The Cincinnati Bengals underwent a grueling 2-14 2019-2020 season. In exchange for that, they were awarded the number one overall pick, which they used to draft LSU quarterback Joe Burrow.
Burrow being selected first overall wasn’t a surprise, as the Bengals expressed their intent to draft the potential franchise quarterback long ago, especially after Andy Dalton hit the free agent market. (no Zoom hijinks occurred either. Everyone thought the Bengals would mess up and lose WiFi connection.) Another unsurprising pick was from the Washington Redskins, who selected Ohio State University defensive end Chase Young with the second pick. Young is as good as prospects come and is the safest pick in the draft.
The first-round started to spice up when quarterbacks were selected back-to-back, with Tua Tagovailoa, despite health concerns, going to the Miami Dolphins and Justin Herbert landing with the Los Angeles Chargers, who parted ways with long-time quarterback Philip Rivers in the offseason.
At 12th overall, the Las Vegas Raiders (that was weird to type) selected Henry Ruggs III, making him the first receiver off the board. Once he was taken, the receivers were selected at a high rate. Jerry Jeudy was taken by the Denver Broncos at 15 and CeeDee Lamb was taken by the Dallas Cowboys at 17, who didn’t think Lamb would fall to them and readjusted their draft board to select the promising young prospect. Even though Dak Prescott doesn’t have a new contract, the offense is loaded and the Cowboys organization
The Jacksonville Jaguars went all defense with their two picks in the first-round, selecting cornerback CJ Henderson at nine and defensive end K’Lavon Chaisson at 20. The betting odds have them at five-and-a-half wins for next season, but this is a potential “tank for Lawrence” team.
To no one’s surprise, the New England Patriots traded out of the first-round (we get it BB, you’re witty). But if there were a draft the Patriots needed to be aggressive, it was this draft. The talent in the first round was deep and has a steep drop off after the second-round.
The biggest storyline of the first round is the selection of quarterback Jordan Love of Utah State to the Green Bay Packers. The Packers were one game from the Super Bowl last season and decided to draft a project for the future instead of immediate needs. Love threw 17 interceptions last season, so he wasn’t a must have prospect. Aaron Rodgers, who is now 36, was drafted when Brett Favre was 36.
