2018 NFL Draft: Reviewing Every Team's Best-Value Selection

The NFL draft is a two-step process. First, teams gather information and build a big board. Then, the team must have the discipline to stick to that board and adjust to the draft over three days and seven rounds.

The teams that handle both steps of the process are capable of producing tremendous value with certain selections. It all comes down to evaluating the players correctly and having the confidence to trust the board when the time comes to make a pick. 

Here's a look at each team's best value selection in the 2018 NFL draft.  

Teams holding the 15th pick in the first round don't usually get an opportunity to pick their future franchise quarterback, especially one that is polished, pro-ready and hungry to prove he's the best in a top-heavy class of passers. 

That's what the Cardinals got Thursday night after they moved up to No. 10 to take UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen. It didn't even cost Arizona a second-round pick this year or a first-round pick next year. The Cardinals sent a third- and fifth-round pick to the Oakland Raiders to move up five spots and get Rosen, whom the team likes as the building block of the most important position in the game. 

"We found a guy we feel we can build around, and that's good enough for us," Cardinals general manager Steve Keim said, according to Peter King of MMQB. 

If Rosen turns out to be a top quarterback, the Cardinals will look like one of the biggest winners in the draft. Two mid-round picks to move up to No. 10 and get a franchise quarterback? That's as much value as any team could ask for. 

Receiver Calvin Ridley could turn out to be a good value at the end of the second round, but it's easier to find productive receivers in the draft than starting-caliber cornerbacks.

Isaiah Oliver, the long, athletic cornerback from Colorado, looks like a future starter on the perimeter. The Falcons got him 26 picks into the second round. Some believed Oliver could sneak into the first round, but the Falcons had to be delighted that he was still on the board at No. 58.  

He has long arms (33 ¼"), plenty of speed (4.5 seconds in the 40-yard dash) and an aggressive, confident mindset when the ball is in the air. He's also experienced in playing the kind of press, man-to-man coverage the Falcons like to run on the outside. 

"I know they pride themselves on physicality and being fast," Oliver said, according to Kelsey Conway of the team's official site. "That's something I feel like I can fit right into, especially playing at the line of scrimmage on different receivers. I'm ready to hop right in and get to work."

The Ravens were discussing taking Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson at No. 16 overall in the first round, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Instead, general manager Ozzie Newsome traded down twice, selecting tight end Hayden Hurst at No. 25, and then moved back into the first round to get Jackson, who was still available at No. 32. 

This could be a franchise-altering moment for the Ravens. Not only is Jackson an electric, game-breaking talent and direct competition for Joe Flacco at quarterback, but the Ravens were able to move around the board in the first round, grab a tight end they liked and still have a chance at drafting a passer with the kind of playmaking ability not seen at the position since Michael Vick. 

Credit Newsome, who was running his last draft as Ravens general manager, for getting aggressive and securing an exciting prospect at quarterback. He'll now leave his successor, Eric DeCosta, with the potential for having Jackson under contract for the next five years in Baltimore. There's tremendous value in that kind of security at quarterback. 

There was a temptation to put linebacker Tremaine Edmunds here. He's a rare athlete who could give the Bills a disruptive player both as an off-the-ball linebacker and an edge-rusher. His potential really is out of this word, and the Bills took him at No. 16. 

But doesn't this selection have to be Harrison Phillips, who lasted 32 picks into the third round and 96 overall? 

Most analysts had Phillips as a top-50 player. He is big, productive and versatile. In fact, he's a lot like Kyle Williams, a fifth-round pick of the Bills who turned into a five-time Pro Bowler. Phillips will get a chance to learn behind Williams for at least a year before taking over his role in the middle of the defensive line. 

Edmunds and quarterback Josh Allen could be difficult to project. Phillips is not hard to do so. Expect him to be a valuable part of the Bills defensive line for many years.

It's impossible to watch Ian Thomas and not think of eight-time Pro Bowl tight end Antonio Gates, who turned into one of the greatest undrafted free-agent finds in NFL history for the Chargers. 

Thomas doesn't have the basketball background, but his body type, movements and receiving ability all look a lot like Gates. The Panthers took him with the first pick of the fourth round. If the No. 101 overall pick turns out to be anything like Gates, he'll be one of the best picks from the draft.

Thomas is falling into a perfect situation behind veteran tight end Greg Olsen. The Indiana star needs to develop more as a route-runner, but he'll get a chance to grow into the role. In a year or two, Thomas could be a legitimate weapon in the Panthers passing game. 

