By The Associated Press
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The NFL draft has begun! The Carolina Panthers kicked off Thursday night time’s proceedings by taking quarterback Bryce Young with the No. 1 choose. The draft will be considered on NFL Network, ABC, ESPN and ESPN Deportes. Follow for reside updates from Associated Press reporters throughout the nation (all occasions EST).
What to know:
— Panthers make Bryce Young high choose within the NFL draft
— Eagles choose Georgia’s Jalen Carter, who had function in deadly crash
ROLL TIDE: ALABAMA PLAYERS GO EARLY
Alabama is the early chief on NFL draft night time.
Crimson Tide quarterback Bryce Young was the highest total choose by the Carolina Panthers and linebacker Will Anderson Jr. went third to the Houston Texans. No main surprises there, however then Alabama operating again Jahmyr Gibbs going twelfth total to the Detroit Lions.
Gibbs is the second operating again chosen thus far. Bijan Robinson of Texas went eighth total to the Atlanta Falcons.
And whereas Gibbs was thought-about the following finest operating again behind Robinson, he was extensively anticipated to get drafted in the course of Friday’s Round 2.
Running again is a place that groups are often reluctant to spend first-round picks on, a lot much less on the high of Round 1.
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EAGLES TAKE JALEN CARTER AT NO. 9
Carter is a 313-pound defensive-stopper with energy and quickness who collapses pockets as deftly as he splits double-teams. The Eagles chosen him ninth total however he might need gone even increased had been it not for questions on his maturity and authorized issues. He’s on probation after pleading no contest to reckless driving and racing, costs associated to an auto accident that killed a Georgia teammate and a soccer staffer.
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ANTHONY RICHARDSON’S DECLARATION
“I’m going to be a dynamic player for the franchise. I’m going to work hard and I’m going to be a leader. But it’s time to make my own legacy now. No more Cam-Jacksons. It’s Anthony Richardson now.” – new Colts QB Anthony Richardson, who has known as himself Cam Jackson, a mixture of Cam Newton and Lamar Jackson, in describing his stature and elegance.
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SEAHAWKS TAKE DEVON WITHERSPOON AT NO. 5
As a senior, Witherspoon is a rarity by being chosen this excessive within the NFL draft. He’s a bodily and disruptive defensive again who’s aggressive on the sphere however affected person in life. He didn’t play soccer till halfway by means of highschool and spent a yr at a junior school earlier than going to Illinois, the place he took an enormous leap as a senior to change into one of many nation’s finest gamers.
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ANTHONY RICHARDSON GOES NO. 4
Some issues to know concerning the quarterback the Indianapolis Colts chosen out of Florida. Richardson is 6-foot-4 and simply shy of 250 kilos. He’s essentially the most intriguing quarterback prospect within the class with Cam Newton-tipe measurement, athleticism and arm energy. But he’s nonetheless very uncooked. He had 13 profession begins and solely 393 go makes an attempt in three seasons at Florida. He’ll must work on his mechanics and change into a extra correct passer within the professionals like Josh Allen did in Buffalo.
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TEXANS TRADE UP, TAKE WILL ANDERSON JR.
After the Houston Texans received their franchise quarterback in C.J. Stroud they made a blockbuster commerce with the Arizona Cardinals to maneuver up and took Alabama’s Will Anderson Jr. Here is a few issues to know concerning the defensive standout:
With so many potential franchise quarterbacks popping out this yr, there was no approach Anderson was going to be the primary total choose. But he was projected as the highest non-QB prospect within the draft and was the one of the best defensive participant chosen. He racked up 34 1/2 sacks and 62 tackles for loss in 41 video games at Alabama.
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TEXANS TAKE C.J. STROUD NO. 2
The Houston Texans have chosen C.J. Stroud with the No. 2 choose. Here are some issues to know concerning the former Ohio State quarterback:
He has elite accuracy and contact mixed with good arm energy and measurement at 6-foot-3 and 214 kilos. He broke a Big Ten file held by Drew Brees by throwing 85 landing passes over two seasons. But whereas he’s flashed above-average athleticism, he has at occasions appeared reluctant to make use of it and tends to linger within the pocket and lock on receivers, habits he’ll have to interrupt within the NFL.
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BRYCE YOUNG GOES NO. 1
The Carolina Panthers have chosen Bryce Young because the No. 1 choose within the NFL draft. Here are some issues to find out about quarterback out of Alabama:
For the final quarter century or so any undersized quarterback prospect has been in comparison with Drew Brees. Maybe at some point Young, at 5-foot-10, would be the one drawing such comparisons. He is a poised chief and artistic playmaker with an elite mixture of instincts and intelligence with arm, however, boy, is he small for an NFL quarterback.
