Now entering season six of their pro careers, the search for a Super Bowl appearance continues.
Two of these former first-round quarterbacks have tasted their fair share of success; each consistently winning yet coming up short in their quest of the Big Game. Two quarterbacks from the first-round class have bounced around to multiple teams: one with another chance as a starter and the other a key backup for a presumed Super Bowl contender.
The fifth former first-round pick, after joining his seventh team late last season, currently sits out of the game, waiting to join team number eight.
As for eight other quarterbacks selected in the draft that season, most are not on NFL rosters. Some have seen their playing days end, while others are hanging on with appearances in the USFL.
At the moment, four of the quarterbacks selected in the first round of the '18 draft are ready to open the season on an NFL roster. The top of the class remains the 7th and 32nd picks. Greatness, aspiration, and accolades have been heaped upon them. The real question remains which, if any, will be immortalized by receiving the moniker of Super Bowl champion.
Josh Allen
Entering his sixth season, Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills are on the precipice of launching into another stratosphere. Both are in the upper echelon of the AFC and the NFL. And a Super Bowl destiny is being written in the stars.
Trouble is, teams around them are only getting better. A crop of young quarterbacks threatens to close the gap and the obstacle of Patrick Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs) and Joe Burrow (Cincinnati Bengals) remains in front of Allen and the Bills.
The window is not closing for Allen but the ledge is getting crowded. A familiarity with a solid group of receivers and hopefully a continued strong running game should help Allen lead the Bills to continued success in 2023-24.
Coming off a '22-23 season where Allen went 13-3 starter, improving to 52-24 in his career, taking that final step has eluded him. There was some struggle in the playoffs last season, where the Bills defeated Miami 34-31 but fell to the Bengals in the Divisional Round, 27-10. Allen threw only three touchdowns in the playoffs, completing 59.3 percent of his passes. His ground game was also bottled up, carrying only 12 times for 46 yards as Allen's career playoff record dropped to 4-4.
Allen battled an elbow injury much of the season but was able to put up stats similar to his career averages. A completion percentage of 63.3 was slightly higher than his career average and he passed for 4283 yards. Allen threw for 35 touchdowns (adding seven more on the ground) and 14 interceptions.
A hard-nosed effort helped Allen rush for 762 yards, only one off his career best, averaging 6.1 yards per carry.
Allen is approaching 20,000 career passing yards, best from this group of five quarterbacks, and has thrown for 138 touchdown passes. The seventh pick of the 2018 draft has been the best of the crop so far, surpassing what many thought he could do at this level and silencing plenty of doubters along the way.
It's Super Bowl or bust for Allen and the Bills yet again this season and a 3-1 or 4-0 start is not entirely out of the question.
First four weeks: @ NYJ (9/11), vs LV (9/17), @ WAS (9/24), vs MIA (10/1)
Lamar Jackson
Now that the drama of a contract extension is behind them, Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens are ready to re-enter the chat as Super Bowl contenders.
The Ravens were in the mix for part of the '22-23 season, but a rash of injuries again caught up with them, including another to Jackson. Early success was due to the play of Jackson in the passing attack, with a group of receivers and tight end Mark Andrews contributing.
Eventually, injuries and inconsistent play decimated the unit. With no real run game to ignite the Ravens, Baltimore began to struggle. Then Jackson got hurt and, while the Ravens were able to sneak into the playoffs, there wasn't a whole lot of hope without Jackson under center.
Jackson has played only 12 games in each of the last two seasons, going 8-4 last season and 7-5 the season prior. Before all the injuries, Jackson seemed to be on track for another outstanding season. Even with a completion percentage of 62.3, lowest since his rookie year, Jackson threw for 2242 yards with 17 touchdowns and seven interceptions.
Always a threat to break one loose on the ground, Jackson averaged 6.8 yards per carry and totaled 764 yards. He hasn't had a 1,000-yard season since 2020 but part of that can be attributed to injuries around him in the backfield. And though he has 24 career touchdowns on the ground, Jackson has only a total of five the last two seasons.
