In 2017, the Kansas City Chiefs took the league by storm with a flurry of dazzling maneuvers, cementing themselves as the undisputed winners of the NFL Draft.
In 2018, the Baltimore Ravens, having bided their time and sharpened their blade, finally struck. Head coach John Harbaugh displayed his commanding leadership.
Initially, a quarterback wasn't even on Harbaugh's draft radar.
The reason was simple—Baltimore's uncertainty and wavering at the quarterback position had already been settled during the offseason.
True, they were in dire need of a new QB. Joe Flacco's decline had been steadily progressing year by year, and at thirty-three, the veteran was clearly not the future. Yet the Ravens were a traditional defensive powerhouse; they didn't rely on their offense to win games.
In fact, when their draft slot arrived, the Ravens traded down with the Tennessee Titans. Then, calmly and methodically, they used the 25th overall pick to select a tight end, fulfilling their draft plan.
Steady. Calculated. Experienced.
Once they identified their targets, they never acted rashly. The Ravens showed the deep heritage of an AFC stronghold.
Then—
An unexpected twist.
Lamar Jackson.
Once a potential No. 1 overall pick, the polarizing quarterback was enduring a nightmare worse than what Aaron Rodgers and Deshaun Watson had faced. He sat awkwardly in the green room for over four hours, watching pick after pick go by.
These situations happen every year.
Players hyped with glowing praise before the draft are often given the cold shoulder on the big night. Jackson wasn't the first, and he wouldn't be the last. Some later prove the critics wrong—but most justify the league's caution. So which one would Jackson be?
At this moment, the Ravens revealed another side of a championship-caliber team:
When it's time to act, act.
It wasn't rashness. It wasn't gambling. It was decisive opportunism.
While others watched Jackson slide and fade into obscurity, Baltimore saw value. They didn't need a quarterback right now—but that didn't mean they didn't need a new foundation.
Flacco? Robert Griffin III? They could hold down the fort for one, maybe two more seasons. But the future clearly lay elsewhere. Even if not this year, the Ravens would need a rookie quarterback eventually.
Now, a raw gem was sitting right in front of them, at a price that was more than fair.
They had no reason to pass.
And so—
Day One of the 2018 NFL Draft ended with a bang, as the Ravens swooped in at the buzzer to steal Lamar Jackson.
Jackson was stunned. So were analysts. So were other teams.
This—this was the thrill of sports.
For the second consecutive year, a team's bold last-minute move showed true front office mettle, ensuring that the draft's excitement lasted to the very final pick.
On one side, Jackson squeaked into the first round, the fifth QB selected, proving again that quarterbacks remain the NFL's most coveted assets.
On the other side, before the Ravens' buzzer-beater, the draft had already produced its fair share of fireworks.
This year, the No. 1 pick was QB Baker Mayfield. The No. 3 pick, Sam Darnold, was also a quarterback.
But sandwiched between them, at No. 2, came a surprise—finally, not a quarterback.
The New York Giants stunned everyone.
Since the Thanksgiving quarterback fiasco, it had been assumed that the Giants were poised to usher in a new QB era. With the No. 2 pick in a QB-rich draft, they could select a high-upside passer.
Instead, they didn't.
They chose Saquon Barkley, the running back from Penn State.
A running back? Really?
The league was baffled. What were the Giants thinking? Were they planning to tank another season?
Immediately, all eyes turned to Barkley.
Not just because of the shock selection—but because of the position he played.
Last year, No. 3 pick Lance had authored a rookie season for the ages. Any rookie running back this year, Barkley included, would be compared to him and bear the weight of immense expectations.
As this year's No. 2 pick, Barkley had no choice but to embrace the spotlight.
But the young man brimmed with confidence and didn't hesitate to set his sights.
"Lance, I'm coming for you."
Even before entering the league, Barkley had issued a challenge.
Lance's response: "In training. Do not disturb." If he had to reply to every random challenger, he'd never have time to train or play—he'd spend his days livestreaming clapbacks from the couch.
This year, three running backs were taken in the first round, but the buzz paled in comparison to last year's frenzy. The real battle? Linebackers.
Five linebackers were drafted in the first round, matching the quarterback total.
Among them: the Tennessee Titans traded up, and the Buffalo Bills—armed with two first-round picks—quietly made impactful moves.
Compared to the Ravens' headline-grabbing precision strike, the Bills stayed under the radar. No flash, just efficient use of assets to build a solid team.
They walked away with:
QB Josh Allen
LB Tremaine Edmunds
Quietly, Buffalo matched the blueprint of last year's Chiefs and this year's Ravens: big potential, no wasted motion.
It all highlighted just how crucial GMs are.
Baltimore and Buffalo had clear, confident GMs who built competitive rosters strategically.
Meanwhile, the Giants and Browns, despite having premium draft positions, left people scratching their heads. Their approach felt more like artistic improvisation than calculated planning.
Then there were teams like the Vikings and Jaguars—aggressive, smart, but just a bit short on inspiration in the finer details.
As for Kansas City, GM Brett Veach was still a work in progress. But he knew his weaknesses. He listened, evaluated holistically, and made bold decisions when the time came.
This year, just like last, the Chiefs came away with a strong draft haul.
Though they were absent on Day One, Day Two would be Veach's stage to shine.
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Powerstones?
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