Who Goes No. 1 Overall in 2018 Redraft – Lamar Jackson or Josh Allen?
For much of last season, a debate raged over whether Lamar Jackson or Josh Allen should win the MVP award. The discussion didn’t end after the Buffalo Bills quarterback edged Jackson in the voting, with many fans and pundits believing Jackson was more deserving.
Jackson and Allen have been linked since both were members of a heralded quarterback class in the 2018 draft. Five quarterbacks went in the first round, with Allen being selected seventh overall and the Ravens trading back into the first round to grab Jackson at No. 32.
If that draft were held today, there’s no question Jackson and Allen would be the top two overall picks, but who would go No. 1?
Pro Football Focus conducted a 2018 redraft based on its grading system and data, and Allen got the nod.
“After earning PFF overall grades in the 60.0s in his first two seasons, Allen became the only quarterback since 2006 to earn five straight single-season marks above 90.0,” PFF’s Max Chadwick, Dalton Wasserman, and Trevor Sikkema wrote.
With Allen going to the Cleveland Browns in the redraft, the New York Giants selected Jackson second overall. In the real draft, the Browns took quarterback Baker Mayfield and the Giants chose running back Saquon Barkley.
“With the benefit of hindsight, it would have been a no-brainer [for the Giants] to take Jackson, who has already won multiple MVPs and in 2024 became the only quarterback in PFF history to record passing and rushing grades above 90.0 in the same season,” Chadwick, Wasserman, and Sikkema wrote.
Tight end Mark Andrews, who was taken by the Ravens in the third round at No. 86, went to the Detroit Lions at No. 20 in the redraft.
The Ravens, who traded down from No. 16 in the real draft to take tight end Hayden Hurst, stayed put and selected safety Derwin James in the redraft.