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Where Do Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, and Fred Warner Land?

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Five years have passed since the 2018 NFL Draft, giving us plenty of time to re-assess how teams deployed their draft choices that year. The 2018 draft class has produced plenty of stars who have either already earned second contracts or are set to reach the open market this offseason.

Twelve players from the 2018 crop have earned first-team All-Pro nods, while 27 have made at least one Pro Bowl. There’s plenty of talent to go around, beginning with elite producers near the top of the draft and continuing with depth throughout the first round.

Let’s dive into our 2018 redraft and see which players rose, which fell, and whether the quarterbacks landed in new spots.

Redrafting the 2018 NFL Draft

As we redraft 2018, trades that were agreed to before the start of the draft will stay in place. But deals that took place during the draft itself will not be included.

1) Cleveland Browns: Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming

Original Pick: QB Baker Mayfield

The Cleveland Browns will stick with a quarterback in our alternate reality, but they’ll make the easy decision to choose Josh Allen over Baker Mayfield. Allen came off the board seventh in the actual draft, but he’s been the best overall player from the 2018 class.

Over the last three seasons, Allen has helped the Bills to a 37-12 record while averaging 4,411 yards passing and 36 touchdowns per season.

MORE: Carolina Panthers Trade for No. 1 Overall Pick Takeaways

He finished second in MVP voting in 2020 and third in 2022.

A one-man wrecking crew, Allen has averaged 617 rushing yards and 7.6 rushing scores per season over his five-year career. He would have given the Browns their best quarterback in recent memory.

2) New York Giants: Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville

Original Pick: RB Saquon Barkley

While Allen has posted a more consistent career thus far, Lamar Jackson has hit higher highs. He won the MVP award in 2019, his first season as a full-time starter. That year, Jackson set the NFL quarterback rushing record by posting 1,206 yards on the ground.

Jackson has missed time with injuries in recent years, but he’s a unique, dynamic threat that would have helped the New York Giants as they transitioned from Eli Manning. He could have helped New York prevent its dreadful run from 2018-21 when the club won just 19 games over a four-season span.

3) New York Jets (from IND): Jordan Mailata, OT

Original Pick: QB Sam Darnold

The New York Jets needed a quarterback in 2018, but there are too many talented players still available at other positions that Gang Green can’t afford to pass up on. Offensive tackle is a premium position, too, and New York needed help there, given that Kelvin Beachum and Brandon Shell were penciled in as starters.

You might notice we don’t have a school listed for Jordan Mailata. That’s because he didn’t play collegiate sports — or even play football at all — until the Eagles drafted him in the seventh round in 2018. A former rugby player, Mailata has developed into one of the best tackles in the league and is still only 25 years old.

4) Cleveland Browns (from HOU): Kolton Miller, OT, UCLA

Original Pick: CB Denzel Ward

The Browns are back on the board after selecting Allen first overall, and they’ll fill a hole at left tackle by drafting UCLA’s Kolton Miller. Originally viewed as a reach in 2018, Miller has progressed into a well-rounded blindside protector — an asset that teams generally can’t find on the free agent market.

After Joe Thomas retired following the 2017 season, Cleveland went through a two-year stretch with Greg Robinson at left tackle. That won’t be necessary with Miller in the fold. In this scenario, Jedrick Wills Jr. never becomes a Brown in 2020.

5) Denver Broncos: Jaire Alexander, CB, Louisville

Original Pick: EDGE Bradley Chubb

Bradley Chubb was relatively productive for the Denver Broncos before they traded him to the Dolphins in 2022, but he was also inconsistent and regularly hampered by injuries. Given that Denver already had Von Miller on its roster, we’ll go in a different direction at No. 5 overall.

Like Chubb, Jaire Alexander has also battled injury issues, but 2021 was the only season where he missed significant time. He sandwiched that lost campaign with second-team All-Pro berths in 2020 and 2022. Alexander gives the Broncos an inside/outside-flexible, shutdown corner, and Denver can still pair him with Patrick Surtian Jr. in a few more years.

6) Indianapolis Colts: Fred Warner, LB, BYU

Original Pick: G Quenton Nelson

The Indianapolis Colts’ 2018 draft produced a class for the ages, as both Quenton Nelson and Shaquille Leonard became first-team All-Pros in their rookie seasons, while Braden Smith and Nyheim Hines have had productive careers in their own right. However, none of those players will head to Indy in our redraft.

Instead, the Colts will go with Fred Warner, who’s become the best linebacker in football. He’s the most proficient coverage LB in the NFL, and we can’t stop thinking about his pass breakup against CeeDee Lamb in the 49ers’ playoff win over the Cowboys.

7) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Quenton Nelson, G, Notre Dame

Original Pick: QB Josh Allen (by Bills)

Nelson won’t fall far, as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers scoop him up with the seventh overall pick. Paired with incumbent Ali Marpet, Nelson would give Tampa Bay the best guard combo in the NFL — although one of them would have to move to the right side.

