The 2018 NFL draft is over, and now it's time to review the picks and hand out grades way earlier than they should be.
The grades are based on a number of factors, including taking the best players available, filling needs and if some good trades were made.
Sort of like mocks, draft grades are more about creating discussion than completely destroying a team's picks. Of course, fans and teams will see their draft class differently than I do. And some of them will absolutely be wrong a year from now. With that in mind, feel free to leave your own below.
After failing to make the playoffs the past two seasons, the Cardinals needed an impact draft. They got one. A year after just missing out on Patrick Mahomes, general manager Steve Keim moved up to take UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen with the 10th overall pick. To me, Rosen is the best quarterback in this entire draft. Giving up picks in the third and fifth rounds to move up wasn't too cost prohibitive.
The Cardinals then found a good compliment for Rosen in wide receiver Christian Kirk in the second round. Receiver was a big need for the Cardinals, so it was smart to get Kirk at No. 47. He should see a lot of targets after Larry Fitzgerald retires. Offensive lineman Mason Cole was a questionable choice in the third round. Offensive line was a need for Arizona, but Cole doesn't have a set position.
Grade: A-
Most, including me, thought the Falcons' draft had to start with a defensive tackle. But Atlanta passed on a few good ones early, including Taven Bryan, before taking Deadrin Senat with the 90th pick. He should get a lot of snaps on that defensive line.
The Falcons opened things with Alabama wide receiver Calvin Ridley in the first round. This may or may not say something about the future of Julio Jones. Ridley is at worst a very high end No. 2 receiver because he runs nearly perfect routes and has good hands. Cornerback Isaiah Oliver was one of the steals of the second round. He can handle the physicality of NFC South receivers like Mike Evans and Devin Funchess.
With Tevin Coleman entering the final year of his rookie deal, the picked up Southern Miss running back Ito Smith. He's not a big power back, but he's ultra quick and will make defenders miss in open space. he can catch the ball pretty well too. That's one of the better Day 3 picks of the draft.
Grade: B
Ozzie Newsome played all the hits in his last draft as general manager of the Ravens. After making his name as an evaluator by taking Jonathan Ogden and Ray Lewis in the first round, he finished the 2018 draft with two first rounders. Tight end Hayden Hurst was a bit of a surprise but the Ravens at least were able to move back and take him. Then Newsome made the big move back into the first round to take quarterback Lamar Jackson. If that pick works out, he set up the future of the Ravens.
Of course, Newsome wasn't done there. He then took offensive tackle Orlando Brown in the third round. A likely starter at right tackle, Brown has first-round talent. At No. 86, the Ravens picked up Mark Andrews, who I rated higher than Hurst at tight end coming into the draft. As expected, an Alabama player was picked up as well in the form of cornerback Anthony Averett. He profiles as a solid dime package cornerback. Center Bradley Bozeman was the second Crimson Tide player for Newsome.
Texas safety Deshone Elliott is a good playmaker against the run and pass, he just has to diagnose faster. If he starts to do that, he has starter ability.
Grade: A
The draft for the Bills will be judged on whether or not seventh overall pick Josh Allen becomes a franchise quarterback. If he does not, the Bills paid a steep to go up and get him. If he does, it's obviously great. Personally, I question whether or not he'll become a more accurate passer in the NFL.
Much of the rest of Buffalo's draft was a delight. Getting Tremaine Edmunds with the 16th pick was a strong move. Some expected him to go top 10. He has the tools to be a star in the NFL. The cost to trade up was worth it. Then on the draft's second day the Bills got a steal in Stanford defensive tackle Harrison Phillips. He can line up over the nose and produce. Fourth-round pick Taron Johnson of Weber State is a solid nickel cornerback. Guard Wyatt Teller was a nice fifth-round pickup. Don't be surprised if he pushes for a starting job early.
Grade: B-
Carolina has needed a lead wide receiver since Steve Smith was dumped, and in D.J. Moore they got a receiver who compares favorably to him. Wide receivers slid in the first round, so getting Moore at No. 24 was a good value choice. He should see a lot of targets from Cam Newton.
Secondary was arguably Carolina's biggest need in the draft, and it was addressed with the 55th pick by taking LSU cornerback Donte Jackson. His athleticism and speed can't be questioned. In the NFL, he'll have to get stronger because more physical receivers can simply bump him off. But if he's covering smaller guys, Jackson can make plays. The Panthers got another secondary player in the third round in Rashaan Gaulden. He's a combo safety and cornerback who at the least gives Carolina a really good depth piece.
