NFL Draft provides needed diversion, several surprises in opening round

The decision to hold the NFL Draft, as scheduled, was an excellent one.

It provided a live sporting event of great interest for so many who love football, love life and miss the everyday routines of living which we all aspire to return to.

Roger Goodell made the calls of picks from his baseman in New York. He even allowed himself to be poked fun at in a Bud Light commercial, inviting the regular procession of boos when he approaches the podium to announce a first round pick.

Diehard Saints fan Harry Connick Jr. performed the national anthem from his home in New Orleans.

The Bengals made everyone in Ohio and in Louisiana happy with the obvious choice of Joe Burrow first overall. Perhaps the only ones in our state who were not quite so happy were those that somehow hoped the New Orleans Saints could find a way to make Burrow the successor to Drew Brees.

Chase Young and Jeff Okudah, as expected, went second and third to Washington and Detroit, respectively. Burrow was a teammate at Ohio State with those two defensive stars in 2017.

The first surprise was the pick of tackle Andrew Thomas of Georgia by the Giants fourth overall.

Miami made a colossal mistake in 2006 when the Dolphins passed on one of the best passers in NFL history in Drew Brees, due to injury concerns. Brees is still playing 15 seasons later.

With rumors rampant that Miami would pass on another accurate passer who has often been compared to Brees, the Dolphins refused to repeat a historical mistake, going with Tua Tagovailoa fifth overall.

Ironically, it was Nick Saban who was the coach at Miami in 2006 and his failure to get Brees and to go with Daunte Culpepper, instead, changed the fortunes of the Dolphins, Alabama and LSU. Had the Dolphins gone with Brees, Saban would likely have never ended up at Alabama and owning the SEC and LSU over a long period of time.

Time will tell if Tagovailoa was worth the risk with his injury issue but here is betting that the gamble will pay off.

The Chargers followed with an obvious choice of Justin Herbert to replace the departed Philip Rivers. Herbert has size and smarts and he has offensive talent around him in Los Angeles.

The choice of Herbert made is three quarterbacks taken in the first six picks, the first time since 1999 that three quarterbacks have been chosen that highly. In 1999, three quarterbacks were the first three picks overall, including Tim Couch, Donovan McNabb and Akili Smith.

In 2017, three of the first seven players chosen were quarterbacks (Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, Josh Allen).

Carolina went with defensive tackle Derrick Brown, the son of a serviceman who plays hard, physically and nasty. He is exactly what you want. Brown plays hard, all the time.

Arizona chose a very good athlete in Isaiah Simmons, who can play linebacker or safety, a true hybrid at the next level.

Jacksonville went with Florida cornerback CJ Henderson. The Jaguars needed to fill the void left by Jalen Ramsey. Henderson has size, speed and cover ability.

The Browns went with beef up front in Alabama tackle Jedrick Wills Jr., who was a primary force in protecting Tagovailoa. Wills started 28 straight games for the Crimson Tide. Wills can really block the run as well. Wills’ mother was a good basketball player.

The Jets went with tackle Mekhi Becton of Louisville, a massive player (6-7, 354) who moves amazingly well for his size. Becton is a mauler who overcame having a flagged drug test at the NFL combine.

The Raiders, always known as gamblers and, appropriately, now in Las Vegas, gambled on speedy Henry Ruggs III over the likes of Jerry Jeudy, Cee Dee Lamb and Justin Jefferson. Ruggs is the fastest receiver in the draft.

Tampa Bay traded up to No. 13, obtaining San Francisco’s pick, to get tackle Tristan Wirfs of Iowa to protect Tom Brady. Wirfs runs incredibly well for a big man, the fastest tackle in the draft. Wirfs was a high school state wrestling champion and a shot put and discus state champion as well.

Moving down one spot to 14, the 49ers chose defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw of South Carolina. Kinlaw overcame enormous controversy as a youngster. He replaces DeForest Buckner, who was recently traded away.

Denver then went with Jerry Jeudy, whom most had ranked ahead of teammate Ruggs. Jeudy is quick, smooth and a good route runner.

