[h=2]Grading all 32 first rounders after Week 1[/h] BY MARK CHICHESTER • SEP 11, 2018
The first full week of the NFL regular season schedule has been completed, giving us our first real look at this year’s first-round rookies. While some of the 32 first-rounders saw plenty of action, others did not qualify for a grade either based on small snap counts or not playing altogether yet some rookies with large snap counts impressed.
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Through Week 1 of the 2018 season, here are how each of the 32 first-round rookies from the 2018 NFL Draft has graded in their first professional action:
[h=3]PICK NO. 1: BAKER MAYFIELD, CLEVELAND BROWNS[/h] [h=5]2018 SEASON GRADE: N/A[/h]
The Browns told us that Tyrod Taylor would start Week 1, and that’s exactly what happened. However, in his first regular-season start for the Browns, Taylor struggled, and his performance will have done nothing to quieten those wanting Mayfield to start. [h=3]PICK NO. 2: SAQUON BARKLEY, NEW YORK GIANTS[/h] [h=5]2018 SEASON GRADE: 59.7[/h]
The Jaguars managed to subdue Barkley for a good portion of the afternoon, but he did have his moments, and sometimes, that’s all he needs. He broke five tackles on 18 rushing attempts and averaged a mightily impressive 5.28 yards after contact per rushing attempt, the highest mark among backs with at least 15 carries. [h=3]PICK NO. 3: SAM DARNOLD, NEW YORK JETS[/h] [h=5]2018 SEASON GRADE: 67.2[/h]
The Sam Darnold era in New York started in the worst way possible on Monday night, when the rookie signal-caller threw his very first pass across the middle of the field into the waiting arms of safety Quandre Diggs, who returned the ill-advised pass for a touchdown. Darnold quickly recovered from his nightmare start and ended his regular season debut with an adjusted completion percentage of 85.0 percent, which was the fifth-best mark among quarterbacks this week. [h=3]PICK NO. 4: DENZEL WARD, CLEVELAND BROWNS[/h] [h=5]2018 SEASON GRADE: 85.6[/h]
Ward was a standout performer for the Browns defense on Sunday afternoon. During his team’s regular-season opener, Ward played a colossal 81 snaps, the most among all rookie defenders. 50 of those snaps came in coverage, where he excelled, allowing just six receptions from 10 targets for 50 yards while breaking up one pass and intercepting another two. [h=3]PICK NO 5: BRADLEY CHUBB, DENVER BRONCOS[/h] [h=5]2018 SEASON GRADE: 67.4[/h]
Broncos fans were hoping for a big debut performance from edge-rusher Bradley Chubb, and that’s exactly what they got. Working against the Seahawks’ perennially permeable offensive line, Chubb racked up a sack, and six additional quarterback hurries on his 32 pass-rushing snaps.
[h=3]PICK NO. 6: QUENTON NELSON, INDIANAPOLIS COLTS[/h] [h=5]2018 SEASON GRADE: 62.9[/h]
This was not the debut the Colts were hoping to see from 2018 first-round pick Quenton Nelson. Starting at left guard, Nelson had a number of downgrades in both run-blocking and pass-blocking, and he particularly struggled in space when he was asked to pull or get to the second level. He played all 82 offensive snaps for his team, 60 of which came in pass-protection, where he allowed two quarterback hurries and was clearly beaten by a defender on three separate occasions. [h=3]PICK NO 7: JOSH ALLEN, BUFFALO BILLS[/h] [h=5]2018 SEASON GRADE: 73.3[/h]
The Bills first-round pick didn’t start in Week 1, but he did get to see game action after he replaced Nathan Peterman early in the third quarter. Allen immediately sparked the offense and completed 6-of-15 pass attempts for 74 yards and even managed to get a big-time throw on tape. [h=3]PICK NO. 8: ROQUAN SMITH, CHICAGO BEARS[/h] [h=5]2018 SEASON GRADE: 69.9[/h]
Smith only played eight snaps in his team’s Week 1 game against the Packers, but he wasted no time in introducing himself, as he burst through the crumbling offensive line on a blitz and sacked Packers backup quarterback DeShone Kizer on his very first regular season snap.
