Ronnie Stanley and Will Fuller were taken in the NFL Draft’s first round. Both came off the board on night one, with Stanley the first offensive tackle taken and Fuller the second receiver selected.
Stanley joins the Baltimore Ravens, a key addition to a franchise needed help along the offensive line. He’s Notre Dame’s first Top 10 pick since 1994, ending a draught that’s spanned since Bryant Young was taken by San Francisco.
Welcome to Baltimore, @ronnie_stanley. pic.twitter.com/y6lunS2eZt
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) April 29, 2016
RONNIE!!
— Brian Kelly (@CoachBrianKelly) April 29, 2016
He anchored our OLine for 4 years & now he'll anchor the Ravens for the next decade.
Congrats, Ronnie! pic.twitter.com/Prdy42zUUV
Fuller will join a Houston Texans offense that just spent major money on quarterback Brock Osweiler and running back Lamar Miller. To back up that investment, the Texans added college football’s most dangerous deep threat, trading up to spot No. 21 to pair Fuller with DeAndre Hopkins on the outside.
The Texans got a ridiculous talent in Will Fuller!
— Brian Kelly (@CoachBrianKelly) April 29, 2016
Going to miss having this guy in our arsenal.#NDinTheNFL pic.twitter.com/AURrWYYk62
Houston you have no problem. Trade up and get the best Playmaker in the Draft. #NDinTheNFL #GoIrish #Philly pic.twitter.com/qZc7HK9jVa
— Mike Denbrock (@MikeDenbrock) April 29, 2016
Linebacker Jaylon Smith was not selected in the first round. Both he and Myles Jack, widely considered to be Top 10 talents, slid down the board because of knee injuries. (Both also have loss-of-value insurance policies, cushioning that blow.)
The draft continues tomorrow with rounds two and three. Smith should be selected then, along with Sheldon Day, Nick Martin, and potentially C.J. Prosise.
