Dolphins Select OLB Chop Robinson At No. 21

April 25th, 2024 at 9:39pm CST by Ben Levine

Chop Robinson is the latest edge rusher to come off the board on Day 1. The Penn State alum came off the board 21st overall, being ticketed for a Dolphins roster spot.

Robinson seemed set to be the next Nittany Lion pass rusher to be selected in the first round. He was connected to a number of teams throughout the past few months, with more than 10 hosting him on pre-draft visits. Ultimately, he’ll land in Miami.

The edge rusher put himself on the NFL map following a standout 2022 campaign where he finished with 5.5 sacks and 10 tackles for loss. His numbers weren’t as strong in 2023 (four sacks, 7.5 TFLs), perhaps ending his hope of being the first player selected at his position. Still, Robinson managed to stick in the first round.

Robinson will be joining a talented pass-rushing corps in Miami. The rookie may be hardpressed to see an every-down role playing alongside Jaelan Phillips, Bradley Chubb, and offseason acquisition Shaquil Barrett, but he should still get plenty of run as a situational pass rusher.

While the Dolphins boast an impressive collection of edge defenders, injuries presently interfere with their setup. Phillips is rehabbing an Achilles tear sustained in late November, while Chubb may not be ready in time for Week 1 due to sustaining an ACL tear — his second as a pro — in Week 17. Barrett, who suffered a torn Achilles in 2022, stands as veteran insurance. Miami’s situation may lead to Robinson playing more often than he otherwise would.

If everyone ends up healthy at some point early in the season, Miami could have a formidable quartet of edge players. This would be quite the step forward for the team, which needed to sign multiple players off the street to fill out a depth chart ahead of an ugly wild-card loss to the Chiefs.

Sam Robinson contributed to this post.

Steelers Add OL Troy Fautanu At No. 20

April 25th, 2024 at 9:31pm CST by Ben Levine

As expected, O-linemen continue to be popular in the first round. Likewise, the Steelers’ top choice comes at an expected position. Pittsburgh used the No. 20 pick on Washington offensive lineman Troy Fautanu.

The Steelers had been linked to using their first-round pick on a blocker for a bit now. While a Thursday rumor mentioned Duke tackle/center Graham Barton as a target, this year’s deep tackle group presented an opportunity for Pittsburgh to add a higher-value player. This marks the second straight year the Steelers have gone O-line in Round 1; they chose Broderick Jones last year.

Fautanu spent the past two seasons as a full-time starter at Washington, including a 2023 campaign where he earned first-team All-Pac-12 honors while blocking for Michael Penix Jr.. That performance helped put the lineman in the first-round conversation for the 2024 draft. Fautanu has generally been lauded for his speed and athleticism, and the 6-foot-4, 317-pound lineman certainly has the physical attributes to compete as an NFL offensive tackle.

The Washington product was considered a first-round pick for much of the pre-draft process and was mentioned in the same breath as the five rookie linemen selected before him. However, Fautanu’s positional uncertainty may have led to him being the sixth OL off the board.

Some pundits projected the prospect as an interior lineman in the NFL, with some even declaring him the best draft option at that guard. However, considering the appeal of tackles, that sentiment may have ended up hurting the player’s draft stock. There was some growing optimism that Fautanu would be able to play tackle in the NFL, and it will be interesting to see how the Steelers proceed with their rookie lineman.

There shouldn’t be much in the way between Fautanu and a starting OT spot in 2024. With Jones rumored to be sliding from right to left tackle — his primary college position — this year, a Fautanu path to the lineup could include a competition with Dan Moore Jr. for RT work. But the Steelers have some additional flexibility — and a potential long-term solution — thanks to their latest O-line investment.

Rams Select DE Jared Verse At No. 19

April 25th, 2024 at 9:22pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Rams’ first Day 1 selection in the Sean McVay era is in. Los Angeles has chosen Florida State edge rusher Jared Verse at the No. 19 spot. As pass rushers are starting to fly off the board, the Rams get their guy out of Tallahassee.

Rumored to be eyeing a move into the top 10, the Rams instead stood pat. This is their first Round 1 selection of the Sean McVay era, with the team having famously traded away its past seven first-round choices. With a major change taking place along Los Angeles’ defensive front this offseason, a move for a pass rusher makes sense.

Verse began his college career at FCS Albany as a zero-star recruit coming out of high school. He turned zero FBS offers into a transfer opportunity after leading the Great Danes in sacks with 10.5 and transferred to Florida State in 2022. In both years with the Seminoles, Verse led the team in sacks and finished with first-team All-ACC honors. When playing FBS opponents, Verse racked up 18.0 sacks and 29 tackles for loss in two years as a full-time starter.

