The NFL Draft is always full of surprises. Year after year, it never fails to disappoint. Shocking trades are made, great players slide, and questionable prospects are drafted early.
This year was no exception, though there was one for me specifically.
This was my first year covering the draft, and I got up close and personal with all the craziness that comes with it today. By speaking with reporters and listening to press conferences, I got a firsthand look at some behind-the-scenes draft content.
Now that day one is complete, it’s time to reflect on a draft full of twists and turns and decide which are the craziest.
In recent mock drafts, Carnell Tate had been sliding. Few had him in the top five, and some even had him outside the top ten.
When Jeremiyah Love went #3 to the Cardinals, every media member in Pittsburgh expected the Titans to select Arvell Reese, Francis Mauigoa, or perhaps Sonny Styles. However, in a somewhat surprising twist, Tennessee took Carnell Tate. Tate’s talent is undeniable, but many expected the Titans to target a more pressing need.
Nevertheless, Tate’s confidence shone. At his press conference, when asked about his game, he echoed that notion. “I believe I bring everything to the table. I’m a complete player,” Tate said. And he wasn’t lying. He poses all sorts of problems on jump balls and inside routes, whether against zone or man coverage.
Though the move may have been unexpected, it wasn’t necessarily a bad one. The Titans desperately needed a receiver, and Tate was the best of the bunch. Pairing a young QB in Ward with a young receiver in Tate sets Tennessee up very well for the future.
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His size, athleticism, and quarterback-friendly play make him the perfect target for Ward. Though they could’ve gotten Reese and taken a receiver late, Tate could easily be the Titans’ WR1 of the future.
If you asked any analyst before the draft, they’d tell you Arvell Reese would go #2 or #3, depending on whether David Bailey went first. Nobody expected Reese to be sitting there at pick five.
The Giants are already loaded with edge talent. With Brian Burns, Abdul Carter, and Kayvon Thibodeaux, edge was the last position they needed. Including the Burns trade, the Giants have now used three first-round picks and a second-round pick on edge players since 2022. However, many consider Reese a generational athlete with otherworldly talent. How could they pass on that?
Additionally, Reese’s versatility is what truly justifies this pick. While he’s listed as an edge player, he’s equally adept, if not more so, at inside linebacker. The Giants were expected to take Sonny Styles so that they could slot Reese right into that linebacker position. Then, when one of their edge players leaves, either by free agency or trade, they have Reese ready to go.
As he said at his press conference, “I just want to prove that I can be a team player and help my team win.”
The pick doesn’t make the most sense from a positional standpoint, but if Reese pans out the way many expect, it could be the steal of the draft.
Everyone in the NFL Draft media room watched with anticipation as Caleb Downs slid out of the top ten. Nearly everyone expected him to be gone by then. But the Commanders wanted Styles, the Saints wanted a receiver in Tyson, and the Browns and Giants opted for the offensive line. Finally, the Cowboys couldn’t wait any longer, so they traded up one spot with the Dolphins to take him.
Maybe Downs slid because of his injury. Or maybe it was because the safety position doesn’t carry as much value as a lineman, edge, or receiver. Either way, this may go down as the steal of the draft.
Dallas had to trade up, but an awesome pick in Caleb Downs. People get too worked up about him playing safety, but who cares?
Gonna be an elite player for years. I'd take that here without question
Downs’ versatility allows him to play pretty much anywhere on the field. His athleticism enables him to make plays regardless of the play call, formation, or personnel. In fact, at his press conference, he described his game as “very instinctual.” Downs continued, saying, “I play with a quick trigger, great eyes, and the ability to make plays in all facets of the field.”