Doing a 2018 NFL Mock Draft before the 2017 football season even starts is wildly tough not only because we don’t know the players who will be considered first round talent next spring but also because we don’t know the order in which the NFL teams will finish this year. There will be plenty of fan bases upset at this order – namely Bengals, Ravens, Saints, Colts, Lions and Giants fans – who likely all expect their teams to do be in the top half of the league this season. On the flip side, I like the Dolphins, Redskins, Titans, Panthers and Vikings to have surprisingly strong seasons this fall. So, you’re welcome.
The “Suck for Sam [Darnold]” campaign is in full effect, but which team will be the best at being the worst in the NFL this season?
Expect Kyle Shanahan to totally clean house with the 49ers over the course of the next 10 months in an effort to either sign Kirk Cousins in 2018 or to draft Darnold No. 1 overall. The Jets will be plenty good at sucking, but they play the Bills (twice), the Jaguars, the Browns and the Saints this season. I like New York to get at least three wins.
By my count, the 49ers only really have two winnable games on their schedule (home vs. Rams on Sept. 21 and home vs. Jaguars on Christmas Eve).
1. San Francisco 49ers: Sam Darnold, QB, USC
2. New York Jets: Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville
3. Los Angeles Rams: Arden Key, DE, LSU
4. Chicago Bears: Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State
5. Jacksonville Jaguars: Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming
6. Cleveland Browns: Christian Kirk, WR, Texas A&M
7. Cincinnati Bengals: Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame
8. Baltimore Ravens: Da’Ron Payne, DT, Alabama
9. Buffalo Bills: Sam Hubbard, DE, Ohio State
10. New Orleans Saints: Andrew Brown, DE, Virginia
11. Indianapolis Colts: Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama
12. Cleveland Browns: Derwin James, S, Florida State
13. Los Angeles Chargers: Harold Landry, DE, Boston College
14. Detroit Lions: Bradley Chubb, DE, NC State
15. Buffalo Bills: Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA
16. New York Giants: Vita Vea, DT, Washington
17. Philadelphia Eagles: Tarvarus McFadden, CB, Florida State
18. Pittsburgh Steelers: Minkah Fitzpatrick, CB, Alabama
19. Atlanta Falcons: Jordan Whitehead, S, Pittsburgh
20. Miami Dolphins: Malik Jefferson, LB, Texas
21. Denver Broncos: Iman Marshall, CB, USC
22. Washington Redskins: Connor Williams, OT, Texas
23. Arizona Cardinals: Jarrett Stidham, QB, Auburn
24. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: James Washington, WR, Oklahoma State
25. Dallas Cowboys: Cameron Smith, LB, USC
26. Tennessee Titans: Antonio Callaway, WR, Florida
27. Green Bay Packers: Equanimeous St. Brown, WR, Notre Dame
28. Carolina Panthers: Tyquan Lewis, DE, Ohio State
29. Minnesota Vikings: Courtland Sutton, WR, SMU
30. Oakland Raiders: Josh Sweat, DE, Florida State
31. Seattle Seahawks: Bo Scarbrough, RB, Alabama
32. New England Patriots: Christian Wilkins, DT, Clemson