Defense dominates the early selections
Instead of a quarterback going first overall, this year’s NFL draft belonged to the players trying to stop those quarterbacks.
Edge rushers went first and second, with Georgia’s Travon Walker going No. 1 to the Jacksonville Jaguars, followed by Michigan’s Aidan Hutchinson to the Detroit Lions. The Texans continued the run on defensive players, choosing former LSU cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. with the third pick.
Walker, a centerpiece of the Georgia defense that delivered the university a national championship this year, was the first non-quarterback to go No. 1 overall since 2017, when the Cleveland Browns selected edge rusher Myles Garrett.
This year’s draft lacked a can’t-miss quarterback prospect. But in an era of otherworldly quarterback talents, from old veterans like Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers to the group of young stars that includes Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert, teams have an acute need for playmaking defenders who can chase them down.
Hutchinson was viewed by many talent evaluators as this year’s top prospect. Hutchinson, a Heisman Trophy runner-up who set a school record with 14 sacks last season, is the kind of playmaker teams hope can disrupt opposing offenses.
The New York Jets then selected Ahmad Gardner with the fourth overall pick, adding another piece to their rebuilding roster behind second-year coach Robert Saleh. Gardner was viewed as one of the top cornerbacks in the draft and did not allow a receiving touchdown during his college career at Cincinnati. He will be expected to start immediately for the Jets.
The New York Giants took defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux of Oregon with the fifth pick, hoping to strengthen their defensive line..
Trades shake up first round
Two more prominent wide receivers switched teams with Tennessee’s A.J. Brown and Baltimore’s Marquise Brown getting swapped during a dizzying stretch of the NFL draft.
The Ravens traded Marquise Brown and the 100th overall pick to Arizona for the 23rd pick in the draft Thursday night.
Then the Titans dealt A.J. Brown to Philadelphia for the 18th and 101st picks.
In all, 17 of the 23 picks made between Nos. 7 and 29 in the draft were made by teams that acquired them in trades, with 11 of those picks changing hands in the nine trades made during draft.
The Browns were the latest big-name receivers to move this offseason, following Green Bay’s trade of Davante Adams to Las Vegas and Kansas City’s deal that sent Tyreek Hill to Miami.
The trades came after four receivers were drafted in a five-pick span starting when Southern California’s Drake London was chosen by Atlanta at No. 8 as teams have been aggressive in search of game-breaking pass catchers.
A pair of Ohio State receivers went back to back, with the Jets getting Garrett Wilson 10th overall and New Orleans trading up with Washington to get Chris Olave at No. 11.
Detroit then traded up with division rival Minnesota to take receiver Jameson Williams 12th overall. Williams is coming off a severe knee injury.
Georgia has five first-round picks
The first round began and ended with the selections of former University of Georgia defenders, as the school had a record five defenders taken.
Minnesota drafted safety Lewis Cine with the final pick of the first round which began with Jacksonville selecting edge rusher Travon Walker.
In between, former Georgia defenders Jordan Davis went to the Eagles at No. 13 and Quay Walker and Devonte Wyatt were selected by the Green Bay Packers with picks 22 and 28, respectively.
The Bulldogs won the national title on the strength of their defense.
The previous record was four defenders taken from the same school in the first round in 2004 (Miami) and 2006 (Florida State).
Pickett the choice at QB for Steelers
Kenny Pickett stayed in school at Pittsburgh an extra year just so he could move next door.
Now all the Pittsburgh Steelers’ newest quarterback has to do is replace a future Hall of Famer, beat out two veterans for the starting job and do it all while trying to maintain the perpetually high standard of a franchise that hasn’t endured a losing season since he was in kindergarten.
“There’s no panic in him,” Pittsburgh general manager Kevin Colbert said after the Steelers grabbed Pickett with the 20th overall pick.
Pickett will need to rely on that composure while he grapples with the enviable yet mammoth task of taking over for Ben Roethlisberger, who retired in January following 18 seasons that included two Super Bowl wins, an appearance in another and a reputation as one of the best clutch performers in league history.
Coach Mike Tomlin said Pickett will “certainly” be given the chance to start right away. Pickett joins a quarterback room that includes former No. 2 overall pick Mitch Trubisky — signed to a twoyear deal in March — and Mason Rudolph.