Fansided

NFL Draft 2018: Five worst picks of the first round

By Rucker Haringey

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 03: Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield looks on during the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 3, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 03: Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield looks on during the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 3, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 6
Next
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – MARCH 02: South Carolina tight end Hayden Hurst answers questions from the media during the NFL Scouting Combine on March 2, 2018 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, IN. (Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – MARCH 02: South Carolina tight end Hayden Hurst answers questions from the media during the NFL Scouting Combine on March 2, 2018 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, IN. (Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

4. Hayden Hurst — Baltimore Ravens

Hurst could develop into a solid starting tight end. Unfortunately, that’s not enough for Baltimore at the point where they selected him in the Draft. Their choice to pass on Lamar Jackson in favor of the 25-year old tight end is really perplexing. Yes, the Ravens were able to move back into the first round to take Jackson with the Eagles’ pick, but that cost them precious draft capital.

Evidently Ozzie Newsome and company still believe in Joe Flacco as their franchise quarterback. The Ravens were presented with a golden opportunity to secure their quarterback in the future late in the first round. Instead, they opted for a player who has a pretty low ceiling.

The upside of drafting Hurst is that Baltimore can pencil him into their lineup pretty early. He should be able to take some pressure off Flacco by providing him a release value in the middle of the field. He isn’t going to blow anyone away deep, but he can be a solid possession receiver between the hash marks.

Panning this pick has much more to do with Lamar Jackson than Hayden Hurst. It’s just the sort of safe, boring draft decision that will keep Baltimore mired in mediocrity. They covered up some of their mistake by taking Jackson with the last pick of the round, but that doesn’t fully cover up for taking a pretty pedestrian tight end prospect with their original pick.