Round 1 Reaction/Recap + Top Players Available + 2nd Round Mock - 4/30/21

Round 1 is in the books and I personally am super excited for what my Miami Dolphins pulled off. I won't get super into that since these articles are more meant to cover the NFL generally, but yea... am excited. This article is just meant to be a quick reaction based on what went on during the draft yesterday about the players, teams, and some of the weird things that happened along the way.

I also included the 1st round picks below if you missed any yesterday, my top 20 players available going into Day 2, and a Round 2 mock. I'd love to hear about how you guys enjoyed or hated your teams selection(s) last night in the comments or on twitter.

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The First Round

1. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS: QB Trevor Lawrence, Clemson

2. NEW YORK JETS: QB Zach Wilson, BYU

3. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (from MIA via HOU): QB Trey Lance, North Dakota St

4. ATLANTA FALCONS: TE Kyle Pitts, Florida

5. CINCINNATI BENGALS: WR Ja'Marr Chase, LSU

6. MIAMI DOLPHINS (from PHI): WR Jaylen Waddle, Alabama

7. DETROIT LIONS: OT Penei Sewell, Oregon

8. CAROLINA PANTHERS: CB Jaycee Horn, South Carolina

9. DENVER BRONCOS: CB Patrick Surtain II, Alabama

10. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (from DAL): WR Devonta Smith, Alabama

11. CHICAGO BEARS (from NYG): QB Justin Fields, Ohio St

12. DALLAS COWBOYS (from SF via MIA and PHI): LB Micah Parsons, Penn St 

13. LOS ANGELES CHARGERS: OT Rashawn Slater, Northwestern

14. NEW YORK JETS (from MIN): OG Alijah Vera-Tucker, USC

15. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS: QB Mac Jones, Alabama

16. ARIZONA CARDINALS: LB Zaven Collins, Tulsa

17. LAS VEGAS RAIDERS: OG Alex Leatherwood, Alabama

18. MIAMI DOLPHINS: EDGE Jaelan Phillips, Miami

19. WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM: LB Jamin Davis, Kentucky

20. NEW YORK GIANTS (from CHI): WR Kadarius Toney, Florida

21. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS: EDGE Kwity Paye, Michigan

22. TENNESSEE TITANS: CB Caleb Farley, Virginia Tech

23. MINNESOTA VIKINGS (from SEA via NYJ): OT Christian Darrisaw, Virginia Tech

24. PITTSBURGH STEELERS: RB Najee Harris, Alabama

25. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (from LAR): RB Travis Etienne, Clemson

26. CLEVELAND BROWNS: CB Greg Newsome II, Northwestern

27. BALTIMORE RAVENS: WR Rashod Bateman, Minnesota

28. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS: EDGE Payton Turner, Houston

29. GREEN BAY PACKERS: CB Eric Stokes, Georgia

30. BUFFALO BILLS: EDGE Gregory Rousseau, Miami

31. BALTIMORE RAVENS: EDGE Jayson Oweh, Penn St

32. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS: EDGE Joe Tryon, Washington

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Immediate Thoughts

  • Trey Lance to SF: Man... I knew they couldn't trade all that for Mac Jones but I just couldn't help myself in my final mock. Super happy for Lance, my favorite QB in this cycle, going to a great place for him to learn the game. This was the best possible team fit for him.

  • Lions Draft Room went NUTS: Right after Waddle was selected, NFLN showed a clip of the Detroit Draft Room and those guys were literally jumping up and down. They clearly didn't think he would be available to them. You should watch it if you missed it. 

  • Panthers options down to Fields and Horn at 8: This was surprising to me given the need at OT but Sewell going at 7 perhaps would've been their choice. I don't think there was any chance a CB was taken in the top 7, so they were happy with Horn going into the draft.

  • Denver passes on QB: I am only surprised because of all the Rodgers trade rumors prior to the draft that involed the Broncos. I will go over those in depth on Monday. Fields to me was the player Denver couldn't afford to pass on, but it is clear that Fangio knows his CB room is a 1 year rental with some of those guys they signed in FA.

