The first: Denver ships a second rounder and #5 to the Giants for #2. The Broncos get any non-Darnold QB they desire. The Giants will watch QBs go 1-2-3 which means they are guaranteed to get one of the Chubb-Barkley-Nelson triumvarate whom they probably would have been willing to take at 2. Free second rounder.
The second: Buffalo sends their two first rounders to the Colts for #6. The Bills get their franchise QB; the Colts load up on lotto tickets.
With that, this is my best guess...
[Apologies in advance for the brevity.]
1. Cleveland Browns: Sam Darnold, QB USC - It's lazy to just assume that any QB the Browns take will be terrible. That's not necessarily true. However, the Darnold turnover lowlight reel is way too long for me to feel comfortable with Rudy's chances at success in Cleveland.
2. Denver Broncos (from New York Giants): Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA - John Elway needs a solution at QB. Rosen, for my money, is the best one in this class. He'll learn for part of a season behind Case Keenum, and then the job will be Rosen's for the next decade.
3. New York Jets (from Indianapolis): Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma - If I'm the Jets, I'm thrilled if either Rosen or Baker slip to #3 but not both. This way the Jets can claim they got their guy, and the guy plays with a little chip on his shoulder for being the third QB taken.
4. Cleveland (from Houston): Bradley Chubb, DE, NC State - Chubb is a nice bookend for last year's top pick Myles Garrett, but I don't expect him to turn into a superstar.
5. New York Giants (from Denver): Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State - Dream scenario for every Giants fan.
6. Buffalo Bills (from New York Jets through Indianapolis): Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming - Time for the Bills to use those bullets and hope Allen can clean up those accuracy issues. His arm will play anywhere he goes.
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Derwin James, DB, Florida State - It's rare that you could feel better about picks 7 through 11 than 1 through 5, but I think the match of player and team fit beautifully.
8. Chicago Bears: Quenton Nelson, G, Notre Dame - Easiest pick of the draft.
9. San Francisco 49ers: Minkah Fitzpatrick, DB, Alabama - John Lynch will load up this defensive backfield soon enough. Minkah gets it started.
10. Oakland Raiders: Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia - Smith paired with Khalil Mack? Sign me up.
11. Miami Dolphins: Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville -
12. Indianapolis Colts (from Cincinnati through Buffalo): Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State - Ward is a guy that Colts might target at #6 if they don't trade back.
13. Washington Redskins: Josh Jackson, DB, Iowa
14. Green Bay Packers: Tremaine Edmunds, LB, Virginia Tech
15. Arizona Cardinals: Courtland Sutton, WR, SMU
16. Baltimore Ravens: DJ Moore, WR, Maryland
17. Los Angeles Chargers: Da'Ron Payne, DL, Alabama
18. Seattle Seahawks: Kolton Miller, OL, UCLA
19. Dallas Cowboys: Vita Vea, DL, Washington
20. Detroit Lions: Derrius Guice, RB, LSU
21. Cincinnati Bengals (from Buffalo): James Daniels, OL, Iowa
22. Indianapolis Colts (from Kansas City through Buffalo): Marcus Davenport, DL, UTSA
23. New England Patriots (from Los Angeles): Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame
24. Carolina Panthers: Will Hernandez, OG, UTEP
25. Tennessee Titans: Leighton Vander Esch, LB, Boise State
26. Atlanta Falcons: Isaiah Wynn, OG, Georgia
27. New Orleans Saints: Harold Landry, LB, Boston College
28. Pittsburgh Steelers: Rashaan Evans, LB, Alabama
29. Jacksonville Jaguars: Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama
30. Minnesota Vikings: Jaire Alexander, DB, Louisville
31. New England Patriots: Mike Hughes, DB, Central Florida
32. Philadelphia Eagles: Mason Rudolph, QB, Oklahoma State
Posts
