Fans packed in the Auditorium Theatre to watch collegiate greats get drafted to their favorite NFL squads in the windy city.
Today marks the first day of the busiest and most exciting series of sports events happening in America. Day 1 of the NFL Draft begins as all the hard work these talented football players put into the NFL Combine will finally pay off. As expected, history was made in Chicago’s Auditorium Theatre as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected 2013 Heisman trophy winner Jameis Winston as the first overall pick of the 2015 NFL Draft. A controversial pick due to the fact that sources believe Winston is not mature enough to handle the pressure as a potential franchise quarterback, Winston is an all out baller who threw over 7,500 yds, 65 TD’s while completing 66% throughout his 2 seasons as a Seminole.
With the 2nd overall pick, the Tennessee Titans selected the reigning Heisman trophy winner Marcus Mariota from out of Oregon University. The Hawaii native completed 66.8 % of his passes while throwing for 105 TD’s throw his 3 seasons at Eugene.
The Jacksonville Jaguars went the defensive route by choosing feisty defensive end Dante Fowler Jr. with the 3rd overall pick from out of the University of Florida. Talented wide receiver Amari Cooper from Alabama University became the 4th overall selection as he was drafted by the Oakland Raiders. Cooper brings nothing but speed, explosiveness and athleticism as experts believe that he will be a major asset to the new and improved passing game led by David Carr. The 2014 Fred Biletnikoff Award winner as the nation’s best wide receiver caught 228 passes for 31 TD’s during his 3 year tenure under the leadership of head coach Nick Saban. Rounding out the top 5 picks in the NFL Draft, the Washington Redskins decided to add more protection for Robert Griffin III by drafting offensive tackle Brandon Scherff from Iowa University.
Notable Selections
New York Jets drafted Leonard Williams with the 6th overall pick from out of the University of Southern California. The 6’5 302lbs defensive end was projected as a top 5 pick by multiple NFL experts after completing the 40 yd dash with a time of 4.97 seconds.
The Chicago Bears were able to draft West Virginia Mountaineer wide receiver Kevin White with the 7th overall pick as the hometown fans went wild. The former All-American ran a 4.35 in the 40 yard dash, incredible numbers for a receiver who stands at 6’3 and taller. White is set to replace Brandon Marshall as one of Jay Cutler’s throwing options.
Georgia Bulldog running back Todd Gurley became the first running back to be drafted, being chosen 9th overall by the St. Louis Rams. Despite tearing his ACL and dealing with an indefinite suspension by the NCAA, Gurley was able to rack up over 3,000 yards and 36 TD’s during his three years at Georgia.
The San Diego Chargers traded up to the 15th overall pick to select running back Melvin Gordon from out of Wisconsin University. The former All-American briefly held the NCAA single game rushing record by running for 408 yards against Nebraska on November. 15, 2014.
The Denver Broncos traded up to the 23rd pick in the 1st round to select defensive end Shane Ray from the University of Missouri. A fan favorite, Ray is known for his story of perseverance as he experienced the murder of his cousin during a botched robbery attempt. The former SEC Defensive Player Of The Year was recently under some scrunity by being arrested for possession of marijuana.
As draft day continues to heat up in Chi-town, football fans will continue to tune in as plenty of squads will be doing a lot of moving and shaking as there are some talented players still avaliable in the draft room. An epic start to what may considered as one of the greatest sports weeks in recent years, you can see more coverage of the NFL Draft as day 2 on ESPN and the NFL Network.
Omari White
Follow Omari on Instagram & Twitter (@SmooveGuyO) as he will be continue to keep up on coverage with the NFL Draft, NBA Playoffs and the Pacquaio-Mayweather fight. It’s lit sports fans!
