Tag: 2018 NFL Draft

Not shocking: B/R grades Bills’ 2018 draft class an ‘A-plus’

Not shocking: B/R grades #Bills’ 2018 draft class an ‘A’

The Buffalo Bills landed a franchise quarterback at the 2018 NFL draft…and a QB for their defense as well.

Hard to imagine the team getting any other mark than an A-plus for the 2018 NFL draft haul… and that’s exactly what happened via Bleacher Report.

The Bills used their two first rounders at the draft on quarterback Josh Allen and linebacker Tremaine Edmunds.

Allen is undoubtedly a top-tier signal caller now. He has been a MVP favorite for the past few years and might have his name on the award in 2022.

Edmunds, like Allen, had the fifth-year option picked up on his rookie deal… and while he waits for his long-term extension, Edmunds was recently named a top-10 linebacker in the NFL by his peers.

Not to mention, the team made numerous other positive selections at that draft, including cornerback Taron Johnson and offensive lineman Wyatt Teller.

Check out what B/R had to say about Buffalo’s 2018 rookie class below:

The Buffalo Bills took the ultimate gamble on Josh Allen and have been rewarded handsomely for their patience.

Allen has flourished into one of the most devastatingly effective offensive weapons of this era with his elite athleticism and incredible arm talent. It took time for Allen to hone his craft, but the Bills’ strong infrastructure helped him take a massive leap in 2020.

What makes this draft close to perfect for Buffalo was its continued ability to unearth quality talent into Day 3. Linebacker Tremaine Edmunds is a productive and versatile linebacker who has totaled at least 108 tackles in each of his four seasons. He already has two Pro Bowls under his belt and is only 24 years old.

Defensive backs Taron Johnson and Siran Neal are underrated in their roles as well. Johnson is a premier slot defender who emerged in 2019 when given the opportunity to play more. Neal has helped on special teams more than on defense and re-signed on a three-year deal this offseason.

It’s also notable that Buffalo picked guard Wyatt Teller in the fifth round. Teller lasted only one season in Buffalo before being traded to Cleveland and blossoming into a Pro Bowler. Although the Bills whiffed on their decision to trade Teller, they correctly evaluated him as a future starter.

Grade: A+

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Bleacher Report gives Giants C- in 2018 NFL draft re-grade

In a 2018 NFL draft re-grade, Bleacher Report gives the New York Giants a letter grade of C- and that’s being very generous.

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Many pundits believe the New York Giants’ losing ways have been proliferated by poor drafting and point to the 2018 NFL draft as the linchpin of that argument.

The Giants held the second overall selection in the draft that year, which was being touted as having one of the best quarterback classes in years. The Giants kew that Eli Manning only had a year or two of productivity left and were in position to take Manning’s successor.

They did not.

The Cleveland Browns selected Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield — the 2017 Heisman Trophy winner — with the first pick. The Giants then grabbed Penn State running back Saquon Barkley with the second pick, passing on several quarterbacks, including USC’s Sam Darnold, Josh Allen of Wyoming, UCLA’s Josh Rosen and Lamar Jackson of Louisville.

We now know how all of that worked out. Allen and Jackson are superstars while the others have bounced around the league. Barkley’s career has hit the skids due to injuries after a breakout rookie season.

Bleacher Report recently revised that draft and assigned Giants and then general manager Dave Gettleman a C- grade. Barkley is the only player from that draft class that is still the Giants.

“The idea of taking the best available player sounds good until it leads to taking a running back No. 2 overall when the team needs a quarterback,” writes BR’s Ian Wharton. “Imagine where the New York Giants could be today had they drafted and developed either Josh Allen or Lamar Jackson rather than Saquon Barkley.”

Water under the bridge. The Giants took a quarterback the next season in the first round, Duke’s Daniel Jones, who the jury is still out on. Had the Giants hit on Jones, few would be so critical of their 2018 draft performance.

