QBs dominate Round 1 of the NFL Draft; Falcons’ shocking choice explained; Lakers on the brink

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🏈 Good morning everyone but especially…

NFL DRAFT FIRST ROUND PICKS, LEADED BY QUARTERBACKS

We know the NFL Draft is filled with offense and especially with quarterbacks. We don’t know which one it is this loaded. The The first 14 overall picks are all offensive playersthe longest streak by a batting side in the modern era. Furthermorefour midfielders finished in the top eight and six midfielders finished in the top 12.

• 1. Bear: Caleb Williams, USC (Analysis)
• 2. Commander: Jayden Daniels, LSU (Analysis)
• 3. Patriots: Drake Maye, North Carolina (Analysis)
• 8. Falcon: Michael Penix Jr., Washington (Analysis)
• 10. Vikings: JJ McCarthy, Michigan (Analysis)
• 12. Broncos: Bo Nix, Oregon (Analysis)

What’s shocking is Penix coming to Atlanta, and we’ll get to that later. Nix to Denver is probably the next surprising thing, but Sean Payton covets midfielders who operate on time. That’s why Nix is ​​there and Russell Wilson Not.

But let’s talk about Williams coming to Chicago. While we knew it was coming, Bears fans will no doubt be happy that it’s finally here. He’s excellent and he’s going through one of the best situations we’ve ever seen to be picked No. 1. Cody Benjamin has Williams at the top The most suitable player-team among the midfielders is madeand Will Brinson declared him the winner.

• The Bears have DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, Cole Kmet And D’Andre Swift make weapons and then more Roma Odunze ninth overall.
• The offensive line has some young talent but is not great. Guess what? Over the past two seasons, Williams has thrown 22 touchdowns and only four interceptions when pressured.
• The Bears have a solid and promising defense. Williams won’t have to play heroic football like he did against defense-averse USC.

While the offense ruled a day early, I liked it Eagle editor defensive midfielder Byron Murphy II the 16th, eagle taking defender Quinyon Mitchell Day 22 (one of the matches of Round 1 biggest theftaccording to Chris Trapasso) and lion Jump up and choose defender Terrion Arnold 24th.

Here’s everything from that wild night:

Finally, after a historic first round on offense, could things go differently next year? There are still 225 picks left in 2024, but Ryan Wilson has a 2025 first-round draft.

😃 Honorable mentions

😨 And this is not a good morning for…

CIRCUIT KIRK AND FALCONS ATLANTA

Ten years ago, Kirk cousins entered the NFL as a surprise fourth-round pick after Washington had already selected Robert Griffin III second overall. Cousins ​​will continue to replace him.

Oh my, how the tables have turned. The Falcons selecting Penix eighth overall surprised almost everyone, including Cousins, who was only told it would happen when Atlanta was on time and was said to have “shocked” and “disappointed” by this decision.

There are many reasons for that.

1. A month and a half after he signed the contract 4-year contract worth 180 million USD with the Falcons, they drafted his likely successor.
2. The cousins ​​did not receive the notification.
3. Cousins ​​comes to the Falcons to win now and Penix is ​​not a profitable move right now. Atlanta could have drafted an opposite wide receiver Drake London or a pass rusher to bolster a defense that ranks 25th in pressure rate.

But believe it or not, groups have reasons for doing things — even surprising things. Cousins ​​will turn 36 in August and is coming off an Achilles injury. His four-year contract includes only two guaranteed years. The ideal scenario is what happened with PackerWho drafted it? Jordan love in 2020, choose not to raise Aaron Rodgers‘ supporting actors. Now, Love is a rising star with promising players around him. Cousins ​​is also not on Rodgers’ level as a player, and he is coming off a serious injury.

But Love was just 21 when he was drafted and clearly needed development. Penix is ​​about to turn 24 and seems to be approaching his limit. While Love ultimately worked out, the Packers missed out on pairing Rodgers with Tee Higgins or add a defender like Patrick Queenboth moves could improve Green Bay’s chances of winning the Super Bowl.

Everything can still go well. Cousins ​​can (and should) get over his initial disappointment. Penix can be an excellent short-term insurance policy and a long-term solution. The Falcons could attack other positions or see players already on the roster move up. But that’s a lot of “maybe” and Atlanta is facing many risksCody wrote.

😕 Not so honorable mentions

🏀 Lakers on the brink; Joel Embiid’s 50-point game saves the 76ers

It is said that a series only truly begins until the home team loses. If that’s true then miner–Lakers The series has begun — and is almost over. Denver used the third quarter to win, 112-105and took a 3-0 series lead.

• For the fourth time in franchise playoff history, four Nuggets scored more than 20 points: Aaron Gordon (29), Nikola Jokic (24), Jamal Murray (22) and Michael Porter Jr. (20).
• Denver outscored Los Angeles by 42 points in the second half of this series.
• LeBron James And Anthony Davis total 59 points, and Austin Reaves an additional 22. The rest of the Lakers shot 33% (10 of 30), and as a team, shot 19% (5 of 27) from beyond the arc.
• And stop me if you’ve heard this — No team has yet overcome an 0-3 deficit in the NBA playoffs.

