Georgia defensive lineman Travon Walker was the No. 1 picks in the NFL draft on Thursday by the Jacksonville Jaguars. Phelan M. Ebenhack/Associated Press
LAS VEGAS — Defense.
That sure was the focus at the outset of the NFL draft Thursday night, with the first five selections coming on that side of the ball, including edge rushers 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: right through No. 12.
New England entered the night with the 21st pick, but traded with Kansas City and received a first-rounder (No. 29), a third (No. 94) and a fourth (No. 121). With the 29th pick, the Patriots selected Tennessee-Chattanooga’s Cole Strange, a 6-foot-5, 307-pound guard.
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 and perhaps become Ben Roethlisberger’s successor.
But this is a draft rich with linemen, receivers and defensive backs.
The 6-foot-5, 275-pound Walker, who has some raw elements to his game but an extremely high ceiling for his skills, joins former Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence as the second straight top overall selection by the Jaguars.
“I’m definitely prepared for it, being the No. 1 pick,” Walker said. “I have to say there’s a lot of expectations behind that, but it’s just the game of football to me.”
Walker was a one-year starter whose production (13 tackles for loss and 9 1/2 sacks) doesn’t jump out because he was part of a deep rotation at Georgia. His talent level certainly impressed the Jaguars, the NFL’s worst team the past two years.
“He’s an athletic freak,” Georgia defensive coordinator Will Muschamp told The Associated Press. “I swear to God he could line up at middle linebacker and go be fine. I would take him at No. 1 and not even blink.”
The Jaguars didn’t blink.
Commissioner Roger Goodell began the proceedings by estimating more than 100,000 fans were on hand at the theater built specifically for the draft. Walker was not in Las Vegas.
Hutchinson, a sack-master whose consistency and relentlessness helped the Wolverines to their first College Football Playoff, is staying home as a pro. The 6-foot-6, 265-pounder whose father Chris was a star player at Michigan in the 1990s, was the Heisman Trophy runner-up last season.
“I always wanted to be at Detroit. I’m grateful to be a Lion,” he said.
Cornerbacks Derek Stingley Jr. and Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner went next, to the Texans and Jets, respectively.
LSU’s Stingley is the grandson of former Patriots receiver Darryl Stingley, who was paralyzed in a 1978 preseason game. Gardner, of Cincinnati, was a major reason the Bearcats broke through into the College Football Playoff last season. He wore a brash bejeweled necklace proclaiming his nickname, and even an accessorized chain with a bejeweled sauce bottle.
“I know I’m going to be a great teammate and I’m going to be a sponge, somebody that’s able to take information from everyone and not feeling like I’m too good for anyone,” Gardner said. “Just being a hard worker.”
The defensive run concluded with Oregon edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux to the New York Giants.
“I’m at this nirvana. I’m at peace,” he said, noting that Hall of Famer Michael Strahan has been a mentor. “It’s put up or shut up.”
When teams got around to the other side of the ball, they couldn’t stop. It began with North Carolina State tackle Ikem Ekwonu to Carolina and Alabama tackle Evan Neal to the Giants. Both teams are needy, to say the least, up front.
“It feels good legacy-wise,” Ekwonu said. “You know, kind of cemented myself in history of this draft class. I know this class is gonna be special.”
He loved the idea of staying in Carolina.
“My mom cried the second I picked the phone up,” Ekwonu said. “Honestly, it was just like surreal. Growing up being a Panthers fan and being able to play on a team that you grew up being a fan is really almost like a movie almost. It’s crazy.”
Atlanta, depleted of playmaking wide receivers, got Southern California’s Drake London before Seattle went for tackle Charles Cross of Mississippi State. Then came three more wideouts: Garrett Wilson of Ohio State to the Jets and college teammate Chris Olave to New Orleans, which traded up with Washington for the 11th slot; and Alabama’s Jameson Williams, coming off a serious knee injury, to Detroit, which moved up in a deal with division-rival Minnesota.
Another Georgia standout, defensive tackle Jordan Davis, was taken by Philadelphia at 13 after yet another deal, getting matters back to the defensive side.
The Jets traded back into the first round to get the 26th spot from Tennessee once they saw Florida State edge rusher Jermaine Johnson slipped. Johnson previously had been at Georgia.
Perhaps the biggest surprise was Baltimore trading top receiver Marquise Brown to Arizona for the 23rd spot. Until Philadelphia moments later acquired another solid wideout in A.J. Brown from Tennessee for the 18th pick.
So the desire to add pass catchers didn’t apply only to rookies, of which six were taken in the top 18. Penn State’s Jahan Dotson joined the parade to Washington, then the Titans added Arkansas WR Treylon Burks with the pick acquired for A.J. Brown.
“I think it’s a really valuable position,” Wilson said. “And I think the league is starting to show that in drafts and in the offseason. Being a receiver, I love to see it. You see people like Tyreek Hill and and Davante Adams, I mean those people, they change offenses. You know, Ja’Marr Chase, they change offenses, and I’m happy that receivers are starting to get that love.”
While passers went in the initial three spots of 2021, there was some thought none would go in the first round this year. But Pickett fell to the Steelers, which sure seems like a comfortable fit for both player and team.
Pickett came back for a fifth season and that decision certainly paid off. He took Pitt to its first ACC title.
The Patriots’ No. 21 pick was traded to to Kansas City and the Chiefs selected cornerback Trent McDuffie out of Washington. The Packers grabbed Georgia linebacker Quay Walker at No. 22. Buffalo moved up to take Florida cornerback Kaiir Elam.
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