Mel Kiper's Big Board: Ranking top 2018 NFL draft prospects
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Mel Kiper Jr.Football analyst

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The college football season is over, and there are only four NFL teams left in the playoffs. I released my Mock Draft 1.0 on Thursday for the 2018 NFL draft, and I've updated my Big Board and position rankings -- top 10 for each -- below.

There are some big changes and new names on my Big Board, and I had to remove a few prospects who decided to stay in school. The deadline for underclassmen to declare for the draft has passed, but we don't have the official list just yet. I expect more than 100 underclassmen to declare again.
2018 NFL DRAFT

When: April 26-28
Where: Arlington, Texas
NFL draft home page » | Draft order »

•Insider Mel Kiper's Mock Draft 1.0 »
•Insider Todd McShay's Mock Draft 1.0 »
• Which NFL teams could draft a QB? »
•Insider Kiper's Big Board »
•Insider McShay's Top 32 »
• 2018 draft QB class primer »
• Underclassmen who have declared »

A reminder about my Big Board:

I'm projecting to the NFL. This is about much more than stats. My projections are based on size, athletic ability, statistics and what I hear from people around the league.

Speaking of size, what's listed here is provided by the schools. These numbers could vary greatly when players show up at the NFL combine. True height and weight matter a lot for almost every position.

Note: One asterisk denotes the player is a junior, and two asterisks denote the player is a redshirt sophomore for the 2017 season.

Click here to go to the position rankings, which are listed after the Big Board:
1. *Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State

Previous rank: 1

Barkley is a lights-out athlete with tremendous balance, a great lower body and quick feet. He's a stellar runner -- both inside and outside the tackles -- and he showed this season that he's a true three-down back. He had 54 catches after having 48 combined in his first two seasons at Penn State. I think Barkley will run under a 4.4 40-yard dash and test well at the combine at 5-foot-11, 230 pounds. Is he likely to go No. 1 overall in April? Probably not. But he could be a top-five pick, and he has an elite grade from me.
2. Bradley Chubb, DE, NC State

Previous rank: 3

Chubb was dominant early in the season against Florida State with two sacks and a forced fumble. He could have entered the 2017 draft and been in the first-round discussion. At 6-4, 260, he shows good takeoff from the edge as a pass-rusher, and he has an excellent mix of speed and power. 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 last season. He is the top-ranked pass-rusher in this class.

3. *Minkah Fitzpatrick, DB, Alabama

Previous rank: 2

Fitzpatrick (6-1, 203) has played corner and safety at Alabama, and I think he'll be a safety at the next level, though I'm not ruling out a fit at cornerback somewhere. The versatility is a plus, and coach Nick Saban loves him. 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 has 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.
4. *Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming

Editor's Picks

Kiper's 2018 NFL Mock Draft 1.0: Browns take a QB, but not one you'd guess

Mel has Josh Rosen to the Giants as Eli Manning's successor, but the UCLA star isn't the first quarterback off the board. Here's Kiper's first projection of picks 1-32 for the 2018 draft.
Underclassmen who have declared for 2018 NFL draft

Among the star underclassmen who have announced their intention to enter the draft: quarterbacks Sam Darnold, Josh Rosen and Josh Allen. Here's the full list.
Who's going to draft a QB in April? Rating all 32 NFL teams' chances

The 2018 NFL draft class is rich with quarterback talent. Which teams will go for the top-tier guys in Round 1? Which will wait until Day 3? Which aren't even in the market? NFL Nation reporters evaluate interest throughout the league.

Previous rank: 11

Allen (6-5, 233) is super raw, but he can really sling it. His numbers weren't great last season (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 last season's 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 tape on film in the Cowboys' bowl win, throwing three touchdown passes in the first half, even while recovering from a shoulder injury. I said in December that I think Allen will be picked in the top 10. He'll get a chance to impress scouts at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama, next week.
5. *Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA

Previous rank: 4

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 and was held out of the Bruins' bowl game. The 6-4, 218-pounder throws a great ball and has rare arm talent. There aren't many quarterbacks who can make the throws he does. I expect him to be picked in the top five.
6. **Sam Darnold, QB, Southern California

Previous rank: 5

Darnold played better down the stretch, but he had an up-and-down season. He finished with 13 interceptions and nine lost fumbles. His 22 turnovers were tied for most in the FBS. He had an outstanding 2016 season but just didn't match it, which makes his evaluation difficult. Now, I think Darnold has a chance to be special, and I believe in his talent long term. Darnold has a big frame (6-4, 225), makes quick decisions and is an accurate, natural passer. He completed 67.2 percent of his passes last season and ranked second in the nation in Total QBR (86.8), but he finished at 63.1 percent and 74.6 in 2017.
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0:36
Smith stonewalls Scarbrough on third-and-short

