CHICAGO (AP) — 7:39 p.m. (8:39 p.m. EDT)
Devin Smith just left Ohio State to play for the Jets. If it doesn’t work out, he may try coaching next.
Asked who should be the starting quarterback for the defending national champion Buckeyes next season — some scouting services expect five or six players to compete for the job — Smith bucked conventional wisdom.
“Probably Cardale (Jones),” he said. “If it was up to me, I’d probably pick Cardale, but coach (Urban) Meyer will pick whoever he thinks can win.”
Jones made most of his appearances due to injuries to projected starter Braxton Miller and backup J.T. Barrett. He generated some buzz today for a tweet saying he planned to transfer to Akron — which he quickly rescinded and called a “May Fools” joke.
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7:35 p.m. (8:35 p.m. EDT)
Someday, he’ll be the answer to a trivia question — or something like that.
The 49ers used the 46th pick to take defensive back Jaquiski Tartt of Samford, making him the first small-school pick of the 2015 draft.
Next, Philadelphia took defensive back Eric Rowe of Utah and San Diego took linebacker Denzel Perryman of Miami.
Then, it was KC taking Missouri offensive lineman Mitch Morse.
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7:31 p.m. (8:31 p.m. EDT)
Well, this is getting awkward.
Nebraska defensive end Randy Gregory, projected as a first-round pick on many boards, is still waiting in the green room at the auditorium in Chicago.
Midway through the second round, his name has not been called.
He tested positive for marijuana at the combine. Now, reports are trickling out that he made a terrible impression when he went on the road for what were supposed to be reputation-saving interviews with several teams, including showing up late for some of the meetings.
He spoke to NFL Network as the wait dragged on.
“It’s been real disappointing,” he said. “I think I deserve to get picked high, despite what’s happened. It is what it is. I’m just going to take it in stride and wait for a team to pick me.”
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7:22 p.m. (8:22 p.m. EDT)
Another day, another draft pick from Washington.
When the Saints chose linebacker Hau’Oli Kikaha with the 44th pick, it marked the fourth Huskies player to be drafted so far. Three went in the first round last night.
Other picks:
No. 41 — WR Devin Funchess of Michigan to Carolina.
No. 42 — CB Jalen Collins of LSU to Atlanta.
No. 43 — LB Bernardrick McKinney of Mississippi State to Houston.
No. 45 — LB Eddie Kendricks of UCLA to Minnesota.
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7:10 p.m. (8:10 p.m. EDT)
Nobody would’ve blamed Donovan Smith for wanting to leave Penn State even earlier than he did.
The offensive lineman, picked in the second round by Tampa Bay, entered the draft with a year of eligibility left, but with his degree already in hand.
“I felt like I accomplished everything you could have in college,” Smith said. “The one thing the late Joe Paterno told me was graduating in 3 1/2 years is best thing you can do. He was right.”
Smith was at Happy Valley during the child sex-abuse scandal that rocked the school and its football program. Players were given the option to transfer without losing any playing time. Smith chose to stick it out.
“I learned how to deal with adversity,” he said. “Not a lot of people outside that locker room knew what it was like.”
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6:55 p.m. (7:55 p.m. EDT)
A day after taking Marcus Mariota with the second pick of the draft, the Titans used their second-round pick to choose receiver DoriRep. Al Green (D-TX)-Beckham.
Rich Eisen of the NFL Network may have summed things up the best: “They went from a player with zero flags, to enough flags to fill up an amusement park.”
Indeed, nobody has questioned Green-Beckham’s talent, but his off-the-field record is not good.
He was dismissed from Missouri and spent last season on the sideline — the result of multiple legal troubles, including allegations he pushed a woman down a flight of stairs.
Before Green-Beckham went, Chicago made defensive tackle Eddie Goldman out of Florida State its second-round pick.
None other than Dick Butkus made the announcement — and did it his way. Who was going to stop him?
The Hall of Fame linebacker began: “With the 39th pick,” then slipped in the phrase, “and I like this … Eddie Goldman.”
