2018 Draft Class Review (#32-21)

As we approach free agency, many of the players featured are from the 2018 draft class, as their 4-year contracts signed as rookies are expiring, minus the first-rounders who had their fifth-year options picked up (22 of the 32 picks were exercised, 9 declined, and 1 was released). Some players have already gotten extensions, while several others were released from the teams that drafted them, some caught on with other teams, others did not. Let’s take a look at each draft class from 2018 and see how each team fared four years later, in ranking form, starting with numbers 32-21.

Bold – on roster pre-free agency / pending free agent

Italics – different team

* Re-signed

** Fifth-year option

+ Pro Bowl / All-Pro

Round 3: S Justin Reid, OT Martinas Rankin, TE Jordan Akins

Round 4: WR Keke Coutee (Colts)

Round 6: DE Duke Ejiofor, TE Jordan Thomas (Lions), LB Peter Kalambayi

Round 7: CB Jermaine Kelly

Analysis: The worst draft of 2018 wasn’t just bad selections, it was what happened prior to the draft and how they got, rather lost, their draft selections. They traded their first round pick to move up in the 2017 draft to take Deshaun Watson, a move prior to 2021 was viewed as well worth it given that you got a stud franchise quarterback. Now fast forward to 2022, your “quarterback” is facing 22 counts of sexual assault still, and he refuses to be part of your team because your culture and front office is horrendous thanks to a chaplain. But that’s not the worst part of why a pick was lost, and it happens to be because of the quarterback before Watson.

The Texans traded their second round pick to the Browns just to get rid of Brock Osweiler because of that stupid big money contract they gave him in 2016 after only seven career starts.

Reid had such a promising start to his career, but his PFF grade just got worse and worse every year, and was the sixth-worst safety in 2021. He still has the potential to be a great player, maybe a change of scenery from a toxic culture is needed for the young safety.

Rankin was traded to the Chiefs in 2019 for Carlos Hyde, Akins is a solid tight end, but not a starter. Coutee was developing into a playmaker, but was cut before the 2021 season. The final four picks were special teamers and backups who eventually got cut.

Giving up picks that hurt them in the long run, all self-inflicted, combined with bad selections make this the worst draft class of 2018.

Round 1: QB Sam Darnold (Panthers)**

Round 3: DT Nathan Shepherd

Round 4: TE Chris Herndon (Vikings)

Round 6: CB Parry Nickerson (Vikings), DT Folorunso Fatukasi, RB Trenton Cannon (49ers)

Undrafted: QB John Wolford (Rams)

Analysis: On the draft night of 2018, after seeing Darnold fall to the Jets at No. 3, there was new life for Gang Green, but after three seasons of inconsistent play and lack of development, the Jets decided to ship their once thought of franchise quarterback to the Panthers. I don’t think the Jets gave Darnold his due, as he was surrounded by one of the worst rosters and the worst head coach in the league. I believe there is still a good quarterback in Darnold, just needs to be in the right situation.

The only remaining players from this draft on the team are the defensive linemen in Shepherd and Fatukasi. Shepherd never climbed the depth chart beyond a backup and occasional starter, but Fatukasi really took the leap in 2021, starting 15 games. He’s a top defensive free agent.

Herndon was once thought of as the next young stud tight end after a solid rookie season, but after a second season lost from suspension and injury, and poor play in 2020, he was traded to the Vikings in 2021 and did next to nothing.

Nickerson and Cannon have bounced around the league, and Wolford settled into a nice role as the Rams backup quarterback.

Round 1: DT Taven Bryan

Round 2: WR D.J. Chark+

Round 3: S Ronnie Harrison (Browns)

Round 4: OT Will Richardson

Round 6: QB Tanner Lee

Round 7: LB Leon Jacobs, P Logan Cooke*

Undrafted: WR Allen Lazard (Packers)

Analysis: The Jaguars whiffed on Bryan, playing in only 31% of defensive snaps in 2021 without a single start while falling down to the bottom of the depth chart. He’s a free agent and I highly doubt he’ll be brought back.

The sole reason why the Jaguars aren’t lower is because of Chark. A breakout season in 2019, a down year in 2020, then an injury-shortened 2021 put a damper on his potential, but he still has a chance to be a top WR in this league. He’s a top free agent in my rankings and should be well sought after, if not signed to an extension.

Harrison is an interesting player. Had a good first two seasons, was a little bit of a hothead, then got traded before the 2020 season to the Browns. He’s played well for Cleveland, and will be a top free agent.

