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2018 NFL Mock Draft | Round 2

Russell Brown
04/27/2018
DB+

The NFL Draft is unbelievable every single year. You spend all this time watching film and grading prospects to watch your big board crumble to the ground. The first day of the draft always has some surprises, from trades to players that become surprising picks to a specific team.

As for the second round, here are the trades that I could see happening:

Green Bay Packers: 2018 Second Round Pick (50th overall), 2018 Fourth Round Pick (116th overall)
Dallas Cowboys: 2018 Second Round Pick (45th overall)

Denver Broncos: 2018 Second Round Pick (62nd overall)
Minnesota Vikings: 2018 Third Round Pick (71st overall), 2018 Fourth Round Pick (113th overall)

As for the second round, I look forward to get plenty wrong. Anything after round two, you can forget about it. Enjoy every second of this, as I’m sure I’ll be wrong on about every single one of these.

33. Cleveland Browns – Connor Williams, OT from Texas

After snagging their franchise quarterback in Baker Mayfield, the Browns will focus on finding him some protection. The sixth-ranked player on my board and the highest ranked player left is Connor Williams. With Joe Thomas gone, this pick makes sense. Another option for them would be Harold Landry. I’d expect Connor Williams because of their need at left tackle.

34. New York Giants – James Daniels, C from Iowa

There were talks of James Daniels going in the first round. He’ll end up being the third center off the board, and he fits a big need for the Giants. Even though they could consider Mason Rudolph, how is that any different than Davis Webb? They lost Weston Richburg and Justin Pugh; finding some help on the interior of their offensive line makes a ton of sense.

35. Cleveland Browns (from Houston) – Harold Landry, EDGE from Boston College

Going after a player such as Derrius Guice would make a ton of sense for this offense. However, my higher-ranked player is Landry. With that, you play him opposite of Myles Garrett, and it gives you the speed and power you’re looking for.

36. Indianapolis Colts – Derrius Guice, RB from LSU

Best player on the board, and he really shouldn’t be here. Playing him behind Andrew Luck provides him some protection and gives your offense a different dynamic. The Colts can’t afford to pass on Guice’s vision and aggressive running style.

37. Indianapolis Colts (from New York Jets) – Josh Jackson, CB from Iowa

This isn’t an edge rusher or an offensive tackle, but it fills a need. The Colts lost Vontae Davis and will be looking for his replacement. There isn’t a more a natural fit or higher-ranked cornerback on the board than Josh Jackson.

38. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Will Hernandez, OG from UTEP

No matter what the Bucs are looking to do with the ground game, it all starts up front. Snagging a phone-booth type of player is a smart choice for them. From protecting their quarterback to helping running backs, this is a solid pick to start off the second day of the draft.

39. Chicago Bears – James Washington, WR from Oklahoma State

If you listen to Cover 1 | The NFL Draft Podcast, I’ve always linked this pick to the Bears. I’ve often compared James Washington to Marqise Lee, and I’m sticking with it. Lee was the 39th overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft. Let’s just make this happen.

40. Denver Broncos – Isaiah Oliver, CB from Colorado

After moving on from Aqib Talib, the Broncos have an obvious need at cornerback. Oliver is the top player on the board for the position and would be a great fit for the Broncos.

41. Oakland Raiders – Nick Chubb, RB from Georgia

Despite some defensive needs, I can see the Raiders focusing this pick on their offense. They traded for Martavis Bryant and drafted Kolton Miller in the first round. Despite having a player such as Marshawn Lynch, they need to focus on getting younger in their backfield. Nick Chubb would be a great fit and would provide this offense with another weapon.

42. Miami Dolphins – Malik Jefferson, LB from Texas

There was a chance that the Dolphins could have taken a linebacker in the first round. They didn’t, but I still believe they keep addressing their defense. Jefferson has been the forgotten man of the linebacker group. He’s not the best player overall, but he’s got some upside with his range and quickness. On the surface, this will be a reach, but there’s some upside to this selection.

