Revisiting Rivals.com's rankings for 2018 NFL first-rounders
Mark Pszonak contributed to this report.
The first round of the NFL Draft is in the books and Rivals.com takes a look back at each selection in order, recounting and revisiting our rankings to determine how we did years ago projecting these players to NFL Draft status. With 20 of the 32 picks ranked four stars or higher, Rivals did well with this crop of players.
MORE NFL DRAFT: Grading all 32 first-round selections
1. CLEVELAND BROWNS - Baker Mayfield
Out of high school: Mayfield was a three-star recruit in the class of 2013. He was not ranked nationally, at his position or in the state of Texas.
Judge Farrell: MISS. I gave Rivals.com a DRAW for Marcus Mariota who was a three-star but No. 2 overall because he was from Hawaii and we had only one evaluation opportunity. The fact that Mayfield was a walk-on out of high school helps our cause, but he’s still rated too low to be anything but a MISS.
2. NEW YORK GIANTS - Saquon Barkley
Out of high school: Barkley was a four-star recruit in the class of 2015. He was No. 117 overall, the No. 11 running back and the No. 2 recruit from Pennsylvania.
Judge Farrell: HIT. Even though he wasn’t ranked among the top 10 running backs, he was just outside the Rivals100 and was highly ranked.
3. NEW YORK JETS - Sam Darnold
Out of high school: Darnold was a four-star recruit in the class of 2015. He was No. 179 overall, the No. 8 dual-threat quarterback and the No. 25 recruit from California.
Judge Farrell: HIT. A Rivals250 prospect and a top 10 quarterback, landing in the first round was something that was certainly in the realm of possibility.
4. CLEVELAND BROWNS - Denzel Ward
Out of high school: Ward was a three-star recruit in the class of 2015. He was not ranked nationally, but he was the No. 60 cornerback and the No. 33 recruit from Ohio.
Judge Farrell: MISS. The best pure cornerback in the draft has to be higher than a three-star coming out.
5. DENVER BRONCOS - Bradley Chubb
Out of high school: Chubb was a three-star recruit in the class of 2014. He was not ranked national, at his position or in the state of Georgia.
Judge Farrell: MISS. This is a tough one because Chubb wasn’t heavily recruited and was missed by many schools, but only a three-star here has to be considered a MISS.
6. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS - Quenton Nelson
Out of high school: Nelson was a five-star recruit in the class of 2015. He was No. 29 overall, the No. 3 offensive tackle and the No. 2 recruit from New Jersey.
Judge Farrell: HIT. Nelson was a five-star tackle out of high school. The only thing that changed is that he moved inside.
7. BUFFALO BILLS - Josh Allen
Out of high school: Allen was a two-star JUCO recruit in the class of 2015. He was not ranked as a JUCO nationally or at his position.
Judge Farrell: MISS. From two-star to round one there can be nothing but a MISS for our ranking of Allen, especially after he went to JUCO following high school.
8. CHICAGO BEARS - Roquan Smith
Out of high school: Smith was a four-star recruit in the class of 2015. He was No. 77 overall, the No. 6 outside linebacker and the No. 9 recruit from Georgia.
Judge Farrell: HIT. A Rivals100 prospect and one of the top linebackers overall, this is all HIT to me.
9. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS - Mike McGlinchey
Out of high school: McGlinchey was a four-star recruit in the class of 2013. He was not ranked nationally, but was the No. 22 offensive tackle and the No. 9 recruit from Pennsylvania.
Judge Farrell: HIT. A four-star as a tall, skinny tackle out of high school, we were high on McGlinchey.
10. ARIZONA CARDINALS - Josh Rosen
Out of high school: Rosen was a five-star recruit in the class of 2015. He was No. 2 overall, the No. 1 pro-style quarterback and the No. 1 recruit from California.
Judge Farrell: HIT. A five-star and the No. 2 player overall, he had first-rounder written all over him out of high school.
11. MIAMI DOLPHINS - Minkah Fitzpatrick
Out of high school: Fitzpatrick was a five-star recruit in the class of 2015. He was No. 24 overall, the No. 2 safety and the No. 1 recruit from New Jersey.
Judge Farrell: HIT. We waffled between cornerback and safety for Fitzpatrick but never had him as anything less than a five-star.
12. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
Out of high school: Vea was a three-star recruit in the class of 2013. He was not ranked nationally, but he was the No. 21 strongside defensive end and the No. 40 recruit from California.
Judge Farrell: DRAW. We didn’t see Vea much at all out of high school. He grew from a defensive end into a massive tackle and had some academic issues from what I remember.
13. WASHINGTON REDSKINS - Da'Ron Payne
Out of high school: Payne was a five-star recruit in the class of 2015. He was No. 19 overall, the No. 3 defensive tackle and the No. 1 recruit from Alabama.
Judge Farrell: HIT. A five-star recruit and top 20 player overall, we saw first-rounder when we scouted Payne.
14 . NEW ORLEANS SAINTS - Marcus Davenport
Out of high school: Davenport was a two-star recruit in the class of 2014. He was not ranked nationally, at his position or in the state of Texas.
Judge Farrell: MISS. A guy who just fell through the cracks for everyone and became a five-star caliber talent.
FOR MORE UTSA COVERAGE, VISIT BIRDSUP.COM.
15. OAKLAND RAIDERS - Kolton Miller
Out of high school: Smith was a four-star recruit in the class of 2014. He was not ranked nationally, but was the No. 31 offensive tackle and the No. 35 recruit in California
Judge Farrell: HIT. A four-star out of high school landing in round one is still a hit, since there are so few four-stars compared to threes and twos.
