The NFL Draft has come and gone, and teams across the league are stockpiling young talent for the upcoming season.
Here are my 10 takeaways from this past weekend’s draft.
A new power couple in Green Bay
The Green Bay Packers drafted Utah State quarterback Jordan Love 26th overall. Many predictions went with the assumption that they were going to draft weapons for the future Hall of Fame Aaron Rodgers. They instead could have drafted his eventual replacement. Now they have their own version of A-Rod and J-Lo.
Family reunion in Chicago
Shortly after the draft, the Bears signed undrafted free agent edge rusher Ledarius Mack. Brother of All-Pro linebacker Khalil Mack.
10 years later
The Redskins signed undrafted tight end Thaddeus Moss. In 2010, current Washington running back Adrian Peterson played with Thaddeus’ father, Randy, in Minnesota with the Vikings.
In Tua they trust
The Miami Dolphins selected Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa fifth overall. Many skeptics were wary that his draft stock was slightly diminished by his injury history, specifically, his dislocated hip. Worst case Tua will get a Harvard style NFL training course from wily veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick in South Beach his rookie season. Best case he’ll start his first NFL game.
No surprise at one or two…
LSU quarterback Joe Burrow and Ohio State linebacker Chase Young went to the Bengals and Redskins respectively, which was a surprise to no one pretty much tree second the draft order became official.
Three and four on the other hand…?
The Lions and Giants both passed up on Clemson linebacker Isaiah Simmons, a need both teams had. Detroit picked cornerback Jeff Okudah and New York went with tackle Andrew Thomas. Simmons would fall all the way to number eight to Arizona.
A Duck in L.A.
It was no shock to anyone that the Los Angeles Chargers went with a quarterback with the number six overall pick. That became clear when they decided to part ways with veteran Philip Rivers, who has since signed with the Indianapolis Colts. Some predictions had Love and a few even had Tagovailoa ending up with the Chargers. Those who had Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert had it correct.
Was he their guy, or?
The Cowboys selected Oklahoma wide receiver, CeeDee Lamb, with the 17th pick. But it may have been also a calculated move by Dallas owner Jerry Jones. While Lamb was one of the top players on the board and a solid pick. It may have very well been a calculated move to spite division rival the Philadelphia Eagles who were hoping Lamb would fall to them at pick 20.
Very few hiccups
The first of its kind Virtual Draft due to the COVID-19 pandemic, minus a few delay issues ran pretty smoothly. The one fascinating thing was the candid look into players, coaches, and general manager’s homes. We saw everything from phone snatching and family dogs, one seemingly in the driver seat of New England Patriots draft. We saw the inside of a yacht and lavish homes, far from the usual Draft Day war rooms. But maybe the best was the Broncos president John Elway who had the teams three Vince Lombardi Trophy strategically placed on a table that he made sure got into the wide shot.
Everyone was watching
A record of 55 million people tuned into the draft. NFL Network, ESPN, and ABC teamed together rather than having separate broadcasts as in all other drafts. It was something special seeing the competing networks analysts and insider’s teaming up together.
