Blake Bortles (Central Florida) speaks at a press conference after being selected as the third overall pick in the first round of the 2014 NFL draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars during the 2014 NFL draft at Radio City Music Hall.(Photo: Brad Penner USA TODAY Sports)
We can debate the first round selection of safety Jimmie Ward, which seemed like a bit of a reach, but before Day 2 of the draft began they already had made a trade lionsauthenticofficial.com/authentic-larry-warford-jersey.html with the Bills to acquire the wide receiver they coveted in Stevie Johnson and then they owned Rounds 2 and 3.
They nabbed the consensus No. 1 running back with the 57th overall pick in Ohio State's Carlos Hyde, giving them some great insurance for Frank Gore, who turns 31 on Tuesday. Then with their first two picks in the third round, they got the best center in the draft in USC's Marcus Martin and, to me, the best inside linebacker in Wisconsin's Chris Borland.
Loser the Cleveland lionsauthenticofficial.com/authentic-t-j-jones-jersey.html Browns.
It's a pity, too, because this franchise has been mired in dysfunction forever and it actually had a newsy fun day in Round 1 with the selections of cornerback Justin Gilbert and, of course, Johnny Manziel.
But then Friday rolled around and news spread that star receiver Josh Gordon is facing a seasonlong ban for violating the league's substance abuse program again. Also on Friday, it was learned that new receiver Nate Burleson recently had fractured his arm in minicamp. Yes, that's the same Burleson that broke his arm last year trying to save a pizza from sliding off his passenger seat.
Knowing all of that, the Browns should have passed on Gilbert, stayed with the fourth overall pick, and drafted Sammy Watkins.
Winner the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The naysayers will tell you these guys shouldn't have taken Blake Bortles with the No. 3 pick if they still plan to let Chad Henne be their starting quarterback. Nonsense. Bortles will be starting in due time, whether it's six games into the season, 12 games in or next year.
Plus, they gave him two very good targets in second round receivers Marqise Lee and Allen Robinson. Smart move considering they no longer can rely on troubled young receiver Justin Blackmon, who has failed multiple drug tests. Oh, and by the way, Oklahoma cornerback Aaron Colvin was a steal in the fourth round.
Loser running backs.
The first one didn't go until the second round with the 54th overall pick. That's the longest a running back has had to wait to hear his name called in the draft and that's where the Titans found their replacement for Chris Johnson by taking Bishop Sankey from the University of Washington.
Two running backs went in the next three picks, LSU's Jeremy Larry Webster III Youth Jersey Hill to the Bengals and Hyde the 49ers, but that was it through the first two rounds. Arizona's Ka'Deem Carey tumbled to the fourth round with the 117th pick to the Bears. Get used to it, though. As long as college programs continue to run spread, up tempo offenses, the running back position will always be a little devalued.
Winner the St. Louis Rams.
Remember when these guys traded the second overall pick to the Redskins two years ago so Washington could draft quarterback Robert Griffin III?
Well, that blockbuster deal is now finally completed and the Rams won big time. They took those three first round picks and a second rounder T. J. Jones Womens Jersey from Washington, made a series of corresponding moves with Atlanta, Dallas and Houston, and wound up with eight players over three draft classes.
Seven of them are absolute studs Michael Brockers, Janoris Jenkins and Isaiah Pead (2012), Alec Ogletree, Stedman Bailey and Zac Stacy (2013) and Greg Robinson, the huge offensive tackle from Auburn that went No. 2 overall on Thursday.
Oh, and they also used their own pick in the first round the 13th overall to further upgrade their defensive line. Adding Pitt's Aaron Donald to a group that already features Robert Quinn, Chris Long and Brockers gives the Rams the most terrifying front in football.