Defensive players were the big stars of the opening minutes of the NFL Draft on Thursday in Las Vegas. The first five athletes to hear their name all play on this side of the ball.
It is also the first time since 1991 that the first five players called up are all defensive.
The Jacksonville Jaguars got the ball rolling by setting their sights on defensive lineman Travon Walker.
The secrecy had been total on the part of the Florida team – which had several potential candidates in its sights to be called in the very first row – until commissioner Roger Goodell revealed the identity of the lucky winner.
The Georgia Bulldogs product is still considered an athlete who needs to polish his game, having only managed six quarterback sacks in 13 games in 2021. His potential, however, is seen as one of the best in this vintage.
The Detroit Lions then got their hands on a local hero: defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson. The Michigan Wolverines product had an impressive 14 sacks in as many games last season as he was tipped as a potential candidate to hear his name as a curtain raiser.
The Houston Texans and New York Jets each opted for a defensive back afterward, choosing Derek Stingley Jr. and Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner, respectively. Finally, the Giants completed this hasty push for defensive players by selecting the third lineman of the evening: Kayvon Thibodeaux.
The waltz of receivers
After an initial streak dominated by defensive players, wide receivers were in demand.
The Atlanta Falcons first selected Drake London in the eighth overall, before seeing the Jets, in their second round at the podium of the night, call Garrett Wilson with the 10th overall pick. The New Orleans Saints and Lions, seeing the high demand for receivers, made trades to speak at 11th and 12th respectively.
The former have set their sights on Chris Olave, while the latter have made Jameson Williams their selection.
With the main players in this position already gone, the Arizona Cardinals preferred to negotiate their first-round pick (23rd overall) to the Baltimore Ravens, in return for Hollywood Brown.
The Philadelphia Eagles made a similar trade afterwards, preferring to get an already established receiver over one they could have drafted. They sent a first-round pick to the Tennessee Titans for AJ Brown.