Richardson is a career backup who has spot-started a few games. Lee was cut before the 2019 season and has been out of the league since. Jacobs was a special teamer before being released in 2021. Cooke has been a good punter, and earned a contract extension.

Round 1: OT Kolton Miller*

Round 2: DT P.J. Hall

Round 3: OT Brandon Parker, DE Arden Key (49ers)

Round 4: CB Nick Nelson (Colts)

Round 5: DT Maurice Hurst (49ers), P Johnny Townsend

Round 6: LB Azeem Victor

Round 7: WR Marcell Ateman

Analysis: The final draft of the Reggie McKenzie era was an interesting one. At the time, this was considered a very good draft. But as the years went on, it just got worse and worse.

Kolton Miller was drafted to be the successor to Donald Penn at left tackle, and he’s been the starter the past four years and played well enough to earn a contract extension. He’s probably the second best Raiders draft pick over the last four drafts, that’s how bad the drafting has been.

In the second round was P.J. Hall, who climbed up draft boards with 14 career blocked kicks in college, which contributed to the Sam Houston State’s rise. But his time quickly came to an end as he was cut in 2020 and signed with the Texans. Later in the fourth round was Nick Nelson, who had a ton of injuries and has spent time with the Colts.

Brandon Parker in the third round was a depth choice, but has started several games, including 12 in 2018 and 13 in 2021 primarily at right tackle. Who knows if he’s the Raiders long term answer if re-signed, but he’s been fine when he’s filled in.

The third and fifth rounds featured two defensive players who were very highly rated prospects who fell down draft boards for different reasons, and still have a very similar journey.

Defensive end Arden Key was once considered the number one overall prospect in college before a lackluster final season at LSU. He fell to the third round because of off the field issues, but that has never stopped the Raiders. After three injury-filled, poorly played first three seasons, he was cut on April 15, 2021, and then signed with the 49ers on April 23rd. Another player was also cut by the Raiders on April 15 and signed the 23rd, and that was fifth-round defensive tackle Maurice Hurst. Another first-round projected prospect, Hurst was diagnosed with a heart condition at the combine, and his draft stock plummeted because of it, despite the top 5 projection. The Raiders took him in the fifth round, and played pretty well for three seasons, but was cut and signed with the 49ers. Key had more success in San Francisco, playing all 17 games with 6.5 sacks, while Hurst only played in two games. Let’s see how both these players do in free agency.

As for the rest of the class, Townsend was the punter for one season and has been on five teams since. Victor didn’t make it past rookie training camp and spent time on a couple practice squads and has been out of the league since 2018. Ateman has spent the last four seasons on and off the Raiders practice squad.

Round 1: QB Josh Rosen (Falcons)

Round 2: WR Christian Kirk

Round 3: C Mason Cole (Vikings)

Round 4: RB Chase Edmonds

Round 6: CB Chris Campbell

Round 7: OT Korey Cunningham (Giants)

Analysis: This honestly isn’t that bad of a draft class, but the absolute failure of the Josh Rosen pick drops their ranking significantly. You could say that the Rosen pick made the team better in the long run. He “led” the team to a 3-13 record, gave them the first overall pick where they drafted his better replacement, and shipped him to the Dolphins for a second round pick. He’s since spent time with the Buccaneers and the 49ers and spent the 2021 season as the Falcons backup. I still think he deserves a real chance to be a starter, but I don’t know where that opportunity will be and when it will it come.

Christian Kirk has been a solid No. 2/3 receiver his entire career, and it’s only a matter of time where he could be a premier superstar. I doubt he’ll be back with the Cardinals, as there are plenty of receiver-needy teams who would pay top dollar for Kirk.

Mason Cole has had an interesting career. A 16-game starter as a rookie, became a backup in 2019, then a starter again 2020, traded in 2021, then started half the season for the Vikings.

Chase Edmonds is a guy who’s been the backup, never the starter, but when he plays, he’s electric. His numbers improved every year, and when given the starting job this year, he lived up to his potential, despite dealing with injuries and ultimately was passed by James Conner. I don’t know if he’ll sign elsewhere to be the starter, but I think he’ll go somewhere to be the compliment with the league turning to more running backs by committee.

Chris Campbell didn’t make it past rookie training camp and spent some time on practice squads, and Korey Cunningham lasted one year before being traded to the Patriots as a backup and spent time with the Giants.

