The 2018 Draft

A quarterback bought cheaply at 10, and the cornerback the roster needed most left until the sixth round.

• The need: a quarterback for the future, and cornerback above everything else.
• The trades: 15, 79 and 152 to the Oakland Raiders for 10.
• The pick: Rosen at 10, which Reuter called a more than reasonable price; the first cornerback came at 182.

From 8 reports dated on or before Apr 30, 2018. Grant Lombard, written Oct 7, 2026.

Good value at 26 and 58 at positions the roster had covered, with the named need at tackle left for the third round.

• The need: defensive tackle, after Dontari Poe left in free agency.
• The trades: two seventh-round picks, 244 and 256, to the Rams for 194.
• The pick: Ridley at 26, a value Reuter liked at a position Benoit said the club did not need.

From 8 reports dated on or before Apr 30, 2018. Grant Lombard, written Oct 7, 2026.

Two trades down, one back up for a quarterback, and twelve picks, with the first of them called a reach by two graders.

• The need: a receiving tight end, and a quarterback to follow Joe Flacco.
• The trades: 16 down to 22 and then 25, adding 65 and 125; 52, 125 and a 2019 second up to 32.
• The pick: Jackson at 32 for a future second; Hurst at 25, called a reach by Wharton.

From 8 reports dated on or before Apr 30, 2018. Grant Lombard, written Oct 7, 2026.

Stored picks spent on the quarterback and the linebacker the roster needed, with the passer's accuracy question named and paid for.

• The need: a franchise quarterback after the Tyrod Taylor trade, and a linebacker.
• The trades: 12, 53 and 56 to Tampa Bay for 7 and 255; 22 and 65 to Baltimore for 16 and 154.
• The pick: Allen at 7, with his inaccuracy named by Reuter and acknowledged by Beane.

From 9 reports dated on or before Apr 30, 2018. Grant Lombard, written Oct 7, 2026.

The first receiver off the board at a named need, and two defensive backs for the secondary the general manager wanted to upgrade.

• The need: receiver, and a secondary whose starting corners had no interceptions through 14 games.
• The trades: 88 to Green Bay for 101 and 147; 147 and 197 to the Rams for 136.
• The pick: Moore at 24, the best receiver in the class to Reuter and Prisco.

From 8 reports dated on or before Apr 30, 2018. Grant Lombard, written Oct 7, 2026.

The best player on the board at 8, then the lineman and the receiver the offense needed, one of them bought with a future second.

• The need: a centerpiece for the middle of the line, and a receiver after Cameron Meredith left.
• The trades: 105 and a 2019 second-round pick to New England for 51.
• The pick: Smith at 8, the best player on the board to Reuter; Daniels at 39, a projected first-rounder.

From 8 reports dated on or before Apr 30, 2018. Grant Lombard, written Oct 7, 2026.

Two trades down that added a tackle and an earlier third-round pick, and the center the line needed despite a torn pectoral.

• The need: a center after Russell Bodine left, and depth for an expiring front seven.
• The trades: 12 and 187 to Buffalo for Cordy Glenn, 21 and 158; 46 and 100 to Kansas City for 54 and 78.
• The pick: Price at 21 with a partial pectoral tear, which the club said he had cleared medically.

From 8 reports dated on or before Apr 30, 2018. Grant Lombard, written Oct 7, 2026.

The largest pool of capital in the league, a quarterback at 1, and doubts on the pick at 4 and the back at 35.

• The need: a quarterback, and a left tackle to follow Joe Thomas.
• The trades: 64 to Indianapolis for 67 and 178; 114 and 178 to New England for 105.
• The pick: Ward at 4 over Bradley Chubb, a reach to Reuter and the best corner in the class to Schwab.

From 9 reports dated on or before Apr 30, 2018. Grant Lombard, written Oct 7, 2026.

Fair prices at 19 and 50, and the biggest need on the roster left for the third round.

• The need: a receiver after Dez Bryant's release, then guard, linebacker and tight end.
• The trades: none pick for pick; 192 went to the Rams for Tavon Austin.
• The pick: Vander Esch at 19 with every receiver on the board and a neck question Reuter named.

From 8 reports dated on or before Apr 30, 2018. Grant Lombard, written Oct 7, 2026.

The best edge rusher in the class at 5 for a fading pass rush, and every later need met at value.

• The need: a pass rush that fell to 22nd in sacks, a running back and a corner.
• The trades: 160 to the Rams for 183 and 217; 149 to Seattle for 156 and 226.
• The pick: Chubb at 5, the best value on the board for Denver to Reuter.

From 8 reports dated on or before Apr 30, 2018. Grant Lombard, written Oct 7, 2026.

The line need met at 20, then two trades up that spent future picks on players the boards rated lower.

• The need: a run game that ranked last in yards per carry, and a lineman after Travis Swanson left.
• The trades: 51 and 117 to New England for 43; a 2019 third to New England for 114.
• The pick: Johnson at 43, marginal value to Reuter; Walker at 82, two rounds early to Reuter.

