NFL Draft: First Round Results

The NFL Draft is finally here! I will be providing live results, rumors, and analysis as we go along here. Many teams will try to fix some holes and other teams want depth. Will any bad drafting teams be able to fix their vicissitudes? Only time will tell. Make sure to refresh your browser.

1. Los Angeles Rams select Jared Goff, QB, Cal

Well, this was the worst kept secret in the world. Goff goes to LA and I like the fit. He doesn’t have to throw as much because he has Todd Gurley in the backfield. When he does throw, he uses his quick release to lace the ball in small windows.

2. Philadelphia Eagles select Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State

I’m not particularly high on either of these QBs, but Wentz is growing on me. He’s a tough kid and he’s athletic. The real intrigue starts with the next pick so let’s get right to that.

3. San Diego Chargers select Joey Bosa, DL, Ohio State

Well then. This was a complete shock. We heard three names: OLs Ronnie Stanley, Laremy Tunsil, and DL DeForest Buckner. But how about it San Diego? Anyway, Bosa may not be the best for this scheme but he’s a run game technician and can convert speed to power effortlessly.

4. Dallas Cowboys select Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State

Holy starfish. Jalen Ramsey, the best player in the draft, gets passed here for Zeke Elliott. Elliott is an explosive, flashy playmaker. It’s a Jerry Jones type pick.

5. Jacksonville Jaguars select Jalen Ramsey, DB, Florida State

There we go. I think this confirms that Myles Jack will fall, but when you have a once-in-a-generation player like Ramsey available, you have to nab him.

6. Baltimore Ravens select Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame

Stanley is a superior run block in comparison to Laremy Tunsil, and he’s an athletic tackle. Joe Flacco isn’t getting younger and needs protection. Stanley provides that with his dancing-like footwork and pro run game blocking, as I’ve covered. He’s a franchise tackle.

7. San Francisco 49ers select DeForest Buckner, DL, Oregon

He’s an absolute monster. Him paired with Arik Armstead should be fun to watch in the future.

8. *trade with Cleveland* Tennessee Titans select Jack Conklin, OL, Michigan State

I called the pick once I saw the trade, but hey, no one likes a bragger. Conklin’s stock is rising and he’s a great tackle. He walked on with MSU, earned a scholarship, and now he’s a first round pick. Good on you, Jack.

9. *trade with Tampa* Chicago Bears select Leonard Floyd, LB, Georgia

So Leonard Floyd is the pick and he’s going to do well. He’s the best pass rusher in this class, however he does have a few flaws. He needs to get a bit stronger and convert speed to power a bit better. However, this is a great pick.

10. New York Giants select Eli Apple, DB, Ohio State

Well here’s another “holy starfish” moment. We knew Apple was a top 15 pick, but we figured maybe Vernon Hargreaves would be here. Nonetheless, Apple is versatile and a great fit here.

11. *trade w/CHI* Tampa Bay Buccaneers select Vernon Hargreaves III, DB, Florida

Well this is great for Tampa. Hargreaves is the top corner and they were able to trade down and pick the same guy at #11 as they would’ve picked at #9. He has poor eye discipline, but he’s able to anticipate and disrupt plays with ease.

12. New Orleans Saints select Sheldon Rankins, DL, Louisville

Not a surprise here. An awful defensive team taking the best 3-4 D-Lineman in the draft? Not a surprise.

13. Miami Dolphins select Laremy Tunsil, OL, Ole Miss

Tunsil fell because of a video that surfaced that saw him taking a bong hit in a gas mask. However, it was an old video and Tunsil passed his drug tests. Tunsil is a premier offensive lineman and this is a steal. Tunsil should be thanking his lucky stars he didn’t fall farther and Miami is taking this chance.

14. Oakland Raiders select Karl Joseph, S, West Virginia

I’m honestly not surprised with this. Oakland needed a safety and here’s a guy who can hit extremely hard and a dynamic playmaker. He’ll be the successor to Charles Woodson, so there’s some pressure here.

15. *trade w/TEN* Cleveland Browns select Corey Coleman, WR, Baylor

And here’s the first WR taken. Coleman is a dynamic playmaker, a Percy Harvin like guy. This pick gives RG3 a receiving weapon, something he doesn’t have a lot of.

16. Detroit Lions select Taylor Decker, OL, Ohio State

Taylor Decker will be slotted into the left tackle position. This allows Riley Rieff to right tackle and the O-Line, the oh so troubled O-Line, gets a little better.

17. Atlanta Falcons select Keanu Neal, S, Florida

A bit of a surprise but he’s a physical safety who could play as a corner or linebacker. Here’s a speed guy, which head coach Dan Quinn loves. Neal is a good fit here.

18. Indianapolis Colts select Ryan Kelly, C, Alabama

Here’s a big, versatile player who’s listed as a center but he can play any of the five O-Line positions. Great pick here.

19. Buffalo Bills select Shaq Lawson, DL, Clemson

So Buffalo adds a great edge rusher here. They were rumored to take QB Paxton Lynch, but it obviously didn’t happen. This is a Rex Ryan type pick.

20. New York Jets select Darron Lee, LB, OSU

Well. No new QB in New York. Darron Lee is a good linebacker but he could struggle at times. This, like Karl Joseph at 14, is a need pick.

21. *trade with Washington* Houston Texas select Will Fuller, WR, Notre Dame

Makes a lot of sense. Cecil Shorts can’t run as well as he used to and Fuller has game changing speed. He has questionable hands, but he should figure all of his problems out.

22. *trade w/HOU* Washington Redskins select Josh Doctson, WR, TCU

Another WR here and Doctson is one of my favorite players in this draft. He can make plays happen and here’s another weapon for Kirk Cousins. Great fit here.

23. Minnesota Vikings select Laquon Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss

Treadwell was regarded as the top WR but he’s going in the late portion of this round due to his slow 40 time. However, he’s one of the best blockers in the draft. By the way, great moment with him walking on stage with his daughter to meet the commissioner.

24. Cincinnati Bengals select William Jackson III, DB, Houston

He had 23 pass break ups last season and Jackson is the best corner. Great pick.

25. Pittsburgh Steelers select Artie Burns, DB, Miami

If Cincy’s pick was to throw a wrench in Pittsburgh’s plans, it probably didn’t work. Burns is a gifted corner and Pittsburgh wasted no time in making this pick.

26. *trade w/SEA* Denver Broncos select Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis

I really like Paxton Lynch. Lynch fills the QB need and although he may not start right away, I truly believe that he could be the best QB to come out of this draft.

27. Green Bay Packers select Kenny Clark, DL, UCLA

Thought this was going to be a LB, but this isn’t a bad pick. Clark will try to fill the viod left by B.J Raji’s retirement. Great opportunity for Clark.

28. *trade w/KC* San Francisco 49ers select Joshua Garnett, OL, Stanford

A shock. He needs to do improve, but he could be a reliable guard for years to come.

29. Arizona Cardinals select Robert Nkemdiche, DL, Ole Miss

Nkemdiche has top 10 talent but fell because of off the field issues. He’s also inconsistent. If Nkemdiche can fix gia flaws, he’ll be a star.

30. Carolina Panthers select Vernon Butler, DL, Louisiana Tech

I felt that this guy could’ve gone a bit earlier but Butler fits the mold in Carolina. One of the best DLs in this draft class.

31. *trade w/DEN* Seattle Seahawks select Germain Ifedi, OL, Texas A&M

A strong lineman, Ifedi is a gifted player. There are questions about his technique, but this isn’t a bad pick to close out the first day of the draft.

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