2018 NFL Draft: Top 50 big board
by Mitch Sanderson from on (#3NCBY)
The 2018 NFL Draft begins in less than a week with Round 1 kicking off Thursday night. With over 250 new players set to enter the pro ranks, theScore ranks the 50 best prospects in this year's crop.
Prospects: 1-10| Rank | Name | POS | School |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saquon Barkley | RB | Penn State |
| 2 | Quenton Nelson | G | Notre Dame |
| 3 | Bradley Chubb | EDGE | NC State |
| 4 | Josh Rosen | QB | UCLA |
| 5 | Minkah Fitzpatrick | DB | Alabama |
| 6 | Sam Darnold | QB | USC |
| 7 | Denzel Ward | CB | Ohio State |
| 8 | Derwin James | S | Florida State |
| 9 | Roquan Smith | LB | Georgia |
| 10 | Tremaine Edmunds | LB | Virginia Tech |
- Saquon Barkley and Quenton Nelson may fall in the draft because of the positions they play, but both have done all they could to be the most complete prospects in this year's class.
- Josh Rosen gets the slight nod over Sam Darnold because his technique and footwork make him better suited to succeed right away. Darnold is still a top talent, but the only honest knock against Rosen is his injury history.
- Minkah Fitzpatrick's versatility and experience playing both safety and cornerback gives him an edge as the best defensive back.
- Roquan Smith is a polished product and Tremaine Edmunds' athleticism makes him great - both linebackers are head and shoulders above the rest of the players at their position.
| Rank | Name | POS | School |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Baker Mayfield | QB | Oklahoma |
| 12 | Marcus Davenport | EDGE | UTSA |
| 13 | Calvin Ridley | WR | Alabama |
| 14 | Vita Vea | DT | Washington |
| 15 | Josh Jackson | CB | Iowa |
| 16 | Derrius Guice | RB | LSU |
| 17 | Jaire Alexander | CB | Louisville |
| 18 | Da'Ron Payne | DT | Alabama |
| 19 | Mike McGlinchey | OT | Notre Dame |
| 20 | Harold Landry | EDGE | Boston College |
| 21 | Leighton Vander Esch | LB | Boise State |
| 22 | Lamar Jackson | QB | Louisville |
| 23 | Mike Hughes | CB | UCF |
| 24 | Josh Allen | QB | Wyoming |
| 25 | Isaiah Wynn | G | Georgia |
- Some have concerns over Calvin Ridley's size at 6-feet, 189 pounds, but his route-running and natural hands will have a place in the league. He doesn't have the highest ceiling among this year's receivers, but he's the best option for a WR1.
- Vita Vea will almost certainly have a role as an early-down lineman in the NFL, but his pass-rushing skills are not as good as Da'Ron Payne's. Vea is the safest defensive tackle pick, though Payne's athletic ability gives him the higher ceiling.
- Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen both have the physical tools to be pro QBs, but they aren't as complete as the top three passers. Jackson is ahead of Allen due to his superior instincts and having more tools to work with; however, both should be considered projects.
- As a running back, it would be surprising to see Derrius Guice be the 16th player off the board. If he doesn't slip into the end of the first round, expect him to be one of the first picks of Day 2.
| Rank | Name | POS | School |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26 | Rashaan Evans | LB | Alabama |
| 27 | Sony Michel | RB | Georgia |
| 28 | Will Hernandez | G | UTEP |
| 29 | Maurice Hurst | DT | Michigan |
| 30 | Taven Bryan | DT | Florida |
| 31 | James Daniels | C | Iowa |
| 32 | Courtland Sutton | WR | SMU |
| 33 | Ronnie Harrison | S | Alabama |
| 34 | Connor Williams | OT | Texas |
| 35 | Isaiah Oliver | CB | Colorado |
| 36 | Hayden Hurst | TE | South Carolina |
| 37 | D.J. Moore | WR | Maryland |
| 38 | Ronald Jones II | RB | USC |
| 39 | Kolton Miller | OT | UCLA |
| 40 | Sam Hubbard | EDGE | Ohio State |
| 41 | James Washington | WR | Oklahoma State |
| 42 | Mike Gesicki | TE | Penn State |
| 43 | Orlando Brown | OT | Oklahoma |
| 44 | Donte Jackson | CB | LSU |
| 45 | Harrison Phillips | DT | Stanford |
| 46 | Billy Price | C | Ohio State |
| 47 | Dallas Goedert | TE | South Dakota State |
| 48 | Christian Kirk | WR | texas A&M |
| 49 | Carlton Davis | CB | Aubrun |
| 50 | Arden Key | EDGE | LSU |
- Maurice Hurst and Taven Bryan are both somewhat undersized as defensive tackles, and are better pass-rushers than run-stuffers. Both have questions surrounding how they'll hold up when asked to fill a rushing lane, which separates them from Vea and Payne.
- Courtland Sutton has enough upside to become the best receiver in the draft and will be able to contribute in the red zone immediately. Still, if he doesn't add some explosiveness to his game, he is a risk to bust.
- Wide receivers D.J. Moore, James Washington, and Christian Kirk are all better players with the ball in their hands than they are without it, and each would make solid options for a team's WR2.
- The top three tight ends - Hayden Hurst, Mike Gesicki, and Dallas Goedert - may end up pushing each other down the draft as there isn't a huge gap between them. All three have the athletic features to be quality pass-catchers.
- Orlando Brown took a huge fall after flunking all the athletic testings at the combine, but his tape is as good as any offensive tackle in this draft. His absurd measurements (6-foot-8 with 35-inch arms) likely hindered his combine, but he knows how to use them on the field.
- Arden Key looked like a surefire top-10 player about a year ago after recording 11 sacks and 12.5 tackles for a loss in 2016. However, after briefly quitting the team last spring and seeing his production drop off, there are questions about his commitment. His natural talent makes him worthy of a top-50 spot, but it's up to him to use those skills.
Just missed the cut: Oklahoma State QB Mason Rudolph, Georgia RB Nick Chubb, Oregon OT Tyrell Crosby, NC State DT B.J. Hill, Georgia LB Lorenzo Carter, Pitt OT Brian O'Neill, Wake Forest S Jessie Bates
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