Football Garbage Time 2018 Mock NFL Draft – Part 2

By the Football Garbage Time Staff

Welcome back, y’all!

In the last article, we, nine different writers & podcasters from three different sites including:

• Wally (@UrbanSportScene) and Ray (@UrbanSportS_Ray) from the Urban Sports Scene Podcast,
• Nick (@BeerFueledFF & @NickSpartz) and Kris (@HoppBFF) from the Beer Fueled Fantasy Football Podcast, and
• Ryan (@RyanWhitfieldNE), Scott (@NFLFantasy_More), Bobby (@bobbypierson), Joanne (@kongfu4u) and I from right here on Football Garbage Time

went though who we thought teams should take for picks 1 through 16 of the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft, which we conducted live over four days on Twitter (feel free to check out the back and forth on Twitter by searching for #FGTMockDraft). 

Today, in Part 2, we go through Picks 17 through 32 along with the reasoning for each pick by each contributor.

17. Los Angeles Chargers

Joanne – Mike McGlinchey – OT

• The Los Angeles Chargers might not need skill positions in the 2018 draft, but they have needs essentially everywhere else.  With the 17th pick, and all the gaps in the offensive line and on defense, they’ll likely just aim to draft the best available player.  Offensive tackle Mike McClinchey (Notre Dame) could be that invaluable addition for the Chargers, assuming that McGlinchey’s skill and talent translate to the NFL (and there’s no reason it shouldn’t).
• The Chargers have a mish-mosh of players on the offensive line, but lack any  individual standouts.  Looking to improve their offensive line, McClinchey might be the addition they need.  McClinchey has speed, strength to sustain blocks and good athleticism on the edge.  A key component to the Notre Dame run game, McClinchey was a quality run blocker, opening up lanes and creating opportunities.  With the Chargers ranked 17th in rushing offense in 2017, McClinchey could be the guy to boost their ranking in 2018.

 18. Seattle Seahawks

Ryan – Orlando Brown – OT

• I know how terrible his Combine day was. But he had an impressive Pro Day, and at this point in our Mock he is the best Tackle on the board. The Seahawks are in a transition period, and during that period they need to finally protect Russell Wilson. Over the last three seasons the Seahawks have been in the top 4 in QB hits given up (2017- 3rd, 2016- 4th, 2015 – 3rd). They’ve been over 100 each of those years. Yup, more than 300 hits on Wilson over the last 3 years. Combine be damned, they need to build that Line and protect the franchise’s future.

19. Dallas Cowboys

Scott – Leighton Vander Esch – LB

• The Cowboys have weapons on offense including an elite offensive line. They need help on defense, especially at LB to support Sean Lee when he’s off the field.  LVE is the player to fill that need.

20. Detroit Lions

Scott – Will Hernandez – OG

• The Lions can’t run the ball and that’s as much about the offensive line and scheme as it is about the RBs on the roster.  Hernandez will strengthen an emerging offensive line.

 21. Cincinnati Bengals

Ha Kung – Isaiah Wynn – G

• The Bengals managed to address some of their offensive line issues by trading for left tackle Cordy Glenn, but Cincinnati still has significant needs across the line.  Although they have a glaring gap at center, I think a versatile O-lineman like Isaiah Wynn makes sense here.  He grades out to being a guard in the NFL due to his size, but has experience playing guard, tackle and even tight end at Georgia.  He was a second-team All-American and first-team All-SEC selection in 2017, starting all 15 games on the outside and effectively lead the way for the team’s running backs (Sony Michel and Nick Chubb) as well as protecting freshman quarterback Jake Fromm.  With all this versatility, Wynn will be a excellent piece to help rebuild the O-line without over-committing to a single position.  Heck, there’s even been the suggestion from some scouts that he could play center in the NFL, which would be a huge plus for the Bengals.

 22. Buffalo Bills

Bobby – Billy Price – C/OL

• Billy Price (C/G) would be a great choice to replace outgoing center Eric Wood, and if recently signed Russell Bodine (formerly of the Bengals) gets the starter job, Price can compete for guard. Nothing like healthy competition to keep a top notch O-line sharp.

23. New England Patriots

Kris – Kolton Miller – OT

• Tom Brady took the 4th most sacks of his career last year and isn’t getting any younger. Not known for staying in the first round or investing much on defense, the Patriots opt to solidify their O-Line and protect the aging GOAT with the best O-Lineman on the board.

 24. Carolina Panthers

Kris – Denzel Ward – CB

• The Panthers secondary was absolutely atrocious last year and they did little to address it in Free Agency. Ward is an athletic monster, and he proved it ripping off a 4.32 40 while also posting explosive Combine numbers in the vertical and broad jump. He has excellent footwork and can run stride for stride with most wide receivers. If they beat him? Well, he’s fast enough to recover. This gives Carolina a potential lock down corner, something they sorely need.