  • Philly trades with Dallas for Devonta Smith: The thing that was crazy to me is that Dallas would trade with an NFC East rival. Stuff like this almost never happens. It sounded like Dallas was prepared to take Parsons at 10 though, and obviously had a good backup plan in mind if he was gone. Plus getting a 3rd round pick as compensation to only move back 2 spots is nice. Devonta going to Philly is perfect. He is reunited with Hurts (only one year of overlap at Bama) and is already the best WR on the team.

  • Chicago trades up for Fields: This was the big move that I feel hasn't got enough attention. Chicago trades a future 1st and 4th plus a 5th rounder this year to move up 9 spots for Fields. I feel bad for Andy Dalton but he clearly wasn't the savior. This move buys GM Ryan Pace at least 2 more seasons and could possibly save HC Matt Nagy's job too.

  • Herbert in the draft room: The Chargers pick was less important to me than was seeing Justin Herbert in the draft room during the celebration. That is very rare for any player, let alone a player going into his sophomore season.

  • Jets trade up for guard: I love that Joe Douglas understands that the Jets need to fix the OL. Taking Becton at 11 last year and then moving up to select the best guard in the class this year. It is very smart especially with a new QB coming to town. My gripe is that they gave up two 3rd round picks, that they desperately need, to make the move up 9 spots. They did get a 4th rounder back but those Day 2 picks are extremely invaluable and the defense literally has only 3 players I trust (DE Lawson, DT Williams, S Maye).

  • Patriots select QB of the future but the QB is mad about it: The Patriots selecting a QB wasn't a surprise. Not needing to trade up for him might have been though. I think Mac was their guy all along. The really funny thing to me was how pissed off Mac looked as he was walking to the stage. You may have seen this circulating on twitter already but if you haven't you need to see this side-by-side of Mac and Bill. They are a match made in heaven.

  • Cardinals can't stop drafting versatile LBs: I had no idea what AZ would do with the WRs and CBs off the board, but I should've guessed they would take another positionless LB. Since 2017, they have selected LB Reddick, LB Simmons and now LB Collins all in the 1st round. They couldn't figure out how to use Reddick until his final season. Simmons didn't see the field much at all in 2020. I worry about Collins in this system.

  • Raiders do not surprise with surprise pick and Saints reach for an EDGE: I just laughed when the Raiders pick came across the TV. Leatherwood wasn't even in my top 50. He was a Round 2 guy at best and the Raiders select him in the top 20. It's not even insane because it is expected at this point. They just value players differently than everyone else. The Saints reach was kind of expected based on what the media was reporting. Quite a few people said Turner was one to watch at the bottom of the 1st. I liked him a lot, but I think there were a few other EDGE guys on the board the Saints should have considered.

  • Giants trade back from 11 to 20 and panic with WR: The Giants got a good haul to move back and it was surprising given Gettleman had never traded back before. But then they had to go and ruin the night by selecting Toney ahead of Bateman and Elijah Moore. That is just an irresponsible evaluation especially given that his lack of techincal refinement won't have him automatically supplant Slayton.

  • Vikings get two 3rd rounders and a top 20 OT at 23: In my opinion, the Vikings had the best night. They traded back 9 spots and took a starting OT that they would have seriously been considering at Pick 14. LT was a huge area of concern and now they have 2 extra Day 2 picks to trade up into the 2nd round if they want.

  • Jacksonville pair Trevor with Travis: Urban said they went 'Best Player Available' but I have to imagine that there was a little bit of "I mean what the hell, right?" going on. Bringing the Clemson offense down to DUVAL can't be considered a bad move given the numbers they put up. I wouldn't be shocked if they go get OL Jackson Carman or WR Amari Rodgers either. 

