NFL draft Day 1: Defense first, then offense, with receivers a focal point
LAS VEGAS — In an NFL draft focused early on stoppers, it was the goers — wide receivers — who stole the spotlight Thursday night. Not simply prospects, either.
Yes, the first five selections came on the defensive side of the ball, including edge rushers Travon
Walker of national champion Georgia to
Jacksonville and Aidan
Hutchinson of Michigan to Detroit at Nos. 1 and 2. It was the first time in 31 years that no player on offense went in the opening five picks.
So, naturally, the next five choices were on offense. And those kept coming: right through No. 12.
And the theme throughout the first 20 picks was to get guys who could catch the ball — including Philadelphia acquiring standout A.J. Brown from the Titans, and Arizona getting veteran Marquise Brown from the Ravens.
“The more playmakers we can have, the better,” Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury said.
In all, six of the opening 18 selections were wideouts, starting with Southern California’s Drake London
at No. 8 to Atlanta. He’ll team with tight end Kyle Pitts, the Falcons’ first-rounder in 2021, on a rebuilding attack.
“I mean it’s just two big dudes out there on the perimeter,” London said. “… Obviously, I’ve got to earn my stripes to get out there on the field with him.”
No quarterbacks went until 20th, when Pitt’s Kenny Pickett found out he can simply switch to another side of the practice facility as he joins the Steelers and perhaps become Ben Roethlisberger’s successor.
But this is a draft rich with linemen
and defensive backs as well as wideouts.
The 6-foot-5, 275-pound Walker, who has some raw elements to his game but an extremely high ceiling for his skills, joins former Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence as the second straight top overall selection by the Jaguars.
“I’m definitely prepared for it, being the No. 1 pick,” Walker said. “I have to say there’s a lot of expectations behind that, but it’s just the game of football to me.”
Walker was a one-year starter whose production (13 tackles for loss and 9 1/2 sacks) doesn’t jump out because he was part of a deep rotation at Georgia. His talent level certainly impressed the Jaguars, the NFL’s worst team the past two years.
“He’s an athletic freak,” Georgia defensive coordinator Will Muschamp told The Associated Press. “I swear to God he could line up at middle linebacker and go be fine. I would take him at No. 1 and not even blink.”
Commissioner Roger Goodell began the proceedings by estimating more than 100,000 fans were on hand at the theater built specifically for the draft. Walker was not in Las Vegas.
Hutchinson, a sack-master whose consistency and relentlessness helped the Wolverines to their first College Football Playoff, is staying home as a pro. The 6-foot-6, 265pounder whose father Chris was a star player at Michigan in the 1990s, was the Heisman Trophy runner-up last season.
“I always wanted to be at Detroit. I’m grateful to be a Lion,” he said.
Cornerbacks Derek Stingley Jr. and Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner
went next, to the Texans and Jets, respectively.
LSU’s Stingley is the grandson of former Patriots receiver Darryl Stingley, who was paralyzed in a 1978 preseason game. Gardner, of Cincinnati, was a major reason the Bearcats broke through into the College Football Playoff last season. He wore a brash bejeweled necklace proclaiming his nickname, and even an accessorized chain with a bejeweled sauce bottle.
“I know I’m going to be a great teammate and I’m going to be a sponge, somebody that’s able to take information from everyone and not feeling like I’m too good for anyone,” Gardner said. “Just being a hard worker.”
The defensive run concluded with Oregon edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux to the New York Giants.
“I’m at this nirvana. I’m at peace,” he said, noting that Hall of Famer Michael Strahan has been a mentor. “It’s put up or shut up.”
When teams got around to the other side of the ball, they couldn’t stop. It began with North Carolina State tackle Ikem Ekwonu to Carolina and Alabama tackle Evan Neal to the Giants. Both teams are needy, to say the least, up front.
Seattle went for tackle Charles Cross of Mississippi State at No. 9. Then came three more receivers: Garrett Wilson of Ohio State to the Jets and college teammate Chris Olave to New Orleans, which traded up with Washington for the 11th slot; and Alabama’s Jameson Williams, coming off a serious knee injury, to Detroit, which moved up in a deal with division-rival Minnesota.
Another Georgia standout, defensive tackle Jordan Davis, was taken by Philadelphia at 13 after yet another deal, getting matters back to the defensive side. Later on, linebacker Quay Walker of the Bulldogs went to Green Bay, as did teammate Devante Wyatt. It’s the first time four players from the same defense went so early. And it became five when Minnesota concluded the dizzying first round by getting Georgia safety Lewis Cine.
The Jets got three players when they traded back into the first round to get the 26th spot from Tennessee once they saw Florida State edge rusher Jermaine Johnson slipped. Johnson previously had been at Georgia.
Penn State’s Jahan Dotson joined the receiving parade, going to Washington at No. 16, then the Titans added Arkansas WR Treylon Burks with the pick acquired for A.J. Brown.