After months of speculation – even more than usual with the later start date this year – the 2014 NFL draft is officially here. The first round of the draft begins Thursday at 5 p.m., with rounds two and three beginning at 4 p.m. Friday and rounds four through seven finishing up Saturday. Stay tuned for live updates throughout.
Saturday 4:17 p.m.: UCLA Recap
Players Drafted
Round 1, 9th pick overall: Anthony Barr – Minnesota Vikings
Round 2, 33rd pick overall: Xavier Su’a Filo – Houston Texans
Round 4, 108th pick overall: Cassius Marsh – Seattle Seahawks
Round 4, 115th pick overall: Shaq Evans – New York Jets
Round 6, 192nd pick overall: Jordan Zumwalt – Pittsburgh Steelers
-Jordan Lee
Saturday 4:16 p.m.: Day Three Recap
Round 4
108. UCLA DE Cassius Marsh – Seattle Seahawks
115. UCLA WR Shaq Evans – New York Jets
116. Utah CB Keith McGill – Oakland Raiders
117. Arizona RB Ka’Deem Carey – Chicago Bears
121. Arizona State LB Carl Bradford – Green Bay Packers
124. Oregon RB De’Anthony Thomas – Kansas City Chiefs
126. California LB Khairi Fortt – New Orleans Saints
140. Stanford T Cameron Fleming – New England Patriots
Round 5
141. Oregon DT Taylor Hart – Philadelphia Eagles
145. Stanford G David Yankey – Minnesota Vikings
157. Arizona CB Shaquille Richardson – Pittsburgh Steelers
162. Stanford S Ed Reynolds – Philadelphia Eagles
174. USC LB Devon Kennard – New York Giants
Round 6
192. UCLA LB Jordan Zumwalt – Pittsburgh Steelers
201. Arizona State RB Marion Grice – San Diego Chargers
204 Stanford RB Tyler Gaffney – Carolina Panthers
212. Arizona LB Marquis Flowers – Cincinnati Bengals
Round 7
231. Stanford DE Ben Gardner – Dallas Cowboys
233. Utah LB Trevor Reilly – New York Jets
254. Oregon CB Terrance Mitchell – Dallas Cowboys
-Jordan Lee
Saturday 3:59 p.m.: Missouri defensive end Michael Sam was drafted by the St. Louis Rams with the 249th pick, making history as the first openly gay player to be drafted to the NFL. Sam was the co-defensive player of the year for the SEC and was considered by some to be a mid-round draft prospect based on his talent, but fell to late in the seventh round of the NFL draft. The crowds at Radio City Music Hall began chanting Sam’s name after he was drafted. Sam will join several other openly gay professional American athletes including Jason Collins in the NBA and Robbie Rogers in the MLS.
Football-wise, Sam will join a very strong Rams defensive line which includes defensive ends Chris Long and Robert Quinn as well as first-round pick defensive tackle Aaron Donald.
-Kevin Bowman
Saturday 2:11 p.m.: Arizona State running back Marion Grice was drafted by the San Diego Chargers with the 201st pick in the 2014 NFL draft. At one point in November 2013, Grice led NCAA DI players in scoring, thanks in large part to his downfield catching prowess out of the backfield. He may have finished as the nation’s scoring champion had it not been for a leg injury he sustained against the Bruins on Nov. 23 that forced him to miss the final three games of the season. Grice did some damage of his own at the Rose Bowl, however. He gained more than 160 total yards on 25 touches against UCLA in 2013, although he went scoreless.
The versatile Grice will vie for minutes in a backfield already featuring fellow multi-dimensional threat Danny Woodhead and oft-injured primary rusher Ryan Mathews.
-Emilio Ronquillo
Saturday 1:30 p.m.: Drafted 192nd overall, UCLA linebacker Jordan Zumwalt is now a Pittsburgh Steeler.
Zumwalt’s football identity features versatility and a penchant for splash plays. He started all 13 games in 2013, playing inside and outside, for the Bruins, forcing three fumbles and notching two interceptions while serving as one of UCLA’s leaders in reel-worthy tackles.
Perhaps Zumwalt’s most timely play occurred in a 5-point Bruins win over the Arizona Wildcats. Fellow NFL draftee and 2013 Pac-12 rushing champion Ka’Deem Carey became well-acquainted with Zumwalt on the field in November when the UCLA linebacker upended the Arizona running back near the goal-line. UCLA safety Randall Goforth helped with additional hit, and Carey lost the ball in what became a touchback.
