Maybe the Southeastern Conference should simply hold on to its players and become part of the NFL.
The home of reigning national champion LSU and perennial contenders Alabama, Auburn and Georgia, the SEC dominated the first four rounds of the NFL draft before the flow of talent slowed to a trickle - or the conference finally began running out of top prospects.
The first four rounds are where the vast majority of pro starters are found. So beginning with LSU quarterback Joe Burrow, who went first overall to the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday night, the SEC provided the mother lode. And by the time this virtual/remote/digital draft - make your own choice - was over Saturday evening, 63 players had come from the 14-team league, though none were from Ole Miss.
LSU sent 14, tying the most in a seven-round NFL draft, followed by Alabama with nine.
Not quite a record, because the SEC had 64 selectees a year ago, but this grab bag was further proof of its place atop college football.
"I think it's really easy to see NFL players when you watch as many players get drafted from the SEC and from that conference," Tennessee Titans coach Mike Vrabel said after his team grabbed Georgia tackle Isaiah Wilson and LSU cornerback Kristian Fulton. "But there's great players in every conference. It's just you don't have to look too far to see them play against some really talented players (in the SEC)."
AP photo by Mark Humphrey / Tennessee Titans coach Mike Vrabel tries to knock the ball away from running back Derrick Henry, a former Alabama Crimson Tide star, during practice ahead of the AFC championship game this past January.The Detroit Lions noticed. They took Georgia running back D'Andre Swift and Kentucky offensive guard Logan Stenberg.
"The SEC, I would argue, is one of the top one or two conferences in college football. I think a lot of people say it is the best conference," Detroit general manager Bob Quinn said. "The competition that's in that conference - from LSU to Alabama to Auburn to Georgia to all those schools - and some of the other teams have really, really good players. So the level of competition, they get the high recruits, they really do."
Nearly every NFL club will have either a former LSU Tiger or member of the Alabama Crimson Tide on its roster by next week.
As the third day of this unusual draft concluded, it became clear concerns about communication problems cropping up were vastly overblown. Clunky at times, poignant at others and exceptionally entertaining in spots, the draft did what commissioner Roger Goodell hoped it would amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Sure, there were awkward moments, but those come even when the draft is a mega-event drawing hundreds of thousands of fans to the "Rocky Steps" in Philadelphia or lower Broadway in Nashville.
Goodell has insisted the sporting world needed the draft to be held on time, even if it didn't happen in Las Vegas as originally planned. And the amount of eyeballs watching has been, well, an eye-opening number. Late in Saturday's final round, the league said it had gone over $100 million in total funds raised in all its efforts to battle the coronavirus. The telethon accompanying the draft raised more than $6.6 million for six organizations involved in coronavirus relief.
NFL general managers also put together donations, initiated by the Philadelphia Eagles' Howie Roseman, with each giving at least $8,000 for every selection in this draft. The league itself matched every telethon donation made Friday and Saturday.
"We're forced to adapt here and change and do this differently, but it's actually been a lot of great learning," Goodell said. "We've seen some things that we've maybe called 'stumbled on' that really, I think, will be elements of drafts going into the future. The ability to use the virtual platforms in a way that we really didn't think about until we were forced to.
"And so I think we're really going to able to make future drafts even better because we're going to be able to combine it with the core elements that we've had. But I think that's one of the things about the draft: It just keeps evolving, and it keeps getting better because we keep learning."
The league even awarded the 2022 draft to Las Vegas after all events on the Strip for this year were canceled due to the nationwide shutdown of large gatherings to curb the spread of the virus.
To open Saturday, Appalachian State had its second player chosen, linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither, who went to Cincinnati. The Sun Belt's defensive player of the year was a standout at the Senior Bowl, a game the Bengals coaching staff worked.
The Washington Redskins dealt their unhappy veteran tackle Trent Williams to the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday morning, then chose LSU's Saadiq Charles, who has been plagued by off-field trouble and served a six-game suspension.
The 49ers, who later announced the retirement of longtime standout left tackle Joe Staley, sent a fifth-round pick in this year's draft and a 2021 third-rounder to acquire Williams. The deal reunites him with 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan, who was the offensive coordinator in Washington when Williams was drafted fourth overall in 2010.
