NFL Draft 2018: Who are the class’ superstars of the future?
By Backwoods
Taking a look at the prospects in the 2018 NFL Draft class. Those that will shine — and those that won’t.
The 2018 NFL Draft class is full of intrigue. A whirlwind of scenarios have been brought up, repeated, altered and brought up again.
Throughout the process, several prospects have stood out to me. Although most will not be available or rated high enough to justify selecting them where our teams pick, I enjoy following them to see if my own gut-instincts play out. Sometimes, our teams pass on the players we like and we get to groan about it for years to come.
For instance, Clay Matthews II was one of my favorite players growing up in Akron, OH. My discontent was shared with many when the Cleveland Browns passed up his son, Clay Matthews III in the 2009 NFL Draft. Mattheews was drafted five picks later and my discontent did not ease with time. To be fair, Alex Mack turned out alright.
This year is not unlike any other and I have indeed compiled a list of prospects to keep an eye on. I encourage you to do the same. My list is as follows:
Baker Mayfield: So, I am still salty about the flag planting at Ohio State, but that is the fire that fuels the heart of a team. If you can’t beat ’em, bring them aboard!
Saquon Barkley: Perhaps I just miss the days of watching Barry Sanders, but Barkley could be the closest thing we have seen since.
Hayden Hurst: I firmly believe that the ball should not be thrown at anyone that cannot catch the ball. That is certainly a non-issue with Hurst. Pro Football Focus states Hurst had only three drops in 103 catchable passes in his career.
Vita Vea: Who doesn’t love a big guy that can run? His efforts yielded a 5.10 second time in the 40-yard dash — at 347 pounds. I could move half the weight in twice the time – with some help.
Mason Rudolph: Scouting reports are all over the place for Rudolph. I have heard he is a low first round prospect. I have also heard him placed in the Rounds 2-4 range. He has the size, he has the smarts and he has continued improvement throughout his career.
Shaquem Griffin: How do you not love this guy? Perhaps he is the definition of fight and determination. He might be missing a hand, but he has a whole lot of something special.
Some players enter the league and make an instant impact, I can see Mayfield and Barkley in this category. Others take some time to develop, which may well be the case for Mason Rudolph. In other cases the team fit and scheme plays the biggest role.
Alternatively, some players are rated highly, expected to shine, and fall flat off the map. Johnny who? This class is no exception and we can expect a few of our favorites to never reach their hyped potential.
Yes, I have indeed compiled a list of my gut-busts. Okay, that joke may have not been the gut-buster I was hoping for, much like the following prospects may not be the superstars teams are hoping for.
Josh Rosen: Okay, this one is tough as he could easily be on my other list. Attitude issues are commonplace in the NFL and may or may not be worth consideration. His injuries, however, should not be ignored. As we all know by now, concussions are no laughing matter and as I know first-hand, the term “successful” should not be used when describing soft-tissue shoulder surgeries. Duct tape on a radiator hose is also a successful repair, right?
Orlando Brown: Another tough call, Orlando’s poor showing at the NFL Combine certainly raises a few question marks. I won’t go as far as placing him in the “bust” category, but I don’t think he will prove worthy of a first round selection either. It is easy to tie a player to their pedigree, much as I did with Clay Matthews, but I don’t see Orlando having a career as good as his father did.
Next: 2018 NFL Mock Draft: Full 7-round projection
As much as I would love to pinpoint each of the first-round busts and late-round heroes, it is all a crapshoot. Time will clarify how my instincts play out, but I will offer that my track record is outstanding — and last night I caught the biggest fish in the lake.