2018 NFL Draft QB’s: Where Will the Top Guys Land?
With the 2018 NFL draft coming at us full speed teams are scrambling to figure out who their guy is going to be.This draft is loaded with QB prospects and that may be the most daunting task for a team, finding their franchise face. So many options, so many questions, Does he have the arm strength? Does he have the IQ? Is he a leader? over and over teams ask every question for every prospect. Well, that’s where we come in. We’ve compiled a list of the best fit for each QB prospect, now this may not be where they land but each of these QB’s and teams go hand in hand and would have a great journey ahead of them.
Sam Darnold to the Cleveland Browns
There has been silence from Cleveland since Day 1 but I believe Darnold is their man in the 2018 NFL Draft. Since Cleveland has pick No.1 they will most likely scoop him up and he will make a great pick for them. When you look at Darnold’s game, he obviously has some holes but that won’t run Cleveland off. His mechanics definitely are awaiting a course at the NFL level and he does struggle in the pocket sometimes but that will all be fine. The Browns did improve their roster significantly this offseason but they aren’t in “win now” mode and that plays a huge factor in the decision.
Darnold’s best development strategy most likely lends itself to having a few weeks, if not months, too redshirt. With Tyrod Taylor in the locker room Darnold can sit back and learn in the beginning and the Browns wouldn’t be throwing away another season with Taylor being a passable starter. This can also let the Browns figure out some other weaknesses and possibly make some moves to give Darnold the best team around him they can get.
Once Darnold tweaks his mechanics and develops as a pocket passer, he’s going to be a franchise type of QB. The question haunting Browns fans isn’t what he could be, its if the team can get him there.
Josh Allen to the New York Giants
I know what you’re thinking “But Saquon is in the 2018 NFL Draft” and I understand that truly I do but many fans don’t see the spot Dave Gettleman is in. There are two facts that everyone has to come to terms with, Barkley is not an every down back and the Giants do not have a roster where drafting him makes them a contender. This being said, no one will make that difference. Even by Dave Gettleman’s own admission missing a Qb in this position is a “five-year mistake” his words, not mine.
Allen is a wild cannon on the field but he might have the highest ceiling of all the prospects in this draft. With Eli Manning still at the helm, he has a perfect mentor to sit behind for a season or two and learn. If the Giants truly want to win in the future drafting a Qb in this draft, while you have this pick, is the way to go. It sets them up for the future, there are a ton of stud running backs in this draft to get later, and they really won’t win now in any scenario make the smart move.
Baker Mayfield to the New York Jets
This match was made to be in football heaven. The Jets GM spent the first day of free agency in Oklahoma and the team had nothing but great things to say after their dinner a few days ago. With these reports and Baker’s, personality all signs point to Mayfield heading to New York.
On the actual football side of things, the kid is not too shabby. Baker at his best is pretty darn impressive, he throws with a rhythm and at a tempo that NFL teams fall in love with. Once in a structured offense, he will thrive in the NFL. He does struggle pretty heavily under pressure and has some issues with in-the-pocket movement but overall has shown nothing but promise.
The big knock on Baker is his size and how his game will transition to the NFL. With a team like the Jets, he won’t be expected to win right away and will have a good coaching staff to work with. I think if Baker lands in the right situation with the right coach he can be a Russel Wilson level of player and Todd Bowles is as good as any for this QB. There has just been to much chatter about Baker in New York to not think the Jets love him and I believe he loves the Jets.
Josh Rosen to the Buffalo Bills
We have the first trade of the 2018 NFL Draft.
Buffalo is dying to get a QB at the top of this draft even if it’s not in the top 3. I think if Rosen is available at the fifth spot he is just too good to not take with that pick. Rosen doesn’t need a structure as much as a Mayfield or Darnold but is also not a project like Josh Allen. Many think Rosen is the best pure passer in the 2018 NFL Draft and I’m inclined to agree.
Rosen is not going to take as much time developing as other prospects in his class and has shown very few holes in his game. With the long line of quarterbacks in recent years, Buffalo needs a sure-fire talent who is going to impress right off the bat, at least a little. If the Bills draft Rosen there won’t be a ton of pressure to win right away but Rosen can do enough to satisfy the fan base and front office enough to let them focus on the rest of the roster and feel good about their foundation. They don’t want another Tyrod Taylor situation, unsure if he is the guy or not and stuck in mediocrity.
The main questions that plague Rosen is his personality. Many people feel like he thinks he’s “smarter then everyone” and there is concern about his love for the game. Well, Rosen did a spot on FS1’s The Herd with Colin Cowherd and he seemed to have a lot to say about that, claiming he wanted to be “The G.o.a.t.” and talking about how he needs a coach that will push him to be better. I think the Bills mafia has their sights set on this guy as their new franchise QB.
Lamar Jackson to the Arizona Cardinals
Now whether I agree with it or not Lamar Jackson is going under these other QB’s in the 2018 NFL Draft. There are too many questions with him and teams are scared of his play style but Arizona doesn’t care about that. All they see is this kids talent and they are right to be blinded by it. Lamar Jackson has the most physical talent of any Qb in this draft.
Jackson may struggle with his arm sometimes and may lack some fundamental skills but this kid is good. The few knocks on him come from his style of play. Sometimes his helmet is too active, he tucks and runs to early and sometimes he can be inaccurate in the pocket. What Jackson needs is a strong hand to teach him how to use his skill set in the NFL and a coach that will utilize him properly.(see Bill O’Brien, Deshaun Watson) Arizona has a strong front office and a history of good coaching and that’s exactly what Jackson needs.
This team can take Jackson to a new level and the whole franchise up a notch if they develop him the right way and surround him with a team that plays to his strengths. If they try to force him out of his style it will fall apart but Arizona is not dumb and they know this guy can be special.