Georgia's Roquan Smith flattens Bo Scarbrough on short screen pass on third down.
7. *Roquan Smith, ILB, Georgia

Previous rank: 15

At 6-1, 225, Smith is an extremely athletic linebacker. He can get sideline to sideline in a hurry. A season after having 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. Watch Smith get out in coverage and stop this third-and-short throw in the video above.
8. *Quenton Nelson, G, Notre Dame

Previous rank: 7

Nelson and Mike McGlinchey formed the best left side of an O-line in college football. Both could be top-15 picks. At 6-5, 330 pounds, Nelson just 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.
9. *Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State

Previous rank: 12

I said before the season that I think Ward has a chance to be the next great Ohio State cover corner and first-round pick. He's polished. He didn't have an interception last season, but he plays the ball well and showed good instincts in coverage, as proved by his nine pass breakups. He had two interceptions this season, as well as 15 more pass breakups. Listed at 5-10, 191 pounds, Ward plays bigger than that. 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. He has a good chance to be the top corner picked in 2018, as Ohio State's Marshon Lattimore was in 2017.
10. *Tremaine Edmunds, OLB, Virginia Tech

Previous rank: 14

At 6-5, 250 pounds, Edmunds is a gifted athlete and physical specimen, and 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 this season. 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. He's an impressive athlete, and you could make a case that Edmunds has the most upside of any linebacker in this class. His brother Terrell is also an NFL prospect, as a safety.
11. **Derwin James, S, Florida State

Previous rank: 6

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. The 6-3, 211-pounder came back healthy in 2017 and finished with two interceptions, 11 pass breakups and 84 total tackles. There's a chance James will be the highest-rated defender in April's draft, but he doesn't have much tape, so scouts want to see how he tests at the combine.
12. *Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama

Previous rank: 10

Ridley is the 2018 draft's clear No. 1 receiver right now. What I really like about him is his competitiveness. He's a nightmare to try to tackle in the open field. Ridley (6-1, 188) had 63 catches for 967 yards and five touchdowns in 2017, including touchdowns in both of the Crimson Tide's College Football Playoff games. He averaged 15.3 yards per catch with inconsistent quarterback play. He has been one of the nation's top wide receivers since he stepped onto the field as a freshman in 2015 -- he had 161 catches and 14 touchdown receptions in his first two collegiate seasons.
13. Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma

Previous rank: 13

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, and he has an underrated arm -- but his size is going to be a question until he gets in front of scouts at the Senior Bowl. He is listed at 6-1, but I think he's closer to 6-0. Either way, we'll find out soon. The Heisman Trophy winner put up huge numbers the past three seasons, and he completed better than 70 percent of his passes since the 2016 season began. He had 83 touchdown passes and only 14 interceptions over that span.
14. *Rashaan Evans, ILB, Alabama

Previous rank: 21

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 (6-3, 234) also can rush the passer; he has 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.
15. Marcus Davenport, DE, UT San Antonio

Previous rank: NR

Scouts have been buzzing about Davenport, whom they'll get to see up close and in person at the Senior Bowl next week. He's one of the best pure pass-rushers in this class, even if he hasn't developed an arsenal of moves yet. At 6-6, 245, 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 this season, and he had 6.5 sacks in 2016. I'm excited to see how he looks against better talent in Mobile.
16. Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame

Previous rank: 18

McGlinchey is a massive athlete (6-8, 315) who looks like a tight end with pads on. He was dominant from the left side in the 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 last season, and he has stayed at left tackle in 2017. The versatility will help McGlinchey in the NFL, where I think he's a lock for the first round in 2018.
17. *Da'Ron Payne, DT, Alabama

Previous rank: 23

Payne (6-2, 319) is 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, especially in the first quarter. Payne isn't going to put up huge numbers on the stat sheet -- he has only three career sacks -- but he consistently beats interior offensive linemen and gets good push, and he's a solid prospect with some upside.
18. Billy Price, C/G, Ohio State

Previous rank: NR

It's remarkable how similar his path at Ohio State is to Vikings rookie Pat Elflein, a third-round pick who had a great 2017 season. Price was a four-year starter at Ohio State, spending three seasons at guard before moving to center as a senior. He's just a solid player -- you know what you're getting on every down. At 6-4, 310 pounds, he has a big frame, and he could end up at either position in the NFL. OSU coaches have raved about him as a leader, too.
19. *Vita Vea, DT, Washington

Previous rank: 22

At 6-4, 346 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 last season, 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 had three consecutive NFL seasons with at least five sacks.
20. *Josh Jackson, CB, Iowa

