Fisher leads the linemen at NFL

NEW YORK - Reuters

Three of the top pikcs, headed by Fisher, were offensive tackles and a massive eight of the first 20 players will be manning offensive lines. REUTERS photo

The often overlooked men in the trenches took center stage in the first round of a National Football League Draft bereft of glamour quarterbacks and lacking star power at Radio City Music Hall on April 25.

Three of the top four picks, headed by Kansas City’s number one choice Eric Fisher of Central Michigan, were offensive tackles and a massive eight of the first 20 players will be manning offensive lines in their new professional careers.

Only one quarterback was taken in the first round at the art deco palace and even that pick was a surprise as Buffalo took E.J. Manuel of Florida State at number 16, rather than West Virginia’s Geno Smith, who was considered the best of the signal callers in the draft.

The first offensive skills position player taken was Smith’s collegiate team mate wide receiver Tavon Austin, who was also selected by the Bills with the eighth pick.

Austin and Manuel were the only featured offensive players chosen through the top 20 before a pair of wide receivers and a tight end joined them. Not a single running back managed to break into the first round.

Another potential shining light of the draft, Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o, whose stock dropped after a fake girlfriend hoax and disappointing workout performances, was a no-show as he slid all the way out of the first round.

The Chiefs, selecting first by dint of having the worst record in the league last year at 2-14, made the 6-foot 7-inch (2.01 m), 306-pound (139 kilograms) Fisher just the fourth offensive tackle ever tabbed as top overall pick of the draft.

Fisher added his name to a select list that included Jake Long (2008, Miami), Orlando Pace (1999 St. Louis) and Ron Yary (1968 Minnesota).

“This is so surreal. This is a dream come true,” Fisher said from the stage after being congratulated by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.

Picking second in the worst-to-first order of the draft, which is the primary way NFL teams build their rosters, the Jacksonville Jaguars made it back-to-back tackles at the top by taking Luke Joeckel of Texas A&M.

Joeckel, winner of the Outland Trophy awarded to the best college football interior lineman by the Football Writers Association of America, was followed two picks later by tackle Lane Johnson of Oklahoma, taken by the Philadelphia Eagles.

“Three tackles in four picks. That’s a lot of love for the big boys up front, which we usually don’t get,” said Fisher, who rocketed up draft charts with his late season performances and eye-catching workouts.

Defensive linemen

When tackles were not tabbed, teams looked to pass rushers at the start of the draft.

Miami traded their first-round pick (No. 12) and second-round pick to Oakland for the third choice, which they used to snare defensive end Dion Jordan of Oregon. The fifth and sixth picks were also on the defensive side with Detroit taking defensive end Ezekiel Ansah of Brigham Young, a native of Accra, Ghana, followed by Cleveland’s selection of defensive end/linebacker Barkevious Mingo of LSU.

Ansah, who began playing the sport just three years ago after coming from Ghana for college, was flabbergasted at how far he has come.

“I can’t be any more humble than I am today,” he told reporters. “I never envisioned myself five years ago being here talking to everybody here.”

While offensive players floundered, two other international players also received first-round notice. Star Lotulelei, a native of Tonga and a defensive tackle from Utah, was taken 14th by Carolina, and German defensive end Bjoern Werner was the 24th selection by Indianapolis.

By the end, nine offensive linemen and nine defensive linemen had been taken and just five offensive skills players.

Manuel was emotional after his surprise selection as the first quarterback taken.

“That’s something I can always tell my grandkids years from now,” he said.

Asked about those that described this as a weak draft for quarterbacks, who have been made the top overall pick the last four years and in 12 of the last 15 drafts, Manuel said: “I think we’ll all definitely carry that chip on our shoulder.”

Rounds two and three were held on April 26, with the last four rounds on April 27.