2018 NFL Draft: Six Thoughts Following Easter Sunday

As the NFL Draft approaches, now less than a month away, I've had different thoughts in following the various takes that happen daily related to the draft. With the initial onslaught of free agency now passed, as well as other notable transactions across the league have taken place and providing a clearer picture of where each team stand's currently, I find now to be a good time to pause and take a look at some things which figure to be of effect for the 2018 NFL Draft. 

• Don't Forget About The Offensive Line

As big-named position players are both signed and released, as well as some other notable players being traded, while other transactions are made to position teams to select quarterbacks of the future who are yet to be on their roster, it can be easy to forget about the impact and importance of the offensive line. Play in recent years across the five different positions that comprise the offensive line (center, left and right guard/tackle) has been described as the worse in recent, if not distant, memory. Combine that with a reduction in the time coaches can interact with players, both at and off the site of the team's facility, as stipulated in the latest NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement, the epidemic of subpar offensive line play doesn't figure to much better any time soon. That which may be a large part of the reason the quality of play at the spot has suffered to begin with. As many teams across the league look for help across their offensive line, often at multiple spots, coupled with what is considered to be a strong offensive line class in this upcoming draft, there figure to be a decent number of 300 plus pound men who will soon become millionaires.



Like Notre Dame guard Quenton Nelson, whose considered by some as the top overall prospect in this year's draft regardless of position, the likelihood a few offensive lineman may fall in the draft as a result of teams prioritizing other positions of more or high value, such as quarterback, edge rusher, and cornerback, is possible. Still, as many as eight offensive lineman could be potentially be selected in the first round, 32 picks in total, while likely no less than five will be taken. Aside from Quenton Nelson, of those offensive line prospects who will likely receive the most consideration to be selected in the first round are James Daniels, Billy Price, Will Hernandez, Martinas Rankin, Mike McGlinchey, Kolton Miller, Brian O'Neill, Connor Williams, Tyrell Crosby, and Chukwuma Okorafor. 

• Have You Seen Shaquem?

Continuing to put his doubters to rest, Shaquem Griffin put forth an excellent performance at the NFL Scouting Combine last month when he ran the fastest recorded 40 yard dash time for a linebacker in the history of the event. At the time of the Senior Bowl in late January, Griffin hadn't yet even been extended an invitation to the NFL Scouting Combine, receiving one in the weeks leading up to the event as one of the final recipients to be garner one. Similar to the process of his invite to the combine, Griffin was initially overlooked during his career at the University of Central Florida, having played sparingly during his first couple of seasons while the coaching staff prioritized his twin brother, Shaquill. Shaquem emerged in 2016 under a new coaching staff, winning American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year, while playing alongside his brother, a cornerback, who would go on to be selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft. Though he didn't repeat as the AAC Defensive Player of the Year, Shaquem had another outstanding season in 2017, helping lead UCF to an undefeated season, defeating Auburn in the Sugar Bowl — the team who gave Alabama it's only loss. In a game full of prospects on both teams who'll be future NFL players, Griffin shined with his outstanding performance, flying all over the field making plays from sideline-to-sideline, finishing with a game-high 12 tackles, 3.5 for loss, and 1.5 sacks. With his continued ascension and rise as a prospect, less should be paid attention to his "handicap" which he is quick to dismiss as a disadvantage, and more should be focused on his ability and productivity — the reason why he is a legit NFL prospect and will be selected before many prospects who have no handicaps or deficiencies, for what it's worth.

• Who Will Be The First Defensive Prospect Taken? 

Even prior the New York Giants trading their Pro Bowl defensive end Jason Pierre Paul to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers leaving the door open for them to realistically select an edge rusher with the second pick, Bradley Chubb was viewed as a likely top five draft pick, with the many mock drafts having him pegged to the Indianapolis Colts with the third overall selection. That was before they traded that pick to the team the Giants share a home field with at MetLife Stadium, in the New York Jets. With varying scenarios that could potentially see four quarterbacks go in the top five picks and players like Saquon Barkley and Quenton Nelson very much in play, it's no guarantee that Chubb will be one of the initial five players chosen or the first defensive player taken for that matter. National Championship participants, former members of the SEC, and All-Americans Minkah Fitzpatrick and Roquan Smith were considered the best players at their position throughout the year and also have been considered amongst the best defensive prospects in the draft. Fitzpatrick help lead Alabama to the national title while also winning the Jim Thorpe Award (nation's top defensive player), while Smith finished as a runner up in the National Championship and in the Thorpe Award, but did manage to help Georgia win the SEC title and come away with the Dick Butkus Award (nation's top linebacker). After Roquan Smith was considered the consensus top linebacker in the country and draft for many months, the emergence and notice of Virginia Tech linebacker Tremaine Edmunds has given him a potential threat to be the first player chosen at the position. Edmunds is the youngest player in this year's draft, as he'll only be 19 when he is selected, and with size and athleticism that have scouts saying, "imagine LeBron James playing defense ... at linebacker," he also possesses likely the most potential.

