2018 NFL draft explained
The 2018 NFL draft was the 83rd annual meeting of National Football League (NFL) franchises to select newly eligible players for the 2018 NFL season. The draft was held on April 26–28 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas; it was the first draft to take place in an NFL stadium and the first to be held in Texas.[3] [4] [5] In order to be eligible to enter the draft, players must be at least three years removed from high school. The deadline for underclassmen to declare for the draft was January 15, 2018.[6]
Five quarterbacks were selected in the first round — Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, Josh Allen, Josh Rosen, and Lamar Jackson — tied for the second highest number of first-round quarterback selections (along with the 1999 and 2021 drafts) after the six selected in 1983 and 2024.[7] As of 2023, only Allen and Jackson have remained with their original teams. The draft was also the first to have siblings — safety Terrell Edmunds and linebacker Tremaine Edmunds — selected in its first round.[8]
The 2018 NFL draft was the first of two professional sports drafts to be held in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex during the calendar year, as the Dallas Stars hosted the 2018 NHL Entry Draft in June.
Early entrants
See main article: List of 2018 NFL draft early entrants. In order to be eligible to enter the draft, players must be at least three years removed from high school. The deadline for underclassmen to declare for the draft was January 15, 2018.[9]
The following is the breakdown of the 256 players selected by position:
Player selections
Notes and References
- News: NFL expanding television coverage for 2018 NFL Draft. National Football League. March 21, 2018. April 27, 2018. April 26, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180426235505/http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000922401/article/nfl-expanding-television-coverage-for-2018-nfl-draft. dead.
- News: Draper. Kevin. Fox to Broadcast N.F.L. Draft for First Time. The New York Times. February 14, 2018. February 14, 2018. February 15, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180215061008/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/14/sports/football/fox-nfl-draft.html. live.
- News: Philly tried, but Dallas will host the 2018 NFL draft. philly.com. October 18, 2017. January 11, 2018. January 11, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180111165108/http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/eagles/philadelphia-nfl-draft-dallas-jerry-jones-roger-goodell-20171018.html. live.
- News: Patra. Kevin. Dallas selected as host of 2018 NFL Draft. National Football League. NFL.com. October 18, 2017. April 27, 2018. April 26, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180426203108/http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000863455/article/dallas-selected-as-host-of-2018-nfl-draft. dead.
- Web site: Dallas, AT&T Stadium chosen as site of 2018 NFL draft. espn.com. ESPN. October 18, 2017. October 18, 2017. October 18, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171018201342/http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/21063926/dallas-cowboys-host-2018-nfl-draft-att-stadium-sources. live.
- Web site: 2018 National Football League Important Dates. NFL.com. National Football League. January 3, 2018. January 3, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180103052955/https://operations.nfl.com/football-ops/league-governance/2018-important-nfl-dates/. live.
- News: 2018 NFL draft Round 1 recap, analysis: Ravens take Lamar Jackson; Bills trade up for Josh Allen; Browns take Baker Mayfield No. 1. The Washington Post. April 26, 2018. April 27, 2018. April 26, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180426225727/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/sports/wp/2018/04/26/2018-nfl-draft-pick-by-pick-news-rumors-analysis-updates/. live.
- Web site: Terrell and Tremaine Edmunds are first brothers drafted in first round. ESPN.com. April 26, 2018. April 27, 2018. April 27, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180427095015/http://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2018/story/_/id/23330626/edmunds-brothers-terrell-tremaine-first-brothers-drafted-first-round. live.
- Web site: Tracking underclassmen intentions for 2018 NFL Draft. NFL.com. November 28, 2017. May 1, 2018. May 1, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180501095225/http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000883994/article/tracking-underclassmen-intentions-for-2018-nfl-draft. live.
- Players are identified as Pro Bowlers if they were selected for the Pro Bowl at any time in their career.
- Players are identified as a Hall of Famer if they have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
