Robert Garcia’s Top 40 Prospects for the 2018 NFL Draft

Draft week is here and it is time to get down to the nitty gritty. Yes, I love Nacho Libre! As teams start to finalize their draft boards this week, it is time to do ours here at 600 ESPN El Paso.

UTEP’s Will Hernandez has had a meteoric rise this off-season, as the once second-to-third-round selection now seems entrenched as a top-30 pick. His performance at the combine answered a lot of questions about his athleticism but his arm length may keep him out of the top 20 picks. Maryland’s D.J. Moore also passed his off-season tests. While Moore may not have the height that teams covet, he catches everything thrown his way, is a solid route-runner and has that quick-twitch acceleration you want at wideout.

After a horrendous showing at the combine, Oklahoma’s Orlando Brown went from a late first-round prospect to hoping he’ll be selected in the second round. He still grades out as a potential starter at right tackle in the NFL. Michigan's Maurice Hurst is off several team's boards. The standout defensive tackle was a medical red flag at the combine after an EKG showed irregularities. If he checks out physically, he could be a steal for some team in the third or fourth round.

Here’s a look at my Top 40 prospects broken down into five different tiers based on talent.

Tier 1 - Considered to have the talent and traits that make up a perennial all-pro, these prospects are expected to make an impact for their franchises from day one. What makes these three individuals truly special is that they are also great character guys.

1. Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State

2. Quenton Nelson, OG, Notre Dame

3. Bradley Chubb, DE, NC State

Tier 2 - Selected between the top 5 to 15 picks, these prospects are expected to secure starting spots and make contributions during year one. They have the talent to be future pro bowlers on a yearly basis.

4. Minkah Fitzpatrick, DB, Alabama

5. Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia

6. Derwin James, DB, Florida State

7. Sam Darnold, QB, USC

8. Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State

9. Tremaine Edmunds, LB, Virginia Tech

10. Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA

11. Vita Vea, DT, Washington

Tier 3 - Mid first-round prospects that should make their way into the starting lineup sometime during year one. The potential to be a pro bowl player is there--they just need to maximize their game.

12. Da’Ron Payne, DT, Alabama

13. Mike Hughes, CB, UCF

14. Rashaan Evans, LB, Alabama

15. Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming

16. Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama

17. Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma

18. Josh Jackson, CB, Iowa

19. Marcus Davenport, DE, UTSA

20. Will Hernandez, OG, UTEP

Tier 4 - Late first-to-early-second-round prospects that should make their way on to the field in either a starting or substitutional role during year one.

21. Jaire Alexander, CB, Louisville

22. Taven Bryan, DT, Florida

23. James Daniels, C/OG, Iowa

24. Sony Michel, RB, Georgia

25. Connor Williams, OT/OG, Texas

26. Christian Kirk, WR, Texas A&M

27. Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame

28. D.J. Moore, WR, Maryland

29. Derrius Guice, RB, LSU

30. Isaiah Wynn, OG, Georgia

31. Dallas Goedert, TE, South Dakota State

32. Harold Landry, OLB/DE, Boston College

33. Hayden Hurst, TE, South Carolina

34. Justin Reid, S, Stanford

Tier 5 - Second-round prospects that could slide up into the first round. These players may spend a little more time than they'd like on the bench but they'll be counted on to play a role as a back up, situational player, or on special teams.

35. Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville

36. Ronnie Harrison, S, Alabama

37. Isaiah Oliver, CB, Colorado

38. Billy Price, C/OG, Ohio State

39. Harrison Phillips, DT, Stanford

40. Lorenzo Carter, OLB/DE, Georgia