TMQ: The Class of ’18

Will It Exceed the Famed Class of ‘83?

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Draftniks extol the 1983 draft, which produced the fabled Class of ’83 – future Hall of Fame quarterbacks John Elway, Jim Kelly and Dan Marino. They combined to start in 10 Super Bowls and 23 Pro Bowls, setting many passing records.

The Class of ’83 struggled in the Super Bowl, with only Elway posting wins. Elway also won a ring as general manager of the Broncos.

For years the standard assumption has been that no quarterback draft will ever outshine the Class of ’83.

Until now: the Class of ’18.

If the Pro Bowl were held tomorrow -- which it won’t be -- AFC starters at quarterback would be Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen. NFC quarterbacks would include either Sam Darnold or Baker Mayfield. All are products of the 2018 draft.

(The first NFC quarterback would be Jared Goff, drafted 2016.)

Jackson and Allen have been stars from the start; Darnold and Mayfield only emerged this season. Their clubs are a combined 26-13. Jackson has two NFL MVPs. He and Allen are favorites for this year’s MVP.

No one from the Class of ‘18 has made the Super Bowl: Mayfield and Darnold because they only emerged this season, Allen and Jackson because, being AFC, they are stuck behind Patrick Mahomes (drafted 2017).

Class of ‘18 potential is high. There are Super Bowl wins coming from this group, and Hall of Fame admissions. Because he was a major star in college, Mayfield will get extra credit if he compiles a Hall-considered career. Sunday, in a close loss against the Forty Niners, Mayfield created one of the season’s memorable plays as he stiff-armed the muscular Nick Bosa with one arm while throwing a successful fourth down conversion pass with the other.

All members of the Class of ‘18 are young in athletic terms, will add wins, stats and entertainment for audiences for years to come.

I’m not sayin’ the Class of ‘18 will best the Class of ’83. But it might. And if you don’t like watching them, well then, you don’t like sports.