San Francisco made two other trades, first sending Matt Breida, who was the team's starting running back for part of their run to the NFL title last season, to Miami. The Dolphins dealt a fifth-rounder to San Francisco. Then the 49ers traded wideout Marquise Goodwin to Philadelphia for a swap of sixth-round spots.
The first quarterback chosen on the third and final day of this year's draft was Washington's Jacob Eason, who went to Indianapolis. The Colts, of course, signed Philip Rivers as a free agent and still have incumbent Jacoby Brissett. Both have contracts through only 2020, though.
Eason lost out to Jake Fromm for the starting quarterback job at Georgia, then transferred to Washington. Fromm finally went 167th overall to the Buffalo Bills, who have a young starter in Josh Allen. Fromm, likely hurt by a mediocre combine performance, was taken well after the New York Jets got Florida International quarterback James Morgan at 125th.
The Carolina Panthers pulled off a new one by choosing nothing but defensive players, seven in all. Including, naturally, the seventh overall choice, tackle Derrick Brown of Auburn - and, yes, the SEC.
Wide receiver was considered the deepest position in this crop, and 37 were taken.
Meanwhile, the list of Power Five schools without players taken wound up at nine: Arizona, Duke, Illinois, Iowa State, Kansas State, Northwestern, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss and Rutgers.
AP file photo by Stephen Brashear / Washington quarterback Jacob Eason started his college football career in the SEC with the Georgia Bulldogs before heading back to his home state.2020 NFL DRAFT
Picks by team, with selection's position and college
Thursday, April 23
First Round
1. Cincinnati: Joe Burrow, QB, LSU
2. Washington: Chase Young, DE, Ohio State
3. Detroit: Jeff Okudah, CB, Ohio State
4. N.Y. Giants: Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia
5. Miami: Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama
6. L.A. Chargers: Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon
7. Carolina: Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn
8. Arizona: Isaiah Simmons, LB, Clemson
9. Jacksonville: CJ Henderson, CB, Florida
10. Cleveland: Jedrick Wills Jr., OT, Alabama
11. N.Y. Jets: Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville
12. Las Vegas: Henry Ruggs III, WR, Alabama
13. Tampa Bay (from Indianapolis through San Francisco): Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa
14. San Francisco (from Tampa Bay): Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina
15. Denver: Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama
16. Atlanta: A.J. Terrel, CB, Clemson
17. Dallas: CeeDee Lamb: WR, Oklahoma
18. Miami (from Pittsburgh): Austin Jackson, OT, Southern Cal
19. Las Vegas (from Chicago): Damon Arnette, CB, Ohio State
20. Jacksonville (from L.A. Rams): K'Lavon Chaisson, LB, LSU
21. Philadelphia: Jalen Reagor, WR, TCU
22. Minnesota (from Buffalo): Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU
23. L.A. Chargers (from New England): Kenneth Murray, LB, Oklahoma
24. New Orleans: Cesar Ruiz, C, Michigan
25. San Francisco (from Minnesota): Brandon Aiyuk, WR, Arizona State
26. Green Bay (from Houston through Miami): Jordan Love, QB, Utah State
27. Seattle: Jordyn Brooks, LB, Texas Tech
28. Baltimore: Patrick Queen, LB, LSU
