2018 NFL Draft Storylines by Trevor Arnold

Denzel Ward – 4th Overall

The Ohio kid is staying home! The first player coming off the draft board for the 2018 NFL Draft class for Ohio State is Denzel Ward.  Ward was selected 4th overall by the Cleveland Browns, who also selected Baker Mayfield with the first overall pick.  Ward is coming off being a one-year starter for the Buckeyes.  A position he saw Marshon Lattimore do a year earlier when he was taken 11th overall by the New Orleans Saints.  Ward now makes it three straight years where Ohio State has had a cornerback drafted in the first round.  A feat that hasn’t been done since Ohio State did it in 1999-2001.

Ward is coming off a stellar year for the Buckeyes.  He had 37 total tackles including 30 solo tackles.  Also, he had two interceptions with 15 pass breakups.  With Ward being the #1 CB in the class according to most analysts, being selected in the top 5 was still surprising.  The Cleveland Browns have not selected an Ohio State player since 2009 when they took Brian Robiskie in the second round.  They haven’t taken an Ohio State player in the first round since Craig Powell in the 1995 class, 30th overall.  This may shock some since Ohio State has had 10 first round draft picks since the 2014 draft class.

Ward is on the smaller side at only 5’10”, but possesses has elite speed, running a 4.32 40 yard dash, and has a 39-inch vertical jump.  Ward will look to use his skill set and pure athleticism to help the Browns return to the playoffs for the first time since 1994.

 

Billy Price – 21st Overall

 The Ohio kid is staying home 2.0!  Billy Price was selected 21st overall by the Cincinnati Bengals.  That makes both Ohio teams selecting Ohio State players in the first round.  Price was not able to participate in the NFL Combine after have a partial pectoral tear during the bench press.  Price was the nation’s top center in the 2017 season and was a unanimous first-team All-American.  This feat is impressive because Price was recruited out of high school when he played on the defensive line.  The Buckeyes moved Price to guard in 2014, 2015, and 2016 where he started every single game before moving to play center in 2017.

Price was mister consistent for Ohio State.  He took over the record for consecutive starts at 55 games passing Luke Fickell who previously held the record at 50.  Price helped lead the Buckeyes to 4 straight seasons inside of the top 20 for rushing yards.  Price is very quick and has great strength to help him control the defensive line.

Price’s versatility makes him a great selection for the Bengals.  With experience at both guard and center, and playing both at a high level, will allow him to get a chance to start immediately for Cincinnati.  Price will look to make an immediate impact and help the Bengals make the playoffs since 2015.

History in the Draft

For the first time there was 4 quarterbacks taken in the first 10 picks.

Baker Mayfield, out of Oklahoma, was taken 1st overall by the Cleveland Browns.  The Browns think they finally have their franchise quarterback.  Mayfield has the right attitude to take this team to the Super Bowl.  He is on the smaller side, listed at 6 feet, but has the skill set to be a good quarterback.  His 70% passing percentage is what will make him an NFL quarterback.  Mayfield is a blue collar guy who has fought for everything he has earned in his football career, and will make the perfect fit for the Cleveland Browns.

Sam Darnold, out of USC, was taken 3rd overall by the New York Jets.  The Jets have had many misses at quarterback throughout their draft history.  Their most recent draft misses were Geno Smith, Tajh Boyd, Bryce Petty, and Christian Hackenberg.  Darnold is looking to change their history of bad QB picks.  Darnold has the best upside of any of the quarterbacks in the 2018 class, according to most analysts.  His only downfall is his ability to protect the football with 22 interceptions and 21 fumbles in only 27 games.  The Jets are hoping that Darnold can be the guy to lead them back to the Super Bowl.

Josh Allen, out of Wyoming, was taken 7th by the Buffalo Bills.  The Bills traded up with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to grab Josh Allen at 7th Overall.  Allen has elite arm strength, but has a hard time of being accurate consistently.  Allen has been in the news for tweets he made in high school which were racist and homophobic.  Allen owned up to them calling them a mistake because of his youth.  The Bills just signed AJ McCarron to a two-year deal which may delay Allen’s start to the NFL early on this upcoming season.  That could be great for him of not having the pressure to perform right away, and he can develop better accuracy.

Josh Rosen, out of UCLA, was taken 10th overall by the Arizona Cardinals.  The Cardinals also traded up to get their quarterback of the future with the Oakland Raiders.  Rosen is best “Pro-Style” Quarterback in the draft.  He has a great arm, accuracy, and has great touch on the deep ball.  He does lack mobility, which seems to be the new era of quarterback in the NFL.  Rosen loves being the underdog, and being selected 10th he only had one thing to say to the rest of the league, “I’m motivated.”  Rosen is hoping to prove every doubter wrong, and looks to be the last quarterback standing when his career is all said and done.

Also, for the first time ever in a draft two brothers were taken in the 1st Round.  Tremaine Edmunds, out of Virginia Tech, was taken 16th overall by the Buffalo Bills. And Terrell Edmunds, also out of Virginia Tech, was taken 28th overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers.  Sadly, the Bills and the Steelers do not play each other, but a little brother rivalry will probably be on its way in the near future.

WR Downfall

For the first time since 2009 a WR wasn’t drafted in the first 20 picks.  Only two WR’s were drafted in the first round the first being D.J. Moore, out of Maryland, taken 24th overall to the Carolina Panthers.  The second WR drafted was Calvin Ridley, out of Alabama, taken 26th overall by the Atlanta Falcons.  For the Falcons that makes two elite WRs for them from Alabama in Julio Jones, and now Ridley.  Jones, however, has caused stir throughout the NFL after unfollowing and deleting all his pictures of the Atlanta Falcons.  It will be interesting to see where that situation goes.

Inspiring Moment in the Draft

 Ryan Shazier was asked to announce the Pittsburgh Steelers draft pick.  Shazier walked down the aisle holding his fiance’s hand.  Shazier has shown incredible perseverance through this injury.  He was smiling while walking and waving to fans throughout Jerry’s World.  It was inspiring to watch a man who may never play a game he loves again have a smile on his face through everything that has happened.

 

 

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