LAS VEGAS — De-fense, de-fense.
That was the chant at the outset of the NFL draft Thursday night, with the first five selections coming on that side of the ball, including edge rushers Travon Walker of national champion Georgia to the Jacksonville Jaguars and Aidan Hutchinson of Michigan to the Detroit Lions at Nos. 1 and 2.
Advertisement
It’s the first time in 31 years that no offensive player went in the first five picks. So naturally, the next seven choices were on offense.
But no quarterbacks, hardly a surprise in a draft rich with linemen, receivers and defensive backs.
Advertisement
The 6-foot-5, 275-pound Walker, who has some raw elements to his game but an extremely high ceiling for his skills, joins former Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence as the second straight No. 1 pick by the Jaguars. Walker was a one-year starter whose production (13 tackles for a loss and 9½ sacks) doesn’t jump out because he was part of a deep rotation at Georgia. His talent level certainly impressed the Jaguars, the NFL’s worst team the last two years.
“He’s an athletic freak,” Georgia defensive coordinator Will Muschamp told The Associated Press. “I swear to God he could line up at middle linebacker and go be fine. I would take him at No. 1 and not even blink.”
The Jaguars didn’t blink.
Commissioner Roger Goodell began the proceedings by estimating more than 100,000 fans were on hand at the theater built specifically for the draft. Walker was not in Las Vegas.
Hutchinson, a sack master whose consistency and relentlessness helped the Wolverines to their first College Football Playoff, is staying home as a pro. The 6-6, 265-pounder, whose father, Chris, was a star player at Michigan in the 1990s, was the Heisman Trophy runner-up last season.
“I always wanted to be at Detroit. I’m grateful to be a Lion,” he said.
Cornerbacks Derek Stingley Jr. and Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner went next to the Houston Texans and New York Jets.
LSU’s Stingley is the grandson of former New England Patriots receiver Darryl Stingley, who was paralyzed in a 1978 preseason game. Gardner, of Cincinnati, was a major reason the Bearcats broke through into the College Football Playoff last season. He wore a brash bejeweled necklace proclaiming his nickname and an accessorized chain with a bejeweled sauce bottle.
Advertisement
The defensive run concluded with Oregon edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux to the New York Giants.
“I’m at this nirvana. I’m at peace,” he said, noting that Giants Hall of Famer Michael Strahan has been a mentor. “It’s put up or shut up.”
When teams got around to the other side of the ball, they couldn’t stop. It began with North Carolina State tackle Ikem Ekwonu to the Carolina Panthers and Alabama tackle Evan Neal to the Giants. Both teams are needy, to say the least, up front.
The Atlanta Falcons, depleted of playmaking wide receivers, got USC’s Drake London before the Seattle Seahawks went for tackle Charles Cross of Mississippi State. Then came three more wideouts: Garrett Wilson of Ohio State to the Jets and college teammate Chris Olave to the New Orleans Saints — who traded up with the Washington Commanders for the 11th slot — and Alabama’s Jameson Williams, coming off a serious knee injury, to the Lions, who moved up in a deal with the division-rival Minnesota Vikings.
Another Georgia standout, defensive tackle Jordan Davis, was taken by the Philadelphia Eagles at No. 13 after yet another deal, getting matters back to the defensive side.