43. New England Patriots (from San Francisco) – Maurice Hurst, DT from Michigan

I predicted that Hurst would go in the first round to the Patriots with the 31st pick. That didn’t happen, but I don’t see him lasting too long on the second day of the draft. At this point, I’d think the Patriots would be interested with him. They have Danny Shelton and Malcolm Brown going into option years after the 2018 season, so having depth behind them is a priority. Regardless of the heart condition, Hurst is a steal.

44. Washington Redskins – Austin Corbett, OC from Nevada

There’s a chance that the Redskins will consider a running back, but I think they’re going to go back to the trenches. Corbett has some serious upside because of his athletic ability and versatility. He should be a plug-and-play type of player from day one.

45. Dallas Cowboys (Mock Trade with Green Bay) – Courtland Sutton, WR from SMU

The Cowboys will move up and get their guy. They passed on a receiver in the first round, and that’s actually a good move by them. There was only one receiver worth a first round grade, and that was Calvin Ridley. They’ve done their homework on Sutton and they’ll make the move up to get him.

46. Cincinnati Bengals – Ian Thomas, TE from Indiana

My favorite tight end in the class will hear his name in the second round, I believe. The Bengals make a ton of sense as they continue to add to their offense. They played it safe by adding Billy Price; this pick has serious upside to it. Thomas will be able to wait in the wings for a year behind Tyler Eifert (who only signed a one-year deal).

47. Arizona Cardinals – Justin Reid, S from Stanford

Going with a cornerback seems like the more logical pick, but Justin Reid is a versatile player who can play safety or in the slot. He’s a high character guy who has all the tools to start from day one.

48. Los Angeles Chargers – Nathan Shepard, DT from Fort Hays State

I’m not as high on Shepard as the consensus, but that doesn’t mean he’s not good. Shepard has the ability to play anywhere and on any defensive front. He’s still raw as a pass rusher and can get sloppy with his positioning in the backfield, but he’s a guy with great upside. The Chargers will play him and utilize him in certain situations for the first year.

49. Indianpolis Colts (from Seattle) – Josh Sweat, EDGE from Florida State

The Colts passed on an edge rusher with some of their picks, but this has been quite the haul for them: Nelson, Guice and Josh Jackson. Add a player like Sweat, and they’re winning the draft. Sweat can transition speed to power and is disruptive in stopping the run. Health is the only concern with him, but if he can stay on the field, he can become a double-digit sack guy.

50. Green Bay Packers (Mock Trade with Dallas) – Uchenna Nwosu, EDGE from USC 

The Packers have a ton of picks and could be very active on the second day of the draft. One of the ways they’ll be active is by moving back in this scenario. We saw them move down and back up in the first round. Here, they move back and get a player that’s generated quite the buzz for himself in recent weeks. Nwosu is an edge rusher who can cover flats, has experience dropping into man coverage and stopping the run. He reminds me of Devon Kennard, who was a former USC Trojan, and there’s a chance he develops and is utilized in a similar way.

51.  Detroit Lions – Lorenzo Carter, EDGE from Georgia

It’s going to be a draft in the trenches for the Lions. They’re not in a hurry to draft a running back because they signed LeGarrette Blount and have players like Abdullah and Riddick. They took a center with their first pick, and he’ll start right away. Another player that’s going to come in and play right away is Lorenzo Carter. He’s got some serious upside if you limit his role. He played all over for the Bulldogs, but if he focuses on stopping the run and rushing the passer, he’s going to produce.

52. Philadelphia Eagles (from Baltimore) – Tyrell Crosby, OT from Oregon 

I’m not exactly sure where Crosby translates at the next level. I’ve seen discussions of him moving inside as a guard, but personally, I’m keeping him at tackle. Let him play behind Jason Peters, and when it’s time to move on, you have Crosby ready to go.

53. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (from Buffalo) – Jessie Bates, S from Wake Forest

The Bucs moved back and didn’t take a safety. Finally, they take a safety and they get a really good one. Bates is a center fielder who can play in a single-high set and has the range to move all over the field. He’s got good ball skills and does a decent job coming up into the box. A few years from now, this pick is going to look really good.

54. Kansas City Chiefs – Braden Smith, OG from Auburn 

The Chiefs already drafted a cornerback, and now they’re going to add some offensive line depth. Braden Smith is an aggressive player who looks for work. He needs to do a better job with hand placement when it comes to pass protection, but he’s a solid pick for the Mahomes-led Chiefs.

