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APC Mock Draft 2018: Picks 7-12 see top defensive players picked ahead of Packers

With Green Bay sitting at 14, APC projected six straight picks on defense leading up to their pick.

NCAA Football: North Carolina State at Wake Forest Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

APC’s mock of the 2018 NFL Draft continues today with picks seven through twelve, which lead us up to the Green Bay Packers’ pick at 14 overall tomorrow. After four quarterbacks went in the top six picks of our mock, this next batch of selections is much more varied. However, all six projected picks play on defense, thinning out the options for the Packers.

Here is a look at how we projected the next six picks of round one.

1.7 — Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Jonathan B.)

Bradley Chubb, DE, NC State

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had the misfortune of being dead last in the NFL in passing yards last year, but also dead last in sacks. Chubb is a top five talent in this draft and he is a steal here at the seventh pick. Tampa Bay has invested in their defensive line in recent years. They added Noah Spence last year. Tampa Bay also traded for Jason Pierre-Paul this off-season and added former Badger Beau Allen.

There are some concerns about the future of the defensive backfield as well, but Chubb is just too valuable a player to pass this early on. Mel Kiper currently has Chubb as the second best player in the draft. CBS has Chubb as the best player.

1.8 — Chicago Bears (Mike)

Tremaine Edmunds, LB, Virginia Tech

While new Head Coach Matt Nagy would probably like to get Mitchell Trubisky some more weapons on offense, he can’t pass up the athleticism of Virginia Tech linebacker Tremaine Edmunds. Edmunds was a workout warrior at the combine and saw his draft status skyrocket from a very good junior season at Virginia Tech. Edmunds might be the most athletic defensive player on the board for his size and will give the Bears a weapon that can line up at any of the linebacker positions.

Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio will have some fun creating plays for Edmunds to make him as disruptive as possible for the Bears opponents in 2018. Edmunds has the size, speed and explosiveness that could make the Bears defense feared throughout the NFL. Chicago has been plugging in players constantly at the linebacker position looking for the next Brian Urlacher type player and they may have found that player in Tremaine Edmunds.

1.9 — San Francisco 49ers (Owen)

Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State

The Niners have dedicated the past three first round picks to their defensive line, it’s time to improve the defense elsewhere. Adding Richard Sherman was a big move to improve the secondary, but more help is on the way with the elite athleticism of Denzel Ward. A better secondary will continue to supplement a defensive line chocked full of talent looking to get after the quarterback.

Ward will step in Day 1 and start across from Sherman for defensive coordinator Robert Saleh. In the 49ers Cover 3 scheme, Ward isn’t the prototypical long corner like the Seahawks generally targeted, but Ward is the most dynamic defensive back in this class, and he’s an instant impact player for Kyle Shanahan and Co.

1.10 — Oakland Raiders (Jonathan B.)

Minkah Fitzpatrick, DB, Alabama

Ftizpatrick is a versatile player. He ran a 4.46 40-yard dash. At 6’1” and 201 pounds, he has great size. He has been a leader on the Alabama defense in recent years and could slide in very quickly to the Raiders defense. The Raiders need to improve on defense. They have been decent in stopping the run (12th in yards per game), but 26th in passing yards per game. A more pure cornerback like Josh Jackson could be in play here, but with Denzel Ward off our board here, Fitzpatrick is the best athlete to boost this pass defense.

1.11 — Miami Dolphins (Mike)

Vita Vea, DT, Washington

Miami created a big hole on the defensive line when the released Ndamukong Suh earlier this offseason. Enter Vita Vea, the athletic 350-pound defensive lineman that has the power and speed to let Dolphins fans forget about the Suh disappointment. Vea will line up on the interior of the line in even fronts and will be able to play any position on the line in an odd front.

Vea has some questions about his effort on every play but when he turns it on, he becomes a handful for whoever is trying to block him. Vea can take up two gaps in the run game and has the athleticism to put pressure on the quarterback on passing downs. Vea will be an important cog in the defense for the Dolphins who are looking to bounce back from a disappointing 2017.

1.12 — Buffalo Bills (Jonathan B.)

Roquan Smith, ILB, UGA

There was a huge temptation here to go and get Lamar Jackson. The Bills look to be heading into the 2018 season with A.J. McCarron starting. That does not bring up warm fuzzy feelings. Still, Preston Brown left this team in free agency and they need to replace the leading tackler from a year ago. Deep in his heart, Sean McDermott is an old defensive coach.

