NFL Draft Open Thread: Day 1

So here we are, finally able to “watch” some “sports.” The NFL Draft starts tonight, and while it isn’t actually sports, it is an opportunity to make fun of former conference foes for falling in the draft and only getting a signing bonus that’s slightly more than your lifetime income, rather than way more than your lifetime income. Plus if you follow the NFL at all, your team gets a chance to maybe pick up a guy who could contribute sometime in the next ten seasons and maybe even for your team!

Two important questions: First, what is a draft? In important and good question. A draft is when the teams are put in some order from 1 to 32 based on the prior year’s finish (sorta), and they decide which amateur player they want to sign out of a pool of all the eligible amateur players. The teams pick in order from 1 to 32, and then round 2 starts. Teams can also trade things and sometimes the Vikings forget to make a pick.

Second, which former B1G players might get drafted on Day 1? (Listed in whatever order Peter Schragers of NFL.com’s most had them in his final mock draft. And if the picks don’t match up with whatever team held the pick pre-draft, it’s because these guys think there will be a trade. I’m not bothering with typing all that nonsense.)

Chase Young - Ohio State Buckeyes

• #2 pick, drafted by the Washington Redskins, Peter Schrager’s mock draft
• #2, Washington, Todd McShay (last mock draft on March 30th)
• #2, Washington, Peter King

Jeff Okudah - Ohio State Buckeyes

• #5, Detroit Lions, Schrager
• #3, Detroit Lions, McShay
• #5, Lions (trade with Miami Dolphins), King

Tristan Wirfs - Iowa Hawkeyes

• #6, Los Angeles Chargers, Schrager
• #8, Arizona Cardinals, McShay
• #4, Giants, King

Cesar Ruiz - Michigan Wolverines

• #26, Miami Dolphins, Schrager
• Not taken in 1st Round, McShay
• #31, Dallas Cowboys (trade with 49ers), King

Antoine Winfield, Jr. - Minnesota Golden Gophers

• Not taken in 1st Round, Schrager
• #19, Las Vegas (really?!?) Raiders, McShay
• Not taken in 1st Round, King

AJ Epenesa - Iowa Hawkeyes

• Not taken in 1st Round, Schrager
• #23, New England Patriots, McShay
• #18, Miami Dolphins, King

Yetur Gross-Matos - Penn State Nittany Lions

• Not taken in 1st Round, Schrager
• #29, Tennessee Titans, McShay
• #27, Seattle Seahawks, King

Not Projected In The 1st Round By These Three Guys But Could Get Picked Up By Somebody In The 1st Round Anyway

• Zack Baun
• Damon Arnette
• Jonathan Taylor
• JK Dobbins
• Malik Harrison

Good luck to everyone who played for my favorite team or a team that beat Minnesota or Iowa!