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2018 NFL MOCK DRAFT: What the experts are predicting for the first-round

In a survey of experts' NFL mock drafts, it looks like the top of the first round will be loaded with quarterbacks and defensive players.

The 2018 NFL Draft is here! With the first round taking place on Thursday, the NFL world is ripe with rumors of which players will get drafted to which team and where, with plenty of talk of trade-ups and trade-downs.

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To get a sense of how the first round might go, we surveyed 11 NFL Draft experts who have released mock drafts recently to get a sense for which players teams might be considering with all 32 first-round picks.

While many experts predicted trades that shake up the order, we went by consensus picks for each team, which still gives a good idea of when players are projected to go.

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This post has been updated.

1. Cleveland Browns — Sam Darnold, QB (USC)

Experts: 8 of 11

Other possibilities: Baker Mayfield, QB (Oklahoma), Josh Allen, QB (Wyoming)

Key expert quote: From Kelly: "even in the face of pressure

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2. New York Giants — Saquon Barkley, QB (Penn State)

Experts: 9 of 11

Other possibilities: Bradley Chubb, DE (NC State)

Key expert quote: From McShay: "Odell Beckham JrEvan EngramEli Manning

3. New York Jets (via Indianapolis Colts) — Baker Mayfield, QB (Oklahoma)

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Experts: 6 of 11

Other possibilities: Josh Rosen, QB (UCLA), Darnold

Key expert quote: From Rang: "

4. Cleveland Browns (via Houston Texans) — Bradley Chubb, DE (NC State)

Experts: 7 of 11

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Other possibilities: Josh Allen, QB (Wyoming), Darnold, Barkley

Key expert quote: From Kiper: "Myles Garrett

5. Denver Broncos — Josh Allen, QB (Wyoming)

Experts: 4 of 11

Other possibilities: Quenton Nelson, G (Notre Dame), Denzel Ward, CB (Ohio State), Mayfield, Chubb

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Key expert quote: From Kiper: "

6. Indianapolis Colts (via Jets) — Roquan Smith, LB (Georgia)

Experts: 3 of 11

Other possibilities: Josh Rosen, QB (UCLA), Quenton Nelson, G (Notre Dame), Allen, Chubb

Key expert quote: From Brooks: "

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7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Derwin James, S (Florida State)

Experts: 10 of 11

Other possibilities: Quenton Nelson, G (Notre Dame)

Key expert quote: From Brinson: "

8. Chicago Bears — Quenton Nelson, G (Notre Dame)

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Experts: 3 of 11

Other possibilities: Harold Landry, DE (Boston College), Tremaine Edmunds, LB (Virginia Tech), Denzel Ward, CB (Ohio State), Smith

Key expert quote: From Brooks: "

9. San Francisco 49ers — Minkah Fitzpatrick, S (Alabama)

Experts: 3 of 11

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Other possibilities: Denzel Ward, CB (Ohio State), Tremaine Edmunds, LB (Virginia Tech), Mike McGlinchey, OT (Notre Dame), Smith, Mayfield

Key expert quote: From Rang: "

10. Oakland Raiders — TIE: Mike McGlinchey, OT (Notre Dame) and Denzel Ward, CB (Ohio State)

Experts: 3 each

Other possibilities: Tremaine Edmunds, LB (Virginia Tech), Vita Vea, DT (Washington)

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Key expert quote: Rang: "T

11. Miami Dolphins — Tremaine Edmunds, LB (Virginia Tech)

Experts: 4 of 11

Other possibilities: Josh Rosen, QB (UCLA), Vita Vea, DT (Washington), Allen, Fitzpatrick

Key expert quote: From McShay: "

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12. Buffalo Bills (via Cincinnati Bengals) — Josh Rosen, QB (UCLA)

Experts: 2 of 11

Other possibilities: Ward, Fitzpatrick, Edmunds, Smith, Allen

Key expert quote: From Rang: "

13. Washington Redskins — Vita Vea, DT (Washington)

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Experts: 8 of 11

Other possibilities: Da'Ron Payne, DT (Alabama), Fitzpatrick, Smith

Key expert quote:From Jeremiah: "Vea would team up with last year's first-round pick, Jonathan Allen, to help fix the Redskins' awful run defense."

14. Green Bay Packers — Jaire Alexander, CB (Louisville)

Experts: 3 of 11

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Other possibilities: Mike Hughes, CB (Central Florida), Harold Landry, DE (Boston College), Edmunds, Fitzpatrick, Vea, James

Key expert quote: From Mayock: "

15. Arizona Cardinals — Calvin Ridley, WR (Alabama)

Experts: 2 of 11

Other possibilities: Lamar Jackson, QB (Louisville), Marcus Davenport, DE (Texas-San Antonio), Harold Landry, DE (Boston College), Edmunds, Rosen, McGlinchey

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Key expert quote: From Brooks: "

16. Baltimore Ravens — Lamar Jackson, QB (Louisville)

Experts: 6 of 11

Other possibilities: Dallas Goedert, TE (South Dakota State), Ridley, McGlinchey

Key expert quote: From Brooks: "T

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17. Los Angeles Chargers — Da'Ron Payne, DT (Alabama)