[h=3]PICK NO. 9: MIKE MCGLINCHEY, SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS[/h] [h=5]2018 SEASON GRADE: 55.4[/h]
The former Notre Dame tackle didn’t have a particularly impressive debut, but it would be unfair to judge him too harshly on Sunday’s performance alone, as injuries on the 49ers offensive line forced him to kick inside to guard, a position that he’d never played at any level up until that point. All told, McGlinchey spent 42 of his 67 snaps as a pass-blocker, but struggled for the most part and allowed one sack, one hit, and three hurries. [h=3]PICK NO. 10: JOSH ROSEN, ARIZONA CARDINALS[/h] [h=5]2018 SEASON GRADE: N/A[/h]
Rosen didn’t see the field in his team’s season opener against the Washington Redskins. For the time being, Rosen will remain on the sideline, backing up veteran quarterback Sam Bradford. [h=3]PICK NO. 11: MINKAH FITZPATRICK, MIAMI DOLPHINS[/h] [h=5]2018 SEASON GRADE: 75.6[/h]
Fitzpatrick more than lived up to his first-round pedigree in the preseason, and so far, that has carried over into his regular season play too. In his team’s opener against the Titans, he played mostly in the slot, where he was targeted four times, but allowed just two receptions for two receiving yards. If that wasn’t enough, he also added three defensive stops, one against the run, two against the pass. [h=3]PICK NO. 12: VITA VEA, TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS[/h] [h=5]2018 SEASON GRADE: N/A[/h]
Vea has been sidelined for nearly a month with a calf injury, so we’ll have to wait a little longer to see the 12th overall pick in a Buccaneers uniform. [h=3]PICK NO. 13: DA’RON PAYNE, WASHINGTON REDSKINS[/h] [h=5]2018 SEASON GRADE: 68.2[/h]
Payne played 30 of his team’s 52 defensive snaps this week, and at times, he looked like the answer to a position that the Redskins have struggled to fill for years. He performed admirably in all facets of the game, but he stood out against the run, where he produced three defensive stops on just 10 run defense snaps. [h=3]PICK NO. 14: MARCUS DAVENPORT, NEW ORLEANS SAINTS[/h] [h=5]2018 SEASON GRADE: 54.9[/h]
After a remarkable couple of preseason games, Davenport came back to Earth in his first regular-season contest. In a rotational role on the Saints defensive line, Davenport logged just 12 pass-rushing snaps, but one of those snaps did end with a quarterback hit. [h=3]PICK NO. 15: KOLTON MILLER, OAKLAND RAIDERS[/h] [h=5]2018 SEASON GRADE: 59.5[/h]
The Raiders new left tackle played all 70 offensive snaps for his team on Monday night, and while he wasn’t perfect, he showed a marked improvement in pass protection after a couple of wildly inconsistent preseason games. All told, Miller yielded just two quarterback hurries on 47 pass-blocking snaps and only lost one of his pass-blocks all game. [h=3]PICK NO. 16: TREMAINE EDMUNDS, BUFFALO BILLS[/h] [h=5]2018 SEASON GRADE: 60.1[/h]
Rookie first-round pick Tremaine Edwards flashed his potential at times, but overall, he didn’t have the greatest debut. In coverage, he allowed six receptions from eight targets for 69 yards, but he did display his athleticism on a pass-breakup against tight end Mark Andrews. Edmunds played his best football against the run, where he accounted for two defensive stops on 33 run defense snaps.