UCLA coach Jim Mora considered Zumwalt to be his team’s resident “crazy” man, a description justified by the linebacker’s willingness to play to, and many times through, the whistle. In particular, hits against Oregon’s Marcus Mariota and Virginia Tech’s Logan Thomas – the latter taken out of the Sun Bowl after getting clocked by a Zumwalt running with a full head of steam – left some wondering how far the linebacker could push referees with his aggression.
-Emilio Ronquillo
Saturday 1:01 p.m.: USC linebacker Devon Kennard will be heading across the country after being selected by the New York Giants with the 174th pick of the draft.
Kennard played multiple spots in the front seven in his career at USC, lining up at middle and outside linebacker, as well as defensive end. Kennard has a history of injuries and missed all of the 2012 season after tearing a pectoral muscle.
Kennard rebounded and had a strong senior season in 2013. He totaled nine sacks, including one against UCLA. However, scouts seem to consider Kennard a jack-of-all trades and a master of none, as he lacks explosiveness to be a strong edge rusher but is versatile.
-Jordan Lee
Saturday 12:19 p.m.: Ed Reynolds became the fourth player from Palo Alto to be drafted, going in the fifth round to the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Stanford safety was a two-time All Pac 12 selection and possesses good size for the position, but lacks top-end speed.
Still, Reynolds was a playmaker as a Cardinal, returning three interceptions for touchdowns in 2012 as part of a six interception campaign. Reynolds also intercepted UCLA’s Brett Hundley in the Pac-12 title game of that same year, returning the ball 80 yards. Reynolds’ 301 interception return yards that year were the second-most ever in a season.
-Jordan Lee
Saturday 12:04 p.m.: Arizona cornerback Shaquille Richardson was selected in the fifth round of the NFL draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Richardson is a lean, athletic defensive back who has the physical ability to play but has character concerns. A one-time UCLA signee, Richardson was dismissed from the Bruins before he ever set foot on the field for a violation of team rules in 2010.
In 2012, Richardson was ejected from a game against UCLA after fighting with Bruin wide receiver Taylor Embree. Richardson was among four Wildcats and six Bruins to face a suspension for their involvement in the on-field fight.
-Jordan Lee
Saturday 11:26 a.m.: Earlier in the draft season, Stanford’s David Yankey was considered among Xavier Su’a-Filo (UCLA)’s top competitors for the honor of being the first guard selected in 2014. Su’a-Filo wound up earning that distinction, drafted with the 33rd over pick by the Houston Texans. Meanwhile, Yankey waited until the 145th pick to find a new home with the Minnesota Vikings.
While both have an ability to get to the second level of a defense on runs, Su’a-Filo’s more fluid movements seem to have played a factor in their draft position disparity. Conference opponents voted Yankey the Pac-12’s best lineman in 2012, while Su’a-Filo won the designation the following year, and both have started at left tackle as well.
Yankey played for a varied, pro-style Stanford offense that gashed the Jim Mora-era Bruins for a net of 221, 170 and 192 yards in three contests over the last two seasons.
-Emilio Ronquillo
Saturday 11:17 a.m.: Stanford offensive tackle Cameron Fleming joins a growling list of Cardinal lineman in the NFL after being selected by the New England Patriots in the fourth round of the NFL draft.
Fleming measures well for the position as he possesses prototypical height, weight and arm length to be a tackle at the next level but also has the ability to play inside at guard. Fleming was one of four Stanford lineman to be named to an All-Pac-12 team a season ago, garnering Second Team honors.
-Jordan Lee
Saturday 10:35 a.m.: Oregon speedster De’Anthony Thomas is headed to Kansas City after being selected by the Chiefs in the fourth round.
Thomas was one of the most electrifying players in college football during his time in Eugene. He contributed all over the field, lining up as both running back, wide receiver and returner. Thomas was productive whenever he got his hands on the ball, averaging over seven yards per carry for his career and catching 15 touchdowns over that same period.
Despite his big-play ability, Thomas appears to be a player without a position at the next level. He is too undersized to be an every down back and could struggle against the bigger cornerbacks as a receiver. Thomas will most likely serve a specialized role due to his outstanding agility and acceleration.
-Jordan Lee
Saturday 10:25 a.m.: Arizona State outside linebacker Carl Bradford was selected by the Green Bay Packers with the 121st pick of the NFL draft, continuing a busy morning for Pac-12 players.
