With the NFL combine over, teams have begun setting their 2018 NFL draft boards. And with a little more than a month until the Browns are on the clock, the first round is becoming clearer.
It's time for an updated Big Board, which is my ranking of the top 25 prospects for the Class of 2018, along with updated position rankings, which are my top 10 prospects at every position. I'll have my Mock Draft 3.0 next week.
Click here to go to the position rankings, which are listed after the Big Board.
Note: One asterisk denotes the player is a junior, and two asterisks denote the player is a redshirt sophomore for the 2017 season.
Quick links: Kiper's Mock 2.0 | Re-grading 2017 draft | Full draft order
1. *Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State
Previous rank: 1
I don't see Barkley moving out of the top spot here, and he's a lock to be picked in the top five. His testing numbers at the combine -- 4.40 40-yard dash and 41-inch vertical -- were elite at any size, much less a 6-foot, 233-pound back. Barkley plays with tremendous balance, a great lower body and quick feet. He's a stellar runner both inside and outside the tackles, and he showed in 2017 that he's a true three-down back. He had 54 catches after having 48 combined in his first two seasons at Penn State. Barkley is a special talent.
2. Bradley Chubb, DE, NC State
Previous rank: 3
Chubb could have entered the 2017 draft and been in the first-round discussion. At 6-foot-4, 269 pounds, he shows good takeoff from the edge as a pass-rusher, and he has an excellent mix of speed and power. You saw some of that speed and explosion at the combine, where he ran a 4.65 40 and had a 36-inch vertical. Chubb had 10 sacks and 25 tackles for loss (tied for second in the FBS) in 2017 and had 10 sacks and 21.5 tackles for loss in 2016. He is the top-ranked pass-rusher in this class, and he solidified a top-five grade from me with his performance at the combine.
3. *Quenton Nelson, G, Notre Dame
Previous rank: 4
Nelson and Mike McGlinchey formed the best left side of an O-line in college football. Both are likely first-round picks, and Nelson has a chance to go in the top five. At 6-foot-5, 335 pounds, Nelson causes destruction in the interior. I wrote last year that he was entertaining to watch, and you just don't say that about guards. He is a dominant run-blocker who is powerful at the point of attack and athletic enough to pull and get into space.
4. *Roquan Smith, ILB, Georgia
Previous rank: 9
Smith showed off his athleticism at the combine, running a 4.51 40 at 6-foot-1, 236 pounds. That speed shows up on tape. He can get sideline to sideline in a hurry. A season after recording 95 total tackles and five tackles for loss, Smith had 137 tackles, 14 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks in 2017. He can blitz up the middle or off the edge, and I think he could play inside or outside linebacker. He's just a fun player to watch, and he was one of the best players on the field in both of the Bulldogs' College Football Playoff matchups.
5. *Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming
Previous rank: 5
Allen has crushed the pre-draft process and is in the mix to be the No. 1 overall pick. He has shown improvement at the Senior Bowl and at the combine, and he has a high ceiling. Allen (6-foot-5, 237 pounds) is super raw but can really sling it. His numbers weren't great in 2016 (28 touchdown passes, 15 interceptions while completing 56 percent of his passes), and his numbers weren't great in 2017 (16 touchdown passes, six interceptions while completing 56.3 percent of his passes), but NFL teams will take into account the talent around him. The Wyoming offense lost 47 touchdowns from the 2016 team, along with its center. I think Allen's numbers will be much better in an NFL offense with NFL players. He put some strong film together in the Cowboys' bowl win, throwing three touchdown passes in the first half, even while recovering from a shoulder injury.
6. **Sam Darnold, QB, Southern California
Previous rank: 6
Darnold didn't throw at the combine, but that wasn't an issue. I wrote before his pro day about what teams were looking for, and he exceeded expectations (in the rain). After pro days, teams should have no more questions about a player. I don't think there's any question that Darnold is right there with Allen vying to be the top pick in April. Darnold (6-foot-3, 221 pounds) played better down the stretch, but he had an up-and-down 2017. He finished with 13 interceptions and nine lost fumbles. His 22 turnovers were tied for most in the FBS. I think Darnold has a chance to be special, and I believe in his talent long term. Darnold makes quick decisions and is an accurate, natural passer, but he needs to be more consistent with his footwork.