[h=3]PICK NO. 17: DERWIN JAMES, LOS ANGELES CHARGERS[/h] [h=5]2018 SEASON GRADE: 70.0[/h]
James was a bright spot for the Chargers defense during his team’s Week 1 defeat to the Chiefs. He was targeted three times in coverage, allowed just one catch for one yard, and he also added a pass break up in the end zone and a sack from a third-down blitz. [h=3]PICK NO. 18: JAIRE ALEXANDER, GREEN BAY PACKERS[/h] [h=5]2018 SEASON GRADE: 76.2[/h]
The Packers first-round cornerback made his presence felt in his first regular-season contest against the Bears. 31 of his 49 snaps came in coverage on the night, and while he did allow three catches for 36 yards, he also displayed his incredible athleticism on a fourth-down pass breakup against wide receiver Taylor Gabriel. [h=3]PICK NO. 19: LEIGHTON VANDER ESCH, DALLAS COWBOYS[/h] [h=5]2018 SEASON GRADE: 69.6[/h]
The rookie was eased into his first game back from injury and played just 16 snaps during his team’ s regular season opener. 10 of those snaps came against the run, where Vander Esch tallied one tackle and one defensive stop. [h=3]PICK NO 20: FRANK RAGNOW, DETROIT LIONS[/h] [h=5]2018 SEASON GRADE: 41.2[/h]
Like the majority of Lions players who played in Week 1, Ragnow will want to forget his season opener in a hurry. The first-round guard struggled for most of the night as a blocker, allowing two hits and four quarterback hurries on his 56 pass-blocking snaps. If that wasn’t bad enough, Ragnow was consistently defeated by the Jets pass-rush and was left for dust on at least four of his pass-blocks. [h=3]PICK NO. 21: BILLY PRICE, CINCINNATI BENGALS[/h] [h=5]2018 SEASON GRADE: 58.1[/h]
The rookie center played all 56 of his team’s offensive snaps, and once again fared much better as a pass-blocker than as a run-blocker. Price spent 34 snaps in pass-protection, where he allowed just one pressure, his first in four games. [h=3]PICK NO. 22: RASHAAN EVANS, TENNESSEE TITANS[/h] [h=5]2018 SEASON GRADE: N/A[/h]
The rookie linebacker is still yet to suit up for the Titans, as he’s still rehabbing the hamstring injury that kept him out of the preseason. [h=3]PICK NO. 23: ISAIAH WYNN, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS[/h] [h=5]2018 SEASON GRADE: N/A[/h]
The Patriots first-round pick was ruled out for the 2018 season after he tore his Achilles in his preseason debut against the Philadelphia Eagles. [h=3]PICK NO. 24: D.J. MOORE, CAROLINA PANTHERS[/h] [h=5]2018 SEASON GRADE: 55.8[/h]
The rookie wide receiver played just 17 snaps in his team’s regular-season opener and didn’t see a single target. Moore’s lone offensive touch came on a three-yard rush, but he also returned a punt for 15 yards. He’ll look to get his first regular-season catch in this weekend’s game against the Falcons.
