Round 1QB Kyler Murray - Oklahoma Nice to see Mean Joe on the stage before the start of the draft. Attemps to manufacture intrigue surrounding this pick in the last few days prove unfounded. What everyone said was going to happen for months is what happens. The right move IMO. Sam Darnold and Josh Allen arguably didn't struggle any less than Josh Rosen last season all in poor situations with limited talent surrounding them. Darnold and Allen just seemed to provide a spark, a hope with their passion and leadership in addition to their raw talent. That seems to be missing in Rosen. This move lets Kliff Klingsbury start fresh.
2. San Francisco 49ers DE Nick Bosa - Ohio St The Bosa family joins the Manning family as the only in league history to have a father and two sons drafted in the first round. The Long family just missed out with Howie a second rounder and his two sons both first round selections. Nick gets selected based on pedigree and a short but impressive resume containing only 10 total college starts. He only played 3 games last year before requiring core muscle surgery and declaring early for the draft as a true junior.
3. New York Jets DT Quinnen Williams - Alabama Rumors of a trade down prove unfounded. Rumors of Ed Oliver prove unfounded. The Jets stand pat and take the consensus best player available. Hard to argue.
4. Oakland Raiders DE Clelin Ferrell - Clemson Pure 4-3 end. Obviously didn't think Josh Allen was a scheme fit. Mike Mayock and Jon Gruden do pull a major surprise. This is actually very good news for the Steelers, albeit early. Ferrell was not a scheme fit for the Steelers at all and to be honest I thought he would go at least a little bit after the 20th pick.
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers ILB Devin White - LSU Butkus award winner. A RB recruit that blossomed hitting opponents instead of being hit by them. Leader that will be an extension of new coordinator Todd Bowles on the field. Basically a no brainer if White was available.
6. New York Giants QB Daniel Jones - Duke I had him going to the Giants at 17. Rumors had them liking Jones over Haskins and Lock. Coached by Eli Manning's college coach, David Cutcliffe. I like Jones more than most, don't get me wrong. Wouldn't have even been surprised if the Giants took Josh Allen here and then traded back into the top 10, say at the Lions pick, to take Jones. Just surprised he is the second QB off the board.
7. Jacksonville Jaguars DE/OLB Josh Allen - Kentucky Value over need. Can never have enough pass rushers.
8. Detroit Lions TE TJ Hockenson - Iowa Thought this would be a trade down, was hoping maybe the Steelers would get up to this pick for Devin Bush. Shocked there has not been a trade yet in this draft. Only the fourth TE taken in the top 10 since 1997. Eric Ebron was one of the others taken by Lions just five years ago. Poor Jesse James once again finds himself as a backup, at least for his sake a high paid backup.
9. Buffalo Bills DT Ed Oliver - Houston Needed pass rush, get an interior pass rusher. I tend to think Oliver is somewhat overrated as a top 10 pick. This should be a good place for him.
10. Pittsburgh Steelers (from Denver) ILB Devin Bush - Michigan Fill their biggest need with a bold move up for the only player left on the board that could immediately be a difference maker for their defense. Hard to argue. A three down heat seeking missle with the ability to cover TEs and backs. Trade the 20th and 52nd pick in this draft plus a 2020 3rd rounder. Really a no-brainer. Bush was highly unlikely to get past the Bengals.
11. Cincinnati Bengals OT Jonah Williams - Alabama A 44 game starter. Can play inside, outside. Could stick on the left side despite short arms. Held his own against Clelin Ferrell in the National Championship game. An immediate starter somewhere on a poor offensive line.
12. Green Bay Packers OLB/DE Rashan Gary - Michigan Incredible physical specimen. Thought he was a better fit as a 4-3 end.
13. Miami Dolphins DT Christian Wilkins - Clemson An interior defender for new defensive minded coach Brian Flores. Scheme versatile. Seem to be in tank mode. Building the lines a good strategy.
14. Atlanta Falcons OG Chris Lindstrom - Boston College Plug-and-play immediate starter with a strong family pedigree from a program known historically for producing interior offensive linemen. Still seems high for a clearly low floor, seemingly low ceiling prospect.
