Five-round mock draft: Buffalo Bills trade up for Baker Mayfield
Published:
After a flurry of free-agent activity and blockbuster weekend trade, here's my mock for the first five rounds of the 2018 NFL Draft.
NOTE: Michigan DT Maurice Hurst was diagnosed with a heart condition during his medical evaluation earlier this month at the NFL Scouting Combine. I projected him as a first-round pick in my pre-Combine mock draft, but given the setback, I now project him to go in Round 2. However, if news emerges that alleviates the concern about his health prior to the draft, I would once again put him in the mix for the first round.
Cleveland's picked up all kinds of pieces in the free agent market, even a veteran quarterback in
[Tyrod Taylor](/player/tyrodtaylor/2495240/profile) to teach Darnold the ropes during the 2018 season. It will be Darnold's team after that, however.
[Eli Manning](/player/elimanning/2505996/profile) is the
[Giants](/teams/newyorkgiants/profile?team=NYG)' quarterback in 2018. My guess is the team will move on after next season so their young star can lead the franchise for the next 12-15 years.
The
[Giants](/teams/newyorkgiants/profile?team=NYG) got their man, and now the
[Jets](/teams/newyorkjets/profile?team=NYJ) land a QB, which is the reason they made the pre-draft deal with the
[Colts](/teams/indianapoliscolts/profile?team=IND) in the first place. The question is whether the team will prefer Allen's potential or
[Baker Mayfield](/player/bakermayfield/2560800/profile)'s physical skills and leadership style.
GM John Dorsey gets his quarterback, as well as the top player in the draft in Barkley.
[Browns](/teams/clevelandbrowns/profile?team=CLE) fans should be thrilled by this turn of events.
The
[Broncos](/teams/denverbroncos/profile?team=DEN) defense was at its best when
[Von Miller](/player/vonmiller/2495202/profile) and DeMarcus Ware were terrorizing quarterbacks. Now Chubb will help Miller strike fear into passers in the AFC.
**PROJECTED TRADE WITH COLTS.** If
[Bradley Chubb](/player/bradleychubb/2561020/profile) isn't there for the
[Colts](/teams/indianapoliscolts/profile?team=IND), GM Chris Ballard will be happy to move back again to gain a package of picks that would include, at minimum, a third-round pick in the 2018 draft (reflected below) and a 2019 first-rounder.
[Bills](/teams/buffalobills/profile?team=BUF) head coach Sean McDermott is hungry for a playmaker at the quarterback position, so a move up the board is definitely possible.
The back end of the
[Buccaneers](/teams/tampabaybuccaneers/profile?team=TB)' defense needs revamping; grabbing James is a good start.
Nelson deserves to go higher than this, and it wouldn't surprise me if Indianapolis or Tampa Bay make that call. But former Notre Dame OL coach Harry Hiestand would love to work with his star pupil again now that he's with the
[Bears](/teams/chicagobears/profile?team=CHI).
Edmunds would not last this long in a typical draft, but when quarterbacks go early, even rangy, dynamic linebackers have to wait for a while.
If the
[Raiders](/teams/oaklandraiders/profile?team=OAK) want speed at the second level, they'll go for Smith.
The
[Dolphins](/teams/miamidolphins/profile?team=MIA) released
[Ndamukong Suh](/player/ndamukongsuh/496861/profile), so they have a gaping hole in the middle of the defense. Vea fills the void.
**PROJECTED TRADE WITH BILLS.** The
[Colts](/teams/indianapoliscolts/profile?team=IND) need bodies at the corner spot alongside
[Quincy Wilson](/player/quincywilson/2557961/profile), and get the best cover man in the draft despite moving down twice.
[Alex Smith](http://www.nfl.com/player/alexsmith/2506340/profile) is coming to town, so finding him a reliable, quick, and strong-handed target like Moore makes all kinds of sense.
