The best picks of the 2018 NFL Draft in every round

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BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – NOVEMBER 01: Outside linebacker Bud Dupree #48 of the Pittsburgh Steelers chases quarterback Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens in the first quarter at M&T Bank Stadium on November 01, 2020, in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

2018 NFL Draft best picks: First Round

32. Baltimore Ravens (via Philadelphia Eagles): Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville

There was plenty of great options to choose from in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft. 12 players selected in the first round that year have already been named to at least one Pro Bowl. But no team got a better value than when the Baltimore Ravens traded back into the first round to select Lamar Jackson.

Quenton Nelson, the sixth overall pick of the Indianapolis Colts, was a close second. Nelson looks like a sure-fire Hall of Famer at this point of his career. There was also some stiff competition from the other quarterbacks selected in the first round, including Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills, who was the MVP runner-up this past season. But Jackson has the slight edge because of what he has been able to do for the Ravens despite being the first pick in the first round.

Baltimore was looking for a spark in their offense going into the 2018 NFL Draft. After selecting Hayden Hurst with the 25th overall pick, the Ravens decided to trade back into the first round to select their quarterback of the future which was the dynamic Louisville quarterback who won the Heisman back in 2016. The Ravens gave up their 2019 second-round pick, 2019 fourth-round pick, and 2020 second-round pick to select the superstar quarterback.

In Week 11 of the 2018-19 season, Baltimore started Jackson for the first time over former Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco. Under Jackson, the Ravens went from a 4-5 team to a 10-6 wild card playoff team. Since Jackson has started for the Ravens he has gone 30-7 as a starter, including a 13-2 regular-season record in 2019-20. He has also led the Ravens to the playoffs in each of his first three seasons.

Jackson has a 64% completion percentage, 7,085 passing yards, 68 passing touchdowns, 2,906 rushing yards, and 19 rushing touchdowns so far in his career. He holds the record for most rushing yards in a single season by a quarterback, has the 12th most rushing yards by a quarterback ever despite only playing in 46 career games, and is the only quarterback in NFL history with two-plus seasons with 1,000+ rushing yards.

But it was Lamar Jackson’s MVP season in 2019-20 that puts him over the edge. During his second season in the league (and first season as a full-time starter) he became the second unanimous MVP in NFL History (along with Tom Brady in 2010). Jackson threw for 3,127 passing yards and a league-leading 36 touchdowns. On top of that Jackson set the record with most rushing yards in a single season by a quarterback with 1,206 and seven rushing touchdowns.

He was the catalyst for Baltimore to win 12 straight games to end the regular season that year and go into the playoffs as the one seed in the AFC and the Super Bowl favorite.

Honorable Mentions:

6. Indianapolis Colts (via New York Jets): Quenton Nelson, IOL, Notre Dame

18. Green Bay Packers (via Seattle Seahawks): Jaire Alexander, CB, Louisville

20. Detriot Lions: Frank Ragnow, IOL, Arkansas

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