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“NFL Draft…..Chargers Survive….Strange Picks Elsewhere”

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it started out as a mystery….it took some strange twist and turns along the way.

There were strange choices, there were trades, and in some cases, it all worked out fine.

The first round of the NFL draft had lots of different things for lots of different teams.

What looked like might be a bad night for the Chargers worked out, but it was tense, when three of the defensive players they really liked, came off the board infront of them.

The Bolts wound up 6’6-defensive tackle Jerry Tillery, coming off an impressive career at Notre Dame. He is viewed like former New England Patriots defensive tackle Richard Seymour, long, rangy, quick, and very active.

It worked out well, but there was a tense time prior to their pick, when the Giants took Clemson DT-Dexter Lawrence; Miami took Christian Wilkins of Clemson. And Tennessee selected Jeffrey Simmons of Mississippi State.

Tilley was not a fallback pick, they like him a lot, so it all worked out. On Friday, they need to find another offensive lineman and will likely take a shot at one of the list of DBs who will go in the 2nd round.

Around the NFL, some good, some bad, some surprises.

Arizona has two quarterbacks now, after selecting Kyler Murray. Still there, yet to be traded was Josh Rosen.

The 49ers choice of Nick Bosa and the Jets selection of Quinine Williams were perfect fits.

The Raiders reached with the 4th pick, and no one understands taking a player at number 4-who most felt would be there around with the 15th to 20th slot. The Raiders could have traded back, added more picks, and still gotten Clelin Ferrell later in the round.

They used their 2nd pick in the opening round to get heavy duty Alabama running back Josh Jacobs. Their other first round pick wound up being S-Jonathan Abram, who looks and plays like the Chargers Derwin James. A good first day.

The Giants wound up wheeling and dealing to finish with 3-first round picks. Using the 6th slot to take Duke QB-Daniel Jones was a stunner, but Miami and Washington were in the hunt for a QB too, and New York felt they could not wait. The Giants also wound up with Clemson’s Dexter Lawrence and Georgia DB-DeAndre Baker. A superb job.

Pittsburgh got a great LB-in trading up for Devin Bush of Michigan.

Buffalo got great value when DT-Ed Oliver of Houston fell to them.

Washington had two players drop into their lap, the Ohio State QB-Dwayne Haskins, whom they coveted, and pass rusher Montez Sweat, a talent, but with a troubled past.

The Bengals needed OT help and got a very good one in Crimson Tide OT-Jonah Williams.

But there were strange choices too.

Denver traded back, and decided not to go after QBs Dwayne Haskins or Drew Lock. They bypassed Devin Bush and the load of defensive lineman, areas they needed help. Tight end Noah Fant adds to their offense, but that defense is still wanting.

Miami still doesn’t have a quality quarterback, and they took a defensive tackle instead of addressing the black hole they have at QB.

Green Bay drafted defense, each with questions about them, and did nothing to help their great QB-Aaron Rodgers, bypassing offensive line and wide receiver help.

Baltimore, in need of a rebuild on defense, took a small wide reciever, Marquise Brown of Oklahoma instead. Strange.

New England may have reached for 6’4-WR-N’Keal Harry of Arizona State, but he is big, rangy, and gets yards after the catch.

Carolina needed pass protection help for Cam Newton, but bypassed guys in the OL.. Houston needed help upfront so DeSean Watson doesn’t take another 62-sacks, but the top OL were off the board by the time their pick came up, so they took a 1-AA offensive tackle from tiny Alabama State.

Atlanta needed help upfront, and got a quality guard and a tackle by the time the opening round ended.

A good day for the Chargers, an day of improvement for the Raiders, a weird day of Denver decisions, and in Kansas City, the worsening situation around WR-Tyreek Hill is worrisome now. Such is life in the AFC–West.

Rounds 2-3 will be on Friday, with selections in the 4th thru 7th rounds coming on Saturday.

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