Could the Bears have asked for three better picks to start the draft? 

Chicago got a game-changing linebacker in Roquan Smith in the first round and a plug-and-play starter in James Daniels to start the second round. And neither pick was the team's best value. 

That distinction belongs to receiver Anthony Miller, whom the Bears picked 12 spots after Daniels in the second round. 

Miller doesn't have elite ability in any area, but he's so good in so many different aspects that it's hard to see him not succeeding in some kind of role in Chicago. He can play on the outside and inside in the slot, and he's capable of securing tough catches in traffic and creating yards after the catch. Oh, and he's a nuanced route-runner who is ready to contribute right away. 

The Bears have added a lot of new weapons for Mitchell Trubisky this offseason. Miller could step in immediately and give Chicago a productive pass-catcher from the slot. Trubisky is going to love him. 

Slot cornerback is a starting position in the modern NFL. Taking away the football is as important as ever. And while returners are becoming less valuable as the rules evolve, guys who can flip field position still have value. 

Say hello to Darius Phillips, the Bengals' fifth-round pick who can do all those things. 

Phillips has man coverage ability, especially from the slot, and his ball skills as a former receiver make him dangerous when the ball is in the air. He picked off 12 passes over his final three years, returning five (!) for touchdowns. He also returned five kickoffs for touchdowns and displayed game-breaking ability on punts. 

Pro Football Focus had Phillips rated as the No. 85 overall prospect on their big board. The Bengals got him 33 picks into the fifth round at No. 170 overall. It's hard to beat that value, especially if he proves to be the replacement for Pacman Jones in Cincinnati. 

The Browns had a bunch of value options to pick from, including Austin Corbett (a plug-and-play offensive lineman) and Nick Chubb (a powerful, productive runner) to start the second round. 

But the selection here is Genard Avery, a versatile linebacker who made big play after big play from a variety of spots for the Memphis defense. Cleveland landed him in the fifth round. 

The Browns will have to figure out his best position, but he can be used as an off-the-ball linebacker or as an edge-rusher. Few defenders in college football were as disruptive last season as Avery, who finished with 22 tackles for losses and 8.5 sacks in 2017. 

The Browns went into the draft needing to add good football players. Avery fits the bill, and the value from the fifth round is off the charts. Expect him to outproduce his draft slot. 

There's a lot to like about the Cowboys draft. Getting Leighton Vander Esch in the first round is a perfect fit for Rod Marinelli's defense, and second-round pick Connor Williams could be an early starter at tackle for the offensive line. 

That said, Dallas could have hit a home run in getting receiver Michael Gallup in the third round. 

There might not have been a more perfect replacement for Dez Bryant in this draft class. Gallup is big and strong, with smooth route-running ability, an impressive collection of contested catches and intriguing skills after the catch. He's an advanced receiver prospect who could step in right away and be a reliable target for Dak Prescott. 

Dez won't soon be forgotten in Dallas, but Gallup has the ability to make his departure sting much less. He'll be a strong candidate to lead all rookies in catches in 2018.

The easy pick here would be Bradley Chubb, who fell to Denver at No. 5 overall to start the draft. He's a big, athletic edge-rusher who possesses a lot of tools, and he'll likely contribute right away while playing with Von Miller. Getting a top pass-rusher without a trade up is always great value. 

But better value might have been found in the fourth round, where the Broncos took DaeSean Hamilton, one of the most underrated receivers in the draft. 

Hamilton creates separation with sharp route-running and snags everything in sight, so don't be surprised if he turns into an Adam Thielen-like target for new Broncos quarterback Case Keenum. He's going to surprise a lot of people with his ability to consistently get open. Expect Keenum to develop a connection with this rookie right away.  

Almost everyone expected Oregon offensive tackle Tyrell Crosby to come off the board two or three rounds before the Detroit Lions eventually ended his fall in the fifth round, especially in a draft class lacking depth along the offensive line. 

There's always a reason why highly regarded players fall down the board. Crosby isn't a great athlete, and he's likely destined to play right tackle or inside at guard in the NFL. 

Still, to get a player with the talent to eventually start along the offensive line is always great value. Crosby can move people in the run game and has the potential to be an impact blocker at guard for the Lions. They might give him a try on the edge, but don't be surprised if Crosby starts for several years at guard in Detroit. 

