Of the tremendous talent in this year's draft, which rookies take the cake for most talented?
There’s no doubt that the 2018 draft class was chock full of remarkable talent at almost every position, some of which have changed the future for numerous franchises. 2018 could quite possibly be a historic one with many rooks flashing some serious potential. Here's a top 10 list of this year's biggest draft successes.
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1st Pick- Baker Mayfield:
For once the Browns made the right choice in drafting a QB (shout out to Manziel, Weeden, and Quinn). In picking Oklahoma’s "vertically-challenged" gunslinger, the Browns secured not only a leader with moxy and personality but a well-seasoned QB that can make all the throws asked of him. Confidence in his throws, the ability to escape the pocket and pinpoint accuracy make Mayfield the spitting image of Russel Wilson (for a more in-depth analysis, check out my article about the future of the Browns by clicking here). Mayfield hasn’t even reached his full potential (despite surpassing the rookie TD record), an intimidating thought to many opposing teams and especially to those that doubted him.
2nd Pick- Saquon Barkley
I’m convinced Saquon Barkley is not human, rather he was made in a lab by football specialists who specially engineered him to tear up defenses. And that’s exactly what he did, accruing over 2,000 scrimmage yards and 15 TDs, all while being led by a “substandard” (to say the least) offensive line. Barkley’s uncanny abilities, which include insane agility, remarkable power and the hands of a receiver, are all reminiscent of the legendary Barry Sanders. Barkley is a godsend to the Giants (and fantasy owners) and, in my opinion, will be the premier back in the NFL in a few short years.
3rd Pick- Darius Leonard
Arguably the best defensive pick in the draft and an absolute steal in being the 4th linebacker taken. Leonard possesses blazing sideline to sideline speed along with the IQ of a league veteran; as he stood at the forefront of a Colts defense that ranked 8th against the run and was an essential factor in their 9-1 run. Leonard’s rookie campaign, earning him 1st team All-Pro honors, is only the tip of the iceberg as he will continue to haunt offenses for years to come.
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4th Pick- Derwin James
Two words are all that's needed to describe the Chargers' phenom of a rookie: GAME CHANGER. James is a ball magnet, both as a bone-crushing tackler and a nimble ball hawk, giving the term "sideline to sideline" a totally new meaning. From day 1, Derwin was seen as the second coming of Troy Polamalu, a notion has been completely true thus far. Polamalu's ability as a hybrid is seen in Derwin, as he is able to expertly play in both the box and secondary. James has been a headache for offensive coordinators and will remain a thorn in the side of every quarterback that has to challenge the LA secondary for a long time.
The Cowboys were excited to pick the Boise State product, and for good reason (though his name sounds like that of a dark medieval ruler). Vander Esch has it all: imposing size, freaky athleticism, the ability to pick apart run lanes and even play coverage against some of the league’s best. Since getting the start, Vander Esch and Jaylon Smith have combined to be the league’s premiere linebacker duo, leading the ‘Boys’ scrappy defense to a playoff appearance and the 5th overall rank against the run. Judging from just his first year in the league, Vander Esch, along with his stellar young counterparts, will cause nightmares for opposing offenses for years to come.
6th Pick- Bradley Chubb
Let us take a moment of silence for all the offensive tackles that have to play the Broncos this year. I truly feel sorry for whoever has to line up against Von Miller and the monstrosity they call Bradley. Chubb’s frame (a hulking 280 lbs of lean muscle), thunderous power and unnerving speed have blown apart whole offenses who have no answer on stopping him. His 12 sacks (breaking a franchise record held by Von Miller) lead all rookies and is merely a shred of his full potential. I believe Chubb to be a young JJ Watt, a heavy-handed, one-man-wrecking crew that'll have QBs waking up in cold sweats the night before playing this guy.
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7th Pick- Quenton Nelson
Drafting an offensive lineman in the first round is neither a "sexy" nor a bold move, it's only done out of pure necessity by teams that lack true talent in the trenches. That matter was resolved for the Colts when they submitted Quenton Nelson's name on draft night, securing not only a Pro-Bowler and an All-Pro player, but the future of their offensive line. Nelson has elevated his counterparts to form the most efficient and successful blocking corp in the NFL, allowing the least amount of sacks in the league with just 18 (in 2017 they had allowed 56, the most in the NFL!). Nelson is a juggernaut in run blocking, propelling defenders left and right to create massive run lanes. In pass block, the man is an absolute boulder, refusing to budge an inch, even when opposing the league's top rushers. Nelson is the epitome of a player that elevates his comrades and was a key factor in the Colts' playoff campaign.
8th Pick- Phillip Lindsay
The ABSOLUTE steal of the draft. Period. The Broncos didn’t even draft the guy, he literally appeared out of nowhere on their doorstep. Lindsay has defied the odds to become one of the NFL’s most enticing backs to watch; with electrifying cuts, blazing fast speeds and knack for finding the open lane, Phillip has set himself apart and earned a trip to the Pro Bowl. After fighting his way to the top of the roster, Lindsay showcased his cat-like quickness and phenomenal receiving ability with a historic rookie campaign that amassed over 1,200 scrimmage yards and 10 TDs (not bad for an undrafted rookie who tore his ACL his senior year). Lindsay is just warming up, and something tells me he’ll be a problem for defenses for a long time to come.
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Denzel Ward's play style, composure, and instincts in no way emulate that of a rookie, rather he plays with the brilliance of a 10-year vet. Ward was seriously in the conversation for rookie of the year early in the season until injuries reduced his playtime. His knack for tracking the ball and playing air-tight coverage make him the leader of the Browns young secondary and a force to be reckoned with any time he lines up in the slot. Ward's promise is exceptional; as the Browns franchise finally heads in the right direction, you can expect Ward to play a hand in the blossoming of a formidable defense.
10th Pick- Nick Chubb
Clearly, the Chubb family is doing something different in raising their children, as they have not one, but two phenomenal rookies enter the league in 2018. Nick Chubb, not to be outdone by his cousin, Bradley, is a quick-witted, nimble runner of the ball, making up a sizeable portion of the Browns' offensive success. The Browns thrifted away Carlos Hyde midseason because of their confidence in Chubb, which has since proven true. Chubb smashed the Browns' rookie rushing record, formerly held by Jim Brown and Trent Richardson, occasionally flashing some superstar potential. He averaged over 5 yards per carry, a stat that was certainly boosted by his monster, 176-yard performance against Atlanta in week 10. Chubb has already been a major element in the Browns' massive turn-around, and we haven't even seen his full capacity!
2018 will be a draft to remember as a number of young, wildly talented rookies is changing the way the game is played, with the ceiling being astoundingly high for this year's class. It's mesmerizing seeing the electric play styles and dynamic abilities of these new age athletes, I certainly can't wait to see what 2019 has in store for the class of 2018!
Does your top 10 match mine? Who would you have higher or lower? Drop a comment and share!
DISCLAIMER: I AM IN NO WAY AFFILIATED WITH THE NFL AND NEITHER DO I OWN ANY OF THE IMAGES.
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