15. Washington Redskins QB Dwayne Haskins - Ohio St Sit still and have Haskins fall into their lap. The Raiders, Giants, Broncos, Bengals and Dolphins all passing on Haskins is a surprise. ESPN commentators are lauding this pick. Pick supposedly made by Dan Snyder against the wishes of the football people which has to cause pause.
16. Carolina Panthers DE Brian Burns - Florida St Montez Sweat officially in free fall. An immediate replacement for Julius Peppers. Solid move.
17. New York Giants (from Cleveland) DT Dexter Lawrence - Clemson Third defensive lineman off the board from Clemson. Sweat would have filled a bigger need, will he fall out of the first round all together?
18. Minnesota Vikings C/G Garrett Bradbury - North Carolina Hey, I got one right. Thanks to GM Rick Spielman.
19. Tennessee Titans DT Jeffrey Simmons - Mississippi St Top 10 talent with pre-college off the field issues, current torn ACL. Might have to redshirt a year. Another possible landing spot for Sweat.
20. Denver Broncos (from Pittsburgh) TE Noah Fant - Iowa First time ever TEs from the same school go in the first round of the same draft. Joe Flacco loves to throw to the TE. Still shocked that this isn't Drew Lock. John Elway seems committed to Flacco, which is idiocy.
21. Green Bay Packers (from Seattle) S Darnell Savage - Maryland Trade up to reach. Safety was incredibly deep in the second round, Savage was in the argument with about six others to be the best available. Not sure any were worth a first round pick.
22. Philadelphia Eagles (from Baltimore) OT Andre Dillard - Washington St Jump the Texans for a pure left tackle prospect.
23. Houston Texans OT Tytus Howard - Alabama St Project with the physical skills to mold outside on the left. Seemed to panic after Eagles beat them to Dillard. Just take best player available and target Howard later.
24. Oakland Raiders (from Chicago) RB Josh Jacobs - Alabama Two down between the tackle throwback that lacks break away speed. Not my cup of tea. Would have been a great pick 25, maybe 35 years ago.
25. Baltimore Ravens (from Philadelphia) WR Marquise Brown - Oklahoma Baltimore goes Hollywood. Not sure about Brown's fit in an offense led by Lamar Jackson. Will have to be utilized in the slot on short slants, perhaps outside on screens. Down the field ability likely to be wasted.
26. Washington Redskins (from Colts) OLB Montez Sweat - Mississippi St Colts bail out of the first round. Redskins winning the draft among draftniks. That doesn't always translate into on the field success.
27. Oakland Raiders (from Dallas) S Johnathan Abram - Mississippi St Gruden and Mayock drafting like it's 1980. Highly competative, heat seaking missle. Brutal hitter. Has the speed to match up one-on-one against anyone. In the current game a penalty, possible ejection waiting to happen.
28. Los Angeles Chargers DT Jerry Tillery - Notre Dame Not much to say here. Not exciting. Offensive line made more sense to me. Still, solid pick.
29. Seattle Seahawks (from Kansas City) DE LJ Collier - TCU Reach for need. A 4-3 base end. Redshirt senior that never started a game until his final season. Started only 10 games in his college career, had only 14.5 total career sacks. Pete Carroll thinks he is smarter than everyone else.
30. New York Giants (from New Orleans through Green Bay and Seattle) DB DeAndre Baker - Georgia Seattle moves down again, continues to accumulate extra picks. I actually had Baker going to the Giants in the second round. First corner off the board. Don't think trade up from 37 was needed.
31. Atlanta Falcons (from LA Rams) OT Kaleb McGary - Washington Rams bail on the first round. Falcons double dip on offensive linemen. McGary lacks length. Definitely not a left tackle. Maybe more a guard than right tackle. Not sure about this pick especially given earlier pick of Lindstrom.
32. New England Patriots WR K'Neal Harry - Arizona St Big receiver to help replace Gronk in a different way. Can't argue with the move.
|