And with that, the first found of the 2018 NFL Draft is in the books. There are still several more rounds to go over the long weekend, but that’s all for tonight. Stay tuned for more NFL Draft coverage here at the Guardian over the next few days. Thanks to everybody who followed along with us over the last few hours, especially those who contributed. Ciao!
Trade! No. 32. Lamar Jackson QB, Louisville - Baltimore Ravens
Now for the final pick of the first round. The defending champions will-
Oh never mind. The Eagles down with the Ravens, it looks like the Patriots might have gotten their guy. The Ravens take…
Lamar Jackson! There we go. That’s a good way to wrap things up here.
No. 31. Sony Michel RB, Georgia - New England Patriots
The Patriots have their own pick here and… they choose…
Georgia running back Sony Michel? I will never understand this team.
Did Lamar Jackson take a knee or something?
— mike freeman (@mikefreemanNFL) April 27, 2018
A powerful moment earlier:
Watching Ryan Shazier walk out to announce the Steelers pick was the best moment of the #NFLDraft#Shalieve pic.twitter.com/6lYleBLzOO
— NFL Retweet (@NFLRT) April 27, 2018
No. 30. Mike Hughes CB, UCF - Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings are up now. They select cornerback Mike Hughes from the University of Central Florida.
Oh hey, look who’s still there, Lamar Jackson.
No. 29. Taven Bryan, DT, Florida - Jacksonville Jaguars
It’s weird to see the Jaguars pick this late in the draft, they’re usually picking much closer to the top. I guess that’s the downside to NFL success. They take Taven Bryan, a defensive tackle out of Florida.
No. 28. Terrell Edmunds S, Virginia Tech - Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers take Terrell Edmunds, Tremaine’s brother, the safety from Virginia Tech. Neat to see siblings go in the same round.
The Rashaad Penny pick isn’t super-popular it seems.
RIP Seahawks twitter 2006-2018
— Mina Kimes (@minakimes) April 27, 2018
No. 27. Rashaad Penny RB San Diego State - Seattle Seahawks
Here we have the Seattle Seahawks with the pick they got from the Green Bay Packers who got it from the New Orleans Saints. And I’m my own grandpa.
They take Rashaad Penny, running back from San Diego State. A reach maybe, but he fits as far as need as the draftniks like to say.
No. 26. Calvin Ridley WR, Alabama - Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons probably did not think that Calvin Ridley would be available right here and they promptly pick him up. You gotta love this for Atlanta.
No. 25. Hayden Hurst TE, South Carolina - Baltimore Ravens
Speaking of the Ravens, here there are where the Titans once were. They pick tight end Hayden Hurst out of South Carolina.
Email from David Healey on Baltimore’s odd evening
Looks like Ozzie Newsome in his last draft as Ravens GM has done a Mike Ditka and taken the night off
No. 24. D.J. Moore WR, Maryland - Carolina Panthers
Hey our first wide receiver! Maryland’s D.J. Moore goes to the Carolina Panthers.
No. 23. Isaiah Wynn OG, Georgia -New England Patriots
I try to remain neutral here, but I have to mention that I’m coming to you from Somerville, MA so I may be a tad more invested in this next pick, whatever it may be. I’m thinking Lamar Jackson, especially since the Patriots traded away both of their backup quarterbacks last year. (I don’t want to talk about Jimmy Garoppolo.)
And instead it’s… tackle Isaiah Wynn out of Georgia. Meh.
No. 22. Rashaan Evans ILB, Alabama, Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans go up three spots by trading with the Baltimore Ravens (for the pick that they got from the Bills) and pick Alabama linebacker Rashaan Evans. Got all that?
No. 21. Billy Price C, Ohio State, Cincinnati Bengals
And it’s Cincinnati Bengals time. They take Billy Price, a center out of Ohio State. Calvin Ridley still available.
No. 20. Frank Ragnow C, Arkansas, Detroit Lions
You get a feeling that the Cowboys fans wanted Ridley too here. The Detroit Lions, meanwhile, take Arkansas center Frank Ragnow.
No. 19. Leighton Vander Esch ILB, Boise State, Dallas Cowboys
The locals start to get loud, which means the Cowboys must be on the clock. Has to be a wide receiver here, right? And if so, it has to be Calvin Ridley, one would think.
Or no, it’s Boise State linebacker Leighton Vander Esch. Okay.
Trade! No. 18. Jaire Alexander CB Louisville - Green Bay Packers
The Packers, who traded down earlier, trade up. With their pick from the Seattle Seahawks, they take Louisville cornerback Jaire Alexander.
Okay these trades are getting things a bit convoluted.
will it be as good as Key and Peele's ?
