2018 NFL Draft Watchlist
By Jon Dove
The 2017 NFL Draft has just come to an end which means it’s time to start looking towards the 2018 NFL Draft.
This 2018 NFL Draft watchlist is just a starting point and we can expect many changes. We just saw how different the results of the 2017 NFL Draft were based on the early Big Boards. Look for plenty of prospects to drop off this list and others to emerge.
Please not that this is just a basic watchlist and not a ranking. The prospects below are not in any specific order. However, some of the more exciting prospects to appear at the top.
Arden Key is the splashy defensive player in this draft thanks to his ability to create pressure on the quarterback. Offensively, Sam Darnold and Saquan Barkley have a chance to be special talents. Barkley has the talent to be one of the first few picks in next year’s draft.
I was a big fan of Washington State’s Luke Falk and would’ve had him as my top rated quarterback in this year’s draft. He comes from the Mike Leach’s spread attack, but shows the ability to read a defense and go through his progressions.
Arden Key, Edge, LSU
Sam Darnold, QB, USC
Saquan Barkley, RB, Penn State
Malik Jefferson, LB, Texas
Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama
Derwin James, DB, Florida State
Minkah Fitzpatrick, CB, Alabama
Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA
Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame
Luke Falk, QB, Washington State
Derrius Guice, RB, LSU
Christian Wilkins, DL, Clemson
Mitch Hyatt, OT, Clemson
Tyquan Lewis, DL, Ohio State
Cameron Smith, Edge, USC
James Washington, WR, Oklahoma State
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Bradley Chubb, Edge, NC State
Harold Landry, Edge, Boston College
Christian Kirk, WR, Texas A&M
Martez Ivey, OT, Florida
Tarvarus McFadden, CB, Florida State
Vita Vea, DT, Washington
Quenton Nelson, OG, Notre Dame
Bo Scarbrough, RB, Alabama
Akrum Wadley, RB, Iowa
Braden Smith, OG, Auburn
Mason Cole, OL, Michigan
Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming
Nick Chubb, RB, Georgia
Royce Freeman, RB, Oregon