Previous rank: 25

Jackson was the best corner in college football this season, and he showed it by picking off Ohio State's J.T. Barrett three times in an upset win. He was phenomenal and showed off stellar hands. Jackson had eight total interceptions and broke up 18 passes in 2017, his first season as a starter. The 6-1, 185-pounder has also pitched in on punt returns, though he didn't break off any big returns.
21. *Brian O'Neill, OT, Pittsburgh

Previous rank: NR

A tight end when he came to Pitt in 2014, O'Neill is a great athlete who has played both right and left tackle. He's light on his feet at 6-6, 290 pounds, and he was dominant at times in 2017. Because he has his degree, he's eligible to participate in the Senior Bowl, which is a good chance to give scouts a closer look. He also could play guard if he had to, so the versatility is a plus.
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0:19
Hughes makes diving interception for Knights

South Florida QB Quinton Flowers is picked off by a diving Mike Hughes to end the first half.
22. *Mike Hughes, CB, UCF

Previous rank: NR

Hughes emerged as a shutdown corner in his lone season at Central Florida, showing good anticipation in coverage and playing the run well, too. At 5-11, 190, Hughes has good size, and he's exceptionally fast. He had four interceptions this season, including one pick-six, and added 11 pass breakups. (The video above shows one of those picks.) Hughes is also a phenomenal punt and kick returner -- he had three more touchdowns on returns. The arrow is pointing way up on Hughes, who really came out of nowhere after playing at North Carolina in 2015 and a junior college in 2016.
23. Maurice Hurst, DT, Michigan

Previous rank: NR

The Wolverines had a senior-laden defensive line in 2016, and Hurst didn't start. But the 6-2, 282-pound tackle had 4.5 sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss and stood out while consistently splitting double-teams and getting into the backfield. Now a starter, Hurst had five sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss in 2017. He's the best interior pass-rusher in this class.
24. *Mark Andrews, TE, Oklahoma

Previous rank: NR

The 6-6, 245-pound Andrews put it all together in 2017, catching 62 passes for 958 yards and eight touchdowns. He had 14 touchdown receptions from 2015 to '16, but injuries slowed him down and limited his potential. Andrews can stretch the deep middle of the field with his size and speed, and he's a great threat moving around the field to create mismatches. He's just an OK blocker, and he'll have to improve there. But he can make plays on day one in the NFL, and linebackers are going to have trouble covering him.
25. *Kolton Miller, OT, UCLA

Previous rank: NR

Miller reminds me of Patriots left tackle Nate Solder, who went in the middle of the first round in 2011. They both have huge 6-8 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 this season, and he has a high ceiling. This offensive tackle class is fluid, but Miller has a shot to be a first-round pick.
Quarterbacks

1. *Josh Allen, Wyoming
2. *Josh Rosen, UCLA
3. **Sam Darnold, USC
4. Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma
5. Mason Rudolph, Oklahoma State
6. *Lamar Jackson, Louisville
7. Mike White, Western Kentucky
8. Luke Falk, Washington State
9. Kurt Benkert, Virginia
10. Riley Ferguson, Memphis
Running backs

1. *Saquon Barkley, Penn State
2. Sony Michel, Georgia
3. *Derrius Guice, LSU
4. *Ronald Jones II, USC
5. Rashaad Penny, San Diego State
6. Nick Chubb, Georgia
7. *Mark Walton, Miami (Fla.)
8. Royce Freeman, Oregon
9. *Josh Adams, Notre Dame
10. *Kerryon Johnson, Auburn
Fullbacks/H-backs

1. Jaylen Samuels, NC State
2. Dimitri Flowers, Oklahoma
3. DeAndre Goolsby, Florida
4. Nick Bawden, San Diego State
5. Khalid Hill, Michigan
6. Austin Ramesh, Wisconsin
7. Daniel Marx, Stanford
8. Deon Yelder, Western Kentucky
9. Garrett Dickerson, Northwestern
10. J.D. Moore, LSU
Wide receivers

1. *Calvin Ridley, Alabama
2. *Christian Kirk, Texas A&M
3. *Courtland Sutton, SMU
4. *Jordan Lasley, UCLA
5. *D.J. Moore, Maryland
6. James Washington, Oklahoma State
7. *Keke Coutee, Texas Tech
8. Anthony Miller, Memphis
9. Michael Gallup, Colorado State
10. *Simmie Cobbs, Indiana
Tight ends