7. *Minkah Fitzpatrick, DB, Alabama
Previous rank: 2
Fitzpatrick (6-foot, 204 pounds) has played corner and safety at Alabama, and he could play either position at the next level. The versatility is a huge plus. Fitzpatrick is really a defensive coordinator's dream: a modern-day big corner who plays safety. He's versatile enough to line up in the slot and lock down receivers, but he also can be a center fielder. Fitzpatrick had nine career interceptions (including four that were returned for touchdowns), so he has elite ball skills. He isn't afraid to make a tackle, either, which is why I think he'll be a top-five pick in April.
8. **Derwin James, S, Florida State
Previous rank: 18
James is rising because of how he tested at the combine. A 4.47 40 and 40-inch vertical showed off rare athleticism for a 6-foot-2, 215-pound safety. On the field, James is a tough evaluation because he just hasn't played many games. The former five-star recruit was terrific as a freshman for the Seminoles in 2015, with 91 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. But he played only two games in 2016 after suffering a torn meniscus in his left knee. He came back healthy in 2017 and finished with two interceptions, 11 pass breakups and 84 total tackles. James can be a versatile defender who plays in the box and also covers the deep middle of the field.
9. *Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State
Previous rank: 11
Ward's 4.32 40 at the combine was faster than former teammate Marshon Lattimore's 4.36 from last year. He's the real deal, even if he's a little on the small side at 5-foot-11, 183 pounds. Ward has the skill set and traits of a No. 1 corner in the NFL. He's polished. He didn't have an interception in 2016, but he plays the ball well and showed good instincts in coverage, breaking up nine passes. Ward had two interceptions in 2017, as well as 15 more pass breakups. I really liked what I saw on his 2016 tape, even as the Buckeyes had two other corners who went in the first round of the 2017 draft. I expect Ward to be the first cornerback off the board, and Tampa Bay at No. 7 is a team to watch.
Mel Kiper Jr. anticipates the Browns will draft either Josh Allen or Sam Darnold and says it's possible the Giants will trade out of the No. 2 spot with the Bills.
10. *Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA
Previous rank: 7
The 6-foot-4, 226-pound Rosen throws a great ball and has rare arm talent. There aren't many quarterbacks who can make the throws he does. But there are still questions about him. Coming off a stellar freshman season in 2015, Rosen struggled in 2016 and made only six starts before injuring his shoulder. He had a great start to the 2017 season and finished with 26 touchdown passes and 10 interceptions. He missed a game because of a concussion late in the season, however, and was pulled in the second half of UCLA's win over Cal "for precautionary reasons" after taking a few big hits. He was then held out of the Bruins' bowl game. So injuries play a part in his evaluation, but there's no denying his talent. He might be the quarterback in this class who's most ready to play in Week 1.
11. Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma
Previous rank: 10
As I wrote in December, Mayfield is one of the most difficult evaluations in this class. I love him on the field -- he's not afraid to take shots downfield, has an underrated arm, and has won a ton of games. The Heisman Trophy winner put up huge numbers the past three seasons, and completed better than 70 percent of his passes since the beginning of the 2016 season. He had 83 touchdown passes and only 14 interceptions over that span. But Mayfield isn't going to be for every team, simply because of his size -- 6-foot-1, 215 pounds. There isn't much history of 6-foot-1 quarterbacks having success in the NFL, and Mayfield isn't the same kind of athlete as Russell Wilson. That said, he can make every throw. And like Rosen, I think a team would have no issue putting Mayfield on the field in Week 1. He doesn't need development time.
12. *Tremaine Edmunds, OLB, Virginia Tech
Previous rank: 8
Edmunds is one of the biggest athletic freaks in this class. He just ran a 4.54 40 at 253 pounds at the combine. And the tape matches -- he lives in the backfield. A year after recording 106 total tackles, 18.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks, he had 109 total tackles, 14 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks in 2017. Edmunds isn't a traditional linebacker; he could play inside in a pinch and disrupt some throwing lanes, and he also could play outside and pressure quarterbacks. He even does a good job covering pass-catchers out of the backfield. Edmunds is a high-upside pick, and it's down to him and Roquan Smith as the first linebacker to be selected.
13. *Kolton Miller, OT, UCLA
Previous rank: 13
I wrote last month that Miller reminds me of former Patriots left tackle Nate Solder, who went in the middle of the first round in 2011. They both have huge frames, and they have great feet. Miller was an under-the-radar prospect coming into the season because of a foot injury that forced him to miss most of 2016. But he came into his own in 2017, and he has a high ceiling. Miller put up freaky athletic numbers at the combine, running a 4.91 40 and jumping 10-foot-1 in the broad jump. He has the type of traits NFL teams fall in love with, especially in a tackle class that doesn't have a clear No. 1 guy. I wouldn't be shocked if he went in the top 10.