[h=3]PICK NO. 25: HAYDEN HURST, BALTIMORE RAVENS[/h] [h=5]2018 SEASON GRADE: N/A[/h]
Hurst didn’t see the field on Sunday, as the rookie tight end is still recovering from the stress fracture that kept him out of his team’s final two preseason games. [h=3]PICK NO. 26: CALVIN RIDLEY, ATLANTA FALCONS[/h] [h=5]2018 SEASON GRADE: 50.4[/h]
The former Alabama star played 45 of Atlanta’s 70 offensive snaps against the Eagles but struggled to make an impact for his team. He was targeted on just two of quarterback Matt Ryan‘s 43 pass attempts and failed to haul in a single catch. [h=3]PICK NO. 27: RASHAAD PENNY, SEATTLE SEAHAWKS[/h] [h=5]2018 SEASON GRADE: 47.3[/h]
It was a rough start for the Seahawks first-round pick, who managed to gain just seven yards after contact on seven rushing attempts. During his regular season debut, Penny was much more effective as a receiver out of the backfield, catching 4-of-5 targets for 35 receiving yards and forcing a missed tackle in the process. [h=3]PICK NO. 28: TERRELL EDMUNDS, PITTSBURGH STEELERS[/h] [h=5]2018 SEASON GRADE: 63.2[/h]
The Steelers first-round pick played an impressive 74 defensive snaps in his team’s regular-season opener, the fifth-most among all rookie defensive players. He was targeted three times in coverage and didn’t allow a single reception, while he also notched a quarterback hit on one of his four pass-rushing snaps. [h=3]PICK NO. 29: TAVEN BRYAN, JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS[/h] [h=5]2018 SEASON GRADE: 59.6[/h]
The former Florida star only played 13 snaps in his regular season debut, but he was productive in limited action. He produced a quarterback hurry on one of his eight pass-rushing snaps, and he also tallied a defensive stop against the run. [h=3]PICK NO. 30: MIKE HUGHES, MINNESOTA VIKINGS[/h] [h=5]2018 SEASON GRADE: 73.1[/h]
The Vikings rookie cornerback enjoyed a triumphant debut against the 49ers. He was targeted six times in coverage, allowed just three receptions for 59 receiving yards and also came away with a pick-six in coverage against receiver Kendrick Bourne. As if that wasn’t enough, Hughes also added a defensive stop against the run. [h=3]PICK NO. 31: SONY MICHEL, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS[/h] [h=5]2018 SEASON GRADE: N/A[/h]
We’re still yet to see Michel don the Patriots uniform, as he’s still sidelined with the same knee injury that kept him out of the preseason. [h=3]PICK NO. 32: LAMAR JACKSON, BALTIMORE RAVENS[/h] [h=5]2018 PRESEASON GRADE: 54.6[/h]
The Ravens included Jackson in numerous trick packages before he eventually replaced starter Joe Flacco in the second half of his team’s opening game victory. The majority of Jackson’s damage came on a series of designed runs, where he amassed 37 rushing yards and forced two missed tackles.
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The first full week of the NFL regular season schedule has been completed, giving us our first real look at this year’s first-round rookies. While some of the 32 first-rounders saw plenty of action, others did not qualify for a grade either based on small snap counts or not playing altogether yet some rookies with large snap counts impressed.
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Through Week 1 of the 2018 season, here are how each of the 32 first-round rookies from the 2018 NFL Draft has graded in their first professional action:
[h=3]PICK NO. 1: BAKER MAYFIELD, CLEVELAND BROWNS[/h] [h=5]2018 SEASON GRADE: N/A[/h] The Browns told us that Tyrod Taylor would start Week 1, and that’s exactly what happened. However, in his first regular-season start for the Browns, Taylor struggled, and his performance will have done nothing to quieten those wanting Mayfield to start. [h=3]PICK NO. 2: SAQUON BARKLEY, NEW YORK GIANTS[/h] [h=5]2018 SEASON GRADE: 59.7[/h]
The Jaguars managed to subdue Barkley for a good portion of the afternoon, but he did have his moments, and sometimes, that’s all he needs. He broke five tackles on 18 rushing attempts and averaged a mightily impressive 5.28 yards after contact per rushing attempt, the highest mark among backs with at least 15 carries. [h=3]PICK NO. 3: SAM DARNOLD, NEW YORK JETS[/h] [h=5]2018 SEASON GRADE: 67.2[/h]
The Sam Darnold era in New York started in the worst way possible on Monday night, when the rookie signal-caller threw his very first pass across the middle of the field into the waiting arms of safety Quandre Diggs, who returned the ill-advised pass for a touchdown. Darnold quickly recovered from his nightmare start and ended his regular season debut with an adjusted completion percentage of 85.0 percent, which was the fifth-best mark among quarterbacks this week. [h=3]PICK NO. 4: DENZEL WARD, CLEVELAND BROWNS[/h] [h=5]2018 SEASON GRADE: 85.6[/h]
Ward was a standout performer for the Browns defense on Sunday afternoon. During his team’s regular-season opener, Ward played a colossal 81 snaps, the most among all rookie defenders. 50 of those snaps came in coverage, where he excelled, allowing just six receptions from 10 targets for 50 yards while breaking up one pass and intercepting another two. [h=3]PICK NO 5: BRADLEY CHUBB, DENVER BRONCOS[/h] [h=5]2018 SEASON GRADE: 67.4[/h]
Broncos fans were hoping for a big debut performance from edge-rusher Bradley Chubb, and that’s exactly what they got. Working against the Seahawks’ perennially permeable offensive line, Chubb racked up a sack, and six additional quarterback hurries on his 32 pass-rushing snaps.