[Malcolm Jenkins](/player/malcolmjenkins/79848/profile) went 14th overall in the 2009 draft when teams weren't sure which position he would play in the secondary. The
[Packers](/teams/greenbaypackers/profile?team=GB) could be the beneficiaries of similar thinking this year.
Head coach Steve Wilks needs a leader and playmaker. The
[Sam Bradford](/player/sambradford/497095/profile) signing takes pressure off Jackson to be great in 2018, but don't be surprised if Jackson flashes as a rookie.
Davenport has the potential to become an excellent pass rusher for the
[Ravens](/teams/baltimoreravens/profile?team=BAL), who will need help when
[Terrell Suggs](/player/terrellsuggs/2505660/profile) retires or moves on to another team.
With the top safeties off the board, the
[Chargers](/teams/losangeleschargers/profile?team=LAC) improve another part of their defense with the athletic and instinctive Vander Esch.
Seattle decided to clean house on defense, including releasing
[Richard Sherman](/player/richardsherman/2495507/profile). Jackson has some big shoes to fill, but he has the skills and confidence to pull it off.
It's easy to believe Ridley would be a welcomed addition to Dallas' passing game.
Finding a quality pivot is important for
[Matthew Stafford](/player/matthewstafford/79860/profile) and the run game to operate efficiently.
The
[Bengals](/teams/cincinnatibengals/profile?team=CIN) continue to improve their offensive line by adding Williams to kick inside next to new left tackle
[Cordy Glenn](/player/cordyglenn/2532849/profile).
If the team is going to get a quarterback, he'll need receivers with whom he can connect in 2018 and beyond.
[Kelvin Benjamin](/player/kelvinbenjamin/2543471/profile) is due to become a free agent after the 2018 season, so Sutton provides another big body in the receiving corps.
Trading away
[Robert Quinn](/player/robertquinn/2495485/profile) creates an opportunity for Landry to make an immediate impact, even if
[Connor Barwin](/player/connorbarwin/71197/profile) is re-signed.
[Julius Peppers](/player/juliuspeppers/2505010/profile) is returning to Carolina, and Sweat will have a chance to soak up wisdom from him. Sweat hasn't yet reached his potential, but the sky's the limit.
Carter is a fantastic athlete and a strong player. He'll learn from the veterans for a year and then take over a starting role in 2019.
Payne will wreak havoc in the middle on Sundays.
[Drew Brees](/player/drewbrees/2504775/profile) didn't get
[Jimmy Graham](/player/jimmygraham/497236/profile) back, but he'll like what he sees from Goedert.
Reid is a hard-hitting defender for the back end and will fill in quite well in Pittsburgh's defense.
[Paul Posluszny](/player/paulposluszny/2495712/profile) retired after a distinguished career, so finding another starter in the middle makes sense.
New quarterback
[Kirk Cousins](/player/kirkcousins/2532820/profile) loves throwing to tight ends. Pairing Gesicki with
[Kyle Rudolph](/player/kylerudolph/2495438/profile) at TE should work well.
Replacing
[Nate Solder](/player/natesolder/2495232/profile) with another large, tall tackle seems a likely path for the
[Patriots](/teams/newenglandpatriots/profile?team=NE).
The
[Eagles](/teams/philadelphiaeagles/profile?team=PHI) are looking to improve their offensive line, and McGlinchey will help.
