Round 1 of the 2020 NFL Draft is officially in the books, and at a time of heavy hearts and uncertainty, the evening gave football fans a much-needed distraction… and some hope, too.
Considering all the technology and communication and variables and moving parts that go into such a massive production, the Round 1 virtual draft appeared to viewers to be a huge success – as was the on-going Draft-A-Thon, the NFL’s fundraising initiative to help support the fight against COVID-19.
Looking at the draft board, the night looked like a big success for teams, too. Though we didn’t see the kind of trade drama we may have expected, most football fans appeared to go home (er, stay home), happy with their clubs’ haul.
Here’s a look at the biggest winners from Thursday night.
Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals did what we all knew they’d do: select quarterback Joe Burrow with the first-overall pick. It was the biggest no-brainer of the draft, the easiest decision they’ll make all year, and the start of a new chapter for the Bengals. A win all around.
The Ohio State
The Buckeyes are well-represented at the draft every year, but Thursday night’s draft board took the football powerhouse’s clout among the scouts to a whole new level.
Players drafted in top-5 of the #NFLDraft since 2016 by school
Ohio State 6 (including Chase Young & Jeff Okudah) LSU 3 Oklahoma 2
This year marked the first time in NFL draft history that the top three picks were all college teammates at one time, as Joe Burrow (No. 1, Cincinnati), Chase Young (No. 2, Washington) and Jeff Okudah (No. 3, Detroit) were all with the Buckeyes football program in 2017.
Young and Okudah were freshmen that year, and would go on to wreak havoc on opposing offences over the three years that followed with Ohio State, while Burrow transferred to LSU for a better opportunity to be a starter in 2018.
At No. 3, Okudah is now the highest-picked cornerback in more than two decades, and adds his name to a growing list of other strong corners out of Ohio State including Marshon Lattimore, Denzel Ward and fellow 2020 first-rounder Damon Arnette (No. 20, Raiders).
New Lions CB Jeff Okudah is the highest drafted corner in 23 years. Last one to go third overall? Fellow ex-Ohio State CB Shawn Springs.
The Vikings went into Thursday night with two-first round picks and two big roster needs: a wide receiver to replace Stefon Diggs after dealing him to Buffalo last month, and a cornerback after veteran Xavier Rhodes was released. By evening’s end, they’d filled both spots and brought in a bit of extra draft capital in the process.
After selecting LSU receiver Justin Jefferson at No. 22 (the pick they received from Buffalo in the Diggs deal), GM Rick Spielman traded back with San Francisco – pick No. 25 in exchange for No. 31, a fourth-rounder and a fifth-rounder.
Justin Jefferson can move over some of his purple wardrobe. Both LSU and the Vikings have the same shade of purple (Pantone 268c) pic.twitter.com/ybVBKfldoE
With pick No. 31, the Vikings took cornerback Jeff Gladney – a perfect fit for their secondary and the consensus best player available.
The #Vikings spent a lot of time digging on TCU Jeff Gladney, who was known in that program as one of the most competitive guys around. Loves football. The type of player they needed with several veterans gone.
Sounds like the Vikings are very willing to move up in the second round tomorrow. “Hopefully looking forward to manipulating up the board,” GM Rick Spielman said.
The motto in Miami for much of 2019 was “Tank For Tua.” The tank didn’t exactly go as planned – they finished the season 5-11 — but their draft ultimately did.
Despite questions about whether the Dolphins might try to trade down to secure their next franchise quarterback in Tua Tagovailoa out of Alabama, they didn’t need to. They held on to their No. 5 pick and got their guy.
In doing so, they also put an end to the speculation around how much Tagovailoa’s injury history might affect his draft stock.
Scared money don’t make money.
Through all the smokescreens and negative reports, the Dolphins loved Tua the whole time and they got their guy.
This was a critical draft for the Dolphins. All season, Miami fans watched a rotation of quarterbacks start games, and talented young players exit as GM Chris Grier has overhauled the roster and hoarded draft picks in their place.
After selecting Tagovailoa, the Dolphins addressed two other needs: offensive tackle Austin Jackson, to help protect their new QB, and cornerback Noah Igbinoghene.
Well I guess the dolphins are patriots south east and are gonna yet to have the best secondary in football. Noah Igbinoghene is gonna be an awesome slot corner. Man the dolphins are gonna be hard to throw on.
The Kansas City Chiefs brought fast, fun, offence-first football to the AFC West and won it all. Now their division peers, unable to contain them, look like they’re going to try to go stride-for-stride with them instead.
The Los Angeles Chargers did well to get their quarterback of the future in Justin Herbert, but it’s the Raiders and Broncos who won the night in the AFC West with a pair of Alabama receivers.
With the 12th overall selection – and the first-ever pick made by the Las Vegas Raiders – GM Mike Mayock channelled Al Davis energy and took the fastest receiver in the class in Henry Ruggs III, the first wide receiver off the board.
Gruden gets his version of Tyreek Hill in Henry Ruggs.
Three picks later, Denver landed the man many regarded as the most complete receiver in this draft class, Jerry Jeudy, who will run perfect routes opposite breakout speedster Courtland Sutton.
