2018 NFL Draft Watchlist

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

More from With the First Pick

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