Nelson is a fantastic player who has two first-team All-Pros, one second-team All-Pro, and five Pro Bowls under his belt. He even came third in Offensive Rookie of the Year voting in 2018. Nelson is on a Hall of Fame track, so even position value concerns won’t push him down the board.

8) Chicago Bears: Minkah Fitzpatrick, S, Alabama

Original Pick: LB Roquan Smith

The Chicago Bears very well could have chosen Roquan Smith again, but they’re too tantalized by the prospect of adding Minkah Fitzpatrick to their defensive backfield. Chicago already had Eddie Jackson in place, but Fitzpatrick would have replaced Adrian Amos, who departed for the Packers in free agency in the 2018 offseason.

Fitzpatrick requested a trade from the Dolphins in his second NFL campaign, and he’s flourished after being sent to the Steelers. Capable of playing deep or in the box, Fitzpatrick led the league with six interceptions last season. Few safeties make as much of a week-in, week-out impact.

9) San Francisco 49ers: Derwin James, S, Florida State

Original Pick: OT Mike McGlinchey

The San Francisco 49ers are fond of “positionless” players on offense, and Derwin James would have brought the same approach on the defensive side of the ball. James has missed significant time with injuries, but he’s been insanely productive when available.

For that reason, the Chargers made James the NFL’s highest-paid safety. He’s been an essential part of Brandon Staley’s defense in Los Angeles, but we would have loved to see how he could have thrived under Robert Saleh and DeMeco Ryans over the past several seasons.

10) Las Vegas Raiders: Orlando Brown, OT, Oklahoma

Original Pick: QB Josh Rosen (by Cardinals)

One of five players in our redraft scheduled to hit free agency this offseason, Orlando Brown started his career as a right tackle for the Baltimore Ravens before requesting a trade and a move to left tackle heading into the 2021 season. Baltimore obliged and sent him to the Kansas City Chiefs, who declined to deploy a second consecutive franchise tag on Brown this offseason.

Brown probably isn’t an elite left tackle, but he’s above average — and that’s an extremely valuable commodity. There are players available to the Raiders at No. 10 overall who might be more talented, but positional value will make Brown the choice here.

11) Miami Dolphins: Shaquille Leonard, LB, South Carolina State

Original Pick: S Minkah Fitzpatrick

Shaquille Leonard underwent two back surgeries in 2022, and we haven’t heard any recent updates on his status for 2023. Those injury issues would create risk for the Miami Dolphins (assuming Miami would know they’re coming), but Leonard is still a risk worth taking.

MORE: Miami Dolphins’ Tua Tagovailoa Fifth-Year Option Decision Sends Two Important Messages

Leonard has already collected first-team All-Pro honors three times, tied with Nelson and Fitzpatrick for the most among the 2018 draft class. He’s also earned 56 points of Pro Football Reference’s Approximate Value, tied for third in the class behind only Jackson and Allen.

12) Buffalo Bills (from CIN): Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia

Original Pick: DT Vita Vea (by Buccaneers)

Leonard has been more productive than Roquan Smith thus far, but Smith might be the better bet moving forward. With the Dolphins selecting Leonard one pick earlier, the Buffalo Bills will be happy to land Smith, who spent the early part of his career with the Bears before being traded to the Ravens in 2022.

In real life, Buffalo used its second first-round pick on linebacker Tremaine Edmunds, so they’ll stick with the same position in our redraft. Smith won’t turn 26 years old and is still ascending. He made a clear impact on Baltimore’s defense from Day 1, and the club responded by making him the NFL’s highest-paid linebacker.

13) Washington Commanders: Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State

Original Pick: DT Daron Payne

Denzel Ward went fourth overall in 2018 but will slip to 13th in our redraft. The Ohio State product has flashed shutdown corner ability on numerous occasions, but he’s also been inconsistent. Coverage ability is often fickle, but Ward could be more dependable on a play-for-play basis.

Still, above-average corner play is incredibly valuable, and the Washington Commanders won’t let Ward fall too far. Washington has tried and failed to fill its corner void with free agent additions like Josh Norman and William Jackson III in the recent past, so adding a young talent like Ward is an easy decision.

14) Green Bay Packers: Jessie Bates III, S, Wake Forest

Original Pick: EDGE Marcus Davenport (by Saints)

Jessie Bates III is about to become a very rich man. After playing for the Cincinnati Bengals on the franchise tag in 2022, Bates will reach the open market and figures to land a hefty contract. He’s one of the best deep safeties in the league, adding a presence in the secondary that might not always show up in his statistics.

The Packers started Tramon Williams and Kentrell Brice at safety in the 2017 season, so Bates would have represented an immediate upgrade the following year. Adding Bates would have altered Green Bay’s subsequent roster-building approach, as the team likely would have eschewed either signing Amos or drafting Darnell Savage.