Round 1: DT Daron Payne**

Round 2: RB Derrius Guice

Round 3: OT Geron Christian (Texans)

Round 4: S Troy Apke

Round 5: DT Tim Settle

Round 6: LB Shaun Dion Hamilton (Lions)

Round 7: CB Greg Stroman, WR Trey Quinn

Undrafted: CB Danny Johnson, WR Cam Sims

Analysis: The former Washington Redskins, now Commanders, had an interesting draft. Continuing the trend of first-round defensive lineman, drafting their second consecutive Alabama alum in Daron Payne. He’s been a very good player, a stout on the interior line who’s started every game the past two seasons. He’s on the fifth-year option, and is in line for a nice extension. His partner in crime Jonathan Allen got his deal, so if the Commanders want to retain their dominant defensive line, they got to pay up.

The real knock on Washington in this draft is Derrius Guice. Coming into the draft with character issues in the form of immaturity, laziness, dishonesty, and aggression lowered his draft stock after a successful college career at LSU. After being selected in the second round, he tore his ACL in the preseason and missed the year. Came back in 2019, tore his meniscus Week 1, missed eight games, had 129 yards and two touchdowns in Week 13, then hurt his knee and missed the rest of the season, and that’s all she wrote. He was cut before the 2020 season, then suspended six games for domestic violence. Guys with character issues rarely pan out in the NFL. You can’t act like a child in this business and get in trouble with the law. This risk alone drops this draft ranking significantly.

Geron Christian was a backup who had some starting experience before being cut in 2021 and latched on with the Texans and started eight games. Troy Apke was a semi-starter for two seasons, then converted to cornerback in 2021 (the first white cornerback since 2003) and played zero snaps on defense. He’s likely nothing more than a special teamer now.

Tim Settle is a rotational defensive tackle who will play 20-30% of snaps. He can be a full-time starter elsewhere, but that d-line is so deep. Shaun Dion Hamilton was a primary special teamer who was cut and claimed by the Lions this year. Greg Stroman was a starter as a rookie, missed time with injury, then cut and has spent time on practice squads.

Trey Quinn was Mr. Irrelevant. He flashed a bit for a couple seasons as a traditional short white slot receiver, but was cut in 2020 and has spent time with the Jaguars and Raiders.

Round 3: OT Joseph Noteboom

Round 4: C Brian Allen, DE John Franklin-Myers* (Jets)

Round 5: LB Micah Kiser (Broncos), LB Ogbonnia Okoronkwo

Round 6: RB John Kelly (Browns), G Jamil Demby, DT Sebastian Joseph-Day, DE Trevon Young

Round 7: LB Travin Howard, LB Justin Lawler (Titans)

Analysis: After trading their first-round pick for Brandin Cooks and their second-round pick for Sammy Watkins, the Rams were once again without top draft picks. The Rams were on a draft pick spending spree, trying to go all-in on a championship that inevitably led to a Super Bowl loss, the Rams could really only use their draft picks for depth, and several years later a lot of these players became starters.

Joseph Noteboom and Brian Allen are those players. Drafted as depth on the offensive line, Noteboom has started a bunch of games, sort of as the full-time starter, but has dealt with injuries. Allen was a starter in 2019, but missed half the season, then was a backup again in 2020 before being a starter again in 2021.

Also in the fourth round was John Franklin-Myers, who was cut before 2019 and latched on to the Jets, where he became a starter and earned a contract extension. In the fifth round, Micah Kiser lasted three seasons, was a starter for a bit, before being cut in 2021 and signed by the Broncos. Obo Okoronkwo is mainly a special teamer who’s got some defensive experience.

The key defensive players are Sebastian Joseph-Day, a three-year full-time starter and Travin Howard, who was a backup and special teamer before being a key starter in the playoffs, including the game-sealing interception in the NFC Championship game.

John Kelly is a career backup and practice squadder with the Rams and Browns. Same with Jamil Demby and Trevon Young. Justin Lawler had a ton of injuries and only really played one season in his four years with the Rams.

Round 1: S Terrell Edmunds

Round 2: WR James Washington

Round 3: QB Mason Rudolph*, OT Chukwuma Okorafor

Round 5: S Marcus Allen, RB Jaylen Samuels (Cardinals)

Round 7: DT Joshua Frazier

Analysis: The Steelers are normally very good drafters, but this was one of their worst.

What I feel like was more of a storyline-generating pick rather than anything, the Steelers selected Terrell Edmunds, brother of Tremaine, who was drafted earlier in the round by the Bills. They became the first set of brothers to be selected in the first round of a draft. He was projected to be a third or fourth rounder, and was the most surprising pick of the draft. He’s been a full-time starter, and has decent stats, but the advanced metrics don’t shine a bright light. PFF has him as a below average safety with decent cover skills but cannot play the run. He’s a free agent after getting his fifth-year option declined, so we’ll see what happens.