Atlanta went with cornerback A.J. Terrell Jr. of Clemson, a long, good player who got hammered by JaMarr Chase in the national championship game. He will now deal with Michael Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders.

Dallas got a bargain in Oklahoma wideout Cee Dee Lamb, who some considered to be the best receiver in the draft. Lamb can play outside or inside. He has great leaping ability and can run.

Miami then went with tackle Austin Jackson of USC. Jackson donated bone marrow to his sister to help save her life and his grandfather played for the Green Bay Packers. Jackson is quick and is a left tackle who can get out in space and move.

Cornerback Damon Arnette of Ohio State went to the Raiders in another big surprise. Arnette was ranked, at best, as a mid to late second round pick. It was a surprise, to me, that he went ahead of Kristian Fulton. Most view it as a reach.

K’Lavon Chaisson of LSU went to Jacksonville at No. 20. Chaisson has elite pass rushing ability and has the ability to drop into coverage as well. He looked to finally be past knee surgery late this past season, when he was dominant.

In need of a wide receiver, the Eagles went with Reagor of TCU over Justin Jefferson. Jalen Reagor runs slightly better but Jefferson was ranked ahead of Reagor on every mock draft I viewed. His father, Montae Reagor, played for the Colts and was a Super Bowl champion.

Minnesota gladly and decisively then chose Justin Jefferson of Destrehan and LSU. He is one of those incredibly productive players who improved amazingly this past season. Jefferson has the size, good speed and leaping ability to be a very good player. What a great ride it has been for Jefferson, who was a last-minute signee by LSU.

The Chargers then traded up to get the 23rd overall pick from New England and chose Oklahoma linebacker Kenneth Murray. A complete player, Murray has size, runs well and is versatile enough to play inside or outside.

If the Saints wanted Murray, we may never know.

They then made their choice of Cesar Ruiz from Michigan.

San Francisco then traded up with Minnesota to get the 25th overall pick and chose wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, a receiver with a large wingspan and with the ability to run after the catch. Aiyuk fills the void left by Emmanuel Sanders signing with the Saints.

Green Bay then shocked everyone by trading up to get quarterback Jordan Love of Utah State. The Aaron Rodgers watch is on, just as it was for Brett Favre with Rodgers lurking. Love will likely be a hit or miss guy.

Seattle got a good linebacker in Jordyn Brooks of Texas Tech, a player with good range, upside and a fast riser whose stock really elevated in the last month. Brooks was a player the Saints certainly looked at.

Baltimore then made the move many Saints fans thought might happen, selecting Patrick Queen of LSU. Queen is a rising star, much like Debo Jones was at LSU. Queen runs very well as he runs extremely well sideline to sideline. With a huge defensive front, Queen fits very well with the Ravens. Queen is the first player ever drafted by the Ravens from LSU.

Tennessee then went with Isaiah Wilson, another Georgia tackle, another huge player. Most draft projections had him going in the second round so this was thought to be a bit of a reach on many fronts.

Miami then chose Noah Igbinoghene, a cornerback from Auburn. Both of Igbinoghene’s parents were Olympians and his sister is a track star. Miami already had very good corners but they could not resist and he can return kicks.

Minnesota went with another corner in Jeff Gladney of TCU, another solid player who went ahead of Kristian Fulton.

The Chiefs closed out the first round by choosing Clyde Edwards-Helaire of Catholic High and LSU. Edwards-Helaire is an underrated runner, who can run low, has good vision and change of direction, can bounce off tacklers, he is a solid pass protector and he has become a superb receiver. The pick was as surprise to some but not to those of us who have watched him so often.

The SEC set another record with 15 picks from the best league in the country drafted in the first round. LSU had five players chosen while Alabama had four players chosen in the first round and both should have multiple picks going Friday.

The draft restored some semblance of normalcy and hope to citizens of the United States. Thanks to the NFL for having the courage to go through with it. We look forward to the next two days of the process.