Photo by Andrew Kilzer, TexAgs
Texas A&M Football
The Atlanta Falcons used the sixth pick to select Matthews, who continues a family tradition of reaching the NFL. His father, Bruce, is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. His older brother, Kevin, played in the NFL, too.
The St. Louis Rams, who had the second selection, were thought to be interested in Matthews. However, the Rams opted for Auburn tackle Greg Robinson. The next three teams filled other needs — Jacksonville took quarterback Blake Bortles, Buffalo took receiver Sammy Watkins and Oakland grabbed University of Buffalo linebacker Khalil Mack.
That left Matthews there for Atlanta, which needed more protection for quarterback Matt Ryan.
Matthews figures to provide that. He was a starter since his freshman year and was named All-American as a junior and senior.
He’s the second consecutive A&M offensive tackle to be selected in the first round. Last year Luke Joeckel was taken with the second overall pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Stewart Wade
A lot of NFC South cornerbacks might have done the same.
Evans, who did not play football until his senior year at Galveston Ball High School, was taken by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the seventh pick in the NFL Draft Thursday night.
Although there was some speculation new Bucs coach Lovie Smith would take Evans’ Texas A&M battery-mate, quarterback Johnny Manziel, the selection of Evans also filled a major need in Tampa. The Buccaneers desperately need a productive receiver to play opposite Vincent Jackson, who caught 78 passes for 1,224 yards and seven touchdowns last season.
Only two other Bucs wide receivers had at least 20 catches — and both of those have departed. Tiquan Underwood had 24 catches for 446 yards and four touchdowns and signed a free agent deal with the Carolina Panthers. Meanwhile, Mike Williams, who had 22 catches for 216 yards and two touchdowns, was traded to Buffalo.
The most productive receiver aside from Jackson remaining on the Bucs roster is Chris Owusu, who had 13 catches last season.
In Evans, the Bucs get a big, physical receiver who last year set an A&M school record with 1,322 receiving yards. He also had 12 touchdowns.
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Stewart Wade
As most expected, the Cleveland Browns drafted dazzling Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel.
They just didn’t draft him when most expected.
The Browns traded down and ignored him, then later traded up as the Browns fans at Radio City Music Hall adored him.
The fans chanted “Johnny, Johnny” just before NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced that the Browns would use the 22nd pick of the first round to take Manziel. Manziel joined Matthews and Evans as first-round selections. It’s only the second time three Aggies were selected in the first round of the same draft.
Goodell’s announcement of the selection of Manziel was met by a roar of approval from the throngs of Browns fans on hand.
That was after they had booed a couple of hours earlier.
Manziel was widely projected to be taken by the quarterback-needy Browns with the fourth pick of the draft. Instead, the Browns traded the fourth pick to Buffalo for the Bills’ first round pick (9th overall) and Buffalo’s first- and fourth-round picks next year.
The Raiders and Bucs, thought to be interested in a quarterback, passed on Manziel. The Vikings, picking eighth, were thought to be interested in Manziel, but traded positions with the Browns. The Browns then stunned the crowd by taking Oklahoma State cornerback Justin Gilbert.
It turned out to be a shrewd move.
Manziel, the 2012 Heisman Trophy recipient, slid all the way to the 22nd spot where Philadelphia was slotted. However, the Browns made a deal with the Eagles for the 22nd pick and grabbed Manziel.
Earlier this year Manziel indicated he hoped to be taken by the Houston Texans with the first pick in the draft. He even warned the Texans not to pass him up.
“Sorry, but you just turned that chip on my shoulder from a Frito into a Dorito,” Manziel said then.
The Browns play the Texans on Nov. 16 in Cleveland.
Break out the Doritos.