14. Marcus Davenport, DE, UT San Antonio
Previous rank: 12
Scouts were buzzing about Davenport at the end of the season, and he has impressed at the Senior Bowl and combine. He's one of the best pure pass-rushers in this class, even if he hasn't developed an arsenal of moves yet. At 6-foot-6, 264 pounds, Davenport is a quick-twitch athlete who can play on his feet or with his hand in the dirt. He had 8.5 sacks and 17 tackles for loss in 2017 and had 6.5 sacks in 2016.
15. *Justin Reid, S, Stanford
Previous rank: NR
Reid is rising after the combine, where he tested well athletically and ran a 4.40 40. I thought he was more likely a Day 2 pick going in, but now there's a good chance he'll be a first-round pick. And when you put on the tape, Reid pops. He had a phenomenal 2017 season, intercepting five passes with 99 total tackles and six tackles for loss. He can play in the box. He can play as a deep safety. Reid (6-foot, 207 pounds), the younger brother of free-agent safety Eric Reid, has been underrated throughout this draft process. He's a solid prospect.
16. *Rashaan Evans, ILB, Alabama
Previous rank: 17
Finally healthy after being hampered by a groin injury, Evans stood out on a defense loaded with NFL talent. He played outside early in his career at Alabama, and the versatility will help at the next level. Evans (6-foot-2, 232 pounds) also can rush the passer; he had 15 career sacks. He finished the 2017 season with 13 tackles for loss, too. The Crimson Tide have a long history of producing talented linebackers, including Reuben Foster in the 2017 draft, and Evans is next up. The one question I have about Evans is speed, as he didn't run the 40 at the combine or at his pro day. On tape, though, he's a sure tackler who can run sideline to sideline.
17. *Da'Ron Payne, DT, Alabama
Previous rank: 20
Payne (6-foot-2, 311 pounds) was a reliable presence for the Crimson Tide, and he might have had his best two games in the College Football Playoff. Georgia couldn't block him in the title game, especially in the first quarter. Payne isn't going to put up huge numbers on the stat sheet -- he had only three career sacks -- but he consistently beats interior offensive linemen and gets good push. He's a solid prospect with some upside.
18. *Vita Vea, DT, Washington
Previous rank: 21
At 6-foot-4, 347 pounds, Vea is more than a space-eater. He has some explosion and quickness off the ball and can penetrate along the interior. He had five sacks and 39 total tackles in 2016, and he had 3.5 sacks in 2017. I think Vea can be an every-down player in the NFL, not just a two-down tackle. He reminds me of Haloti Ngata, who posted three consecutive NFL seasons with at least five sacks.
19. *Taven Bryan, DT, Florida
Previous rank: NR
Bryan would be a first-round pick based all on projection, as his college production didn't match his talent. He had only 5.5 career sacks, and four came in 2017. At 6-foot-5, 291 pounds, Bryan is a physical specimen, though, whose raw attributes will attract a team. He will take time to develop but could be a star as a penetrating 3-technique in a 4-3 defense.
20. *Jaire Alexander, CB, Louisville
Previous rank: NR
This cornerback class was jumbled at the top, and that's why the combine was so important. This is the position where 40 times matter most -- corners are often in dead sprints throughout games. Speed matters. Alexander has that -- he ran a 4.38 40. And his testing in the broad jump, three-cone and 20-yard shuttle ranked near the top of his class. Alexander played only six games in 2017 because of injuries, but he starred in 2016, picking off five passes. He's also a great punt returner. At 5-foot-10, 196 pounds, Alexander is small, no doubt. But as teams are more regularly playing the nickel, that's not a big deal. Every team needs three competent corners, and versatility is important. That's why Alexander is rising into the discussion to be a Day 1 pick.
21. *Leighton Vander Esch, LB, Boise State
Previous rank: NR
I wrote in my Mock Draft 2.0 that Vander Esch was trending toward being a late first-round pick, and then he tested off the charts at the combine, including running a 4.65 40 with a vertical jump of 39.5 inches. Did I mention he's 6-foot-4, 256 pounds, and could play inside or outside linebacker? He had a fantastic 2017 season, with 141 tackles, three interceptions, four sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss. I think his best fit is as an inside linebacker in a 3-4 defense, and he's an every-down player whose stock is rising.
