2017 VS 2018 draft class

[justdex]

Since the moment I lost in my season, my mind has been racing about this upcoming draft. Im trying to keep it cool... but clearly I'm struggling. As a guy who's always looking well into the future where is this 18 class stacking up now compared to 2017? Obviously none of these guys have played in the NFL so I think its fair to compare them compared to the 2016 class (which seems mostly weak(so far..)).

[Jason3123]

2018 class is shaping up nicely, especially in the upper tier. But...the 2018 class will encounter some of the same issues as the 2017 class with kids staying in school/injuries. So remember that. The 2017 class is also deeper due to the tight ends and ridiculous RB depth.

[justdex]

2018 class is shaping up nicely, especially in the upper tier. But...the 2018 class will encounter some of the same issues as the 2017 class with kids staying in school/injuries. So remember that. The 2017 class is also deeper due to the tight ends and ridiculous RB depth.

So in your opinion, like I've been feeling myself, is that the top of the 2018 could rival the top of this 2017 class. Yet as a whole the depth isn't all hype and 2018 will fall off in comparison. I'm well set with 2017 picks, but not so much in 2018 and I would love to get my hands on guys like Barkley, Guice, Sutton.

[onetwothree]

I would look to trade some later 2017 1sts for 2018 1sts where possible. RB looks strong again with the guys who returned like Chubb and Freeman and the guys who will be eligible like Barkley and Guice.

[Seventy5]

I think as of right now, a brief breakdown of the classes would go something like:

Running Back: I think this is a push. Studs at the top, and a good chance both have depth. As of right now, we just have a clearer picture of who the 2017 depth options will be, but we will have more names in the hat this time next year. Leonard Fournette, Dalvin Cook, Joe Mixon, McCaffery vs Saquon Barkley, Derrius Guice, Nick Chubb, Royce Freeman

Wide Receiver: I think the 2017 class, as of right now, has the edge here. As they always do, a few more names will emerge as we get closer to the 2018 draft. This will probably end up being a push though, as guys like Calvin Ridley, Courtland Sutton, Christian Kirk, etc all look like they have a lot of potential.

Quarterback: 2018 wins here. I think many would take guys like Josh Rosen, Jake Browning, Lamar Jackson, etc over all of QBs that are coming out this year.

Tight End: On paper, some would argue the 2017 class of Tight Ends is potentially the best EVER (again, on paper at this stage of the process).

2017 RB = 2018 RB
2017 WR >/= 2018 WR
2017 QB < 2018 QB
2017 TE > 2018 TE

[NanceUSMC]

I've been debating this for a bit, but if you could move Latavius plus a (likely late) 2018 1st, for the 1.03 this year.... do you pull the trigger on that?

[schiewerma21]

I've been debating this for a bit, but if you could move Latavius plus a (likely late) 2018 1st, for the 1.03 this year.... do you pull the trigger on that?

Murray is a zero. So absolutely

[AZK]

Next years class is always better than this years class.

[Killabrewster]

I think on paper it has a chance to match this year's top tier and not have as much depth. So considering that injuries and players staying in school can still take away some value, I'd value 2017 higher. Also, value you receive now should always be preferred to value you receive in a year.

[maxhyde]

I think for QB absolutely 2018 looks to be stronger.
Other than that I think 2017 is going to be pretty tough to beat. Anyway I will be not worrying about 2018 very much...I might not trade my 1st but if it gets me a player I like this year I will consider it.
The only guy I can for sure say I like enough to challenge the Fournette is Barkley.

[rubber_duck]

I think for QB absolutely 2018 looks to be stronger.
Other than that I think 2017 is going to be pretty tough to beat.

I agree with this. At this stage of the process the 2017 class is looking very good at RB & TE, and better than average at WR. If you are looking to move your '17 picks for '18 picks in the hope that next year's class is better, then it is just that ... hope. Maybe the 2018 kids evolve into a great group, but we cannot know that now, and 2017 is not a group that I would want to miss out on.

The only exception is if your team needs a QB, then I would definitely give consideration to trading out of '17 and into '18.

[schiewerma21]

I think for QB absolutely 2018 looks to be stronger.
Other than that I think 2017 is going to be pretty tough to beat. Anyway I will be not worrying about 2018 very much...I might not trade my 1st but if it gets me a player I like this year I will consider it.
The only guy I can for sure say I like enough to challenge the Fournette is Barkley.

Agree with this. Also we need to remember Chubb didn't declare because he wasn't a top ten back in kipers eyes. He encouraged him to stay. Did that make the decision him or feeeman to stay? Of course not. But let's not pretend if they were going to be first round picks, hell even top 4 running backs (which every NFL guy had fournette cook mccaffrey and foreman above them) they would have came out.

Excuse me if I'm not excited to spend the 1.03/1.04 on Chubb or freeman NEXT year with a year older and more mileage when they weren't worth those picks this year. The argument of "top talent" if you include those guys in that conversation baffles me. They weren't top talent this year (why they didn't declare) why will they be a year older with more miles? Also the counterargument of Chubbs injury is somewhat valid except his best game of the year was his first one back. He simply doesn't look as the same player... maybe another year removed helps... maybe it doesn't. But I certainly won't be standing in line to spend a top 3 pick next year on a guy who's a late first in this draft

[Cameron Giles]

The only things that seem likely right now for 2018:

-QB play could be special with Josh Rosen and Lamar Jackson as the headliners. Both are potential franchise changing talents.

-Saquon Barkley is as good as any RB who came out for 2017. Potential heisman candidate next season.

We can throw out a bunch of other names, but none of it means much until next season.

[bigchiefbc]

The only things that seem likely right now for 2018:

-QB play could be special with Josh Rosen and Lamar Jackson as the headliners. Both are potential franchise changing talents.

-Saquon Barkley is as good as any RB who came out for 2017. Potential heisman candidate next season.

We can throw out a bunch of other names, but none of it means much until next season.

The only names I would add that I am confident will be top talent next year are Guice and Sutton. Guice outperformed Fournette this year when he got touches, and Sutton had a chance at sneaking into the first round if he came out this year. He came into college as a DB so another year of seasoning and fundamentals should help him be even better.

[DynoScout]

A closer look at Nick Chubb the person: http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=14819383

Doesn't strike me as the kind of guy who worries whether he's ranked 1st or 10th.