This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

The Cleveland Browns used the first overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft to select Oklahoma Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Baker Mayfield.

“The guy knows how to play, knows how to win,” Browns general manager John Dorsey said on Thursday night after his decision to go for Mayfield was given a tepid reception from the Browns’ live draft party patrons.

Meanwhile, in the evening’s most memorable moment, injured Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier announced Pittsburgh’s first-round pick, limping slowly onto the stage with help from his fiancee.

NFL draft 2018: Baker Mayfield picked No1 overall by Cleveland Browns – as it happened Read more

Shazier sustained a serious back injury and underwent surgery in December with concerns about whether he would walk again. He called out the name of safety Terrell Edmunds of Virginia Tech. Shazier, whose future in football is uncertain at best, was introduced by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and received strong applause from the fans. Edmunds’ younger brother, linebacker Tremaine Edwards, also of Virginia Tech, was selected 16th overall by Buffalo. It’s the first time brothers have gone in the first round of the same draft.

NFL Retweet (@NFLRT) Watching Ryan Shazier walk out to announce the Steelers pick was the best moment of the #NFLDraft#Shalieve pic.twitter.com/6lYleBLzOO

“That’s a huge lift not only for him but for us,” Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert said of Shazier’s appearance. “To see where he has come from to where he is and knowing where he might be able to go, it’s beyond inspirational.”

Cleveland threw a curveball with their No4 selection, taking Ohio State cornerback Denzel Ward. Dorsey said Ward’s excellence in press-man coverage is the perfect fit for Gregg Williams’ defense.

A shake-up in the draft order occurred after the Colts’ drafted sixth. Tampa Bay traded the No7 pick to Buffalo – who drafted Wyoming quarterback Josh Allen – for the Bills’ first-round pick and two second-round selections. The Bills also got the Buccaneers’ seventh-round pick.

With the No2 pick, the New York Giants selected running back Saquon Barkley. Barkley, considered by many analysts as the top player in the draft, will join an offensive unit that includes Eli Manning and Odell Beckham Jr.

At No3, the Jets went for a quarterback, choosing Southern Cal’s Sam Darnold, who before only a few days ago appeared to be a lock as the top overall choice. Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan said Thursday night he saw Darnold play live five times last season. Darnold was the first quarterback drafted this high by the Jets since Joe Namath went first overall in 1965. Darnold will go to a team desperately in need of a quarterback as a building block. Thought to be a Heisman Trophy candidate entering the season, Darnold’s performance suffered in 2017 while playing behind an inexperienced line and with young wide receivers.

Another trade put the Arizona Cardinals at No10, in position to select UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen. The Cardinals made a trade with the Oakland Raiders to move up six spots.



Perhaps the most surprising move came from New Orleans, who moved up – sacrificing next year’s first-round pick – in a deal with the Green Bay Packers to select UTSA pass rusher Marcus Davenport. The Packers traded again to rise from the 27th pick received from the Saints to 18th and select Louisville cornerback Jaire Alexander.



With the final pick of the first round, Baltimore traded with Philadelphia and took the fifth quarterback and second Heisman Trophy winner of the first round. Lamar Jackson was selected No32 overall. Jackson won the Heisman in 2016 and finished third in the voting last season.

Full list of first-round 2018 draft selections

1) Cleveland, Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma; 2) NY Giants, Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State; 3) NY Jets (from Indianapolis), Sam Darnold, QB, Southern Cal; 4) Cleveland (from Houston), Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State; 5) Denver, Bradley Chubb, DE, NC State;

6) Indianapolis (from Jets), Quenton Nelson, G, Notre Dame; 7) Buffalo (from Tampa Bay), Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming; 8) Chicago, Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia; 9) San Francisco, Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame; 10) Arizona (from Oakland), Josh Rosen, QB, UCLA;

11) Miami, Minkah Fitzpatrick, S, Alabama; 12) Tampa Bay (from Cincinnati through Buffalo), Vita Vea, DT, Washington; 13) Washington, Da’Ron Payne, DT, Alabama; 14) New Orleans (from Green Bay), Marcus Davenport, DE, UTSA;

15) Oakland (from Arizona), Kolton Miller, OT, UCLA; 16) Buffalo (from Baltimore), Tremaine Edmunds, LB, Virginia Tech; 17) LA Chargers, Derwin James, S, Florida State; 18) Green Bay (from Seattle), Jaire Alexander, CB, Louisville; 19) Dallas, Leighton Vander Esch, LB, Boise State; 20) Detroit, Frank Ragnow, C, Arkansas;

21) Cincinnati (from Buffalo), Billy Price, C, Ohio State; 22) Tennessee (from Kansas City through Buffalo and Baltimore), Rashaan Evans, LB, Alabama; 23) New England (from LA Rams), Isaiah Wynn, G, Georgia; 24) Carolina, DJ Moore, WR, Maryland; 25) Baltimore (from Tennessee), Hayden Hurst, TE, South Carolina;

26) Atlanta, Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama; 27) Seattle (from New Orleans through Green Bay), Rashaad Penny, RB, San Diego State; 28) Pittsburgh, Terrell Edmunds, S, Virginia Tech; 29) Jacksonville, Taven Bryan, DT, Florida; 30) Minnesota, Mike Hughes, CB, UCF;

31) New England, Sony Michel, RB, Georgia; 32) Baltimore (from Philadelphia), Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville.