NEW YORK (AP) -So much talk, so little action.
The first NFL draft in prime time, complete with a pre-draft red carpet walk of Hall of Famers and future stars, delivered few surprises Thursday night, from the St. Louis Rams making Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford the No. 1 pick to the Big 12 Conference dominating the early selections.
With so much trade chatter regarding suspended Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, the teams with the top 10 picks did not budge.
The Browns did attempt to move up to get cornerback Eric Berry, but he went to the Chiefs with the No. 5 pick. Cleveland was just fine with cornerback Joe Haden of Florida at No. 7.
The Jacksonville Jaguars tossed in the first eye-opener of the draft by selecting defensive tackle Tyson Alualu of California. The 6-foot-3, 295-pound Alualu has shown flashes of being a dynamic pass rusher, and the Jaguars hope he can become a consistent one after his new team had a league-low 14 sacks last season.
the NFL losers of a year ago ended up with a bevy of Big 12 and Southeastern Conference stars. It started with Bradford, the 2008 Heisman Trophy winner who played three games last season before needing right shoulder surgery.
Bradford, 6-foot-4 and 236 pounds, should step right in and start for a team that went 1-15 and then released quarterback Marc Bulger. The Rams recently signed A.J. Feeley, and also have inexperienced Keith Null and Mike Reilly.
Bradford has a quick release and is quite accurate on the short and medium passes. He should fit in well with coach Steve Spagnuolo’s offense.
The Lions, with holes to fill everywhere, went for Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska’s dominating defensive tackle and the AP’s Player of the Year. There was little doubt Detroit would go with Suh, the 6-4, 307-pounder who nearly beat Texas single-handedly in the Big 12 title game. Suh certainly can help a defense that surrendered a whopping 494 points last year.
Back to Oklahoma for the next two picks, with Tampa Bay going for Sooners DT Gerald McCoy and Washington taking OU offensive tackle Trent Williams.
The Bucs were last against the run in going 3-13 last season – their worst finish since 1991. McCoy should slip right into coach Raheem Morris’ 4-3 defense and could be a dominating force thanks to his speed.
a. So they went with Williams, a 6-5, 315-pounder who could start at right tackle as the team attempts to rebuild a line beset by injuries and lack of depth.
Williams becomes the first player drafted under the new Redskins regime of coach Mike Shanahan and GM Bruce Allen.
Kansas City went to the SEC for its pick. In Berry, the Chiefs got the top safety in the draft, and one who can run a defense. The 6-0, 211-pound All-American is a hard, physical player who seems to make all the right reads. Even if he makes only a few in his rookie season, Kansas City will still be a better team. The Chiefs can use a linebacker or offensive lineman the next time their draft number comes around.
Seattle’s new coach Pete Carroll made his first pick Russell Okung, a 6-5, 307-pound offensive tackle with a mean streak from Oklahoma State. The pick makes sense with longtime tackle Walter Jones on the verge of retiring.
At No. 14, the Seahawks filled another need with All-American safety Earl Thomas of Texas.
New Browns president Mike Holmgren and coach Eric Mangini went for Haden, a 5-11, 193-pound junior with excellent ball skill who can also be a return man. Cleveland had nine more picks to fills holes at quarterback, defensive line and receiver.
lping Alabama to a national championship. The Raiders, meanwhile, posted their NFL-worst seventh straight season with at least 11 losses. Oakland can use help elsewhere, too, especially on both lines.
The Bills selected running back C.J. Spiller of Clemson with the No. 9 pick to help spark their anemic offense. They went with speed over size.
“He’s a playmaker,” first-time general manager Buddy Nix said of the 5-11, 196-pounder. “He’s exciting. We need some excitement.”
No kidding. Buffalo has missed the playoffs for 10 straight years and the offense has ranked 25th or worst in yards gained each of the past seven seasons. Now the Bills could use a blocker or two to open some holes for him. And maybe a quarterback.
The Jaguars went for Alualu, a stunning move for a team that desperately needed a big-name player to boost sagging ticket sales. There were thoughts the Jaguars might even go for Florida quarterback Tim Tebow.
But they took a player who will give them depth behind erstwhile starters John Henderson and Terrance Knighton.
San Francisco traded for Denver’s No. 11 pick to get OT Anthony Davis of Rutgers. Six picks later, with a pick acquired earlier from Carolina, the 49ers grabbed another offensive tackle, Mike Iupati from Idaho.
Both should end up starters.
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