The NFL draft is one of the biggest weekends for American football every year, so creating mock drafts is something that is done to build hype and make predictions. With the NFL scouting combine finished, I have enough data to do a mock draft with a high level of confidence.

This time around I'm just doing a first-round mock draft because I'm going to justify my selections. After free agency gets underway, I'll drop a three-round mock draft, and I'll do a full seven-round mock before the draft.

So, without any further adieu, here is my first mock draft for the 2018 NFL draft:

1. Cleveland Browns: Josh Allen, Wyoming - QB

I've wrestled with this pick a lot, but at the end of the day, Cleveland can't risk not taking a quarterback here, and Josh Allen is the best fit. During the combine, Josh Allen showed just how talented he is as a quarterback and as an athlete, which helps with the current Browns team. Allen reminds me a bit of a young Roethlisberger, and with Roethlisberger's last offensive coordinator now in Cleveland, the writing on the wall says Allen is the guy.

2. New York Giants: Saquan Barkley, Penn State - RB

And Giants fans rejoice as they get the best player in the draft, which can make them the most explosive offense in the league, when healthy. OBJ, Evan Engram, Sterling Shepard, and Saquan Barkley sound like a nightmare for any defense to try and stop. While Josh Rosen isn't a bad pick for the Giants here, with Saquan joining this offense, I could probably pull someone out of the stands to play QB and they would have an MVP caliber season, let alone having Eli Manning or an underrated QB in Davis Webb.

3. Indianapolis Colts: Bradley Chubb,NC State - DE/EDGE

Assuming that the top two picks go exactly as projected, then the Colts get their pass rusher. The thing that separates Chubb from the other pass rushers is that he can fit almost any scheme, which helps in the Indianapolis Colts' defense that needs help all over the front seven. Chubb can rush from just about any position, which is something the Colts desperately need to help the defense.

4. Cleveland Browns: Minkah Fitzpatrick, Alabama - DB

With the pick from Houston, the Browns take the most versatile of the defensive backs in this class. I don't think he's the best corner or safety coming out of the combine, but he is the best at playing every DB position. He tested slightly faster than I thought, and his versatility in the secondary can help the Browns against the offenses in their division, and potentially help Jabrill Peppers develop alongside him.

5. Denver Broncos: Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma - QB

At #1, the discussion was Josh Allen vs. Sam Darnold, and at #4, the discussion is Baker Mayfield vs. Sam Darnold. Mayfield is the pick here because he is slightly more developed and a better fit for what Denver needs from a quarterback. The Broncos are now running a West Coast Offense under Bill Musgrave, which is basically a more complex version of the Air Raid, which Mayfield ran to near perfection at Oklahoma.

6. New York Jets: Josh Rosen, UCLA - QB

Another quarterback in the top-10, I know, but it is the most important position in football, and every team that has taken one needs one. Rosen is the guy here because he is talented enough to play behind this O-line, he can run the offense, and has the personality to play in New York. Rosen and Darnold can both do things that the other can't, and Rosen's skill-set is a better fit for the Jets and his personality is a better fit for the bright lights of New York.

7.Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Denzel Ward, Ohio State - CB

The biggest needs for the Bucs are offensive lineman, corner, and defensive end, and they must address one of them here. This class of OL and CB are relatively deep, so the Buccaneers go for the best available between the two positions here. Ward is physically gifted and capable of being a day one starter, which Tampa desperately needs.

8. Chicago Bears: Calvin Ridley, Alabama - WR

Ridley is arguably the best wide receiver in this class, but more importantly, he is a workhorse WR that is similar to his fellow Alabama alumni, Amari Cooper. The Bears are running out of wide receivers, and it's possible that they could only have Kevin White on the roster by the time this goes out. Ridley is the perfect running to play alongside Kevin White at his best, and that tandem can help Mitch Trubisky just how Alshon Jeffery and Brandon Marshall helped Jay Cutler before.

9.San Francisco 49ers: Quenton Nelson, Notre Dame - G

Nelson is one of the best offensive lineman in years, and I'm saying that as a Cowboys fan who has seen three of players who can make that claim, and the 49ers can't afford to pass on him. They just paid Jimmy G a ton of money, and now they need to do everything they can to protect him and their investment.

