Aggies’ 1st-round streak hangs in balance with Kirk
Receiver projected as 4th best in draft, may fall as a result
COLLEGE STATION — Texas A&M has had at minimum one first-round selection in every NFL draft since 2011. So at least one good thing for the Aggies came out of receiver Christian Kirk bypassing his senior season for the draft — he’s A&M’s best hope of keeping the streak alive.
“I’d be wrong if I said it didn’t mean anything,” Kirk said of perhaps becoming A&M’s 10th first-round choice in the past eight drafts. “It definitely means a lot, to be able to carry on that tradition. And that’s every kid’s dream, to be able to go to college, have a very successful career, be a first-round draft pick and walk across that stage.”
The draft, which starts Thursday night, is being held at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, and Kirk plans to be at home in Arizona. So even if he is a firstround selection, he won’t be walking across a stage to greet NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.
In an odd twist to the 2018 draft, the No. 1 overall selection likely will be in Arlington for a second consecutive year. A year ago A&M’s lone No. 1 overall pick in NFL history, defensive end Myles Garrett, chose to stay in his hometown of Arlington and celebrate his selection with family and friends.
Kirk, praised for his discipline and no-nonsense approach on and off the field, projects as a fringe first-round pick. USA Today this week listed him as the fourth-best receiver in the draft, behind Alabama’s Calvin Ridley, Maryland’s DJ Moore and Memphis’s Anthony Miller. That designation also pushed Kirk out of the first round, with only Ridley and Moore projected in the first.
Watts, Ratley possible picks
A&M safety Armani Watts forecasts as a mid-round choice, and the only other Aggie who might be selected is swift receiver Damion Ratley in the late rounds.
“I’ve been one of the better leaders here these past few years,” Watts said when asked what he will bring to an NFL club. “I just have a drive for football.”
That was evident time and again over his four-year career, as Watts made game-saving interceptions against Arkansas and Tennessee along the way, and multiple clutch plays late in Southeastern Conference contests.
“That really comes with preparation before the game and a lot of film study and good practice habits,” Watts said. “Just knowing where to be at the right time and making the play when it comes.”
The Aggies were especially young last season, with eight starters returning each on offense and defense in 2018. At one point during SEC play, 55 of the 82 players on A&M’s traveling squad were underclassmen (freshmen or sophomores).
A&M’s 2013 and 2014 recruiting classes largely were busts under then-coach Kevin Sumlin, contributing to the Aggies’ low number of potential draft picks. A&M had five players drafted in 2017, three in 2016 and two in 2015. All three of their selections in 2014 were first-round picks.
A&M defensive tackle Zaycoven Henderson was arrested in December on three charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, tampering with evidence and possession of less than two ounces of marijuana.
Henderson was suspended for A&M’s bowl, and as he continues to wait to see what happens with his criminal case, he participated in the NFL combine in February but was not invited to A&M’s annual pro day last month. He went from a possible mid-round selection to perhaps not being drafted at all based on the arrest and the pending status of the criminal case.
A run of talent
Linebacker Von Miller, who has developed into one of the NFL’s top defenders, started the Aggies’ string of first-round picks in 2011. Quarterback Ryan Tannehill, the oft-injured Miami Dolphins starter, followed in 2012, and offensive tackle Luke Joeckel made his mark in 2013.
The following year was especially fruitful for A&M, after offensive tackle Jake Matthews, receiver Mike Evans and quarterback Johnny Manziel all were first-round picks in 2014. Offensive tackle Cedric Ogbuehi followed in 2015, offensive tackle Germain Ifedi squeezed in as the 31st selection (out of 31 firstround picks) two years ago, and Garrett rounded out the nine prime picks in 2017.
Joeckel and Miller were No. 2 overall choices, while Matthews, Evans and Tannehill also went in the top 10 (and with Garrett at No. 1).
The first round of the draft from Arlington is Thursday, while the second round and third rounds are Friday and the fourth through seventh rounds are Saturday.