2018 NFL Draft recap, pick-by-pick: NFC West
6 min read
NFC West
| Arizona
Cardinals |
 Notable Pick: The choice of Edmonds could provide the Cardinals with a deadly one-two punch in the backfield. This would take pressure off of incumbent Sam Bradford. The team may have gotten one of the steals of the draft in the 6-foot-1, 192-pound Campbell. |
|||
| Round,
Selection,
|
Player | School | DN Big Board
Rank/ Grade |
‘Nasty’ Take: |
| 1 (10) | Josh
Rosen QB-6’4 226 |
UCLA | 15 (1st Round) | Rosen’s toughness complements elite anticipation. In order for him to show both, he’ll need to stay available. |
| 2 (47) | Christian
Kirk AP-5’11 200 |
Texas A&M | 29 (2nd Round) | DraftNasty’s top-ranked all-purpose player, Kirk averaged 19 yards per punt return in 2017. A year prior in 2016, he averaged 21.7 yds/PR with three TDs. |
| 3 (97) | Mason | Michigan | 74 (3rd Round) | Cole began his career at left tackle and ended it there (2017). In-between, he was a factor at the center spot. |
| 4 (134) | Chase
Edmonds RB-5’11 205 |
Fordham | 120 (3rd Round) | Edmonds- the Patriot League’s all-time leading rusher- was the best running back at the 2018 East-West Shrine game. |
| 6 (182) | Christian
Campbell CB-6’1 203 |
Penn State | 82 (3rd Round) | Campbell was dinged for being a one-year starter despite NFL starting traits (4.5 speed, 41 ½” VJ, 11’2” BJ, 4.18 20-yd SS). |
| 7 (254) | Korey | Cincinnati | 335 (5th Round) | Cunningham morphed into a starting left tackle in the AAC after putting on 90 pounds while in school. He maintained his athleticism despite the added weight (4.9 40-yd, 35 ½” VJ, 9’11” BJ). |
| Seattle
Seahawks |
 Notable Pick: Despite getting drafted in the first round, Penny may still be undervalued. He can take the top off the defense as a kickoff returner, catch the ball and run in-between the tackles. His pass blocking will have to improve to get on the field. |
|||
| Round,
Selection,
|
Player | School | DN Big Board
Rank/ Grade |
‘Nasty’ Take: |
| 1 (27) | Rashaad
Penny RB/KR-5’11 220 |
San Diego St. | 12 (1st Round) | The three-time MWC Special Teams Player of the Year can affect a game in a number of ways. His experience under former NFL assistant Jeff Horton could ease his professional transition. |
| 3 (79) | Rasheem
Green DE-6’4 275 |
USC | 67 (3rd Round) | Green has the look of New England Patriots 2017 fourth-round pick Deatrich Wise. He can move up-and-down the defensive front as a mismatch player. |
| 4 (120) | Will
Dissly TE-6’4 256 |
Washington | 460 (6th Round) | Dissly may need more repetitions, but he has enough size to become an effective in-line blocker. The Academic All-Pac-12 selection impressed with his hand-eye coordination during the 2018 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl. |
| 5 (141) | Shaquem | UCF | 106 (3rd Round) | The 2016 AAC Defensive Player of the Year and former safety actually looked decent changing directions in defensive back drills prior to the draft. The team will have a plan for his diverse skill-set. |
| 5 (146) | Tre
Flowers S-6’3 207 |
Oklahoma St. | 262 (4th Round) | The All-Big 12 selection can produce positive angles when breaking on routes that go towards the sidelines. His ability to cover ground gives him high special teams upside. |
| 5 (149) | Michael
Dickson P-6’2 208 |
Texas | 271 (4th Round) | His first step goes forward when receiving the snap and he can get balls to travel 70 yards in distance with hang time (70 yards, 4.75 hang, TCU ’17, downed at -10-yd L). He can control field position. |
| 5 (168) | Jamarco
Jones OT-6’4 299 |
Ohio State | 326 (5th Round) | Jones didn’t play with as much venom in 2017 as he had in 2016. He has enough pop to potentially get looks inside at guard. |
| 6 (186) | Jacob
Martin OLB/DE-6’2 236 |
Temple | 382 (5th Round) | Martin –a second-team All-AAC selection- lined up at both end spots for the Owls. His reactionary speed (4.59) off the snap helped him produce 8 QB sacks and 11 TFLs in 2017. He has the look of former Seahawk Bruce Irvin (Raiders) when he came out of West Virginia. |
| 7 (220) | Alex
McGough QB-6’3 218 |
FIU | 602 (7th Round) | McGough’s precision was a big reason the team finished first in the nation in Red Zone offense. |
| San
Francisco 49ers |
 Notable Pick: Warner was BYU’s field linebacker for much off his career but was also used off the edge on occasion. He began to overcome his angular build in 2017 with more force at the point of attack. He has a chance to increase the team’s speed in nickel situations and will be a special teams contributor from Day 1. |
|||
| Round,
Selection,
|
Player | School | DN Big Board
Rank/ Grade |
‘Nasty’ Take: |
| 1 (9) | Mike
McGlinchey OT-6’8 311 |
Notre Dame | 4 (1st Round) | Finds his spots and angles as both a run and pass blocker. Can bend to be 6-foot-8. |
| 2 (44) Trade from Washington | Dante
Pettis AP-6’0 186 |
Washington | 113 (3rd Round) | Multi-dimensional receiver who may have more to give as a slot option. Arguably the draft’s best return option. |
| 3 (70) | Fred
Warner LB-6’3 236 |
BYU | 52 (2nd Round) | He spent a lot of time in school matching slot WRs. Improved in the briar patch in 2017. |
| 3 (95) | Tarvarius | Southern Miss | 81 (3rd Round) | Moore has a unique combination of length and athleticism. Improved his play speed and recognition in 2017. |
| 4 (128) | Kentavius
Street DE-6’2 280 |
NC State | 202 (4th Round) | Street is a bully on the field with his combination of power and strength. He was drafted despite tearing his ACL in pre-draft workouts. |
| 5 (142) | D.J.
