After months of mock drafts and racks on racks of rumors, the 2018 NFL Draft is finally upon us. Here are 10 big moves we’re hoping to see go down on Day 1.
You can read all the mock drafts you want, but one thing that always remains true about the NFL Draft is that general managers care not for what the public thinks they should do with their precious picks.
If the first round of the NFL draft shook out exactly as we expected it to, we might be satisfied, but we’d also be bored. After all, then we could just follow along with the picks online. The reason the draft has become appointment television is that anything can — and often does — happen.
That being said, let’s take a look at 10 moves we want to see go down tonight. Some of them are trades and some of them are just hoping players end up with teams that seem like the perfect fit for them, but all of them would be fun to watch.
10. Lamar Jackson gets drafted in the first half of Round 1
Given how many teams need quarterbacks this year, we won’t be surprised to see four come off the board in the first 10 picks: Sam Darnold, Josh Allen, Josh Rosen and Baker Mayfield.
All those quarterbacks bring major strengths to the table — and a couple of them bring glaring red flags. But perhaps one of the more talented passers in this year’s class, Louisville’s Lamar Jackson, is mentioned as somewhat of an afterthought to the other four — and that’s a mistake.
Perhaps some team out there is smarter than we give it credit for, and will select Jackson in the top 16. That would be a wise choice. The 2016 Heisman Trophy winner won’t fit into every team’s scheme, especially if they’re looking for a deadly accurate pocket passer. But Jackson’s athleticism and speed can overtake his issues with accuracy — and for a team willing to put them on display with RPOs and play-action, Jackson could be a shining star.
Given how much unwelcome advice Jackson got about making a move to wide receiver, seeing him selected high at his chosen position would be a triumph.