Since 1983, only three NFL drafts have produced five or more quarterbacks in the first round. John Elway, Dan Marino, Jim Kelly, Todd Blackledge, Tony Eason and Ken O’Brien were all selected in the first round of the ‘83 draft. Those selections, together constituting the quarterback class of 1983, remain a gold standard to this day. Four of those six played in a Super Bowl, and three were inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. In 1999, five quarterbacks were taken in the first round, with Tim Couch, Donovan McNabb, and Akili Smith going 1-2-3, respectively. Daunte Culpepper and Cade McNown were taken consecutively at 11 and 12. But the only draft this century that saw five quarterbacks go in the first round took place in 2018. Four QBs, if you can remember way back then, were selected in the Top 10. There was plenty of media hype heading into that draft. Although pundits and sports prognosticators were mostly hesitant to put the 2018 quarterback class on par with that of 1983, comparisons between the two were still made. Two and a half years later, what have we seen from this 2018 QB draft class? These QB’s are all in year three of their four-year deals and teams are expecting improvement from their prospects. The play of these QBs today could determine their future in the league. Sure, it may take a few years to fully judge a class of young quarterbacks. But we can still take an early survey. Baker Mayfield (1st Pick, Browns) credits: | source: Getty Images Baker was drafted No. 1 overall coming off a Heisman-winning season, a viral arrest video and general displays of douchiness. Mayfield’s off-field incidents gave sports media the opportunity to talk about maturity ahead of, and after, the draft. “Is Mayfield essentially Johnny Manziel without as much baggage?” the New York Times asked after the Sooners QB went first overall. The answer? No. Mayfield is better than Johnny Manziel, who only played 14 games in two seasons with the Browns. But the Manziel-sized bar set for Baker was, in hindsight, very low. Still, Cleveland’s newest young QB hasn’t exactly lived up to the hype. Last year was Baker’s first full campaign as a starter, and he ranked 31st in completion percentage and second in interceptions. The coaching carousel in Cleveland certainly has not helped to stabilize Mayfield. This year, though, he’s been looking much better and a banged up Mayfield was replaced in the third quarter Sunday for back Case Keenum after completing just 10 of 18 passes for mere 119 yards, one TD and two picks. Current Browns coach Kevin Stefanski has said that his QB will stay the team’s starter, “ as long as he’s healthy.” The Browns have a relatively easy schedule for the rest of 2020. Don’t be surprised if Cleveland strings together a few more wins and maybe even snags a wild-card playoff spot in this year’s expanded playoffs. If Baker can manage to get the 4-2 Browns into wild-card contention, odds are he remains the starter in 2021. The Browns will fire another coach before they trade, demote, or admit they were wrong about Mayfield. Sam Darnold (3rd Pick, Jets) credits: | source: Getty Images Darnold was seen as the reliable pick in the 2020 draft. He was expected to go somewhere in the top five picks in most mock drafts, and was projected to have a high NFL ceiling. After Cleveland took Mayfield and New York’s other team selected RB Saquon Barkley, Darnold went third overall to the Jets. After two up and down years, Jets fans held out hope that this was their QB of the future. Last season, after his bout with mononucleosis, Darnold finished strong. The second-year QB had a winning record as the Jets starter and helped his team get into playoff contention. But the Jets will not play a relevant game of football this year. So far in his third season, Darnold is 0-4 and not living up to the hype. The QB has been sidelined with an injury the past two weeks. He will likely play a few more games once he’s healthy, so the Jets can continue evaluating their top prospect. But the winless Jets may end up winning the Trevor Lawrence sweepstakes, and if they do, this will likely be Darnold’s last year at the Meadowlands. Josh Allen (7th pick, Bills) credits: | source: Getty Images It seems like every draft there is a “highly-touted” first-round quarterback from a football program you’ve never watched. Joe Flacco came from the University of Delaware, Carson Wentz played at North Dakota State, and Jordan Love was recently selected by the Packers via Utah State. In 2018 we had Josh Allen from the University of Wyoming. No one really knew much about him (though some racist tweets of his from his youth surfaced on draft day) except that he could throw the ball a long way. But accurate? Eh, not so