It wasn’t that long ago that the NFL community was bemoaning the fact that the 2016 draft was about as boring as these things can get. That was then, though, as actual draft had enough storylines that even Shakespeare, were he still around today, might not have known where to start. Certainly, this year’s draft was further proof that football can be a cruel game as two of the very best players in this year’s draft class – LBs Jaylon Smith of Notre Dame and UCLA’s Myles Jack – could only watch and wonder what might have been on Thursday night as 31 other players got the first-round calls. Both were considered to be top 5 prospects before serious knee issues clouded their football futures. In fact, there is no guarantee that either will be selected later this evening. Smith, who many thought was THE best player in this draft, had been expected to fall, possibly even into the third, as a result of an injury suffered in the Fiesta Bowl, but nobody really thought Jack would fall much past the middle of last night’s opening round despite news that he might eventually need microfracture surgery on his ailing knee. Obviously, teams around the NFL knew differently.
Meanwhile, the serio-comic story of the fall Ole Miss OT Laremy Tunsil may not rise to the epic proportions of Hamlet, but it’s got a lot of the elements with a few modern twists. Until very recently, Tunsil was being projected as a lock to be the #1 pick at this year’s draft by Tennessee, but he fell out of the top spot when the Titans traded away the pick to Los Angeles which was looking for a QB instead. Tunsil’s draft hopes, though, really took a tumble when a tweet showing him using a bong and a gas mask surfaced early yesterday. Tunsil, who was ultimately selected with the 13th pick by Miami, then muddied the waters further when he admitted that he had accepted money from an Ole Miss official during his days with the program after another social media report. What makes the whole thing even more bizarre is that there are rumors that the tweets are possibly connected to his on-going issues with his step-father who is suing him after the two got into an altercation last summer that ultimately led to Tunsil being suspended and the school investigated this fall. On second thought, maybe Hamlet actually had it easy!
One of the other fascinating stories of the first night of the 2016 draft was that defending FCS champion North Dakota State had as many players selected in the opening round as defending FBS champion Alabama. Indeed, only one player from the mighty Tide – C Ryan Kelly selected 18th overall by Indianapolis – was chosen in this year’s opening round as defensive stars Reggie Ragland, and DTs Jarran Reed and A’Shawn Robinson each fell to the second round along with Heisman trophy winning RB Derrick Henry.
Alabama’s troubles in the opening round allowed Ohio State to run away with top school honors in the first round as a record-tying 5 former Buckeyes were selected within the first 20 players off the board last night. In fact, Alabama was also surpassed by SEC rivals Mississippi, which had three players selected in the opening round, and Florida, which had two first-round picks, while Notre Dame also had two players chosen last night. The SEC, though, once again had the most players selected in the opening round as 8 from the conference were selected in the first 31 picks, while the Big 10 had 6 picks, followed by the ACC and Pac 12 which had 4 each and the Big 12 with three.
Of course, it will take at least 2-3 years to really sort out the hits and misses from this year’s opening round, but it was hard not to think that Jacksonville was among the early winners as the Jaguars got Florida State DB Jalen Ramsey, arguably the best player overall in this draft with the 5th pick. The fact that Ramsey played just down the road at FSU AND fills a huge need with the Jags is just a bonus. Ultimately, though, the best pick of the day may have been Minnesota’s selection of Ole Miss WR LaQuon Treadwell with the 23rd selection. Treadwell dropped into that range because of some slow 40 times at his pro day, however, if Treadwell continues to get better from that gruesome leg injury suffered in 2014, Teddy Bridgewater just may have gotten the best receiver in the draft. And in one of those the rich get richer things, defending Super Bowl champion Denver may have pulled off a bit of a coup when the Broncos, who have been desperately trying to upgrade at QB throughout the off-season after Peyton Manning retired and heir apparent Brock Osweiler bolted to Houston in free agency, moved up a few spots to grab Memphis QB Paxton Lynch, who is still very raw, but has all the tools. Meanwhile, Cincinnati may have missed out on adding one of this year’s top WRs, but may have ended up with a real rising star in underrated Houston CB Will Jackson.
Its also not hard to like what Cleveland has accomplished with all its moving around so far this year. The Browns have 4 more picks in today’s second and third rounds and already have a bunch of extra picks for the 2017 draft. And the Browns may not be done moving down as they are reportedly fielding calls about the first pick in tonight’s second round, although they may be content to just sit tight and maybe select a QB of the future with Michigan State’s Connor Cook still sitting there.
We also hate to criticize picks before the players ever put on a uniform as NFL personnel people just have so much more information than we have, but there were a few head scratchers last night. For starters, we are on record as wondering whether former Cal QB Jared Goff, whom LA took with the #1 pick, really has the kind of tools that merit trading a half dozen or so premium picks to get. Time will tell, but certainly on paper one would have thought that Carson Wentz, who is bigger, more athletic and has a stronger arm, has the bigger upside. Time will tell.
One also wonders a bit about San Diego’s selection of Ohio State DE Joey Bosa with the 3rd pick with FSU’s Ramsey still on the board. The Bosa pick might have made real sense for the Chargers if he was a perfect fit, but he’s a prototype 4-3 DE without a ton of speed who they are going to try and fit at OLB. One also wonders whether Houston really had to give up a future late-round pick to Washington to flip the 21st and 22nd picks to take Notre Dame WR Will Fuller when Washington followed up by taking what may be a better WR in TCU’s Josh Doctson with the next pick. And with Ole Miss’ Laquon Treadwell still on the board. No question Fuller is explosive, but he’s far from a polished receiver. Same story for San Francisco, which did get rugged Oregon 5T DE with the 7th pick, but then gave up two later round picks to move back into the opening round to take an OG (Josh Garnett), who was not generally considered to be a first-round prospect. Finally, if there was a ‘panic’ pick on the night it may have been Pittsburgh’s selection of Miami CB Artie Burns with the 25th pick. The Steelers likely had their hearts set on Houston’s Will Jackson, but went with Burns, mid-second round prospect at best, when Cincinnati took Jackson one pick earlier. As they say, though, time will tell.