Roquan Smith give the Bills a solid linebacker in the middle of their defense. He is up to 236 pounds and ran a 4.51 40-yard dash. He is not the thumper the Bills thought they were getting when they drafted Reggie Ragland, but he is an athletic playmaker to lead this defense. Buffalo can get a solid, “play now” guy for the defense and get a draft and develop quarterback with the second first-round pick.

APC Mock Draft 2018

Pick Team Author Player Position College
Pick Team Author Player Position College
1 CLE Shawn Josh Allen QB Wyoming
2 NYG Jason Josh Rosen QB UCLA
3 NYJ Tex Sam Darnold QB USC
4 CLE Shawn Saquon Barkley RB Penn State
5 DEN Peter Quenton Nelson G Notre Dame
6 ARI (Trade w/ IND) Jordan Baker Mayfield QB Oklahoma
7 TB Jon B Bradley Chubb DE NC State
8 CHI Mike Tremaine Edmunds LB Va Tech
9 SF Owen Denzel Ward CB Ohio State
10 OAK Jon B Minkah Fitzpatrick DB Alabama
11 MIA Mike Vita Vea DT Washington
12 BUF Jon B Roquan Smith ILB UGA
13 WAS Owen Josh Jackson CB Iowa
14 GB Peter Derwin James S Florida State
15 IND (trade w/ARI) Jordan Harold Landry EDGE Boston College
16 BAL Jordan Marcus Davenport EDGE UTSA
17 LAC Jason Mike McGlinchey T Notre Dame
18 SEA Mike Isaiah Wynn OL Georgia
19 DAL Shawn Da'Ron Payne DL Alabama
20 DET Tex Maurice Hurst DT Michigan
21 CIN Jason Will Hernandez G UTEP
22 BUF Jon B Lamar Jackson QB Louisville
23 NE Peter Courtland Sutton WR SMU
24 CAR Peter Connor Williams OL Texas
25 TEN Owen Josh Sweat EDGE Florida State
26 ATL Tex Taven Bryan DT Florida
27 NO Jason Mike Gesicki TE Penn State
28 PIT Owen Leighton Vander Esch LB Boise State
29 JAX Mike Hayden Hurst TE South Carolina
30 MIN Jon B James Daniels C/G Iowa
31 NE Peter Kolton Miller OT UCLA
32 PHI Jordan Rashaan Evans ILB Alabama
33 CLE Shawn Jaire Alexander CB Louisville
34 NYG Jason D.J. Moore WR Maryland
35 CLE Shawn Martinas Rankin OT Mississippi State
36 IND Jordan Calvin Ridley WR Alabama
37 IND Jordan Isaiah Oliver CB Colorado
38 TB Jon B Holton Hill CB Texas
39 CHI Mike Billy Price OL Ohio State
40 DEN Peter Sony Michel RB Georgia
41 OAK Jon B Tim Settle DT VA Tech
42 MIA Mike Lorenzo Carter LB Georgia
43 NE Peter Mike Hughes CB UCF
44 WAS Owen Derrius Guice RB LSU
45 GB Peter Donte Jackson CB LSU
46 CIN Jason Malik Jefferson LB Texas
47 IND (trade w/ARI) Jordan Orlando Brown OT Oklahoma
48 LAC Jason Mason Rudolph QB Oklahoma State
49 IND Jordan Arden Key EDGE LSU
50 DAL Shawn D.J. Chark WR LSU
51 DET Tex Sam Hubbard DE Ohio State
52 BAL Jordan James Washington WR Oklahoma State
53 BUF Jon B Harrison Phillips DT Stanford
54 KC Tex Carlton Davis CB Auburn
55 CAR Peter Justin Reid S Stanford
56 BUF Jon B Braden Smith G Auburn
57 TEN Owen Nick Chubb RB Georgia
58 GB (via ATL) Peter Christian Kirk WR Texas A&M
59 SF Owen Austin Corbett OG Nevada
60 PIT Owen Jesse Bates III S Wake Forest
61 JAX Mike Darius Leonard LB South Carolina State
62 MIN Jon B Anthony Averett CB Alabama
63 NE Peter Dallas Goedert TE South Dakota State
64 CLE Shawn Rasheem Green DE USC