by NICK SALES Staff Writer
This year’s NFL draft was very exciting, from trades to interesting selections and potential stars.
The first overall pick in particular is always the most highly-anticipated part of the NFL draft. This year, that pick belonged to the Houston Texans.
Many people gathered around their TV sets to see who would be the number one overall pick. Candidates included the “once-in-a-generation” defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, in-state product Johnny Manziel (commonly known as “Johnny Football”), and the rising quarterback from the University of Central Florida Blake Bortles.
The Texans went with the consensus – the “most talented” player in the draft, Clowney.
The Texans have been hit-and-miss when it comes to having the number one overall pick. The team’s first-ever draft pick, after being an expansion team, was quarterback David Carr. Carr was widely viewed as the best prospect of that draft, but it soon showed he would be a complete bust, going 23-56 during his NFL career.
For the Texans, this seems to be a better pick since the last time they had the number one overall pick they selected Mario Williams, a defensive end just like Clowney. Clowney could also be just another bust, but only time will tell.
There are always more interesting topics surrounding the draft other than the first overall pick, including trades.
One of this year’s biggest trades was made by the Buffalo Bills, who swapped picks with the Cleveland Browns going from number nine to number four. In return, the Browns received the Bills’ first and fourth round picks next year. The Bills made the jump from ninth to fourth so they could get Sammy Watkins, an electrifying and promising wide receiver.
The Browns were not finished maneuvering their picks. The Browns also swapped picks with the Philadelphia Eagles, going from 26th to 22nd. They also gave the Eagles their third round draft pick.
The Browns used their 22nd pick to select Manziel. It was a bit of a longer wait than he may have expected, but “Johnny Football” was still selected in the first round. Manziel was projected by most draft “experts” to be drafted in the top 10, but turned out to slip all the way to the 22nd pick.
The last interesting and most newsworthy pick of the draft was Michael Sam.
By now, most people know who Sam is; he was the first active football player to come out as gay. He was this year’s South Eastern Conference (SEC) defensive player of the year, leading the SEC in sacks (11.5) and tackles for a loss (19). He was drafted 249th overall in the last round of the draft by the St. Louis Rams.
Since he was drafted in the seventh round and considering the strength of the Rams’ defensive line (where Sam plays), he is not expected to play often, or even at all. Sam still has to make the opening day roster without getting cut.
Hypothetically, if Sam does make the squad, he will most likely play on special teams, and if he plays well enough, he could get more time as the season progresses.
This year’s draft was jam-packed with interesting picks and trades that only make fans, including myself, wanting the 2014-2015 NFL season to start already even more.
Who do you think will be the the rookie of the year for the upcoming 2014-2015 NFL season?