Experts: 6 of 11

Other possibilities: Kolton Miller, OT (UCLA), Taven Bryan, DT (Florida), Maurice Hurst, DT (Michigan), Leighton Vander Esch, LB (Boise State), Rashaan Evans, LB (Alabama)

Key expert quote: From McShay: "

18. Seattle Seahawks — Marcus Davenport, DE (Texas-San Antonio)

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Experts: 6 of 11

Other possibilities: Josh Jackson, CB (Iowa), Isaiah Wynn, G (Georgia), Isaiah Oliver, CB (Colorado), Lamar Jackson

Key expert quote: From Jeremiah: "

19. Dallas Cowboys — TIE: D.J. Moore, WR (Maryland) or Leighton Vander Esch, LB (Boise State)

Experts: 3 each

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Other possibilities: Courtland Sutton, WR (SMU), Taven Bryan, DT (Florida), Hayden Hurst, TE (South Carolina), Ridley

Key expert quote: From Kiper: "

20. Detroit Lions — Harold Landry, DE (Boston College)

Experts: 2 of 11

Other possibilities: Taven Bryan, DT (Florida), Rashaan Evans, LB (Alabama), Will Hernandez, G (Texas-El Paso), Davenport, Payne

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Key expert quote: From Mayock: "T

21. Cincinnati Bengals (via Bills) — Frank Ragnow, C (Arkansas)

Experts: 6 of 11

Other possibilities: Will Hernandez, G (Texas-El Paso), James Daniels, C (Iowa)

Key expert quote: From Brinson: "

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22. Buffalo Bills (via Kansas City Chiefs) — Isaiah Wynn, G (Georgia)

Experts: 2 of 11

Other possibilities: James Daniels, C (Iowa), Kolton Miller, OT (UCLA), Billy Price, C (Ohio State), Rashaan Evans, LB (Alabama), McGlinchey, Davenport, Alexander

Key expert quote: From McShay: "

23. New England Patriots (via Los Angeles Rams) — Kolton Miller, OT (UCLA)

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Experts: 6 of 11

Other possibilities: Justin Reid, S (Stanford), Rashaan Evans, LB (Alabama), Josh Sweat, DE (Florida State), Lamar Jackson

Key expert quote: From Rang: "

24. Carolina Panthers — Will Hernandez, G (Texas-El Paso)

Experts: 3 of 11

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Other possibilities: Courtland Sutton, WR (SMU), Josh Jackson, CB (Iowa), Isaiah Oliver, CB (Colorado), Hayden Hurst, TE (South Carolina), Ridley, Moore

Key expert quote: From Schrager: "

25. Tennessee Titans — Sam Hubbard, DE (Ohio State)

Experts: 2 of 11

Other possibilities: Rashaan Evans, LB (Alabama), Maurice Hurst, DT (Michigan), Landry, Miller, Vander Esch

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Key expert quote: From Rang: "

26. Atlanta Falcons — Taven Bryan, DT (Florida)

Experts: 6 of 11

Other possibilities: Austin Corbett (G, Nevada), Hernandez, Alexander, Payne

Key expert quote: From McShay: "B

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27. New Orleans Saints — Hayden Hurst, TE (South Carolina)

Experts: 3 of 11

Other possibilities: Dallas Goedert, TE (South Dakota State), Mike Gesicki, TE (Penn State), Isaiah Oliver, CB (Colorado), Payne, Ridley

Key expert quote: From Brinson: "

28. Pittsburgh Steelers — Rashaan Evans, LB (Alabama)

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Experts: 5 of 11

Other possibilities: Josh Jackson, CB (Iowa), Sony Michel, RB (Georgia), Derrius Guice, RB (LSU), Mike Hughes, CB (Central Florida)

Key expert quote: From Kelly: "Ryan Shazier won’t be on the field in 2018, which makes linebacker a huge need for the Steelers. Evans is tough and versatile and could start from day one."

29. Jacksonville Jaguars — Dallas Goedert, TE (South Dakota State)

Experts: 2 of 11

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Other possibilities: Courtland Sutton, WR (SMU), Mike Hughes, CB (Central Florida), Alexander, Hernandez, Moore

Key expert quote: From Kiper: "Blake Bortles

30. Minnesota Vikings — no consensus

Possibilities: James Daniels, C (Iowa), Mike Hughes, CB (Central-Florida), Connor Williams, G (Texas), Vander Esch, Hernandez, Wynn, Ragnow, Bryan, Alexander

Key expert quote: From Walter Football (on Hughes): "T

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31. New England Patriots — TIE: James Daniels, C (Iowa) or Justin Reid, S (Stanford)

Experts: 2 each

Other possibilities: Mason Rudolph, QB (Oklahoma State), Josh Jackson, CB (Iowa), Ragnow, Vander Esch, Miller

Key expert quote: From Kelly: "top-tier athleticism

32. Philadelphia Eagles — TIE: Derrius Guice, RB (LSU) or Sony Michel, RB (Georgia)

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Experts: 3 each

Other possibilities: Isaiah Oliver, CB (Colorado), Courtland Sutton, WR (SMU), McGlinchey, Alexander, Hughes

Key expert quote: From Kelly: "

Now, take a look at how recent first-round quarterbacks have turned out...

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