Trading up to get
Paxton Lynch showed some aggression by Denver. I like Lynch's measurables, because they are very comparable to
Brock Osweiler's. The
Broncos have a type of quarterback they like -- a rangy guy with a big arm. It's a good move all-around, because they already have
Mark Sanchez in place. If Sanchez plays well, he stays on the field. If he doesn't play well, Lynch gets a chance. It was a genius move by the
Broncos.
Joey Bosa going third overall was a stunner, simply because there was more buzz around other prospects (namely,
Jalen Ramsey,
DeForest Buckner,
Laremy Tunsil and
Ronnie Stanley). Even Bosa said
he was surprised by the pick because he didn't spend much time with the
Chargers during the pre-draft process. However, general manager Tom Telesco said Bosa was their top-rated prospect and that he would be a disruptive force as a 3-4 outside linebacker. That seemed to be reason enough for San Diego to pass on more pressing needs like offensive tackle and defensive end.
Myles Jack's slide to the second day of the draft was the
stunner of Thursday night. If the former UCLA linebacker's career isn't derailed by the
potential future surgery that some NFL clubs are concerned about, there is every possibility he'll be looked upon as the steal of the 2016 draft in the years to come.
I realize
there was a situation that surrounded
Laremy Tunsil on Thursday night, but no one could have predicted his slide to No. 13. However, it might be the best thing for Tunsil. The offensive tackle will be under the microscope in Miami, keeping the pressure on him to stay out of trouble.
Given all of the
Dallas Cowboys' glaring needs on defense, I was surprised they went with an offensive player. I was shocked they chose
Ezekiel Elliott. Don't get me wrong: The running back is a great pick. But the
Cowboys -- who ranked
22nd against the run and
17th in overall defense in 2015 -- needed a defensive player.
I also was surprised to see
Cleveland trade down again to draft receiver
Corey Coleman. The
Browns needed a tackle coming into the draft, and with the pick they traded to Tennessee in the first round, the
Titans chose
Jack Conklin. The
Browns had a great opportunity to get the Michigan State offensive tackle.
Keanu Neal to the
Falcons was the biggest surprise to me. There had been buzz about
Karl Joseph in the first round, but I hadn't heard anything about Neal. While I love Neal, I was pretty shocked to see him land in Atlanta at No. 17 overall.
