NFL Draft 2018: Reviewing This Year's Biggest Steals, Reaches and Surprises
Why do we love the NFL draft so much? As Houston Texans star J.J. Watt pointed out Friday, we're just watching people read names off pieces of paper. Yet, the annual event has become appointment viewing.
Finding out where tomorrow's NFL superstars will play is a thrill. For diehard fans, it's also a ton of fun watching their favorite teams add fresh talent. The biggest reason we love the draft, however, is it's unpredictability—something even the casual sports fan can enjoy.
There's no telling what will happen on draft weekend. An unexpected slide or surprise pick can change the event's course, light up social media and make for tremendous break-room talk on Monday morning.
The 2018 draft was filled with unexpected moments. Now that it's over, let's take a look back at its biggest steals, reaches and surprises.
Steal: Cardinals Land Josh Rosen at No. 10
1 of 13
The Arizona Cardinals needed to draft a potential franchise quarterback. While they added Sam Bradford and Mike Glennon in the offseason, neither projects as a long-term replacement for the retired Carson Palmer.
Arizona got its quarterback of the future—and possibly its quarterback of now—when it selected UCLA's Josh Rosen 10th overall. Yes, Arizona had to trade up to get him, but it only had to deal away two picks (79th and 152nd) in addition to the 15th overall selection to do so.
Rosen was widely viewed as the draft's most NFL-ready passer. He should have a chance to move to No. 1 on the depth chart as a rookie, and he'll be motivated to make Arizona a winner.
"I thought I should've been picked at 1, 2 or 3," Rosen said, per Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com. "I dropped, and I was pissed. I was really, really angry."
This was a steal for the Cardinals because they didn't surrender a lot to move up. Last year, the Chicago Bears gave up two third-rounders and fourth-round pick to jump up one spot to get their quarterback, Mitchell Trubisky. Cardinals general manager Steve Keim traded a third and a fifth to move up five slots to land Rosen.
Reach: Steelers Take Terrell Edmunds in Round 1
2 of 13
The Buffalo Bills got good value when they selected former Virginia Tech linebacker Tremaine Edmunds with the 16th overall pick. The Pittsburgh Steelers drafted his brother and former teammate, safety Terrell Edmunds, 28th overall. A value pick he was not.
This isn't to say Edmunds won't develop into a good pro. He was a solid college player and has good measurables (6'1", 217 lbs), but he isn't anything special. He ran a decent 4.47-second 40 at the combine and logged just two interceptions in 2017.
Pretty much no one saw him as a potential first-round pick. In fact, Zierlein predicted he would be a third-rounder at best.
Heck, Miller had Edmunds rated as his 11th-best safety. That's right, he had 10 safeties rated higher than Edmunds, yet only two—Minkah Fitzpatrick and Derwin James—were taken ahead of him. It seems unlikely the Steelers couldn't have traded down with this pick or up in the second round and still landed him.
By selecting Edmunds, the Steelers ensured that a pair of brothers went in the same Round 1 for the first time in NFL history, which is a cool story. However, cool stories don't warrant such a reach for a team that is trying to win now.
Surprise: Browns Take Denzel Ward at No. 4
3 of 13
You might consider the Cleveland Browns' selection of Baker Mayfield at No. 1 overall a surprise because of his height (under 6'1"). However, the Browns pulled the draft's real shocker by selecting former Ohio State cornerback Denzel Ward fourth.
Ward was a good player for the Buckeyes, and many considered him the draft's best cornerback, but he wasn't viewed as a can't-miss prospect like NC State pass-rusher Bradley Chubb. Cleveland could have had Chubb—and many believed he was a no-brainer pick—but it selected Ward instead.
The Denver Broncos didn't hesitate to snag the defender with the next selection.
"We didn't trade because Bradley was there," Broncos general manager John Elway explained, per Jay Skurski of the Buffalo News. "We did have some options, but with Bradley falling to us, we thought that was our best option."
Instead of fleecing the Buffalo Bills for multiple picks, Denver went with the sure thing and grabbed Chubb. The Browns didn't, and that's a surprise—especially when you consider the last corner taken fourth overall or higher was Charles Woodson in 1998.
.png?w=256)
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Steal: Seahawks Add Shaquem Griffin at No. 141
4 of 13
You probably know Shaquem Griffin's story by now. He suffered from amniotic band syndrome before birth, which eventually led to the amputation of his left hand. Yet, this didn't stop him from joining the Central Florida football team with his twin brother, Shaquill, or from becoming the AAC Defensive Player of the Year in 2016 and an All-American in 2017.
Being one-handed probably won't prevent Griffin from being a productive pro either. He is a supremely talented football player with elite athleticism—he ran a 4.38-second 40 at the combine—with great instincts and a nose for the ball.
Griffin logged 13.5 tackles for loss and 7.0 sacks last season.
