Things We Know This Week: Quarterbacks of the 2018 Draft Class

What a difference four years can make. In 2018, CBS Sports ranked the quarterback class. It is really eye-opening to see how much of a gamble it is for quarterbacks transitioning from the college game to the NFL.

When I am asked who I would have selected at that time, I say that I was just interested in the Bills selecting the right guy for their situation. I did not know which quarterback that would be. They did.

Sam Darnold

CBS had Sam Darnold ranked number one in the class. The jets drafted him third overall in the 2018 draft with extremely high expectations. Since Cleveland passed on him, this took the pressure away from being the first overall pick. Turnover at the head coaching position in the Big Apple makes development of quarterbacks challenging no matter who the signal caller is. Todd Bowles, Adam Gase, and Robert Saleh have been the head coaches in the short, unsuccessful turmoil. It is not easy to be a young QB when the direction of the franchise continuously changes. Some people wonder if the Jets actually have a plan or process.

Darnold was not horrible by any means. He did struggle to stay healthy at times, which can be disastrous when developing a young franchise quarterback. He had some really memorable moments and even some solid games. Darnold simply was not dynamic. Not enough to overcome the struggling franchise. Especially when your franchise is compared to a circus. The Jets were ready to move on as they invested the second overall pick last year on Zach Wilson. Darnold is now in Carolina, where he will compete for the starting position with the 2018 number one overall pick, Baker Mayfield.

Josh Rosen

Josh was calculated at being ranked number two. NOT JOSH ALLEN. Josh Rosen was well known for being the most NFL-READY of the lot. That obviously meant something to those executives out there. Despite being CBS Sports’ second-ranked quarterback prospect, he was not selected as the second quarterback in the draft. He was selected at number ten overall. Currently, Josh Rosen is out of the NFL. He has already been a member of five NFL teams.

Josh Allen

CBS Sports had our Josh ranked number three at the time of the draft. Josh Allen was taken with 7th overall pick that they aggressively traded to move up to get. Many considered this pick a huge gamble for a raw project quarterback with amazing upside. He needed to work on his footwork mechanics as well as accuracy. Make no doubt about it. The Bills have found their franchise quarterback they have been searching for since Jim Kelly. Josh Allen has developed into one of the very top quarterbacks in the world. It is safe to say he has developed into the top quarterback from the draft class. He can do it all. Next step in the process: Lombardi trophy.

Lamar Jackson

Lamar Jackson was fourth on CBS Sports Radar. Baltimore did not make out too bad as Jackson has a League MVP on his resume already. They drafted him number 32 overall in the first round.

Mason Rudolph

Mason Rudolph was the number five ranked quarterback by CBS Sports. He has been a backup in Pittsburgh so far, but Big Ben retired. It appears there will be a quarterback competition in Pittsburgh which Rudolph currently plans on being involved in. Rumors circulate about him being traded as well. Pittsburgh selected him in the third round.

Baker Mayfield

Notice that the number one overall pick being Baker Mayfield by Cleveland was not even in the top five of that ranking. Maybe CBS Sports was on to something considering Cleveland has already moved on. No one probably ever saw it coming that the two top quarterbacks selected in the 2018 are both currently on Carolina competing against each other for the starting job.

That’s why they play the games.

Buffalo did good. Very good.

This isn’t no EJ Manuel.

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