— nescaff (@timmycoffey) April 27, 2018
Well, that’s an impossibly high standard.
No. 17. Derwin James DB, Florida State - Los Angeles Chargers
I’ll admit I’m still not used to typing “Los Angeles Chargers.” They choose Florida State’s Derwin James, who probably deserved to be picked a few spots higher, but hey the Chargers will take it
Oh hey a reminder that we’re always taking reader comments here, feel free to send them via email (to Hunter.Felt.Freelance@theguardian.com or tweet @HunterFelt).
Trade! No. 16. Tremaine Edmunds OLB, Virginia Tech - Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills trade up yet another time, trading places with the Baltimore Ravens. They’re going for a wholesale revamp, I take it. They select Tremaine Edmunds, outside linebacker out of Virginia Tech.
And we’re officially halfway through the first round of the NFL Draft. Feel free to get up to stretch.
Updated
No. 15. Kolton Miller, OT, UCLA - Oakland Raiders
Davenport looks like he could be a very good player but… trading up for him? Sacrificing next year’s first rounder. I dunno man.
In any case, the Oakland Raiders are now on the clock with the pick they traded to the Arizona Cardinals. They go for UCLA offensive tackle Kolton Miller.
What the heck just happened?
Trade! No. 14. Marcus Davenport, UT San Antonio - New Orleans Saints
Oh wow, the New Orleans Saints, who were due to pick at 27, are giving up their first round pick next year in order to swap picks with the Green Bay Packers. Talk about all-in!
And they pick Texas-San Antonio Defensive End Marcus Davenport. Huh?
No. 13. Da'Ron Payne DT, Alabama - Washington
With the 13th pick, the franchise from Washington with a regrettable name take Da’Ron Payne, defensive tackle from Alabama.
Updated
No. 12. Vita Vea DT, Washington - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are up for real this time. With the pick they got from the Bills, Tampa Bay takes defensive tackle from Washington. He’s got a proper superhero secret identity name.
No. 11. Minkah Fitzpatrick DB, Alabama - Miami Dolphins
One wonders if the Dolphins were hoping that Rosen would be available. The go instead for a defensive player, taking Alabama defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick.
Trade! No. 10. Josh Rosen QB, UCLA - Arizona Cardinals (from Oakland Raiders)
The Arizona Cardinals move up in the draft, swapping picks with the Oakland Raiders to move up from 15. Presumably they’re here to get a quarterback. Which presumably means Josh Rosen.
And yep.
No. 9. Mike McGlinchey, OT, Notre Dame - San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers look to shore up their defense with Notre Dame’s offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey. Not a bad day so far for Notre Dame football.
No. 8. Roquan Smith, OLB, Georgia - Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears take Georgia linebacker Roquan Smith. Pretty safe choice.
Meanwhile, Josh Rosen is still waiting, but he might already be a big winner now because he doesn’t have to be the quarterback for the Jets or the Bills.
I feel like this is going to be a disaster for the Bills but, let’s be real, I always assume that every decision the Bills make will be a disaster.
Trade! No. 7. Josh Allen QB, Wyoming - Buffalo Bills
No wait! We have a trade, the Buffalo Bills trade places with the Tampa Bay Bucaneers! These are the always the most dramatic moments on draft day. Buffalo hand two second round picks to Tampa Bay to move up five spots here. They desperately needed a quarterback and they desperately get one with Josh Alen.
No. 6. Quenton Nelson, OG, Notre Dame - Indianapolis Colts
And here’s the Colts, picking where the Jets were originally supposed to be. They choose Quenton Nelson in order to upgrade their offensive line.
No. 5. Bradley Chubb, DE, NC State - Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos take NC State DE Bradley Chubb. It feels a bit like a steal here after that Browns pick.
Mixed reviews on Cleveland’s night so far.
How to earn the No. 1 pick in the draft each year https://t.co/qvBxDsrMaz
— Medium Happy (@jdubs88) April 27, 2018
No.4. Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State - Cleveland Browns
Hey, it’s the Browns again! Needing all the help they can get, they traded for the Houston Texans’ picks. I imagine they won’t pick a QB here. Just a thought.
And it’s Ohio State cornerback Denzel Ward, the first defensive player chosen in the draft. A bit of a curveball here (not to mix up my sports here)
Not Particularly Reassuring For Jets Fans Department:
Sam Darnold is the No. 3 overall pick by the Jets.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) April 27, 2018
The last USC quarterback selected in the first round was Mark Sanchez with the fifth pick in 2009 ... by the Jets. pic.twitter.com/Y9X8UpvLAv
No.3. Sam Darnold, QB, USC - New York Jets
Next up, the New York Jets who actually traded up in order to make this selection (the Indianapolis Colts originally had this pick). It was something of an odd move for the Jets, who specialize in odd moves.