Who knows if the Packers were planning on taking cornerbacks in both the first and second rounds, but it's unlikely first-year general manager Brian Gutekunst expected Iowa cornerback Josh Jackson to be available when the team was on the clock at No. 45 overall. 

At that point, doubling down at cornerback turned into an easy decision. 

In Jackson, the Packers are getting a long, instinctive and athletic cornerback who led college football in interceptions and pass breakups last season.

Some thought he'd be a first-round pick. Almost no one thought he'd last until midway through the second round. Jackson was the No. 1 cornerback and the No. 8 overall player at Pro Football Focus, highlighting the tremendous value at No. 45. For comparison's sake, Jaire Alexander, whom the team drafted 18th overall, was PFF's No. 4 corner and No. 22 overall.

The Texans didn't have a first- or second-round pick, but they still managed to acquire a potential top-50 talent in Stanford safety Justin Reid. He came off the board early in the third round. 

Reid should give the Texans another athletic and playmaking defensive back to team with Tyrann Mathieu. He has the ability to play deep as a free safety and drop down to cover the slot. That kind of versatility is increasingly valuable as teams attempt to combat modern offenses with hybrid players that can run, cover and tackle. 

The Texans can't imagine Reid would be available with their first pick at No. 68. He was labeled by some as a fringe first-round pick, so Houston got tremendous value. 

The Colts added a bunch of quality football players to start their draft. They will be the foundation of a class that could be very good for general manager Chris Ballard. 

One of his late swings could put the class over the top. 

Deon Cain's star dimmed significantly after losing Deshaun Watson to the NFL in 2017, but there's a lot to like about his physical abilities, vertical receiving skills and upside potential. He can really move for a receiver his size, and getting thrown into an offense in need of receivers could make him an attractive target early on for Andrew Luck. 

The Colts made Cain the 21st receiver drafted. Want to bet he outproduces a bunch of those ahead of him?

The Jaguars defense is already filled with aggressive, instinctive defenders who rally to the football and make plays all over the field. They added another potential one in safety Ronnie Harrison, the team's third-round pick. 

No one would have been shocked if Harrison came off the board in the second round. Instead, the Jaguars got him 29 picks into the third. 

The Alabama defensive back has the size, instincts and awareness to be an immediate starter in Jacksonville's defense. He's a perfect fit for a group that prioritizes stopping the run, plays a lot of zone coverage, and asks the back seven to read the quarterback and chase down the ball.

The Chiefs weren't blessed with draft capital, so finding great value was a tough exercise among their six picks. Still, it's easy to like Dorian O'Daniel late in the third round. He gives Kansas City's defense a versatile, athletic defender who profiles as both an in-the-box safety or sub-package linebacker. 

Hybrid defenders are all the rage in the NFL. They can help tilt the advantage back to the defense by providing the ability to stop the run and cover in space. 

O'Daniel showed an ability to handle coverage, disrupt the run game and time blitzes to pressure the quarterback. The Chiefs will hope he can bring that same kind of multidimensional impact. 

Florida State safety Derwin James could be a multiyear Pro Bowler in Gus Bradley's defense. He's versatile and athletic, and he's a perfect fit as a strong safety.

The Chargers absolutely stole him at No. 17 overall.

Expect Bradley to get the most out of James, who can play the deep half, support the run from in the box, cover the slot and blitz the quarterback. Bradley will let James hunt for the ball and create havoc all over the field. 

Think of James as a more athletic version of Kam Chancellor, whom Bradley coached in Seattle as the Seahawks defensive coordinator. The value here in the middle of the first round was incredible. 

The Rams defense is loaded, but it needs pass-rushers. While Ogbonnia Okoronkwo is a little undersized and lacks elite athleticism, he frequently found his way to the quarterback in college and could provide the Rams with much-needed depth on the edge. 

The Oklahoma star produced 29.5 tackles for losses, 17 sacks and five forced fumbles over his final two seasons. 

How's this for value: Pro Football Focus had Okoronkwo ranked as the 40th-best prospect in the class. The Rams took him at No. 160. Defensive coordinator Wade Phillips and his attacking scheme will get the most out of Okoronkwo in Los Angeles. 

Minkah Fitzpatrick could be the safest pick on defense in this draft class. He's tough, athletic and versatile, and he was groomed in a great program at Alabama. It's difficult to envision him busting with all of his positive attributes. 

To their credit, the Dolphins were able to stay put at No. 11 and get him. That looks like great value for someone considered to be one of the four or five best in the class. 

Miami must find him the right role in the secondary. Fitzpatrick can wear many different hats, and he might be best utilized as a hybrid safety who can come down near the line of scrimmage to support against the run or cover the slot. Could he be a bigger, better version of Tyrann Mathieu? 

Cornerback Mike Hughes was a nice pick late in the first round, but a new project might end up holding hidden value for the Vikings. 

Tulane's Ade Aruna is a developmental prospect with raw pass-rushing ability. He's big and athletic, with long arms, explosive lower-body power and intriguing movement skills. That's exactly the kind of player the Vikings should be providing for head coach Mike Zimmer and defensive line coach Andre Patterson. 

Together, those two have developed young, athletic and unpolished defensive linemen such as Danielle Hunter into legitimate pass-rushers. Aruna is going to take more work than the former third-rounder, but the tools are there. If Zimmer and Patterson can coach him up and ready to play, Aruna could provide the Vikings with another valuable member to the pass-rushing stable along the defensive line. 

The value of Isaiah Wynn going to the Patriots at No. 23 in the first round will depend heavily on your evaluation of the Georiga offensive lineman. 

Some see him as only a guard at the next level. That would probably drop his overall value and remove him from this conversation. 

But if you think he can play tackle, Wynn's value skyrockets. He should be able to play on the edge, just as he did in 15 starts at Georgia last season. Wynn lacks ideal length, but he was a dominant pass blocker for the Bulldogs at left tackle. The SEC is full of NFL-caliber pass-rushers, and very few beat him. 

Here's a bold prediction: Wynn has Pro Bowl potential at tackle. Watch him start 16 games at left tackle for the Patriots next season and look good doing it. Several years from now, we'll be wondering how New England stole an exceptional blind-side protector 23 picks into the first round. 

It was hard to nail down a true value pick for the Saints after they traded up into the first round to grab edge-rusher Marcus Davenport at No. 14. He could end up being well worth the investment if he turns into an edge-dominating pass-rusher, but it's hard to look past the Saints giving up a first-rounder next year to get him. 

So let's look elsewhere. 

On Day 3, the Saints used a fifth-round pick on athletic defensive back Natrell Jamerson, who can play some cornerback and safety.

Wisconsin used him mostly at safety, but he could slide down into the slot and provide some value in one-on-one coverage. Even if he's without a true position, the Saints will love his effort and production on special teams. He'll last a long time in New Orleans because of his coverage of kickoffs and punts. 

Also, seventh-round pick Will Clapp has the look of a future starter at an interior position along the offensive line. Finding a reliable option up front so late in the seventh round would be terrific value. 

Saquon Barkley is arguably the most talented player coming out of the draft class and Will Hernandez will be opening holes in the run game for years, but getting Lorenzo Carter in the third round is an incredible value. 

Carter is a little difficult to project after playing a jack-of-all-trades role at Georgia, but why is that versatility a knock? He's a rare kind of player. He can cover tight ends and running backs in space and he showed flashes of edge-rushing ability. Plus, he's incredibly athletic. It's possible he could have untapped potential as a true rusher, given his incredible length and movement ability. 

The Giants have some developing to do, but Carter could easily become the best third-round pick in this class. 

Getting Sam Darnold at No. 3 will provide more value than any pick in the draft if he turns out to be the best quarterback in the class. 

However, don't sleep on two picks the Jets made on Day 3. 

Miami's Chris Herndon has Trey Burton-like potential as a move tight end. He's a smooth athlete who creates separation and yards after the catch. He could develop into a true No. 1 option because he's also a willing in-line blocker. That could be really good value in the fourth round. 

Also, cornerback Parry Nickerson was a nice pick in the sixth round. He's undersized, but he made a lot of plays for Tulane. 

A heart condition discovered at the NFL Scouting Combine dropped Michigan defensive lineman Maurice Hurst all the way to the fifth round. He's a first-round talent who didn't come off the board until No. 140 overall. 

If all goes well, the Raiders could strike gold here. Hurst was a dominant and disruptive force for the Wolverines for several years. He beats blockers in a variety of ways, both against the run and in the passing game. His talent is undeniable. 

Pro Football Focus ranked Hurst as their third overall player in the class. 

I'm not a doctor and I don't play one on TV, so I won't comment on his medical condition and how it might affect his playing career. All I know is that Hurst can play. There's a good chance he'll be the best player to come out of the draft's third day. 

Josh Sweat landing with the Eagles has the potential to be one of the true steals of the 2018 draft. 

