SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The script writers outdid themselves this time. On Sunday, Sam Darnold—the man who was once “seeing ghosts”—will lead the Seattle Seahawks onto the field at Levi’s Stadium to face Drake Maye and the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX. It’s a matchup that screams one undeniable truth: Fit is everything.
Both quarterbacks were selected third overall. Both were handed the keys to struggling franchises on Day 1. But while Maye found stability in New England with Mike Vrabel and Josh McDaniels, Darnold had to wander the NFL desert—from New York to Carolina to San Francisco to Minnesota—before finally striking gold in Seattle. With kickoff just 72 hours away, we aren’t just looking forward; we’re looking back. If we knew then what we know now, how would the 2018 and 2024 draft boards fall?
The 2018 Redraft: Josh Allen Reigns Supreme
In this exercise, we wipe the slate clean. No trades, just the original draft order and current 2026 hindsight.
1. Cleveland Browns: Josh Allen, QB (Wyoming)
Original Pick: Baker Mayfield
Let’s not overthink this. Baker Mayfield eventually carved out a solid career, but Josh Allen is an alien. The 2024 MVP dragged Buffalo to the playoffs again in 2025 purely on willpower. If Cleveland takes Allen here, the entire trajectory of the AFC North shifts. No Deshaun Watson trade, no instability—just pure, hurdle-jumping dominance.
2. New York Giants: Lamar Jackson, QB (Louisville)
Original Pick: Saquon Barkley
The Giants spent years trying to make it work with Daniel Jones. Meanwhile, Lamar Jackson collected MVPs. New York has posted losing records in seven of the last eight seasons; drop Lamar into that backfield in 2018, and that drought ends fast.
3. New York Jets: Fred Warner, LB (BYU)
Original Pick: Sam Darnold
Darnold is the guy on Sunday, but in 2018, the Jets were a roster wasteland. They started Darron Lee and Avery Williamson at linebacker that year. Warner isn’t just an upgrade; he’s the best off-ball linebacker of his generation. He anchors a defense that desperately needed an identity.
4. Cleveland Browns: Minkah Fitzpatrick, S (Alabama)
Original Pick: Denzel Ward
The Browns’ secondary in 2018 featured Jabrill Peppers and Damarious Randall. Minkah is a chess piece who erased parts of the field for Pittsburgh. Pairing him with Josh Allen (our new No. 1 pick) gives Cleveland elite playmakers on both sides of the ball instantly.
5. Denver Broncos: Sam Darnold, QB (USC)
Original Pick: Bradley Chubb
Here’s the twist. The Broncos spent the post-Manning years cycling through Case Keenum, Joe Flacco, and Drew Lock. John Elway grabs Darnold here. Does he succeed in Denver? Maybe, maybe not. But he gives them the high-ceiling passer they chased for a decade.
6. Indianapolis Colts: Baker Mayfield, QB (Oklahoma)
Original Pick: Quenton Nelson
Andrew Luck retired months after this draft. The Colts entered a quarterback carousel that spun out Jacoby Brissett, Philip Rivers, Carson Wentz, and Matt Ryan. Baker brings the attitude and stability Indy lacked for six years.
7. Buffalo Bills: Saquon Barkley, RB (Penn State)
Original Pick: Josh Allen
Buffalo loses out on Allen but lands the best athlete in the draft. Barkley pairs with a 30-year-old LeSean McCoy to form the scariest backfield in football. It’s not a QB, but it’s an identity.
8. Chicago Bears: Quenton Nelson, OL (Notre Dame)
Original Pick: Roquan Smith
The Bears had Jordan Howard and Tarik Cohen, so they skip Chubb. Instead, they take a Hall of Fame-level guard to protect Mitch Trubisky. Nelson is a tone-setter who fits Chicago’s “Monsters of the Midway” ethos perfectly.
9. San Francisco 49ers: Roquan Smith, LB (Georgia)
Original Pick: Mike McGlinchey
With Warner gone to the Jets, the Niners sprint to the podium for Roquan Smith. He’s a tackle machine who keeps their defense elite.
