Troubled Kelly taken last by Broncos
Mississippi QB is top talent but had off-field problems, injuries
The final day of the NFL draft began with an impromptu rendition of “Fly Eagles Fly” by former Philadelphia star safety Brian Dawkins and ended with a player who was far from irrelevant in college being picked last.
Mississippi quarterback Chad Kelly, a talented player with a history of off-the-field issues and injuries, was the 253rd and final selection Saturday by the Denver Broncos.
The final pick gets honored as Mr. Irrelevant, but Kelly was a player who could have been selected in the first three rounds if not for all his problems.
Kelly started his college career as a highly rated recruit at Clemson. He was dismissed from the team after being a disciplinary problem and went to junior college before landing at Ole Miss. In two seasons with the Rebels, he passed for 6,800 yards and 50 touchdowns. He also threw 21 interceptions,
Last season was cut short by a torn knee ligament and then in the offseason draft process he suffered a wrist injury.
Kelly’s pick was a surprising end to draft day that started with some fun.
Former Eagles Troy Vincent, now in charge of the NFL’s football operations, Brian Westbrook and Dawkins defended their turf. Dawkins sang, then Westbrook dared anyone representing the Cowboys to stand in front of the big crowd.
“If anybody from Dallas steps to this podium in my city, we are going to give them a true Philadelphia welcome,” Westbrook promised in response to former Cowboys receiver Drew Pearson taunting the fans when announcing a Dallas pick on Friday night.
Most notable on the last day of the draft in Philadelphia was a concentration on running backs, including Oklahoma’s highly productive Samaje Perine to Washington, Utah’s Joe Williams to San Francisco, NCAA record setter Donnel Pumphrey of San Diego State to Philadelphia, Wayne Gallman of national champion Clemson to the Giants and South Florida’s Marlon Mack to Indianapolis. Pumphrey seems like a terrific fit for the Eagles because he has similar skills to versatile Darren Sproles, soon to turn 34.
Jaguars: Jacksonville quarterback Blake Bortles is getting another chance to turn his career around — and seemingly without competition. The Jaguars opted not to select a quarterback, a somewhat surprising decision considering Bortles’ continued struggles and the addition of Tom Coughlin as the team’s executive vice president of football operations. The 25-year-old Bortles returned to California last month to work on his mechanics, hoping to improve his accuracy and efficiency.
Cowboys: Dallas defensive end Randy Gregory’s career may be over after reports of another failed drug test. Gregory is already serving a yearlong suspension for repeated violations of the NFL’s substance abuse policy.
Jets: New York wide receiver Devin Smith is out for the season with a torn ligament in the same knee he had surgically repaired last year. Smith was injured the week before the Jets began their offseason workouts in mid-April. An MRI revealed the severity of the injury for Smith, New York’s second-round pick in 2015.
Panthers: Carolina coach Ron Rivera says he’s a little concerned over Kelvin Benjamin’s weight, but disputed reports that the team’s starting wide receiver has ballooned to 280 pounds. Rivera said after the NFL draft that the former first-round draft pick is a “little heavy”, but is working hard to lose weight.