The Rams lose a lot of sack production with the retirement of Aaron Donald. After defensive tackle Kobie Turner, who had nine sacks for Los Angeles last year, pass rushers Byron Young (8.0), Michael Hoecht (6.0), and linebacker Ernest Jones (4.5) followed for the sack lead. Verse looks to slot in as an immediate stater in LA. As a rookie, look for Verse to line up opposite Young on defense and compete for the sack lead in 2024.

Verse continues a tradition of professional pass rusher production out of Tallahassee. Though not always to stellar results, since 2013, the Seminoles have sent Bjorn Werner (24th overall in 2013), Mario Edwards (35th overall in 2015), DeMarcus Walker (51st overall in 2017), Josh Sweat (130th overall in 2018), Brian Burns (16th overall in 2019), Janarius Robinson (134th overall in 2021), Joshua Kaindoh (144th overall in 2021), and Jermaine Johnson (26th overall in 2022) to the NFL.

Ely Allen contributed to this post.

Bengals Draft T Amarius Mims At No. 18

April 25th, 2024 at 9:16pm CST by Ben Levine

A run on defensive players has come to an end. The Bengals have become the latest team to select an offensive lineman, drafting Georgia tackle Amarius Mims.

The Bengals bid farewell to four-year starter (and 2023 right tackle) Jonah Williams this offseason, and while they used free agency to bring in a stopgap, Mims profiles as a long-term solution opposite left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. Mims’ frame only adds to the Bengals’ historic dimensions at this position. While Orlando Brown goes 6-foot-8, 345 pounds, presumptive bridge RT option Trent Brown is listed at 6-8, 370. Mims checks in at 6-7, 340.

Mims served as a backup to begin his collegiate career, but he was inserted into the lineup late in the 2022 campaign, starting in a College Football Playoff game and the team’s second straight national championship game victory. He finally had a chance to start full time in 2023, but after three starts, Mims suffered a high ankle sprain and was forced to undergo tightrope surgery. It would take nine weeks for Mims to finally get back on the field. Following his return, Mims end up exiting his team’s loss in the SEC championship game.

Considering Mims’ lack of starting experience and eventual injury concerns, he profiled as one of the bigger question marks heading into tonight’s draft. There aren’t many examples of offensive tackles with so little starting experience being drafted so highly, but that obviously wasn’t enough to stop a team like the Bengals from gambling on his upside.

Mims certainly has the physical attributes to succeed in the NFL. The Bengals did bring in Trent Brown this offseason to line up on the opposite side of the line from 2023 LT signee Orlando Brown, so the Bengals may not need to lean on their first-round rookie right away. However, considering the frequency of NFL injuries, it shouldn’t be long before Mims gets his number called.

Vikings Acquire No. 17 Pick From Jaguars, Select OLB Dallas Turner

April 25th, 2024 at 9:08pm CST by Ben Levine

Once again, the Vikings have moved up the board. Minnesota has traded the 23rd pick to the Jaguars for No. 17, also sending No. 167 this and 2025 third- and fourth-round selections to Jacksonville.

With the pick, Minnesota has drafted Alabama edge rusher Dallas Turner. The prospect was considered one of the top edge rushers in this year’s draft, leading to some speculation that he could be the first defensive player off the board. In a normal year, that’d warrant a top-10 pick, but considering this year’s unprecedented run on offensive players, Turner was the 17th player off the board tonight.

The 2023 SEC Defensive Player of the Year, Turner posted a career-high 10 sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss last season. Those figures helped earn him All-American acclaim as he took over from Will Anderson as the Crimson Tide’s lead edge rusher.

The Vikings will be eyeing a bit of a transitional season in 2024. After landing their Kirk Cousins replacement in QB J.J. McCarthy earlier tonight, the team has now added a potential defensive stalwart in Turner.

The edge rusher will likely profile as more of a linebacker in Brian Flores‘ 3-4 defense. The organization has brought in a number of players at the position this offseason, including Andrew Van Ginkel, Jonathan Greenard, and Blake Cashman, so the rookie might not immediately slide atop the depth chart. Turner’s versatility could also lead to some snaps on the defensive line, where he’d be competing with the likes of Jonathan Bullard and offseason addition Jonah Williams.

Seahawks Select DT Byron Murphy With No. 16 Pick

April 25th, 2024 at 9:04pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Seahawks did not host Byron Murphy on a top-30 visit, but the team has nevertheless gone ahead with adding him. Seattle has drafted the Texas defensive tackle 16th overall.

With the litany of offensive picks to open the night, a number of top defensive players were naturally going to slide. Seattle is able to land the top defensive tackle on the board at No. 16 overall. Murphy was a second-team All-American for the Longhorns in 2023. After impressive contributions in a rotation during his freshman and sophomore year, Murphy’s production more than doubled. He comes out of Austin with five career sacks and 15 tackles for loss.