15) Arizona Cardinals: Bradley Chubb, EDGE, North Carolina State

Original Pick: OT Kolton Miller (by Raiders)

Chubb slides 10 spots in our redraft after being chosen fifth overall in the actual 2018 draft. He hasn’t been a poor player by any means, but Chubb hasn’t exactly developed into a stud pass rusher. His best season remains his inaugural NFL campaign when he posted 12 sacks and finished third in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting.

Still, Chubb is talented enough that the Dolphins sent a first-round pick to acquire him from the Broncos at last year’s trade deadline. The Arizona Cardinals have been searching for edge rushers for what seems like forever, making Chubb a worthwhile risk at No. 15, even factoring in his injury problems.

16) Baltimore Ravens: Mark Andrews, TE, Oklahoma

Original Pick: LB Tremaine Edmunds (by Bills)

Mark Andrews is a Baltimore Raven — he’s just coming off the board 70 picks earlier than he did in real life. Andrews wasn’t even the first tight end the Ravens selected in 2018. That honor went to Hayden Hurst, a decent player but not a talent on Andrews’ level.

Andrews became a regular contributor for Baltimore in 2019, and since then, ranks second among tight ends in targets, receptions, yards, and touchdowns. The Ravens haven’t been able to find competent wide receivers, leaving Andrews as a one-man receiving corps. His 1,361 yards in 2021 were the third-most for a tight end in NFL history.

17) Los Angeles Chargers: DJ Moore, WR, Maryland

Original Pick: S Derwin James

The Los Angeles Chargers had already drafted Mike Williams in the first round in 2017, but given that he missed time with injuries and managed only 10 receptions, Los Angeles may feel the need to add another wideout. Plus, we want to give Philip Rivers all the weapons he can handle.

The 2018 draft class didn’t include a great crop of wide receivers, but DJ Moore has been the best of the bunch. He’s averaged a 73/1,040/4 line over five NFL seasons despite working with suboptimal quarterback play. Moore remains one of the most underrated pass catchers in the league.

18) Seattle Seahawks: Nick Chubb, RB, Georgia

Original Pick: CB Jaire Alexander (by Packers)

Pete Carroll took a running back in the first round of the 2018 draft, and there’s no way we can exit this redraft without sending another back to Seattle. Instead of Rashaad Penny, the Seahawks land Nick Chubb, who is arguably the most talented pure runner in the NFL.

Among active RBs with at least 100 attempts since 2018, Chubb ranks first with 2.9 yards after contact per rush. He exhibits tenacity with each carry, and it’s rare to see the four-time Pro Bowler go down without taking a few defenders with him.

19) Dallas Cowboys: Daron Payne, DT, Alabama

Original Pick: LB Leighton Vander Esch

The Dallas Cowboys have seen plenty of NFC East rival Daron Payne over the past four years, and they’ll now add him to their roster in our alternate reality. Dallas hasn’t used very many early picks on defensive tackles, but they can’t let a talent like Payne slip through their fingers.

Payne has shown growth in every season of his career and is fresh off a career-high 11.5 sacks. At times in 2022, he looked even better than more-accomplished teammate Jonathan Allen. We want to live in a world where Payne, Micah Parsons, and Demarcus Lawrence line up next to each other on the same defensive front.

20) Detroit Lions: Frank Ragnow, C, Arkansas

Original Pick: C Frank Ragnow

Frank Ragnow is the first player in our redraft to land with the team that actually selected him in 2018. Some injury issues aside, Ragnow has been one of the better centers in the league over the past five seasons. As the Detroit Lions continue to build through the trenches, there’s no reason from the pass over Ragnow here.

21) Cincinnati Bengals (from BUF): Brian O’Neill, OT, Pittsburgh

Original Pick: C Billy Price

Billy Price ended up being one of the worst selections in the first round of the 2018 draft, but the Bengals were in the right neighborhood by targeting offensive line help. The front five is still an issue in Cincinnati to this day, so they’ll take another lineman in our redraft.

Brian O’Neill has been ascending for his entire career, and he would give the Bengals a lockdown option at right tackle. While he wouldn’t solve Cincinnati’s OL issues on his own, he’d offer the Bengals a baseline level of production on the right side.

22) Buffalo Bills (from KC): Wyatt Teller, G, Virginia Tech

Original Pick: LB Rashaan Evans (by Titans)

The Bills drafted Wyatt Teller in 2018, but it wasn’t until the fifth round. Teller made seven starts in his rookie season, but Buffalo traded him and a 2021 seventh-round pick to the Browns the following offseason for 2020 fifth- and sixth-round selections. It’s a deal the Bills would clearly like to have back.