The Steelers continued their trend of Day 2 wide receiver with James Washington. After a breakout season in 2019 as the WR2, he fell down the depth chart the last two seasons after the emergence of Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool, also Day 2 WRs. I highly doubt he’s back in Pittsburgh after reports over the years of trade attempts and lack of play time, so he’ll test the market and I imagine he’ll be well sought after.

Mason Rudolph stinks. They re-signed him for this season, he might be your QB1 come Week 1, but he is not good. That season when he was the starter was abysmal, I hope he got better.

Okorafor has been the starting right tackle the past two seasons. He’s middle of the pack according to PFF, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he was brought back.

Jaylen Samuels is an interesting player as a versatile big running back who played several positions in college. He had decent production in a couple games, but never quite climbed the depth chart. He was released in 2021 and signed a futures deal with the Cardinals.

Marcus Allen is a special teamer who rarely plays on defense, and Joshua Frazier didn’t make it past rookie training camp.

Round 1: RB Rashaad Penny

Round 3: DE Rasheem Green

Round 4: TE Will Dissly

Round 5: LB Shaquem Griffin, CB Tre Flowers (Bengals), P Michael Dickson*+, OT Jamarco Jones

Round 6: DE Jacob Martin (Texans)

Round 7: QB Alex McGough

Undrafted: DT Poona Ford*

Analysis: The NFL career of Rashaad Penny is quite the roller coaster. He was a backup as a rookie behind Chris Carson, formed a nice tandem with Carson in 2019 before suffering a torn ACL late in the year. Missed almost all of 2020, and the first half of 2021. But the second half of 2021, in the final five games of the season, Penny was the best running back in the league. 671 of his 749 yards came in those five games, averaging 134 yards per game over that stretch. I have no idea what type of market he’ll have. He’s very injury prone, yet has fresh legs, it makes no sense.

Rasheem Green was a backup until this year, starting every game and finished second on the team in sacks. Will Dissly has flashed his potential for several seasons, exploding for massive fantasy games, but has made some bad injuries. We’ll see what his market is.

Four players were selected in the fifth round with a wide array of results.

One of the biggest players talked about pre-draft, Shaquem Griffin, had early-round talent, but he has an amputated left hand, which really dropped his draft stock. He ran a linebacker combine-record 4.38 40, and ended up reuniting with his brother Shaquill, now with the Jaguars, in the fifth round. He was then waived in 2020 and spent the season on the practice squad and active roster. He wasn’t re-signed after the season, then had a brief stint with the Dolphins in 2021 and is now a free agent. I really hope he gets another chance, he’s so talented and such a great story.

Later in the round was Tre Flowers, who was a starter for 3.5 seasons before getting released during the season and claimed by the Bengals. He’s a good corner, a big one at 6′-3″, with plenty of starting experience, so he’ll have a good market.

Michael Dickson became a star as a rookie…as a punter. With an unorthodox “drop kick” technique, he was a first-team All-Pro as a rookie and later earned a big contract extension. Jamarco Jones is a backup with a couple career spot starts.

Jacob Martin was traded to the Texans in the Jadeveon Clowney deal in 2019. He’s been steady, 3-4 sacks every season, and could be a hot commodity in free agency. Alex McGough spent his rookie season on the practice squad, and most of his career with the Texans and Jaguars.

The undrafted find was Poona Ford, a 5′-11″, 310 lb defensive tackle who’s been a full-time starter the last three seasons and signed an extension.

Round 2: DE Breeland Speaks

Round 3: DT Derrick Nnadi, LB Dorian O’Daniel

Round 4: S Armani Watts

Round 6: CB Tremon Smith (Texans)*, DT/G Kahlil McKenzie (Ravens)

Undrafted: RB Darrel Williams, LB Ben Niemann, WR Byron Pringle

Analysis: A pretty boring draft class to be honest. They were without a first-round pick after trading up in the previous draft to take a guy named Patrick Mahomes. We’ll see how that works out.

Nnadi is the only notable player in this class that panned out. He’s been their starting defensive/nose tackle every year and a premier run stuffer. He’ll be a top free agent target this year.

Speaks lasted two seasons and has been on five different teams and four practice squads since. O’Daniel and Watts are depth guys who only play on special teams.

Smith is a stud kick returner, earning PFWA All-Rookie honors. He was cut in 2019, bounced around a bit, before landing with the Texans in 2021 and got an extension. McKenzie lasted one season, and has bounced around the league while changing positions back and forth on opposite sides of the ball.