  • Ravens get an alpha WR for Lamar: Best single pick in the round goes to the Ravens. Getting Lamar more comfortable in obvious passing situations needed to be priority #1 for the offseason and Bateman is a true alpha WR. The size isn't there but the route running, the contested catch ability, all stuff the current WRs don't have. Until now.

  • EDGE run at the end of the round: 4 EDGE players taken in the last 5 picks after only 2 were taken in the top 28 picks. A little surprised at some of the names but every team has a flavor. JAX, NYJ, and ATL all start the 2nd round and all have EDGE as a place they could upgrade.

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Best Players Available

  1. Javonte Williams, RB North Carolina
  2. Trevon Moehrig, FS TCU
  3. Tevin Jenkins, OT Oklahoma St
  4. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB Notre Dame
  5. Landon Dickerson, iOL Alabama
  6. Elijah Moore, WR Ole Miss
  7. Creed Humphrey, iOL Oklahoma
  8. Azeez Ojulari, EDGE Georgia
  9. Levi Onwuzurike, DT Washington
  10. Dillon Radunz, OT North Dakota St
  11. Christian Barmore, DT Alabama
  12. Nick Bolton, LB Missouri
  13. Samuel Cosmi, OT Texas
  14. Elijah Molden, NCB Washington
  15. Carlos Basham Jr, EDGE Wake Forest
  16. Baron Browning, LB Ohio St
  17. Liam Eichenberg, OT Notre Dame
  18. Jevon Holland, S Oregon
  19. Asante Samuel Jr, CB FSU
  20. Terrace Marshall Jr, WR LSU

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Round 2 Mock

33. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS: FS Trevon Moehrig, TCU

34. NEW YORK JETS: LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Notre Dame

35. ATLANTA FALCONS: EDGE Azeez Ojulari, Georgia

36. MIAMI DOLPHINS (from HOU): RB Javonte Williams, North Carolina

37. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES: CB Asante Samuel Jr, FSU

38. CINCINNATI BENGALS: OT Tevin Jenkins, Oklahoma St

39. CAROLINA PANTHERS: OT Samuel Cosmi, Texas

40. DENVER BRONCOS: DT Christian Barmore, Alabama

41. DETROIT LIONS: WR Elijah Moore, Ole Miss

42. NEW YORK GIANTS: iOL Landon Dickerson, Alabama

43. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS: CB Tyson Campbell, Georgia

44. DALLAS COWBOYS: OT Liam Eichenberg, Notre Dame

45. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (from MIN): OT Dillon Radunz, North Dakota St

46. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS: WR Dyami Brown, UNC

47. LOS ANGELES CHARGERS: TE Pat Friermuth, Penn St

48. LAS VEGAS RAIDERS: DT Daviyon Nixon, Iowa

49. ARIZONA CARDINALS: WR Terrace Marshall Jr, LSU

50. MIAMI DOLPHINS: C Creed Humphrey, Oklahoma

51. WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM: OT Spencer Brown, Northern Iowa

52. CHICAGO BEARS: WR Rondale Moore, Purdue

53. TENNESSEE TITANS: WR Amari Rodgers, Clemson

54. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS: OT Brady Christensen, BYU

55. PITTSBURGH STEELERS: OG Wyatt Davis, Ohio St

56. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS: CB Kelvin Joseph, Kentucky

57. LOS ANGELES RAMS: EDGE Carlos Basham Jr, Wake Forest

58. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (from BAL): LB Baron Browning, Ohio St

59. CLEVELAND BROWNS: DT Levi Onwuzurike, Washington

60. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS: CB Aaron Robinson, UCF

61. BUFFALO BILLS: CB Ifeatu Melifonwu, Syracuse

62. GREEN BAY PACKERS: LB Nick Bolton, Missouri

63. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS: WR Nico Collins, Michigan

64. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS: DT Milton Williams, Lousiana Tech

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What was the most surprising pick from Round 1? Let me know in the comments or at @KyleTheCommish on Twitter.

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