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Live: Latest updates from NFL Draft in Chicago

AFTER selecting a defensive beast at pick seven, the 49ers traded up to secure a shock second selection in the first round.

Jai BednallJai Bednall
@jaibednall
8 min read
April 29, 2016 - 2:59PM
Adam Gotsis is expected to be the first Australian selected in the NFL Draft.
Adam Gotsis is expected to be the first Australian selected in the NFL Draft.

SAN Francisco selected a defensive beast with pick seven in an NFL Draft first round that was hijacked by a social media scandal.

The 49ers were expected to select Oregon defensive end DeForest Buckner if he was still available and were delighted to be able to pair him with former Ducks teammate Arik Armstead in the defensive line under former Ducks coach Chip Kelly.

Buckner, who was the Pac-12 conference’s defensive player of the year after recording 10.5 sacks as a senior, was thrilled to be heading to Santa Clara.

“My biggest goal is to help turn around the club, allow us to win a bunch of games and ultimately win a Super Bowl,” said Jarryd Hayne’s newest teammate.

San Francisco added a second first round selection after trading up for the Kansas City Chiefs’ pick. They surprised many analysts by drafting Stanford guard Joshua Garnett at No. 28, who impressed the coaching staff at the 49ers’ pro day earlier this month.

But the major talking point on the opening day of the three-day event was the horror experience of Ole Miss offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil.

Tunsil was ranked by many as the best overall player in the draft. After the Rams and Eagles traded up to get quarterbacks, many thought Tunsil would be picked at third by the Chargers, but he wasn’t.

He was skipped at fourth, fifth, sixth and more. It was not until the 13th selection that Tunsil heard his name called by the Miami Dolphins as teams appeared to be scared off by this video.

The video that was posted on Tunsil’s Twitter account minutes before the start of the draft potentially cost the offensive lineman millions of dollars.

The approximately 30-second video, which showed a person smoking from a mask equipped with a bong, was posted to Tunsil’s verified Twitter account before quickly being deleted. The entire account was deactivated about 30 minutes later but the video added to the perception that Tunsil has off-the-field problems.

While it is unclear if it was Tunsil in the video, or what was actually going on, it appeared to impact the left tackle’s draft stock.

After being offered a lifeline by the Miami Dolphins, Tunsil — whose Instagram was also later hacked — added to the controversy by admitting to receiving money from coaches.

THE ORDER (first round)

1. Los Angeles Rams (from Tennessee)

Jared Goff (Quarterback, California)

The Rams gave up plenty to the Titans to move up to number one and secured their man by selecting Cal’s Jared Goff. Goff will have the weight of Los Angeles on his shoulders after the Rams’ decision to flee St Louis. Goff was a three-year starter who is rated one of the most natural passers in the class.

2. Philadelphia Eagles (from Cleveland)

Carson Wentz (Quarterback, North Dakota State)

The Eagles followed pre-draft expectations by taking a quarterback of their own at pick two. Wentz has good size and athleticism and is predicted to become a quality player as he rivals Sam Bradford for the starting position.

3. San Diego Chargers

Joey Bosa (Defensive end, Ohio State)

With the pick that was going to set the scene for the rest of the first round, the Chargers took Joey Bosa. San Diego’s defence was a mess last season and the Buckeyes star promises to make an immediate impact with his ability to find the ball and stop the run.

4. Dallas Cowboys

Ezekiel Elliott (Running back, Ohio State)

The Cowboys made it back-to-back Buckeyes by taking star back Ezekiel Elliott. Some teams have shied away from taking running backs in the first round after a string of recent busts but Elliott has the skill-set to validate this selection.

5. Jacksonville Jaguars

Jalen Ramsey (Cornerback, Florida State)

The Jags’ fifth top five pick in the past five years went towards beefing up their secondary. Ramsey was rated by some scouts as the best overall player in the draft, so this is a solid pick. No immediate help for Blake Bortles’ offensive line though — that will have to come later.

6. Baltimore Ravens

Ronnie Stanley (Offensive tackle, Notre Dame)

The Ravens hadn’t picked in the top 10 since taking Terrell Suggs in 2003 so they’ll have high hopes for Stanley. Can he be another Jonathan Ogden? That’d be nice.