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NFL HONORS VIRGINIA PLAYERS
The NFL honored the three University of Virginia soccer gamers that had been slain in November because the honorary first gamers chosen within the draft.
The households of Lavel Davis Jr., D’Sean Perry, and Devin Chandler had been introduced jerseys with their names and the No. 23 on them earlier than a crowd of greater than 100,000 in entrance of Kansas City’s Union Station.
Christopher Darnell Jr., a former walk-on with the Cavaliers’ soccer staff, is accused of opening fireplace on a constitution bus as he and different college students arrived again on campus after seeing a play and having dinner collectively in Washington, D.C.
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RAIDERS FAN: DRAFT IS OUR SUPER BOWL
Fans from throughout the nation have converged on downtown Kansas City for the NFL draft.
Las Vegas Raiders fan Isaac Lingelbach mentioned he drove about 2 1/2 hours to have a good time what he calls their “Super Bowl” within the coronary heart of Chiefs nation.
It’s a reversal from a yr in the past, when many Chiefs followers headed to Las Vegas for the draft.
“The Chiefs fan are celebrating a Super Bowl season from last year, but they don’t realize that the draft is our Super Bowl each year,” Lingelbach mentioned. “There’s not a game today, so we’re just here to have a good time and we have so far. The Chiefs fans have been nice.”
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RICHARDSON’S MOM, BROTHER BY HIS SIDE
Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson’s inventory has been on the rise, particularly given the way in which he carried out within the exercises main as much as the draft.
Richardson’s mom, LaShawnda Cleare, joined him on the purple carpet outdoors Union Station. His youthful brother, Corey, was additionally available in a go well with that just about matched huge brother and a thick diamond-filled chain of his personal.
LaShawnda mentioned of Richardson: “I’ve always been proud of him. Everybody else is now getting to see how awesome they both are.”
Richardson is predicted to hitch Bryce Young of Alabama, C.J. Stroud of Ohio State and Kentucky’s Will Levis amongst QBs taken within the first spherical. There may very well be a fifth in Tennessee’s Hendon Hooker, too.
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BRYCE YOUNG’S PINK SUIT LOOKS FAMILIAR
The pink go well with that seemingly No. 1 choose Bryce Young wore to the NFL draft ought to resonate in Kansas City: It’s the identical jacket by Dior that Chiefs tight finish Travis Kelce wore when he hosted “Saturday Night Live.”
The jacket retails for $3,300 and, in response to Dior, “reveals an ultramodern and unique silhouette with innovative details.” It is crafted in pink wool twill and “features a removable interior scarf that mimics the style of the sleeves.”
The purple carpet, and the kinds worn by NFL prospects, has change into an enormous a part of the festivities in recent times.
Fellow quarterback C.J. Stroud was blinging with a diamond-encrusted chain within the form of the No. 7, which he wore at Ohio State. Alabama defensive again Brian Branch wore a diamond-filled chain that included a palm tree and his initials.
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ALABAMA’S ANDERSON ‘A COMPLETE PERSON’
Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. is taken into account among the many finest non-quarterback prospects within the NFL draft.
His expertise is clear. The 6-foot-3, 253 pound Anderson has velocity, uncooked energy and the power to dominate a sport.
Anderson additionally takes satisfaction in being well-rounded off the sphere, too.
“I bring a complete person,” Anderson informed the AP’s Rob Maaddi. “I hold myself to a very high standard and high expectation and never to embarrass myself or my family. I always treat people with respect. Whatever culture I get in, I’m gonna do my best to uphold that culture, hold myself accountable. Also, treat everyone in the facility with respect, with care, with love.”
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NO PARTY AT CHIEFS FACILITY
There is often a buzz of exercise across the Kansas City Chiefs follow facility on draft night time, when the Super Bowl champs welcome season ticket-holders to an enormous get together capped by them making their first-round choose.
That get together moved about 10 miles west this yr to Union Station, the place the NFL is internet hosting the draft for the primary time.
Rather than a whole bunch of automobiles pouring into the parking heaps at Arrowhead Stadium on Thursday night time, there was a lonely FedEx employee delivering some packages and one automotive that apparently received misplaced and was turning round.
The Chiefs are scheduled to choose final within the first spherical.
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RAVENS SIGN LAMAR JACKSON BEFORE DRAFT
One quarterback that wasn’t on the NFL draft board however was prone to affect some groups’ selections is not in play.