29. Tennessee: Isaiah Wilson, OT, Georgia
30. Miami (from Green Bay): Noah Igbinoghene, CB, Auburn
31. Minnesota (from San Francisco): Jeff Gladney, CB, TCU
32. Kansas City: Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB, LSU
Friday, April 24
Second Round
33. Cincinnati: Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson
34. Indianapolis (from Washington): Michael Pittman Jr., RB, Southern Cal
35. Detroit: D'Andre Swift, RB, Georgia
36. N.Y. Giants: Xavier McKinney, S, Alabama
37. New England (from L.A. Chargers): Kyle Dugger, S, Lenoir-Rhyne
38. Carolina: Yetur Gross-Matos, DE, Penn State
39. Miami: Robert Hunt, OT, Louisiana-Lafayette
40. Houston (from Arizona): Ross Blacklock, DT, TCU
41. Indianapolis (from Cleveland): Jonathan Taylor, RB, Wisconsin
42. Jacksonville: Laviska Shenault Jr., WR, Colorado
43. Chicago (from Las Vegas): Cole Kmet, TE, Notre Dame
44. Cleveland (from Indianapolis): Grant Delpit, S, LSU
45. Tampa Bay: Antoine Winfield Jr., S, Minnesota
46. Denver: K.J. Hamler, WR, Penn State
47. Atlanta: Marlon Davidson, DE, Auburn
48. Seattle (from N.Y. Jets): Darrell Taylor, DE, Tennessee
49. Pittsburgh: Chase Claypool, WR, Notre Dame
50. Chicago: Jaylon Johnson, CB, Utah
51. Dallas: Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama
52. L.A. Rams: Cam Akers, RB, Florida State
53. Philadelphia: Jalen Hurts, QB, Oklahoma
54. Buffalo: A.J. Epenesa, DE, Iowa
55. Baltimore (from New England through Atlanta): J.K. Dobbins, RB, Ohio State
56. Miami (from New Orleans): Raekwon Davis, DT, Alabama
57. L.A. Rams (from Houston): Van Jefferson, WR, Florida
58. Minnesota: Ezra Cleveland, OT, Boise State
59. N.Y. Jets (from Seattle): Denzel Mims, WR, Baylor
60. New England (from Baltimore): Josh Uche, LB, Michigan
61. Tennessee: Kristian Fulton, CB, LSU
62. Green Bay: A.J. Dillon, RB, Boston College
63. Kansas City (from San Francisco): Willie Gay Jr., LB, Mississippi State
64. Carolina (from Kansas City through Seattle): Jeremy Chinn, S, Southern Illinois
Third Round
65. Cincinnati: Logan Wilson, LB, Wyoming
66. Washington: Antonio Gibson, WR, Memphis
67. Detroit: Julian Okwara, DE, Notre Dame
68. N.Y. Jets (from N.Y. Giants): Ashtyn Davis, S, California
69. Seattle (from Carolina): Damien Lewis, OG, LSU
70. Miami: Brandon Jones, S, Texas
71. Baltimore (from L.A. Chargers through New England): Justin Madubuike, DT, Texas A&M
72. Arizona: Josh Jones, OT, Houston
73. Jacksonville: DaVon Hamilton, DT, Ohio State
74. New Orleans (from Cleveland): Zack Baun, LB, Wisconsin
75. Detroit (from Indianapolis): Jonah Jackson, OG, Ohio State
76. Tampa Bay: Ke'Shawn Vaughn, RB, Vanderbilt
77. Denver, Michael Ojemudia, CB, Iowa
78. Atlanta: Matt Hennessy, C, Temple
79. N.Y. Jets, Jabari Zuniga, DE, Florida
80. Las Vegas: Lynn Bowden Jr., WR, Kentucky
81. Las Vegas (from Chicago): Bryan Edwards, WR, South Carolina
82. Dallas: Neville Gallimore, DT, Oklahoma
83. Denver (from Pittsburgh): Lloyd Cushenberry, C, LSU
84. L.A. Rams: Terrell Lewis, DE, Alabama
85. Indianapolis (from Philadelphia through Detroit): Julian Blackmon, S, Utah
86. Buffalo: Zack Moss, RB, Utah
87. New England: Anfernee Jennings, LB, Alabama
88. Cleveland (from New Orleans): Jordan Elliott, DT, Missouri
89. Minnesota: Cameron Dantzler, CB, Mississippi State
90. Houston: Jonathan Greenard, LB, Florida