Teller has since developed into of the best guards in the game. He’s gotten plenty of assistance from Browns offensive line coach Bill Callahan, which Teller wouldn’t have had in Buffalo. But Teller’s power and tenacity — especially as run blocker — is something the Bills are currently lacking up front.

23) New England Patriots: Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State

Original Pick: OT Isaiah Wynn

The New England Patriots drafted a running back in Round 1 of the 2018 draft, but it was Sony Michel, who never surpassed 1,000 yards nor looked like more than replacement-level talent during his time in Foxborough.

Bill Belichick and Co. didn’t have a chance at Saquon Barkley in 2018, but they do in our redraft. Barkley has several dynamic seasons under his belt, but he’s also dealt with serious injury issues. Missed time plus a lack of positional value means he’ll fall from second overall to 23rd here.

24) Carolina Panthers: Josh Sweat, EDGE, Florida State

Original Pick: WR DJ Moore

With Moore already off the board, the Carolina Panthers are forced to go in a different direction. They’ll move to the defensive side of the ball and pick up Josh Sweat, who wasn’t drafted until the fourth round in 2018.

Sweat became a full-time starter for the Eagles in 2021 and proceeded to post 7.5 sacks and make the Pro Bowl. He was more dominant this past season, managing 11 sacks and 23 quarterback knockdowns. He’d give the Panthers a legitimate threat on the edge, and Carolina could pair him with Brian Burns, whom they eventually drafted in 2019.

25) Tennessee Titans: Tremaine Edmunds, LB, Virginia Tech

Original Pick: TE Hayden Hurst (by Ravens)

The Titans’ original pick in the 2018 draft was Rashaan Evans, who became nothing more than a league-average linebacker. Here, Tennessee will stick with the same position but go after Tremaine Edmunds, who offers a much higher upside than Evans.

Edmunds has been up and down throughout his career, but it all came together in 2022. He was among the NFL’s best coverage linebackers and should be set up to cash in as a free agent on the open market.

26) Atlanta Falcons: Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame

Original Pick: WR Calvin Ridley

The Atlanta Falcons eventually solved their right tackle problem in 2019 when they took Kaleb McGary at the end of the first round. But Atlanta grabs Mike McGlinchey here, solidifying the right side of their offensive line a year earlier.

McGlinchey isn’t elite, but he’s a more-than-capable starting tackle. In many ways, he’s similar to incumbent Falcons left tackle Jake Matthews in that he’s a quality starter but not a regular Pro Bowler. Getting that level of production on a rookie contract marks a win for Atlanta.

27) New Orleans Saints: Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma

Original Pick: RB Rashaad Penny (by Seahawks)

Baker Mayfield was the first overall pick in the actual 2018 draft, but he won’t come anywhere near that slot in our redraft. While he’s posted a few above-average seasons, Mayfield has shown too many limitations to be a top-10 pick again.

However, teams are always willing to take chances at quarterback, and New Orleans stands out as a viable landing spot. Learning under Sean Payton and Drew Brees might have done wonders for Mayfield’s career, and it’s possible he’d still be New Orleans’ signal-caller to this day.

28) Pittsburgh Steelers: Charvarius Ward, CB, Middle Tennessee State

Original Pick: S Terrell Edmunds

Charvarius Ward didn’t even get drafted in 2018. He signed with the Cowboys as a UDFA, then was traded to the Chiefs for offensive lineman Parker Ehinger — a deal Jerry Jones and Co. would clearly like to undo.

Ward was a solid three-year starter in Kansas City before joining the 49ers, for whom he posted arguably the best season of his career in 2022. Ward is one of the most physical corners in the NFL, so he’d fit right in with the Pittsburgh Steelers’ defensive mantra.

29) Jacksonville Jaguars: Vita Vea, DT, Washington

Original Pick: DT Taven Bryan

Vita Vea went 12th to the Buccaneers in the 2018 draft, so his fall to 29th here represents a precipitous drop. While he’s an excellent player, his lack of production as a pass rusher doesn’t warrant a top-15 selection. Vea set a career-high with 6.5 sacks last season, but his 38 pressures ranked only 21st among defensive tackles with at least 350 pass-rushing snaps.

Vea’s job isn’t necessarily to get after the quarterback, though, and he does an outstanding job as a run defender. He’s certainly a better player than Taven Bryan, whom the Jaguars drafted with this selection in 2018.

30) Minnesota Vikings: Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama

Original Pick: CB Mike Hughes

Had we done this redraft two years ago, Calvin Ridley would have gone much higher. But his career took a turn when the league suspended him for the entire 2022 season for betting on NFL games. Ridley has since been traded from the Falcons to the Jaguars and reinstated for the 2023 campaign.

MORE: 2023 NFL Mock Draft Simulator

Selecting Ridley in 2020 would have given the Minnesota Vikings two seasons with Stefon Diggs, Adam Thielen, and Ridley on the roster, and it would have made it even easier for Minnesota to eventually trade Diggs to the Bills.

