The Draft started off as many predicted with QBs going top three. Maybe not the same QBs everyone expected (Lance at 3) but 3 QBs nonetheless. We breakdown some of the biggest superlatives from the night:
Biggest Surprises:
Miami Dolphins, after missing out on Pitts and Chase, stay at 6 and get the burner Jaylen Waddle. This is an elite burner that brings a similar skill set to that of Fuller who will be playing opposite. After Fullers one year deal is up, Waddle can step in and take on WR1 reps. He’s the player who can create separation, and get YAC on every play to help support Tua’s ascent as a QB.
Carolina made Jaycee Horn the first defensive player and corner selected in the draft at #8. Carolina decided to stick with the home grown product and physical outside corner who bring day 1 impact and tenacity that is much needed. Many were surprised Patrick Surtain ll wasn’t the first selection, but he didn’t wait long as the Broncos double down after getting Ronald Darby and Kyle Fuller in free agency. Many had no defensive players in the top 10. Instead we see 2 players go.
Chicago Bears made a huge move moving up for Justin Fields. Fields, in my opinion and many in the football community, is QB2 in this draft. He is a dominant player who brings arm talent to pair with top end athleticism. Chicago fans should be ecstatic as they get a high end signal caller to right their ship. Hopefully Nagy can get him up to pace in the offense fast enough to save his job.
Dave Gettleman shocks the world by trading (for the first time as a GM) and selecting Kadarious Toney. among the trade was a future 1st from the Bears (2022). Toney over Bateman is a shock to me, as Bateman showed more ability as a complete reciever. I don’t have a huge gripe with the selection as Bateman is WR4 and Toney was WR5. Little baffled by the Giants as they now have a deep wide receiver room (Golladay, Shepard, Slayton, and Toney with Engram). I think they get more value staying at 11 and taking Slater, but most shocking is definitely Gettleman defying the odds and moving back.
Least favorite selections
I’ll start off by saying I don’t hate Mac Jones. He’s a top 20 player in my opinion in the draft, and worthy of the 15th pick. The offense under Cam is very different than what it will be under Mac Jones. How do you build an offense for one guy than turn the keys over? Unless you plan to start Mac day 1, I’m not a fan of the fit. But Belichick gets his guy from his close friend Saban’s program.
Raiders are gonna Raider. Mayock and Gruden go back to the well that keeps on giving and takes a 2nd round grade player at 17. Leatherwood is a solid player with positional versatility, but most analysts and scouts had him as a 2nd round or late 1st round pick. Mayock and Gruden love taking big program and character guys and aren’t afraid to reach to do it, and with the offensive line in shambles it was a major need. Can’t help but believe they could have traded down or moved up in the second to get their guy.
Saints made a move for a pass rusher and selected Payton Turner at #28. Don’t get me wrong I like Turner’s game but 28 for me was rich. He’s a long explosive athlete coming off the edge but he plays upright some times. He definitely has upside with his game, but I viewed him as a late 2nd/early 3rd round player. Many analysts had him pegged as a late riser and Saints definitely had their eye on him.
Favorite selections
The consensus leading up to the draft was Mac Jones to the niners, with Trey Lance as the dark horse. After keeping their circle tight, Lunch and Shanahan shocked the world with Lance being the pick after only 11 starts at FBS North Dakota State. Lance had a rocket arm and massive upside as a runner, and could play day 1. 49ers will look to let him learn behind Jimmy G and sharpen his grasp on the playbook. Trey showed quick learning ability testing “off the charts” in knowledge capacity testing. 49ers made a big gamble and statement that should create buzz for the next few years in San Francisco.
Rashawn Slater, consensus top 2 tackle, falls to a team who was in need of none other than an offensive tackle. He can step in day one and help with protection to Chargers who currently were in the bottom half of league in pressures allowed. The lineman room looks very different after the addition of Linsley and now Slater, and that is definitely a positive change.
Steelers surprise almost no one and select Najee Harris. There was a ton of buzz around this leading up to the draft and it came to fruition. Steel city gets a truly physical and elusive, do-it-all back to lead their backfield. Snell and McFarland proved they aren’t true lead backs and more of complementary pieces. Harris can help them re-establish the run game that made them truly dominant, while taking some of the load off Big Ben in his twilight years.
All selections in reverse order:
32) Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Joe Tryon, LB, Washington
31) Baltimore Ravens (from KC) – Jayson Oweh, DE, Penn State
30) Buffalo Bills – Gregory Rousseau, DE, Miami
29) Green Bay Packers – Eric Stokes, CB, Georgia
28) New Orleans Saints – Payton Turner, DE, Houston
27) Baltimore Ravens – Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota
26) Cleveland Browns – Greg Newsome II, CB, Northwestern
25) Jacksonville Jaguars (from LAR) – Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson
24) Pittsburgh Steelers – Najee Harris, RB, Alabama
23) Minnesota Vikings (from NYJ through SEA) – Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech
22) Tennessee Titans – Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech
21) Indianapolis Colts – Kwity Paye, DE, Michigan
20) New York Giants (from CHI) – Kadarius Toney, WR, Florida
19) Washington Football Team – Jamin Davis, LB, Kentucky
18) Miami Dolphins – Jaelan Phillips, DE, Miami
17) Las Vegas Raiders – Alex Leatherwood, OT, Alabama
16) Arizona Cardinals – Zaven Collins, LB, Tulsa
15) New England Patriots – Mac Jones, QB, Alabama
14) New York Jets (from MIN) – Alijah Vera-Tucker, OL, USC
13) Los Angeles Chargers – Rashawn Slater, OT, Northwestern
12) Dallas Cowboys (from PHI through SF, MIA) – Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State
11) Chicago Bears (from NYG) – Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State
10) Philadelphia Eagles (from DAL) – DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama
9) Denver Broncos – Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama
8) Carolina Panthers – Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina
7) Detroit Lions – Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon
6) Miami Dolphins (from PHI) – Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama
5) Cincinnati Bengals – Ja’Marr Chase, WR, LSU
4) Atlanta Falcons – Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida
3) San Francisco 49ers (from HOU through MIA) – Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota State
2) New York Jets – Zach Wilson, QB, BYU
1) Jacksonville Jaguars – Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson
Steelers got Najee!!!