Last Updated on April 28, 2007 12:34 pm by admin
NEW YORK (AP) -JaMarcus Russell, the big-play quarterback from LSU, was the first pick in Saturday’s NFL draft as the Oakland Raiders pulled no surprises.
The 6-foot-6 junior comes off an impressive season and a superb Sugar Bowl that helped catapult him to the top spot. And with the Raiders coming off a 2-14 year in which they had the league’s worst offense, he easily could be the starter on opening day.
Detroit then declined several trade options for the No. 2 overall pick and chose wide receiver Calvin Johnson of Georgia Tech, considered the best athlete in this year’s crop. It was the fourth time in five years the Lions chose a wideout high in the draft. Only one of the others, Roy Williams, has succeeded in Detroit.
That left Cleveland to select Joe Thomas, the left tackle from Wisconsin who spent the morning fishing back home rather than attend the draft, as the No. 3 pick. Tampa Bay then made end Gaines Adams of Clemson the first defensive player chosen. At 6-foot-5 and 260 pounds, he is an inch shorter and three pounds lighter than Russell.
The Cardinals used the fifth pick to choose Penn State offensive tackle Levi Brown, who should replace Leonard Davis, now with Dallas after leaving Arizona as a free agent.
Still waiting to be chosen was Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn, once considered the top prospect in this year’s draft.
Oakland will count on Russell to invigorate the Raiders, who scored only 168 points last season.
When Roger Goodell, conducting his first draft as commissioner, announced Russell’s name, Raiders fans in the crowd cheered loudly. But there was a mixture of cheers and boos when Russell, who is bigger than some NFL linemen, came on stage to don a Raiders hat and hold up a No. 1 black jersey.
Then came chants of “L-S-U, L-S-U” for the man who soon will be in charge of the Silver and Black offense.
Johnson, an All-American junior, is 6-4, 237 pounds and can run a 4.35 in the 40.