10. Arizona Cardinals: Nick Chubb, RB (Georgia)
Original Pick: Josh Rosen
David Johnson averaged a sluggish 3.6 yards per carry in 2018. The Cardinals needed a workhorse. Chubb, pre-injury, was arguably the best pure runner in the league. He takes the pressure off rookie Josh Rosen (or whoever they eventually pivot to).
The 2024 Redraft: Drake Maye Goes No. 1
Two years of data is enough to see the separation. The 2024 class changed the league, and it starts at the top.
1. Chicago Bears: Drake Maye, QB (UNC)
Original Pick: Caleb Williams
Caleb has been electric, but Maye is an MVP candidate in Year 2. His pocket presence and ability to drive the ball downfield fit exactly what Chicago wanted. In this timeline, Maye is throwing touchdowns at Soldier Field.
2. Washington Commanders: Caleb Williams, QB (USC)
Original Pick: Jayden Daniels
Washington doesn’t hesitate. Williams reunites with Kliff Kingsbury (his college OC) and brings his off-script magic to D.C. It’s a perfect stylistic marriage.
3. New England Patriots: Jayden Daniels, QB (LSU)
Original Pick: Drake Maye
The Patriots miss out on Maye but land the dynamic Daniels. When healthy, he’s a weapon. His deep ball is elite, and he gives New England a vertical threat they haven’t had in years.
4. Arizona Cardinals: Jared Verse, EDGE (Florida State)
Original Pick: Marvin Harrison Jr.
Marvin Harrison Jr. is a stud, but pass rushers are gold. Verse has been a disruptive force who stays on the field—something Arizona’s actual pick, Darius Robinson, struggled to do early on.
5. Los Angeles Chargers: Malik Nabers, WR (LSU)
Original Pick: Joe Alt
Jim Harbaugh loves linemen, but Justin Herbert needed a weapon. Nabers is a legitimate No. 1 receiver who demands double teams. He opens up the entire offense for Herbert.
6. New York Giants: Joe Alt, OT (Notre Dame)
Original Pick: Malik Nabers
The Giants missed the playoffs (again) partly because the line crumbled. Pairing Joe Alt with Andrew Thomas gives New York the best tackle duo in football. Maybe Brian Daboll keeps his job in this timeline.
7. Tennessee Titans: Brock Bowers, TE (Georgia)
Original Pick: JC Latham
Will Levis needed a safety valve. The Titans’ tight end room was a mix of Chig Okonkwo and Nick Vannett. Bowers is an instant mismatch who changes the geometry of the offense.
8. Atlanta Falcons: Quinyon Mitchell, CB (Toledo)
Original Pick: Michael Penix Jr.
Atlanta shocked everyone taking Penix. Here, they make the smart play. Mitchell pairs with A.J. Terrell to lock down the NFC South’s best receivers.
9. Chicago Bears: JC Latham, OT (Alabama)
Original Pick: Rome Odunze
After taking Maye at No. 1, Chicago protects him. Latham is a mauler who shores up the line, ensuring the franchise QB stays upright.
10. Minnesota Vikings: Bo Nix, QB (Oregon)
Original Pick: J.J. McCarthy
Kevin O’Connell is a quarterback whisperer. Bo Nix fits his system like a glove—quick processing, accuracy, and mobility. With McCarthy struggling to launch, Nix looks like the safer, smarter bet for a team ready to win now.
“We heard the noise for years. ‘They’re busts.’ ‘They can’t lead.’ Sunday isn’t about the draft order. It’s about who’s left standing.” — Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks QB, via Wednesday Presser
This Sunday at Levi’s Stadium, the 2018 and 2024 classes collide. Darnold has the scars of a journeyman; Maye has the polish of a prodigy. But looking at these redrafts, one thing is clear: landing spot is destiny. If the Jets had taken Warner or the Bears had taken Maye, the history of the NFL looks radically different. Instead, we get a Super Bowl matchup nobody saw coming—and we wouldn’t have it any other way.