1. *Mark Andrews, Oklahoma
2. Dallas Goedert, South Dakota State
3. Mike Gesicki, Penn State
4. Ian Thomas, Indiana
5. *Hayden Hurst, South Carolina
6. Troy Fumagalli, Wisconsin
7. *Ryan Izzo, Florida State
8. Durham Smythe, Notre Dame
9. Christopher Herndon, Miami (Fla.)
10. Jordan Akins, Central Florida
Offensive tackles

1. Mike McGlinchey, Notre Dame
2. *Brian O'Neill, Pitt
3. *Kolton Miller, UCLA
4. *Connor Williams, Texas
5. *Orlando Brown, Oklahoma
6. Chukwuma Okorafor, Western Michigan
7. Martinas Rankin, Mississippi State
8. Desmond Harrison, West Georgia
9. Tyrell Crosby, Oregon
10. *Will Richardson, NC State
Guards

1. *Quenton Nelson, Notre Dame
2. Austin Corbett, Nevada
3. Will Hernandez, UTEP
4. Braden Smith, Auburn
5. Isaiah Wynn, Georgia
6. Wyatt Teller, Virginia Tech
7. Cody O'Connell, Washington State
8. *Sam Jones, Arizona State
9. Sean Welsh, Iowa
10. Skyler Phillips, Idaho State
Centers

1. Billy Price, Ohio State
2. Frank Ragnow, Arkansas
3. *James Daniels, Iowa
4. *Will Clapp, LSU
5. Mason Cole, Michigan
6. Scott Quessenberry, UCLA
7. Coleman Shelton, Washington
8. Jake Bennett, Colorado State
9. Brian Allen, Michigan State
10. Brad Lundblade, Oklahoma State
Defensive ends

1. Bradley Chubb, NC State
2. Marcus Davenport, UT San Antonio
3. *Sam Hubbard, Ohio State
4. *Rasheem Green, USC
5. Tyquan Lewis, Ohio State
6. *Arden Key, LSU
7. Jalyn Holmes, Ohio State
8. Duke Ejiofor, Wake Forest
9. *Hercules Mata'afa, Washington State
10. Justin Lawler, SMU
Defensive tackles

1. *Da'Ron Payne, Alabama
2. *Vita Vea, Washington
3. Maurice Hurst, Michigan
4. *Harrison Phillips, Stanford
5. *Taven Bryan, Florida
6. *Tim Settle, Virginia Tech
7. *RJ McIntosh, Miami (Fla.)
8. Derrick Nnadi, Florida State
9. Deadrin Senat, South Florida
10. Folorunso Fatukasi, Connecticut
Inside linebackers

1. *Roquan Smith, Georgia
2. *Tremaine Edmunds, Virginia Tech
3. Rashaan Evans, Alabama
4. Josey Jewell, Iowa
5. Micah Kiser, Virginia
6. Skai Moore, South Carolina
7. Nick DeLuca, North Dakota State
8. Shaun Dion Hamilton, Alabama
9. Mike McCray, Michigan
10. Jason Cabinda, Penn State
Outside linebackers

1. Harold Landry, Boston College
2. *Dorance Armstrong Jr., Kansas
3. Uchenna Nwosu, USC
4. Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, Oklahoma
5. Kemoko Turay, Rutgers
6. *Jeff Holland, Auburn
7. Lorenzo Carter, Georgia
8. *Leighton Vander Esch, Boise State
9. *Jerome Baker, Ohio State
10. *Malik Jefferson, Texas
Cornerbacks

1. *Denzel Ward, Ohio State
2. *Joshua Jackson, Iowa
3. *Mike Hughes, Central Florida
4. *Carlton Davis, Auburn
5. *Isaiah Oliver, Colorado
6. *Tarvarus McFadden, Florida State
7. *Jaire Alexander, Louisville
8. M.J. Stewart, North Carolina
9. Anthony Averett, Alabama
10. *Nick Nelson, Wisconsin
Safeties

1. *Minkah Fitzpatrick, Alabama
2. **Derwin James, Florida State
3. *Justin Reid, Stanford
4. *Ronnie Harrison, Alabama
5. Armani Watts, Texas A&M
6. Kyzir White, West Virginia
7. *DeShon Elliott, Texas
8. Jeremy Reaves, South Alabama
9. Quin Blanding, Virginia
10. Marcus Allen, Penn State
Punters/kickers

1. Johnny Townsend, Florida (P)
2. JK Scott, Alabama (P)
3. *Michael Dickson, Texas (P)
4. Shane Tripucka, Texas A&M (P)
5. Daniel Carlson, Auburn (K)
6. Trevor Daniel, Tennessee (P)
7. *Eddy Pineiro, Florida (PK)
8. Joseph Davidson, Bowling Green (P)
9. Matthew McCrane, Kansas State (K)
10. Michael Badgley, Miami (Fla.) (K)