The Seattle Seahawks landed him with the fourth pick in Round 5 (141st overall). They'll reunite him with his brother and have likely landed, at worst, a solid situational player who will contribute on defense and special teams.
If Griffin performs like he did in college, Seattle will get a lot more.
"I'm glad we made that choice and we're bringing my brother back home," Shaquill Griffin said, per ESPN.com.
Reach: Patriots Take Duke Dawson in Second Round
5 of 13
New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick is known for being a great coach and making many shrewd personnel decisions. However, consistent slam-dunk draft selections are not part of his reputation.
The Patriots have missed on several high picks during Belichik's tenure—think Dominique Easley, Ras-I Dowling and Chad Jackson. There's a chance former Florida cornerback Duke Dawson ends up in that category.
He was a decent player for the Gators with 23 tackles and four interceptions last season, but he doesn't have impressive measurables. He has adequate size at 5'11" and 197 pounds, but he isn't the big, long corner teams look for on the outside. With 4.46 speed, he isn't especially fast either. He probably isn't a replacement for Malcolm Butler on the outside.
"His best home is inside at slot," Mayock explained. "I think he's a nickel."
Miller had 10 cornerbacks ranked higher than Dawson heading into draft weekend. Yet, the Patriots made him the seventh corner off the board with the 56th overall selection.
Surprise: Jason Witten's Retirement Plans Leak
6 of 13
Tight end Jason Witten has been a Dallas Cowboys mainstay for 15 seasons. Over the weekend, news leaked that he planned to retire this offseason, leaving the team with a big hole.
According to ESPN's Chris Mortensen, Witten plans to join Monday Night Football.
Not only was the news of Witten's retirement a surprise for fans, but it was also a surprise for the Cowboys. According to Clarence Hill Jr. of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Dallas wasn't expecting him to retire yet.
The sudden news may have led the rival Eagles to jump ahead of Dallas to draft South Dakota State tight end Dallas Goedert in the second round. There's no guarantee the Cowboys would've taken him, of course, but Goedert was considered one of the draft's top tight ends. If Dallas wanted him, Philadelphia made sure it couldn't have him.
The Cowboys did take former Stanford tight end Dalton Schultz with the 137th pick, but it's safe to say Witten will be missed. It's also safe to say the Cowboys probably didn't want other teams knowing tight end would be a need during the draft.
Steal: Redskins Get Derrius Guice in Late 2nd Round
7 of 13
Former LSU running back Derrius Guice was a force in college over the past two seasons, racking up 2,638 yards rushing in that span. He was widely considered the second-best running back in this draft after Penn State's Saquon Barkley, who went second overall to the New York Giants.
However, Guice wasn't the second back drafted. In fact, six running backs—Barkley, Sony Michel, Rashaad Penny, Nick Chubb, Ronald Jones and Kerryon Johnson—were taken ahead of Guice.
There have been a few rumors since the draft kicked off regarding his slide. NFL Media's Mike Mayock (h/t Ian Rapoport) stated there was an "incident from college" that teams were looking into. However, Eric Edholm of Pro Football Weekly reported that an LSU source indicated there was no incident.
NFL Media's Rapoport believes Guice slid because of immaturity concerns and poor predraft visits.
None of these rumors indicate something that would keep Guice off the field. That's good news for the Washington Redskins, who landed him 59th overall, and bad news for defenders.
Guice is a first-round talent. Washington got him at the bottom of Round 2.
Reach: Seahawks Take Rashaad Penny at No. 27
8 of 13
The Seahawks got a steal by landing Griffin in Round 5, but they overdrafted San Diego State running back Rashaad Penny four rounds earlier.
We mentioned Penny was one of the six runners drafted before Guice. Most people were surprised when Seattle took Penny 27th overall.
The 22-year-old projects as a solid NFL running back, but he doesn't possess special traits. Zierlein pegged him as a second-round pick, and Bleacher Report draft expert Matt Miller ranked him eighth overall among running backs in this class.
Backs Miller ranked ahead of Penny include Guice, Michel, Chubb, Jones, Johnson and Miami's Mark Walton. Seattle likely could have traded down and still landed him. Making him the second back off the board behind Barkley was a risky reach.
Steal: Ravens Get Lamar Jackson at 32nd Overall
9 of 13
The Baltimore Ravens landed their quarterback of the future when they took Louisville's Lamar Jackson in the first round at No. 32. They traded up to get him, sending 2018 second- and fourth-round picks and a 2019 second-rounder to the Philadelphia Eagles to do so.
A fourth-round selection and a future second isn't a lot to move up 20 spots to get a fifth-year option with Jackson.
The Ravens got a quarterback with unbelievable upside and didn't mortgage the future. Baltimore can still lean on Super-Bowl-winning quarterback Joe Flacco for a year or two, and by the time it moves to Jackson, it may have this draft's best quarterback.