Sweat might be nothing more than a tremendous athlete with unrealized pass-rushing talent at this point, but he's about to be surrounded by veteran players along the deepest and most talented defensive lines in the NFL. The tools he needs to develop will be visible all around him in Philadelphia. 

That'd be a scary thing if Sweat figured out how to use his incredible athleticism to better get to the passer. The 130th pick in a draft doesn't usually provide legitimate pass-rushing talent. The Eagles might have found an exception to that rule in Sweat, who has frighteningly similar size and measureables to Jadeveon Clowney. 

Ben Roethlisberger is 36 years old and headed into the twilight of a Hall of Fame career. If he plays another four years, great. But the Steelers can't count on that, so they moved up in the third round to get the forgotten man in the 2018 quarterback class. 

Mason Rudolph was rarely mentioned alongside Baker Mayfield, Josh Rosen, Sam Darnold, Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson, but he belonged in that group. While Rudolph doesn't have the exciting traits of those other quarterbacks, he does just about everything well as a traditional passer. 

He moves around well in the pocket. He throws into tight windows. He anticipates open receivers. He can throw with touch and accuracy. He knows how to slide and avoid pressure. 

These are pro-ready traits that translate into consistent play at the quarterback position in the NFL. Rudolph wasn't one of five first-round quarterbacks, but it wouldn't be a surprise if he ends up outlasting and outproducing several of them once he takes over in Pittsburgh. 

The 49ers using a fourth-round pick on a player who just tore his ACL tells you how much they liked that player. 

And it's not difficult to understand why. 

NC State defensive lineman Kentavius Street might miss most of the 2018 season while his knee heals, but the 49ers were willing to wait on his combination of size, power and burst. Street won in a bunch of different ways on the edge and inside for the Wolfpack, and his versatility could make him a valuable sub-package rusher once he's back to 100 percent. 

Shaquem Griffin's fairytale story added another chapter when the Seattle Seahawks took him in the fifth round Saturday. The amputation of his left hand as a child didn't stop him from getting to the NFL. 

But here's the thing: Griffin's incredible story of perseverance often overshadows the fact that he's a really good football player. In fact, one could easily argue he was among the 10 best in college football last season.

Griffin did it all for UCF's defense. He rushed the passer, stuffed the run and covered in space. Every week he was the best player on the field. He's also an elite athlete who brings a tremendous closing burst, a never-ending motor and special versatility to the field on every snap. 

The Seahawks are getting a special one, and not just because he has only one hand. Griffin is a special football player. Who is going to bet against him making that fifth-round investment worth it? Not me. 

This prediction rests on Jack Cichy's ability to stay healthy. He missed the entire 2017 season with a knee injury, which dropped him all the way to the sixth round, but he was a legitimate playmaker for the Wisconsin defense when healthy. 

Cichy combines top-of-the-line instincts with impressive play speed. The linebacker is going to make plays because he'll know where to be and when to be there. 

Cichy once sacked former USC quarterback Cody Kessler on three straight plays in the 2015 Holiday Bowl. 

Think of Cichy as another version of Chris Borland, the Wisconsin linebacker who made a lot of plays for the San Francisco 49ers before abruptly retiring. If Cichy can provide that same impact while avoiding injury and staying on the field, he'll be a steal in the sixth round. 

This looks like the definition of a value pick. While a consensus never formed on Harold Landry's ability during the pre-draft process, most believed he'd be a first-round pick. 

Instead, the Boston College pass-rusher fell nine picks into the second round. 

The Titans grabbing him at No. 41 could become one of the steals of the draft. Landry battled through an injury-plagued 2017 season and might not be great against the run, but his athletic ability on the edge was rare in this class. He should be able to generate pressure with his quickness and flexibility around the corner. 

The Titans will be thrilled if Landry finds his form from 2016 and turns it on full blast. Finding a player with double-digit sack potential is rare outside of the first round. 

Talented players fall in the draft for all kinds of reasons. According to Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, LSU running back Derrius Guice hurt himself during the pre-draft process and suffered a big fall because of it. 

But for every talented player to fall, there's always one team willing to take the risk. Washington was that team here. 

In Guice, the Redskins are getting a first-round talent at a second-round value. Some thought Guice was in play for Washington in the first round. Instead, it got him at No. 59—27 picks into the second round. 

It's hard to argue with that value. Guice is big, fast, powerful and elusive. He has the talent to produce several 1,000-yard rushing seasons early in his Washington career.