The other players taken in 2018 are: UTEP OG Will Hernandez (No. 34 overall), Georgia LB Lorenzo Carter (No. 66 overall), NC State DT B.J. Hill (No. 69 overall), Richmond QB Kyle Lauletta (No. 108 overall), Miami DT R.J. McIntosh (No. 139 overall).

All five of these players are still in the league with other teams after up-and-down careers with the Giants. Wharton pretty much acknowledged that in his closing statement.

“We aren’t going to punish the Giants for their decision to draft Barkley at No. 2 since he was a star for two years. The rest of this draft class was a mediocre group who underachieved after a coaching change, though,” he wrote.

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PFF: Josh Allen is Bills ‘best value draft pick’

PFF: Josh Allen is Bills ‘best value draft pick’

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From the time he finished his college career through his draft process and first seasons in the NFL, QB Josh Allen had been viewed by front offices, members of the press, and player analysts as a development project.

A prospect with power and arm strength who could eventually make the transition to a pro-level of play.

But that was then, and this is now.

Allen enters the upcoming 2022 NFL season as one of the premier young talents and quarterbacks in the league.

And this past week, Michael Renner of Pro Football Focus picked the young QB in his selection for Buffalo in his “Every NFL team’s best value draft picks since 2006” list.

Here is Renner’s preface of his list and analysis on Allen for PFF:

In a league with a salary cap, value is — quite literally — everything.

Because every NFL team works with more or less the same amount of money each season, the Super Bowl champions have to find a way to use their dollars more efficiently than everyone else. That’s where these guys come in — the players who outperform their draft slots in such a way that the team can overpay for players elsewhere.

BUFFALO BILLS: QB JOSH ALLEN, WYOMING (SEVENTH OVERALL IN 2018)

Move over Kyle Williams, as defensive tackle value doesn’t come close to that of a franchise quarterback. Allen’s 7.16 WAR over the past two seasons ranks third in the entire NFL — not bad for the third quarterback selected in his draft class.

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Seahawks take Saquon Barkley over Rashaad Penny in this 2018 NFL re-draft

Typical.

Anyone who was surprised the Seahawks picked Ken Walker in the second round of the 2022 NFL draft hadn’t been paying attention to their history. While the rest of this latest draft class went against type, Seattle has made a habit of taking running backs earlier than virtually every other team.

In 2018 they used their first-round selection on San Diego State running back Rashaad Penny at No. 27 after trading down with the Chargers from the No. 18 spot. The only thing better than taking a RB at the end of the first round is doing it even earlier, of course.

In a recent 2018 NFL re-draft conducted by Gary Davenport at Bleacher Report, he had the Seahawks going in a different direction at the same position. This time, Pete Carroll and John Schneider elected to stay put at 18 and take Saquon Barkley.

“In 2018, the Seattle Seahawks traded back before settling on San Diego State running back Rashaad Penny with their first pick of the draft. Penny flashed down the stretch last year, but he’s had all kinds of trouble staying on the field over his first four seasons and has never rushed for more than 750 yards in a season.

It’s a problem that Saquon Barkley can relate to—since being taken second overall by the Giants in 2018, Barkley has missed time in three of four seasons—21 games overall. He missed almost the entire 2020 season with an ACL tear and didn’t look himself a year ago, averaging just 3.7 yards per carry.

However, when Barkley has been at or near 100 percent, he’s looked as dangerous as any back in the NFL with a football in his hands. As the Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2018, Barkley topped 2,000 total yards, averaged five yards a tote, caught 91 passes and found the end zone 15 times. He topped 1,400 total yards and 50 receptions the following season in 13 games.

The talent is worth gambling on here.”

Typical.

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PFF: In little shock, Bills’ 2018 NFL draft class regrade went well

PFF: In little shock, #Bills’ 2018 NFL draft class regrade went well:

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The Buffalo Bills hit it out of the park with their 2018 NFL draft class according to Pro Football Focus.

If you know the details, that comes as little surprise.

In PFF’s re-grading of every draft class from that year, Buffalo earned an A-plus mark.

