2018 N.F.L. Draft Grades: Round 1 Winners and Losers
How did all the teams do in the first round of the N.F.L. draft? We won’t know for sure for a few years. But plenty of people want to weigh in right now.
Here’s a look at the instant grades from CBS Sports, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher Report, For the Win at USA Today, Yahoo Sports, and the draft site Walter Football.
According to the experts, there are players who will turn their teams into winners, and others who are already terrible busts. Sometimes it’s the same player.
1. Baker Mayfield, QB, Browns: B-
Mixed reviews for the top pick, who had looked like he was going to go more like No. 6 a few days ago. “Mayfield will bring a dynamic to the Browns offense that will allow them to do many things because of his mobility and his ability to throw the ball downfield,” said the most optimistic ranker, Bleacher Report. But Benjamin Hoffman of The New York Times raised the chilling specter of another Browns quarterback: “Is Mayfield essentially Johnny Manziel without as much baggage?” And USA Today said, “A lot will have to break right for the Oklahoma standout to end up as the best QB from this class.” Grade point average: 2.62.
2. Saquon Barkley, RB, Giants: B+
Suddenly it seems to be OK to use a top pick on a running back. Most felt the Giants did fine with this pick. Bleacher Report was already speculating about a 1,000-yard season, and Sports Illustrated called him a “once-in-a-generation running back.” The naysayer was USA Today, which felt a quarterback would have been a better choice for the Giants: “He’ll have to be LaDainian Tomlinson for this to be considered a good pick.” GPA: 3.22
3. Sam Darnold, QB, Jets: B+
A pretty solid thumb’s up for the other New York pick as well. USA Today said, “The Jets gave up too much to move up to the No. 3 pick, but that won’t matter in a couple of years when Darnold develops into one of the league’s best quarterbacks.” “The Jets finally found their quarterback of the future,” said Walter Football. CBS was less excited, feeling Josh Allen or Josh Rosen would have been a better choice. GPA: 3.22.
4. Denzel Ward, CB, Browns: B-
Another top pick, another B- for the Browns. Defensive end Bradley Chubb was available, making this choice a little puzzling to some. “Maybe the Browns know something we don’t,” USA Today wrote, unconvincingly. Even Bleacher Report, which gave the pick an A- said, “This is a tough one to grade.” GPA: 2.62.
5. Bradley Chubb, DE, Broncos: A
The hands-down best pick of the top 5, the experts believe. “A pass rush consisting of Von Miller and Bradley Chubb is going to result in pure carnage for opposing offensive lines,” Bleacher Report said. Many thought the Broncos would take a quarterback, but few faulted this pick. GPA: 3.92.
6. Quenton Nelson, G, Colts: B+
An offensive guard in the top 6? USA Today loved it, calling Nelson “the best offensive line prospect in recent memory.” Sports Illustrated was not impressed, saying the Colts should have gone with a defensive player: “The Colts can block better now, but it won’t matter if their opponents score 40 each week.” GPA: 3.48
7. Josh Allen, QB, Bills: B-
Allen, the Wyoming quarterback, at one point was considered a candidate to go No. 1 overall. The Bills got him at No. 7 after a trade with the Buccaneers, and the grades were all over the place, ranging from an A+ to F. CBS could not have liked it more: “They get the best QB in the draft and they had to go make the move to get him. Love the trade, love the pick.” USA Today said: “Allen is inaccurate, struggles to read defenses and is uncomfortable from the pocket. Other than that, he’s a pretty good quarterback.” It also reminded readers that last season the Bills at one point opted for Nathan Peterman over Tyrod Taylor. GPA: 2.6
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