BIG BOYS: A pair of offensive tackles – Central Michigan’s Eric Fisher and Texas A&M’s Luke Joeckel (inset) went Nos. 1 and 2 last night at the NFL Draft, the first time since 1970 two tackles went back to back to start a draft. (
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The read option is still the rage.
Linemen might have dominated the first round of the NFL Draft Thursday night, but the option attack running rampant last season inspired the biggest shocker of last night when the Bills made Florida State’s E.J. Manuel the first — and only — quarterback taken.
Buffalo’s boldness was the exception, though, as blockers and defensive linemen ruled while marquee names Geno Smith and Manti Te’o were reduced to spectators.
Offensive left tackles Eric Fisher of Central Michigan and Luke Joeckel of Texas A&M went 1-2 overall to the Chiefs and Jaguars, respectively, and six of the first seven players off the board were linemen.
By the end of the night, a whopping 17 of the 32 picks were spent on linemen, including the usually unthinkable sight of four offensive guards being selected — two in the top 10.
The 17 line picks included nine on offense and eight on defense, and the night had a distinctly SEC feel as 12 players from that powerhouse league were chosen.
On the flip side, no running backs went in the first round and just three wide receivers heard their names called.
Oh, and a year after Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III dominated the first round, just one quarterback got to hug Roger Goodell.
Manuel was the only passer available with experience at running the read option, and Buffalo apparently thinks he can follow in the scrambling footsteps of RG3, Colin Kaepernick and Russell Wilson as read-option fever continues unabated in the NFL.
“I don’t think the NFL is going to get to be an option league, but I do like the idea that [Manuel] could do it if you wanted to,” Bills general manager Buddy Nix said after the pick. “If you can get a guy that can take you either way, it’s a good thing.”
Smith, the West Virginia quarterback, had been the most talked-about passer coming in and was projected to go as high as sixth to the Browns, but he had a long night in the green room as 15 picks went by and the Bills opted for Manuel instead after trading down from No. 8 overall.
Despite major concerns about Manuel’s decision-making, technique and general stiffness in the pocket, Buffalo liked his versatility enough that new coach Doug Marrone even passed on Syracuse pupil Ryan Nassib in hopes of ending the Bills’ 13-year playoff drought.
Buffalo wasn’t the only AFC East team to make a head-scratching move after a trade last night.
The Dolphins traded up nine spots with the Raiders to No. 3 overall with the expectation Miami would take athletic Oklahoma offensive tackle Lane Johnson, only to cross up everyone by reaching for undersized Oregon pass rusher Dion Jordan.
The Dolphins thought the Eagles at No. 4 were a threat to grab Jordan because he played for new Philadelphia coach Chip Kelly, but that interest was a smokescreen as Kelly immediately pounced on Johnson — the player considered his favorite all along.
Teams gorged on linemen and pass rushers because playmakers were in short supply.
The Rams were so desperate for speedy West Virginia receiver-returner Tavon Austin — and so worried the Jets might take him instead — they traded up eight spots with the Bills to take him No. 8 overall.
No team was more productive than the Vikings, who began the night with two first-rounders because of the Percy Harvin trade and then acquired the 29th overall choice from the Patriots.
All that handiwork netted the Vikings three players — Florida defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd, Florida State cornerback Xavier Rhodes and Tennessee receiver Cordarrelle Patterson.
Fisher going first, meanwhile, was a slight surprise because Joeckel had been pegged to the Chiefs for much of the offseason. New coach Andy Reid went with the more rugged Fisher instead, making him the first Mid-American Conference player taken first in the NFL Draft.