Overall, career numbers look consistent but a 1-3 playoff record under his guidance leaves something to be desired. Getting a full season out of Jackson is a must. So, too, is a full season of production from the skill position players around him. Jackson will have plenty in his sixth season, with Andrews, JK Dobbins, Odell Beckham Jr., and rookie Zay Flowers among those looked to excel.
A full season from all of them and a Super Bowl could be on the horizon.
First four weeks: vs HOU (9/10), @ CIN (9/17), vs IND (9/24), @ CLE (10/1)
Baker Mayfield
The top pick in the '18 draft, Baker Mayfield again has a chance to prove himself at being a starter.
All he simply has to do is replace a legend in Tampa Bay.
Time with the Panthers was supposed to be Mayfield's redemption arc. That turned sour, with a 1-5 record as a starter and an ultimate midseason release. Catching on with the Los Angeles Rams provided an opportunity, including a fantastic comeback win. A 1-3 record as a starter there wasn't fantastic and neither were three games of completing less than 50 percent of his passes.
Still, '22-23 was a season where there were flashes of what makes Mayfield so special. And it's entirely possible, after beating out Kyle Trask to win the starting position in Buccaneer camp, that Mayfield can recapture that magic of his first three seasons with the Cleveland Browns.
Mayfield finished with 2163 yards, 10 touchdowns, and eight interceptions last season. Despite his struggles, Mayfield is on par (or better) with Jackson as far as career numbers go. A career season could actually see Mayfield reach 20,000 career passing yards.
A horrible start, however, could see Mayfield again relegated to a backup role. There is good talent around him with star receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. The Super Bowl might be a longshot for Mayfield and the Bucs in 2023 but with the NFL, we all know anything can happen.
First four weeks: @ MIN (9/10), vs CHI (9/17), vs PHI (9/25), @ NO (10/1)
Sam Darnold
The third-overall pick in the '18 draft, Sam Darnold is now on his third team after leaving the Carolina Panthers. After a strong camp with the San Francisco 49ers, Darnold enters the '23-24 season as backup to Brock Purdy, who wowed for the Niners at the close of last season.
Darnold hasn't quite found consistency in his career, though I'd wager some of his starts last season were some of his best. I say some because for every 341-yard, 3-touchdown performance is a 5-15 for 43 yards game that follows.
However, for a quarterback who over the years failed to regularly get over 200 passing yards, seeing Darnold do that in three of his six games last season was a positive.
He went 4-2 as a starter for the Panthers last season, throwing for 1143 yards and seven touchdowns. Darnold only had three interceptions and carried the ball for 106 yards.
In his career, Darnold is 21-34 as a starter and injuries have also plagued him throughout. He's thrown for 11767 yards in completing just under 60 percent of his passes, with 61 touchdowns and 55 interceptions.
It will be interesting to see if Purdy's stretch of games last year was a flash in pan or he is truly is the real thing. People kept waiting for him to keep crashing last season and it never truly happened. If Purdy does struggle, it's possible Darnold sees the field as a starter once again. If not, well, he could snap a Super Bowl ring as a backup, like so many players do.
First four weeks: @ PIT (9/10), @ LAR (9/17), vs NYG (9/21), vs ARI (10/1)
Josh Rosen
Drafted 10th overall by the Arizona Cardinals, the career of Josh Rosen never took off. Nor was it really given a chance, in some regard. Rosen always seemed to be on a shorter leash than others and was out as a starter in a blink of an eye.
Rosen ended last season on the practice squad of the Minnesota Vikings and did not catch on with another team for training camp. His NFL career could be the first of these five quarterbacks to be over but one should never say never.
As it stands, Rosen's last start was in 2019 and he hasn't appeared in a game since 2021. The 2022 season was spent on the practice squads of the Vikings and Cleveland Browns.
Rosen has appeared in 24 games, completing 54 percent of his passes for 2864 yards. He managed to throw 12 touchdown passes while tossing 21 interceptions.
The 2023-24 season opens on September 7. Follow along with the progress of these quarterbacks with updates after weeks 4, 9, 13, and 18.
photo credit: Flickr
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