Bradford flashed playmaking ability during his time in Tempe, notching a sack and a pick-six against UCLA last season.
Though he lined up at defensive end his senior year in college, Bradford should be an outside linebacker for the Packers. Bradford also expects to contribute to special teams.
-Jordan Lee
Saturday 10:13 a.m.: Arizona All-American running back Ka’Deem Carey was selected by the Chicago Bears in the fourth round of the NFL Draft, going 117th overall.
Carey terrorized UCLA during his time in Tucson, rushing for 149 yards and a score on 28 carries last season. However such a performance was hardly unique for the former Wildcat running back, as Carey finished third in the nation and first in the Pac-12 in rushing yards.
Indeed, Carey was one of the most prolific players in all of college football in the last three years, as the junior crossed the end zone 54 times. He also proved himself a very durable and reliable player, carrying the ball 652 times the last two years, and produced back-to-back 1880 yard seasons.
-Jordan Lee
Saturday 10:07 a.m.: Wide receiver Shaquelle Evans is going to the New York Jets after being selected in the fourth round with the 115th overall pick. While the Bruin notched just 709 yards on the season for UCLA’s spread offense, he led the team with nine receiving touchdowns. He seemed to be quarterback Brett Hundley’s favorite target down the field, with Evans appearing to be the receiver who heard his name called most often on back-shoulder throws.
With a Pac-12 title game on the line in the game against Arizona State, Hundley went to the Notre Dame transfer on fourth and five for a 15-yard completion, though the Bruins lost when the drive eventually stalled. Evans also appeared to be among the team’s few trusted deep threats: He scored on a 66-yard bomb to open up the game against Arizona, and ended his college career with a 59-yard touchdown during the Sun Bowl.
-Emilio Ronquillo
Saturday 9:46 a.m.: Defensive end Cassius Marsh will join the reigning Super Bowl champions after being drafted 108th overall by the Seattle Seahawks.
The Bruin tied for the second-most sacks on the team in 2013. Marsh may be one of the smaller defensive end in the NFL at 260 pounds, though he may play outside linebacker as well. During his pro day in March, he took snaps all over the field, from tight end and fullback to looks on defense. Coach Jim Mora said that he had never seen a player try out at so many positions at a workout before.
The UCLA coaching staff recognized Marsh’s versatility, using him as a blocker in some short-yardage situations, typically with sophomore linebacker Myles Jack running the ball, and scripting a 2-yard touchdown catch against Washington. Seattle’s deep defensive line played a large role in frustrating Peyton Manning all throughout the Super Bowl, so Marsh’s varied skill set figures to be valuable in making the case for minutes.
-Emilio Ronquillo
Friday 8:28 p.m.: Round Three Recap – Round three was busy for Pac-12 players, but no Bruins were among those selected.
USC center Marcus Martin, rated as one of the top center prospects in the draft, heads to the Bay Area after being selected by the San Francisco 49ers with the 70th overall pick.
Oregon State’s Scott Crichton quickly came off the board after Martin, as the Minnesota Vikings selected the defensive end two picks later. Crichton joins UCLA linebacker Anthony Barr in Minneapolis.
Two-time Pac-12 Defensive Player of Year defensive tackle Will Sutton leaves Arizona State for the Windy City, joining a Chicago Bears front that needs to replace Henry Melton who left for Dallas in free agency.
Oregon wide receiver Josh Huff will join former Ducks head coach Chip Kelly after being drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles with the 86th pick.
California tight end Richard Rodgers will be catching passes from former Golden Bear Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay after going to the Packers with the 98th pick in the draft. Richard Rodgers wasn’t very productive in his time in the Bay Area, posting just 59 catches for 896 yards and two scores in his career.
What to watch for: Saturday marks the conclusion of the NFL draft and figures to be a busy day for several Bruins. Linebacker Jordan Zumwalt, wide receiver Shaquelle Evans and defensive lineman Cassius Marsh all could hear their name called before the draft reaches its end.
-Jordan Lee
Friday 7:50 p.m.: Philadelphia Eagles coach Chip Kelly – formerly Oregon’s coach – added one of his own in the third round of the NFL draft, taking Oregon wide receiver Josh Huff 86th overall. Huff is the first Ducks player Kelly has selected since leaving Eugene and college football for Philadelphia.
