The 32 things we learned from the 2020 NFL draft:
1. With so many Americans sheltering in place during the novel coronavirus pandemic, not a major surprise this was the most-watched draft ever, consumed by more than 55 million viewers – a 16% increase over last year.
2. Thanks in part to the "Draft-A-Thon LIVE," which ran concurrent to the three-day draft, the NFL has now raised more than $100 million for COVID-19 relief initiatives. Bravo.
3. The most compelling aspect of this most unique virtual draft experience was watching the league's general managers and coaches working from their homes – which meant quite a variance of domestic set-ups. Mike Zimmer's cabin motif with game mounted on the walls was apropos. Also liked seeing Andy Reid in Tommy Bahama with the cardio machine shoved out of the way.
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3a. But Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury clearly won the working remotely trophy. KK, we're fully prepared to make room for you on our 53-man buddy roster and ready to socially distance with you at your palatial Paradise Valley, Arizona, bachelor pad.
3b. And well done, Lori ... you clearly belong on LEGO Masters.
3c. If Kliff is busy, we'll gladly bring our laptop and LEGO and shack up on Jerry Jones' yacht.
3d. As for the low end of the homestead power rankings ... welp, sorry to single out Redskins VP of player personnel Kyle Smith.
4. Shout-out to Patriots coach Bill Belichick, who pretty successfully avoided being caught on his war room/dining room camera but at least assured his precious pup Nike got sufficient air time.
5. Lastly, how about an attaboy for Roger Goodell? The NFL commish takes a lot of heat, certainly some of it by design and deserved. Still, he welcomed us into his suburban New York basement and did his best shepherding his portion of the event through sub-optimal conditions. He butchered some names – sorry, Tua and K'Lavon – hosted awkward interviews with players and tried to unfailingly remain enthusiastic while playing along with Bud Light's dopey #BooTheCommish promotion. Nice work, Rog, we'll gladly come watch "Monday Night Football" with you ... but not for $200,000+.
6. A round of applause for ESPN as well. The "Worldwide Leader" did a nice job taking the lead on the draft telecast, smoothly overseen by football-savvy anchor Trey Wingo, who did his best to orchestrate a simulcast that integrated NFL Network analysts, featured numerous remote shots of players, coaches and team executives all while dispensing crisp analysis in a socially distanced production environment. Also, ESPN's music was fantastic ... even if the graphics supplied by its "Monday Night Football" arm were not – per usual.
6a. Bummer not to see ESPN draft guru Todd McShay contribute to the broadcast as he endures his own battle with coronavirus. At least McShay didn't have to hear Mel Kiper gloat about winning their bet as to whether Justin Herbert or Jordan Love would be drafted first (McShay, who backed Love, now owes $5,000 to The V Foundation). Cool wager for a good cause. Now, get well, Todd.
6b. Also, very touching moment when NFL Network chief draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah thanked ESPN's Chris Mortensen for helping him get his foot into the door of the media biz two decades ago.
7. LSU won the draft. Five Bayou Bengals went in Round 1, including the first overall pick (QB Joe Burrow) and No. 32, RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire. Overall, 14 Tigers were plucked from what may eventually be regarded as the greatest college football team in history. Even long snapper Blake Ferguson heard his name called by the Dolphins.
7a. LSU tied a record (set by Ohio State in 2016) by placing 10 players in the first three rounds.
7b. LSU tied another Ohio State record (set in 2004) for most players picked in a seven-round draft.
7c. Triplets siren. With Burrow, Edwards-Helaire and WR Justin Jefferson, LSU became the only school to have a quarterback, running back and receiver drafted in the first round of the same draft.
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8. The Cardinals have taken to calling the eighth pick of the draft, highly versatile Clemson defender Isaiah Simmons, the "Eraser." We think they're shading you, George Kittle ...
9. Unsurprisingly, Ferguson was the only snapper selected.
9a. Two punters were picked.
9b. Three kickers were drafted (same as the number of nose tackles). Oddly, Georgia's Rodrigo Blankenship wasn't one of them. But he did get signed by the Colts, which might mean Adam Vinatieri is officially done in Indianapolis.
9c. Of the 255 players taken, 72 (28.2%) were underclassmen.
10. The Southeastern Conference had a record 15 of its players drafted Thursday, nearly half of Round 1's selections. The SEC also landed six players in the top 10, another draft record. Overall, 63 alums from the conference were picked, one short of the record ... already owned by the SEC (2019).
10a. This was the 14th consecutive draft in which the SEC had the most players selected.
11. In what was long touted as a receiver-rich draft, 35 wideouts were picked.
11a. Thirteen were picked by the end of Round 2, a record.
11b. Three teams (Denver, Las Vegas, Philadelphia) selected a trio of wideouts.