They go for a quarterback, understandably, taking USC’s Sam Darnold. Probably a solid pick, not sure it was worth trading up for.
Updated
No.2. Saquon Barkley, Penn State - New York Giants
Next on the clock is the New York Giants. They select running back Saquon Barkley. Teams normally don’t draft RBs high in the first round, so his getting picked second gives you some sense about how much potential Barkley has.
No. 1 Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma - Cleveland Browns
And, of course, the Browns are taking the full ten minutes here before making their choice, which they honestly probably have already made.
And yep, after all that waiting, it turns out it’s Baker Mayfield just like everybody was saying. Welcome to the Browns, Baker, I wish you way more than luck.
The Cleveland Browns are on the clock
Roger Goodell comes out, surrounded by Troy Aikmen, Jason Whitten and Roger Staubach, hoping that this will shield him from the boos from the locals*. He is very, very, very, very wrong.
* This is taking place at Cowboy Stadium by the way. I probably should have mentioned that earlier.
Updated
And we’re almost there. The Cleveland Browns will be up first. Rumor has it that they’re in on Baker Mayfield. Let’s see if they’re right.
Lamar Jackson looks like he’s trying to get drafted by the Boston Celtics.
Lamar Jackson won the suit draft pic.twitter.com/CTGzfBVt0N
— Melissa Jacobs (@thefootballgirl) April 26, 2018
And here’s a listing of the walk-up songs some of the players will be using tonight. Penn State RB Saquon Barkley probably wins the contest of who’s blasting the best number with A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie’s “No Problem.”
walk up songs for prospects tonight pic.twitter.com/ZyA2f51L4L
— Riley Auman (@AumanacDraft) April 26, 2018
Oh hey, you might be asking “hey did this guy say something about a parrot?” Yes, yes I did, but sadly it’s not happening tonight like I assumed.
The #NFLDraft keeps getting bigger, but also weirder. The @Buccaneers plan to have a parrot announce a third-round pick. @CharlesRobinson: "So someone’s life-changing moment is going to be facilitated through a bird?" @YahooFinance https://t.co/1KfGYlg0mX
— Daniel Roberts (@readDanwrite) April 26, 2018
See because they’re the Buccaneers, get it? Pirate humor.
Josh Allen
The biggest story so far revolve around a number of racist tweets made by quarterback prospect Josh Allen back when he was 14-15. The most interesting rumor to emerge from this news is that it comes from a team that is attempting to hurt his draft stock with the hopes that he would fall to them. Which is either really stupid or halfway brilliant.
Updated
Preamble
Welcome to the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft, where teams vie for the services of the most talented players from the world of college football. It’s arguably the biggest event in US sports where no actual sports take place.
This year the story seems to be the glut of quarterback prospects slotted to be taken in the first round, possibly as many five (USC’s Sam Darnold, Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield, UCLA’s Josh Rosen, Wyoming’s Josh Allen, Louisville’s Lamar Jackson). Considering the central role quarterbacks play in the league, several team’s futures could be tied up to what happens in the next few hours (see Peyton Manning vs. Ryan Leaf). The Cleveland Browns will have the first pick, which leads to the obvious question: How will the Browns manage to screw this up?
Or hey maybe the Browns do find their quarterback of the future and turn the franchise around. That’s the joy in the Draft: it’s basically gambling.
If you want to join into the conversation, feel free to send us your thoughts, questions and way too early judgmental calls. You can email Hunter.Felt.Freelance@theguardian.com or tweet @HunterFelt, and we’ll include them here. We’re thirty minutes away from the 2018 Draft, but I’ll be back a bit sooner than that. Stay tuned for surprise picks, booing Jets fans, at least one prospect left behind in the green room far longer than anyone expected and even possibly a parrot.
Hunter will be here shortly. In the meantime, here’s something on Shaquem Griffin, one of the most intriguing players in this year’s draft:
Every player in this week’s NFL draft has a unique story, a path that brought them, often through challenging circumstances, to professional football. But there hasn’t been a player quite like Shaquem Griffin before. A twin, Griffin was born with an undeveloped left hand caused by amniotic band syndrome, a condition that can result in damaged tissue or, in extreme cases, even fetal death.
Griffin later had his hand amputated after the pain led him to try to cut off his own fingers at the age of four. Pushed by his father, Griffin didn’t let his situation hold him back, ending a standout high-school career by making second team All-State in football. While he could have pursued a track scholarship, both Griffin twins, Shaquem and Shaquill, elected to attend the University of Central Florida.
You can read the full story here:
