N.F.L. Draft Picks and Analysis: How Round 1 Unfolded
Five quarterbacks were selected in the first round, starting with Trevor Lawrence going to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Teams wanted many more offensive players, too.
One of the N.F.L.’s best and most recognizable players let it be known that he wants out of the only franchise he’s ever played for — wait, the draft was Thursday night, too?
Reports about Aaron Rodgers’s interminable unhappiness in Green Bay ricocheted across the internet and teams’ draft headquarters, temporarily overshadowing Trevor Lawrence, Zach Wilson and the three other quarterbacks selected in the first round.
As the league’s ceaseless news cycle churned on, a celebratory mood dominated the proceedings in Cleveland. A spectacle muted last season by the coronavirus pandemic returned in full force, with jersey-wearing fans (mostly) cheering their teams’ picks and (gleefully) booing Commissioner Roger Goodell, who, after a one-year break, again got to hug the players drafted.
By the end of a festive evening, Rodgers remained a member of the Packers — but numerous other franchises had dramatically reshaped their rosters.
The biggest makeovers began transpiring Thursday in team facilities where executives and owners basked in drafting quarterbacks. For only the third time — and the first since 1999 — quarterbacks were taken with each of the first three picks, a run that started, as expected, with Lawrence (Jacksonville Jaguars) and Wilson (Jets), and then, with more of a surprise. The San Francisco 49ers, after trading up nine spots last month, ended a month rife with intrigue and subterfuge by taking Trey Lance of North Dakota State.
The next quarterback to go was Justin Fields of Ohio State, who, given the Field Museum’s proximity to Soldier Field in Chicago, fittingly landed with the Bears. Their general manager, Ryan Pace, has been criticized for trading up to pick Mitchell Trubisky in 2017 when Deshaun Watson and Patrick Mahomes were still available, and it will be just his luck after jumping nine spots to take Fields at No. 11 if the final quarterback chosen Thursday — Mac Jones of Alabama, selected by New England at No. 15 — winds up being the best of this draft.
The Patriots didn’t even have to trade up to take Jones, who at worst will back up Cam Newton this season, so good to see things finally working out for them.
The selection of Jones continued the trend of offensive players going early on Thursday: the first seven picks, and 12 of the first 15, play on offense. In an abnormally strong and deep draft class of receivers and linemen, teams capitalized by raiding the Southeastern Conference: tight end Kyle Pitts of Florida (Falcons), receiver Ja’Marr Chase of Louisiana State (Bengals) and receiver Jaylen Waddle of Alabama (Dolphins) went, in order, fourth through sixth, and Waddle’s Crimson Tide teammate, receiver DeVonta Smith, reunited with his former quarterback Jalen Hurts in Philadelphia at No. 10.
The Carolina Panthers snapped the offensive streak at No. 8 by drafting another SEC star, cornerback Jaycee Horn of South Carolina, the son of the former Pro Bowl receiver Joe Horn. The Denver Broncos — a potential suitor for Rodgers — bolstered their defense by taking, yes, still another SEC star, Patrick Surtain II of Alabama, the son of the former All-Pro cornerback with the same name.
As the night neared an end, another cornerback went off the board — Eric Stokes of Georgia. He went to the Packers, who opted at No. 29 to improve their defense. Wonder if Rodgers noticed that?
The second and third rounds are scheduled for Friday, beginning at 7 p.m., and the draft ends with four more rounds on Saturday.
Here’s how the rest of Round 1 unfolded:
For all the picks, see our full draft tracker.
Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/live/2021/04/29/sports/nfl-draft/