Huff was highly productive in his year without Kelly, notching 62 receptions for 1140 yards – an 18.4-yard average per catch. He had a solid performance against UCLA, totaling 76 yards on six receptions.
Huff is a small, compact receiver, who was recruited as a running back before making the switch to wideout. He isn’t as explosive as some of the other players to come out of Oregon in the last couple of years, and stands to improve his route running.
Huff joins a familiar face in Kelly and a transforming receiving corps in Philadelphia. The Eagles took Vanderbilt wide receiver Jordan Matthews in the second round. Matthews and Huff will be a part of the effort to replace Desean Jackson, who was released by the Eagles earlier in the offseason.
-Jordan Lee
Friday 7:46 p.m.: Arizona State defensive tackle Will Sutton found a home with the Chicago Bears, selected as the 82nd pick in the draft. The Pac-12’s defensive player of the year in 2012 and 2013, Sutton provided the most imposing force on a Sun Devils team that sacked Brett Hundley eight times and pressured the quarterback heavily into an interception returned for a touchdown during the UCLA loss that cost the Bruins a shot at a Pac-12 title.
Always one to be complimentary of opposing players, UCLA coach Jim Mora compared Will Sutton’s pass-rushing ability to that of Hall of Fame defensive tackle Warren Sapp. Whether Sutton can live up to such a comparison will probably be based in part on the defensive tackle staying under 300 pounds and maximizing his quickness. Scouts noticed that a heavier Sutton was less effective in 2013 than during his 2012 campaign.
-Emilio Ronquillo
Friday 7:11 p.m.: The Minnesota Vikings added another Pac-12 defender to their front seven by selecting Oregon State defensive end Scott Crichton with the 72nd pick. The Vikings took UCLA outside linebacker Anthony Barr in the first round with the ninth pick in the draft.
Like Barr, Chrichton is a lighter edge rusher and figures to pair with Barr on the outside. The junior recorded 22.5 sacks during his career in Corvallis, including a two-sack performance against UCLA in 2012.
-Jordan Lee
Friday 7:08 p.m.: The San Francisco 49ers selected former USC center Marcus Martin with the 70th pick in the NFL Draft. Martin, the final player invited to attend the draft to be selected, joins one of the more heralded offensive lines in the NFL. At 320 pounds, Martin will be right at home on a unit whose first team is comprised of 300-pounders at every position. An injury cart took Martin off the field for good in the 2013 installment of the UCLA-USC rivalry, and his absence seem to coincide with a big night for Bruin defensive tackle Kenny Clark, who earned a sack-forced fumble against Martin’s backup. Coupled with the second-round pick of power Ohio State running back Carlos Hyde, the 49ers appear determined to maintain their reputation as one of the harder-hitting offenses in the league. The selection of Martin may pay dividends down the line in an NFC West rife with interior defensive line talent.
-Emilio Ronquillo
Friday 6:51 p.m.: Round Two Recap – UCLA guard Xavier Su’a Filo kicked things off Friday night by becoming the first player off the board as he was selected by the Houston Texans with the 33rd pick overall.
USC wide receiver Marqise Lee’s wait would come to an end six picks later, as the former All-American will join Central Florida quarterback Blake Bortles in Jacksonville.
Lee was not the only Pac-12 receiver to have his name called Friday as Colorado’s Paul Richardson soon followed the Trojan receiver. Richardson will head to the northwest, joining the reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks.
Washington had a pair of players go in the second round, with tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins going to the Buccaneers with the 38th overall pick, and Bishop Sankey – the first running back chosen in the draft – selected by the Tennessee Titans with the 54th pick.
Pac-12 defensive player of the year, Stanford’s Trent Murphy, became the first pick of the Washington Redskins. The defensive end went 47th overall.
Friday 6 p.m.: One of the most prolific rushers in the country during the 2013 season, Washington’s Bishop Sankey became the first running back selected in this year’s NFL draft. The Tennessee Titans drafted Sankey with the 54th overall pick to help replace departed big-play dynamo Chris Johnson. While Sankey likely cannot replicate the ability of Johnson to turn a dump-off or handoff into a 80-plus yard touchdown, the former Husky proved as reliable as any runner in college football: Sankey finished 15 yards short of the Pac-12 rushing title last year, and ranked fourth overall in the nation. UCLA bottled up Sankey in his only ever meeting against the Bruins, though. The running back gained just 91 yards on 27 carries on a November night in the Rose Bowl.
