Why the 2018 NFL Draft will be the most exciting in years
The NFL draft has arrived! After months of speculation, reports, and mocks, fans will finally find out which players will be sporting their team colors this upcoming season, and hopefully for many years after.
And with a number of polarizing prospects, intriguing storylines, and last-minute rumors, the 2018 draft is set up to be the most memorable edition in recent years.
Here's why :
Uncertainty at No. 1
The Cleveland Browns own the first overall pick, but good luck figuring out who they'll select.
Mere hours before general manager John Dorsey takes to the podium, no one is certain which name will be called. As of yesterday, Dorsey hadn't even told his wife.
It's assumed the Browns will target a quarterback, but which direction will they go? For months, it was assumed that Dorsey was deciding between Sam Darnold and Josh Allen, but if Thursday's reports are true, Baker Mayfield has entered the conversation. This is the first time in recent memory that the first overall pick was not known before Day 1. The last six No. 1 picks - Myles Garrett, Jared Goff, Jameis Winston, Jadeveon Clowney, Eric Fisher, and Andrew Luck - were all widely assumed to be the selection in league circles leading up to draft day.
This is a potentially franchise-altering night for a number of teams, and the Browns will seemingly keep both fans and evaluators guessing until the very last moment.
Quarterbacks and trades!
(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)
The NFL is a quarterback-driven league, so it's no surprise that the 2018 QB class will have the largest impact on the draft as a whole.
There's a real possibility that a quarterback will be selected with the first, second, and third overall picks, while a total of five could be chosen on Day 1 for the first time since 1999. Darnold, Allen, and Mayfield are the top signal-callers on a number of draft boards, but Josh Rosen and Lamar Jackson offer high-caliber skill sets as well. Jackson's unique blend of athleticism and college production has been a hot topic in recent months, as analysts have been divided on how high he should be selected.
Plus, with a number of teams desperate for a long-term answer at quarterback, there could be multiple trades inside the top ten. The Miami Dolphins, Arizona Cardinals, Buffalo Bills, and New England Patriots are among those reportedly interested in moving up, while the many potential deals have made mock drafts nearly impossible. Some will call it frustrating, but we enjoy the change of pace.
With that, the 2018 draft promises to be the most exciting and intriguing in recent memory.
Let the chaos ensue.