Mock draft 2018: Do 49ers go defense for sixth straight year?

1. Cleveland – Sam Darnold, QB, USC

The Factory of Sadness chews up and spits out quarterbacks. Good luck, Sam.

2. N.Y. Giants – Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State

The Barkley-Odell Beckham Jr. combination ought to pump some life into Eli Manning.

3. N.Y. Jets – Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA

The most ready-to-play passer goes to the team most ready to play a rookie quarterback.

4. Cleveland – Bradley Chubb, DE, N.C. State

He'd pair nicely with Myles Garrett. The Browns also could dangle this pick for a trade. Would S.F. bite?

5. Denver – Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma

The Broncos need a confident quarterback. Mayfield has that quality … maybe too much of it.

6. Indianapolis – Quenton Nelson, G, Notre Dame

No. 1 on the Colts' to-do list: Keep Andrew Luck healthier than in his first three seasons.

7. Tampa Bay – Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State

Cornerback was the safest pick in the first round last year. The Bucs take the best of the bunch.

8. Chicago – Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia

Vic Fangio had a couple of 6-foot-ish, 235-pound-ish linebackers in San Francisco who fared pretty well.

9. San Francisco – Tremaine Edmunds, LB, Virginia Tech

Without Reuben Foster, Edmunds plays middle linebacker. With Reuben Foster, he plays strong-side linebacker. Either way, he has great value. The team's last five top picks have all been defensive players.

10. Oakland – Marcus Davenport, DE, UT-San Antonio

What team will risk taking a pass rusher from the University of Texas-San Antonio? One that took a pass rusher from the University of Buffalo.

11. Miami – Derwin James, S, Florida State

Miami lands a Florida native who will add a jolt of electricity to its defense.

12. Buffalo – Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming

Allen has the arm strength needed to cut through Lake Erie winds. Can the Bills expect him to fall this far? If they get antsy, a trade with the 49ers is a possibility.

13. Washington – Vita Vea, DT, Washington

Washington's 32nd-ranked run defense had holes. At 347 pounds, Vea is an awfully big plug.

14. Green Bay – Rashaan Evans, LB, Alabama

The Packers need strength up the middle and Evans also is capable of bringing heat from the edge.

15. Arizona – Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama

Larry Fitzgerald has a birthday in August. Be sure to wish him a happy 52nd!

16. Baltimore – Mike McGlinchey, T, Notre Dame

The Ravens found a good tackle at Notre Dame two years ago in Ronnie Stanley. They go back to the well this year.

17. L.A. Chargers – Minkah Fitzpatrick, FS, Alabama

With Tre Boston still a free agent, the team needs a solid center fielder in its defense.

18. Seattle – Isaiah Wynn, G, Georgia

The pick-starved Seahawks will try to trade down to get more selections. If not, then bolstering their O-line always is a good bet.

19. Dallas – Taven Bryan, DT, Florida

The Cowboys need to get stronger up the middle. Bryan is a nice blend of quickness and toughness.

20. Detroit – Da’Ron Payne, DT, Alabama

This draft is weak on interior defensive linemen. The Lions strike now because the pickings are slim later.

21. Cincinnati – James Daniels, C, Iowa

Daniels is considered the best center in the draft and also can play guard.

22. Buffalo – Leighton Vander Esch, LB, Boise State

The linebacker to whom Vander Esch is often compared: Brian Urlacher. If that rings true, the Bills get a steal.

23. New England – Kolton Miller, T, UCLA

The Roseville High School product winds up where another Tiger alumnus, Tedy Bruschi, made his mark. Like Buffalo, the Patriots have two first-round picks and might be eyeing quarterbacks, and thus, a trade.

24. Carolina – D.J. Moore, WR, Maryland

The Panthers' top receiver last season was a running back, Christian McCaffrey.

25. Tennessee – Harold Landry, OLB, Boston College

The Titans must sharpen their edges and find the top pass rusher available.

26. Atlanta – Maurice Hurst, DT, Michigan

The Falcons need to find a replacement for Dontari Poe, who left via free agency.

27. New Orleans – Dallas Goedert, TE, South Dakota State

The player with whom Goedert often is compared: Jimmy Graham.

28. Pittsburgh – Jaire Alexander, CB, Louisville

Steelers grab a ball-hawking cornerback in Alexander with their pick.

29. Jacksonville – Will Hernandez, G, UTEP

The Jaguars brought in Andrew Norwell to play left guard. Hernandez is a perfect fit on the right side for a team that loves smash-mouth football.

30. Minnesota – Connor Williams, G/T, Texas

Williams is one of the most talented linemen in the draft and can play either guard or tackle.

31. New England – Josh Jackson, CB, Iowa

The Patriots finished 30th last year in passing defense. At the same time, Jackson led the nation with eight interceptions.

32. Philadelphia – Derrius Guice, RB, LSU

The Eagles have the last pick but find the second-best runner in the draft.

This story was originally published April 25, 2018 at 2:52 PM.