Live Thoughts & Musings for the First Round of the NFL Draft
The NFL Draft just wrapped its first round, and here’s my live diary of the whole thang
This whole thing kicked off with an impromptu Kings of Leon performance featuring a fifteen-year-old song. We quickly hit a commercial break and came back to MORE Kings of Leon. That led to the ceremonial boo of Roger Goodell before he pulled a famous chair on stage and all the Cleveland Browns fans cheered.
Exhausting.
Let’s dive right in and discuss precisely how tonight’s NFL Draft went down. This is my live draft diary, I’ll let you guess when I hit beer number six.
Jacksonville Jaguars — QB Trevor Lawrence
Duh. Guess we’ll see if freshly minted tight-end/former New York Met Tim Tebow will join him.
New York Jets — QB Zach Wilson
Figured. He’s got a long road ahead if we’ve learned anything from Sam Darnold. You can’t place all the blame on Adam Gase, they have organizational instability, and one cute quarterback won’t save them.
San Francisco 49ers — QB Trey Lance
I’m not sure shocking would describe the pick but rather just general befuddlement. Consensus had it narrowed down to Lance and Mac Jones, but that’s about it. Here’s hoping we see two starting quarterbacks in 2021 hailing from North Dakota State.
Atlanta Falcons — TE Kyle Pitts
Pitts became the highest tight-end ever drafted in NFL history. That’s something. Falcons could be good, I suppose.
Cincinnati Bengals —WR Ja’Marr Chase
Chase and Joe Burrow reunited. Chase and Tee Higgins sound like a dangerous combination even if they can’t protect the quarterback.
Miami Dolphins — WR Jaylen Waddle
Another reunited QB-WR combo. Tua needs to be good first.
Detroit Lions — OT Penei Sewell
Finally, Jared Goofball has some protection *eye-roll*. So begins the Lions tank. No pride in this pride.
Carolina Panthers — CB Jaycee Horn
Joe Horn’s son found a home tonight. Bad news for the corner-needy NFC East and a surprising pivot from a franchise many thought would take a quarterback despite the addition of Darnold.
Denver Broncos — Patrick Surtain II
This was the moment in the Draft when I started feeling bad for Justin Fields, Mac Jones, and the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles would no longer be able to improve their secondary, but at least it wasn’t because of the Cowboys or Giants.
Philadelphia Eagles (TRADE) — WR Devonta Smith
Well, how about the first trade of Draft Day? Howie Roseman finally did the right thing, and he did it while spitting a third-round pick in the face of Jerry Jones. Through ten picks, we’ve seen three college football QBs reunited with former pass-catchers, all from the SEC.
Darius Slay thinks he can cover him; very cute.
Chicago Bears (TRADE) — QB Justin Fields
So the Giants checked out too. Well, it was hard to believe Andy Dalton would be the answer for the Bears. Sorry, I’m distracted because Goodell’s reading a PSA instead of announcing the pick.
Not for nothing; I swear I saw Fields drinking a Twisted Tea.
Dallas Cowboys — LB Micah Parsons
The man, the Eagles, may have had if they stayed at 12. He will haunt the Eagles for the next ten years like a healthy Sean Lee.
Los Angeles Chargers — OG Rashawn Slater Jr.
Just saw they’re doing a new Tom Brady doc, but you have to have ESPN+, so I probably won’t watch. I still can’t get excited about a guard in the first round, even if they’re smart.
New York Jets (TRADE) — OG Elijah Vera-Tucker
Just saw a Mercedes-Benz commercial. The Jets are sort of like the opposite of a Benz. Another guard, and I’m getting bored.
New England Patriots — QB Mac Jones
Sorry another PSA. . . but I’m awake!
It seems as if Bill Belichick wins again. He waited and waited. Now he has a quarterback, and he’s just physically unimpressive enough to succeed in New England. #JusticeForJarrett #Blessed
Arizona Cardinals — LB Zaven Collins
I didn’t do much draft prep, so I don’t know who this is. Sure, it seems good.