While stout at just over 6-feet tall, Murphy makes up for a lack of ideal size with impressive leverage and power off the snap. His high motor and determination make him a disruptive menace. He was expected to be able to step in as a starter immediately.

In Seattle, though, Murphy may have to wait for his snaps. The Seahawks are set to return three starters on their defensive line. Jarran Reed, Dre’Mont Jones, and Leonard Williams — re-signed after arriving as a deadline rental piece last year — are back to create a daunting defensive front. Reed is set to be a free agent after this season, so perhaps Murphy is being brought in to eventually replace the veteran.

Regardless, Murphy provides a strong option to come in and compete for snaps on the defensive line as a rookie and into the future. Murphy becomes the first first-round defensive tackle to come out of Austin since Malcom Brown in 2015.

Ely Allen contributed to this post.

Colts Select DE Laiatu Latu At No. 15

April 25th, 2024 at 8:54pm CST by Ben Levine

A defensive player has finally come off the board following the run on (primarily) QBs and tackles. The Colts have used the No. 15 pick on UCLA edge rusher Laiatu Latu.

Latu has one of the most unique NFL paths in this year’s draft. A neck issue during Washington’s training camp in 2020 led to a medical retirement. Latu, however, resurfaced at UCLA in 2022 and proceeded to rip off 10.5- and 13-sack seasons. The latter effort produced a Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year honor in the conference’s swansong season, and it put him firmly in the discussion as one of the draft’s top defensive prospects.

Considering those past injury concerns, teams were naturally wary of the prospect entering the pre-draft process. However, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport passes along that Latu “got as good reviews as you can ask for” from a medical perspective, something that bodes well for his NFL future.

The injury questions are probably the only reason why Latu wasn’t able to end the offensive run earlier in the night. While the Colts may bring the rookie along slowly, he projects as a three-down option as a professional. With Samson Ebukam and Kwity Paye currently penciled in on the edge, Latu may start off as a third-down option before taking on more responsibility.

There were 14 offensive players selected to begin tonight’s draft. This is the longest run on offensive players to begin a draft in NFL history, making Latu a popular trivia answer in a few years.

Saints Select T Taliese Fuaga With No. 14 Pick

April 25th, 2024 at 8:46pm CST by Adam La Rose

Offensive linemen continue to come off the board, and the Saints have unsurprisingly added up front. With the 14th overall pick, New Orleans has selected Oregon State’s Taliese Fuaga.

Fuaga made a big jump in his fourth year in Corvallis. After a pretty good redshirt sophomore season with the Beavers, Fuaga exploded onto the scene in 2023, grading out as Pro Football Focus’ second best tackle in the nation. The first-team All-American has the size, strength, and balance to be an immediate starter at the NFL level, and many scouts thought he may play best as a guard, showing the versatility he brings as a prospect.

In New Orleans, they will value that versatility. With the Wednesday retirement of guard James Hurst and the free agency status of guard-turned-tackle Andrus Peat, the Saints are looking to replace two starters on the offensive line. Stalwart right tackle Ryan Ramczyk‘s season is also in jeopardy, after a knee injury became a big-picture concern last year.

The team drafted Trevor Penning in the first round two years ago with the hope that he may eventually take over at offensive tackle. The Northern Iowa alum has failed to become a reliable NFL blocker. Penning failing to win the starting LT job this year could prompt the Saints to plug in Fuaga. If the team has faith in Penning, though, Fuaga may find his way inside to guard as a rookie starter, regardless.

Fuaga is the fourth offensive tackle off the board at No. 14 overall, which aligns pretty well with where he was ranked by most draft pundits. Fuaga becomes the Beavers’ highest draft pick since quarterback Terry Baker was taken first overall in 1963, and he’s the school’s first first-round pick since Brandin Cooks in 2014.

Ely Allen contributed to this post.

Raiders Select TE Brock Bowers At No. 13

April 25th, 2024 at 8:38pm CST by Ben Levine

The run on offensive players continues. The Raiders are out of options with respect to quarterbacks, so they have selected Georgia tight end Brock Bowers with the 13th pick. For the first time in NFL history, 13 straight picks have been used on players on one side of the ball.

Bowers racked up 2,538 yards and 26 touchdowns during his three-year tenure with the Bulldogs. He played a key role in the team winning the national title in 2021 and ’22, and in the latter campaign he earned first-team All-American honors. Bowers took home the John Mackey award as the nation’s top tight end in each of the past two seasons, making him the only multi-time winner.

Considering his pass-catching ability and his position, Bowers was considered by most draft pundits to be an early first-round pick. There were some rumblings that he could land with the Jets with their first-round selection, but he ended up sliding to Las Vegas. Multiple pre-draft reports indicated a team would need to move into the top 10 to nab Bowers, but with six QBs going in the first 12 picks, the Raiders saw the standout SEC weapon fall to them.