55. Carolina Panthers – Anthony Averett, CB from Alabama 

There was a chance that the Panthers would select a cornerback in the first round. Instead, they got Cam Newton another weapon. Now they’ll focus on their defense. Averett is an incredibly gifted athlete who has the speed to play on the outside or in the slot. He’ll be utilized in multiple defensive packages for the Panthers.

56. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (from Buffalo) – Ronald Jones, RB from USC 

The Bucs are back on the clock, and they finally snag a running back. This might not be their first choice, but this could still be a great one. Jones will provide the Bucs with a dynamic option out of the backfield. He runs well in a zone-blocking scheme, but he can also catch passes out of the backfield.

57. Tennessee Titans – Sam Hubbard, EDGE from Ohio State 

I’ve never understood the round one buzz with Hubbard. That’s not a knock on him, but I just saw a day two player on film. That doesn’t make me right, though, because he could be the best edge rusher in the class, in a few years. Only time will tell, but Vrabel has that connection to Ohio State and we all expect him to grab one of these players.

58. Atlanta Falcons – Harrison Phillips, DT from Stanford 

It wasn’t surprising when the Falcons grabbed a receiver in the first round. In this case, they get a very talented defensive tackle. Phillips is an incredibly strong player who can be utilized over the guard as a one-tech or a three-tech. He has plenty of experience splitting double teams and handling reach blocks. There won’t be a ton of production rushing the quarterback, but in stopping the run, he’s an A+ player.

59. San Francisco 49ers (from New Orleans) – Anthony Miller, WR from Memphis 

You’d have to think the 49ers are going to add an offensive weapon at some point. Miller has some serious upside if he can stay healthy. He has speed to burn and is really solid with his double moves. From running inside-out, there’s a lot to like with this pick.

60. Pittsburgh Steelers – Fred Warner, LB from BYU 

The Steelers made a very surprising pick in the first round with Terrell Edmunds. However, this one makes a little bit more sense. Warner has the range and versatility you want out of a player, especially a linebacker. He can cover the slot and match with tight ends. There’s a need for the Steelers at linebacker, and I can’t see them passing on one.

61. Jacksonville Jaguars – Mike Gesicki, TE from Penn State 

In the first round the Jaguars were linked to taking a tight end. That didn’t happen, but it can easily happen in the second round. Gesicki could go much sooner because of his athletic ability, but he’s a terrible in-line blocker. That doesn’t add up for what the Jaguars want to do but he can get better. He’ll be a nice, quick option out of the slot or off the line for Blake Bortles.

62. Denver Broncos (Mock Trade with Minnesota)  – Mason Rudolph, QB from Oklahoma State 

It wouldn’t surprise me if we don’t see a quarterback taken in the second round. There are plenty of talented players before them, and the quarterbacks could fall. At this point, though, there probably will be a team that moves up for one of them. The Broncos have Case Keenum and could be comfortable with just him. If they’re not, they’ll move up to a player that they’ve done their homework on, and that’s Mason Rudolph. He’s progressed each year at Oklahoma State, but he’ll need time to adapt to the NFL. Sitting for a few years behind Keenum should do him well.

63. New England Patriots – Kyle Lauletta, QB from Richmond 

The Jimmy G story part two. Am I right?

64. Cleveland Browns (from Philadelphia) – Dante Pettis, WR from Washington 

It’s between DaeSean Hamilton or Dante Pettis. Personally, I’d take Hamilton, but the Browns will take Pettis. He’s a good vertical threat who has the ability to run the full route tree. This could be a reach to some, but Pettis and Baker Mayfield sounds like a fun duo on Sundays.

2018 NFL Draft | Buffalo bills | Cleveland Browns | Connor Williams | Derrius Guice | Harold Landry | Mason Rudolph | Maurice Hurst | Mock Draft | New England Patriots | New York Giants | Round 2

Russell Brown

National Scout for Cover 1. Host of Cover 1 | The NFL Draft Podcast. NFL Draft Enthusiast. X's and O's. Heard on ESPN Radio, FOX Sports Radio and CBS Sports Radio.

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