One of the better value picks of the draft was the Panthers getting Indiana tight end Ian Thomas with the first pick of the fourth round. He's one of the draft's best all-around tight ends. Edge Marquis Haynes left Ole Miss with the school record in sacks and tackles for loss, and could be a nice situational player for Carolina.
Grade: B
The Bears used the draft to fill needs, and they got a few starters, beginning with linebacker Roquan Smith with the eighth pick. Smith is going to be a star in the NFL. He's the definition of the modern NFL linebacker because he's quick to diagnose, and he can make plays all over the field.
The Bears needed to get a guard in this draft, and that's where Iowa's James Daniels will line up. It's a little bit of a risk because it's a position change, but like new teammate Kyle Long, Daniels is a really good athlete and he can handle himself in the middle. Then to secure a starting wide receiver, the Bears gave up a second-round pick to select Anthony Miller of Memphis at No. 51. Along with Allen Robinson and Taylor Gabriel, the Bears have now revamped their entire passing game for Mitchell Trubisky.
The grade would have been higher but the Bears didn't address cornerback.
Grade: B+
It seems like the Bengals always take name players in the draft, and this year was no different. After missing out on center Frank Ragnow by a pick, the Bengals took Ohio State's Billy Price in the second round. Price is never going to blow you away with athleticism, but he's an aggressive and powerful blocker.
The Bengals picked apart the second day of the draft, getting a few starters. Safety Jessie Bates III is one of the draft's best coverage safeties. He's the type of safety the Bengals needed for the back of their secondary. Ohio State's Sam Hubbard slid further than expected, but he's a versatile player with good athleticism. A pick later, linebacker Malik Jefferson gives the Bengals another good athlete. Are you seeing a theme here for Cincinnati's defense?
Running back Mark Walton of Miami, picked in the fourth round, was a good move as well. He should push Joe Mixon for carries.
Grade: B+
Taking quarterback Baker Mayfield first overall is a big, splashy move that will define the regime of new general manager John Dorsey. First things first, Mayfield isn't the second coming of Johnny Manziel. There was no more accurate quarterback in this draft than Mayfield. It was also a culture pick. The Browns don't have a identity or a leader. They do now with Mayfield, a player teammates love. The Browns followed up that pick by taking Ohio State cornerback Denzel Ward fourth overall. Pass rusher Bradley Chubb may have been a better choice, but Ward is the draft's best cornerback and gives the Browns a shut down corner.
On the draft's second day the Browns checked off some needs, starting with offensive lineman Austin Corbett. Where he plays in the NFL is to be determined. Leading up to the draft, the consensus opinion is that he'd have to move inside to guard, but the Browns are set there. That makes the pick a little curious. Running back Nick Chubb, taken 35th overall, is a talented and powerful back who should eventually become Cleveland's lead runner. After passing on Bradley Chubb, the Browns smartly picked Miami's Chad Thomas at 67th. He wasn't overly productive at Miami, but has tools.
Trading up in the fourth round to take Florida wide receiver Antonio Callaway was a curious move. Callaway has a checkered past, and reportedly failed a drug test at the NFL Scouting Combine. Memphis linebacker Genard Avery was a steal in the fifth round.
Grade: B-
Leighton Vander Esch getting picked by the Cowboys was expected to happen if he was available, and that was the case. In him Dallas got a great athlete who can patrol the middle of the field. He's an asset in coverage with his ability to read the quarterback and make a break on the ball.
After the better tight ends were taken off the board by the time Dallas picked at No. 50, the Cowboys got good value in offensive lineman Connor Williams. He could fit at tackle or guard in the NFL, particularly if the Cowboys want to move La'el Collins inside.
Colorado State wide receiver Michael Gallup was one of my favorite picks of the draft at No. 81. He's not a direct replacement for Dez Bryant, but does a lot of the same things. Boise State's Cedrick Wilson, taken at No. 208 overall is a nice speed player. Watch out for fourth-round pick Dorance Armstrong. He struggled last season, but his 2016 tape was good for a pass rusher.
Grade: B+
Getting Bradley Chubb and to go along with Von Miller sets Denver up with one of the best pass rush pairs in the NFL. It was a surprise that Chubb was still available at fifth overall. He's a player who is just as good against the run as he is rushing the passer. Maybe more i
0 Response to "NFL Draft grades 2018: Who won the draft? - SB Nation"
Post a Comment