The 2018 NFL Draft was one of the most controversial in recent memory. Both the lead-up to April 26th and the draft itself were filled with surprises and risks, but not all of those risks have paid off thus far. Plenty of rookies are playing very well, but others have not lived up to their draft billing. Here are a few rookies who haven't lived up to expectations over the first six games of 2018.
7. Isaiah Wynn
Wynn is a technicality, as he was injured before the preseason began. His presence on this list is through no fault of his own, but regardless, it's disappointing that one of New England's two first-round picks won't see the field this season. Wynn was considered a top guard prospect due to his relatively short arms, but the Patriots saw him as the replacement for longtime left tackle Nate Solder. Unfortunately, the team will have to wait until next season to see if their evaluation was correct.
6. Bradley Chubb
Chubb was expected by many to go fourth overall to the Cleveland Browns. However, when Cleveland decided to take cornerback Denzel Ward instead, the Denver Broncos jumped at the chance to pair the pass-rusher with All-Pro Von Miller.
Offenses have to specifically gameplan to slow Miller down, double teaming him and having a tight end chip him. This extra attention requires diverting it from elsewhere, which theoretically opens things up for Chubb. Having only 12 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and one tackle for less while playing opposite the NFL's best speed rusher was disappointing after Week 5.
However, pass rushers tend to take some time to adjust to the pro game. Chubb has plenty of potential and should develop into a solid player very soon. Chubb flashed that potential against the Los Angeles Rams when he logged three sacks against arguably the best offensive line in the league. Denver would like to see performances like this more often.
5. Josh Allen
Perhaps it is unfair to put Allen on this list, as he has been placed in one of the worst situations possible for a rookie QB.
The Bills have a terrible offensive line and practically no legitimate receiving threats. Allen was incredibly raw coming out of college, and when he was drafted by Buffalo, he started out third on the depth chart behind free agent signing A.J. McCarron and 2017 draft pick Nathan Peterman.
McCarron was traded before the season began and Peterman opened the year as the starter, but he didn't even make it through the first game before being replaced by Allen. The rookie didn't play very well during his first start, but against the Minnesota Vikings, he threw for a TD and ran for two more in a stunning 27-6 rout.
However, he threw three picks to zero scores over the next two games and was injured during Buffalo's loss to Houston in week 6. Allen needed time to develop before playing, and with the supporting cast around him, he was fighting an uphill battle from the beginning. Allen should improve as the season progresses (providing his injury isn't serious), but Buffalo traded up to select him over Josh Rosen, and so far, that decision doesn't look great.
4. Vita Vea
Like Wynn, Vea was injured before the season and wasn't able to get onto the field until Week 4. Still, he has only two tackles in two games, which is certainly not the type of production the Buccaneers expected out of the 12th overall pick. Vea's massive frame and elite athleticism give him immense potential, but he will forever be compared to safety Derwin James, who went to the Los Angeles Chargers at 17.
Safety was (and still is) one of, if not the biggest, needs for Tampa Bay, and James seemed like the perfect fit for their defense. James has played extremely well for the Chargers so far, and right now, it looks like The Buccaneers made a mistake passing on him.
3. Rashaan Evans
Drafted 22nd overall to give the Titans an imposing presence in the middle, Evans hasn't taken over as Tennessee's primary tackler just yet. Through five games, he has just 17 stops, with seven of those coming in Week 6 against Baltimore. To be fair, an injury sidelined Evans until Week 2, but the learning curve for middle linebackers is smaller than at other positions, so one would expect Evans to be doing more right now. Defense hasn't been the problem for the Titans thus far, but they would certainly benefit from Evans stepping up.
2. Rashaad Penny
Penny's spot on this list is two-fold. Firstly, he should never have been drafted at pick 27. Not because he wasn't a good enough prospect, but because it made zero sense for the Seahawks to take a running back with their first-rounder, especially when they didn't have a second-round pick.
Offensive line remains the biggest hole on the team and there were plenty of solid prospects available. Instead, Seattle selected a back to run behind their porous line, and even that isn't happening. Penny had 29 carries for 92 yards over the first five games before carrying nine times for 43 yards in Week 6.
Penny remains third on the depth chart behind Chris Carson and Mike Davis, which is disappointing for a first-rounder that needed to make an immediate impact.
1. Taven Bryan
The Jaguars didn't have many holes entering the 2018 draft, which the largest at wide receiver. D.J. Chark was taken later on, and in the first round, Jacksonville decided to bolster one of their stronger positions, defensive tackle.
The move made sense, as starter Marcel Dareus will most likely be let go after the season, so a younger and cheaper replacement needed to be found. Bryan had a fantastic combine which vaulted him into the first-round conversation, despite the fact that he had only 5.5 sacks in three years at Florida.
So far in six games, Bryan has eight tackles, none coming for a loss. His performance is a microcosm of the entire Jaguars team this year; loads of potential, but not much performance.
2018 NFL Draft Overview
These players have played only six pro games (and some even less), so it's not fair to judge them yet. However, today's NFL is obsessed with immediate results, and these rookies aren't providing them. Perhaps by midseason things will change, but for now, most of these players' teams are struggling and could sure use the help of their top 2018 NFL draft selections.
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