Falcons have seen some of their best defensive linemen in recent years age out of the NFL, so they need to get younger. Last year, they picked Takkarist McKinley with their first-round selection, and they’d be wise to get the former Gator here. Bryan can play inside and can also get after the quarterback, which is something Atlanta desperately needs if it wants to get back to the Super Bowl.
27. New Orleans Saints — Hayden Hurst, TE, South Carolina
The Saints tried to bring back former TE Jimmy Graham this offseason, but he signed with Green Bay instead. At No. 27, the Saints could get great value from Hurst, who many consider to be the best tight end in the draft. Working with a future Hall-of-Fame quarterback like Drew Brees would be a dream for Hurst.
28. Pittsburgh Steelers — Rashaan Evans, LB, Alabama
Sadly, the Steelers lost talented young LB Ryan Shazier to a devastating spine injury last season, so linebacker is a position of need. They don’t come much better than Evans in this year’s draft class, so if he’s still on the board here, expect the Steelers to snatch him up.
29. Jacksonville Jaguars — Jaire Alexander, DB, Louisville
In today’s pass-happy NFL, you can never have too many defensive backs. Even though Jalen Ramsey and AJ Bouye are one of the best corner tandems in the NFL, adding Alexander late in the first round would be a great move for a team on the rise in the AFC.
30. Minnesota Vikings — Isaiah Wynn, OL, Georgia
Though Wynn played left tackle at Georgia last year, he is projected to play guard in the NFL. The Vikings have some major question marks along the interior of their line, so Wynn makes a lot of sense here. Considering how close the Vikings were to making the Super Bowl last year, this is a great fit for the former Bulldog.

31. New England Patriots — Leighton Vander Esch, LB, Boise State
The Patriots need to revamp their defense if they want to stay atop the AFC, and Vander Esch is an incredible player. In addition to an almost-unbelievable 141 tackles last year, he also had two interceptions, five passes defensed, four sacks and four forced fumbles. No, he didn’t play in a major conference, but he could be a fantastic value pick for the Pats at No. 31.
32. Philadelphia Eagles — Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame
The Eagles have one of the NFL’s best offensive lines, but there are several older veterans playing key roles. That means the Eagles need to start planning for the future, as guys like Lane Johnson and Jason Peters won’t be around forever. McGlinchey is a guy who many think could sneak a little higher in the first round, but if he’s still here at No. 32, it would be a great pick for the defending Super Bowl champs.
Adam is a daily fantasy sports (DFS) and sports betting expert. A 2012 graduate of the University of Missouri, Adam now covers all 16 SEC football teams. He is the director of DFS, evergreen and newsletter content across all Saturday Football brands.