Syracuse Football: #MockDraftMonday revealing full 1st round of NFL Draft

Here’s a full 1st round mock draft (2018 NFL Draft). Plus an update on several Syracuse football prospects on a #MockDraftMonday.

It’s officially NFL Draft week! So on a final #MockDraftMonday we decided to reveal our final first round mock draft plus give some updates to the Syracuse football prospects in this draft.

So no shock here, but no Syracuse football player will hear their name called in the first round. The last player to hear his name called was Justin Pugh back in 2013. Since it has been slim pickings. I mean you could say that for the last 15 years.

Although we’ll talk about it later, I truly believe we could hear multiple Syracuse football players get their name called by the end of the 2018 NFL Draft for the first time since 2014 (Jay Bromley third round, Marquis Spruill).

Now it’s time for the last #MockDraftMonday:

So here are the highlights:

• I believe ‘the big four’ of quarterbacks in Sam Darnold, Josh Allen, Josh Rosen, and Baker Mayfield will go top-six. Somehow, someway I envision that happening. It doesn’t have to be the six original teams who are picking there, as a matter of fact I anticipate a lot of NFL draft trades.
• The local New York teams will find their soul mates in this draft. We all know the New York Jets are going quarterback. That’s the worst kept secret in the NFL Draft. While we know the Buffalo Bills WANT to go quarterback. Currently they’re not in a position to grab one of the top ones (draft day trade perhaps?). While the New York Giants have a borderline stalker-ish passion for Saquon Barkley. Last 1000 yard rusher was Ahmad Bradshaw back in 2012, yikes.
• My final HOT TAKE of this #MockDraftMonday is I believe one of these three teams are going to make a splash: the Arizona Cardinals, the Baltimore Ravens, or the Los Angeles Chargers. These are three teams in the teens who have been sniffing quarterbacks for years but haven’t pulled the trigger. I think the 2018 NFL Draft is finally the year for someone. One of these teams will trade into the top-10 for a quarterback, I have a gut feeling.

Gut feeling on Syracuse Football prospects:

• Steve Ishmael, wide receiver
  • Yes he will be drafted is what my gut says. I know Amba Etta-Tawo wasn’t, but Ishmael is a better receiver overall. He’s great in the red zone, he runs nearly a full route tree (even if it doesn’t look pretty), and that anger he played with in his senior season will drive him to a nice NFL career.
• Erv Philips, wide receiver
  • No he will not. Despite being the all-time receptions leader, I just don’t see it. But I do think he’ll be a priority free agent signing right after the NFL Draft. Think Brisly Estime who took the same path to the Jets.
• Zaire Franklin, linebacker
  • My gut feeling is yes. I went to the Syracuse Football Pro Day and I saw all the teams that lined up to talk to Zaire. I think he’s going to get drafted and he could be the highest player selected. He’s got a chiseled frame and while he has to prove he can last with his stature, Franklin’s intangibles will force a team to take a chance.

Next: Syracuse Football: Ranking every SU first round pick in NFL Draft history

• Parris Bennett, linebacker
  • I won’t cop out here, because I’m right on the fence. But I do think Bennett’s name is called. I lean on versatility as the main reason, he can just do so many things and play so many positions. NFL teams love that and that’s something Bennett can bring to the table.