The first round of the 2019 NFL Draft is taking place right now in Nashville, and two of the top-six picks were very surprising.
The Oakland Raiders — led by Jon Gruden and Mike Mayock — selected Clemson defensive end Clelin Ferrell with the fourth overall pick (the first of three first-rounders for the Raiders). The pass-rusher was viewed by most evaluators as a likely pick in the back-end of the first-round, and (at least) some organizations reportedly had a second-round grade on him.
There were teams with 2nd-round grades on Clelin Ferrell. #Raiders may have just outsmarted everyone, but "bold" would be an understatement for the first pick of the Mayock/Gruden era.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) April 26, 2019
And with the sixth overall pick, the New York Giants tried to find their Eli Manning replacement by selecting Duke quarterback Daniel Jones. This was also viewed as a big reach.
Out of 58 QBs selected in the 1st Round over the previous 20 seasons, Daniel Jones' career 6.2 AY/A is equal or better than just Jake Locker, Patrick Ramsey and Kyle Boller.
— Rich Hribar (@LordReebs) April 26, 2019
Naturally, Twitter had plenty to say about these picks, and there was of course plenty of mocking. Heck, even Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins (later selected 15th by the Washington Redskins) laughed at the Giants taking Jones.
Here’s a look at some of the Twitter reactions, starting with the Raiders’ selection of Ferrell:
Clelin Ferrell to the Raiders and fans are confused
pic.twitter.com/W6c8T2QWhu — Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) April 26, 2019
“The Oakland Raiders select Clelin Ferrell”
Raiders fans: pic.twitter.com/6eGdWQ0Qhk
— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) April 26, 2019
you know clelin ferrell wasn’t supposed to go that high because he was at *home*
— Harry Lyles Jr. (@harrylylesjr) April 26, 2019
Literally everyone after that Raiders pick pic.twitter.com/ZSEJM0lkWn
— Isaac (@WorldofIsaac) April 26, 2019
#Raiders sent their scouts home early so the scouts wouldn't leak the team's intention to overdraft the No. 4 overall pick by about 15 first-round slots.
— Evan Silva (@evansilva) April 26, 2019
I think if any of the Raiders scouts had told anyone they’d be picking Ferrell, no one would’ve believed them. Coulda left them in the draft room after all.
— Mike McCartney (@MikeMcCartney7) April 26, 2019
And reactions to the Giants selecting Jones:
Hello Giants fans, we don’t have a football team so if you become a fan of us you don’t have to worry about soul crushing roster mismanagement
— UMBC Athletics (@UMBCAthletics) April 26, 2019
Wait for it.
Dwayne Haskins' reaction when the Giants passed on him to take Duke QB Daniel Jones
pic.twitter.com/G3bZTcAi0l — NBC Sports Commanders (@NBCSCommanders) April 26, 2019
Joe Budden’s reaction to the Giants drafting Daniel Jones
(via @Cyn_Santana)https://t.co/n5HahMnzRe
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 26, 2019
However, don’t even get me started on these damn @Giants. Passing on Haskins for Daniel Jones? Some kid out of Duke usurps a cat who threw 50 TD’s primarily vs. Big Ten competition? Why? Because the Mannings love him? You have got to be kidding me.
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) April 26, 2019
The #NYGiants pass on Haskins and reach for Daniel Jones?!?!?! At 6???Even if they turn out be right about Jones being better than Haskins (AND Drew Lock), which other team was about to take Jones before the Giants picks again at 17? This cannot have actually just happened.
— Max Kellerman (@maxkellerman) April 26, 2019
DAVE GETTLEMAN TRADED ODELL BECKHAM JR. AND DRAFTED DANIEL JONES IN THE TOP 10 IN THE SAME OFFSEASON
— Trevor Sikkema (@TampaBayTre) April 26, 2019
Giants could have had Sam Darnold and wound up with Daniel Jones I am deceased
— Kenny Ducey (@KennyDucey) April 26, 2019
The Giants drafting Daniel Jones might be enough for me to come home for Christmas next year just to laugh at my North Jersey relatives
— Michael Baumann (@MichaelBaumann) April 26, 2019