31) New England Patriots: J.C. Jackson, CB, Maryland

Original Pick: RB Sony Michel

J.C. Jackson signed with the Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2018, but he becomes a first-round selection in our redraft. While Jackson struggled in his first season with the Chargers in 2022, he was an outstanding asset for New England, earning first-team All-Pro honors in 2021. Jackson was a great fit for Bill Belichick’s man-coverage scheme, so sending him back to the Patriots is a no-brainer.

32) Philadelphia Eagles: Harold Landry, EDGE, Boston College

Original Pick: QB Lamar Jackson (by Ravens)

The Eagles are never wary of investing early-round draft capital in the trenches, and they’ll continue that approach here with Harold Landry. The former second-round pick missed the 2022 campaign after tearing his ACL in the preseason, but he managed 12 sacks for the Titans in 2021. Philadelphia’s uber-productive defensive line would be even more fearsome with Landry on the edge.





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Fantasy Outlook, Value, Projections, and Rankings

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As we inch toward the new season, the ever-changing NFL landscape has player fantasy values constantly on the move. Whether you’re used to the dynasty platform or are still learning the rules, let’s dive into the latest dynasty fantasy football value of D’Wayne Eskridge.

D’Wayne Eskridge’s Dynasty Outlook and Value

The Seahawks certainly march to the beat of their own drum when it comes to drafting players. They’ve made some baffling picks over the years. Eskridge is chief among them.

One of the most predictive measurements of NFL success is when wide receivers are early declares. Not only did Eskridge not declare early, but he played five years in college. And as if that wasn’t reason enough to completely avoid him, he didn’t break out until his super-senior season. Wow, I can’t believe a 24-year-old prospect was able to dominate a bunch of teenagers at a small school.

Eskridge should’ve been a late-Day 3 pick, at best. His NFL career thus far has only confirmed this fact.

MORE: Dynasty Rankings 2023 — Top Fantasy Options at Wide Receiver

The Seahawks lit a second-round pick on fire in 2021 by taking Eskridge. Rookie wide receivers are supposed to push past that 500-yard threshold. I’d be stunned if Eskridge had 500 receiving yards in his career.

Eskridge has only even made it on the field for 20 of a possible 34 games in his first two seasons. He’s totaled 17 receptions for 122 yards and a touchdown.

D’Wayne Eskridge’s Fantasy Ranking

I completely understand why Eskridge had to be drafted in 2021 rookie drafts. It doesn’t matter how bad a player’s prospect profile is — if he goes in the second round of the NFL draft, he needs to be on fantasy rosters. But after two seasons, Eskridge no longer needs to be on anyone’s roster.

Eskridge could not even beat out 32-year-old Marquise Goodwin for the WR3 role. Later in the season, he lost playing time to Laquon Treadwell. Eskridge is probably floating around on a bunch of dynasty rosters, and if he’s on yours, you can drop him.

We have Eskridge at WR137 (No. 346) in our dynasty Superflex rankings. Even in the deepest dynasty league you know, that’s still not high enough to be rostered. He should go undrafted in every dynasty startup draft.



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Isaiah Foskey, EDGE, Notre Dame

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He’s sometimes the forgotten man at the top of the 2023 NFL Draft EDGE class, but Notre Dame EDGE Isaiah Foskey has a very intriguing production and athletic profile. Does Foskey deserve fringe first-round consideration, and how high could he rise in the 2023 NFL Draft?

Isaiah Foskey NFL Draft Profile

  • Position: EDGE
  • School: Notre Dame
  • Current Year: Redshirt Junior
  • Height/Weight: 6’5″, 264 pounds
  • Length: 34″
  • Hand: 9 7/8″

In a separate timeline, Foskey might have joined teammate Michael Mayer in the tight end room at Notre Dame. That was the other position that Foskey played as a two-way athlete in high school. And he found some success at De La Salle in Concord, California, catching 26 passes for 367 yards and six scores during his varsity career.

But college teams saw Foskey’s brightest future on the other side of the ball. He was a four-star recruit in the 2019 class and a top-250 recruit on ESPN’s board. Foskey fielded offers from powerhouses like Alabama and Clemson, but the interest from the Notre Dame Fighting Irish was equally alluring.

MORE: 2023 NFL Draft Big Board

Foskey signed with Notre Dame, and after redshirting in 2019, he began to emerge as an ascending young talent; 2020 saw him put up 4.5 sacks and five tackles for loss in a rotational role. In 2021, the Notre Dame EDGE took a massive step up, accruing 10 sacks and six forced fumbles in a campaign that earned him All-Independent and All-American recognition.

There was talk that Foskey might declare after his strong 2021 campaign, but he ultimately returned for his redshirt-junior season, and once again put up stellar numbers. This time around, Foskey logged career-high figures in both sacks (10.5) and tackles for loss (13.5).

