2018 NFL Draft: Round 1 Morning After

The 2018 NFL Draft opening round is over.

Who came out a winner and who is likely picking up high next year because of a big miss last night.

The Oakland Raiders trade down 5 spots from the 10th overall pick to the Arizona Falcons obtaining an extra 3rd and 5th round pick.  They take Kolton Miller from UCLA who was a 4th round graded player with good athleticism but extremely raw. He has got to get to work in the weight room and is a poor run blocker.  There were better offensive tackles such as Isaiah Wynn, Tyrell Cosby, Orlando Brown and Connor Williams all on the board.

The Seattle Seahawks last first round selection was in 2016 and selected Germain Ifedi who was a project offensive tackle who has yet to meet expectations.  They did not have a first round pick in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2017.  They reach again with their opening round selection of RB Rashad Penny from San Diego State.  Penny is a good back but he was the 9th best back in the draft and is not the same category as Sony Michel and Kerryon Johnson.

The Dallas Cowboys selection of Leighton Vander Esch from Boise State was another reach at 19 overall with their choice of any wide receiver in the draft.  The Cowboys spent a 2nd round pick in 2016 on Jaylon Smith coming off a career threatening injury. He was not ready to play as much as he did last season and is unlikely to ever regain his form that made him an elite prospect prior to the injury. Their insurance policy of Anthony Hitchens departed in free agency to the Kansas City Chiefs.  They reached for a position of need and passed on higher quality players at a position of need in Calvin Ridley from Alabama.

The New England Patriots won the opening round with their selections of Isaiah Wynn and Sony Michel from the Georgia Bulldogs.  The Patriots continue to strengthen their offensive line with Wynn and add a versatile electric RB threat in Michel. Tremendous move and the best organization in the NFL at winning football games continues to show how the NFL Draft is done.

The Cleveland Browns took their guy in Baker Mayfield who brings the mindset to meet the challenge of turning around the worst organization in football.  Denzel Ward is a top cover corner who needs to get stronger to help him match up against the bigger type receivers he will see in the NFL. There were only 18 players who earned a first round grade and the Browns came away with 2 of them in the opening round.  It will be an interesting sight to see if Mayfield can do what Manziel couldn't, stay out of trouble and meet the challenge of leading the worst football team in the NFL out of the basement.

Time to reset the board and hit it again on Day 2!