The Buffalo Bills selected Virginia Tech LB Tremaine Edmunds with the 16th overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft Thursday, April 26.
Footballguys View: Edmunds has fantastic speed, great size and plenty of explosiveness. He can even get bigger and stronger in the NFL. His athleticism can help him survive while he overcomes his more mental hiccups. He can fit in the middle linebacker eventually, which the Bills need.
Cleveland Browns CB Denzel Ward’s athleticism and ability to play press-man coverage will fit the defense, according to general manager John Dorsey.
Footballguys View: As we stated earlier, it was just surprising to see him go this early. But making sure they have someone who can try and hang in man coverage with the big named receivers in the AFC North was critical to a Browns team which feels it is massively improved.
The Oakland Raiders selected UCLA OT Kolton Miller with the 15th overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft Thursday, April 26.
Footballguys View: A little early for a tall guy with stiff hips, but the Raiders are clearly shoring up the offensive line to try and keep Derek Carr healthy. He’s very athletic, and his technique can improve though, so the raiders are looking at his upside.
The New Orleans Saints selected Texas-San Antonio DE Marcus Davenport with the 14th overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft Thursday, April 26.
Footballguys View: The Saints fooled everyone, given how much they traded to the Green Bay Packers to move up. People thought Lamar Jackson, but they went with a guy who had been rising up media draft boards the last few weeks. He’s still working on his game, and was a stand up rusher at UTSA but can put his hands in the dirt.
The Washington Redskins selected Alabama DT Da’Ron Payne with the 13th overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft Thursday, April 26.
Footballguys View: Payne is a strong, productive tackle who improved every year at Alabama. His strength helps him stuff runs while his athleticism allows him to shed blockers and disrupt plays behind the line of scrimmage.
Miami Dolphins DB Minkah Fitzpatrick will play safety, according to general manager Chris Grier, and Grier called Fitzpatrick a ‘Swiss Army knife’ for the defense.
Footballguys View: Fitzpatrick played some corner in college, but he is a better fit at safety and will be more effective there for Miami.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected Washington DT Vita Vea with the 12th overall pick in 2018 NFL Draft Thursday, April 26.
Footballguys View: Pairing him with Gerald McCoy could be potent. A large man, he still came off the edge on a regular basis and he moves exceedingly well.
The New York Giants selected Penn State RB Saquon Barkley with the second overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft Thursday, April 26.
Footballguys View: The least shocking pick in the draft, Barkley is a dynamic playmaker who will be on the field on all three downs. He can run outside, run inside, pass block and pass catch. Now you have Barkley and Odell Beckham Jr in the same offense? Fantastic. Will they regret passing on a quarterback in two years? We’ll see.
The Cleveland Browns selected Oklahoma QB Baker Mayfield with the first overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft Thursday, April 26.
Footballguys View: A highly accurate, dynamic playmaker who is a bit undersized and has worried some teams with his brash antics during games. The Browns got an electrifying guy who can get the fanbase going and make use of Josh Gordon and Jarvis Landry.
Seattle Seahawks FS Earl Thomas is still receiving interest from the Dallas Cowboys, according to industry sources. Trade talks have centered around the Cowboys’ second-round pick (No. 50 overall), but no deal will be done unless the Cowboys believe they can re-sign him.
Footballguys View: It could be a nice acquisition for Dallas though the second round pick is a little high given the depth at several positions the Cowboys need to address in this draft. Thomas obviously has plenty in the tank and Dallas needs help in the secondary though. Short term pain for short term gain?