The Nuggets have now beaten the Lakers 11 times in a row (regular season and postseason). Denver has more offensive options and the firepower to overcome early weaknesses — they’ve been 10+ in six of those 11 straight wins. Jokic is the best player in the world. The Nuggets are a lot better than the Lakers, as was the case last year. Sam Quinn wondered why Los Angeles thinks this year will be different.

Earlier in the evening, Joel Embiid play with fire, somehow survived and then dominated. Embiid scored 50 points, overcoming a terrible (and perhaps disqualifying) start to take the lead 76ers to one 125-114 Win game 3 via Knicks cut Philadelphia’s series deficit to 2-1.

• Embiid has three controversial plays. He hits Isaiah Hartenstein below the waist try to establish position, kick Mitchell Robinson in the groin during a clumsy move and pulled Robinson down as Robinson jumped up to take the shot.
• The last thing, Sam Quinn writes, is this is by far the most dangerous and results in a blatant-1; Robinson subsequently left the game with an ankle injury and did not return. Donte DiVincenzo called the play “filthy” and not alone to his displeasure.
• Knicks fans certainly won’t like how Embiid scored 50 points either. He made 21 free throws, making it 19. The Knicks made 19 free throws as a team. Still, he was excellent all around, going 13-for-19 from the floor and 5-for-7 from three.
• Embiid participates Allen Iverson (three times) and Billy Cunningham are the only players in franchise history to have a 50-point game. What makes it all the more impressive, Embiid not only plays with his weak knee, but also with it Bell’s palsy affects the left side of his face.

Simply put, Embiid almost cost Philadelphia its season and then save itJames Herbert writes.

Final Magic got its first home playoff win since 2011, defeating the team Cavalry, 121-83. After not leading at all in games 1 or 2, Orlando led almost the entire way. Paolo Banchero There are 31 points.

Here are our full takeaways.

🏈 NFL Draft 2024: The best players are still available before Round 2

Despite not being selected in Round 1, Bill is one of my biggest winners. Buffalo traded down twice, from the 28th to the 32nd and then from the 32nd to the 33rd, adding a ton of draft capital — crucial for a team that has lost a ton this season , especially at wide receiver. Based on Josh Edwards’ remaining best players, Buffalo has plenty of options there and elsewhere open tonight. Here are Josh’s top 5:

1. WR Ladd McConkey, Georgia
2. CB Cooper DeJean, Iowa
3. DT Johnny Newton, Illinois
4. WR Adonai Mitchell, Texas
5. CB Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama

Chris has one second round simulationand David Cobb has 10 sleepers are underrated.

📺 What should we watch this weekend?

Friday

🏀 Game 3: Bucks at Pacers5:30 p.m. on ESPN
🏈 NFL draft round 2-37 p.m. on ESPN/ABC/NFL Network
🏒 Battle 3: Squad at the Capital7 p.m. on TNT
🏒 Game 3: Canucks vs. Predators7:30 p.m. on TBS
🏀 Game 3: Clippers at Mavericks8 p.m. on ESPN
🏒 Game 3: Jets at Avalanche10 p.m. on TNT
🏀 Game 3: Timberwolves at Suns10:30 p.m. on ESPN
🏒 Game 3: Oilers at Kings10:30 p.m. on TBS

Saturday

🏈 NFL Draft Rounds 4-7noon on ESPN/ABC/NFL Network
🏀 Game 4: Cavalry and magic1 p.m. on TNT
🏒 Game 4: Storm on the island2 p.m. on TBS
🏀 Game 3: Thunder at Pelicans3:30 p.m. on TNT
⚾ Red Devils at Rangers or Cardinals at Mets4:05 p.m. on Fox
🏒 Game 4: Lightning herald5 p.m. on TBS
🏀 Match 3: Celtics at Heat6 p.m. on TNT
🏒 Game 4: Bruins at Maple Leafs8pm on TBS
🏀 Match 4: Com vs Celtics8:30 p.m. on ABC
⚾ Diamondbacks at Mariners9:40 p.m. on FS1
🏒 Game 4: Stars at Golden Knights10:30 p.m. on TBS

Sunday

🏀 Game 4: Knicks at 76ers1 p.m. on ABC
🏒 Game 4: Jets at Avalanche2:30 p.m. on TNT
🏀 Game 4: Clippers at Mavericks3:30 p.m. on ABC
⚾ Astros at Rockies4:05 p.m. on ESPN
🏒 Game 4: Canucks vs. Predators5 p.m. on TBS
🏀 Game 4: Bucks at 76ers7 p.m. on TNT
⚾ Cubs at Red Sox7 p.m. on ESPN
🏒 Match 4: Rangers at the Capital8pm on TBS
🏀 Game 4: Timberwolves at Suns9:30 p.m. on TNT
🏒 Game 4: Oilers at Kings10:30 p.m. on TBS