Foskey’s strong play over the final two seasons of his career earned him an invite to the 2023 Reese’s Senior Bowl, where he flashed his devastating raw power and athleticism off the line. He has the tape, the all-star production, and the traits — but how does Foskey grade out in the 2023 NFL Draft?

Isaiah Foskey Scouting Report

There are many edge rushers in the 2023 NFL Draft class in the first-round discussion. Will Anderson Jr., Myles Murphy, Tyree Wilson, and Lukas Van Ness are the most popular names in that group, but does Foskey have what it takes to join them? Let’s take a look.

Foskey’s Positives

Foskey almost looks like he was built in a lab. He measured in at 6’5″, 264 pounds at the NFL Combine, but he sports a lean, streamlined, and compact frame that carries his weight incredibly well. He also brings excellent length with that frame — measuring with 34″ arms — which helps him in multiple phases.

At his size, Foskey also brings visibly elite explosive capacity. He’s an immediate accelerator off the snap who covers ground with awe-inspiring quickness out of his stance. His fast, long strides can be very hard to match. It also helps that Foskey reacts quickly to the snap. He gears up instantly and puts sudden pressure on blocking angles.

Foskey’s athleticism off the line was confirmed by his NFL Combine showing. Despite measuring in four pounds heavier than his listed college weight, Foskey still ran a blazing 4.58 40-yard dash, with a 1.66 10-yard split. He also registered a strong 10’5″ broad jump — in the 95th percentile among edge rushers — and put up good agility scores as well.

MORE: 2023 NFL Combine Results — Bench Press, 40-Yard Dash, Vertical, 3-Cone, and More

Foskey’s burst grants him venerable speed as a rusher. When blitzing from space, he can load up intense speed-to-power energy. Around the edge, he also builds up the necessary speed to surpass the apex and gain space inside from wide alignments. His ankle flexion only compounds his appeal in this regard.

Foskey can sustain curvilinear acceleration around the edge, as he has the necessary ankle flexion to dip and accelerate around the apex. His bend capacity most often shows up when he has a bit of space to work with, but he can also pinch the corner in congested situations. Additionally, with his ankle flexion, Foskey can loop around the formation as a stunting lineman.

Foskey’s package of high-end length and athleticism affords him excellent power capacity. The Notre Dame EDGE can blast blockers back on full extensions and effectively drive power through blocks with acquired leverage and constant leg drive.

With brutal long-arms and extensions, Foskey can send linemen reeling off-balance, and he’s then able to capitalize. With his leg drive, he’s able to channel his base through power rushes. He can also generate hip torque by extending and rotating through power exertions.

Explosiveness is a primary trait for Foskey, as is his agility. He’s an amped-up mover with visible twitch, which allows him to build momentum heading into contact. He’s a fleet-footed athlete whose fast foot movement can make him highly adaptable and unpredictable for blockers in short ranges.

Foskey has shown to quickly plant and divert inside after scraping past the tackle at the apex. He can also throttle down after surpassing the apex to pinch the corner with more control. With his lateral agility and twitch, he’s able to freely stunt across alignments and generate displacement quickly on reps.

Not only is Foskey powerful, but he’s also strong and fairly well-leveraged. He has the play strength to set the edge on running downs, fully extending and absorbing power with his base. He can use his hand strength to force himself free from anchors on the move, and forklift blockers and demolish running lanes.

Isaiah Foskey
Jan 1, 2022; Glendale, AZ, USA; Notre Dame’s Isaiah Foskey (7) celebrates a sack during the 2022 Playstation Fiesta Bowl on Saturday, Jan. 1, 2022 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Credit: Michael Caterina/South Bend Tribune-USA TODAY Sports

In run defense, Foskey leverages himself very well. He sinks his pads and extends, then sidesteps blocks and squares up runners. But his leverage acquisition extends to other phases as well. As a pass rusher, Foskey’s shown to effectively lower his pads and load up power from his base. He can also dip underneath extensions and attack the torso while leaning to keep himself clean.

There are many impressive parts of Foskey’s game, but his hand usage might be chief among them. Foskey has a tremendous foundation as a hand fighter with his traits. He can effectively load up his hands to build potential energy and launch into contact on power rushes. But he’s also a very advanced rusher for his age, stacking violent swipes, extensions, and moving in rapid succession, effortlessly using his upper and lower body in sync.

Diving into the details, Foskey can bait linemen outside with initial rushing angles, then roll his hips and surge inside with a speed-to-bull move. He frequently multitasks around the edge, stacking quick extensions and hand moves while dipping his hips and breaching the apex. Foskey can long-arm with his inside hand to displace tackles, then club-rip quickly on the outside. He’s able to combine rip moves with bull rushes and long-arms — timing those moves effectively to win around the edge.