12. When your coach and GM can't draft from the same room, it helps to at least be neighbors ... and, yes, the Ravens hit it out of the park again.
13. The Patriots took another Alabama product (OLB Anfernee Jennings), marking the 10th time Belichick selected one of Nick Saban's players. It marks the most times in the common draft era (since 1967) that a coach-to-coach pipeline has been used with such frequency.
14. Tua Tagovailoa, selected fifth overall by the Dolphins, became the highest-drafted quarterback Alabama has ever produced, topping former New York Jet Richard Todd (the No. 6 pick in 1976).
14a. Tagovailoa also became the first southpaw passer drafted since Sean Canfield in 2010, a stretch that saw 106 consecutive right-handed quarterbacks picked, according to ESPN Stats and Info.
14b. Finally, Tagovailoa was the first quarterback from a Saban-coached teamed picked in Round 1.
15. The Vikings picked 15 players, most ever in a seven-round draft. What can they possibly think they're going to do with 15 new players? Good thing the new CBA will expand roster flexibility.
16. Dan Marino, in 1995, was the last Dolphins quarterback named to the Pro Bowl. No team in the league has a longer drought. (Good luck, Tua.)
17. But good news for new Packers QB Jordan Love. Per ESPN, he's the first player since Marino in 1983 to get drafted in the first round after leading the FBS in interceptions.
18. Love was the first offensive skill player – meaning non-lineman – the Packers picked in the first round ... since Aaron Rodgers in 2005.
18a. Speaking of Green Bay linemen, the Pack was initially ghosted by sixth-round G Jon Runyan Jr., who accidentally declined the team's draft call while texting with his agent. Rookie mistakes, etc.
19. Herbert became the first quarterback taken in Round 1 by the Chargers ... since Eli Manning went No. 1 overall in 2004.
20. Since the common draft began, Florida, Michigan, Michigan State and Southern California are the only schools to have at least one player drafted every year.
21. The Bengals made the first pick in every round. It's the third time that's happened in franchise history ... but something no other team has ever done in the common draft era.
22. The Panthers became the first team since the common draft began to devote seven picks solely to defense in one draft.
22a. Carolina also became the first (dare we assume only?) team to draft a player who'd also played in the XFL, S Kenny Robinson, formerly of the St. Louis Battlehawks (and West Virginia prior to that).
23. Kudos to the new Redskins regime for finally putting an end to the Trent Williams saga, getting a fifth-rounder and future third for the disgruntled left tackle. Washington very likely would have gotten far more had ousted team president Bruce Allen dealt Williams last year.
23a. And kudos to the 49ers for landing Williams, a seven-time Pro Bowler, as Joe Staley exits stage left.
23b. Further kudos to San Francisco CB Richard Sherman for reaching out to Williams after the two beefed following Seattle's 2012 wild-card win in Washington, when Williams shoved the ever-chatty corner.
23c. Meanwhile, sure seems DE Yannick Ngakoue and the Jaguars are stuck with each other for a while, barring an injury to a pass rusher on a contender.
24. Raiders GM Mike Mayock has now picked five Clemson players over the course of his two drafts with the franchise. You should be probably soon be comped a suite on the Vegas strip, Dabo.
25. With Tagovailoa, LT Jedrick Wills Jr. (Browns), WR Henry Ruggs (Raiders) and WR Jerry Jeudy (Broncos) all picked Thursday, Alabama joined the 1968 USC Trojans as the only teams to have four offensive players selected in the first round.
26. New Jags OL Ben Bartch played at Division III Saint John's (Minnesota), making him the third D-3 player picked since 2008.
27. The Colts made three consecutive picks in the sixth round. The last time a team had three successive selections was the Broncos (seventh round in 2015, a trifecta that included QB Trevor Siemian).
28. One guy we can all root for? Navy's Malcolm Perry, who just might be a weapon – and could even spell Tagovailoa on occasion – after joining the Dolphins as a seventh-rounder.
29. When Detroit picked Ohio State's Jeff Okudah with the No. 3 pick, he became the highest-draft corner ... since Ohio State's Shawn Springs in 1997.
29a. If Lions coach Matt Patricia is going to use a pen, why does he always have that pencil tucked behind his ear?
30. Good news for undrafted free agents like Randy Moss' son, Thaddeus, who's headed to Washington. Seventeen Hall of Famers – guys like Kurt Warner, Warren Moon and John Randle – didn't get a draft day call.
31. The draft heads next to Cleveland – assuming, God willing, it will actually be staged there as scheduled in 2021. Las Vegas is now slated to get its belated opportunity in 2022.
32. Tough year to be Mr. Irrelevant. The coronavirus will likely prevent new Giants LB Tae Crowder, the 255th and final pick of this draft, from getting his trip to currently shuttered Disneyland as well as enjoying the other events Mr. Irrelevant annually enjoys in Newport Beach, California.
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