The 2018 NFL draft was dubbed the year of the quarterback. While the quarterbacks are the focus of this draft, there was an abundance of talent all across the board. Here is a redraft the 2018 NFL draft, knowing what we know today about all of these players.
Reminders-
- This redraft has no trades. Teams will be using the picks they had on draft day, even if they did trade their pick during the draft in real life.
- This is what I would do if I were the GM of each team. This does not represent what I think the real life GM of the teams would have done on draft night
1. Cleveland Browns
Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville. Jackson is the obvious choice here, and for good reason. The Browns went into the draft needing a quarterback, and here they have a chance to take not just the top QB of this class, but one of the top quarterbacks of the entire league. With the struggles on the line for the Browns, this pick makes that much more sense, as Lamar can use his mobility to make up for the lack of protection up front.
2. New York Giants
Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma. This is where things get tough. The Giants originally took Saquon with this pick, but they were in dire need of a quarterback as well. This is a tough pick to make, as we know how the Baker to OBJ connection worked out in year one in Cleveland. But with a different coach, plus Mayfield’s old friend, Sterling Shepard, this has the chance to be a very good offense.
3. New York Jets
Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming. This comes down to Allen and the original pick, Sam Darnold. Neither guy is going to be an MVP candidate playing for this organization, but Allen has proven himself to be an all-around better quarterback than Darnold in their first two years. Darnold hasn’t had much to work with, but you could make the argument that Allen has actually had less weapons up in Buffalo, and he still manages to give his team consistent performances that result in wins.
4. Cleveland Browns
Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State. Can Cleveland really get two of the most dynamic players in this class? Yes they can. If both New York teams didn’t need quarterbacks so bad, they don’t have a chance of Saquon falling to them here at pick four. Luckily for Cleveland, the Giants and Jets were both looking for franchise quarterbacks. Cleveland originally took Nick Chubb in the second round to bolster their running back spot, but given the chance, they have to take Saquon here.
5. Denver Broncos
Sam Darnold, QB, USC. Denver originally took Bradley Chubb, who has produced good results so far. But with the option to take Darnold, they can get a franchise quarterback now instead of taking a flyer on Drew Lock in the 2019 draft. Darnold hasn’t had many weapons in New York, but here he gets to pair up with Courtland Sutton and Emanuel Sanders.
6. Indianapolis Colts
Quenton Nelson, OG, Notre Dame. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. This pick stays the same because Nelson is one of the best offensive lineman in the entire league. They originally took him to protect Andrew Luck for years to come, and we know how that turned out. Whenever the Colts draft Luck’s replacement, Nelson will do a great job of protecting the future of the franchise.
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Nick Chubb, RB, Georgia. In the draft, the Buccaneers traded this pick to Buffalo, who moved up to nab Josh Allen. In the redraft, the Buccaneers won’t pass up the chance to take a great running back like Chubb. While the offense has a great passing game with Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and Jameis Winston, the running game is terrible. Chubb would immediately make this one of the best offenses in the league. With Bruce Arians as his coach, this would be like adding 2016 David Johnson to an already dynamic offense.
8. Chicago Bears
Darius Leonard, LB, South Carolina State. The Bears were targeting a linebacker in this draft, as shown by their pick of Roquan Smith in the original draft. This time around, they draft Leonard, a small school kid who originally fell to the Colts at pick 36. Leonard is a tackling machine, with 284 tackles in his first two years in the league. He’s got a great mind for the game, which is one of the reasons he is able to rack up so many tackles.
9. San Francisco 49ers
Derwin James, S, Florida State. The 49ers, as we know, would have one of the best defenses in the league in just a few years. Looking at the defense, one position where they lack is safety. James was one of the top defensive prospects in this class, and it was a surprise to many when he fell to the Chargers at 17. In this redraft, the 49ers take the man who will patrol the secondary for years to come. With James at safety, I think the 49ers are Super Bowl champs this year, as they didn’t have a safety who could stop the Chiefs high powered offense in the Super Bowl. James could have been that guy for the 49ers.
10. Oakland Raiders
Orlando Brown, OT, Oklahoma. The Raiders were eyeing tackles in this draft, as they took two of them in the first three rounds. This pick originally went to the Cardinals, who took Josh Rosen. There are no trades in the redraft, so the Raiders keep their pick and draft Brown, a guy who can anchor their line for the next 10 years.
11. Miami Dolphins
Bradley Chubb, EDGE, North Carolina State. The Dolphins are absolutely terrible, and they were in 2018 too. This comes down to best available, and that means taking Chubb here. Chubb racked up 12 sacks in his rookie season, good for 15th in the league. He suffered a torn ACL 4 games into his second season, but he claims he’ll be back and better than ever. If that’s even remotely true, this is a great pick up at 11, especially for a time with pretty much no defensive line.
12. Buffalo Bills
D. J. Moore, WR, Maryland. The Bills aren’t able to nab Josh Allen in this redraft, but they can address another problem on the offense. Buffalo badly needed a guy who could stretch the field last year, and Moore can fill that spot immediately. With John Brown and Moore out wide, and Cole Beasley in the slot, this pick turns Buffalo’s WR corps into a much better unit.
13. Washington Redskins
Tremaine Edmunds, LB, Virginia Tech. The Redskins are basically going best available here, as they need help everywhere on the field. Edmunds is the pick here, as he is a young linebacker with the ability to fly all around the field. Edmunds racked up back-to-back seasons with over 110 tackles in his first two years in the league, and he seems to be trending upward for the years to come.
14. Green Bay Packers
Jaire Alexander, CB, Louisville. This pick was originally traded to the Saints, giving the Packers the 18th pick. They took Alexander in that slot in the 2018 NFL draft, and the pairing has worked out great. Seeing how this worked out in real life, no need for the Packers to go a different route here.
