Posted in: NFL, Sports | Tagged: Christian McCaffrey, entertainment, Mitchell Trubisky, Myles Garrett, NFL Draft, sports

NFL Draft: Day One – Like Watching A Kevin Costner Movie

The first night of the NFL draft is in the books and there were a lot of surprises and a few 'wtf' moments. If you were following a long, you saw that ever mock draft across the board was blown up with the second pick. We had some general managers who look like they may right a sequel to the Art of the Deal while others may become the dictionary definition of 'reaching'. I'm going to hit on some of the highlight from the 1st round.

You have to start with the Cleveland Browns who started off by not reaching on a quarterback and staying focused on the top ranked athlete in the draft, Myles Garrett. If they had used their next pick, #12, to grab Mitchel Trubisky everyone would've been happy. But in what seemed like a scene right out of the Kevin Costner movie Draft Day, the Browns traded the pick to Houston and got their first round pick next years and a third this year to swap back to #25. This gives the Browns the Texans 1st and 2nd round picks next year as well as their own. At 25, the Browns grabbed Jabrill Peppers, a player that was project to go much higher until a diluted drug test sample at the combine made him slide. Then they traded their 2nd round pick to move back into the 1st to get David Njoku, the second ranked tight end. The Browns are walking away with three first rounders and an extra 1st round pick next year. It doesn't solve their quarterback question, but it puts three good players in the mix.

The San Francisco 49ers has a rookie GM in John Lynch, but he didn't seem like a rookie when he traded with the Chicago Bears to flip picks #2 and #3 for a boatload of picks… and then they drafted Solomon Thomas, the player they would've picked at #2. Later they traded back into the 1st round again to pick up Reuben Foster, the top linebacker prospect who fell to #31 because of some injury issues. Lynch got two defensive upgrades and some extra picks. Not bad for a first draft.

Then we have to look at the quarterbacks that got picked up. The sound of Roger Goodell opening the draft was still echoing out across Philadelphia when the move that stunned everyone, the Bears traded up one slot to take Mitchell Trubisky. The Bears weren't expected to take a QB having signed Mike Glennon in the offseason, let along give up the store to move up one spot. Word is that another team was looking to make the jump and the Bears did it to get their guy. This changed a draft that was filled with questionable signal callers suddenly had three go in the first round and all were traded up for. Kansas City went up to get Patrick Mahomes II, who wasn't even considered a top five QB on most boards, and then the Houston Texans traded up to get Deshaun Watson. These deals are hard to judge for a few years, because it all comes down to how the players do. If you sit and wait for you pick, take a quarterback and they flop, it sets your team back. But if you reach for one and they don't turn out to be a Pro Bowl stud, then you're probably going to need to update your resume. Quarterbacks make or break a GM / Head Coach's career as much as they do their own.

The other surprise came at the end of the draft when the Oakland Raiders selected Gaeron Conley. As a player, Conley projects to be a strong CB prospect and would be considered a steal here. But he dropped due to legal issues. He has been accused of rap and the investigation is on-going. The Raiders must believe he will be cleared to use a first-round pick… but also because of the P.R. that would surround this if he is charged and found guilty. Not the type of thing you want to deal with as your team prepares to move cities.

A few picks that seem like a great fit:

Christian McCaffrey to Carolina Panthers – His versatility and ability to play both slot and running back gives a unique weapon to put back there with Cam Newton.

Evan Engram to New York Giants – Eli Manning is a quarterback that plays better with a fast, sure handed tight end that he can count on. Engram brings the same x-factor to the offense that Jeremy Shockey did.

T.J. Watt to Pittsburgh Steelers – Watt is the younger brother of J.J. from Houston and Derek from the Chargers. He isn't as polished as J.J., but has the high motor and drive that the Steelers should have the time and patience to hone.

Things to look for tonight:

Will Cleveland address the quarterback position?
Will Seattle trade out of the #34 pick?
Do the 49ers really plan on going with Brian Hoyer?
How much further will Dalvin Cook and Joe Mixon fall?
And as always, when will the first kicker be taken?

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