10.Oakland Raiders: Tremaine Edmunds, Virginia Tech-LB

Oakland has to be losing their minds if this is how that draft works out because they land an absolute beast in Edmunds, who can help solidify a fearsome front seven in Oakland. He can rush, cover, and tackle, which is what Oakland needs from its linebacker core behind Kahlil Mack and that D-Line. I see Edmunds taking over the Sam LB role in the Raiders 4-3 system, but he could play any of the three spots.

11. Miami Dolphins: Josh Jackson, Iowa-CB

The second corner of the board, and Miami gets a true number one to help their defense. The biggest thing that puts Jackson below Ward is that he is slower, but in a zone scheme, Jackson will be able to play to his strengths in a defense that needs a lockdown corner.

12. Cincinnati Bengals: Kolton Miller, UCLA-OT

Miller's combine performance separated him from Mike McGlinchey as the best offensive tackle in the draft. The Bengals have had some absolutely awful OL play in the past few years, and they need to fix that. Miller is big, fast, and strong, which gives him the potential to be a franchise tackle.

13. Washington Redskins: Roquan Smith, Georgia - ILB

Redskins need someone to captain their defense, and Smith can be that guy. In this mock, he is also the best player available at this point, so Washington takes a stud who can speed up their defense and lead the Redskins into the future.

14. Green Bay Packers: Harold Landry, Boston College-EDGE

To most people, this might be a bit of a surprise, but the Packers are in an interesting spot. They could take Marcus Davenport here, and no one would second guess them, but taking Landry gives them a true successor to Clay Matthews. Landry is that good, and that versatile, that the Packers would be better of in the long-term with Landry, who has developed a giant chip on his shoulder after being written-off as a prospect after a previous injury.

15. Arizona Cardinals: Sam Darnold, USC-QB

Well...this is convenient for Arizona. They get the quarterback with the (arguably) highest potential upside in the entire draft, and you don't have to give up the farm to get him. The Cardinals lose one USC quarterback in Carson Palmer, but they get someone who is similar in the fellow USC alumni Darnold.

16. Baltimore Ravens: Courtland Sutton, SMU-WR

Post-combine I still think Sutton has all the tools to become a top wide receiver in the NFL, which the Ravens desperately need. I'm unsure about his catching style, but he makes it work. Baltimore needs to find a replacement for Torrey Smith, and Sutton can be an improved version.

17. Los Angeles Chargers: Mike McGlinchey, Notre Dame - OT

McGlinchey was projected as the top offensive tackle at one point for a reason, he was that good on tape. McGlinchey is pro-ready and the Chargers need someone who can go now. He needs to really bulk up if he wants to be an elite offensive lineman, but a good strength coach in LA can help him reach that level.

18. Seattle Seahawks: Marcus Davenport, UTSA - DE

As I was making this mock draft, I had to scrap a large portion of it because Seattle decided they wanted to trade Michael Bennett to Philadelphia, so this pick changed. Davenport is an absolute beast who can fill the whole the Bennett leaves in Seattle's defense. Pete Carroll and the Seahawks might have given up Bennett for too little a price, but Davenport will easy the feeling in Seattle.

19. Dallas Cowboys: Vita Vea, Washington - DT/NT

I didn't intend for Dallas to end up with Vea at the beginning of this mock draft, but I am happy with how it worked out. Dallas gets a play-maker in Vea who can help anchor a young defense for years to come. Vea is a beast who can benefit from working against some of the best O-linemen in the NFL every week at practice.

20. Detroit Lions: Rashaan Evans, Alabama - LB

If the Cowboys somehow end up with Vea, then Evans will be available for the Lions to help continue the rebuild for the Lions' linebacker core for Matt Patricia's team. The Lions land a guy who is very similar to Dont'a Hightower, who was a playmaker for Patricia in New England. Seems like an ideal fit for the Lions, and it gives Evans the opportunity to develop alongside last years' first-round pick, Jarrad Davis.

