3-Wide: What was the most surprising pick in the 1st round?
3-Wide is a weekly feature in which theScore's NFL editors debate the hot topics around the league. Grab a cold towel and brace for hot takes.
What was the most surprising pick in the first round?
Dane Belbeck: You would have to look far and wide to find a mock draft that had Eli Apple going before Vernon Hargreaves III. While there's no doubting Apple's man-to-man cover skills, Hargreaves is a much more polished cornerback, and Apple's selection is certainly a reach. It was widely reported the Giants planned to take Jack Conklin or Leonard Floyd, who came off the board with the two previous picks. Apple was ripped earlier in the week by an anonymous scout, claiming he was immature and can't even cook. Seems fitting that he's going to one of the best food cities in the world, no matter how surprising the pick.
Jack Browne: The Falcons are in dire need of pass-rushers, after finishing dead last in sacks in 2015. So for Atlanta to not only select safety Keanu Neal with the 17th overall pick, but to do so with Shaq Lawson and several other intriguing edge prospects left on the board, was a definite surprise. Atlanta also struggled in pass coverage against backs and tight ends last season, and Neal's ability to play linebacker could help that area, but he'll have his struggles. He missed 17 tackles in 2015, and simply won't have the type of impact that adding a partner for Vic Beasley would have.
Arun Srinivasan: The 49ers traded up to the 28th overall slot to take guard Joshua Garnett, a player that was widely considered a second-round talent by most prognosticators. It's not necessarily a poor choice by the 49ers, who opted to fortify an aging offensive line, but Garnett's relative anonymity compared to the rest of the first round was shocking, considering he'd likely be available later on. Going against conventional wisdom isn't always a bad thing, but the 49ers' fan base could be scrambling to do some further research on Garnett.
Were teams wise to pass on Laremy Tunsil?
Browne: Were they wise? No. Did they react as expected? Definitely. Tunsil's hack was one of the most shocking draft stories in recent memory, and there is nothing teams hate more than to be hit with something that blows up their draft board with minutes to go. Teams spend months researching prospects, and if they truly believed in Tunsil before, then two minutes of craziness shouldn't have altered that perspective. But with so much on the line for teams in the first round, the NFL was as risk-averse as always.
Srinivasan: No, especially teams that possess a glaring need at offensive tackle. Tunsil appears to be the victim of a perfectly timed, malicious hack into his social media account, and it ought not have altered his draft stock. Considered by some to be the best left tackle to enter the draft since Tyron Smith, Tunsil projects to be an impenetrable pass-blocker for the next decade. If he develops into an All-Pro left tackle, the Miami Dolphins will emerge victorious for taking a low-risk gamble on a marquee talent.
Belbeck: Laremy Tunsil never failed a drug test while at Ole Miss, and also passed the test at the NFL Combine. Clearly somebody had an agenda to ruin the talented offensive tackle's night, and draft stock, and multiple teams acted accordingly. Would it be different if he was simply smoking a joint, instead of wearing a fairly intimidating gas mask usually seen in Alien movies? Potentially. But the Miami Dolphins will be rewarded for years to come, as Tunsil will eventually stake his claim as one of the best tackles in the game.
What was the best value pick on Day 1 of the draft?
Srinivasan: The Arizona Cardinals proved once again that talent trumps character concerns when they selected defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche 29th overall. Nkemdiche was the top-rated recruit coming out of high school and lived up to the loftiest of expectations on the field during his career at Ole Miss. The 21-year-old possesses the talent to become a perennial All-Pro, and concerns about his marijuana use shouldn't have allowed him to fall all the way to the bottom of the first round. Arizona likely emerged with the best value and the steal of the draft.
Belbeck: Most mock drafts had DeForest Buckner going third to the San Diego Chargers, or at worst fifth to the Jacksonville Jaguars. He likely would have ended up with the Jags, but Dallas passing on Jalen Ramsey allowed the Florida State prospect to stay close to his college home. Chip Kelly tapped his Oregon pipeline yet again, jumping all over Buckner with the seventh pick, and pairing him on the defensive line with former college teammate Arik Armstead. The 6-foot-7, 291-pound star is ready to step in and dominate from day one at the professional level. Trent Baalke has been revered for his drafting prowess in recent years, and it looks like he hit another home run in 2016.
Browne: Whenever you get the best player in the draft with the fifth overall pick, you know you got the best value of Day 1. Jalen Ramsey fell into the Jaguars' lap, and it's a match made in heaven. Ever since head coach Gus Bradley joined from the Seahawks, he's been attempting to run a similar defense, but has failed due to the lack of talent in the secondary. Bradley's system relies on stellar play on the back end, and now he has a cornerback capable of excelling in his system. Yes, the team should play Ramsey at cornerback. His athleticism and range would make him an ideal safety, but he should play in his best spot.