COLUMBUS – It was an unprecedented first round of an NFL draft for the Ohio State football program and for the league.
Five Buckeyes were chosen in the opening round of the 2016 draft in Chicago Thursday night, including three Top 10 picks, the first time three players from the same school had been chosen in the Top 10.
The San Diego Chargers took defensive end Joey Bosa with the third pick even though many people had expected the Chargers to take either a left tackle or to pick Florida State defensive back Jalen Ramsey.
With the next pick, the Dallas Cowboys chose running back Ezekiel Elliott, the highest Dallas has drafted a running back since taking Hall of Famer Tony Dorsett second overall in 1977. All-time NFL rushing leader Emmitt Smith went 17th to the Cowboys in 1990.
Cornerback Eli Apple was the 10th pick overall, going to the New York Giants.
The Detroit Lions selected offensive tackle Taylor Decker with the 16th overall pick and the New York Jets selected linebacker Darron Lee at No. 20.
The Los Angeles Rams used the No. 1 selection to take California’s Jared Goff, just before the Philadelphia Eagles took Carson Wentz of North Dakota State with the No. 2 choice. It marks the second straight year quarterbacks were grabbed with the first two picks in the draft, and the seventh time since 1967.
Bosa’s collegiate career ended on a down note when he was ejected in the first quarter in the Fiesta Bowl for targeting Notre Dame quarterback DeShone Kizer.
The Chargers are coming off a 4-12 season in which they went winless in the AFC West. They’re also trying to get a citizens’ initiative on the November 8th ballot to help fund a new stadium to stay in San Diego.
Running back wasn’t the biggest need going into Thursday night’s draft with Darren McFadden coming off a strong season and the Cowboys adding two-time Pro Bowler Alfred Morris from Washington in free agency.
But the Cowboys will get to put the top-rated running back in the draft behind one of the NFL’s best offensive lines. Dallas took blockers in the first round three times in a span of four seasons starting in 2011.
Cornerback seemingly was not a major need for the NFL’s worst defense after the team signed free agent Janoris Jenkins to play opposite Dominque Rodgers-Cromartie.
The Giants didn’t mind that Apple’s interceptions went down this past season as opponents tended to shy away from targeting receivers he covered. Apple had 56 tackles and four interceptions in two seasons with the Buckeyes.
Detroit drafted four-year starter Decker to address a need identified by new general manager Bob Quinn. The Lions will likely want Decker to start at right tackle opposite Riley Reiff, a 2012 first-round pick, who is entering the last year of his contract.
Detroit lost nine games last year, its 13th losing season in 15 years.
The Lions went into the three-day draft with 10 picks, including two in the fifth round and three in the sixth.
Lee had 12 sacks in two seasons with the Buckeyes as a speedy playmaker at outside linebacker. Jets coach Todd Bowles and general manager Mike Maccagnan said throughout the offseason that a key was improving the overall speed for the team, and their selection of Lee on Thursday night addresses that need.
Lee is regarded as an aggressive and explosive player off the edge who can stop the run as well as get to the quarterback.
Nine additional Ohio State players were invited to the NFL Combine and are still under consideration for the next six rounds of the draft: Safeties Vonn Bell and Tyvis Powell, quarterback Cardale Jones, wide receivers Jalin Marshall, Braxton Miller and Michael Thomas; linebacker Joshua Perry, tight end Nick Vannett and defensive lineman Adolphus Washington.
Rounds 2 and 3 will be held on Friday and Rounds 4-7 on Saturday.
OSU head coach Urban Meyer will appear on the NFL Network’s studio show Friday evening for its second and third round coverage.