NFL Draft: Round 1 Storylines To Watch For
By Keith Myers
Apr 26, 2012; New York, NY, USA; Members of the United States armed forces are honored during the 2012 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-USA TODAY Sports
The draft is next week, and it’s time to begin getting everyone ready. The Seahawks don’t have a pick in the first round, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of reasons to watch.
Here are a few of the many storylines I’ll be watching for as the first first round unfolds next Thursday:
1) Quarterbacks
In most years, the quarterback position dominates the top of the draft. That isn’t expected to happen this time around due to a relatively poor crop of QBs in the draft. Outside of Geno Smith, it’s possible that no other QB will go in the first round. There are 5 or 6 others who could go in round 1, but it’ll be interesting to see if any actually do.
2) Running Backs
More and more, teams are moving away from taking RBs in the first round unless they are a genuinely special player. There are some good back in this year’s draft class, but none are truly great. Will any go in the first round this year?
3) Wide Receivers
There might not be an AJ Green or Julio Jone caliber talent in this year’s draft class, but it is perhaps the deepest group at the position we’ve every seen. Guys like Rober Woods would be an automatic 1st rounder in past years, and he’s the 8th best WR according to many draft boards. With that much depth, will teams pass on the position early knowing they can get a playmaker in round 2?
4) Players in the Green Room
There are 23 players attending the draft this year. There are only 32 picks in the first round. Will any still be sitting in the green room when day 1 is complete? how many? And how will the networks cover it?
5) Trades
Trades on draft day are extremely common. They aren’t much of a story unless a player is moved and not just draft picks. But when a player moves in exchange for a first round pick, then it’s a huge deal. We’ve already seen 1, with the Seahawks trading away their first round pick for Percy Harvin. Will we see another? Darrell Revis perhaps?
6) Players with health concerns
There are some really good players in this draft class with some serious health concerns. Tank Carradine would be a top 15 pick had he not torn his ACL. And then there Star Lotulelei, who likely will still go in the top 5 anyways, even though he couldn’t participate at the combine because of a heart problem. How far will these players, and other injured players, drop due to their health concerns?
7) Movie references
Kevin Costner is filming a movie called “Draft Day” during the actual draft. How many times will this fact be referenced during the telecasts? I’d suggest turning it into a drinking game, but I have a better one planned that’ll share closer to the draft.