The first day and first round of the NFL Draft is in the books, and it was an absolute barnburner of an evening.
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The Rams made the Cal quarterback their first draft selection since returning to Los Angeles.
“I’m taking it as an honor and something I’m going to have to prove them right, that they made the right decision”, Goff said.
In one case, social media controversy caused a top prospect’s stock to fall tremendously, but not too much.
Once one of the leading candidates for the No. 1 pick before the trades, Tunsil slipped to Miami at No. 13 after the video of the lineman apparently smoking marijuana out of a bong-gas mask contraption was passed around online. Tunsil said at the draft that the account was hacked. “I can’t control that, man. I can control what I control”. “He’s very football intelligent”.
The Rams relocated from St Louis in the off-season and then traded with the Tennessee Titans to secure the top pick in a bid to address their quarterback problem, giving up six picks across the top three rounds this year and next. It’s the second straight year two QBs were the first names off the board and the seventh time in the modern era of the draft since 1967.
After Goff and Wentz got their hats and exchanged pleasantries with Commissioner Roger Goodell, it was an Ohio State parade to the podium.
It will benefit Goff to share the backfield with 2015 first-round pick Todd Gurley, the Georgia running back drafted 10th overall previous year. The New York Giants finished the top 10 by taking Eli Apple of Ohio State.
The San Diego Chargers presented the first surprise of the night by selecting Ohio State defensive end Joey Bosa with the third overall pick.
“I thought it was the best situation for myself, with the best offensive line (and) three superstars with Tony Romo, Jason Witten and Dez Bryant”, said Elliott, who rushed for 23 touchdowns in 13 games last season. But his dress shirt under his blue suit was in place by the time he was drafted by the Cowboys.
Glazer: One of the things the Rams told me they loved about you is that when you had your workout, they were trying to give you a little time there, that it wasn’t raining, and you said pshh, ‘I don’t care.’ And as it got wetter and wetter, the ball you were throwing got better and better.
“It’s something I’m excited for, something I’m ready for”, Goff said.
Baylor’s Corey Coleman (15th, Cleveland Browns) was the first wide receiver drafted. They also have the first pick in the second round Friday and could field more trade offers with UCLA linebacker Myles Jack and Alabama’s Derrick Henry and Reggie Ragland still available. The Rams traded with Tennessee to get the pick.
“Just truly a dream come true”, Goff said. “It’s exciting (to get to play with him)”.
Once considered a cinch for Tunsil, the active Titans wound up drafting eighth, trading up from the 15th pick with the Browns to take Michigan State’s Jack Conklin.
Wentz led the Bison to their fifth consecutive FCS championship in January. As a wide receiver, Forrest caught 46 passes for 855 yards and 14 touchdowns as a senior at Tilghman.
The New England Patriots were without their first-round pick due to the scandal over deflated footballs which has also seen quarterback Tom Brady suspended for the first four games of the new season.
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“I’m going to go in and earn the respect of my teammates”, Wentz said.
