2018 NFL Draft recap, pick-by-pick: AFC South
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AFC South
| Houston Texans |
 Notable picks: The team expects big returns for Reid in the third round. The Texans pass defense finished 24th in the league a year ago. Rankin may have gone higher if he was an inch taller. Akins and Thomas both address a need for the Texans after the retirement of C.J. Fiedorowicz. |
|||
| Round,
Selection,
|
Player | School | DN Big Board
Rank/ Grade |
‘Nasty’ Take: |
| 3 (68) | Justin
Reid S-6’0 207 |
Stanford | 140 (3rd Round) | Reid proved capable of playing multiple positions for the Cardinal. In addition, he knew the responsibilities of every position on defense. He has to improve as a one-on-one tackler. |
| 3 (80) | Martinas
Rankin C-6’4 308 |
Mississippi St. | 86 (3rd Round) | Rankin earned significant time at the left tackle spot in school and there is a possibility that his patient approach can succeed at an interior line spot. |
| 3 (98) | Jordan
Akins TE-6’4 249 |
UCF | 216 (4th Round) | Akins has the foot speed to stretch the seams of the field. In 2015, he was the Knights No. 1 wide receiver before going down to injury. His durability is a concern. |
| 4 (103) | KeKe
Coutee WR-5’10 181 |
Texas Tech | 164 (4th Round) | This is a sign to former Ohio State Buckeye Braxton Miller that his time may be up. Coutee will have to play stronger. |
| 6 (177) | Duke
Ejiofor DE-6’4 264 |
Wake Forest | 116 (3rd Round) | Ejiofor is a sleek pass rusher with enough flexibility to win from a number of spots. A good bit of his sack production came from the defensive tackle spot. He has to play bigger. |
| 6 (211) | Jordan
Thomas TE-6’4 269 |
Mississippi State | 356 (5th Round) | Despite weighing in the 270-pound range, Thomas started at an outside WR position late in his career. He did not embarrass himself at the WR spot during 2018 East-West Shrine practices. |
| 6 (214) | Peter
Kalambayi OLB-6’3 236 |
Stanford | 214 (4th Round) | Kalambayi was dinged by some scouts for his lack of flexibility. Nevertheless, he used his 80-inch wingspan to post 18 QB sacks in his career. |
| 7 (222) | Jermaine
Kelly CB-6’1 195 |
San Jose St.,
Washington |
488 (6th Round) | Kelly –a former Washington Husky- has good field speed. He won quite a bit at the gunner position for the Spartans and improved gradually in 2017 at CB. |
| Indianapolis Colts |
 Notable picks: The Colts made sure they didn’t waste time turning in the card for Nelson. The selection of Smith in the second round means the team is serious about beefing up its offensive front. Leonard’s presence adds speed to the league’s 26th-ranked rushing defense. |
|||
| Round,
Selection,
|
Player | School | DN Big Board
Rank/ Grade |
‘Nasty’ Take: |
| 1 (6) | Quenton
Nelson OG-6’5 325 |
Notre Dame | 7 (1st Round) | Nelson may have been one of the highest ranked players on the Colts board in terms of value and need. He will create movement in the running game. |
| 2 (36) | Darius
Leonard LB-6’2 234 |
S.C. State | 31 (2nd Round) | Leonard –a two-time MEAC Defensive Player of the Year- combines a rangy style with plus instincts. |
| 2 (37) | Braden
Smith OG-6’6 315 |
Auburn | 90 (3rd Round) | Has the size of an OT and dabbles there on occasion. Consistent, if unspectacular. |
| 2 (52) | Kemoko
Turay OLB-6’4 252 |
Rutgers | 122 (3rd Round) | All the agility is in place. He has been a terror blocking kicks. Still rounding out his game as a pass rusher. |
| 2 (64) Trade from Cleveland | Tyquan | Ohio State | 108 (3rd Round) | Burly brawler who will win with power and run over offensive linemen. Tone-setter. |
| 4 (103) | Nyheim
Hines RB/KR-5’8 198 |
NC State | 276 (4th Round) | Hines will be counted on to provide punch in the kickoff return game. |
| 5 (159) | Daurice
Fountain WR-6’1 210 |
