2014 NFL Draft Round One: Three Taken From Pac-12, No Oregon Ducks
May 8, 2014; New York, NY, USA; Johnny Manziel (Texas A&M) hugs commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected as the number twenty-two overall pick in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft to the Cleveland Browns at Radio City Music Hall. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
Last year the Oregon Ducks heard their name called early with Dion Jordan heading to Miami. This year there were no surprises when it came to Oregon players, but there was plenty to talk about.
The kickoff to the 2014 NFL Draft happened on Thursday night at Radio City Music Hall in New York City and the first overall pick could have gone a couple of ways. In the end new Houston Head Coach Bill O’Brien went with Jadeveon Clowney with the first pick. The first trade of the night came a few picks later at number four when the Buffalo Bills jumped up to take Sammy Watkins to add to a solid Wide Receiver corps. The position of need was prevalent in the first round and one player in particular.
The man of the night you could say, Texas A&M Quarterback Johnny Manziel waited and waited and waited and ultimately was still on the draft board late in the first round to head to the Cleveland Browns, who picked eighth and twenty second . Of course, there was a helpful ‘assist’ from Philadelphia and Chip Kelly to allow Cleveland to move up and take Manziel. When it comes to the conferences around the country the almighty SEC reigned supreme in the first round.
The Pac-12 Conference did have three chosen in Round 1, starting with UCLA Linebacker Anthony Barr, now a member of the Minnesota Vikings. They also snagged Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater from Louisville to close out the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft. Oregon State Wide Receiver Brandon Cooks heard his name called in the first round and will join the New Orleans Saints and Washington State Safety Deone Bucannon head to the Arizona Cardinals.
There are several key players whose names were not called on night number one. The most surprising to me is USC Wide Receiver Marquise Lee. I would expect him to be chosen early in the second round, depending on team needs. For those interested, former Oregon Ducks Chip Kelly and the Philadelphia Eagles had the twenty sixth pick and chose Louisville Defensive End Marcus Smith. He was the ACC Defensive Player of the Year and had fourteen and a half sacks last season for the Cardinal.
Some familiar names we could hear in the Second Round for the Oregon Ducks include Wideout Josh Huff, Speedster De’Anthony Thomas and Defensive Standout Taylor Hart.
Round 2 of the NFL Draft starts today at 4pm PT.
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