7. San Francisco 49ers

DeForest Buckner (Defensive end, Oregon)

The 49ers surprised no one by taking this defensive monster from new coach Chip Kelly’s former school. Buckner will be paired on the defensive line with former Oregon teammate Arik Armstead, who was the Niners’ first selection in last year’s draft. “I’m probably the happiest guy in the draft right now,” said Buckner, on being reunited with Armstead.

8. Tennessee Titans (from Cleveland through Philadelphia and Miami)

Jack Conklin (Offensive tackle, Michigan State)

The Titans made a draft day trade with Cleveland to move up from pick 15 and take Conklin, who played left tackle in school but projects as a right tackle.

9. Chicago Bears (from Tampa Bay)

Leonard Floyd (Outside linebacker, Georgia)

The Bears traded picks with Tampa to secure Floyd, who was predicted to go in the middle of the first round. The long-levered linebacker can play in space and has explosive athleticism.

10. New York Giants

Eli Apple (Cornerback, Ohio State)

Eli Apple is headed to the Big Apple after the Giants pulled a minor surprise by taking the third Ohio State player in the top 10. Apple has outstanding speed and is strong in run support.

11. Tampa Bay (from Chicago)

Vernon Hargreaves III (Cornerback, Florida)

The Bucs traded down today knowing Hargreaves would still be available. The SEC star is slightly undersized but has the smarts and skills to play at either left or right corner.

12. New Orleans Saints

Sheldon Rankins (Defensive end, Louisville)

The Saints added 300 pounds of muscle to the middle of their defensive line by taking projected nose tackle Sheldon Rankins.

13. Miami Dolphins (from Philadelphia)

Laremy Tunsil (Offensive tackle, Ole Miss)

Tunsil was finally put out of his misery by the Dolphins, who will face serious scrutiny for this pick after a video of the Ole Miss star appearing to smoke a bong was posted to his Twitter just minutes before the draft. It cost Tunsil — who had been tipped as a No. 1 pick at one stage — millions of dollars, but could also see Miami pick up a steal if he overcomes the setback.

14. Oakland Raiders

Karl Joseph (Safety, West Virginia)

The up-and-coming Raiders added the best overall safety in the draft by taking Joseph. The West Virginia team captain tore the ACL in his right knee in October last year but has obviously passed his medical checks in the opinion of Oakland.

15. Cleveland Browns (From Tennessee Titans through Los Angeles)

Corey Coleman (Wide receiver, Baylor)

The Browns fell for the touchdown machine from Baylor, who is the first receiver selected in today’s draft. This pick might not have been necessary if Josh Gordon could stop smoking marijuana, but Cleveland will hope Coleman can fill the void.

16. Detroit Lions

Taylor Decker (Offensive tackle, Ohio State)

Decker became the fourth offenisve tackle off the board when the Lions pounced at pick 16. Decker finished his Ohio State career with a 50-4 record — hopefully he can bring that winning pedigree to one of the NFL’s perennial losers.

17. Atlanta Falcons

Keanu Neal (Safety, Florida)

Bold pick but Falcons coach Dan Quinn knows the importance of physical safeties from his time in Seattle with the Legion of Boom.

18. Indianapolis Colts

Ryan Kelly (Centre, Alabama)

The Colts badly needed a centre to line up in front of Andrew Luck and landed the most talented one in the draft. Kelly ticks all the boxes as an SEC scholar athlete of the year and team captain at Alabama.

19. Buffalo Bills

Shaq Lawson (Defensive end, Clemson)

ACC defensive player of the year Shaq Lawson will link up with renowned defensive coach Rex Ryan in Buffalo. Lawson led the nation with 25.5 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks in his first season as a starter.

20. New York Jets

Darron Lee (Outside linebacker, Ohio State)

This third down specialist will be given a licence to hunt quarterbacks in New York. It’s the eighth year in a row the Jets have used their first rounder on a defensive player.

21. Houston Texans (from Washington)

Will Fuller (Wide receiver, Notre Dame)

Fuller averaged more than 20 yards per catch in 2015 as a serious vertical threat at Notre Dame. He’s not a natural pass-catcher but he offers all sorts of speed.

