After a weekend full of news stemming from the 2020 NFL Draft, there is a lot to digest. Whether it be notable picks or trades of established players, sports fans actually had something to talk about amidst the coronavirus pandemic. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the biggest news from a busy weekend:
Quarterbacks The Biggest Stories Of The Draft
While there were 225 picks total in the draft (capped by Mr. Irrelevant, Tae Crowder), it was quarterbacks that made the most notable news throughout the weekend.
Right off the bat, Joe Burrow was picked No. 1 overall by the Cincinnati Bengals. After throwing for 5,671 yards and 60 touchdowns in LSU’s 15-game national championship run, the Bengals hope that he can be a franchise-changing quarterback.
Another big name quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa, was also taken early in the draft. Despite a hip injury, which ended his college football season, the former likely number one pick fell to fifth overall, being drafted by the Dolphins.
Tagovailoa threw for 2,840 yards and 33 touchdowns in just nine games last year. The Dolphins, like the Bengals, hope that they found their franchise quarterback.
In one of the most interesting day one moves, the Green Bay Packers traded into the first round to pick Aaron Rodgers’ heir apparent. In a surprising move, the Packers took Jordan Love out of Utah State. While many Packers fans were clamoring for the team to get Rodgers some support, they instead found his eventual replacement.
The last of the major quarterback stories came in day two, when the Eagles surprisingly chose Jalen Hurts. Like the Packers, the Eagles already have their opening day starter in Carson Wentz, but they liked the versatility of Hurts and apparently wanted to upgrade the backup spot of the oft-injured Wentz.
Texans Extend Tunsil
The Houston Texans made big news outside of the draft as they agreed to a three-year extension with left tackle Laremy Tunsil. The former first-round pick is getting $66 million with $57 guaranteed.
It is a huge payday for Tunsil, but after the Texans traded two first-round picks and a second-rounder for him last year to Miami, it was a deal that needed to be made. It has been a tumultuous offseason for Bill O’Brien and the Texans (most notably due to the trade of DeAndre Hopkins), but this solidifies a big part of their protection of Deshaun Watson for the next few years.
Redskins Finally Unload Williams
It has been a year in the making, but the Washington Redskins and Trent Williams have finally parted ways. The Redskins traded him to the San Francisco 49ers for a fifth-round pick in 2020 and a third-round pick in 2021.
Williams has long been a dominant tackle in the NFL, but a contract dispute soured the relationship between Williams and the Redskins. For the 49ers, they are hoping they just made a big addition to their offensive line while the Redskins are hoping they received some draft capital while getting rid of a headache.
49ers Trade Breida To Dolphins
While the 49ers brought in Williams, they sent out running back Matt Breida. The 49ers traded him to the Miami Dolphins for the 153rd overall pick.
Breida, just 25 years old, played in 13 games last year for the 49ers, rushing 123 times for 623 yards and a touchdown. He also had 19 receptions for 120 yards and another score. With Jerick McKinnon in the backfield for San Francisco, it made Breida expendable as he enters a contract year.
