With tonight’s 1st round in a historic NFL draft, let’s take a quick look into who came out on top and who’s going to be needing to bounce back the next few rounds.
Winners
Miami Dolphins-Tua Tagovailoa
All the smoke and mirror games they have been playing these last few weeks have proven true. Flirting with the idea of taking Herbert or Love over Tua kept competitors at bay from jumping up and trying to grab their true prize. The Dolphins have their franchise quarterback, and an out of the box veteran in Fitzpatrick to show him how to stay alive in the league.
Minnesota Vikings-Justin Jefferson
Some people are calling it one of the best picks in the draft. After an ugly release of Stefon Diggs that ended a season full of up and downs, the Vikings have replaced Diggs with one of the top WR options in the draft in Justin Jefferson, who somehow managed to fall all the way to the 22nd pick. Talk about a gift falling right into your lap.
Las Vegas Raiders-Henry Ruggs III
What does a team moving to a new city need? An exciting play maker or identity. The Raiders didn’t get the play-maker in Tom Brady that they were rumored to going after, but instead they now have a new identity. Speed. Darren Waller, 4.46 speed one of the fastest TE in the country; Josh Jacobs, runner up for Offensive rookie of the year; and now his former teammate and fastest player in the 2020 draft, Henry Ruggs. If there is one thing that will get new fans excited, it’s big plays and big scores. Get Ruggs the ball and he will bring both of those.
Losers
Green Bay Packers-Jordyn Love
We all know they have famously pulled this move before, drafting Aaron Rodgers to sit under Favre for a few years while Favre still had some tread left on the tires. The difference is Favre and Rodgers are not the same person. Favre could never be phased, and his emotions were seldom anything but positive. Rodgers is pretty close to the opposite. This man LOVES to hold a grudge. He got McCarthy fired and not to mention he’s not exactly “close with his own family.” And the packers desperately needed to get Rodgers more weapons to work with. And he was on air with Pat McAfee saying that he was excited that they finally had the chance to get him some new weapons. Instead they drafted his future replacement… something tells me he will not be a happy camper.
Arizona Cardinals- Isaiah Simmons
The Cardinals look like they’re on the verge of having a high powered offense for the first time in years. Murray, Fitzgerald, and Hopkins will prove to be a powerhouse this year. And last year they had one of the worse O lines in the league. This draft was also very strong in Offensive tackles. The Cardinals looked at this and said “Oh perfect, we will take a position-less defensive talent.” Simmons is good, just not the right fit at all. I expect them to draft big boys here soon
San Francisco 49ers- Javon Kinlaw and Brandon Aiyuk
The 49ers zigged when they should have zagged and yanged when they should have yinned. There two biggest needs were D line and WR after getting rid of Buckner and Sanders. And right when the draft was warmed and lubed up for the WR’s to start coming off the board, the 49ers take Javon Kinlaw… okay he’s a good player but if you need a WR, probably need to take one while the top teir guys are still around, and there’s plenty of players like Kinlaw available later in the first round. But instead they flip flopped their priority order and ended up with two B players instead of having a top tier WR to add to their roster. Jeudy and Lamb were both still ripe for the picking. I guess the 49ers like to pick their drafts a little too ripe.