Day: April 25, 2020

USC wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. has a conversation with Pac-12 Networks’ Yogi Roth after he went 34th overall to the Colts in Friday’s NFL Draft second round. With the selection, he became the 16th Trojan wide receiver drafted since 2000, including the ninth in the top two rounds. Watch more from Pittman Jr. during “Pac-12 Playlist: NFL Draft Report” airing Monday, April 27 at 7 p.m. PT/ 8 p.m. MT on Pac-12 Network.

A.J. Epenesa might not know much about Buffalo yet, though the Iowa defensive end is sure familiar with Bills quarterback Josh Allen. Drafted by the Bills with the 54th pick on Friday, Epenesa began to laugh when reminded how his first college career sack came against Allen three years ago when Wyoming opened its season at Iowa in a 24-3 win by the Hawkeyes. ”Yeah, it’s not going to be an awkward thing,” Epenesa said, referring to his eventual re-introduction with the Bills third-year starter.

The Los Angeles Rams went right to work patching the biggest holes in their lineup when they finally got some picks in the NFL draft. The Rams drafted possible replacements for Todd Gurley and Brandin Cooks in the second round Friday night, grabbing Florida State running back Cam Akers with the 52nd overall pick and Florida receiver Van Jefferson with the 57th overall pick. The Rams then addressed two more areas of recent losses in the third round by adding Alabama edge rusher Terrell Lewis with the 84th overall pick and Utah defensive back Terrell Burgess with the 104th pick.

The New Orleans Saints traded up twice in the third round of the NFL draft on Friday night, moving up 14 spots to and take Wisconsin linebacker Zack Baun 74th overall and trading back into the third round again to select Dayton tight end Adam Trautman 105th. ”If we have a vision and an affinity for someone we’ll put a target on them and then we’ll go get them,” Saints general manager Mickey Loomis said. The Saints traded with Cleveland in order to select the 6-2, 238-pound Baun.

The Green Bay Packers have stayed on offense throught the first two days of the NFL draft, a major change from their usual strategy. One day after trading up four spots in the first round to take Utah State quarterback Jordan Love with the 26th overall pick, the Packers added Boston College running back A.J. Dillon in the second round and Cincinnati tight end Josiah Deguara in the third round Friday night.

It may be a new day in New England, but Bill Belichick’s draft picks prove he’s not changing his strategy just because Tom Brady left.

It’s a new day in New England, but it’s the same old guy in charge. Belichick is going to Belichick and Friday night was a prime reminder of that.

After giving Carson Wentz a playmaker, the Philadelphia Eagles drafted his backup. The Eagles selected Oklahoma quarterback Jalen Hurts in the second round of the NFL draft on Friday night, a stunning move for a team with more pressing needs. Then they took Davion Taylor, a hybrid safety-linebacker from Colorado, in the third round with the 103rd overall pick.