Hours earlier than the draft, the Baltimore Ravens agreed in precept with Lamar Jackson on a five-year deal, securing their star quarterback for the foreseeable future and ending a contract negotiation saga that was dominating the staff’s offseason.
It’s honest to say that in Baltimore at the least, this information will overshadow whoever the staff would possibly take within the first spherical.
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C.J. STROUD NOT CONCERNED ABOUT CRITICISM
C.J. Stroud has gone from being thought-about the seemingly No. 1 total choose to probably dropping out of the highest 10 after experiences the Ohio State quarterback scored poorly within the S2 Cognition check.
“First, second, third, 20th, 105th, whatever it looks like, I’m just blessed to be able to have an opportunity,” Stroud, seemingly not involved about any of the destructive criticism, informed AP Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi hours earlier than the draft. “Wherever I do go, I’m gonna take full benefit of the chance.
“I’m not mad about it,” Stroud mentioned of the experiences. “I have nothing to hide or to be ashamed of.”
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STICK WITH YOUR PICK?
With about 4 hours earlier than the primary choose, are you sticking along with your man to be chosen No. 1 in tonight’s NFL draft?
Alabama quarterback Bryce Young is the overwhelming favourite in response to most oddsmakers and most mock drafts.
The Carolina Panthers will kick issues off after buying and selling 4 draft picks and broad receiver DJ Moore to the Chicago Bears for the No. 1 total choose.
The Panthers are selecting between Alabama’s Bryce Young, Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud, Kentucky’s Will Levis and Florida’s Anthony Richardson as they attempt to escape the quarterback quagmire they’ve been trapped in for half a decade.
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THE JALEN CARTER WATCH
The NFL draft is about to start in Kansas City in 5 hours and one of many extra intriguing names to observe is that of Georgia defensive lineman Jalen Carter, writes AP’s Rob Maaddi.
Carter was as soon as projected to be the No. 1 total choose within the draft earlier than the Chicago Bears made a commerce with the quarterback-needy Carolina Panthers.
There are questions on how far the Bulldogs’ standout defensive lineman could slip due to his involvement in a automotive crash that killed a Georgia teammate and a staff staffer. Carter was given 12 months’ probation and a $1,000 advantageous after pleading no contest to misdemeanor costs of reckless driving and racing
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NO DRAFT PICKS FOR YOUR TEAM
Draft events in some cities gained’t be so raucous tonight as a result of 5 groups don’t have any first-round alternatives within the NFL draft that begins in six hours.
Moving up within the draft for quarterbacks has change into a typical prevalence, however the Broncos, Rams and Browns bucked that development by parting with their 2023 first-round picks in trades for veteran quarterbacks. The 49ers don’t have a first-rounder due to the Trey Lance commerce in 2021 and the Dolphins forfeited their first-rounder for tampering with Tom Brady and Sean Payton whereas they had been with different groups.
AP Football Writer Josh Dubow critiques a few of the finest and worst trade-ups for quarterbacks.
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FASHION STATEMENTS LOOMING
Who will steal the highlight with a daring vogue assertion on the NFL draft tonight?
While high prospects on this yr’s draft like quarterbacks Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud and Anthony Richardson put together their outfits for the massive night time, Kristie Rieken seems again at a few of the most memorable draft night time ensembles since Deion Sanders made a splash along with his observe go well with and gold chains in 1989.
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WILL BIJAN BE FIRST RUNNING BACK DRAFTED?
Bijan Robinson is predicted to be the primary operating again chosen within the NFL draft. How excessive he goes is the massive query.
The Texas star has top-10 expertise however NFL groups not place a premium on operating backs, so he might nonetheless be on the board late within the first spherical. Only 4 operating backs have been chosen within the first spherical since Saquon Barkley was chosen at No. 2 by the New York Giants in 2018. None went increased than No. 24.
“Everybody has their opinions and understandably so because the running back position came to be one-dimensional,” Robinson informed AP. “But if you have a guy who is really versatile and can line up as a receiver, in the slot and have as much effect (as a receiver) as at running back, that’s when the value really takes off.”
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DRAFT TAKES BACKSEAT ONLY TO SUPER BOWL
The NFL draft will likely be held at Kansas City’s Union Station, the place the league has constructed its largest stage complicated for its second-biggest occasion behind the Super Bowl, writes Dave Skretta.
Once a fixture at Radio City Music Hall in New York, the draft has grown in recognition because it took to the highway eight years in the past in 2015. The occasion has change into a serious boon for the league, groups and host cities.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com”