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With the 2018 NFL Draft in the books, it is only fair to dish out some awards for a job well done by a number of teams across the NFL. It also doesn’t hurt to look at which teams may have made regrettable picks.
Pass along your thoughts on these awards and the 2018 NFL Draft. I may put together a mail bag that answers questions/comments sent via email [email protected] or on Twitter @draftcampbell.
Best Trade:
Baltimore Ravens: Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville I thought Jackson was the most dynamic player in the 2018 NFL Draft and was severely undervalued by the quarterback-needy teams. In speaking to evaluators at other teams that already had franchise quarterbacks, they agreed and felt that Jackson was underrated similar to Deshaun Watson a year ago. The Ravens traded up to land Jackson with the final selection of the first round, and I think that could be an incredible value for Baltimore. Getting the fifth-year option on the rookie contract could make Jackson a gigantic bargain to have a franchise quarterback on the cheap.
Of the top quarterback prospects for the 2018 NFL Draft, Jackson has the most athletic ability and dual-threat danger to give defenses huge problems. He has elite arm strength with a powerful gun that can make devastating throws. Jackson’s arm is so strong that he can make throws off platform that other quarterback can only make after setting their feet. With just a flick of his wrist, the ball explodes out of Jackson’s hands, and he can beat good coverage with perfect throws that very few quarterbacks can make. Jackson also hangs tough in the pocket while staring down the barrel to deliver passes while under the pass rush. He showed good field vision to work through progressions with pocket presence and patience to let routes develop. Jackson can buy time with his feet, and while many of his highlights were dominated by runs, Jackson has a devastating arm to hurt defenses downfield. He also ran a complicated college offense under Bobby Petrino, displaying full command of the system.
Jackson has to improve his accuracy and his footwork for the NFL, but he has a good support system in place with the Ravens and doesn’t have to play right away as he will back up Joe Flacco. There is no doubt that Jackson has a ton of potential to be a devastating play-maker in the NFL. Former Texans general manager Rick Smith gave Houston a wonderful parting gift of Deshaun Watson in his final draft, and Ozzie Newsome could have done the same for Baltimore this year with Jackson.
Honorable mentions: Buffalo Bills trading up for Tremaine Edmunds, Baltimore Ravens trading down for Hayden Hurst, and Green Bay Packers trading down then up for Jaire Alexander.
2017 Winner: Tre’Davious White, Bills
2016 Winner: Myles Jack, Jaguars
2015 Winner: Maxx Williams, Ravens
2014 Winner: Louis Nix, Texans
2013 Winner: Alec Ogletree, Rams
2012 Winner: Justin Blackmon, Jaguars
Once again, pass along your thoughts on these awards and the 2018 NFL Draft. I may together a mail bag that answers questions/comments sent via email [email protected] or on Twitter @draftcampbell.
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