-Emilio Ronquillo
Friday 5:32 p.m.: Trent Murphy is the latest in a flurry of Pac-12 players to be drafted, chosen 47th by the Washington Redskins. Murphy, a former Stanford outside linebacker, led the NCAA in sacks with 15 on the year. Against UCLA on Oct. 19, Murphy recorded three tackles, including two sacks in Stanford’s 24-10 win.
-Kevin Bowman
Friday 5:26 p.m.: Paul Richardson goes from one of the worst team’s in the Pac-12 to the best team in the NFL as the former Colorado wide receiver was selected in the second round of the NFL Draft by the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks with the 45th overall pick.
Richardson was the clear bright spot for the Buffaloes as the one-time UCLA wide receiver caught 83 passes for 1343 yards and 10 touchdowns. Richardson is a slight receiver who will need to bulk up at the next level but possesses solid hands and is a very fluid athlete. He joins Oregon State’s Brandin Cooks and USC’s Marqise Lee as receivers from the Pac-12 to be selected in the draft thus far.
-Jordan Lee
Friday 4:48 p.m.: Knee problems kept Marqise Lee away from having the junior season one would expect of the former All-American and Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year. After falling out of the first round Thursday night, the dynamic pass catcher finally found a home, hearing the call from the Jacksonville Jaguars with the 39th overall pick.
UCLA coach Jim Mora has compared Lee to Marvin Harrison, also a smaller receiver with crisp route running ability, who became a Hall of Famer catching passes for Peyton Manning. Lee lit up the Bruins for a total of 22 catches, 382 yards and a touchdown during his sophomore and junior seasons, but hobbled his way to six catches and 69 yards during his final appearance in the Los Angeles rivalry.
-Emilio Ronquillo
Friday 4:43 p.m.: Another Pac-12 player came off the board early in the second round as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected former Washington tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins. UCLA was able to contain Seferian-Jenkins in its 41-31 win over Washington on Nov. 15, limiting him to just four catches for 22 yards. Seferian-Jenkins did score a touchdown however.
-Kevin Bowman
Friday 4:16 p.m.: Xavier Su’a-Filo quickly found a home Friday, as the UCLA guard was selected by the Houston Texans with the first pick of the second round. Su’a-Filo was the highest drafted UCLA offensive lineman since Jonathan Ogden was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in 1996. Su’a-Filo was rated as one of the top guards in the draft by many experts, and is known for the athleticism and agility that he displays on pull plays and getting off the snap quickly. He figures to add to an offensive line that helped the offense average 108.9 yards on the ground a year ago.
With his experience playing both tackle and guard, Su’a-Filo provided a stabilizing force in 2013 for a Bruins offensive line that ended the season with a different starter at every spot than what was seen on opening day but center. The versatility that made Su’a-Filo extra valuable to UCLA probably won’t factor much into his starting minutes at the pro level. Many draft analysts, such Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay of ESPN, see Su’a-Filo as solely a guard, albeit one of the best ones available this year.
-Jordan Lee & Emilio Ronquillo
Thursday 8:27 p.m.: Deone Bucannon of Washington State provided something of a Pac-12 surprise, hearing the call from the Arizona Cardinals at the 27th overall spot in the draft before more locally recognizable names like Marqise Lee (USC) and Xavier Su’a-Filo (UCLA).
Bucannon garnered AP first-team All-American honors from the safety position, and was thought by many draft analysts to be a second to third-round selection. He’s generally viewed as an in-the-box hitter, with his best plays coming close to the line of scrimmage.
Thursday 7:50 p.m.: For a player that captivated the world of college football like no other, it was only fitting that the story of the 2014 NFL draft thus far, was the fall of Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel down draft boards.
That fall finally came to an end as Manziel was selected 22nd overall by the Cleveland Browns. Manziel was originally linked to the Browns at fourth overall but the team traded picks with the Bills and ultimately selected Oklahoma State cornerback Justin Gilbert with the eighth overall pick.
And then the descent began. Manziel fell past the Buccaneers at seventh overall and the Vikings – who selected UCLA’s Anthony Barr – at ninth overall. Manziel was a thought to be a fit for the Dallas Cowboys at 16, but they too passed on the polarizing quarterback.
But the Browns ultimately got their man by pulling off yet another trade-their third trade of the night, moving up from the 26th pick down for spots to take the former Heisman trophy winner.