22. Washington Redskins (from Houston)

Josh Doctson (Wide receiver, TCU)

What Fuller lacks, Doctson has in abundance. He’s not the fastest, most athletic receiver in the class, but he knows how to find the football in the air and is a serious one-on-one threat.

23. Minnesota Vikings

Laquon Treadwell (Wide receiver, Mississippi)

The Vikings selected the third receiver in as many picks by taking Rebels junior Laquon Treadwell.

24. Cincinnati Bengals

William Jackson III (Cornerback, Houston)

Jackson showed off his unique ball skills by leading the FBS with 28 passes broken up while adding five interceptions.

25. Pittsburgh Steelers

Artie Burns (Cornerback, Miami)

The Steelers were desperate for help in the secondary but may have over-reached here by taking Burns, who wasn’t rated highly by some scouts.

26. Denver Broncos (from Seattle)

Paxton Lynch (Quarterback, Memphis)

The Broncos quarterback picture has been muddy since Peyton Manning’s retirement but the Super Bowl champion traded up to secure Lynch, who is the third quarterback taken in the draft. He has a strong arm and a high ceiling. This pick could mean Colin Kaepernick stays in San Francisco.

27. Green Bay Packers

Kenny Clark (Defensive tackle, UCLA)

After BJ Raji’s decision to take a year off, the Packers filled the breach at nose tackle by taking a young run defender.

28. San Francisco 49ers (from Kansas City Chiefs)

Joshua Garnett (Offensive guard, Stanford)

The Niners traded up to secure Garnett, who could be blocking for Jarryd Hayne this season. The move surprised many analysts but after guard issues in Philadelphia, it appears Chip Kelly isn’t taking any risks this time.

29. Arizona Cardinals

Robert Nkemdiche (Defensive tackle, Ole Miss)

Nkemdiche is seen as a top 10 talent who only fell this far because of his inconsistent play and off-field issues. The Cards will back themselves to mould him into a star on their already star-filled defence.

30. Carolina Panthers

Vernon Butler (Defensive tackle, Louisiana Tech)

The Super Bowl runner-up might be well stocked already at this position but followed its board by taking the best player available at this point. Butler is a mountain of a man who projects as a Pro Bowl-type talent with a bit of refinement.

31. Seattle Seahawks (from Denver)

Germain Ifedi (Offensive tackle, Texas A&M)

The Seahawks had to do something to offer better protection to Russell Wilson next season and got the ball rolling by taking an absolute specimen in Ifedi.

NERVOUS WAIT FOR AUSSIES

Australia’s top hopes — defensive lineman Adam Gotsis, punter Tom Hackett and kicker Brad Craddock — will likely have to wait until the final day (Sunday AEST) to hear their names called.

“The feedback from a lot of teams has been really positive,” Melbourne’s Gotsis, a defensive lineman and co-captain at Georgia Tech, told AAP.

Other Australians who have impressed during stints in the US college system and hope to hear their names called at the draft include punters Alex Kinal (Wake Forest), Lachlan Edwards (Sam Houston State) and Jamie Keehn (Louisiana State) and offensive lineman Blake Muir (Baylor).

Gotsis has been projected as high as a third round pick, while other draft analysts have him pegged going anywhere from the fourth to sixth round.

His prospects were hurt by a left ACL tear in October, but the 195cm tall, 127kg force of nature says he will be 100 per cent by the start of the NFL season in September.

Tom Hackett, also from Melbourne, is the highest rated punter in the draft after four record-breaking seasons at the University of Utah and back-to-back awards for America’s best college punter.

NFL teams are usually reluctant to use picks on punters, but some draft analysts have pencilled Hackett in as a fourth to seventh round selection.

Adelaide’s Brad Craddock became one of college football’s most accurate field goal kickers at the University of Maryland and with his Aussie rules background can also be a back-up NFL punter. Some analysts have Craddock going as early as the fourth round.

— with AP

Originally published as Live: Latest updates from NFL Draft in Chicago

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Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/american-sports/live-latest-updates-from-nfl-draft-in-chicago/news-story/29d89a902accd3780ee566fcb0a5a105