91. New England (from Seattle through Houston and Las Vegas): Devin Asiasi, TE, UCLA
92. Baltimore: Devin Duvernay, WR, Texas
93. Tennessee: Darrynton Evans, RB, Appalachian State
94. Green Bay: Josiah Deguara, TE, Cincinnati
95. Denver (from San Francisco): McTelvin Agim, DT, Arkansas
96. Kansas City: Lucas Niang, OT, TCU
(Compensatory Selections)
97. Cleveland (from Houston): Jacob Phillips, LB, LSU
98. Baltimore (from New England): Malik Harrison, LB, Ohio State
99. N.Y. Giants: Matt Peart, OT, Connecticut
100. Las Vegas (from New England): Tanner Muse, S, Clemson
101. New England (from Seattle through N.Y. Jets): Dalton Keene, TE, Virginia Tech
102. Pittsburgh: Alex Highsmith, LB, Charlotte
103. Philadelphia: Davion Taylor, LB, Colorado
104. L.A. Rams: Terrell Burgess, S, Utah
105. New Orleans (from Minnesota): Adam Trautman, TE, Dayton
106. Baltimore: Tyre Phillips, OG, Mississippi State
Saturday, April 25
Fourth Round
107. Cincinnati: Akeem Davis-Gaither, LB, Appalachian State
108. Washington: Saahdiq Charles, OT, LSU
109. Las Vegas (from Detroit): John Simpson, OG, Clemson
110. N.Y. Giants, Darnay Holmes: CB, UCLA
111. Miami (from Houston): Solomon Kindley, OG, Georgia
112. L.A. Chargers: Joshua Kelley, RB, UCLA
113. Carolina: Troy Pride, CB, Notre Dame
114. Arizona: Leki Fotu, DT, Utah
115. Cleveland: Harrison Bryant, TE, Florida Atlantic
116. Jacksonville: Ben Bartch, OT, St. John's (Minn.)
117. Minnesota (from Tampa Bay through San Francisco): D.J. Wonnum, DE, South Carolina
118. Denver: Albert Okwuegbunam, TE, Missouri
119. Atlanta: Mykal Walker, LB, Fresno State
120. N.Y. Jets: La'Mical Perine, RB, Florida
121. Detroit (from Las Vegas): Logan Stenberg, OG, Kentucky
122. Indianapolis: Jacob Eason, QB, Washington
123. Dallas: Reggie Robinson II, CB, Tulsa
124. Pittsburgh: Anthony McFarland, RB, Maryland
125. N.Y. Jets (from Chicago through New England): James Morgan, QB, Florida International
126. Houston (from Los Angeles Rams): Charlie Heck, OT, North Carolina
127. Philadelphia: K'Von Wallace, S, Clemson
128. Buffalo: Gabriel Davis, WR, UCF
129. N.Y. Jets (from New England through Baltimore and New England): Cameron Clarke, OG, Charlotte
130. Minnesota (from New Orleans): James Lynch, DE, Baylor
131. Arizona (from Houston): Rashard Lawrence, DT, LSU
132. Minnesota: Troy Dye, LB, Oregon
133. Seattle, Colby Parkinson: TE, Stanford
134. Atlanta (from Baltimore): Jaylinn Hawkins, S, California
135. Pittsburgh (from Tennessee through Miami): Kevin Dotson, OG, Louisiana-Lafayette
136. L.A. Rams (from Green Bay through Miami and Houston): Brycen Hopkins, TE, Purdue
137. Jacksonville (from San Francisco through Denver): Josiah Scott, CB, Michigan State
138. Kansas City: L'Jarius Sneed, S, Louisiana Tech
(Compensatory Selections)
139. Las Vegas (from Tampa Bay through New England): Amik Robertson, CB, Louisiana Tech
140. Jacksonville (from Chicago): Shaquille Quarterman, LB, Miami
141. Houston (from Miami): John Reid, CB, Penn State
142. Washington: Antonio Gandy-Golden, WR, Liberty
143. Baltimore: Ben Bredeson, OG, Michigan
144. Seattle: DeeJay Dallas, RB, Miami
145. Philadelphia: Jack Driscoll, OT, Auburn
146. Dallas, (from Philadelphia): Tyler Biadasz, C, Wisconsin
Fifth Round
147. Cincinnati: Khalid Kareem, TE, Notre Dame
148. Seattle (from Washington through Carolina): Alton Robinson, TE, Syracuse
