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The best picks of the 2018 NFL Draft in every round

By Christopher Thomas

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - OCTOBER 11: Mark Andrews #89 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates with Orlando Brown #78 after a touchdown during the first half against the Cincinnati Bengals at M&T Bank Stadium on October 11, 2020 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Todd Olszewski/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - OCTOBER 11: Mark Andrews #89 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates with Orlando Brown #78 after a touchdown during the first half against the Cincinnati Bengals at M&T Bank Stadium on October 11, 2020 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Todd Olszewski/Getty Images) /
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Darius Leonard of the Indianapolis Colts celebrates a second half stop for the Colts, Houston at The Colts, Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019. Colts won 30-23 to pull ahead in the race for the AFC South title.Houston Faces Colts For Afc South Supremacy
Darius Leonard of the Indianapolis Colts celebrates a second half stop for the Colts, Houston at The Colts, Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019. Colts won 30-23 to pull ahead in the race for the AFC South title.Houston Faces Colts For Afc South Supremacy /

Second Round

36. Indianapolis Colts: Darius Leonard, LB, South Carolina State

A lot of great position players came out of the second round in 2018, but the best pick in the second round that year was when the Indianapolis Colts spent their first of two picks in the second round on an FCS off-ball linebacker. Darius Leonard was an outstanding player during his time at South Carolina State. The question with him as a prospect was whether his success would translate in the NFL which was a large increase in the level of competition compared to who he played during his time at school.

Leonard silenced those who questioned the pick very early on in his career. Not only did he start in every single one of the 15 games he played during his rookie year, but he also had four forced fumbles, eight passes defended, two interceptions led the league with 163 combined tackles (111 solo tackles), and won Defensive Rookie of the Year.

Since then Leonard has been one of the elite linebackers in the league and is regarded by many as the best linebacker in the NFL. In his sophomore seasons Leonard had 121 combined tackles (71 solo tackles), five sacks, seven passed defended, and two forced fumbles, and five interceptions including when that he took the house for a pick-six. This past season Leonard was a major reason why Indianapolis had one of the best defenses in the league putting up 132 combined tackles (86 solo), three sacks, seven passes defended, and three forced fumbles.

Leonard is arguably the face of a franchise that has started every season since Leonard was drafted in 2018 with a different starting quarterback than the year prior. Indianapolis will continue that trend this season after trading for former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz this offseason.

Honorable Mentions:

35. Cleveland Browns (via Houston Texans): Nick Chubb, RB, Georgia

40. Denver Broncos: Courtland Sutton, WR, SMU

49. Philadelphia Eagles (via Indianapolis Colts from New York Jets, originally from the Seattle Seahawks): Dallas Goedert, TE, South Dakota State

61. Jacksonville Jaguars: D.J. Chark, WR, LSU

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