Northern Iowa | 168 (4th Round) | In somewhat of an under the radar pick, the Colts stole the MVP of the 2018 East-West Shrine Game. |
| 5 (169) | Jordan
Wilkins RB-6’1 216 |
Ole Miss | 178 (4th Round) | Wilkins has a smooth style and plays faster than his 4.71 time at the 2018 NFL Combine suggests. His performance in a blowout vs. Alabama turned heads. |
| 6 (185) | Deon
Cain WR-6’2 202 |
Clemson | 179 (4th Round) | Like Fountain, Cain will be asked to stretch the outside lanes of the field with his 4.4 speed. Consistency will be the focus for the junior-entry. |
| 7 (221) | Matthew
Adams LB-6’1 229 |
Houston | 207 (4th Round) | Perhaps no player better exemplifies a downhill approach better than Adams. He is faster than quick and needs to improve his flexibility. |
| 7 (235) | Zaire
Franklin LB-6’0 239 |
Syracuse | 153 (3rd Round) | Much like Adams (see above), there are questions in coverage. Also like Adams, he loves to run and hit people. |
| Jacksonville Jaguars |
 Notable picks: Bryan will be a significant rotational piece from Day 1. Richardson adds a measure of physicality to the team’s downhill run game. Chark will be asked to take the top off of defenses to open up the middle of the field for Marqise Lee. |
|||
| Round,
Selection,
|
Player | School | DN Big Board
Rank/ Grade |
‘Nasty’ Take: |
| 1 (29) | Taven
Bryan DL-6’5 291 |
Florida | 51 (2nd Round) | Bryan has a rare combination of strength and speed. Can he locate the ball with more consistency? Even if he doesn’t, he’ll complement the Jaguars other DL with his activity. |
| 2 (61) | DJ
Chark WR-6’3 199 |
LSU | 70 (3rd Round) | The departures of Allen Hurns and Allen Robinson necessitated another move to complement the re-signed Marqise Lee. |
| 3 (93) | Ronnie
Harrison S-6’2 207 |
Alabama | 136 (3rd Round) | Harrison brings a load in the back end with his downhill approach. While his ball skills are competent, his angles are hit-or-miss. |
| 4 (129) | Will
Richardson OT-6’5 322 |
NC State | 131 (3rd Round) | For a team that values run blocking, there wasn’t a better lineman on the board than the mammoth road-grading Richardson in the fourth round. |
| 6 (203) | Tanner
Lee QB-6’4 218 |
Nebraska, Tulane | 373 (5th Round) | Despite an inordinate number of turnovers, Lee still passed for over 3,000 yards and 23 TDs in 2017. |
| 6 (230) | Leon
Jacobs LB-6’3 246 |
Wisconsin | 234 (4th Round) | Jacobs never really took off for the Badgers until 2017. He has an impressive combination of 4.48 speed and power (26 reps-225 lbs.) at nearly 250 pounds. |
| 7 (247) | Logan
Cooke P-6’5 228 |
Mississippi State | 558 (6th Round) | He proves capable of generating hang times in the 4.6-range while kicking for distance and direction (BYU ’17). |
| Tennessee Titans |  Notable pick: Falk could challenge incumbent Blaine Gabbert for the backup job behind Marcus Mariota. If so, the team will have two of the Pac-12’s all-time leading touchdown producers. |
|||
| Round,
Selection,
|
Player | School | DN Big Board
Rank/ Grade |
‘Nasty’ Take: |
| 1 (22) | Rashaan
Evans LB-6’3 232 |
Alabama | 45 (2nd Round) | Evans’ work off the edge was nearly as impressive as his underrated contributions on special teams. He may be long enough to man an outside linebacker spot. |
| 2 (41) | Harold
Landry OLB-6’2 252 |
Boston
College |
11 (1st Round) | Contains underrated agility and change of direction. Forced 10 fumbles in school. |
| 5 (152) | Dane | Arizona | 87 (3rd Round) | Cruikshank ventured from the junior college ranks to become one of the draft’s best-kept secrets. His 4.41 speed will be an additive to a defense full of young playmakers. |
| 6 (199) | Luke | Washington | 141 (3rd Round) | The Pac-12’s all-time leading passer threw for 119 touchdowns while completing 68.3% of his passes in college. Will his arm strength translate to the NFL? |
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