32 THINGS NFL Draft produces record ratings
The 32 things we learned from the 2020 NFL draft:
1. With so many Americans sheltering in place during the novel coronavirus pandemic, not a major surprise this was the most-watched draft ever, consumed by more than 55 million viewers – a 16% increase over last year.
2. Thanks in part to the “Draft-AThon LIVE,” which ran concurrent to the three-day draft, the NFL has now raised more than $100 million for COVID-19 relief initiatives. Bravo.
3. The most compelling aspect of this unique virtual draft experience was watching the league’s general managers and coaches working from their homes – which meant quite a variance of domestic set-ups. Mike Zimmer’s cabin motif with game mounted on the walls was apropos. Also liked seeing Andy Reid in Tommy Bahama with the cardio machine shoved out of the way.
4. Shout-out to Patriots coach Bill Belichick, who pretty successfully avoided being caught on his war room/ dining room camera but at least assured his precious pup Nike got sufficient air time.
5. Lastly, how about an attaboy for Roger Goodell? The NFL commish takes a lot of heat, certainly some of it by design and deserved. Still, he welcomed us into his suburban New York basement and did his best shepherding his portion of the event through sub-optimal conditions. He butchered some names – sorry, Tua and K’Lavon – hosted awkward interviews with players and tried to unfailingly remain enthusiastic while playing along with Bud Light’s dopey #BooTheCommish promotion. Nice work, Rog, we’ll gladly come watch “Monday Night Football” with you ... but not for $200,000+.
6. A round of applause for ESPN as well. The “Worldwide Leader” did a nice job taking the lead on the draft telecast, smoothly overseen by football-savvy anchor Trey Wingo, who did his best to orchestrate a simulcast that integrated NFL Network analysts, featured numerous remote shots of players, coaches and team executives all while dispensing crisp analysis in a socially distanced production environment. Also, ESPN’s music was fantastic ... even if the graphics supplied by its “Monday Night Football” arm were not – per usual.
7. LSU won the draft. Five Bayou Bengals went in Round 1, including the first overall pick (QB Joe Burrow) and No. 32, RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire. Overall, 14 Tigers were plucked from what may eventually be regarded as the greatest college football team in history. Even long snapper Blake Ferguson heard his name called by the Dolphins.
8. The Cardinals have taken to calling the eighth pick of the draft, highly versatile Clemson defender Isaiah Simmons, the “Eraser.” We think they’re shading you, George Kittle ...
9. Unsurprisingly, Ferguson was the only snapper selected.
10. Three kickers were drafted (same as the number of nose tackles). Oddly, Georgia’s Rodrigo Blankenship wasn’t one of them. But he did get signed by the Colts, which might mean Adam Vinatieri is officially done in Indianapolis.
11. In what was long touted as a receiver-rich draft, 35 wideouts were picked.
12. When your coach and GM can’t draft from the same room, it helps to at least be neighbors ... and, yes, the Ravens hit it out of the park again.
13. The Patriots took another Alabama product (OLB Anfernee Jennings), marking the 10th time Belichick selected one of Nick Saban’s players. It marks the most times in the common draft era (since 1967) that a coach-tocoach pipeline has been used with such frequency.
14. Tua Tagovailoa, selected fifth overall by the Dolphins, became the highest-drafted quarterback Alabama has produced in the common draft era, topping former New York Jet Richard Todd (the No. 6 pick in 1976).
15. The Vikings picked 15 players, most ever in a seven-round draft. What can they possibly think they’re going to do with 15 new players? Good thing the new CBA will expand roster flexibility.
16. Dan Marino, in 1995, was the last Dolphins quarterback named to the Pro Bowl. No team in the league has a longer drought. (Good luck, Tua.)
17. But good news for new Packers QB Jordan Love. Per ESPN, he’s the first player since Marino in 1983 to get drafted in the first round after leading the FBS in interceptions.
18. Love was the first offensive skill player – meaning non-lineman – the Packers picked in the first round ... since Aaron Rodgers in 2005.
19. Herbert became the first quarterback taken in Round 1 by the Chargers ... since Eli Manning went No. 1 overall in 2004.
20. Since the common draft began, Florida, Michigan, Michigan State and Southern California are the only schools to have at least one player drafted every year.
21. The Bengals made the first pick in every round. It’s the third time that’s happened in franchise history ... but something no other team has ever done in the common draft era.
22. The Panthers became the first team since the common draft began to devote seven picks solely to defense in one draft.
23. Kudos to the new Redskins regime for finally putting an end to the Trent Williams saga, getting a fifthrounder and future third for the disgruntled left tackle. Washington very likely would have gotten far more had ousted team president Bruce Allen dealt Williams last year.
24. Raiders GM Mike Mayock has now picked five Clemson players over the course of his two drafts with the franchise. You should be probably soon be comped a suite on the Vegas strip, Dabo.
25. With Tagovailoa, LT Jedrick Wills Jr. (Browns), WR Henry Ruggs (Raiders) and WR Jerry Jeudy (Broncos) all picked Thursday, Alabama joined the 1968 USC Trojans as the only teams to have four offensive players selected in the first round.
26. New Jags OL Ben Bartch played at Division III Saint John’s (Minnesota), making him the third D-III player picked since 2008.
27. The Colts made three consecutive picks in the sixth round. The last time a team had three successive selections was the Broncos (seventh round in 2015, a trifecta that included QB Trevor Siemian).
28. One guy we can all root for? Navy’s Malcolm Perry, who just might be a weapon – and could even spell Tagovailoa on occasion – after joining the Dolphins as a seventh-rounder.
29. When Detroit picked Ohio State’s Jeff Okudah with the No. 3 pick, he became the highest-draft corner ... since Ohio State’s Shawn Springs in 1997.
30. Good news for undrafted free agents like Randy Moss’ son, Thaddeus, who’s headed to Washington. Seventeen Hall of Famers – guys like Kurt Warner, Warren Moon and John Randle – didn’t get a draft day call.
31. The draft heads next to Cleveland – assuming, God willing, it will actually be staged there as scheduled in 2021. Las Vegas is now slated to get its belated opportunity in 2022.
32. Tough year to be Mr. Irrelevant. The coronavirus will likely prevent new Giants LB Tae Crowder, the 255th and final pick of this draft, from getting his trip to currently shuttered Disneyland as well as enjoying the other events Mr. Irrelevant annually enjoys in Newport Beach, California.