Day 2 of the NFL draft[2] is in the books. Here's the top five things you need to know:
1. Ohio State players were popular
Ohio State had 10 players drafted, the most by any school in the first three rounds in the common draft era. In fact, 10 is the most by any school in the first four rounds of the draft.
How much did Ohio State dominate the draft? The Buckeyes had as many players picked as the entire Pac-12 Conference and more than the Big 12 (nine) did in the first three rounds.
2. Titans love Heisman winners
The Tennessee Titans[3] selected 2015 Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry[4] with the 45th overall pick. It was the second year in a row that the Titans have drafted the reigning Heisman winner after picking Marcus Mariota
Henry becomes the fourth Heisman winner overall to be drafted by the Titans, joining Eddie George (won the award in 1996) and Earl Campbell (1978).
Henry falling out of the first round is a rarity for Heisman-winning running backs. This is the first time in the common draft era that a Heisman-winning running back was not chosen in the first round of either the regular draft or the supplemental draft.
3. Defense was the priority
Fifty-eight defensive players were selected in the first three rounds of the draft, most in the common draft era. The previous high was 55 in 2013.
The only teams yet to draft a defensive player are the Texans (three picks), Eagles (two picks) and Rams (one pick). The Bills, Titans, Steelers, Jaguars, Raiders and Panthers have all selected three defensive players so far.
4. Three quarterbacks taken
The New York Jets[6], Cleveland Browns[7] and New England Patriots[8] were the three teams to draft a quarterback Friday.
The Jets possibly made the biggest splash, taking Penn State's Christian Hackenberg[9] at 51st overall. It's the fourth straight draft the Jets have taken a quarterback.
The Patriots selected North Carolina State's Jacoby Brissett[10] at 91st overall and the Browns grabbed USC's Cody Kessler[11] two picks later.
5. Bucs take a kicker?
The most curious decision of the night might have been the Tampa Bay Buccaneers[12] trading up in the second round to take Florida State kicker Roberto Aguayo[13].
Aguayo is the most accurate kicker in NCAA history, but Tampa Bay traded two picks (No. 74 and No. 112) to get him. Aguayo is the first kicker taken in the second round since Mike Nugent[14] in 2005.
Aguayo will be reunited with former college teammate Jameis Winston[15]. They were teammates on Florida State's national championship team in 2013.
References
- ^ print (espn.go.com)
- ^ NFL draft (insider.espn.go.com)
- ^ Tennessee Titans (espn.go.com)
- ^ Derrick Henry (insider.espn.go.com)
- ^ Marcus Mariota (espn.go.com)
- ^ New York Jets (espn.go.com)
- ^ Cleveland Browns (espn.go.com)
- ^ New England Patriots (espn.go.com)
- ^ Christian Hackenberg (insider.espn.go.com)
- ^ Jacoby Brissett (insider.espn.go.com)
- ^ Cody Kessler (insider.espn.go.com)
- ^ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (espn.go.com)
- ^ Roberto Aguayo (insider.espn.go.com)
- ^ Mike Nugent (espn.go.com)
- ^ Jameis Winston (espn.go.com)