Jackson has unbelievable talent as a runner, possesses an above-average arm and has steadily shown improvement as a passer, as Bleacher Report's Doug Farrar recently explained:
"What makes Jackson such an exciting NFL prospect is the development on the types of throws every quarterback has to make in the NFL. He can make deep throws over cornerbacks into the arms of receivers on the run. He's improved his touch, timing and arc on posts and fades, and he's learning to throw with anticipation."
If Jackson continues to develop, he could easily be the NFL's biggest dual-threat by the time he takes the field regularly and an elite signal-caller shortly thereafter. The Ravens only gave up a handful of Day 2 picks to bet he can.
Reach: Raiders Take Brandon Parker in Round 3
10 of 13
Some viewed the Oakland Raiders' selection of Kolton Miller at 15th overall as a reach because he's raw. Also, offensive line coach Tom Cable isn't viewed as a miracle worker when it comes to similar projects.
"I don't trust Tom Cable to develop Kolton Miller," former NFL lineman Geoff Schwartz explained via Twitter. "Not at all."
The Raiders don't need developmental linemen either. They could use an influx of immediate help, as last year's line "paved the way" for the league's 21st-ranked rushing attack (108.9 yards per game).
Well, if selecting Miller was a reach, then taking former North Carolina A&T offensive tackle Brandon Parker with the first pick in the third round (65th overall) was an even bigger one. The kid has size (6'8", 305 lbs), but he's a small-school prospect who lacks elite quickness.
Parker ran a 5.44-second 40 at the combine—slow even for a lineman.
Miller ranked Parker as the draft's 20th-best tackle. The Raiders made him one of the first 15 offensive linemen selected. That's quite a reach for a project.
Steal: Texans Get Justin Reid in Round 3
11 of 13
The Houston Texans may have one of the more impressive safety groups in 2018. They already boasted a solid player in Andre Hal, added Tyrann Mathieu in free agency and on Friday, landed former Stanford safety Justin Reid in the third round.
Reid is a tremendous prospect with both the size (6'1", 207 lbs) and speed (ran a 4.4-second 40 at the combine) to be a star. Getting him with the 68th overall pick was a steal for the Texans, as he brings Pro Bowl potential.
His brother, Eric Reid, was a Pro Bowler back in 2013. Some believe the younger Reid will be even better.
"There aren't too many issues in his game," one NFC executive said before the draft, per NFL Media's Lance Zierlein. "If he tests well, he could sneak into the back half of the first is my guess. He's better in coverage than his brother."
Not only did Reid last past the end of the first round, he also lasted past the second. This has to be considered a big win for the Texans, who didn't own a pick before the third round and still may have added a high-end starter.
Reach: Browns Take Antonio Callaway Early Round 4
12 of 13
The Cleveland Browns desperately need an influx of talent, so it wasn't a shock to see them take a chance on former Florida wide receiver Antonio Callaway with the 105th pick. He is undeniably talented.
"Callaway would have been the first or second receiver drafted based on talent alone," Browns general manager John Dorsey explained, per Nathan Zegura of Browns Daily.
Here's the issue: Callaway cannot be judged on talent alone. The former Gator has an extensive history of off-field issues. He has faced sexual-assault allegations, has been cited for marijuana possession and missed his 2017 season because of his involvement in alleged credit-card fraud. Oh, and he failed a drug test at the scouting combine.
Because of the numerous red flags and inherent risk involved, Zierlein pegged the wideout as a seventh-round pick, at best. Yet, Cleveland traded the 114th and 178th selections to the Patriots for the chance to draft Callaway.
If he stays out of trouble, he has the talent to make this selection a steal. However, he has yet to prove he can do so, and this pick could just as easily be a waste. The Browns almost certainly didn't need to trade up to get a player some believed wouldn't be drafted at all.
Surprise: Ryan Shazier Announces 1st-Round Pick
13 of 13
Once the pads go on and the whistle blows, it's easy to forget the guys behind the facemasks are people. One underappreciated aspect of the draft is that it gives us a chance to see players' human sides and to remember some things are more important than the game itself.
We got a wonderful reminder of that Thursday night when linebacker Ryan Shazier walked onto the stage to announce Pittsburgh's first-round selection, Terrell Edmunds.
Last season in a game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Shazier suffered a severe spinal injury. He had to undergo spinal stabilization surgery, and it was fair to wonder if he would ever walk again, let alone play football.
Well, Shazier is walking again, less than five months after suffering the injury.
"I'm truly blessed and humbled from all the prayers, love and support that I have received," he tweeted after making the pick. "This is what keeps me going."
Shazier proved on the draft's opening night he is indeed still going. His walking out in front of the large AT&T Stadium crowd was a surprising display of his personal determination.
.png?w=480)
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