After an injury in 2016 where he missed nearly the entire season with a torn meniscus, Derwin James returned the field in 2017. Though he started off slow, as did the Florida State team to begin the season, James finished the year off strong, resembling the prospect that had many considering him the top defensive prospect in college football entering the season, despite having missed almost all of the previous season. Each player mentioned has a realistic chance at being selected in the top ten picks, as well as be the first defensive player taken in this year's draft, as does Ohio State cornerback Denzel Ward, who is considered the best pure cover corner in the 2018 NFL Draft and ran a 4.32 in the 40-yard dash at the combine. Last but not least, Leighton Vander Esch of Boise State is another big (6'4, 256) and athletic linebacker (39.5 inch vertical) who could potentially go in or around the top 10 picks. 

• Where Will Saquon Barkley End Up?

After an outstanding career at Penn State, Saquon Barkely entered the 2018 NFL Draft after his junior  season, being looked upon as one of, if not the top prospect in this year's draft class. The standout running back only did more to solidify those sentiments after his performance at the NFL Scouting Combine where he wowed representatives and personnel from all 32 NFL teams. Not only did Barkley impress with his on field performance, but he was said to be outstanding with his interviews and meetings with teams during the four day event in Indianapolis. With one member from an NFL organization going as far as saying he'd be more concerned with his character than that of Barkley. Which is consistent with the reputation he had developed while at State College. Many believe that Barkley will be selected with one of the first two picks, either by the Cleveland Browns or New York Giants, with the thought that Cleveland may potentially select him first and then go after one of top quarterbacks in the draft that will be available at the fourth pick, instead of bypassing the opportunity to take Barkley and potentially risk him be selected with one of the following two picks. That seems less likely a scenario now with the the Jets acquiring the third overall pick from the Colts, desperately and obviously needing a franchise quarterback, as well as the Giants trading their star defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul, and potentially eyeing edge rusher Bradley Chubb with the second overall pick. Still, the Browns may think it too dangerous to not select Barkley with the first overall pick and leave it to chance that he'll still be available at pick number four, especially if they consider him the best prospect/player in the draft. 

• Lamar Jackson Will Be A First Round Pick

After much dialogue about whether he would play a wide receiver or be drafted in the first round, the picture is beginning to clear surrounding the ever-electrifying former Hesiman Trophy Winner Lamar Jackson. While certain remarks were made in the media about his mother representing him and not having an official agent, as well as the effect it may have cause on his pre-draft process to this point, Jackson has definitely caused intrigue amongst the league and its fans. Comments made about the star quarterback's mother representing him have been referenced most often in the difficulty it has prosed to teams around the league in being able to get in contact with him, which is a role an agent typical serves. With that being said, Jackson has had a workout with the Houston Texans and reportedly met with head coach Mike Tomlin and the Pittsburgh Steelers during and after his workout at Louisville's Pro Day, which Jackson completed last Thursday in front of all 32 NFL teams. The Los Angeles Chargers also spent time with Jackson at the conclusion of the event, with their offensive coordinator Ken Wisenhunt doing the honors.

Mixed opinions were given about his performance at the event and his decision to not run the 40 yard dash again, after declining to do so at the NFL Scouting Combine. Despite all the chatter surrounding Jackson, much of which can be perceived as negative, he still is one of the most talented, gifted, and certainly most athletic players in this year's draft —if not the most. And at the end of the day, that is what the NFL is certainly all about. Like Jackson said in response to him not running the 40 yard dash, you have to catch him on the field first. Something that not many people were able to do throughout his time in college. And for those that doubt his throwing ability, think twice. Like Sam Darnold, Josh Allen, Josh Rosen, and Baker Mayfield, Lamar Jackson has to continue to improve and end up in the right situation to succeed in the NFL. And like the rest of them he will be a first round pick come April 26, in Dallas.

• How Many Quarterbacks Will Be Taken In The Top 5 ?

With Cleveland Browns in possession of two of the first five picks, along with the New York Giants, Indianapolis Colts, and Denver Broncos, it was thought that no more than three quarterback would be selected in the top five – of those three most likely being Sam Darnold, Josh Allen, and Josh Rosen, along with a possible though slightly less likely Baker Mayfield. But with the New York Jets recently having traded with the Colts to move from the sixth overall pick to the third, it is possible that each team could potentially select a quarterback, with one of the other picks of the Browns being another potential offensive weapon. With time before the draft and the Buffalo Bills certainly in need of a starting quarterback for the present and future, they may still potentially try to angle themselves for one of the Browns selections. How everything unfolds remains to be seen, but with less than a month to the 2018 NFL Draft, rumors and reports will be in abundance, though whether anything comes from it still is a mystery. While there are some that believe Lamar Jackson won't be a first round pick altogether, there are a fraction that think he could become a top five selection when all is said and done. Should the Bills or another team make a trade with the Browns —likely for the fourth selection — and each of the first four quarterbacks I mentioned are taken, it could put the pressure on and make it more likely that the Denver Broncos select Lamar Jackson with the fifth pick, making it five for five for quarterbacks in the top five. One, two, three, four, or five? It will all will unfold on April 26 in Dallas. But until then don't expect on being sure of who, what, when, why, and where the quarterbacks will be selected amongst the top five picks.