22. *Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama
Previous rank: 14
I said during the combine that there's no top-10 talent at receiver in this draft class. That's why Ridley drops a little bit here. His size (6-foot, 189 pounds) and testing numbers in Indianapolis are worrisome -- he had one of the lowest vertical jumps (31 inches) of all the receivers. But then you turn on the tape, and Ridley is running past secondaries. He's always open, and he's a nightmare to try to tackle in the open field. He had 63 catches for 967 yards and five touchdowns in 2017, including touchdowns in both of the Crimson Tide's College Football Playoff games. And that was with inconsistent quarterback play. I like Ridley, but I wouldn't be surprised if he's available around pick No. 20. And he might be the second receiver off the board behind this next player.
23. *D.J. Moore, WR, Maryland
Previous rank: NR
As I wrote after the combine, Moore was the most impressive wide receiver in Indianapolis, putting up a 4.42 40 and 11-foot broad jump. He was a smooth pass-catcher in drills. And I think he's an impact punt returner on day one in the NFL. Don't be surprised if Moore is the first wide receiver selected in the first round, as some teams like him over Ridley. Moore had 80 catches for 1,033 yards and eight touchdowns last season.
24. *Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville
Previous rank: NR
Jackson didn't make my last Mock Draft, but he's trending toward being a first-round pick. He's too talented not to be, and I wouldn't be shocked if a team that really likes him trades up for him in the 20s. Jackson has improved his delivery and put on good weight, and no one can deny his athletic ability. He's also an efficient passer who threw 57 touchdown passes to just 19 interceptions over the past two seasons. Still, Jackson (6-foot-2, 216 pounds) is the most raw of the top quarterback prospects in this class, and teams will have to be patient with him. If a smart offensive coordinator builds his offense around Jackson's strengths, though, the former Heisman Trophy winner could be a star.
25. Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame
Previous rank: 24
McGlinchey is a massive athlete (6-foot-8, 309 pounds) who looks like a tight end with pads on. He was dominant from the left side in Notre Dame's rout of USC in October. He plays with solid technique, and he can get to the second level for combo blocks, all while driving defenders off the ball in the running game. He played right tackle in 2015, then replaced first-round pick Ronnie Stanley on the left side in 2016. The versatility will help McGlinchey in the NFL.
Quarterbacks
1. *Josh Allen, Wyoming
2. **Sam Darnold, USC
3. *Josh Rosen, UCLA
4. Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma
5. *Lamar Jackson, Louisville
6. Mason Rudolph, Oklahoma State
7. Kyle Lauletta, Richmond
8. Mike White, Western Kentucky
9. Luke Falk, Washington State
10. *Chase Litton, Marshall
Running backs
1. *Saquon Barkley, Penn State
2. *Derrius Guice, LSU
3. *Ronald Jones II, USC
4. Nick Chubb, Georgia
5. Sony Michel, Georgia
6. Rashaad Penny, San Diego State
7. *Nyheim Hines, NC State
8. *Kerryon Johnson, Auburn
9. Royce Freeman, Oregon
10. Kalen Ballage, Arizona State
Todd McShay and Mel Kiper Jr. agree that Saquon Barley is one of the most impactful running backs and believe he would be a smart pick for the Giants.
Fullbacks/H-backs
1. Jaylen Samuels, NC State
2. Dimitri Flowers, Oklahoma
3. Nick Bawden, San Diego State
4. DeAndre Goolsby, Florida
5. Khalid Hill, Michigan
6. Austin Ramesh, Wisconsin
7. Deon Yelder, Western Kentucky
8. Marcus Martin, Slippery Rock
9. Daniel Marx, Stanford
10. Donnie Ernsberger, Western Michigan
Wide receivers