Day 1 draft investments at the TE spot have generally not gone according to plan. Over the past 10 years, Kyle Pitts is the only one of the nine tight ends drafted in the first round to reach the 1,000-yard receiving mark. The Browns (David Njoku) are the only team to date to extend a homegrown player at the position during that span, although Pitts and 2023 Bills selection Dalton Kincaid are not yet eligible for a second contract.

Bowers should slide atop the Raiders depth chart. Michael Mayer is still around, and the team brought in Harrison Bryant as a veteran replacement for Austin Hooper. Considering Bowers’ offensive versatility, he could easily play alongside either of his two new teammates on the Raiders offense.

The Raiders were closely linked to Jayden Daniels throughout the pre-draft period, with Antonio Pierce — on Arizona State’s staff during Daniels’ time with the Pac-12 program — going so far as to bring up the Heisman winner with OC candidates. The Raiders contacted the Commanders — in a Hail Mary-type effort, given their draft proximity — about a trade. Washington never seemed close to moving the pick, leading to Raiders-Michael Penix Jr. connections. While some prominent mock drafts had Penix — a player previously uncertain to be chosen in the top half of Round 1 — going to Las Vegas at 13, Atlanta pulled off the stunner of the round by taking him eighth overall.

With the Vikings (J.J. McCarthy) and Broncos (Bo Nix) landing their passers, this left the Raiders without a chair. But a pre-draft report had indicated Pierce and GM Tom Telesco had differing views on a first-round trade-up maneuver, the latter’s outlook pointed to a belief Gardner Minshew could hold down the fort for at least a season. The Raiders gave Minshew a two-year, $25MM deal. He not only looks to have a clear path to the QB1 gig, but the Raiders are giving him a top-flight pass-catching prospect.

Broncos Draft QB Bo Nix With No. 12 Pick

April 25th, 2024 at 8:33pm CST by Ben Levine

A sixth QB has come off the board, and the Broncos are indeed among the teams which have added a new signal-caller. Denver has drafted Oregon passer Bo Nix.

The recent Ducks standout had the murkiest outlook of all the top QB prospects. He ultimately fell in order behind the projected top-five at the position, but it’s a bit of a surprise that he landed as early as No. 12.

No less, the selection was made by Sean Payton, who had never taken a first-round QB in his long NFL career. The Broncos, however, emerged as the team most closely connected to the ex-Auburn recruit, being tied to him in early February. That turned out to be telling, as the Vikings traded up to No. 10 to ensure they landed the other QB the Broncos were closely tied to (J.J. McCarthy).

Nix put up less-than-impressive numbers during his time at Auburn, but a transfer to Oregon ahead of the 2022 campaign paved the way for his draft stock rising considerably. He totaled 94 touchdowns (74 passing, 20 rushing) in his two seasons with the Ducks, remaining efficient as a passer. Nix completed 74.9% of his attempts at Oregon, throwing only 10 interceptions along the way.

While Nix may lack the upside of some of his draft counterparts, the Broncos are confident he can be a steady presence on their offense for years to come. The organization held a private workout with the Oregon product the day before his pro day; that intel only came out this week. The night before that private workout, the Broncos sent the prospect “three packets of offensive play installation,” and Nix proceeded to “crush it,” according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter. As a result, the Broncos felt comfortable taking him much earlier than many draft pundits expected.

Of course, it’s not a huge surprise that the Broncos were seeking a quarterback…it was just a question of which signal-caller they’d land on. The team moved on from Russell Wilson this offseason and did not do a whole lot to replace him. The organization recently acquired Zach Wilson from the Jets, adding the former second-overall pick to a depth chart that also features Jarrett Stidham and Ben DiNucci. Considering that underwhelming trio, there’s a chance Nix runs with the starting job right away, although that depth could also afford the rookie some time on the bench.

There have now been six QBs selected within the first 12 picks. This matches the record-setting total that came off the board in the famous 1983 NFL Draft. The Broncos acquired a 16-year starter (via the Colts) in that draft, but while John Elway proved a revelation, the first-round arms Denver has chosen have not panned out since.

Tommy Maddox (1992), Jay Cutler (2006), Tim Tebow (2010) and Paxton Lynch (2016), did not become long-term QBs in Denver. The Broncos’ struggles post-Peyton Manning have been well documented, with Wilson being the most expensive failure. The Broncos will take on a record-setting $85MM in dead money ($53MM this year, which is a single-player record by itself) as a result of cutting Wilson. Nix will now come in as a cost-controlled option, one that could certainly define the Payton era in Denver.

Sam Robinson contributed to this post.

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