Who Goes No. 1 Overall in 2018 Redraft – Lamar Jackson or Josh Allen?
For much of last season, a debate raged over whether Lamar Jackson or Josh Allen should win the MVP award. The discussion didn't end after the Buffalo Bills quarterback edged Jackson in the voting, with many fans and pundits believing Jackson was more deserving.
Jackson and Allen have been linked since both were members of a heralded quarterback class in the 2018 draft. Five quarterbacks went in the first round, with Allen being selected seventh overall and the Ravens trading back into the first round to grab Jackson at No. 32.
If that draft were held today, there's no question Jackson and Allen would be the top two overall picks, but who would go No. 1?
Pro Football Focus conducted a 2018 redraft based on its grading system and data, and Allen got the nod.
"After earning PFF overall grades in the 60.0s in his first two seasons, Allen became the only quarterback since 2006 to earn five straight single-season marks above 90.0," PFF's Max Chadwick, Dalton Wasserman, and Trevor Sikkema wrote.
With Allen going to the Cleveland Browns in the redraft, the New York Giants selected Jackson second overall. In the real draft, the Browns took quarterback Baker Mayfield and the Giants chose running back Saquon Barkley.
"With the benefit of hindsight, it would have been a no-brainer [for the Giants] to take Jackson, who has already won multiple MVPs and in 2024 became the only quarterback in PFF history to record passing and rushing grades above 90.0 in the same season," Chadwick, Wasserman, and Sikkema wrote.
Tight end Mark Andrews, who was taken by the Ravens in the third round at No. 86, went to the Detroit Lions at No. 20 in the redraft.
The Ravens, who traded down from No. 16 in the real draft to take tight end Hayden Hurst, stayed put and selected safety Derwin James in the redraft.
Jeff Zrebiec: Isaiah Likely's Injury Doesn't Lessen High Expectations for Ravens
Ravens fans could breathe a sigh of relief Wednesday when it was announced that tight end Isaiah Likely has a shot to return for the season-opener in Buffalo after suffering a foot fracture at the end of Tuesday's practice.
The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec said that even if Likely, who will undergo surgery, doesn't return to action until sometime after Week 1, there is no cause for concern.
"Likely's injury needn't and shouldn't cast a pall over training camp or force anyone to adjust their high expectations for these Ravens, even if the tight end isn't available through the teeth of an extremely difficult season-opening schedule," Zrebiec wrote.
Zrebiec said that while Likely is an ascending player who has earned Jackson's trust, the Ravens have a deep arsenal of offensive weapons to compensate for his absence.
"At tight end, the Ravens resisted the urge to trade all-time receiving touchdown leader Mark Andrews, a decision that looks better by the minute," Zrebiec wrote. "And they still have Charlie Kolar, who has produced when given the opportunity and is, quite frankly, deserving of a bigger role.
"Maybe no Likely means Andrews will come sprinting out of the blocks and put his tumultuous ending to the 2024 season behind him. Maybe it will allow Jackson to get DeAndre Hopkins involved and engaged early while making sure Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman stay well fed. Maybe it will result in a few touches early for Devontez Walker, a young receiver who looks the part of a contributor early in camp. Maybe it will mean Keaton Mitchell can get a few touches in the passing game, and Kolar will get further opportunities to prove he can be a productive pass catcher."
Hypothetically, How Many First-Round Picks Would Ravens' Top Stars Be Worth?
ESPN’s Bill Barnwell imagined a world in which the best players in the league are on the trade block and speculated what it would take to acquire them. More specifically, he looked at which players are worth one or multiple first-round picks.
Barnwell put the asking price for Jackson at four first-round picks. He said Jackson "has a strong case as the best football player on the planet" and should warrant even more first-round picks, but too many franchises probably aren't "willing to mold their identities around his unique skill set."
Barnwell said safety Kyle Hamilton would require two first-round picks.
"Once seen as the player the Ravens settled for after the Eagles moved ahead of them for defensive tackle Jordan Davis, Hamilton has quickly overcome concerns about his 40-yard dash time and emerged as one of the most dynamic defensive playmakers in the game," Barnwell wrote. "He was the best player on one of the best defenses of the past decade, the 2023 Ravens, and then transformed Baltimore into an elite unit when coordinator Zach Orr moved him back to free safety in the second half of last season. He's a better player than Jamal Adams was in 2020, when the Seahawks sent two first-round picks to acquire the then-Jets standout."
Other Ravens who made Barnwell's list were: Flowers, cornerback Nate Wiggins (one first-round pick and more), defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike, and safety Malaki Starks (one first-round pick).