Additionally, Foskey’s upper-lower synergy makes him even more appealing as a rusher. The Notre Dame EDGE uses a quick Euro step cross-chop off the line, which helps him gain outside leverage, where he can then transition to a club rip around the apex, using his ankle flexion to penetrate the pocket.

There are other impressive moves and counters visible on Foskey’s tape, including a long-arm, club-swim combination. The bottom line is this: Foskey consistently comes with a pass-rush plan and doesn’t delay in executing it. His hands are fast and constantly active. He’s never idle, quickly processes leverage, and stacks advanced counters, using every tool at his disposal.

Foskey is a budding technician, but his hot motor is a fusing agent, both during and after application of rushing moves. Foskey consistently closes rushes, actively extending his arms as he closes on the quarterback. He seeks to disrupt plays in any way possible and is a constant threat for deflections and strip-sacks with his exhaustive use of length. He’s ruthless in pursuit of the QB and closes with intense speed and voracity.

For his size, Foskey shows off above-average change-of-direction ability and impressive functional athleticism in space. This helps him a great deal as a pursuit defender. The Notre Dame EDGE also flashes the necessary patience to read options and delayed handoffs. And once he commits, he explodes toward the ball. Foskey’s a strong tackler in pursuit, engulfing opponents with his length and athleticism, and chasing plays to the whistle.

Expanding on his pursuit, Foskey can quickly recognize screens and sell out to the sideline. Moreover, he has the long-strider speed and athleticism to drop out to the flats and seal off short passes. In pursuit on running downs, he sheds moving blocks and has the short-area athleticism to manage space on option plays. Moreover, he can stonewall pulling blockers, then shed and redirect his hips to match runners outside.

Foskey’s Areas for Improvement

Foskey is an extremely well-rounded prospect, but he isn’t perfect. Most notably, the Notre Dame EDGE doesn’t have elite bend. His hips have some flexibility but aren’t the most fluid. His midsection can get locked up at the apex at times, preventing him from dipping under and sustaining acceleration. He can’t always roll his hips through the apex and sometimes needs to decelerate and reset inside.

In a similar vein, Foskey’s frame is a bit high-hipped, which sometimes forces him to gather himself before making tight direction changes. He doesn’t always show the torso flexibility to consistently capitalize on burst and squeeze through gaps when stunting inside. Furthermore, in space, he can be a bit stiff when changing directions with his tall frame. He’s played off-ball before but should be primarily on-ball in the NFL.

Elsewhere, Foskey doesn’t have elite play strength. He can be worked off his spot in run defense and can’t always wrestle himself free from anchors when pressuring the apex. His leverage could also improve. His power rushes sometimes stall out when his pads drift too far up after contact. Once his pad level drifts too high, it can be difficult to recover. He also struggles to manage his pad level on approach at times.

Occasionally, Foskey extends past his base and lurches into contact, neutralizing his lower body and stalling his momentum. He lurches and loses his balance when his hands miss their mark. While Foskey is a formidable hand fighter, his hand strikes could be more precise and his placement cleaner. The Notre Dame EDGE’s hands sometimes slip past their targets and fail to channel maximum force.

Foskey maintained his high-level production in 2022, but his hand usage seemed to regress a bit on tape. He still has flashes of brilliance stacking counters upon his initial exertion, but Foskey wasn’t as consistent in 2022 as he was in 2021. Luckily, he’s at the very least shown the capacity to stack moves and vary his rush plan, and that’s something coaches can work with, along with his tools.

Lastly, in pursuit, Foskey sometimes drifts backward when faced with misdirections and exposes himself to blockers moving upfield. He’ll also occasionally overpursue option plays and commit to the QB prematurely.

Current Draft Projection for Notre Dame EDGE Isaiah Foskey

Even after a slight regression on tape in 2022, Foskey remains a top-25 prospect on my board and a worthy first-round candidate in the 2023 NFL Draft. He’s not far below the initial group of power rushers, and you could argue that, at his best, he has some of the most dangerous hands in the entire class.

At his maximum, Foskey has legitimate blue-chip upside. Foskey’s size at 6’5″, 264 pounds, with 34″ arms, is incredibly unique. With that size, he’s an elite athlete with torrid explosiveness and amped-up energy off the snap. His mix of burst and length grants him elite maximum power capacity, and he’s shown to utilize all of his tools with his deep pass-rush arsenal.

Foskey will need to keep minimizing the drift of his pad level after contact and keep honing his precision as a pass rusher. Consistency is the name of the game for Foskey, who can use all the moves, but sometimes leaves opportunities on the table. Additionally, with his high-cut frame, he doesn’t always effectively align his base on power exertions, nor does he have elite bend capacity.

MORE: PFN Mock Draft Simulator

All told, however, these are fairly minor flaws in what is an incredibly complete and all-encompassing EDGE profile. Foskey has everything you need — size, length, explosiveness, power strength, active hands, and a red-hot motor. And he’s shown glimpses of the requisite ankle flexion.

