It’s time to check in on the quarterbacks who were drafted in the 2018 draft. Let’s just say that most of them had higher grades last time we checked in. The sophomore slump could be a real thing for some.
Baker Mayfield
Mayfield came into this year with huge expectations. He finished last season at 6-7 as a starter. He had 27 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He was completing passes at about a 64 percent clip. All he had to do was something similar this year and he would’ve cruised to an A-grade. The Browns did add Odell Beckham Jr. so it should have been easy.
Instead, Baker Mayfield has been bad this year. There’s no other word that can describe a 2-4 record, 57 percent completion percentage, five touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Yes, he has two times more interceptions than touchdowns.
Some of his performance isn’t his fault. The offensive line is horrible. Baker is constantly fading back to his right after his first read because a pocket does not exist. Freddie Kitchens hasn’t helped Mayfield either. Beckham Jr. is getting doubled and no one else is getting open. David Njoku is injured.
We still have to grade Baker on his performance. Last year was great. This year has been bad.
Grade: C (and that could be too high)
Sam Darnold
Darnold had low expectations last year because the Jets were going to be bad. He had higher expectations this year because the Jets were supposed to be a bit frisky. The problem for New York — and for Darnold — is that he hasn’t been around this season due to mononucleosis.
That makes his grade a bit tough. He played lights out in the first half against Dallas in his return. If we judge him by last year, he was fine. He had 17 touchdowns and 15 interceptions in 13 games.
Grade: B (it could be INC.)
Josh Allen
On the one hand, Josh Allen is currently at the helm of a 4-1 team that has an inside track at making the playoffs this year. On the other hand, it’s not because of Josh Allen and the Bills offense. Josh Allen has improved his accuracy this year, but he’s still only up to a 63 percent completion rate. That’s a marked improvement from 53 percent last year. Allen’s yard per attempt isn’t anything to write home about and he has one of the biggest arms in the NFL.
Allen doesn’t deserve all the blame. He had no wide receivers last year. He was a victim of a ton of drops. His receiving corps is slightly better this year, but it’s still not great. Allen still suffers from bad footwork in some games. He still doesn’t have a ton of touch. He still hasn’t thrown for more than 300 yards in a game.
Grade: C+/B-
Josh Rosen
Rosen is just as much a victim of circumstance as Allen, but it’s been a much worse circumstance. He was on the worst team in the NFL in 2018. He is somehow on a team that’s historically bad this year.
Some of Rosen’s performance has to fall on what he’s actually done on the field. He’s tentative, rarely stretches the field and has been characterized by bad to mediocre stat lines. When he was announced as the Dolphins starter for the rest of the year, he performed so poorly that he was pulled before the end of the next game for Ryan Fitzpatrick.
If the Cardinals were so eager to give up on Rosen, it makes sense because they wanted Kyler Murray in a new offense. Two teams in two years say something.
Grade: D+
Lamar Jackson
Remember when some people said that Jackson was going to have to change from quarterback to receiver to make it in the NFL? Jackson has a 65 percent completion percentage this year. His team is going to win the AFC North — and he’s already made the playoffs once. He’s setting yardage records when it comes to rushing and passing in a game.
Jackson has always been a quarterback. He may not fit into the typical model of what some people expect from a quarterback, but he can throw, run and create headaches for any defense he faces. This grade is easy.
Grade: A