The real finds from the “class” are the undrafted signings. Williams made the roster as a depth guy who turned himself into a reliable spot starter, and seemingly outplayed his former LSU teammate Clyde Edwards-Helaire in 2021. Similar story with Niemann who made the roster for depth, then emerged as a starter. Pringle had an unexpected breakout in 2021 after being a practice squadder/special teamer his previous three seasons.

Round 1: OT Isaiah Wynn**, RB Sony Michel (Rams)

Round 2: CB Duke Dawson

Round 5: LB Ja’Whaun Bentley

Round 6: LB Christian Sam, WR Braxton Berrios (Jets)+

Round 7: QB Danny Etling (Packers), CB Keion Crossen (Giants), TE Ryan Izzo (Titans)

Undrafted: CB J.C. Jackson+, FB Jakob Johnson, P Corey Bojorquez (Packers)

Analysis: One of Belichick’s worst draft classes featured two first-round picks, acquiring the second first in the Brandin Cooks-Rams trade, and losing the third-round pick in the Trent Brown-49ers trade and the fourth in the Eric Rowe-Eagle trade.

Following the departure of LT Nate Solder, Patriots drafted Isaiah Wynn, who many viewed as an NFL guard. But he became the starting left tackle, and has played ok. He’s had great seasons, and horrible seasons. He’ll have another season of evaluation to see if he’s the long term answer.

In a surprising move, the Patriots kept the other first rounder and selected a running back. Sony Michel ultimately was the wrong Georgia running back to be drafted as Nick Chubb is a superstar for the Browns. Injury issues really derailed Michel, but he had a couple nice games, but was very inconsistent. He was shipped to the Rams before this past season and got another Super Bowl ring.

Duke Dawson was yet another second-round defensive back to flame out with the Patriots, joining a long list that will get even longer. He was traded to the Broncos before the 2019 season.

Ja’Whaun Bentley is the best player in this class. Was a starter as a rookie before a season-ending injury, fell down the depth chart in 2019, but has been a full-time starter the past two seasons.

Christian Sam lasted one year on IR before being released and has been on a couple practice squads and hasn’t been in the NFL for two years. Berrios was cut after one season, but found massive success with the Jets. Etling has bounced around the league his entire career. Crossen has been traded twice, from the Patriots to the Texans in 2019, then to the Giants in 2021 and has been a solid special teamer. Izzo was a starter in 2020 because someone had to, and was traded to the Texans in 2021 and bounced around last season.

If you count undrafteds as part of the class, J.C. Jackson is a superstar and is gonna make bank this offseason, whether with the Patriots or likely elsewhere. Jakob Johnson was part of the International Player Pathway Program before being signed to the active roster and has been the starting fullback for the past several seasons.

Round 1: DE Marcus Davenport**

Round 3: WR Tre’Quan Smith

Round 4: OT Rick Leonard (Falcons)

Round 5: S Natrell Jamerson (Raiders)

Round 6: CB Kamrin Moore, RB Boston Scott (Eagles)

Round 7: C Will Clapp

Undrafted: S J.T. Gray*+

Analysis: The big trade up of the draft to move up from 27 to 14, while giving the next year’s first-round pick, was for pass rusher Marcus Davenport. He’s been fine in his first four years, average production, but not the standard for a first-rounder. He had a mini-breakout this year with 9.0 sacks through 11 games, but other than that he’s still not the top guy, playing in roughly 60% of snaps. He’s on the fifth-year option, so he gets one more season to prove himself and cash in.

Tre’Quan Smith has been an ok No. 2/3 receiver, but he has failed to take the leap beyond that, and its not due to lack of opportunity. The Saints have needed a WR2 to Michael Thomas for years, and when Thomas missed the last two seasons, no one stepped up in his place, and Smith was primed to do that, but didn’t. That’s disappointing, several guys throughout the league would’ve loved that opportunity. He’s had fine production, hovering around 400 yards each year, so he’ll have a cheap market.

Rick Leonard didn’t make it out of rookie training camp and has bounced around the league on six different practice squads before finally playing his first game at the end of this year. Same can be said for Natrell Jamerson, who’s bounced around the league on and off practice squads. Kamrin Moore also was cut after rookie training camp, was claimed by the Giants, then cut.

Boston Scott was ALSO cut after rookie training camp, that’s four from this class cut, and signed to the practice squad. He was signed by the Eagles later in the year and has been very good for them as a rotational back and spot starter.

Will Clapp is a career backup with a couple spot starts and has been on and off the practice squad the past two seasons.

Fun fact: the Saints traded their second round pick to get a third round pick in 2017 to take Alvin Kamara.