much. In his first year in the pros, Allen threw more interceptions than touchdowns and completed just over 50 percent of his passes. The next year, in his first full season as a starter, Allen reduced his turnovers but still had the worst completion percentage of any NFL starter and led the Bills to the postseason (their second appearance since 1999). It’s only October, but the Bills look like the favorites to come out of the AFC East thanks in large part to the play from Allen. Buffalo could be looking at back-to-back playoff berths for the first time since the ’90s. Two-and-a-half seasons into his NFL career, Allen is shaping up to be one of the better picks from the 2018 draft class. Josh Rosen (10th Pick, Cardinals) credits: | source: Getty Images Rosen went 10th overall to the Arizona Cardinals in 2018, and famously said at the time that nine teams made a mistake. He was not pleased that he went 10th. Today, he is a practice squad player with Tampa Bay. After the draft, Rosen tried to man the ship of two horrific teams: the 2018 Cardinals and 2019 Dolphins. He is 3-13 as a starter throughout his career. Peyton Manning was also 3-13 through his first 16 starts, so maybe there’s hope? This year, Rosen gets to learn from Tom Brady (above l. with Rosen) in Tampa, which isn’t the worst place to be. But going from Top 10 pick to practice squad player back to a starting role would be a tough script to sell in Hollywood. Unfortunately, Rosen’s playing days seem to be behind him. Lamar Jackson (32nd pick, Ravens) credits: | source: Getty Images If there is any quarterback that has exceeded his draft hype it’s Lamar Jackson, the last pick. of the first round. The 2016 Heisman trophy winner was almost fell to the second round due to fears that he was too small and could not throw the ball as well as others selected before him. Former Indianapolis Colts GM and ESPN talking head, Bill Polian, even said Jackson would fare better as a wide receiver. In his second year in the league, Jackson won a MVP and helped the Ravens capture the No 1 seed in the AFC. So far, Jackson has been the best QB in the 2018 cohort. Relatedbest online football betting sitesbest betting sites for nflcollege football betting sitesbetting on nba onlinebetting mlbbetting nhl onlineonline ufc bettingall soccer betting sitestop online copa america betting sites
Related Posts
Paulo Dybala to Paris Saint-Germain?
Dybala, previously linked to Manchester United, Tottenham and PSG, is reportedly facing an uncertain future in Turin.
Juventus could be prepared to exchange players with PSG.
TOP STORY – DYBALA OUT, ICARDI IN?
Juventus are considering a swap deal that would send Paulo Dybala to Paris Saint-Germain in exchange for Mauro Icardi, according to Calciomercato.
Dybala has struggled for form in 2020-21, while contract negotiations with Serie A champions Juve have so far proved fruitless.
Icardi was linked to Juve prior to joining Ligue 1 holders PSG permanently from Inter and the Argentina forward could swap clubs with Dybala.
ROUND-UP
TodoFichajes says Arsenal are s…
Julian Nagelsmann knows Bayern Munich could slip up if they are not at full throttle when they face Stuttgart due to having one eye on a showdown with Paris Saint-Germain next week.
Borussia Dortmund can replace Bayern at the top of the Bundesliga table if they avoid defeat against RB Leipzig on Friday.
Bayern will be looking for a 13th consecutive away victory over Stuttgart and go into Saturday s game on the back of a 3-0 win over third-placed Union Berlin.
The Bavarian giants will then take on PSG in the second leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie next Wednesday and hold a 1-0 lead courtesy of Kingsley Coman s goal at the Parc des Princes.
Bayern head coach Nagelsmann says there is no chance the reigning champions will take Stuttgart lightly a…
Xavi scored a superb free-kick and set up the winner as Al Sadd overcame Pakhtakor 2-1 in the AFC Champions League to go top of Group D.
With Al Ahli having beaten 2018 runners up Persepolis 2-1 earlier on Monday, Al Sadd got off the mark nine minutes in when Xavi – who netted a double in a 2-2 draw in the reverse fixture two weeks ago – curled in a sublime set-piece from 20 yards.
Pakhtakor restored parity through Egor Krimets close-range header, and that looked set to be enough for a point until Baghdad Bounedjah regained possession deep in the visitors half, exchanged a quick one-two with Xavi and picked out the bottom-right corner in the 87th minute.
In Abu Dhabi, Leonardo scored four as Al Wahda came from two goals down to beat Al Rayyan 4-3 in a thrilli…
Graham Potter knows Chelsea s Champions League clash with Borussia Dortmund can be a special night after they finally returned to winning ways.
