The Best NFL Draft Prospects

The collective eyes of the football world will turn at AT&T Stadium Thursday night for the 2018 NFL Draft. This year’s draft promises to be an interesting one, featuring several impact players on both sides of the ball—including a quarterback class that could be the best since the Manning-Rivers-Roethlisberger class of 2004.

The Class of 2018 features four quarterbacks—Sam Darnold, Josh Rosen, Josh Allen, and Baker Mayfield—who are practically guaranteed to go early in the first round. This should come as exciting news for the Browns and the Jets, two teams with top three picks who are both looking to end their respective decades-long searches for a franchise quarterback.

But the quarterbacks aren’t the only thing to look forward to in this year’s draft. The Class of 2018 also features the best running back prospect in at least a decade, an elite pass rusher, and two top-tier defensive backs, along with a litany of other potential difference makers. It’s one of the most stacked classes in quite some time, and it’s sure to be a night in which many teams lay the foundation for their future dominance.

There’s no question that Thursday will be an important night for all 32 teams drafting, but it’s a particularly important night for the Browns. Cleveland has as great a chance as they’ve had since re-entering the league in 1999 to make us forget that infamous quarterback jersey. The Browns also have a chance to find another young star with the fourth overall pick, which should have no shortage of solid choices. In addition to this, the Browns also have three second rounders to use Friday night, which could presumably provide for ammunition to trade up in the draft.

Then again, these are the Browns that we’re talking about. So there’s always a chance they’ll pass up on a future star in favor of a future bust. With this in mind, let’s look at the 10 best NFL Draft prospects this year.

10. Denzel Ward

Denzel Ward might be the most athletic player available in this draft. The former Ohio State Buckeye lit up the NFL Combine in February; his 4.32 40-yard dash time was tied for the best of any player there. Ward also posted a Combine-best 136-inch broad jump, along with a spectacular 39-inch vertical.

At Ohio State, Ward was considered one of the best cover corners. He was a consensus All American last season, and his 15 passes defensed were tied for the eighth-most in college football, despite him missing three games. Ward’s athleticism and cover ability could make him a top 10 pick on Thursday night.

9. Roquan Smith

Former Georgia linebacker Roquan Smith was a driving force behind the Bulldogs’ run to the national championship game last season. Last year, Smith earned the Butkus Award as college football’s top linebacker in addition to the SEC Defensive Player of the Year award.

Smith has the ability to both stop the run and rush the passer. He navigates through the field extremely well, and can stick with an opponent until putting his play to an end. Teams like the 49ers, Dolphins, and Redskins could be in the market for Smith, as all three could use some help on defense.

8. Baker Mayfield

The reigning Heisman Trophy winner is often cited as the most accurate quarterback in the draft. Mayfield is also easily the most experienced and accomplished college quarterback in this year’s class as well; he took Oklahoma to the College Football Playoff twice in three seasons as the Sooners’ starter. He went 33-6 overall with them, and threw for 117 touchdowns against just 20 interceptions, while also rushing for 18 touchdowns in three years.

But there are issues and concerns surrounding Mayfield. He was arrested last year, and pleaded guilty to public intoxication, disorderly conduct, and fleeing. Mayfield also had a disciplinary issue this season when he was briefly benched for grabbing his crotch during a game against Kansas.

This kind of behavior could perhaps be excused at another position, but it’s hard to win with a quarterback who has character issues. This kind of behavior often gets Mayfield compared to fellow Heisman winner Johnny Manziel.

7. Minkah Fitzpatrick

It’s not an NFL Draft until someone from Alabama gets taken in the first round. And this year, defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick is the Crimson Tide’s No. 1 eligible player.

Fitzpatrick was a central part of the school’s national championship teams in 2015 and 2017, and projects to be a top 10 pick. He took home the Jim Thorpe Award last season as college football’s top defensive back, and earned All-American honors in each of the last two years. At the combine, Fitzpatrick also demonstrated solid measurables, with a 4.46 40-yard dash time and a 33-inch vertical. ‘Bama has had at least one first-rounder in every draft since 2009, and it doesn’t look like that streak is about to end this year.

6. Josh Allen

Josh Allen is the consummate project player. He is definitely not ready to be a Week 1 starter, but his 6’5”, 223 pound frame, and cannon-caliber arm strength give him perhaps more potential than any other quarterback in the draft. The Montana product has drawn some comparisons to Carson Wentz for his size, passing ability, and small-school roots. Montana offensive coordinator Brent Vigen coached both players in college, and he largely agrees with the comparison.

