It runs out the Cleveland Browns have the highest graded player from the 2018 NFL Draft
By Chad Porto
![ORLANDO, FLORIDA - JANUARY 26: (EDITORS NOTE: Image has been converted to black and white) Derrick Henry #22 of the Tennessee Titans and Nick Chubb #24 of the Cleveland Browns take the field prior to the 2020 NFL Pro Bowl at Camping World Stadium on January 26, 2020 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) ORLANDO, FLORIDA - JANUARY 26: (EDITORS NOTE: Image has been converted to black and white) Derrick Henry #22 of the Tennessee Titans and Nick Chubb #24 of the Cleveland Browns take the field prior to the 2020 NFL Pro Bowl at Camping World Stadium on January 26, 2020 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/7f8044ec231ad32def93eca2056ca2b3d2c219520674d3dcb2657de41388451d.jpg)
The 2018 NFL Draft was supposed to see the Cleveland Browns land their franchise quarterback.
The Cleveland Browns made Baker Mayfield their first pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. It was a draft famous for the Browns as they once again landed a quarterback and cornerback duo. The first time was in 2014 when the team drafted Johnny Manziel and Justin Gilbert. Four years later it was Mayfield and Denzel Ward. A far better combo.
Yet, Mayfield’s time ended in Cleveland after bouncing around a bit, and a brief flirtation with Baltimore, the former No. 1 overall pick is in Tampa Bay. Due to his bouncing around, many fans think drafting Josh Allen would’ve been the best move. A move I agree with and wanted on draft night, but things didn’t shake out that way.
Now, Allen is the top-ranked quarterback from the 2018 draft class according to PFF, and Mayfield is hoping to revive his career with the Buccaneers. Yet, even though the Browns missed on Allen, they did in fact land the top-rated player from the draft, at least according to PFF.
That player is none other than Nick Chubb.
Highest career grades among players from the 2018 class pic.twitter.com/tET7KRJCLl
— PFF (@PFF) April 12, 2023
It’s not shocking that Cleveland Browns’ running back Nick Chubb is the guy from the 2018 NFL Draft
The Browns certainly landed a great player in Chubb. That’s not even up for debate. Considering the eras played, the talent around them, and the difficulty of the game now, it’s not out of the question to claim that Chubb may be the best running back in Browns’ history.
Yes, a long-time ago, when the league wasn’t as complicated or as talented, Jim Brown was the toast of the town, but things are different now. The league is different. It’s harder now. Chubb is putting up unspeakable numbers with limited carries and doing so in a league that’s faster now than ever before.
If Chubb was given the same number of carries as Brown, the two men would have near-identical stats, as they’re both posting 5.2 yards per carry for their careers.
Chubb is that guy. So it’s incredibly reasonable to look at PFF’s grades and see Chubb ahead of Allen and not even blink. What Chubb has been in Cleveland since getting drafted is so special and it’s worth pointing out that we’re watching a once-in-a-lifetime talent do his thing on a weekly basis.
WalterFootball’s first 2023 NFL Mock draft for the Cleveland Browns. dark. Next