Many will start right away.
Others will spend this year being groomed to be a prominent contributor in 2019.
And the majority of this year’s first-round draft picks will land somewhere in between – a rotational player in Week 1 and a starter by Week 10.
What should be expected of the first 32 picks of this spring’s draft? Here is a player-by-player forecast:
1. Baker Mayfield, QB, Cleveland: Will discover two weeks into camp that he’s better than Tyrod Taylor, but begins the year as the back-up and then takes over Oct. 21 at Tampa Bay in a friendly environment (it will be Cleveland Gulf Coast).
2. Saquon Barkley, RB, New York Giants: Should want to lead the league in rushing. No, really. Rookies led the NFL in rushing the last two seasons – Dallas’ Ezekiel Elliott in 2016 and Kansas City’s Kareem Hunt last year.
3. Sam Darnold, QB, New York Jets: Starts camp as third string, jumps to second-team when Teddy Bridgewater is traded, replaces Josh McCown Oct. 14 against Indianapolis and does enough to make the Jets head-coaching job attractive in January.
4. Denzel Ward, CB, Cleveland: Starts and plays every game and proves to be a building block on a defense that is led by Myles Garrett, Jamie Collins and Jabrill Peppers.
5. Bradley Chubb, LB, Broncos: Starts the season at outside linebacker because of Shane Ray’s wrist surgery and doesn’t give up the job. Posts 10 sacks.
6. Quenton Nelson, G, Indianapolis: Plays left guard and teams with second-round right guard Braden Smith and center Ryan Kelly to keep away interior pressure from quarterback Andrew Luck (if he’s healthy).
7. Josh Allen, QB, Buffalo: Beats out Nathan Peterman for the back-up job and replaces A.J. McCarron on Nov. 4 against Chicago.
8. Roquan Smith, LB Chicago: Shows by Week 2 that he’s better than the Bears’ last first-round pick from Georgia (Leonard Floyd). Makes 100 tackles and helps the Bears finish top-12 in fewest points allowed.
9. Mike McGlinchey, OT, San Francisco: Makes the 49ers forget about Trent Brown (traded) by stabilizing the right tackle position.
10. Josh Rosen, QB, Arizona: Like the rest of the quarterbacks, begins the season as a backup. Becomes the first one to start, replacing Sam Bradford on Sept. 23 against Chicago.
11. Minkah Fitzpatrick, FS, Miami: Will force the Dolphins’ coaches to play three safeties as much as possible because Fitzpatrick can play free and strong safety in addition to nickel back.
12. Vita Vea, DT, Tampa Bay: Teams with All Pro defensive tackle Gerald McCoy to form the league’s best 4-3 interior duo.
13. Da’Ron Payne, DT, Washington: As a nose tackle in the Redskins’ 3-4 scheme, will take up blockers and allow linebacker Zach Brown to again finish among the league’s top 10 tacklers.
14. Marcus Davenport, DE, New Orleans: The Saints traded their 2019 first-round pick to move up for Davenport, who will be a rotational pass rusher and sub for veteran Cameron Jordan.
15. Kolton Miller, OT, Oakland: A left tackle at UCLA, Miller will start his pro career at right tackle. The eventual plan is to move him to left tackle when Donald Penn, now 35 years old, moves out.
16. Tremaine Edmunds, MLB, Buffalo: One of the league’s youngest players (age 20) will be the Bills’ defensive quarterback for many years. Will play middle linebacker, replacing Preston Brown, who led the NFL in tackles last year.
17. Derwin James, SS, Los Angeles Chargers: Becomes an instant problem for the AFC West. Floats between strong and free safety, depending on the opponent, has six interceptions and wins Defensive Rookie of the Year.
18. Jaire Alexander, CB, Green Bay: The Packers went cornerback in the first two rounds with Alexander and Josh Jackson. Alexander will thrive in new defensive coordinator Mike Pettine’s scheme and lead the team in interceptions.
19. Leighton Vander Esch, OLB, Dallas: Shows flash rushing the passer, but at least initially, does not do enough for the Cowboys to regret not picking receiver Calvin Ridley.
20. Frank Ragnow, C/G, Detroit: A center at Arkansas, Ragnow took only left guard snaps during the Lions’ offseason program, and he’ll start there.
21. Billy Price, C, Cincinnati: Despite tearing his pectoral muscle at the Combine, he was cleared for activity in June and will be an immediate starter, replacing Russell Bodine (now with Buffalo).
22. Rashaan Evans, ILB, Tennessee: Will start right away alongside Wesley Woodyard in the Titans’ 3-4 scheme, replacing veteran Avery Williamson (now with the Jets).
23. Isaiah Wynn, OL, New England: He was a tackle at Georgia and that will be his future position in the NFL, but he will start 2018 as a reserve after the Patriots stick with Joe Thuney at left guard.
24. D.J. Moore, WR, Carolina: First receiver drafted will lead rookie receivers in touchdown catches (seven). Moore joins a revamped Panthers receiver corps that includes veteran Torrey Smith.
25. Hayden Hurst, TE, Baltimore: Draft’s top all-around tight end will produce right away, catching 50 passes and becoming a threat down the middle of the field for quarterback Joe Flacco.
26. Calvin Ridley, WR, Atlanta: Will prove to be a versatile player who can line up outside (like he did during organized team activities) or in the slot (like he did in minicamp) and reach 875 yards receiving.
27. Rashaad Penny, RB, Seattle: Last year’s FBS rushing leader doesn’t lead the NFL in rushing, but eclipses the Seahawks’ leading running back rusher (a whopping 240 yards) by Week 3.
28. Terrell Edmunds, S, Pittsburgh: Will be expected to work as a backup to Morgan Burnett in base defense and be on the field as a linebacker-safety hybrid in the Steelers’ dime package.
29. Taven Bryan, DT/DE, Jacksonville: Does not start a game, but plays in the rotation behind Malik Jackson at tackle and Calais Campbell at end and helps the Jaguars lead the league in sacks.
30. Mike Hughes, CB, Minnesota: He’ll watch and learn because he was drafted with an eye toward 2019 and beyond. Ahead of him are Xavier Rhodes, Trae Waynes and Terence Newman, who are all established players.
31. Sony Michel, RB, New England: Becomes the no-doubt starter by mid-season after rotating with a stable of tailbacks in September and October.
32. Lamar Jackson, QB, Baltimore: Wins unofficial Preseason MVP award after a dazzling August that forces Ravens coaches to at least create a package of plays for him in the regular season.