That draft saw the Bills land the quarterbacks for both their offense and defense.

On offense that’s clearly Josh Allen.

And while the football analytics outlet is tough on him, defensively, Buffalo drafted linebacker Tremaine Edmunds that same year.

Plus, we have a few other important selections mixed in there–for better or worse.

Here’s the breakdown:

Truthfully, the “A+” grade comes down to the Allen selection, as the Bills could have drafted me with their next pick and still earned that grade. That’s the value of an elite signal-caller such as Allen. They didn’t, however, draft me with their next pick, as they took Edmunds, who probably hasn’t lived up to the 16th overall pick billing just yet. He’s more valuable for the plays we never see made, though, as he shuts down passing windows with his absurd wingspan.

The real steal of this class ended up being one of Brandon Beane’s biggest blunders to date. Teller has developed into a top-three right guard in the NFL; yet, Beane gave up on him after only one season in a Bills uniform by trading him to the Browns prior to the 2019 season.

Allen and Edmunds headline this group, continuing to track down the selections, defensive tackle Harrison Phillips (Round 3) made consistent contributions for the Bills for four years. He recently left, but did his part while in Buffalo.

Defensive backs Taron Johnson (Round 4) and Siran Neal (Round 5) are also strong prospects the Bills picked up this year. Then comes the bad news.

Offensive lineman Wyatt Teller (Round 5) then is picked by Buffalo. That ended up going well, but not for the Bills as he was traded way too soon.

But Buffalo general manager Brandon Beane has admitted that mistake. He has since stated he won’t give up on prospects too soon anymore, which is why Cody Ford and a few other young players are still on the Bills to this day.

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Would Panthers stick with DJ Moore in 2018 re-draft?

In 2018, the Panthers used the 24th overall pick to select WR DJ Moore. But does a recent re-draft have them going in a different direction?

In the 2018 NFL draft, the Carolina Panthers selected wide receiver DJ Moore out of the University of Maryland with the 24th overall pick. But even though they made themselves a really good choice, was it the right one?

Bleacher Report NFL analyst Gary Davenport recently set his time machine to four years in the past and ran back the proceedings. And in his re-draft, the Panthers wind up with . . . (drumroll, please) . . . DJ Moore!

“Over the past few seasons in Charlotte, DJ Moore has been almost robotically consistent—in spite of QB play that has been, um, less than ideal,” Davenport writes.

“In each of the past three years, Moore has topped 65 receptions. In each of the past three years, Moore has amassed between 1,100 and 1,200 receiving yards. And in each of the past three years, Moore has caught four touchdown passes.

“Moore may not quite have the ability to take over a game the way that Davante Adams or Tyreek Hill can. But the 6’0″, 210-pounder is a rock-solid No. 1 receiver entering the prime of his career who has missed just two games in four seasons.”

As Davenport notes, Moore’s consistency is almost scary. He’s put up those sparkling numbers—and stayed on the field for nearly the entire time—despite playing a taxing role in the Carolina offense with no continuity under center.

Moore, in his four-year career, has had seven different starting quarterbacks—Cam Newton, Kyle Allen, Taylor Heinicke, Will Grier, Teddy Bridgewater, PJ Walker and Sam Darnold. After his solid rookie campaign of 788 receiving yards, Moore has gone on to haul in 3,525 more yards since 2019—the fifth-most in the league over that span.

We might also be inclined to table the great wideout debate of 2018 between Moore and Calvin Ridley, who was drafted as the second receiver just two slots after DJ. You can bet, because Ridley may not be able to, that the Panthers are pretty happy with their decision.

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Titans go in different direction in B/R’s 2018 NFL re-draft

In a re-do of the 2018 NFL draft, the Titans go in a different direction.

Very rarely do teams have the opportunity for a re-do, but in the 2018 NFL draft, the Tennessee Titans would have gone in a different direction if they had a crystal ball.

