COLUMBUS – Buckeyes chosen in the first round of this year’s NFL draft won’t have to get new driver’s licenses.
The Browns selected cornerback Denzel Ward at No. 4 and the Bengals took center Billy Price with their selection. Both are Ohio natives.
Cleveland ended months of debate and dissection by selecting Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield with the No.1 overall pick.
Mayfield is a somewhat surprising selection by the Browns, who figured to take the safe route and grab USC’s Sam Darnold. But Mayfield appealed to the Browns because he won in college and the team is not concerned about any character issues.
Ward, from Macedonia, Ohio, and Nordonia High School, is the fifth Ohio State defensive back and the fourth cornerback taken in the first round the last three years.
The Bengals used their first pick to help protect their own quarterback after watching four passers get taken earlier.
Cincinnati took Price with the 21st overall pick on Thursday, adding another newcomer to an offensive line that was the main focus of their offseason.
The Austintown Fitch High School graduate was the 2017 Rimington Award winner, unanimous All-American and the Big Ten’s offensive lineman of the year.
Former Buckeye linebacker Ryan Shazier made an appearance less than five months after a spine injury.
The Pro Bowl linebacker limped slowly on the stage and announced Pittsburgh’s first-round pick. He got a nice ovation after being introduced by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell before calling out the name of safety Terrell Edmunds of Virginia Tech as the 28th overall pick.
Shazier was hurt in a game Dec. 4 and needed spine stabilization surgery.
The draft will continue with rounds 2 and 3 Friday and rounds 4-7 on Saturday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.