Allen, however, struggled with accuracy in college: He completed just 56.2 percent of his passes with Montana. Allen also didn’t exactly light up the stat sheet as a college quarterback: He threw for just 1,812 yards and 16 touchdowns in 11 games last season. That’s a little troubling considering that he’s playing against Mountain West competition.

Regardless, Allen’s upside could make him an asset for a team willing to wait on him for a year or two. He’s a gamble—and he’ll take some coaching—but his size and arm strength could very well make drafting Josh Allen worth it.

5. Quenton Nelson

The former Notre Dame guard is the consensus best offensive lineman in the draft. He was a unanimous All-American last season, and his 35 bench press reps at the NFL Combine were the second-most by any offensive lineman this year. Offensive linemen may not sell season tickets or jerseys, but building a solid O-line is pivotal to building a successful offense, as the Cowboys have showed us.

Nelson could help a team like the Colts, who have been struggling to protect Andrew Luck on the offensive line for years. Offensive line will definitely be an area of need for them at No. 6, as will…Well, just about every position not occupied by Luck or T.Y. Hilton.

4. Josh Rosen

Rosen has been UCLA’s starter since he was a true freshman in 2015, and has thrown for 9,340 yards, 59 touchdowns, and 26 interceptions in 30 career college games. He did very well in college, and his size, arm strength, accuracy, and clean mechanics give reason to believe that he could do the same at the next level as well.

While Rosen has many fans, it appears that his former college coach might not be one of them. Jim Mora, who coached Rosen from 2015 until he was fired in 2017, said that Rosen was a “millennial” who "needs to be challenged intellectually so he doesn’t get bored.’’ But Mora also praised Rosen’s talent, and said that he could be a star in the NFL.

Rosen’s highlight reel shows a consummate pocket passer, one who can make all of the throws and make them with precision. It wouldn’t be surprising at all to see him be taken in the top five, particularly by quarterback-needy teams like the Giants, Jets, or Broncos.

3. Bradley Chubb

Current ESPN analyst and former NFL executive Louis Riddick said that Bradley Chubb is an even better prospect than Myles Garrett, last year’s No. 1 overall pick. And when you look at the tape on Chubb, it’s not hard to see why: He consistently pummeled offensive linemen while he was at NC State, and was able to find the quarterback with ease. Chubb recorded 10 sacks in each of the last two seasons, and his 26 tackles for loss were second-best in the entire NCAA last year.

Chubb is a shoe-in to be taken in the top 10, and could even go in the top five depending on how many quarterback-hungry teams end up trading into that part of the draft. It would be interesting to see the Browns pair him up with Garrett on the defensive line, which could create a game-planning nightmare for opposing offensive coordinators.

2. Sam Darnold

Sam Darnold was the most talked-about quarterback at the Combine…Last season. As a freshman.

Darnold’s breakout campaign as a freshman in 2016 turned heads all over the country, as he led USC to a Rose Bowl victory. After taking over as the starter in the fourth game of the season, Darnold went 9-1, and threw for 2,950 yards, 29 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. He could have probably gone No. 1 overall had he been draft eligible last season. That’s how good he is.

Despite the fact that Darnold didn’t play quite as well this season, he’ll still be the favorite to be taken No. 1 overall by the Browns. His 6’4”, 220 pound frame combined with his arm strength, accuracy, and pocket poise all make him the best quarterback prospect in the draft.

Going to Cleveland is obviously a daunting task for any quarterback—let alone a rookie. But Cleveland is in as good a position as it has been in quite some time, with two first rounders, three second rounders, a reliable starting quarterback in Tyrod Taylor, and a wide receiver corps that could include Pro Bowlers Jarvis Landry and Josh Gordon. If he’s given time to develop, Darnold could be the Browns’ first true franchise quarterback since Bernie Kosar in the 80s.

1. Saquon Barkley

One NFL executive said that Saquon Barkley is the best running back prospect of the last decade. Sean Payton said he’s the best running back prospect he’s seen in 25 years. NFL Network’s Matt Miller said he’s the best running back he’s ever seen.

Regardless of how long it’s been, Saquon Barkley is easily the best running back prospect we’ve seen in a long time. The Penn State product is one of the rare players who could be a Pro Bowl level player the day he steps on the field. He runs a 4.40 40, is elusive as David Blaine, and breaks tackles like a bulldozer. This combination of speed, strength, and NFL readiness makes Barkley a potential Hall of Fame talent—and someone who will be very tempting for teams in the top five.

If Barkley goes in the top two, he’ll be the first running back since Reggie Bush in 2006 to be taken that high. And when it’s all said and done, Barkley could accomplish a lot more firsts for running backs.