21. Buffalo Bills: Da'Ron Payne, Alabama - DT/NT

So, I'm projecting trades because that would make this mock a complete mess, but if I were, the Bills would be using these back-to-back picks to make a massive move into the top ten. Assuming no trades however, Payne is the best available at a position of need after the Marcell Dareus trade to the Jags.

22. Buffalo Bills: James Daniels, Iowa - C/G

A bit of a reach here, but with Eric Wood's long-term future uncertain and a hole at right guard, Daniels has the potential to play either role at a high level. If Wood is sticking around in Buffalo, then this pick can easily be Will Hernandez over Daniels, but I like Daniels' versatility more.

23. Los Angeles Rams: Derwin James, Florida State - SS

The Rams get to watch as their primary needs are taken right before their eyes, but then they see James somehow falling down to them and all is forgotten. James is the best pure safety in the class, and could easily go earlier than this pick, but the Bennett trade makes the Seahawks take Davenport instead. Maybe the Rams should send the Seahawks a thank you letter for making this happen.

24. Carolina Panthers: James Washington, OKST - WR

Cam Newton needs wide receivers to help him because his best receiver is last years' first-round pick Christian McCaffery, his RB. Washington gets separation, which is something the wide receivers in Carolina can't do. While I don't see Washington as a true game-breaking receiver, he fits an offense in Carolina that needs the things that he can do well right now, instead of waiting for a bigger guy to develop.

25. Tennessee Titans: Sam Hubbard, Ohio State - EDGE

Titans finally get a high-quality, young pass-rusher to help solidify this defense that surprised people last year. New HC Mike Vrabel is familiar with the Ohio State program, and his staff contains some OSU coaches from last year. The familiarity gives Hubbard the edge over Arden Key on the Titans' draft board.

26. Atlanta Falcons: Maurice Hurst, Michigan - DT/NT

This pick hinges entirely on whether or not Hurst's heart condition from the combine was just a misdiagnosis, similar to Star Lotulelei a few years ago. I am expecting Hurst to fall similar to Star's fall from a top-five pick to 14 when he was drafted. Hurst helps a Falcons defense that could need a complete overhaul depending on how free-agency goes for them.

27. New Orleans Saints: Arden Key, LSU - DE/EDGE/OLB

When I was looking at the things the Saints need, the only thing that seems like a guaranteed need is a second pass-rusher to help Cameron Jordan out. Then I saw who was left on my board, and it seems like the perfect fit. Key gets to stay in Louisiana and play for a city that will treat him like a local hero, despite him being from Georgia.

28. Pittsburgh Steelers: Ronnie Harrison, Alabama - S

This is a tough call with Shaizer almost certainly being done with pro-football, but safety is still a huge need for Pittsburgh, and Harrison is far better than any of the potential inside linebackers. Harrison can make plays for a Steelers secondary that needs the help after what Blake Bortles did to them. Harrison can also make plays in the box when necessary, which helps the linebackers out.

29. Jacksonville Jaguars: Hayden Hurst, South Carolina - TE

This draft is turning into a fairy tale for a few people here in the end of the first round. Hurst is a Jacksonville native who gets a homecoming to join the Jags. Jacksonville seems content with Bortles, so they need to get him extra help. Jacksonville might lose Allen Robinson in free-agency, but a TE is more useful for what Bortles does as a QB.

30. Minnesota Vikings: Isaiah Wynn, Georgia - G

Regardless of who is playing QB for the Vikings in 2018, that person needs protection. Plus, a little extra blocking for a returning Dalvin Cook is nice for Minnesota. Wynn is the second best pure offensive guard in the class (Hernandez is raw potential at this point), which gives the Vikings the O-Line they need.

31. New England: Mike Hughes, UCF-CB

Hughes is an undersized corner, who will most likely be limited to a slot role, but New England was the worst pass-defense in the NFL last season. At this point, an elite nickle corner can help this Patriots team get to another Super Bowl. Hughes can also develop into a number one corner under the tuitalege of Bill Belicheck.

32. Philadelphia Eagles: D.J. Chark, LSU - WR

The Eagles are in an interesting position after the Bennett trade. They don't have a ton of needs to begin with, but now they checked pass-rusher of the list. Chark provides a real slot threat, which the Eagles don't have, and he is a matchup problem with his speed.