Mike Vrabel’s ballclub selected linebacker Rashaan Evans with the No. 22 overall pick before finding a gem in the second round in outside linebacker Harold Landry.

The Titans declined Evans’ fifth-year option and the Alabama product walked in free agency, eventually signing a one-year deal with the Atlanta Falcons and thus ending what was a disappointing tenure.

According to Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport, the Titans should have selected edge rusher Marcus Davenport instead.

For the first three years of his career, that looked to have been an unwise decision—Davenport tallied just 12 sacks over his first three seasons combined. But despite missing six games last year, Davenport turned in his best season as a pro, setting career highs in tackles (39) and sacks (nine).

With the selection of Davenport at the end of the first round, Tennessee likely would have addressed other needs instead of taking Landry in the second round.

Speaking of Landry, he went to the Green Bay Packers with the No. 14 overall pick in this re-draft.

Interestingly, Davenport has had a similar track record as Landry through his first four seasons. After a sophomore campaign that saw him achieve several career-highs, the former UTSA star regressed considerably in Year 3 before exploding for nine sacks in 2021.

Landry, who collected a then-career-best nine sacks in 2019, tallied just 5.5 sacks in 2020 before racking up 12 sacks this past season.

Davenport is entering the final year of his contract in 2022, while the Titans have already committed five years and $87.5 million to Landry in a second contract.

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Baker Mayfield requests trade from the Cleveland Browns

Former Heisman winning Oklahoma QB Baker Mayfield formally requested a trade from the Cleveland Browns.

It was no secret that the Cleveland Browns and Baker Mayfield were at odds. Their relationship since Mayfield was drafted number one overall in the 2018 NFL Draft has not been the smoothest.

Their relationship has finally reached its breaking point as the former Heisman winning quarterback formally requested a trade from the Cleveland Browns according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.

After the Cleveland Browns met with Deshaun Watson on Tuesday, Baker Mayfield took to his Twitter and Instagram accounts to thank Browns fans for all of their support over the years. Watson has been the talk of the trade market with the New Orleans Saints, Carolina Panthers, Cleveland Browns, and Atlanta Falcons all entered into discussions to trade for the Houston Texans quarterback.

There was also talk that the Browns may consider trading Mayfield whether they acquire Watson or not.

Mayfield chose not to wait around for dominoes to fall and instead requested the trade on his own. The decision was not met with open arms as the Browns have no plans to honor it.

With that decision, the Browns and Baker Mayfield are in a standoff as they now try to figure out what’s next for both parties.

The Browns appear out for the pursuit of Watson as it looks like the aforementioned NFC South teams all stand a better shot at landing Watson. Mayfield is due just north of $18 million on the final year of his rookie deal.

Last week’s trade for Amari Cooper looks like a thing of the past as Mayfield’s made it known he wants out of Cleveland. Mayfield was the biggest beneficiary of the move heading into the final year of his rookie contract deal with a healthy shoulder and a new weapon.

Now we wait to see how the latest saga of Baker and the Browns unfolds.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. Let us know your thoughts, comment on this story below. Join the conversation today.

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Ogbo Okoronkwo heads to Houston after agreeing on a contract with the Texans

Ogbo Okoronkwo is heading home to Houston after agreeing to a one-year deal to play for the Houston Texans.

The last few months have been very kind to former Oklahoma Sooners edge rusher Ogbo Okoronkwo. He has forever cemented his place in NFL history by winning a Super Bowl with the Los Angeles Rams and he will now get to play in his hometown with the Houston Texans.

According to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network Okoronkwo has agreed to a contract with the Texans on the second day of NFL Free Agency.

According to the Houston Chronicle’s John McClain, Okoronkwo took a one-year deal with the Texans.

Okoronkwo has a much better shot to showcase himself in Houston and will almost assuredly get more snaps if healthy. Out from behind some high-level pass rushers like Von Miller, Leonard Floyd, and Dante Fowler Jr. Okoronkwo will have a chance to shine. His injury history has also played a factor in his lack of snaps. He’s only played in 33 games across four seasons and missed his entire rookie season due to injury.