149. Indianapolis (from Detroit): Danny Pinter, OG, Ball State
150. N.Y. Giants: Shane Lemieux, OG, Oregon
151. L.A. Chargers: Joe Reed, WR, Virginia
152. Carolina, Kenny Robinson: S, West Virginia
153. San Francisco (from Miami): Colton McKivitz, OT, West Virginia
154. Miami (from Jacksonville through Pittsburgh): Jason Strowbridge, DE, North Carolina
155. Chicago (from Cleveland through Buffalo and Minnesota): Trevis Gipson, DE, Tulsa
156. Washington (from Denver through San Francisco): Keith Ismael, C, San Diego State
157. Jacksonville (from Atlanta through Baltimore): Daniel Thomas, S, Auburn
158. N.Y. Jets: Bryce Hall, CB, Virginia
159. New England (from Las Vegas): Justin Rohrwasser, K, Marshall
160. Cleveland (from Indianapolis): Nick Harris, C, Washington
161. Tampa Bay: Tyler Johnson, WR, Minnesota
162. Washington (from Pittsburgh through Seattle): Khaleke Hudson, LB, Michigan
163. Chicago: Kindle Vildor, CB, Georgia Southern
164. Miami (from Dallas through Philadelphia): Curtis Weaver, TE, Boise State
165. Jacksonville (from L.A. Rams): Collin Johnson, WR, Texas
166. Detroit (from Philadelphia): Quintez Cephus, WR, Wisconsin
167. Buffalo: Jake Fromm, QB, Georgia
168. Philadelphia (from New England): John Hightower, WR, Boise State
169. Minnesota (from New Orleans): Harrison Hand, CB, Temple
170. Baltimore (from Minnesota): Broderick Washington, DT, Texas Tech
171. Houston: Isaiah Coulter, WR, Rhode Island
172. Detroit (from Seattle through Detroit, New England and Las Vegas): Jason Huntley, RB, New Mexico State
173. Chicago (from Baltimore through L.A. Rams, Miami and Philadelphia): Darnell Mooney, WR, Tulane
174. Tennessee: Larrell Murchison, DT, North Carolina State
175. Green Bay: Kamal Martin, LB, Minnesota
176. Minnesota (from San Francisco): K.J. Osborn, WR, Miami
177. Kansas City: Michael Danna, TE, Michigan
(Compensatory Selections)
178. Denver: Justin Strnad, LB, Wake Forest
179. Dallas: Bradlee Anae, DE, Utah
Sixth Round
180. Cincinnati: Hakeem Adeniji, OG, Kansas
181. Denver (from Denver): Netane Muti, OG, Fresno State
182. New England (from Detroit through Indianapolis): Michael Onwenu, OG, Michigan
183. N.Y. Giants: Cameron Brown, LB, Penn State
184. Carolina: Bravvion Roy, DT, Baylor
185. Miami: Blake Ferguson, LS, LSU
186. L.A. Chargers: Alohi Gilman, S, Notre Dame
187. Cleveland (from Arizona): Donovan Peoples-Jones, WR, Michigan
188. Buffalo (from Cleveland): Tyler Bass, K, Georgia Southern
189. Jacksonville: Jake Luton, QB, Oregon State
190. San Francisco (from Atlanta through Philadelphia): Charlie Woerner, TE, Georgia
191. N.Y. Jets: Braden Mann, P, Texas A&M
192. Green Bay (from Las Vegas): Jon Runyan, OG, Michigan
193. Indianapolis: Rob Windsor, DT, Penn State
194. Tampa Bay: Khalil Davis, dt, Nebraska
195. New England (from Denver): Justin Herron, OG, Wake Forest
196. Philadelphia (from Chicago): Shaun Bradley, LB, Temple
197. Detroit (from Dallas through Miami and Indianapolis): John Penisini, DT, Utah
198. Pittsburgh: Antoine Brooks Jr., S, Maryland
199. L.A. Rams: Jordan Fuller, S, Ohio State
200. Philadelphia (from Philadelphia): Quez Watkins, WR, Southern Mississippi
201. Baltimore (from Buffalo through Minnesota): James Proche, WR, Southern Methodist
202. Arizona (from New England): Evan Weaver, LB, California