[h=3]PICK NO. 6: QUENTON NELSON, INDIANAPOLIS COLTS[/h] [h=5]2018 SEASON GRADE: 62.9[/h]
This was not the debut the Colts were hoping to see from 2018 first-round pick Quenton Nelson. Starting at left guard, Nelson had a number of downgrades in both run-blocking and pass-blocking, and he particularly struggled in space when he was asked to pull or get to the second level. He played all 82 offensive snaps for his team, 60 of which came in pass-protection, where he allowed two quarterback hurries and was clearly beaten by a defender on three separate occasions. [h=3]PICK NO 7: JOSH ALLEN, BUFFALO BILLS[/h] [h=5]2018 SEASON GRADE: 73.3[/h]
The Bills first-round pick didn’t start in Week 1, but he did get to see game action after he replaced Nathan Peterman early in the third quarter. Allen immediately sparked the offense and completed 6-of-15 pass attempts for 74 yards and even managed to get a big-time throw on tape. [h=3]PICK NO. 8: ROQUAN SMITH, CHICAGO BEARS[/h] [h=5]2018 SEASON GRADE: 69.9[/h]
Smith only played eight snaps in his team’s Week 1 game against the Packers, but he wasted no time in introducing himself, as he burst through the crumbling offensive line on a blitz and sacked Packers backup quarterback DeShone Kizer on his very first regular season snap.
[h=3]PICK NO. 9: MIKE MCGLINCHEY, SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS[/h] [h=5]2018 SEASON GRADE: 55.4[/h] The former Notre Dame tackle didn’t have a particularly impressive debut, but it would be unfair to judge him too harshly on Sunday’s performance alone, as injuries on the 49ers offensive line forced him to kick inside to guard, a position that he’d never played at any level up until that point. All told, McGlinchey spent 42 of his 67 snaps as a pass-blocker, but struggled for the most part and allowed one sack, one hit, and three hurries. [h=3]PICK NO. 10: JOSH ROSEN, ARIZONA CARDINALS[/h] [h=5]2018 SEASON GRADE: N/A[/h]
Rosen didn’t see the field in his team’s season opener against the Washington Redskins. For the time being, Rosen will remain on the sideline, backing up veteran quarterback Sam Bradford. [h=3]PICK NO. 11: MINKAH FITZPATRICK, MIAMI DOLPHINS[/h] [h=5]2018 SEASON GRADE: 75.6[/h]
Fitzpatrick more than lived up to his first-round pedigree in the preseason, and so far, that has carried over into his regular season play too. In his team’s opener against the Titans, he played mostly in the slot, where he was targeted four times, but allowed just two receptions for two receiving yards. If that wasn’t enough, he also added three defensive stops, one against the run, two against the pass. [h=3]PICK NO. 12: VITA VEA, TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS[/h] [h=5]2018 SEASON GRADE: N/A[/h]
Vea has been sidelined for nearly a month with a calf injury, so we’ll have to wait a little longer to see the 12th overall pick in a Buccaneers uniform. [h=3]PICK NO. 13: DA’RON PAYNE, WASHINGTON REDSKINS[/h] [h=5]2018 SEASON GRADE: 68.2[/h]
Payne played 30 of his team’s 52 defensive snaps this week, and at times, he looked like the answer to a position that the Redskins have struggled to fill for years. He performed admirably in all facets of the game, but he stood out against the run, where he produced three defensive stops on just 10 run defense snaps. [h=3]PICK NO. 14: MARCUS DAVENPORT, NEW ORLEANS SAINTS[/h] [h=5]2018 SEASON GRADE: 54.9[/h]
After a remarkable couple of preseason games, Davenport came back to Earth in his first regular-season contest. In a rotational role on the Saints defensive line, Davenport logged just 12 pass-rushing snaps, but one of those snaps did end with a quarterback hit. [h=3]PICK NO. 15: KOLTON MILLER, OAKLAND RAIDERS[/h] [h=5]2018 SEASON GRADE: 59.5[/h]
