DALLAS, TX

 

 

 

There were five QB’s taken in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft last night. The one I kept my eyes on was Lamar Jackson. After around the 10th pick I began to wonder where he’d be taken, for awhile I started to wonder if he’d even be drafted in the first round at all. It took a long time, but I finally got the answer to my question when the Philadelphia Eagles traded the 32nd pick in the 1st round to the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens selected the 2016 Heisman trophy winner with the final pick of the 1st round. Colleges, analyst, and even sometimes fans, seem to put too much emphasis on draft position in my opinion. How many times have we seen players who were picked in the 2nd and 3rd round go on to be superstar players, or at the very least, impact players? And how many times have we seen top 10 picks go on to become complete busts, career bench players, or short-career players? While Lamar Jackson may be feeling disappointment, I think that he just might be stepping into the perfect opportunity in Baltimore. He gets to learn behind starting QB Joe Flacco. Lamar Jackson will have at least a full season to learn the ins and outs of the NFL, whereas some of those top 10 picks will be thrown directly into the fire, where they will really get to see the HUGE difference between college and the NFL first hand. Learning that you’re not even an average NFL player can have an everlasting effect on a young players’ mentality. He may never recover from the shock. Anyway, congratulations to all of the 2018 first round draftees. Here’s a list of first round picks:

 

 

 

  1. BAKER MAYFIELD, QB – Cleveland Browns
  2. SAQUON BARKLEY, RB – New York Giants
  3. SAM DARNOLD, QB – New York Jets
  4. DENZEL WARD, CB – Cleveland Browns
  5. BRADLEY CHUBB, DE – Denver Broncos
  6. QUENTON NELSON, OG – Baltimore Ravens
  7. JOSH ALLEN, QB – Buffalo Bills
  8. ROQUAN SMITH, LB – Chicago Bears
  9. MIKE MCGLINCHEY, OT – San Francisco 49ers
  10. JOSH ROSEN, QB- Arizona Cardinals
  11. MINKAH FITZPATRICK, S – Miami Dolphins
  12. VITA VEA, DL – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  13. DaRON PAYNE, DL – Washington Redskins
  14. MARCUS DAVENPORT, DE – New Orleans Saints
  15. KOLTON MILLER, OT – Oakland Raiders
  16. TREMAINE EDMUNDS, LB – Buffalo Bills
  17. DEWIN JAMES, S – San Diego Chargers (oops) Los Angeles Chargers
  18. JAIRE ALEXANDER, CB – Green Bay Packers
  19. LEIGHTON VANDER ESCH, LB – DALLAS COWBOYS
  20. FRANK RAGNOW, C – Detroit Lions
  21. BILLY PRICE, C – Cincinnati Bengals
  22. RASHAAN EVANS, LB – TENNESSEE TITANS
  23. ISIAH WYNN, OG – New England Patriots
  24. DJ MOORE, WR – CAROLINA PANTHERS
  25. HAYDEN HURST, TE – Baltimore Ravens
  26. CALVIN RIDLEY, WR – Atlanta Falcons
  27. RASHAAD PENNY, RB – Seattle Seahawks
  28. TERRELL EDMUNDS, S – Pittsburgh Steelers
  29. TAVEN BRYAN, DL – Jacksonville Jaguars
  30. MIKE HUGHES, CB – Minnesota Vikings
  31. SONY MICHEL, RB – New England Patriots
  32. LAMAR JACKSON, QB – Baltimore Ravens