clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Mel Kiper’s 2018 NFL Mock Draft 3.0: Browns taking QB Josh Allen, RB Saquon Barkley

Kiper remains in love with Josh Allen at No. 1.

By Chris Pokorny
Wyoming v UNLV Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Mel Kiper of ESPN released his third mock draft of the year on Wednesday. To compare, here is who he had the Cleveland Browns taking in his first mock draft:

Kiper 1.0: QB Josh Allen, RB Saquon Barkley
Kiper 2.0: QB Josh Allen, CB Minkah Fitzpatrick

For the third consecutive time, Kiper is sticking with Allen at No. 1 overall. Which, as I re-iterate, it actually something you like to see from a mock drafter’s perspective, that they aren’t flipping picks around just for the sake of doing it.

No. 1: Cleveland Browns - QB Josh Allen - “No change here from my first two mock drafts. The Browns are zeroing in on a quarterback with the first overall pick, and Allen has crushed the pre-draft process. The addition of Tyrod Taylor allows Allen, who is the most raw of the top quarterback prospects in this class, to sit on the sidelines and adjust to the speed of the NFL. Cleveland doesn’t have to play Allen immediately, which really hurt DeShone Kizer in 2017.”

Kiper’s third mock draft has the New York Giants taking QB Sam Darnold at No. 2 overall, and then the New York Jets getting QB Josh Rosen at No. 3 overall. The big added dimension since the last time is the fact that the Jets traded up to No. 3. With any position player now available to choose from, Kiper reverted back to his first mock draft, still liking the Allen-Barkley tandem for the Browns:

No. 4: Cleveland Browns - RB Saquon Barkley - “I suspect general manager John Dorsey would be thrilled if he got his quarterback at No. 1 and Barkley at No. 4. My top-ranked prospect in this class, Barkley would make the Browns better on day one as an elite back who will help in the passing game. If Dorsey & Co. decide to try to grab a running back later in the draft, this scenario would allow Cleveland to target the top defender on its board. Alabama defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick and NC State edge rusher Bradley Chubb are both in play here.”

Here is how the rest of Kiper’s first round looks — would you be happy with this?

More From Dawgs By Nature