The Raiders new left tackle played all 70 offensive snaps for his team on Monday night, and while he wasn’t perfect, he showed a marked improvement in pass protection after a couple of wildly inconsistent preseason games. All told, Miller yielded just two quarterback hurries on 47 pass-blocking snaps and only lost one of his pass-blocks all game. [h=3]PICK NO. 16: TREMAINE EDMUNDS, BUFFALO BILLS[/h] [h=5]2018 SEASON GRADE: 60.1[/h]
Rookie first-round pick Tremaine Edwards flashed his potential at times, but overall, he didn’t have the greatest debut. In coverage, he allowed six receptions from eight targets for 69 yards, but he did display his athleticism on a pass-breakup against tight end Mark Andrews. Edmunds played his best football against the run, where he accounted for two defensive stops on 33 run defense snaps.
[h=3]PICK NO. 17: DERWIN JAMES, LOS ANGELES CHARGERS[/h] [h=5]2018 SEASON GRADE: 70.0[/h] James was a bright spot for the Chargers defense during his team’s Week 1 defeat to the Chiefs. He was targeted three times in coverage, allowed just one catch for one yard, and he also added a pass break up in the end zone and a sack from a third-down blitz. [h=3]PICK NO. 18: JAIRE ALEXANDER, GREEN BAY PACKERS[/h] [h=5]2018 SEASON GRADE: 76.2[/h]
The Packers first-round cornerback made his presence felt in his first regular-season contest against the Bears. 31 of his 49 snaps came in coverage on the night, and while he did allow three catches for 36 yards, he also displayed his incredible athleticism on a fourth-down pass breakup against wide receiver Taylor Gabriel. [h=3]PICK NO. 19: LEIGHTON VANDER ESCH, DALLAS COWBOYS[/h] [h=5]2018 SEASON GRADE: 69.6[/h]
The rookie was eased into his first game back from injury and played just 16 snaps during his team’ s regular season opener. 10 of those snaps came against the run, where Vander Esch tallied one tackle and one defensive stop. [h=3]PICK NO 20: FRANK RAGNOW, DETROIT LIONS[/h] [h=5]2018 SEASON GRADE: 41.2[/h]
Like the majority of Lions players who played in Week 1, Ragnow will want to forget his season opener in a hurry. The first-round guard struggled for most of the night as a blocker, allowing two hits and four quarterback hurries on his 56 pass-blocking snaps. If that wasn’t bad enough, Ragnow was consistently defeated by the Jets pass-rush and was left for dust on at least four of his pass-blocks. [h=3]PICK NO. 21: BILLY PRICE, CINCINNATI BENGALS[/h] [h=5]2018 SEASON GRADE: 58.1[/h]
The rookie center played all 56 of his team’s offensive snaps, and once again fared much better as a pass-blocker than as a run-blocker. Price spent 34 snaps in pass-protection, where he allowed just one pressure, his first in four games. [h=3]PICK NO. 22: RASHAAN EVANS, TENNESSEE TITANS[/h] [h=5]2018 SEASON GRADE: N/A[/h]
The rookie linebacker is still yet to suit up for the Titans, as he’s still rehabbing the hamstring injury that kept him out of the preseason. [h=3]PICK NO. 23: ISAIAH WYNN, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS[/h] [h=5]2018 SEASON GRADE: N/A[/h]
The Patriots first-round pick was ruled out for the 2018 season after he tore his Achilles in his preseason debut against the Philadelphia Eagles. [h=3]PICK NO. 24: D.J. MOORE, CAROLINA PANTHERS[/h] [h=5]2018 SEASON GRADE: 55.8[/h]
The rookie wide receiver played just 17 snaps in his team’s regular-season opener and didn’t see a single target. Moore’s lone offensive touch came on a three-yard rush, but he also returned a punt for 15 yards. He’ll look to get his first regular-season catch in this weekend’s game against the Falcons.