1. *Calvin Ridley, Alabama
2. *D.J. Moore, Maryland
3. Anthony Miller, Memphis
4. *Christian Kirk, Texas A&M
5. James Washington, Oklahoma State
6. D.J. Chark, LSU
7. *Courtland Sutton, SMU
8. Dante Pettis, Washington
9. *Tre'Quan Smith, Central Florida
10. DaeSean Hamilton, Penn State
Tight ends
1. Dallas Goedert, South Dakota State
2. *Hayden Hurst, South Carolina
3. *Mark Andrews, Oklahoma
4. Mike Gesicki, Penn State
5. *Jordan Akins, Central Florida
6. Ian Thomas, Indiana
7. Troy Fumagalli, Wisconsin
8. Jordan Thomas, Mississippi State
9. Will Dissly, Washington
10. Durham Smythe, Notre Dame
Offensive tackles
1. *Kolton Miller, UCLA
2. Mike McGlinchey, Notre Dame
3. *Connor Williams, Texas
4. *Geron Christian, Louisville
5. *Orlando Brown, Oklahoma
6. Tyrell Crosby, Oregon
7. Martinas Rankin, Mississippi State
8. *Brian O'Neill, Pitt
9. Desmond Harrison, West Georgia
10. Chukwuma Okorafor, Western Michigan
Guards
1. *Quenton Nelson, Notre Dame
2. Isaiah Wynn, Georgia
3. Will Hernandez, UTEP
4. Austin Corbett, Nevada
5. Colby Gossett, Appalachian State
6. Braden Smith, Auburn
7. Wyatt Teller, Virginia Tech
8. Skyler Phillips, Idaho State
9. *Sam Jones, Arizona State
10. Sean Welsh, Iowa
Centers
1. *James Daniels, Iowa
2. Billy Price, Ohio State
3. Frank Ragnow, Arkansas
4. Scott Quessenberry, UCLA
5. Mason Cole, Michigan
6. *Will Clapp, LSU
7. Coleman Shelton, Washington
8. Jake Bennett, Colorado State
9. Brian Allen, Michigan State
10. Bradley Bozeman, Alabama
Defensive ends
1. Bradley Chubb, NC State
2. Marcus Davenport, Texas (San Antonio)
3. *Breeland Speaks, Mississippi
4. Tyquan Lewis, Ohio State
5. *Sam Hubbard, Ohio State
6. Andrew Brown, Virginia
7. *Rasheem Green, USC
8. *Arden Key, LSU
9. Da'Shawn Hand, Alabama
10. Kylie Fitts, Utah
Defensive tackles
1. *Da'Ron Payne, Alabama
2. *Vita Vea, Washington
3. *Taven Bryan, Florida
4. B.J. Hill, NC State
5. Maurice Hurst, Michigan
6. *Harrison Phillips, Stanford
7. Nathan Shepherd, Fort Hays State
8. Deadrin Senat, South Florida
9. *Tim Settle, Virginia Tech
10. Derrick Nnadi, Florida State
Inside linebackers
1. *Roquan Smith, Georgia
2. *Tremaine Edmunds, Virginia Tech
3. Rashaan Evans, Alabama
4. *Leighton Vander Esch, Boise State
5. Genard Avery, Memphis
6. Oren Burks, Vanderbilt
7. Micah Kiser, Virginia
8. Josey Jewell, Iowa
6. Darius Leonard, South Carolina State
7. Nick DeLuca, North Dakota State
8. Oren Burks, Vanderbilt
9. Darius Leonard, South Carolina State
10. *Christian Sam, Arizona State
Outside linebackers
1. Harold Landry, Boston College
2. Lorenzo Carter, Georgia
3. Uchenna Nwosu, USC
4. Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, Oklahoma
5. *Malik Jefferson, Texas
6. Kemoko Turay, Rutgers
7. Shaquem Griffin, Central Florida
8. *Jerome Baker, Ohio State
9. *Josh Sweat, Florida State
10. *Jeff Holland, Auburn
Cornerbacks
1. *Denzel Ward, Ohio State
2. *Jaire Alexander, Louisville
3. *Josh Jackson, Iowa
4. M.J. Stewart, North Carolina
5. *Mike Hughes, Central Florida
6. *Donte Jackson, LSU
7. *Isaiah Oliver, Colorado
8. *Carlton Davis, Auburn
9. Anthony Averett, Alabama
10. Duke Dawson, Florida
Safeties
1. *Minkah Fitzpatrick, Alabama
2. **Derwin James, Florida State
3. *Justin Reid, Stanford
4. **Jessie Bates, Wake Forest
5. *Ronnie Harrison, Alabama
6. *Terrell Edmunds, Virginia Tech
7. Godwin Igwebuike, Northwestern
8. *DeShon Elliott, Texas
9. Kyzir White, West Virginia
10. Marcus Allen, Penn State
Kickers, punters and long-snappers
1. Johnny Townsend, Florida (P)
2. JK Scott, Alabama (P)
3. Daniel Carlson, Auburn (K)
4. *Eddy Pineiro, Florida (K)
5. *Michael Dickson, Texas (P)
6. Tanner Carew, Oregon (LS)
7. Shane Tripucka, Texas A&M (P)
8. Trevor Daniel, Tennessee (P)
9. Ryan Winslow, Pitt (P)
10. Drew Brown, Nebraska (K)