Stewart Wade
Matthews to ATL, Evans to Tampa, Manziel taken by Browns
Jake Matthews - No. 6 pick - Atlanta Falcons
Matthews wasn’t the first offensive tackle selected in the NFL Draft Thursday night, but he was the first Aggie.The Atlanta Falcons used the sixth pick to select Matthews, who continues a family tradition of reaching the NFL. His father, Bruce, is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. His older brother, Kevin, played in the NFL, too.
The St. Louis Rams, who had the second selection, were thought to be interested in Matthews. However, the Rams opted for Auburn tackle Greg Robinson. The next three teams filled other needs — Jacksonville took quarterback Blake Bortles, Buffalo took receiver Sammy Watkins and Oakland grabbed University of Buffalo linebacker Khalil Mack.
That left Matthews there for Atlanta, which needed more protection for quarterback Matt Ryan.
Matthews figures to provide that. He was a starter since his freshman year and was named All-American as a junior and senior.
He’s the second consecutive A&M offensive tackle to be selected in the first round. Last year Luke Joeckel was taken with the second overall pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Stewart WadeMike Evans - No. 7 pick - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
When NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell called Evans’ name, the Texas A&M receiver broke into tears.A lot of NFC South cornerbacks might have done the same.
Evans, who did not play football until his senior year at Galveston Ball High School, was taken by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the seventh pick in the NFL Draft Thursday night.
Although there was some speculation new Bucs coach Lovie Smith would take Evans’ Texas A&M battery-mate, quarterback Johnny Manziel, the selection of Evans also filled a major need in Tampa. The Buccaneers desperately need a productive receiver to play opposite Vincent Jackson, who caught 78 passes for 1,224 yards and seven touchdowns last season.
Only two other Bucs wide receivers had at least 20 catches — and both of those have departed. Tiquan Underwood had 24 catches for 446 yards and four touchdowns and signed a free agent deal with the Carolina Panthers. Meanwhile, Mike Williams, who had 22 catches for 216 yards and two touchdowns, was traded to Buffalo.
The most productive receiver aside from Jackson remaining on the Bucs roster is Chris Owusu, who had 13 catches last season.
In Evans, the Bucs get a big, physical receiver who last year set an A&M school record with 1,322 receiving yards. He also had 12 touchdowns.
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Stewart Wade
Johnny Manziel - No. 22 pick - Cleveland Browns
As most expected, the Cleveland Browns drafted dazzling Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel.They just didn’t draft him when most expected.
The Browns traded down and ignored him, then later traded up as the Browns fans at Radio City Music Hall adored him.
The fans chanted “Johnny, Johnny” just before NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced that the Browns would use the 22nd pick of the first round to take Manziel. Manziel joined Matthews and Evans as first-round selections. It’s only the second time three Aggies were selected in the first round of the same draft.
Goodell’s announcement of the selection of Manziel was met by a roar of approval from the throngs of Browns fans on hand.
That was after they had booed a couple of hours earlier.
Manziel was widely projected to be taken by the quarterback-needy Browns with the fourth pick of the draft. Instead, the Browns traded the fourth pick to Buffalo for the Bills’ first round pick (9th overall) and Buffalo’s first- and fourth-round picks next year.
The Raiders and Bucs, thought to be interested in a quarterback, passed on Manziel. The Vikings, picking eighth, were thought to be interested in Manziel, but traded positions with the Browns. The Browns then stunned the crowd by taking Oklahoma State cornerback Justin Gilbert.
It turned out to be a shrewd move.
Manziel, the 2012 Heisman Trophy recipient, slid all the way to the 22nd spot where Philadelphia was slotted. However, the Browns made a deal with the Eagles for the 22nd pick and grabbed Manziel.
Earlier this year Manziel indicated he hoped to be taken by the Houston Texans with the first pick in the draft. He even warned the Texans not to pass him up.
“Sorry, but you just turned that chip on my shoulder from a Frito into a Dorito,” Manziel said then.
The Browns play the Texans on Nov. 16 in Cleveland.
Break out the Doritos.
Stewart Wade
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