[h=3]PICK NO. 25: HAYDEN HURST, BALTIMORE RAVENS[/h] [h=5]2018 SEASON GRADE: N/A[/h] Hurst didn’t see the field on Sunday, as the rookie tight end is still recovering from the stress fracture that kept him out of his team’s final two preseason games. [h=3]PICK NO. 26: CALVIN RIDLEY, ATLANTA FALCONS[/h] [h=5]2018 SEASON GRADE: 50.4[/h]
The former Alabama star played 45 of Atlanta’s 70 offensive snaps against the Eagles but struggled to make an impact for his team. He was targeted on just two of quarterback Matt Ryan‘s 43 pass attempts and failed to haul in a single catch. [h=3]PICK NO. 27: RASHAAD PENNY, SEATTLE SEAHAWKS[/h] [h=5]2018 SEASON GRADE: 47.3[/h]
It was a rough start for the Seahawks first-round pick, who managed to gain just seven yards after contact on seven rushing attempts. During his regular season debut, Penny was much more effective as a receiver out of the backfield, catching 4-of-5 targets for 35 receiving yards and forcing a missed tackle in the process. [h=3]PICK NO. 28: TERRELL EDMUNDS, PITTSBURGH STEELERS[/h] [h=5]2018 SEASON GRADE: 63.2[/h]
The Steelers first-round pick played an impressive 74 defensive snaps in his team’s regular-season opener, the fifth-most among all rookie defensive players. He was targeted three times in coverage and didn’t allow a single reception, while he also notched a quarterback hit on one of his four pass-rushing snaps. [h=3]PICK NO. 29: TAVEN BRYAN, JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS[/h] [h=5]2018 SEASON GRADE: 59.6[/h]
The former Florida star only played 13 snaps in his regular season debut, but he was productive in limited action. He produced a quarterback hurry on one of his eight pass-rushing snaps, and he also tallied a defensive stop against the run. [h=3]PICK NO. 30: MIKE HUGHES, MINNESOTA VIKINGS[/h] [h=5]2018 SEASON GRADE: 73.1[/h]
The Vikings rookie cornerback enjoyed a triumphant debut against the 49ers. He was targeted six times in coverage, allowed just three receptions for 59 receiving yards and also came away with a pick-six in coverage against receiver Kendrick Bourne. As if that wasn’t enough, Hughes also added a defensive stop against the run. [h=3]PICK NO. 31: SONY MICHEL, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS[/h] [h=5]2018 SEASON GRADE: N/A[/h]
We’re still yet to see Michel don the Patriots uniform, as he’s still sidelined with the same knee injury that kept him out of the preseason. [h=3]PICK NO. 32: LAMAR JACKSON, BALTIMORE RAVENS[/h] [h=5]2018 PRESEASON GRADE: 54.6[/h]
The Ravens included Jackson in numerous trick packages before he eventually replaced starter Joe Flacco in the second half of his team’s opening game victory. The majority of Jackson’s damage came on a series of designed runs, where he amassed 37 rushing yards and forced two missed tackles.
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