Okoronkwo, 26, was selected in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL draft by the Rams. In 2021, he appeared in 13 games and recorded two sacks, 15 tackles, and two forced fumbles.

With a Super Bowl ring on its way, Okoronkwo can focus on getting healthy and proving himself worthy of a major payday if he’s able to take another step forward this season in Houston.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. Let us know your thoughts, comment on this story below. Join the conversation today.

Mike Hughes adjusting to Chiefs’ defensive system after trade from Vikings

After several training camp practices, #Chiefs CB Mike Hughes is beginning to settle in with his new team.

One of the Kansas City Chiefs’ trades this offseason had been a long time in the making.

The Chiefs acquired CB Mike Hughes from the Vikings in mid-May. The former 2018 first-round draft pick out of the University of Central Florida is a player that Kansas City had shown heavy interest in ahead of the draft. They spent a lot of time with him at the UCF pro day. He was also among the players the team brought in for a top-30 visit.

The team remained interested in Hughes and when the opportunity arose, they made a trade to bring him to the team.

“When the trade went down a lot of the coaches were saying they wanted me out of the draft,” Hughes told reporters on Saturday. “But obviously, the draft is kind of a crazy process. I pretty much talked to every team, it’s hard to go back and say specifics. But I’m just glad to be here, everybody is happy that I’m here and I feel the same way.”

Hughes had anticipated a trade given how his early tenure in Minnesota had gone. Injuries plagued his career with the Vikings, causing him to appear in just 24 games in the past three seasons. He played six games as a rookie due to a torn ACL. In Week 17 of 2019, he suffered a neck injury that lingered into the 2020 season, causing him to play just four games that year.

“I was out in LA, that’s where I train at, during the offseason,” Hughes said. “My agent gave me the call. We already kind of knew that a trade was going to go down, but I didn’t know where. So when I found out it was (Kansas City) obviously I was excited. You know, they’re a Super Bowl contending team. I couldn’t land in a better spot.”

Now healthy, Hughes is hoping to turn the page on that part of his career and start anew in Kansas City.

“I’m completely 100%, I’ve never felt better,” Hughes said. “I’m just taking it one day at a time and coming every day to work. That’s all that matters to me.”

As he prepares for the upcoming season, Hughes has been working into the starting cornerback rotation at training camp. When the team has been in sub-packages with five or six defensive backs, he’s split repetitions with DeAndre Baker at the right cornerback spot.

“Whatever the coaches want me to do, man, that’s what I’ll do,” Hughes said. “I’ve been playing straight outside so far. Obviously, with the Vikings, I was playing nickel and corner. Here I’ve just been playing outside, still trying to get adjusted to the system. But I’m doing everything that the coaches have asked me to do. With my skill set, I feel like I can play anywhere, but I’ve just been taking it one day at a time, man.”

Hughes does have the versatility to do more, but for now, the Chiefs have him learning one spot as he adjusts to Steve Spagnuolo’s defensive scheme. One thing that the new cornerback enjoys about Kansas City is the amount of press-man that they run.

“Playing press-man, we do a lot of that,” Hughes said. “I’ve been working on my technique every day, kind of knocking the rust off. I was on IR most of last year. It’s been pretty good, man. Just getting out here getting in front of guys and competing.”

The fourth-year professional feels like he’s getting more comfortable as the days go on. One thing that he feels is making him better each and every day is going up against QB Patrick Mahomes in practice.

“It’s special honestly,” Hughes said with a grin on his face. “Some of the throws he can make, it just gets us better. Going out there and competing and doing the best that we can do. I know that he’s getting us better at the end of the day and we’re making him better at the end of the day. That’s all that matters.” 

Things may have not started off the way that Hughes had hoped for in his NFL career, but he’s hoping to be able to let that motivate him to take full advantage of his new opportunity.

“I’m just trying to turn everything into a positive,” Hughes said. “And I’m glad to be here. I’m blessed.”

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