NFL Draft Player Rankings 2018: Mike Mayock Drops 3.0

We are less than one week away from the 2018 NFL Draft, which takes place from April 26-28 at AT&T Stadium in Arlinton, Texas. With the draft just days away, NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock, who is one of the most accurate draft analysts in the mainstream media, released his final position-by-position rankings.
Mayock provides a breakdown of his players by position, naming the top five players in each area of the field. This year, there are few surprises at the top of the list, but plenty of names to keep a close eye on when NFL commissioner Roger Goodell takes the podium and begins calling out names.
Where does Mayock have your favorite players ranked and who could potentially emerge as a top target for your favorite team?
Mayock’s full rankings can be seen below, via NFL.com:

Quarterback

1. Sam Darnold, USC
2. Josh Allen, Wyoming
3. Josh Rosen, UCLA
4. Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma
5. Lamar Jackson, Louisville
The quarterbacks to make the top five of Mayock’s rankings all have a chance to land in the first round. The only question is: what order will they come off the board?

Running back

1. Saquon Barkley, Penn State
2. Sony Michel, Georgia
3. Derrius Guice, LSU
4. Nick Chubb, Georgia
T-5. Ronald Jones II, USC
T-5. Rashaad Penny, San Diego State
Saquon Barkley is far and away the top running back prospect, but there has been some debate whether Georgia’s Sony Michel or LSU’s Derrius Guice will be the next to hear their name called. For Mayock, the UGA star gets the nod.

Wide receiver

1. DJ Moore, Maryland
2. Calvin Ridley, Alabama
3. Courtland Sutton, SMU
4. Christian Kirk, Texas A&M
T-5. James Washington, Oklahoma State
T-5. Anthony Miller, Memphis
As the draft approaches, Maryland pass catcher DJ Moore has seen his stock soaring, overtaking Alabama standout Calvin Ridley for the honor of holding the No. 1 spot.

Tight end

1. Hayden Hurst, South Carolina
2. Mike Gesicki, Penn State
3. Dallas Goedert, South Dakota State
4. Mark Andrews, Oklahoma
5. Chris Herndon, Miami
Penn State’s Mike Gesicki has seen his name rising up the draft boards as this week’s draft approaches, while Hayden Hurst is the top player at his position.

Tackle

1. Mike McGlinchey, Notre Dame
2. Kolton Miller, UCLA
3. Connor Williams, Texas
4. Tyrell Crosby, Oregon
T-5. Orlando Brown, Oklahoma
T-5. Geron Christian, Louisville
This year’s class lacks any elite tackle, but Mike McGlinchey, Kolton Miller, and Connor Williams could land in the second half of round one to start a run on tackles.

Interior OL

1. Quenton Nelson, Notre Dame
2. James Daniels, Iowa
3. Billy Price, Ohio State
4. Will Hernandez, UTEP
T-5. Isaiah Wynn, Georgia
T-5. Frank Ragnow, Arkansas
T-5. Austin Corbett, Nevada
After Quenton Nelson, who is a projected top 10 pick, the guard class gets murky. It will be interesting to see what order and how high the following players hear their name called. While there is a drop-off after Nelson, there are still quality players that will be available on Day 2.

Interior DL

1. Vita Vea, Washington
2. Da’Ron Payne, Alabama
3. Taven Bryan, Florida
4. Nathan Shepherd, Fort Hays State
T-5. Harrison Phillips, Stanford
T-5. Derrick Nnadi, Florida State
Vita Vea is a force of nature in the interior defensive line, while Alabama’s Da’Ron Payne looks to continue a tradition of first-round Crimson Tide defenders in the front seven. One intriguing prospect is Nathan Shepherd of Fort Hays State, who jumped into Mayock’s top five for the final edition of his rankings.

Edge rusher

1. Bradley Chubb, N.C. State
2. Marcus Davenport, UTSA
3. Harold Landry, Boston College
4. Lorenzo Carter, Georgia
5. Rasheem Green, USC
Bradley Chubb is one of the top players in this year’s class and won’t have to wait long to hear his name called on Thursday night. Marcus Davenport is also expected to be selected early, while the other top-ranked edge rushers could fly off the board sooner than expected with a premium at the position.

Linebacker

1. Roquan Smith, Georgia
2. Tremaine Edmunds, Virginia Tech
3. Rashaan Evans, Alabama
4. Leighton Vander Esch, Boise State
5. Uchenna Nwosu, USC
Alabama’s Rashaan Evans is rising as the draft approaches, but Georgia’s Roquan Smith and Virginia Tech’s Tremaine Edmunds still appear poised to be the two linebackers battling it out to see whose name will be called first. Leighton Vander Esch is also a potential first-round pick, despite some recent conflicting reports about his medicals.

Cornerback

1. Denzel Ward, Ohio State
2. Jaire Alexander, Louisville
3. Mike Hughes, UCF
4. Isaiah Oliver, Colorado
T-5. Donte Jackson, LSU
T-5. Josh Jackson, Iowa
There is plenty of talent at cornerback in this year’s class, as evidenced by the fall of Josh Jackson. The Iowa cornerback was once considered the top cornerback available but now has four of his peers ranked ahead of him, most notably Ohio State’s Denel Ward and Jaire Alexander of Louisville.

Safety

1. Minkah Fitzpatrick, Alabama
2. Derwin James, Florida State
3. Ronnie Harrison, Alabama
4. Justin Reid, Stanford
5. Jessie Bates III, Wake Forest
The safeties continue the trend of defensive back talent available in 2018, with Fitzpatrick, James and Harrison all potential first-round picks.


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