The Blues will welcome the Bundesliga side to Stamford Bridge on Tuesday for the second leg of their last-16 tie as they look to overturn a one-goal deficit.
Chelsea head into the match on the back of a first win in seven games after a 1-0 victory over Leeds United on Saturday, handing them a much-needed boost to their flagging season.
Potter, who has been in need of positive results to ease the pressure on his position, is looking forward to the chance to back it up with success in Europe.
I agree it s a big game, an exciting game, he said. [It is] a chance to go through to the last eight of the Champions League…
Danny Simpson hopes to persuade Leicester City team-mate Jamie Vardy to stay at the club, even if it is just for one more season.
England international Vardy scored 24 Premier League goals as Leicester won the 2015-16 title under manager Claudio Ranieri.
The forward has since been linked with a move to top-flight rivals Arsenal, with Arsene Wenger apparently ready to trigger a £20 million release clause in the player s contract.
Full-back Simpson revealed he s spoken to his club colleague with regards his future, although Vardy is not expected to make any announcement while away with the national team at Euro 2016.
I have spoken to Jamie. Everyone wants him to stay. We would like everyone to stay, even if it s just for one more year, Simpson t…
Ander Herrera and Adnan Januzaj have returned to training with Manchester United but remain doubtful for the trip to Stoke City.
Spaniard Herrera has been out of action since mid December through injury but is closing in on a return, while Januzaj is also back in action after illness.
Herrera trained today [Tuesday] for the first time with us but, yes, they don t have match rhythm, boss Louis van Gaal told a media conference.
Januzaj has also trained two training sessions with us, but he was ill and you have to recover from your illness, not from your tiredness.
Maybe it s worse to recover from illness.
The duo s return is a boost for United, who have been hit by absences in key positions in recent weeks.
However, when asked if …
Chris Hughton has been confirmed as the new Norwich City manager and says he intends to retain the services of club captain Grant Holt.
The 53-year-old has signed a contract with the club after a compensation package was agreed with Birmingham City, who he led to the Championship play-offs last season.
Hughton replaces Paul Lambert, who resigned from the Norwich post to take over the managerial reigns at Aston Villa.
At his unveiling on Thursday, Hughton said securing the services of club captain and top scorer Holt was his first priority.
Holt has signalled his intention to leave Carrow Road in the off-season.
To score the goals that he (Holt) did last season, I don t think there would be any manager coming in here who wouldn t want to keep a…
FA chief executive Brian Barwick believes he will leave English football in rude health after announcing he is set to step down at the end of the year.
Barwick, who appointed Fabio Capello as England coach, released a statement confirming his decision to quit after his country s 2-2 draw against the Czech Republic on Wednesday
It is believed Barwick s exit has come as a result of disagreements with FA chairman Lord Triesman on how the English game s governing body should be developed.
Barwick is said to have disagreed with Triesman over the FA s strategic policies and the appointment of key figures in the 2018 World Cup bid team.
Triesman, a former Government minister, appears to have won the dispute and is likely to take a more hands-on role at the …
Former Arsenal and Crystal Palace midfielder Mathieu Flamini has joined Getafe until the end of the season on a free transfer.
Flamini, 33, had been without a club since being released by Palace at the end of last season.
The Frenchman brings with him a wealth of experience, having enjoyed spells at Marseille and AC Milan, as well as two stints with Arsenal.
Getafe have been one of the surprise packages of the 2017-18 Liga season so far and sit ninth with 28 points, despite being one of the sides promoted to the top flight only last season.
OFICIAL | Mathieu Flamini nuevo futbolista azulon. ¡Bienvenido !
— Getafe C.F. (@GetafeCF)
Flamini will link up with former Arsenal team-mate Emiliano Martinez and fellow Frenchman Loic Remy at the…
Fiorentina
After finishing in eighth place last season, Fiorentina currently find themselves flirting with mid-table. Having beaten Bologna 2-1 away in their last outing, Stefano Pioli s side currently sit in 11th position and are hoping that a late push in the second half of the season could secure them a Europa League spot come May. Already chasing down a seven-point deficit on sixth place Sampdoria, Viola s win last weekend ended their five-match winless run. Only winning one of their last seven matchups against the defending champions, Pioli s Fiorentina side will be looking to shore up their defensive issues, they have now failed to keep a single clean sheet in their last seven matches.
Team News
Viola manager Stefano Pioli will be without Simone Lo Faso, who is out with…