203. Minnesota (from New Orleans): Blake Brandel, OG, Oregon State
204. New England (from Houston): Cassh Maluia, LB, Wyoming
205. Minnesota, Josh Metellus: S, Michigan
206. Jacksonville (from Seattle): Tyler Davis, TE, Georgia Tech
207. Buffalo (from Baltimore through New England): Isaiah Hodgins, WR, Oregon State
208. Green Bay (from Tennessee): Jake Hanson, C, Oregon
209. Green Bay, Simon Stepaniak: OG, Indiana
210. Philadelphia (from San Francisco): Prince Tega Wanogho, OT, Auburn
211. Indianapolis (from Kansas City through N.Y. Jets): Isaiah Rodgers, DB, Massachusetts
(Compensatory Selections)
212. Indianapolis (from New England): Dezmon Patmon, WR, Washington State
213. Indianapolis (from New England): Jordan Glasgow, LB, Michigan
214. Seattle: Freddie Swain, WR, Florida
Seventh Round
215. Cincinnati: Markus Bailey, LB, Purdue
216. Washington: Kamren Curl, S, Arkansas
217. San Francisco (from Detroit): Jauan Jennings, WR, Tennessee
218. N.Y. Giants: Carter Coughlin, DE, Minnesota
219. Baltimore (from Miami through Minnesota): Geno Stone, S, Iowa
220. L.A. Chargers: K.J. Hill, WR, Ohio State
221. Carolina: Stantley Thomas-Oliver, CB, Florida International
222. Arizona: Eno Benjamin, RB, Arizona State
223. Jacksonville: Chris Claybrooks, CB, Memphis
224. Tennessee (from Cleveland): Cole McDonald, QB, Hawaii
225. Minnesota (from N.Y. Jets through Baltimore): Kenny Willekes, DE, Michigan State
226. Chicago (from Las Vegas): Arlington Hambright, OG, Colorado
227. Chicago (from Indianapolis through Miami and Philadelphia): Lachavious Simmons, OG, Tennessee State
228. Atlanta (from Tampa Bay through Philadelphia): Sterling Hofrichter, P, Syracuse
229. Washington (from Denver): James Smith-Williams, DE, North Carolina State
230. New England (from Atlanta): Dustin Woodard, C, Memphis
231. Dallas: Ben DiNucci, QB, James Madison
232. Pittsburgh: Carlos Davis, DT, Nebraska
233. Philadelphia (from Chicago): Casey Toohill, DE, Stanford
234. L.A. Rams: Clay Johnston, LB, Baylor
235. Detroit (from Phildadelphia through New England): Jashon Cornell, DT, Ohio State
236. Green Bay (from Buffalo through Cleveland): Vernon Scott, DB, Texas Christian
237. Kansas City (from New England through Denver and Tennessee): Bopete Keyes, CB, Tulane
238. N.Y. Giants (from New Orleans): T.J. Brunson, LB, South Carolina
239. Buffalo (from Minnesota): Dane Jackson, CB, Pittsburgh
240. New Orleans (from Houston): Tommy Stevens, QB, Mississippi State
241. Tampa Bay (from Seattle through New England): Chapelle Russell, LB, Temple
242. Green Bay (from Baltimore): Jonathan Garvin, DE, Miami
243. Tennessee: Chris Jackson, DB, Marshall
244. Minnesota (from Green Bay through Cleveland and New Orleans): Nate Stanley, QB, Iowa
245. Tampa Bay (from San Francisco): Raymond Calais, RB, Louisiana-Lafayette
246. Miami (from Kansas City): Malcolm Perry, WR, Navy
(Compensatory Selections)
247. N.Y. Giants: Chris Williamson, CB, Minnesota
248. L.A. Rams (from Houston): Sam Sloman, K, Miami (Ohio)
249. Minnesota: Brian Cole II, S, Mississippi State
250. L.A. Rams (from Houston): Tremayne Anchrum, OG, Clemson
251. Seattle (from Miami): Stephen Sullivan, TE, LSU
252. Denver: Tyrie Cleveland, WR, Florida
253. Minnesota: Kyle Hinton, OG, Washburn
254. Denver: Derrek Tuszka, DE, North Dakota State
255. N.Y. Giants: Tae Crowder, LB, Georgia