NFL Draft brings back glitz, glamour
Jaguars surprise nobody in taking QB Lawrence
The glitz was back. Glamour, too. Even a smiling commissioner Roger Goodell was booed on cue at the outset — this time by undistanced, vaccinated and masked fans.
The NFL Draft as we had come to know it this century returned Thursday night in Cleveland, after last year’s entirely different, scaleddown, pandemic-caused exception, conducted at it was entirely virtually with selectors, selectees and everyone else connected electronically from their homes.
The return to near-normal — still a pipe dream in Canada, it must be pointed out — was nearly upstaged by the massive, league-quaking news a few hours earlier that superstar 37-year-old quarterback Aaron Rodgers wants out of Green Bay.
We might not now know where, or even if, Rodgers will play football in 2021. But we finally know the NFL destinations for the Fab Five.
That is, this year’s fabulous five rookie quarterbacks.
As expected, the Jacksonville Jaguars selected at No. 1 overall the best of them, Clemson University passer Trevor Lawrence, to kick off the three-day draft, complete with rowdy, jersey-wearing fans back in attendance.
The long-haired blond celebrated at home with family and friends.
Ten minutes later, the New York Jets similarly surprised no one by picking BYU quarterback Zach Wilson at No. 2.
“Zach’s 5th Avenue,” NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah quipped. “(His) is some of the most fun quarterback tape that you will watch from any player.”
The San Francisco 49ers then made it three-for-three at football’s most important position by ending weeks of speculation in choosing North Dakota State’s Trey Lance over Ohio State’s Justin Fields and Alabama’s Mac Jones.
It was only the third time in NFL Draft history that quarterbacks were taken 1-23 off the top, after 1971 and 1999.
The NFL world had been wondering for months whether a Qb-needy team might trade up to obtain the Atlanta Falcons’ No. 4 selection, but that didn’t happen. The Falcons kept it.
And with it, they interrupted the run on quarterbacks and chose the best pass catcher in this draft — not a wide receiver, but rather a tight end: Florida’s Kyle Pitts, who’s super fast, strong, elusive and possesses great hands.
At No. 5, the Cincinnati Bengals took the first wideout in LSU’S Ja’marr Chase.
At No. 6, the Miami Dolphins took another wide receiver, Alabama’s Jaylen Waddle.
The Detroit Lions took the first offensive lineman, Oregon left tackle Penei Sewell.
Ohio State’s Fields and Alabama’s Jones then both slid out of the top five. How low would they go? Fields, not much farther.
The Jaguars were universally expected to pick Lawrence No. 1 overall since the New York Jets last season, following an 0-13 start, went and blew it by beating the Los Angeles Rams and Cleveland Browns on Dec. 20 and 27, to drop to the No. 2 drafting position behind Jacksonville. That’s how the season finished on Jan. 3.
Lawrence, the most celebrated incoming rookie QB in nearly a decade who has garnered comparisons even to rookie John Elway in 1983, chose not to attend draft proceedings in person.
Why was that? Did Lawrence know weeks in advance it’d be a cool, dreary, rainy day and night along the southern shore of Lake Erie? No. He’s not that clairvoyant.
“I’ve always envisioned this night being with all the people that were part of my journey, and really had a huge part in my life, and in my success,” Lawrence told ESPN from Clemson, S.C., a couple hours beforehand.
“It just didn’t feel like for me and my family it would do it justice to be there. That was super important to me (even though) I know it’s going to be an amazing atmosphere in Cleveland.”
Lawrence will surely start the Jaguars’ first game of the 2021 season on the second weekend in September; the NFL will release the full season schedule on May 12.
As for the Jets, Wilson is the umpteenth young saviour QB the franchise has acquired to hopefully serve as the next Joe Namath, now more than a half-century since Broadway Joe led the Jets to their one and only Super Bowl championship.
Wilson is an exceptionally strong-armed thrower who knows when and how to exercise touch.
As for the 49ers, it’s difficult to believe stories this week suggesting that their chief decision-makers — GM Lynch and head coach Shanahan — still weren’t sure which of Fields, Lance or Jones to select.
ESPN’S Adam Schefter tweeted after the pick was announced that Shanahan and 49ers GM John Lynch did not inform any assistant coaches or scouts of their choice to take Lance until it was announced.
Can’t imagine Thursday night’s viewing was much fun for Jimmy Garoppolo — the passer who led the Niners to the Super Bowl just 15 months ago. Is he a lame duck now? Maybe not. Lance is super smart and talented but might need bench time to work up to NFL speed.
Up to six Canadians might be selected from Rounds 2-7: Oregon’s Jevon Holland (born in Coquitlam, B.C.), Tennessee wide receiver Josh Palmer (born in Toronto and raised in nearby Brampton), Oklahoma State running back Chuba Hubbard (born in Edmonton and raised in nearby Sherwood Park), Minnesota cornerback Benjamin St-juste (born and raised in Montreal), Iowa offensive tackle/ guard Alaric Jackson (born and raised mostly in Windsor, Ont.) and Oklahoma State linebacker Amen Ogbongbemiga (born in Nigeria and partially raised in Calgary).