2018 NFL Draft: The Floor Team For Each Projected Top 10 Pick
By Erik Lambert
People always want to know how high a top prospect can go. Well, what about their floor or absolute bottom? The 2018 NFL draft has answers.
The “floor” of a prospect represents a team that there is no way they get past. If they get to that teams’ pick, they’re being drafted. End of discussion. A perfect example last year was Christian McCaffrey. Everybody knew the Panthers wanted him so it was either he got taken in the first seven picks or the Panthers were taking him, which is what happened. So what are the floors for some of the top 10 prospects in this year’s class?
Sam Darnold (QB, USC): New York Giants at #2
The rumors may be flying all over the place but the reality is not much has changed on the quarterback front. Sam Darnold is expected to be one of the first quarterbacks off the board, if not the first player overall to the Cleveland Browns. However, if they decided to pass their a widely accepted belief that the New York Giants would be ready to scoop him up. It’s not a surprise. Eli Manning is 37-years old and the Giants covet tough quarterbacks with a knack for playing well in the clutch. Darnold fits their profile.
Josh Allen (QB, Wyoming): Denver Broncos at #5
It seems the Broncos may have interest in trading down, but that could easily be a smokescreen. John Elway may have signed Case Keenum in free agency. That doesn’t mean he’s the long-term answer at quarterback. Nobody in their right mind would think that. Keenum is a credible stopgap option. The Broncos are well-positioned to find their franchise guy at #5. Rest assured if Josh Allen slips to that spot, Elway will pull the trigger. He’s shown in the past to have an affinity for smart quarterbacks with size and big arms. Just like he was. Allen fits the criteria.