:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/49409021/GettyImages-56286897.0.jpg)
The time has come for the most important NFL mock draft you'll read this year. No, not the 2018 mock draft, which is totally real thing. It's time for the randomized, pick-a-name-out-of-a-hat mock draft. Our former leader, Sean Yuille, started the tradition way back in 2013 (which he appropriately called "The Matt Millen system"). He actually correctly slotted two picks that year. His 2014 mock was less successful, but he again picked correctly twice in 2015. Now, I'll try to keep the magic alive.
Here's how it works: I took the top 31 players for SB Nation's top 300 player rankings and put each name individually into a hat. From there, I just simply picked a player one by one and slotted them in order. Here are the results:
| # | Team | Player | Pos. | College | ||
| 1 | Los Angeles Rams | Laquon Treadwell | WR | Ole Miss | ||
| 2 | Philadelphia Eagles | Sheldon Rankins | DT | Louisville | ||
| 3 | San Diego Chargers | Paxton Lynch | QB | Memphis | ||
| 4 | Dallas Cowboys | Michael Thomas | WR | Ohio State | ||
| 5 | Jacksonville Jaguars | Vernon Hargreaves | CB | Florida | ||
| 6 | Baltimore Ravens | Jalen Ramsey | CB | Florida State | ||
| 7 | San Francisco 49ers | Leonard Floyd | LB | Georgia | ||
| 8 | Cleveland Browns | Joey Bosa | DE | Ohio State | ||
| 9 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Reggie Ragland | LB | Alabama | ||
| 10 | New York Giants | Jaylon Smith | LB | Notre Dame | ||
| 11 | Chicago Bears | Eli Apple | CB | Ohio State | ||
| 12 | New Orleans Saints | William Jackson III | CB | Houston | ||
| 13 | Miami Dolphins | Noah Spence | DE | Eastern Kentucky | ||
| 14 | Oakland Raiders | Ezekiel Elliot | RB | Ohio State | ||
| 15 | Tennessee Titans | Mackensie Alexander | CB | Clemson | ||
| 16 | Detroit Lions | Jarran Reed | DT | Alabama | ||
| 17 | Atlanta Falcons | Chris Jones | DT | Mississippi State | ||
| 18 | Indianapolis Colts | DeForest Buckner | DE | Oregon | ||
| 19 | Buffalo Bills | Laremy Tunsil | OT | Ole Miss | ||
| 20 | New York Jets | A'Shawn Robinson | DT | Alabama | ||
| 21 | Washington Redskins | Darron Lee | LB | Alabama | ||
| 22 | Houston Texans | Jared Goff | QB | Cal | ||
| 23 | Minnesota Vikings | Corey Coleman | WR | Baylor | ||
| 24 | Cincinnati Bengals | Josh Doctson | WR | TCU | ||
| 25 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Shaq Lawson | DE | Clemson | ||
| 26 | Seattle Seahawks | Taylor Decker | OT | Ohio State | ||
| 27 | Green Bay Packers | Jack Conklin | OT | Michigan State | ||
| 28 | Kansas City Chiefs | Myles Jack | LB | UCLA | ||
| 29 | Arizona Cardinals | Carson Wentz | QB | North Dakota State | ||
| 30 | Carolina Panthers | Kevin Dodd | DE | Clemson | ||
| 31 | Denver Broncos | Ronnie Stanley | OT | Notre Dame | ||
The Detroit Lions' pick is actually somewhat realistic. Although Jarran Reed has been overshadowed by other defensive tackles in the draft like A'Shawn Robinson or Sheldon Rankins, Reed was actually selected by three other mocks in our latest Mock Draft Database.
Other interesting observations:
- Mark down Josh Doctson to the Bengals as the pick most likely to be correct. Great fit there.
- On the other hand, I don't think I see the Cardinals replacing one Carson with another.
- I had a good laugh over Jared Goff to the Texans, after they emptied their wallets for Brock Osweiler this offseason.
- The traditional over/under bet for accurate picks in this randomized mock draft is 1.5. I am going to say with confidence this mock will get at least three picks right. Eat your heart out, Kiper.