From 8 reports dated on or before Apr 30, 2018. Grant Lombard, written Oct 7, 2026.

A future first-round pick gained, and the corner need met twice at prices the boards liked.

• The need: cornerback first, then an edge rusher, receivers and line help.
• The trades: 14 to New Orleans for 27, 147 and a 2019 first; 27, 76 and 186 to Seattle for 18 and 248; 101 and 147 to Carolina for 88.
• The pick: Alexander at 18, the second-best corner on most team boards to Reuter.

From 9 reports dated on or before Apr 30, 2018. Grant Lombard, written Oct 7, 2026.

Value at 68 and a tackle at 80 on almost no capital, and then tight ends where the line needed bodies.

• The need: the offensive line, at tackle above all.
• The trades: none on the weekend; the first- and second-round picks had gone to Cleveland the year before.
• The pick: Reid at 68, a great value to Reuter; Rankin at 80, the tackle.

From 8 reports dated on or before Apr 30, 2018. Grant Lombard, written Oct 7, 2026.

A trade down from 3 that still landed a top-three player at a need, and four second-round picks spent on a linebacker, a guard and two pass rushers.

• The need: protection for Andrew Luck, and a defense moving to a 4-3 front.
• The trades: 3 to the Jets for 6, 37, 49 and a 2019 second; 49 to Philadelphia for 52 and 169; 67 and 178 to Cleveland for 64; 140 to the Oakland Raiders for 159 and 185.
• The pick: Nelson at 6, one of the top three players in the draft to Reuter.

From 8 reports dated on or before Apr 30, 2018. Grant Lombard, written Oct 7, 2026.

Fair prices for the future on a deep roster, little capital, and the named needs at linebacker and guard left alone.

• The need: soft, at tight end, the right side of the line, middle linebacker and guard.
• The trades: none on the weekend.
• The pick: Bryan at 29, great value to Prisco on a line already loaded with talent.

From 9 reports dated on or before Apr 30, 2018. Grant Lombard, written Oct 7, 2026.

Two fair trades up for defenders on small capital, and the corner need left for the sixth round.

• The need: defense, at cornerback above all after the Marcus Peters trade.
• The trades: 54 and 78 to Cincinnati for 46 and 100; 86 and 122 to Baltimore for 75.
• The pick: Speaks at 46, a college tackle moving to the edge that Prisco called risky.

From 8 reports dated on or before Apr 30, 2018. Grant Lombard, written Oct 7, 2026.

Two trade-downs that added picks, two tackles at prices the boards did not support, and risk on almost every pick after that.

• The need: cornerback, inside linebacker and offensive tackle.
• The trades: 10 to Arizona for 15, 79 and 152; 41 to Tennessee for 57 and 89; 75, 152 and 212 to Baltimore for 65; 79 to Pittsburgh for Martavis Bryant.
• The pick: Miller at 15, past the middle of the first round on Reuter's tape grade.

From 9 reports dated on or before Apr 30, 2018. Grant Lombard, written Oct 7, 2026.

A top-10 safety at 17 for the club's biggest need, and no capital spent to get him.

• The need: safety, linebacker and defensive tackle, with a run defense to fix.
• The trades: none; the club kept all seven of its own picks.
• The pick: James at 17, the steal of the round on Kiper's board; Jones at 84 a reach on it.

From 8 reports dated on or before Apr 30, 2018. Grant Lombard, written Oct 7, 2026.

No pick until 89 after the veteran trades, a tackle for the future there, and the defensive needs left to Day 3.

• The need: linebacker, offensive tackle and defensive end, with depth on the offensive line the club's own aim.
• The trades: 87 to Oakland for 89 and a sixth; two sixths to Denver for 160; the first- and second-round picks spent on Cooks and Watkins.
• The pick: Noteboom at 89, the club's first selection of the weekend.

From 9 reports dated on or before Apr 30, 2018. Grant Lombard, written Oct 7, 2026.

A top-five talent at 11 and the tight end and linebacker on Day 2, with the offensive line left alone.

• The need: offensive line, linebacker, running back and tight end.
• The trades: none on the weekend; 123 and 131 came from the Landry and Ajayi trades.
• The pick: Fitzpatrick at 11, a top-five player on Kiper's board.

From 9 reports dated on or before Apr 30, 2018. Grant Lombard, written Oct 7, 2026.

All three named needs met with the first three picks, at about where the boards had them.

• The need: guard or tackle, defensive end and cornerback.
• The trades: 94 to Tampa Bay for 102 and 180; 180 and 204 to the Jets in two deals for 157.
• The pick: Hughes at 30, where Kiper expected him to go.

From 8 reports dated on or before Apr 30, 2018. Grant Lombard, written Oct 7, 2026.

Two first-rounders for the line and the backfield, a starting tackle by trade, and two 2019 picks banked.