Round 2
- Browns: Harrison Phillips, DT, Stanford
- Giants: Christian Kirk, WR, Texas A&M
- Browns: Jaire Alexander, CB, Louisville
- Colts: Derrius Guice, RB, LSU
- Colts: Brian O'Neill, OT, Pittsburgh
- Bucs: Nick Chubb, RB, Georgia
39: Bears: Taven Bryan, DE, Florida - Broncos: Mike Hughes, CB, UCF
- Raiders: Donte Jackson, CB, LSU
- Dolphins: Mason Rudolph, QB, Oklahoma State
- Patriots: James Washington, WR, Oklahoma State
- Redskins: Carlton Davis, CB, Auburn
- Packers: Will Hernandez, OG, UTEP
- Bengals: Hayden Hurst, TE, South Carolina
- Cardinals: Ronnie Harrison, S, Alabama
- Chargers: Jessie Bates, S, Wake Forest
- Colts: Arden Key, EDGE, LSU
- Cowboys: Isaiah Wynn, OG, Georgia
- Lions: Isaiah Oliver, CB, Colorado
- Ravens: Sony Michel, RB, Georgia
- Bills: Tarvarus McFadden, CB, Florida State
- Chiefs: Sam Hubbard, EDGE, Ohio State
- Panthers: Ronald Jones II, RB, USC
- Bills: Tyrell Crosby, OT, Oregon
- Titans: Maurice Hurst, DT, Michigan
- Falcons: Dorance Armstrong, EDGE, Kansas
- 49ers: D.J. Chark, WR, LSU
- Steelers: Malik Jefferson, LB, Texas
- Jaguars: J.C. Jackson, CB, Maryland
- Vikings: Billy Price, C, Ohio State
- Patriots: Jalyn Holmes, DE, Ohio State
- Browns: Genard Avery, LB, Memphis
Round 3
- Bills: Terrell Edmunds, S, Virginia Tech
- Giants: Uchenna Nwosu, LB, USC
- Colts: Anthony Miller, WR, Memphis
- Texans: Da'Shawn Hand, DE, Alabama
- Bucs: Tyquan Lewis, DE, Ohio State
- 49ers: Kalen Ballage, RB, Arizona State
- Broncos: Martinas Rankin, OT, Mississippi State
- Jets: Daniel Carlson, K, Auburn
- Dolphins: Rashaad Penny, RB, San Diego State
- 49ers: Rasheem Green, DE, USC
- Raiders: Orlando Brown, OT, Oklahoma
- Packers: Equanimeous St. Brown, WR, Notre Dame
- Bengals: Kyle Lauletta, QB, Richmond
- Chiefs: Nathan Shepherd, DT, Fort Hays State
- Cardinals: J'Mon Moore, WR, Missouri
- Texans: Joseph Noteboom, OT, TCU
- Cowboys: Mark Andrews, TE, Oklahoma
- Lions: Ian Thomas, TE, Indiana
- Ravens: Frank Ragnow, C, Arkansas
- Chargers: Derrick Nnadi, DT, Florida State
- Panthers: Alex Cappa, OG, Humboldt State
- Chiefs: DeShon Elliott, S, Texas
- Rams: Josey Jewell, LB, Iowa
- Panthers: Tre'Quan Smith, WR, UCF
- Titans: Oren Burks, LB, Vanderbilt
- Falcons: Quenton Meeks, CB, Stanford
- Saints: Colby Gossett, OG, Appalachian State
- Steelers: Davontae Harris, CB, Illinois State
- Jaguars: Shaquem Griffin, LB, UCF
- Vikings: Darius Leonard, LB, South Carolina State
- Patriots: Chase Edmonds, RB, Fordham
- Colts: Marcus Allen, S, Penn State (pick acquired in projected trade with Bills)
- Cardinals: M.J. Stewart, CB, North Carolina
- Texans: Michael Gallup, WR, Colorado State
- Broncos: Deon Cain, WR, Clemson
- Bengals: Chad Thomas, DE, Miami
Round 4
- Packers: Fred Warner, LB, BYU
- Giants: Michael Dickson, P, Texas
- Texans: Troy Fumagalli, TE, Wisconsin
- Colts: Rashaan Gaulden, CB, Tennessee
- Bears: Kemoko Turay, EDGE, Rutgers