Las Vegas Raiders — OT Alex Leatherwood
Well, hell, that’s a football name. The crowd wasn’t ready for that pick, and neither was Mel Kiper. Thankfully we got some insightful rhetoric from Booger McFarland.
Miami Dolphins — DE Jaelan Phillips
He doesn’t have to go far as a collegiate Miami Hurricane. Brian Flores took his offensive weapon but couldn’t help himself with the Dolphin's second first-rounder.
Washington Football Team — LB Jamin Davis
With all the marquee quarterbacks off the board, I guess Ryan Fitzpatrick will be WFT’s QB1.
Washington’s defense will be scary next year, so Fitz needs to manage turnovers which he’s proven again and again that he can.
New York Giants (TRADE) — WR Kadarius Toney
Louis Riddick was nice enough to remind us that this pick must be good because the team is terrible and the GM is bad. Thanks, Louie.
Well, they went with a bit of a surprise but also K. Pitts’ running mate. Have fun with your D. Smith consolidation prize, you Yankees apologists.
Indianapolis Colts — DE Kwity Paye
Why does Russell Wilson get to ‘Zoom-In’ during the Colts pick? Is that subliminal? I thought they have Carson Wentz now? At least he won’t get sacked by Paye this year.
Now McFarland says pressure is stupid. Moving on.
Tennessee Titans — CB Caleb Farley
I love to see someone from my home state of Virginia making it into the first round. Not enough love for Virginia Tech. Blacksburg gets no respect.
That said, I hear Farley has a broken back? Not great for football.
Minnesota Vikings — OT Christian Darrisaw
How about two Virginia Tech studs going back-to-back? This reminds me of my summer at journalism camp in the Blacksburg dorms. . .
They taught me to never go to bed until you’ve finished an article, no matter how long ESPN is vamping for commercial time.
Pittsburgh Steelers — RB Najee Harris
It sounds like Cleveland doesn’t like Pittsburgh! They’re gonna like them less when they’re running all over their defense next season. Speaking of defense:
That said, Alabama will yet again win the first round in 2021. Six total so far — that’s 25% of all first-round picks.
Jacksonville Jaguars — RB Travis Etienne
Back-to-back running backs, and it looks like Urban Meyer really liked what he saw at Clemson. Condolences to James Robinson.
Cleveland Browns — Greg Newsome II
Greeny’s about to have a seizure. His purple tie isn’t the only thing feeling good tonight.
Baltimore Ravens — WR Rashod Bateman
Now all they need is a quarterback that can make it past the Divisional round. You’re almost there, guys.
New Orleans Saints — DE Payton Turner
Following our lovely Drew Brees tribute, the New Orleans Saints have selected defensive end from the AAC. If we can ask about Z. Wilson and T. Lance’s experience against more competitive opponents, why not drag this DE through the mud? #CoronaSeltzer
Green Bay Packers — CB Eric Stokes
I thought the Aaron Rodgers thing was a smokescreen to mess with other teams. Alas, they stayed at 29.
What they did at 29 made the Georgia Football Nation quite happy.
Buffalo Bills — DE Gregory Rousseau
Sorry — these are getting shorter because I’m tired and out of beer. I always love talking Bills football, though.
Another big boy for Sean McDermott and the Buffalo faithful. He’s coming from Miami; somebody get this boy a winter jacket!
Baltimore Ravens — LB Jayson Oweh
Kiper says he’s a FREAK. They’re also acting like his zero sacks last season wasn’t a function of a six-game season.
Baltimore doesn’t tend to mess this sort of thing up.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers — LB Joe Tryon
An excellent way for the night to fizzle out. Finally, it's over.
I’m sure he’s good, but anything more exciting would have kept me up too late. Thanks for reading if you made it this far. I have to work tomorrow.
Tommy Orme is a former contributing writer to 247Sports, Fanduel, and more living in New York City working in National Media Investment.
For any professional inquires, please email at tg.orme@gmail.com or DM @t_orm3 on Twitter.