Butkus got a standing O.
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6:40 p.m. (7:40 p.m. EDT)
It’s hard keeping up with the Smiths.
So far, three of them have been chosen over the first six picks of the second round. (Devin to the Jets , Donovan to Tampa Bay and Preston to Washington).
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6:28 p.m. (7:28 p.m. EDT)
So, which Mario Edwards Jr. did the Raiders draft? The one who weighed 310 pounds back in August, or the one who came to the NFL combine at 279?
That’s the big question surrounding Oakland’s second-round pick: the defensive lineman out of Florida State.
Not as mysterious is the fact that the Raiders need help on that line. Their 22 sacks were second-fewest in the league last year.
Edwards’ dad played cornerback for Dallas and Tampa from 2000-04.
After that, Jacksonville chose running back T.J. Yeldon out of Alabama, one of four or five at that position expected to be selected tonight.
The Jets went next, and selected receiver Devin Smith of Ohio State.
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6:18 p.m. (7:18 p.m. EDT)
The Buccaneers used their second pick to protect the first pick.
They chose Penn State offensive lineman Donovan Smith, who will presumably have a major hand in keeping defenses away from the first pick of the 2015 draft, Jameis Winston.
“Oh, yeah, baby, me and Jameis, that’s all I’ve got to say,” Smith said after the Bucs chose him. “We’re going to the top.”
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6:11 p.m. (7:11 p.m. EDT)
And, we’re off.
The New York Giants needed help at safety. They didn’t waste any time getting it.
After giving Tennessee a fourth- and seventh-round pick to move up to the first pick of the second round, the Giants took Landon Collins, a safety at Alabama who many had pegged as a first-round pick.
Collins was introduced by former Giants D-back Shaun Williams. All the teams are bringing back a star from yesteryear to announce picks tonight.
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6:05 p.m. (7:05 p.m.)
The Giants gave up two lower picks to trade up to Tennessee’s spot and now they will open the second round of the draft.
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6:04 p.m. (7:04 p.m. EDT)
Roger Goodell. Still getting booed.
Tennessee is on the clock.
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5:40 p.m. (6:40 p.m. EDT)
Several media outlets are reporting that offensive lineman La’el Collins will sit out a year and refuse to sign a contract if he isn’t selected in the second or third round tonight.
Though he is not a suspect, police want to speak to the LSU offensive lineman about the killing of his ex-girlfriend in Louisiana.
Collins was considered a top-10 prospect.
Yesterday, before the draft started, he asked the NFL to remove him from the draft, but the league refused. Now, he’s in limbo. His agent told media outlets that Collins would rather sit out a year than be drafted in the fourth round or worse tomorrow.
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5:10 p.m. (6:10 p.m. EDT)
Attention NFL shoppers. There are plenty of good deals still available in Round 2 and 3.
The second round of the NFL draft begins in about 45 minutes and there are a handful of players projected as first-round picks who are still waiting for their names to be called.
Topping the list: LSU cornerback Jalen Collins, massive Florida State defensive tackle Eddie Goldman and Pittsburgh tackle T.J. Clemmings.
The Tennessee Titans, who tied with Tampa Bay for the worst record last season, get tonight’s opening pick. They need help at right tackle and linebacker — and could also use a receiver for their newest pick, Marcus Mariota, to throw to.
Or maybe they’ll trade the pick. Only two deals were made yesterday, leading to speculation that the wheeling and dealing will begin in earnest tonight.
Elsewhere, don’t be surprised to see a run on running backs. It’s a deep crop this year, and even though the position isn’t valued as much anymore, there are at least five — starting with Nebraska’s Ameer Abdullah — who could have new homes by the time the third round is complete later tonight.
On the other hand, this is not a good year for depth at quarterback. Not one was selected after Jameis Winston and Mariota went 1-2 last night. The few available include UCLA’s Brett Hundley, Baylor’s Bryce Petty and Garrett Grayson of Colorado State, a dropback QB considered one of the more intriguing prospects in this year’s draft.
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