Reed CB-RET-5’9 188 |
Kansas State | 123 (3rd Round) | Reed offers major potential in either the punt or kickoff return game (2nd nationally in both categories). His tenacity at the CB spot was evident vs. Charlotte (2017) in cross-field pursuit. |
| 6 (184) | Marcell
Harris S-6’1 208 |
Florida | 601/7th Round | Harris is yet another player the 49ers drafted that may not be available right away. He was on par with former Gator safeties Marcus Maye and Keanu Neal for a stretch in Gainesville. |
| 7 (223) | Julian
Taylor DT-6’4 295 |
Temple | N/A | Taylor put it all together as a senior with 10 tackles for losses but he did not post a sack. He will be a one-gap penetrator. |
| 7 (240) | Richie
James WR-5’10 183 |
MTSU | 157 (3rd Round) | Despite a disappointing senior year marred by injury, James still produced two 100-catch seasons in school (2015-16). He offers a quickness disposition supported with 4.48 speed. |
| Los
Angeles Rams |
 Notable Pick: Noteboom could eventually develop into a starter and has the ability to be groomed behind one of the NFL’s best in Andrew Whitworth. His 35 ½-inch arms increase his room for error. |
|||
| Round,
Selection,
|
Player | School | DN Big Board
Rank/ Grade |
‘Nasty’ Take: |
| 3 (89) | Joseph
Noteboom OT-6’5 309 |
TCU | 62 (2nd Round) | Noteboom can immediately challenge for a starting spot if he gets his technique under control. Compares favorably to Washington OT Morgan Moses. |
| 4 (111) | Brian
Allen C-6’1 300 |
Michigan State | 387 (5th Round) | Allen’s size would make one believe he is a center-only prospect, but some of the former state champion wrestler’s best work in school came at the LG spot in 2016. |
| 4 (135) | John
Franklin-Myers DE-6’3 283 |
Stephen F. Austin | 410 (5th Round) | Franklin-Myers in strong in the upper body and plays with a heavy-handed nature. He controls the action vs. tight ends and has the look of a four-or-five-technique in Wade Phillips’ defenses. |
| 5 (147) | Micah
Kiser ILB-6’2 239 |
Virginia | 96 (3rd Round) | Kiser’s instincts are top-notch. He impresses with his key-and-diagnostic skills. The Walter Camp second-team All-American posted 145 tackles and 5 QB sacks as a senior. 19 QB sacks in his career. |
| 5 (160) | Obo
Okoronkwo OLB-6’1 253 |
Oklahoma | 118 (3rd Round) | Okoronkwo consistently affected the pocket for the Sooners in school. He plays fast and has some similarities to former Denver Broncos first-round pick Shane Ray. He’s longer and more refined as a pass rusher, however. |
| 6 (176) | John
Kelly RB-5’10 216 |
Tennessee | 72 (3rd Round) | Kelly’s late season off the field issues turned off potential suitors. On top of that, he slowed down the second half of 2017. Nevertheless, he has elite balance. |
| 6 (192) | Jamil
Demby RB-6’4 319 |
Maine | 166 (4th Round)B | Demby looked the part at both the 2018 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl and Senior Bowl. His lack of foot speed caused a precipitous drop, but he plays with significant urgency. |
| 6 (195) | Sebastian
Joseph DT-6’4 295 |
Rutgers | 540 (6th Round) | The 2018 College Gridiron Showcase MVP excelled in the classroom. Rutgers’ 2018 team MVP started at the three-technique and NG. Can crease the pocket vs. centers. |
| 6 (205) | Trevon
Young LB-6’4 258 |
Louisville | 194 (4th Round) | After overcoming a serious injury in 2015, Young began to return to form in 2017 (12.5 TFLs). |
| 7 (231) | Travin
Howard S/LB-6’1 213 |
TCU | 424 (5th Round) | Howard finished his career with 343 tackles, and 18 tackles for losses. He’s already been used quite a bit in coverage and he may rank as a position-flex player in Wade Phillips’ schemes. |
| 7 (244) | Justin
Lawler DE-6’4 262 |
SMU | 318 (5th Round) | Since Lawler’s insertion into the SMU lineup in 2015, he’s lined up in a number of positions. He has stood up as an overhang LB and an inside shade DE. A feisty run defender with a knack for blocking kicks (six blocks in school). |
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