Run on Huskies DBs highlights second round
PHILADELPHIA — The most popular group in the second round of the NFL draftwas nearly 3,000 miles away fromPhiladelphia: the Washington Huskies secondary.
Three members — cornerbacks Kevin King and Sidney Jones, safety Budda Baker — were taken in the first 11 picks Friday night.
None of those choices drewthe attention that Cincinnati’s pick atNo. 48 overall did: Oklahoma running back Joe Mixon, who was uninvited to the scouting combine because of a domestic assault incident from 2014.
He punched Amelia Molitor and broke bones in her face during the altercation, and was suspended from the team for a year. He came back and had two strong seasons. In 2016, he was an All-Big 12 performer who set the school record for all-purpose yardage in a season.
Fans in the draft theater booed lustily when Bengals Hall of Famer Anthony Munoz announced the choice. Cincinnati has a history of bringing players with off-field problems to the roster.
Earlier, Kevin King’s extrastay at the draft turned out to be a short stint.
The Washington cornerback was taken by Green Bay as the first selection in the second round. One of five players who were on hand and were not taken in the opening round, the 6-foot-3 former safety isn’t particularly speedy, but has the size and aggressiveness pro teams seek.
Plus, the Packers were ravaged by injuries in the secondary last season.
“I am a playmaker, somebody who will go get the ball,” King said. “I think everyone wants somebody like that in the secondary.
King was joined by secondary mate Baker on Friday night when Arizona took theWashington safety.
Then the Eagles added yet another Huskies defensive back, selecting Jones. Jones tore his Achilles tendonat his proday and might not be healthy for the 2017 season.
Cleveland was expected to add a quarterback at some point and did so atNo. 52 with Notre Dame’s DeShone Kizer.
Accompanied by former Eagles quarterback Ron Jaworski, an icon in Philadelphia, Commissioner Roger Goodell thanked the city and the fans — folks in the theater still booed him, but not when “Jaws” repeated the tribute.
The Packers acquired the first selection of the second round from Cleveland in a deal Thursday night through which the Browns got Miami tight end David Njoku.
Seattle, whichalso traded out of the first round, was at it again. On Friday, the Seahawks sent the No. 26 overall toAtlanta, then also dealt the No. 31 slot it received from the Falcons to San Francisco in what was a wild opening night of the draft.
Instead of using the 34th spot, Seattle traded it to Jacksonville, which grabbed Alabama tackle Cam Robinson, projected by many as a first-rounder. With their picks of running back Leonard Fournette and Robinson, the Jaguars are trying to build a ground game around inconsistent quarterback Blake Bortles.
Seattle finally made a pick, taking Michigan State defensive tackle Malik McDowell with the third selection of the night.
Oddly, the first five in the second round traded.
So was the ninth, where Minnesota went for Florida State All-America running back Dalvin Cook, who slipped from the first round because of off-field issues and some injury concerns. Cook is a big-play guy and the Vikings, of course, let go ofAdrianPeterson this year. spots were