2021 NFL Draft: 4 Biggest surprises from Day 1
Day 1 of the 2021 NFL Draft is in the books, there’s no doubt every team felt like they got better. And there more than a few surprises along the way
Okay, the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft was insane. If you caught it late, you missed out on a Day 1 loaded with surprises. Before the draft player ranking were all over the place. No one knew where anyone was going with the exception of a few names in terms of draft position. Teams drafted players based on needs and scheme fits. It all started with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
In dramatic fashion, the Jacksonville Jaguars milked every second of their clock. We all knew exactly who the pick would be since the end of the college football season. Trevor Lawrence was the reason Urban Meyer took the leap to the NFL. So there was no surprise when the Clemson signal-caller went the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Zack Wilson was the consensus No. 2 quarterback on the board. Even before the Jets traded away Sam Darnold, Wilson was mocked to the — so he went. What happened next was anyone’s guess.
We saw some good and bad, ups and downs that shocked us all. This was one of the more exciting drafts in recent memory. Things got interesting with the No. 3 which set the tone for the rest of the 2021 NFL Draft as one of the biggest surprises of the opening night.
4. Trey Lance to the San Francisco 49ers
We sat on pins and needles wonder which quarterback John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan would take. After trading up from the No. 12 spot to the No. 3, draft media began speculating who they would select. Would it be Justin Fields, Mac Jones, or Trey Lance? The closer we got to the draft the more questions we had. Though if you asked Mike Lombardi, he guaranteed the 49ers would not take Justin Fields, period. The former GM said it was down to Mac Jones or Trey Lance.
It’s didn’t stop there. At the witching hour, rumors had the 49ers trading the pick and Jimmy Garoppolo for Aaron Rodgers, to no avail, surfaced. With rumors of Mac Jones circling draft media and the John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan took the tools, the traits, the quarterback with the highest-ceiling, Trey Lance.
The shock comes from the fact that Lance doesn’t have much experience. He’s started one year in college, albeit perfect — still just one year. The 49ers plan on shipping Jimmy Garoppolo, which means Lance could start right away.
Is that the right move? We’ll find out soon enough. One thing’s for sure, Lane gives his head coach the best athlete he’s had at the quarterback position since Robert Griffin III.