106: Broncos: Luke Falk, QB, Washington State - Jets: Trenton Thompson, DT, Georgia
- Bucs: Braden Smith, OG, Auburn
- Broncos: Micah Kiser, LB, Virginia
- Raiders: Hercules Mata'afa, DE, Washington State
- Rams: Austin Corbett, OG, Nevada
- Bengals: Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, LB, Oklahoma
- Redskins: Jeff Holland, EDGE, Auburn
- Browns: Holton Hill, CB, Texas
- Bears: Jamarco Jones, OT, Ohio State
- Cowboys: Nyheim Hines, RB, N.C. State
- Lions: Bilal Nichols, DT, Delaware
- Ravens: Simmie Cobbs, WR, Indiana
- Chargers: Brandon Parker, OT, North Carolina A&T
- Seahawks: Dylan Cantrell, WR, Texas Tech
- Bills: Leon Jacobs, LB, Wisconsin
- Chiefs: Wyatt Teller, OG, Virginia Tech
- Dolphins: Chukwuma Okorafor, OT, Western Michigan
- Chiefs: Marcell Ateman, WR, Oklahoma State
- Titans: Jaylen Samuels, TE, N.C. State
- Falcons: DaeSean Hamilton, WR, Penn State
- Saints: Dorian O'Daniel, LB, Clemson
- 49ers: Quin Blanding, S, Virginia
129: Jaguars: Royce Freeman, RB, Oregon - Eagles: Kerryon Johnson, RB, Auburn
- Dolphins: Nick Nelson, CB, Wisconsin
- Eagles: Jerome Baker, LB, Ohio State
- Packers: Dante Pettis, WR, Washington
- Cardinals: Andrew Brown, DT, Virginia
- Rams: B.J. Hill, DT, North Carolina State
- Patriots: Logan Woodside, QB, Toledo
- Cowboys: Mike McCray, LB, Michigan
Round 5
- Packers: Kylie Fitts, EDGE, Utah
- Giants: Anthony Averett, CB, Alabama
- Colts: Antonio Callaway, WR, Florida
141: Seahawks: Kentavius Street, DE, N.C. State
142: Broncos: Sam Jones, OG, Arizona State - 49ers: Andre Chachere, CB, San Jose State
- Bucs: Duke Dawson, CB, Florida
- Bears: Darius Phillips, CB, Western Michigan
- Seahawks: Desmond Harrison, OT, West Georgia
- Saints: Chase Litton, QB, Marshall
- Steelers: Skyler Phillips, OG, Idaho State
- Redskins: Josh Adams, RB, Notre Dame
- Browns: Geron Christian, OT, Louisville
- Bengals: Folorunso Fatukasi, DT, Connecticut
- Cardinals: Byron Pringle, WR, Kansas State
- Lions: Auden Tate, WR, Florida State
- Ravens: Tyler Conklin, TE, Central Michigan
- Chargers: Bo Scarbrough, RB, Alabama
- Seahawks: John Kelly, RB, Tennessee
- Jets: Scott Quessenberry, C, UCLA
- Bengals: Mason Cole, C, Michigan
- Raiders: Dane Cruikshank, CB, Arizona
- Broncos: Will Dissly, TE, Washington
- Panthers: Parry Nickerson, CB, Tulane
- Titans: Cedrick Wilson, WR, Boise State
- Broncos: Tim Settle, DT, Virginia Tech
- Saints: Ade Aruna, DE, Tulane
- Steelers: Poona Ford, DT, Texas
- Bills: Dimitri Flowers, FB, Oklahoma
- Vikings: Trey Quinn, WR, SMU
- Seahawks: Kyzir White, S, West Virginia
- Eagles: Durham Smythe, TE, Notre Dame
- Bengals: Siran Neal, CB, Jacksonville State
- Cowboys: Deadrin Senat, DT, South Florida
- Packers: Chandon Sullivan, CB, Georgia State
- Cowboys: Armani Watts, S, Texas A&M
- Packers: Troy Apke, S, Penn State
Follow Chad Reuter on Twitter @chad_reuter.