It has been 5 years since the 2018 NFL draft, and the players who were selected have had ample opportunity to make their mark in the professional league. Although individuals like Saquon Barkley and Josh Allen have achieved remarkable success since their draft date, there have been many other draftees who have not been able to meet expectations.
Today, we’re going to take a look at some players who have had a disappointing NFL career since their 2018 draft pick.
5 Biggest Flops of the 2018 NFL Draft
5. Billy Price
The Cincinnati Bengals drafted Billy Price, a center from Ohio State, with the 21st pick in the 2018 NFL draft hoping he would be a cornerstone on the offensive line for ten years.
Price’s inability to make the cut as an NFL-caliber starting center, combined with various injuries, caused the Bengals to not renew his fifth-year option. He was then shipped off to the New York Giants and has since had a nomadic career, playing for three different teams in the last two years.
4. Sam Darnold
Although it may be premature to label Darnold a flop, it is true that he has never lived up to the potential of being a third-overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft. His career began with a disastrous interception for a touchdown, and he never seemed to find his footing with the New York Jets.
During his stay in New York, he had difficulty with injuries and his performance was unsteady, something that has been a pattern in his career, even during the two-year period he spent with the Carolina Panthers.
3. Baker Mayfield
Though it may be early to brand Baker Mayfield a failure, he has been presented with the chance to take the reins as the starter for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the wake of Tom Brady‘s retirement. Mayfield’s selection as the top overall 2018 NFL draft pick proved to be a fruitful decision for the Browns, as the team saw a dramatic shift in fortunes with him at the helm. It also includes an outstanding 11-5 season and a playoff victory in 2020.
Since the beginning of 2021, Baker’s play has gone downhill drastically, as he threw almost as many interceptions as touchdowns. This resulted in him being released and signed by the Carolina Panthers, but they soon let him go, and he ended up with the Los Angeles Rams before he was signed by Tampa Bay in 2023.
2. Kerryon Johnson
The Detroit Lions chose Auburn running back Kerryon Johnson as their second-round pick in the 2018 NFL draft. Although he was with the team for only three years, he never gained more than 650 yards in any season and scored a total of eight touchdowns in the course of his career.
After his 2020 season release, Johnson has been part of several practice squads in the league, yet he has yet to make an appearance on another team’s roster.
1. Josh Rosen
The Arizona Cardinals had a misstep in their 2018 NFL draft first-round selection when they chose UCLA QB Josh Rosen at number 10. Rosen commented that “nine mistakes” were made before him which he quickly came to regret. He won only three games in his first season, throwing 11 touchdowns against 14 interceptions. After observing his performance in one season, the Cardinals decided to select Kyler Murray as the first overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.
Rosen was sent to the Miami Dolphins but his performance there was unsatisfactory, leading to stints with the Buccaneers, San Fransico 49ers, Atlanta Falcons, Cleveland Browns, and Minnesota Vikings. Since 2019, he has only been on the field for four games.