-Jordan Lee
Thursday 7:31 p.m.: The New Orleans Saints traded up to the 20th overall pick in order to select Oregon State wide receiver Brandin Cooks. The Saints sent the 27th overall pick and their third round pick to the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for the right to draft Cooks. Cooks was one of the most electric players in the draft and timed as the fastest of any receiver in the draft. Cooks was noted for his elusiveness and durability despite his diminutive frame. Cooks is the second Pac-12 player, after Anthony Barr, to hear his name on draft night.
-Jordan Lee
Thursday 7:04 p.m.: Big D usually means Big Drama. But Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys passed on taking that label to new heights by refraining from drafting improv-superstar Johnny Manziel. The Cowboys, who have been eliminated from playoff contention in their final game of year for three straight seasons, instead fortified their offensive line by drafting offensive tackle Zack Martin with the 16th pick of the draft. Current starting quarterback Tony Romo is quite the injury prone 34-year old former Pro Bowler, thanks to poor protection over the years and a playstyle not dissimilar from Manziel’s. The former posterboy for Texas A&M and a Texas native, Manziel would’ve been a jersey and ticket-selling choice. But Romo, despite his well-documented struggles with turnovers late in games, remains the leader of the Cowboys offense on the strength of his consistent production in the face of constant pressure.
-Emilio Ronquillo
Thursday 6:36 p.m.: The two picks rounding out the top 10 of the 2014 NFL Draft had former Bruin implications written all over them. Despite many projections seeing Anthony Barr fall out of the top 10, the Minnesota Vikings selected the pass rusher with the ninth pick in the draft. Barr becomes the third UCLA Bruin to be drafted by the Vikings in a year, joining Jeff Baca (guard) and Jeff Locke (punter).
With the 10th pick, the Detroit Lions added a major weapon next to Calvin Johnson by selecting North Carolina tight end Eric Ebron. The drafting of Ebron gives Detroit quite the arsenal of red zone weapons. Former Bruin Joe Fauria hauled in seven touchdowns last year for the Lions, despite only catching 18 balls for 207 yards, on 30 targets. Johnson, Ebron and Fauria are all 6-foot-4-inches or taller, with Fauria the tallest at 6-foot-7-inches.
-Emilio Ronquillo
Thursday 6:27 p.m.: On Thursday night, former UCLA outside linebacker Anthony Barr was selected by the Minnesota Vikings with the ninth overall pick in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft.
Barr was rated as one of the top outside linebackers and pass rushers in the draft as he possesses tremendous athleticism but was described as a “work in progress” by ESPN’s Mel Kiper.
Barr figures to add to a Minnesota defense that recorded 41 sacks as a team a season ago.
In his two years at linebacker for UCLA, Barr wracked up 22.5 sacks and was a force off the edge for the Bruins. While primarily a 3-4 outside linebacker with UCLA, Barr may play with his hand in the ground in Minnesota lining up at defensive end in new Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer’s 4-3 defense.
-Jordan Lee
Thursday 6:06 p.m.: After moving back from the fourth overall pick to the ninth overall pick, Cleveland moved up one spot to select Oklahoma State cornerback Justin Gilbert. The Browns traded the ninth overall pick and a fifth-round pick to the Minnesota Vikings for the eighth overall pick. Gilbert is one of the most athletically gifted defensive backs in the draft and was the first corner selected.
– Jordan Lee
Thursday 5:46 p.m.: The Oakland Raiders chose outside linebacker Kahlil Mack with the fifth overall pick. Mack marks the first outside linebacker off the board, leaving Anthony Barr as one of the top remaining players at the position. Barr and Mack were considered similar prospects, but Mack rose on teams’ draft boards after his strong performance at the NFL combine. Barr could be a possibility for the Atlanta Falcons at the No. 6 pick.
– Kevin Bowman
Thursday 5:42 p.m.: The Buffalo Bills trade the ninth overall pick, and their 2015 first- and fourth-round picks to the Cleveland Browns to draft Clemson wide receiver Sammy Watkins in the first trade of the draft.
– Jordan Lee
Thursday 5:20 p.m.: The Houston Texans began the draft by selecting defensive end Jadeveon Clowney out of South Carolina as the first overall pick. Toward the beginning of the 2013 season, Clowney and UCLA outside linebacker Anthony Barr were both considered leading options for the top pick, but Clowney separated himself throughout the season and the draft process.
– Kevin Bowman
Compiled by Jordan Lee, Kevin Bowman and Emilio Ronquillo, Bruin Sports senior staff.