16. BUFFALO BILLS - Tremaine Edmunds
Out of high school: Edmunds was a four-star recruit in the class of 2015. He was No. 226 overall, the No. 15 outside linebacker and the No. 12 recruit from Virginia.
Judge Farrell: HIT. A Rivals250 prospect out of high school and top 15 linebacker, I’ll say this was a good ranking for him.
17. LOS ANGELES CHARGERS - Derwin James
Out of high school: James was a five-star recruit in the class of 2015. He was No. 5 overall, the No. 1 safety and the No. 3 recruit from Florida.
Judge Farrell: HIT. The best safety I ever scouted should end up in round one and he did.
18. GREEN BAY PACKERS - Jaire Alexander
Out of high school: Alexander was a three-star recruit in the class of 2015. He was not ranked nationally, but was the No. 68 cornerback and the No. 22 recruit in North Carolina.
Judge Farrell: MISS. For a first-rounder, he should have been ranked higher even if he was at a newer school and came on late.
19. DALLAS COWBOYS - Leighton Vander Esch
Out of high school: Vander Esch was unranked in the class of 2014 and ended up walking on at Boise State.
Judge Farrell: MISS. Is it a miss if everyone missed on him? It still is to me despite the fact that we never saw him in person.
20. DETROIT LIONS - Frank Ragnow
Out of high school: Ragnow was a three-star recruit in the class of 2014. He was not ranked nationally, but was the No. 44 offensive tackle and the No. 3 recruit in Minnesota
Judge Farrell: MISS. Even as a tackle out of high school he wasn’t that highly regarded and, despite this being a reach by the Lions, he’s a MISS.
21. CINCINNATI BENGALS - Billy Price
Out of high school: Price was a four-star recruit in the class of 2013. He was No. 175 overall, the No. 13 defensive tackle and the No. 9 recruit in Ohio.
Judge Farrell: HIT. In this case, even though he switched positions at the next level, I’m giving us credit.
22. TENNESSEE TITANS - Rashaan Evans
Out of high school: Evans was a five-star recruit in the class of 2014. He was No. 14 overall, the No. 1 outside linebacker and the No. 3 recruit in Alabama.
Judge Farrell: HIT. A former five-star linebacker and top 15 overall player, a first-round grade was given long ago.
23. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS - Isaiah Wynn
Out of high school: Wynn was a four-star recruit in the class of 2014. He was No. 102 overall, the No. 6 offensive guard and the No. 14 recruit in Florida.
Judge Farrell: HIT. Nearly a Rivals100 prospect, a first-round landing spot is no surprise for a player that highly ranked.
24. CAROLINA PANTHERS - D.J. Moore
Out of high school: Moore was a four-star recruit in the class of 2015. He was not ranked nationally, but was the No. 35 wide receiver and the No. 6 recruit in Pennsylvania
Judge Farrell: HIT. Moore was a four-star out of high school and continued to rise throughout our rankings that cycle so he’s a HIT here.
25. BALTIMORE RAVENS - Hayden Hurst
Out of high school: Hurst actually signed to play baseball at Florida State out of high school, but then decided to go the professional route before finally ending up at South Carolina in 2015. He was unranked as a football recruit and did not have any offers in the class of 2012
Judge Farrell: DRAW. Since he went the baseball route, what else can we call this?
26. ATLANTA FALCONS - Calvin Ridley
Out of high school: Ridley was a five-star recruit in the class of 2015. He was ranked No. 9 overall, the No. 1 wide receiver and the No. 4 recruit from Florida.
Judge Farrell: HIT. He was the top wide receiver and a top 10 player overall so his first-round status is no surprise to us.
27. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS - Rashaad Penny
Out of high school: Penny was a three-star recruit out of California and ranked as the No. 44 running back in the country. He was also the No. 63 player in the state of California.
Judge Farrell: MISS. Penny wasn’t heavily recruited at all so to have him as a mid range three-star isn’t bad, but it’s still a MISS for a first-rounder.
FOR MORE SAN DIEGO STATE COVERAGE, VISIT AZTECSPORTSREPORT.COM.
28. PITTSBURGH STEELERS - Terrell Edmunds
Out of high school: Terrell was a three-star cornerback out of high school and wasn’t rated at his position. Edmunds was ranked No. 30 in the state of Virginia out of high school.
Judge Farrell: MISS. As a three-star who was overshadowed by his brother, this one was an oversight of sorts.
29. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS - Taven Bryan
Out of high school: Bryan was a three-star recruit in the class of 2014. He was not ranked nationally, but was the No. 35 strongside defensive end. There was no state ranking in Wyoming for the class of 2014.
Judge Farrell: DRAW. Bryan was out of Wyoming, so for a state with few rankings, having him in the top 35 at his position isn’t bad.
30. MINNESOTA VIKINGS - Mike Hughes
Out of high school: Hughes was a four-star recruit in the class of 2015. He was not ranked nationally, but was the No. 18 athlete and the No. 10 recruit in North Carolina.
Judge Farrell: HIT. We liked Hughes enough to make him a four-star and a four-star can always equal first-rounder.
31. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS - Sony Michel
Out of high school: Smith was a five-star recruit in the class of 2014. He was No. 13 overall, the No. 3 running back and the No. 2 recruit in Florida
Judge Farrell: HIT. This was obviously a home run HIT as a top 15 national prospect out of high school.
32. BALTIMORE RAVENS - Lamar Jackson
Out of high school: Jackson was a four-star recruit in the class of 2015. He was not ranked nationally, but was the No. 17 dual-threat quarterback and the No. 51 recruit in Florida
Judge Farrell: HIT. This may sound like a stretch, but others had him as a three-star and we liked him enough to have him as a top 20 quarterback.