15. Arizona Cardinals
Minkah Fitzpatrick, S, Alabama. The Cardinals need help just about everywhere, and Fitzpatrick is the best player on the board. While the Cardinals don’t look like they’ll be contending for a while, this is a great pickup for them. Fitzpatrick is one of the best players in this draft, and they’d be ecstatic to get him at 15.
16. Baltimore Ravens
Mark Andrews, TE, Oklahoma. The Ravens eventually got Andrews in the 3rd round, but there’s no way he falls that much this time around. The Ravens don’t get Lamar, which means they need a quarterback, but Rosen is not the pick here. Take Andrews, draft a QB in the coming years.
17. Los Angeles Chargers
Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia. The Chargers lucked out in the original 2018 NFL draft, as Derwin James fell to them at this pick. The Chargers need help at linebacker and in the secondary, and get the chance to take a great defensive player here. Smith has played good his first two years in Chicago, but he has raw talent that’s out of this world. His college highlights are a sight to behold. Being the leader of this LA defense, Smith is given a chance to flourish as the man on his team.
18. Seattle Seahawks
Leighton Vander Esch, LB, Boise State. The Seahawks defense is a shell of it’s former self. After being consistently one of the best defenses in the league, the unit ranked 22nd in the league in 2019. The 2018 NFL draft would’ve been a great chance to take a stud linebacker to pair with one of the best in the league, Bobby Wagner. With Vander Esch being mentored by Wagner, these two could be one of the best duos in the league.
19. Dallas Cowboys
Fred Warner, LB, BYU. The Cowboys originally took Vander Esch, a pick that’s worked out well so far for both sides. With Vander Ecsh and Smith off the board, the cowboys turn to the third best linebacker in the draft, Warner. Warner played a big role on the dominant 49ers defense in 2019, and the Cowboys hope he can do great things for their defense too.
20. Detroit Lions
Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame. The Lions need a lot, but the line is a big focus for them. Here, they have a chance to take one of the best lineman in the class at pick 20, and that’s an offer they just can’t pass up.
21. Cincinnati Bengals
Kolton Miller, OT, UCLA. The Bengals don’t have much talent, but have a chance to take a solid tackle with the 21st pick. An opportunity like this is too good to pass up, even for the Bengals.
22. Buffalo Bills
Brian O’Neill, OT, Pitt. The Bills will need to draft a quarterback in the coming years since they lost out on Josh Allen in this draft, so this is a good chance to bolster the line that will protect the quarterback of the future.
23. New England Patriots
Sony Michel, RB, Georgia. They got Michel at 31 in real life, but won’t pass up the chance to take him here. This pairing has worked out well so far, with Michel scoring the only touchdown in Super Bowl LIII. With the success Michel has enjoyed in the league, there’s no reason to pick anybody else right here.
24. Carolina Panthers
Courtland Sutton, WR, SMU. The Panthers were looking for a wide receiver coming into this draft for Cam Newton to work with. With their original pick, D.J. Moore, coming off the board early, they take the next best receiver, Sutton. Sutton topped the 1,000 yard plateau last season, while adding 6 touchdowns on a Broncos team that didn’t score much. If the Panthers want the best receiver available, they take Sutton here.
25. Tennessee Titans
Rashaan Evans, LB, Alabama. The Titans originally moved up to take Evans at 22, but here they can get him at 25. This ended up being a good fit, as Evans has been a solid player for a team that surprised just about everyone by making the AFC Championship last year.
26. Atlanta Falcons
Michael Gallup, WR, Colorado State. The Falcons needed a wide receiver to line up opposite Julio Jones. Their original pick, Calvin Ridley, hasn’t panned out like they hoped. Gallup had a breakthrough year in 2019, surpassing 1,000 yards while dealing with an injury for part of the season. Matt Ryan only has so much time left, and giving him a weapon like this would help the chances that the Falcons can make the playoffs again.
27. New Orleans Saints
Da’Ron Payne, DT, Alabama. The Saints originally traded up to take a pass rusher, which didn’t work out at all. This time, they have a chance to take a better pass rusher without having to give anything up. New Orleans already has one of the best ends in the game in Cam Jordan, so this is a great opportunity to boost the middle of that defensive line.
28. Pittsburgh Steelers
Tre Flowers, S, Oklahoma State. The Steelers needed help in the secondary, and originally took Terrell Edmunds. Watching both play, Flowers seems to be ever so slightly better. These are both good safeties, but Flowers gets the slight edge.
29. Jacksonville Jaguars
Will Hernandez, OG, UTEP. The Jaguars had a great season in 2017, then had two abysmal seasons. The offensive line didn’t help that at all. Hernandez brings a lot of size to the line, which needs a lot of work.
30. Minnesota Vikings
Frank Ragnow, C, Arkansas. Ragnow has been a steady piece on the line for Detroit, but I have him going to division rival Minnesota. The Vikings were looking to help their line, as they took a tackle in the second round. Here, they get Ragnow to anchor the middle of the line.
31. New England Patriots
DJ Chark, WR, LSU. Wide receiver was a position the Patriots needed to work on. In the 2019 draft, they would take N’Keal Harry with their first round pick. Here, they get a chance to take the speedy Chark, who broke through and surpassed the thousand yard mark in 2019.
32. Philadelphia Eagles
Phillip Lindsay, RB, Colorado. Lindsay wasn’t highly touted going into draft season, and ended up going undrafted. Lindsay exceeded all expectations and then some, with two seasons of over 1,000 yards rushing. The Eagles have had struggles at the running back position, and could solve those problems here.