25. Tennessee Titans

Joanne – Justin Reid – S

• The Tennessee Titans have spent years trying to rebuild into a Super Bowl contender.  In 2017, the Titans finished second in the AFC South (for the 2nd year in a row), but was defeated by the New England Patriots in the divisional round of the post season.
• With the 27th pick, the Titans will have a difficult choice, especially since there aren’t 32 players worthy of a first round draft pick this year.  At 27, the most enticing player might have been Arden Keys (LSU – DE/OLB).  Unfortunately, off field issues (leave of absence from LSU) and his inability to explain the situation at the Combine made owners and coaches nervous.  Other concerns of drafting Keys in the first round are his injury history (shoulder surgery) and weight concerns.  Upon his return to LSU, Keys had gained significant weight, which he later took off.
• So who should the Titans draft?  If available, the Titans should develop their offensive line with a tackle or guard to help protect Marcus Mariota and develop the run game.  But with a late first round draft pick, finding a prime offensive line player might be difficult.  Outside of the offensive line, the Titans could strengthen their defense.  The Titans ended the season 13th overall in defensive, ranked 4th overall against the run and ranked 25th overall against the pass game. 
• With Da’Norris Searcy gone in free-agency, the Titan’s could use a capable safety in Justin Reid.  Reid has the size, speed and versatility to handle man coverage and the athletic ability for interceptions.  A stronger secondary in the defense could help in maintaining leads and winning games in the 2018 season.

26. Atlanta Falcons

Scott – Taven Bryan – DT

• Falcons strengthen their defense by adding talent to the Defensive Line.  The question Atlanta has to answer is, was last year the aberration or was it two years ago?  Hopefully an improved defense will help make it the former.

27. New Orleans Saints

Ha Kung – Mike Gesicki – TE

• Mike Gesicki is a beast.  He was tied for the fastest 40-yard dash (4.54), and had the highest vertical (41.5), longest broad jump (129.0), fastest 3-cone drill (6.76), fastest 20-yard shuttle (4.10) and fastest 60-yard shuttle (11.33) of any TE at the NFL Combine.  The only thing he didn’t completely dominate was bench press, where he “only” had the 2nd most reps (22 — one of the Dallas Goedert’s 23).  Feel free to check out his Combine highlights, but you can just take my word on it — his stock can’t get any higher and he definitely deserves it.

• His track record at Penn State was phenomenal, particularly in his junior and senior years where he was one of the primary receiving threats:

• Gesicki is a fantastic athlete that runs crisp routes and has no problems beating opposing linebackers and safeties.  He can be one of the better “move” tight ends in the NFL and a nice weapon for Drew Brees, who hasn’t had much success with tight ends since Jimmy Graham left town.  He has some concerns blocking, but that’s not why you’re going to draft him.  The Saints are in “win now” mode as Brees enters the twilight of his career, so adding more offensive weapons doesn’t hurt.

 28. Pittsburgh Steelers

Ryan – Ronnie Harrison – S

• Pittsburgh’s defense took a step forward last year. In moving on from Gay and Mitchell, it’s clear there is a youth movement. Harrison is a younger, more athletic version of Mike Mitchell. He’s quick but a big hitter, can play man coverage, and can play the ball.  The Steelers should keep adding youth on this defense and worry about Ben’s replacement in the 2nd round or later.

 29. Jacksonville Jaguars

Kris – Rashaan Evans – LB

• The Jaguars need a Paul Posluzny replacement to keep this defense chugging along. Evans is a very gifted linebacker with patience and an exceptional athletic profile. He can sniff out runs and misdirection plays and is pretty good at shedding blocks. He also plays tough, something that Jacksonville’s defense knows all about.

 30. Minnesota Vikings

Nick – Connor Williams – T/G

• The Vikings don’t have a lot of holes and are entering a championship window after signing Cousins to a 3 year deal. The few holes they have are in the trenches, so grabbing one of the better lineman in this draft who could play tackle and should be a very good guard is an immediate impact play that should help keep Cousins upright, get Remmers back to his natural position of RT, and improve the running game. Also considered DT Da’Ron Payne as a defensive centerpiece or Frank Ragnow as a stud interior lineman, but wanted the versatility of Williams.

31. New England Patriots

Ryan – Jaire Alexander – CB

• If you read my piece last week, you know I’m a huge Jaire Alexander guy. Jason McCourty is a good stop gap for the next two years, but Rowe, Cyrus Jones, and Jonathon Jones are not the future. Bring in Alexander and pair with Gilmore for the future of the Patriots secondary. He has an elite competition level, great ball skills, knack for big plays, and can play a physical brand of corner. He’s a guy with a chip on his shoulder, out to rebound from an injury plagued final year in Louisville. Guys like that tend to make a killing in Foxboro.

32. Philadelphia Eagles

Bobby – Ronald Jones – RB

• Ronald Jones (RB) is likened to Jamaal Charles.  Pederson ran the KC offense with Charles.  The Birds did not re-sign LaGarrette Blount.  Maybe the RB committee is down a man, maybe it’s not.  But Jones could add a fresh set of legs (with maybe a familiar stride) to the mix.  Fly Eagles Fly!

Don’t agree with who we picked in the Football Garbage Time 2018 NFL Mock Draft? 

Let us know!  Trust us, we’ve heard worse.