2018 NFL Draft
Winners and Losers
WINNERS
Denver Broncos
First rounder Bradley Chubb (NC State) fell into their lap in the first round. He was the best pass rusher in this draft. He is a physical player with good size, athleticism and quickness off the edge. He will be a great complement to Von Miller. Second rounder WR Courtland Sutton(SMU) is a huge target and will be a weapon in the red-zone. He needs time to develop. Third rounder RB Royce Freeman (Oregon) has good size, a thick lower body, great vision and breaks his share of tackles. CB Isaac Yiadom (Boston College) was a solid pick in the third round. He is an instinctive corner with good length and long arms. Iowa LB Josey Jewell and Penn State WR DaeSean Hamilton were steals in the fourth round. Jewell is an ILB with outstanding instincts and is a good tackler. Hamilton is a bigger slot WR who is one of the best route runners in this draft. The Broncos had an outstanding draft.
Tampa Bay Bucs
Washington DT Vita Vea was the right pick for the Bucs at No.12. He is a huge DT with impressive athleticism. He is stout against the run and takes on double teams. Second rounder RB Ronald Jones from USC has great speed and homerun ability. Despite his size, he is a good inside runner with outstanding vision. Corners M.J. Stewart from UNC and Carlton Davis from Auburn were excellent picks in the second round. They are both physical corners who excel in press man coverage. Fifth rounder WR Justin Watson from Penn was a good value pick. He is a big receiver with excellent hands. He surprised everyone with his 4.4 speed and athleticism at the pro day.
Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals traded up from No.15 and only gave up a third and fifth round picks in this draft. They selected their QB of the future. UCLA QB Josh Rosen was the fourth QB to be drafted in the top 10. He is an accurate signal caller with great footwork and a quick release. He shows the ability to work through those progressions and throws with excellent anticipation. Second rounder WR Christian Kirk (Texas A&M) was excellent value. He is a playmaker. He is a slot WR with return ability. He shows good hands and runs precise routes. He has a knack for getting open. Third round C Mason Cole (Michigan) is an athletic player who has the versatility to play multiple positions.
LOSERS
New Orleans Saints
The Saints traded up from the 27th selection and a first rounder next year in order to get to this spot. First rounder Marcus Davenport(UTSA) has ideal size, athleticism and very good speed. He is raw as a pass rusher who needs to develop his hand usage. This was a major reach. Third rounder WR Tre’Quan Smith (UCF) is a big play threat with good ball skills. He was a pretty good selection. Other picks were underwhelming to say the least.
Oakland Raiders
John Gruden had a disappointing first draft in his return back to coaching. They addressed the trenches on both sides of the ball. UCLA OTKolton Miller was a major reach in the first round. I liked DT P.J. Hall (Sam Houston State), but I wouldn’t have drafted him in the second round. OT Brandon Parker (North Carolina A&T) in the third round was a four-year starter who never surrendered a sack during his college career. But he needs to improve his technique and is a developmental prospect. LSU third rounder Arden Key could be a homerun selection. But he is a boom or bust prospect. He is a pass rusher with great upside and athleticism, but major off the field concerns. DTMaurice Hurst (Michigan) might have been their best pick in the entire draft. He slipped in the draft because of a heart condition. But if he stays on the field, he is a penetrating DT with a quick first step.
Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs didn’t have a first round pick in this year’s draft. They drafted Breeland Speaks (Ole Miss) in the second round. They plan to use him at OLB in a 3-4 scheme. I see him as a backup at the next level. Fourth round pick safety Armani Watts (Texas A&M) is a playmaker with good ball skills, but he is a very inconsistent tackler. He is a liability against the run. A small school corner from Central ArkansasTremon Smith was best value in the sixth round. He has great speed and very good ball skills.
