Seeing the huge crowd in Cleveland last night booing the commissioner made everyone realize why games need fans and why this pandemic sports season really was awful. I loved watching how the first round picks played out (despite the fact that I only projected three of the top ten correctly) and the players' celebrations. Some of these players really need some new stylist though, looking at you Ja’Marr Chase. Here are my reactions to the first 15 picks:
1. Jacksonville- Trevor Lawrance QB Clemson
Wow, the Jaguars picked Trevor Lawrance, what a shocker. Everyone knew this pick was coming since the day the Jags secured the first pick, so this was not very exciting, but is exactly what Jacksonville needs. If Meyer does not succeed as an NFL coach with Trevor Lawrance as his starting QB, then the NFL is definitely not for him.
2. Jets- Zach Wilson QB BYU
Baby faced Zach Wilson is in for a rude awakening when he gets to New York City. Going from Utah to New York is already a huge adjustment, but Wilson will likely have to be the Jets starter in week 1. I think Wilson may succeed in the long run, but his first few years are going to be very rough. Wilson did not break out until this season, when BYU was playing much worse competition than usual due to COVID, so who knows how he will fare in the NFL.
3 .49ers- Trey Lance QB North Dakota State
This pick was where the draft really started, and San Fran surprised me. Every single source had been saying that the 49ers were going to take Mac Jones and if not Justin Fields, while Trey Lance kept facing criticism because he played at North Dakota State. Because of this, I was very shocked when Trey Lance’s name was called. Going to San Francisco gives him such a bright future because he can sit for a year and will not be thrown in immediately.
4. Falcons- Kyle Pitts TE Florida
If I were the Falcons GM, this is the exact pick I would have done. There was lots of talk about the Falcons drafting Matt Ryan’s successor, but why do that when you could add the talent that is Kyle Pitts. With the addition, the Falcons offense will be stacked with Ryan, Jones, Ridley, and now Pitts.
5. Bengals- Ja’Marr Chase WR LSU
As a Bengals fan I feel very conflicted about this pick. On one hand, with the addition of Ja’Marr Chase, the Bengals offense will have so many options and can be very explosive. However, I think in five years we could look back and really regret not taking Sewell. Chase has not played football in almost two years so hopefully he will be ready to play right away.
6.Miami- Jalyn Waddle WR Alabama
I was actually very surprised with this pick because I thought Smith would come off the board before Waddle did. However, I was correct in predicting the Dolphins would reunite an Alabama receiver with Tua. I think this is a good pick by Miami and will make their offense really explosive.
7. Lions- Penei Sewell OL Alabama
The way the first six picks fell worked out great for the Lions. They got a steal with Penei Sewell, who seems like he will end up being a long term solid player.
8. Carolina- Jaycee Horn CB South Carolina
This was another surprising first round pick. Carolina passed over the two quarterbacks and the offensive weapons and took cornerback Jaycee Horn. Horn was not the highest rated cornerback in this draft, Surtain was, so I was surprised to see Carolina taking him here. I think they could have traded back a few picks if they wanted and still gotten him.
9. Denver- Patrick Surtain CB Alabama
Since Denver acquired Bridgewater from the Panthers earlier this week their quarterback room is pretty full. Taking a defensive player here adds to Denver’s already stacked defense and as Surtain proclaimed after he was picked: “we are going to be the number one defense in the league”. They are also getting the best dressed player from the Draft night.
10. Eagles from Dallas- DeVonta Smith WR Alabama
There is no way Dallas expected Surtain and Horn to both be gone at ten. Dallas needs defense badly, and there was no defensive player worth taking at ten, so trading down was the smart pick. I like the Eagles bringing in Smith to give Jalen Hurts some weapons to help him as he tries to prove himself in the NFL.
11. Chicago from Giants- Justin Fields QB Ohio State
Fields did not seem happy at all to go to Chicago and I don’t really blame him. He expected to be picked in the top ten and now is going to Chicago where they have a bad history with quarterbacks. The good thing for Fields is he might not have to start right away since the Bears have Andy Dalton. Fields could end up being a bust, but I think it is much more likely that he will have a successful career.
12. Dallas- Micah Parsons Penn State
Dallas got the defensive pick they needed. Micah Parson from Penn State seems like a solid pick, but to be honest I don’t know that much about him.
13. Chargers- Rashawn Slater OL Northwestern
This might not be a flashy pick but protecting Offensive Rookie of the Year Justin Herbert seems like the right thing to do. Slater is the second best lineman in this draft and will help keep Herbert healthy.
14. Jets from Minnesota- Alijah Vera Tucker OG USC
To be honest I have no idea who Vera-Tucker is, the offensive guard the Jet’s traded up for, but he looks huge. This pick seems smart because it will help to protect Wilson, which shows the Jets are not making the same mistakes they made with Darnold.
15. Patriots- Mac Jones QB Alabama
Once Mac Jones fell out of the top eight you knew that the Patriots were locking in on him. Jones heavily resembled Tom Brady, in physical appearance and the way he plays, so it makes perfect sense Belicheck wants him. The Patriots’s quarterback room is going to be like the Iron Bowl everyday, with Cam Newton and Jarret Stidham from Auburn and Mac Jones from Bama. I see this quarterback battle being another instance of Alabama and their players coming out on top (pains me to say).
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