The #Broncos made noise about coming up, but that quieted over the last few days. They decided to stay where they are… and take at No. 15 #Bama WR Jerry Jeudy. A complete WR and weapon for Drew Lock.
But then, with Dallas on the clock at pick No. 17, a gift: wide receiver CeeDee Lamb.
No one expected Lamb, who topped some wide receiver rankings going into the draft, to be there at No. 17 — especially not the Cowboys. But after the Raiders took Henry Ruggs III and the Denver Broncos claimed Jerry Jeudy, the Cowboys seized the opportunity to take one of the most exciting players in the draft.
Cowboys VP Stephen Jones said they did many mock drafts and didn’t have CeeDee Lamb falling to them in any. Dallas had him as the 6th player on its board. “Really surprising to see CeeDee sitting there.”
He should probably stay off Packers Twitter for a little while — fans in Green Bay weren’t exactly thrilled by the pick, especially considering the team’s need for more offensive weapons or help at secondary. But quarterback Jordan Love was essentially just given one of the most prestigious internships in the game, an opportunity to learn behind the best in Aaron Rodgers.
There’s an obvious comparison ripe for the picking here: the legendary Brett Favre was 35 years old when the Packers took Aaron Rodgers with the 24th-overall pick back in 2005. Rodgers is now 36, with four more years on his deal, and he just watched his team trade up to take his potential successor at No. 26.
Will Love play any time soon? Definitely not. Will Rodgers be thrilled to answer questions all year about the dynamic in the QB room? We’re gonna say no. But Love came into this draft as a prospect in need of more time and development, and that’s what he’ll get in Green Bay.
“That’s one of the GOATs right there in the game,” Love told ESPN’s Suzy Kolber after being drafted, when asked about Rodgers. “I’m excited to learn as much as I can.”
Baker Mayfield & Sam Darnold
The greatest gift you can give your quarterback? A bodyguard. That’s what the Cleveland Browns and New York Jets gave their young gunslingers Thursday night.
The Browns got a steal of a pick with Jedrick Wills Jr. at pick No. 10, widely regarded as the top offensive tackle in the draft. Wills, who will likely suit up at left tackle opposite free agency acquisition Jack Conklin on the right, already got a warm welcome from some of his Browns teammates:
#Browns Baker Mayfield reached out to LT Jedrick Wills shortly after he was drafted and “he said he was going to be there for me,” Wills said.
Sure, Kingsbury’s Cardinals drafted an elite, versatile defender in Isaiah Simmons, but… did you see the man’s living room?
The virtual draft gave viewers a rare glimpse into the war rooms (and dining rooms, basements, and… yachts?) of NFL brass, from Bill Belichick’s bare-bones setup to Mike Zimmerman’s Minnesota mansion, and… whatever was going on at Mike Vrabel’s place:
But if we’re talkin’ interiors, Kingsbury wins the night.
One thing I’ve learned during this draft – NFL execs have terrible taste in home decor.
Vancouver Canucks winger Dakota Joshua is set to make his season debut Thursday after missing time for cancer treatment.
Head coach Rick Tocchet says Joshua will slot into the lineup Thursday when Vancouver (8-3-3) hosts the New York Islanders.
The 28-year-old from Dearborn, Mich., was diagnosed with testicular cancer this summer and underwent surgery in early September.
He spoke earlier this month about his recovery, saying it had been “very hard to go through” and that he was thankful for support from his friends, family, teammates and fans.
“That was a scary time but I am very thankful and just happy to be in this position still and be able to go out there and play,,” Joshua said following Thursday’s morning skate.
The cancer diagnosis followed a career season where Joshua contributed 18 goals and 14 assists across 63 regular-season games, then added four goals and four assists in the playoffs.
Now, he’s ready to focus on contributing again.
“I expect to be good, I don’t expect a grace period. I’ve been putting the work in so I expect to come out there and make an impact as soon as possible,” he said.
“I don’t know if it’s going to be perfect right from the get-go, but it’s about putting your best foot forward and working your way to a point of perfection.”
The six-foot-three, 206-pound Joshua signed a four-year, US$13-million contract extension at the end of June.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 14, 2024.
TORONTO – Reigning PWHL MVP and scoring champ Natalie Spooner will miss the start of the regular season for the Toronto Sceptres, general manager Gina Kingsbury announced Tuesday on the first day of training camp.
The 33-year-old Spooner had knee surgery on her left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after she was checked into the boards by Minnesota’s Grace Zumwinkle in Game 3 of their best-of-five semifinal series on May 13.
She had a goal and an assist in three playoff games but did not finish the series. Toronto was up 2-1 in the semifinal at that time and eventually fell 3-2 in the series.
Spooner led the PWHL with 27 points in 24 games. Her 20 goals, including five game-winners, were nine more than the closest skater.
Kingsbury said there is no timeline, as the team wants the Toronto native at 100 per cent, but added that “she is doing really well” in her recovery.
The Sceptres open the PWHL season on Nov. 30 when they host the Boston Fleet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 12, 2024.
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.
“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”
Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.
The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.
Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.
“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”
Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.
“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”
The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.
“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”
Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.
“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.