Foskey has the tools to command Round 1 capital, and teams in need of a potential impact starter at EDGE should race to the podium if he’s still there on Day 2.



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Should Bryce Young Be the No. 1 Overall Pick in 2023?

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The 2023 NFL Draft is quickly approaching, but no one knows who the Carolina Panthers will take with the No. 1 overall pick. After trading an assortment of picks and star receiver DJ Moore in order to jump from No. 9 to No. 1, it’s safe to say Carolina will select a quarterback. But with four QB options on the table with varying skill sets, they could go in any direction.

The betting favorite to go No. 1 changed from Bryce Young to C.J. Stroud after the Panthers made the trade. However, between the Scouting Combine, Ohio State and Alabama Pro Days, and interview sessions, the Panthers could be swayed in any direction.

We’re taking a look at whether Young should be the No. 1 overall pick in 2023.

Should Bryce Young Be Drafted No. 1 Overall in 2023?

There are clear pros and cons to each of the draft’s consensus top-four quarterbacks.

Stroud is a throwback pocket passer with elite accuracy, but his playmaking leaves room for improvement. Anthony Richardson is a freak athlete with a rocket arm, but his lack of refinement and experience shows. Will Levis is a good athlete with a great arm and has experience in a traditional scheme, but his decision-making and accuracy are inconsistent.

Young is the easiest player of the four to project. He’s a dynamic playmaker inside and outside of the pocket, thanks to his rare agility. His experience on the big stage can’t be questioned after starting two years at Alabama, winning one Heisman Trophy (2021) and one national championship (2020).

He certainly appears to be in the mix. According to Nick Carboni of WCNC, Panthers general manager Scott Fitterer said, “they don’t have any height [or] weight requirements on [a] rookie QB.” ESPN’s David Newton added that it’s not Young’s on-field tape that will matter the most but rather “how he interacted with others” and “what he said in their private meetings.”

MORE: Carolina Panthers Trade — Is C.J. Stroud, Bryce Young, Anthony Richardson, or Will Levis Their Target?

Both of those sentiments make sense as the NFL has changed. Success at the quarterback position is about more than physical traits. However, there is a baseline of traits that are required to become an elite quarterback, and winning without an elite signal-caller has grown increasingly hard over the last decade.

With a career completion rate of 65.8%, 8,356 passing yards, 80 touchdowns, and only 12 interceptions, Young’s numbers clearly show a good decision-maker and NFL-caliber accuracy. As I do each year with every top quarterback prospect, I charted each of Young’s throws to further distinguish how catchable his passes are in comparison to past quarterback prospects. I also put everything into a video thread to highlight examples.

The results were mixed. It’s easy to see that Young is accurate with his passes, and he has a true playmaker gene for performing when it matters most. He’s the most trustworthy of the four players when it’s crunch time, as the moment never seems too big.

If the Panthers were to build around Young, head coach Frank Reich would want to maximize his movement ability. His size, which is a factor because he’s only 5’10” and 204 pounds, was exposed even in 2022 as he sustained a shoulder injury after barely being touched when escaping the pocket. There’s a delicate balance between getting Young advantageous throwing platforms and creating easy rush lanes for blitzers.

ESPN’s Todd McShay doesn’t think his size should affect his draft stock and compared him to Kansas City Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes. I rarely saw that type of talent with Young, who better compares to a mixture of Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray. There could be worst comparisons than to two previous top overall picks.

MORE: 2023 NFL Draft Big Board

Young has mediocre arm strength, at times struggling to push the ball into tight passing windows or hit his target in stride. That’s where he falls short of Murray’s talent as a thrower. His placement on passes is generally good but does not consistently maximize his receivers’ ability to create plays upfield like Mahomes or Joe Burrow, and this was a factor as to why Mayfield eventually failed to keep a starting job in the NFL.

He’ll have to process quicker both pre- and post-snap at the next level as he often held onto the ball for too long. He was average under pressure, throwing a catchable ball only 54% of the time, which is similar to how Marcus Mariota, Malik Willis, and Mayfield performed in college. His third- and fourth-down accuracy was comparable to Drew Lock, Dak Prescott, and Carson Wentz, so again, there was significant room for improvement.

If Young can essentially be used like Jeff Garcia was for the 49ers in his best years — an athletic game manager who occasionally creates big plays — he can be above average. But it’s hard to see a path to being one of the nine or 10 passers who are massive influencers on their team winning.

Because there are other quarterbacks in this class who have a clearer pathway to being that top-end, All-Pro caliber playmaker, it’s hard to say Young should be the top overall pick. He may have the highest floor because of his consistency and well-rounded game, but the mixture of injury concerns and lack of ability to improve his physical traits are massive considerations.





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