LAS VEGAS (AP) — Defense was the focus to start the NFL draft Thursday night, with the first five selections coming on that side of the ball, including edge rushers with Travon Walker of national champion Georgia to Jacksonville and Aidan Hutchinson of Michigan to Detroit at Nos. 1 and 2.
It’s the first time in 31 years that no player on offense went in the opening five picks. So, naturally, the next five choices were on offense.
And those kept coming, with a focus on wide receivers. In all, six of the opening 18 selections were wideouts, starting with Southern California’s Drake London at No. 8 to Atlanta.
No quarterbacks went until 20th, when Pitt’s Kenny Pickett found out he can simply switch to another side of the practice facility as he joins the Steelers to perhaps become Ben Roethlisberger’s successor.
Here’s a little more on the first dozen picks:
— The Jacksonville Jaguars took Georgia pass rusher Travon Walker with the top pick in the NFL draft. The 6-foot-5, 275-pound Walker had 9½ sacks in three years with the Bulldogs, including six during last season’s national championship run.
— The Detroit Lions selected Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson with the No. 2 pick, addressing a desperate need with a hometown star. The 6-foot-6, 265-pound edge rusher was a sack-master for the Wolverines whose consistency and relentlessness helped lead them to their first College Football Playoff.
— Derek Stingley Jr., yet another outstanding defensive back from LSU, goes third overall to the Houston Texans. The 6-foot-1, 195-pound Stingley excels in man coverage.
— The Jets take Cincinnati cornerback Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner fourth overall. Gardner was a major reason the Bearcats broke through into the College Football Playoff last season.
— Another edge rusher went at No. 5. Kayvon Thibodeaux of Oregon will be bolstering the pass rush for the New York Giants.
— North Carolina State’s Ikem Ekwonu, considered the premier blocker in this draft, has been selected sixth in the first round by quarterback-hungry Carolina. He is the first offensive player chosen.
— Evan Neal, a mammoth 6-foot-7, 335-pounder who has played both tackle positions at Alabama, is the second opening-round pick by the Giants.
— Atlanta used the No. 8 pick to select 6-foot-5 receiver Drake London of Southern California.
— Seattle sought to address issues on its offensive line by taking Mississippi tackle Charles Cross at ninth overall.
— Picks 10, 11 and 12 were all pass catchers, starting with Garrett Wilson to the New York Jets at No. 10. Wilson’s Ohio State teammate Chris Olave went next to the Saints after New Orleans swapped picks with Washington, which got New Orleans’ pick at No. 16. And the Lions moved up to 12, swapping picks with Minnesota to take Alabama wide receiver Jameson Williams.
9 draft-day trades shake up 1st round
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Two more prominent wide receivers switched teams with Tennessee’s A.J. Brown and Baltimore’s Marquise Brown getting swapped during a dizzying stretch of the NFL draft.
The Ravens traded Marquise Brown and the 100th overall pick to Arizona for the 23rd pick in the draft.
Then the Titans dealt A.J. Brown to Philadelphia for the 18th and 101st picks.
In all, 17 of the 23 picks between Nos. 7 and 29 in the draft were made by teams that acquired them in trades. Eleven of those picks changed hands in the nine trades made during draft.