• The need: cornerback, offensive tackle and outside linebacker.
• The trades: 43 to Detroit for 51 and 117; 51 to Chicago for 105 and a 2019 second; 63 and 117 to Tampa Bay for 56; 95 for Trent Brown and 143.
• The pick: Wynn at 23 at left tackle; Michel at 31, 28th on Kiper's board.

From 9 reports dated on or before Apr 30, 2018. Grant Lombard, written Oct 7, 2026.

The pass rusher the club wanted, bought with two first-round picks.

• The need: a pass rusher first, then tight end and quarterback.
• The trades: 27, 147 and the 2019 first to Green Bay for 14; the second-round pick spent a year earlier on Kamara.
• The pick: Davenport at 14, called a very heavy price by Reuter and a whopper by Kiper.

From 8 reports dated on or before Apr 30, 2018. Grant Lombard, written Oct 7, 2026.

The best player on many boards at 2, at a position the graders argued about, and the guard need met at 34.

• The need: guard, quarterback and linebacker.
• The trades: none on the weekend; 69 and 108 came for Pierre-Paul, and 135 and 176 went for Ogletree.
• The pick: Barkley at 2 over Chubb and Darnold; Hernandez at 34 at value.

From 9 reports dated on or before Apr 30, 2018. Grant Lombard, written Oct 7, 2026.

The quarterback the boards rated highest, paid for with three second-round picks.

• The need: quarterback, offensive line and wide receiver.
• The trades: 6, 37, 49 and a 2019 second to Indianapolis for 3; 157 to Minnesota and back for 180 and 204.
• The pick: Darnold at 3, the best quarterback in the class to Benoit.

From 8 reports dated on or before Apr 30, 2018. Grant Lombard, written Oct 7, 2026.

Out of the first round for a 2019 second, and still the tight end the club wanted at 32.

• The need: tight end after Burton and Celek, then tackle and linebacker.
• The trades: 32 to Baltimore for 52, 125 and a 2019 second; 52 and 169 to Indianapolis for 49.
• The pick: Goedert at 49, a late first-rounder on Kiper's board.

From 8 reports dated on or before Apr 30, 2018. Grant Lombard, written Oct 7, 2026.

A first-round safety the boards had much lower, and no inside linebacker after Shazier.

• The need: inside linebacker, then defensive back and wide receiver.
• The trades: Bryant to Oakland for 79; 79 and 220 to Seattle for 76.
• The pick: Edmunds at 28, way down Kiper's board.

From 8 reports dated on or before Apr 30, 2018. Grant Lombard, written Oct 7, 2026.

The ninth-most capital in the league, spent on a tackle who became a need the next morning, a receiver bought at a small loss and a fourth-rounder coming off a torn ACL.

• The need: tackle was not one on the Thursday; Brown went to New England the next morning, and McGlinchey became the right tackle and Staley's heir.
• The cost: 59 and 74 for 44 and 142 bought Pettis at a small loss on the value chart, and the weekend split on whether he was a reach.
• The risk: Street tore an ACL in a March workout and had surgery in April; the club said it rated him a third-rounder without the injury.

From 12 reports dated on or before Apr 30, 2018. Sam Kezar, written Oct 7, 2026. The piece.

A good trade down, a running back the boards had later, and no cornerback.

• The need: offensive line, cornerback and defensive end.
• The trades: 18 to Green Bay for 27, 76 and 186; 76 to Pittsburgh for 79 and 220; 156 and 226 to Denver for 149.
• The pick: Penny at 27, a reach to Kiper even after the trade down.

From 8 reports dated on or before Apr 30, 2018. Grant Lombard, written Oct 7, 2026.

Two extra second-round picks for moving down five spots, and the target still there at 12.

• The need: safety, cornerback and running back, for a defense that ranked last.
• The trades: 7 and 255 to Buffalo for 12, 53 and 56; 56 to New England for 63 and 117; 102 and 180 to Minnesota for 94.
• The pick: Vea at 12, with James still on the board.

From 8 reports dated on or before Apr 30, 2018. Grant Lombard, written Oct 7, 2026.

Three trades up, two starters at or above their slots, and only four picks.

• The need: inside linebacker, then guard, tight end and a future edge rusher.
• The trades: 25 and 125 to Baltimore for 22; 57 and 89 to Oakland for 41; 162 and 215 to Baltimore for 152.
• The pick: Evans at 22; Landry at 41, a late first-rounder to Benoit.

From 9 reports dated on or before Apr 30, 2018. Grant Lombard, written Oct 7, 2026.

The nose tackle at 13, then a trade down that still landed a first-round talent at running back.

• The need: defensive line for a run defense ranked last, then linebacker and receiver.
• The trades: 44 and 142 to San Francisco for 59 and 74; 205 and 231 to the Rams for 197 and 256.
• The pick: Payne at 13; Guice at 59, Kiper's second-ranked back.

From 8 reports dated on or before Apr 30, 2018. Grant Lombard, written Oct 7, 2026.