Conroy / Associated Press
One of the more creative minds in football is Eagles coach Doug Pederson. One of the most brittle quarterbacks in football is Carson Wentz. One of the most versatile and talented athletes in the draft is Oklahoma quarterback Jalen Hurts .
Combine all of that, and you understand why the Philadelphia Eagles took hurts in the second round on Friday in one of the more surprising — but brilliant – picks of the draft.
Two teams with whom B / R communicated said they felt this was one of the best selections because it’s a perfect fit for both the Eagles and Hurts.
He’s not going to start over Wentz (duh ), but we all know Wentz’s injury history; he tore his ACL and LCL in December of , forcing him to miss the Eagles’ Super Bowl run.
That’s where Hurts comes in. The Sooners QB isn’t just a novelty player. He’s not the next incarnation of Taysom Hill. He’s a straight-up, hardcore pocket quarterback with running ability.
Pederson won’t simply groom Hurts for the future; It’s too good to just sit on the bench and wait. So Pederson will take advantage of that skill and athleticism and build packages for him.
While the easy comparison is to how the Saints have used Hill, the more apt equivalent for Hurts, according to one team, is the Texans
‘Deshaun Watson.
Coming out of Clemson, Watson was 6’2 “and (pounds) and ran a 4. – yard dash. Hurts was measured at 6 ‘ 1 “and (pounds and ran a 4.) . Make no mis take: Watson is more talented, but one team executive believes that with Pederson’s coaching, Hurts can develop into a Watson-like player.
It could be a perfect situation for both Hurts and the Eagles.
And what about the other guy in Philly?
Wentz will say all the right things about the Eagles’ decision to select Hurts at No. overall, that the pick of a direct competitor for his job won’t bother him, that he’ll be a good teammate and mentor.
But this has got to bother the hell out of him. The only downside to this move is the potential impact it has on Wentz. He won’t admit it, but it’s only logical that he’ll quickly start looking over his shoulder. Every time he misses a pass, any injury, will lead to speculation in the media that Hurts might start.
Wentz may play the part of the supportive teammate, but he has to know his status today isn’t as secure as it was yesterday .
Harry How / Getty Images As the second and third rounds started to unfold Friday night, the 
Packers ‘decision to trade up into the first round and draft Utah State quarterback (Jordan Love still had people around the NFL talking.
Kansas City already has one of the best offenses in the game. They have Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Tyreek Hill, Mecole Hardman and Sammy Watkins. That is a remarkable amount of firepower.
So what does Andy Reid do with the team’s first round pick this year? He drafts a pass-catching running back in LSU’s Clyde Edwards-Helaire. Offensive overkill.
Reid’s theory is you cannot have enough offensive weapons. Just stockpile them. Like barrels of oil in the strategic reserve.
All the great offenses today — the Ravens , the Saints — share the same belief system. The The Buccaneers also have embraced this philosophy; It’s just that Jameis Winston threw so many picks their effectiveness was less potent last season. Then you have the Packers, who added running back AJ Dillon and tight end Josiah Deguara on Friday but still haven’t drafted a non-QB skill-position player (ie someone who Aaron Rodgers could use) in the first round in years. Since Rodgers himself was drafted (th overall in) , the highest drafted Packers skill player was Jordy Nelson in the second round 19 years ago (until Love on Thursday, that is).
Rodgers and the Packers have made it work overall and added their share of good offensive players. But taking some shots with first-round quality talents maximizes the chances of success.
The Chiefs and some of the best teams in the league get it.
The Packers are socially distancing from it.
Cincinnati didnt trade out of the first pick. That was smart. And the decision netted the franchise quarterback Joe Burrow.
The Bengals did trade out of their opening second-round pick, and they added Clemson wide receiver Tee Higgins. Another smart selection.
There’s a theme here. While Albert Breer of the MMQB reported that the Bengals were looking to trade out of their first pick in the second round, one team said that when it spoke to Cincinnati, it didn’t seem interested in trading out of it at all.
Over the past few decades, the Bengals haven’t always seemed like they had a plan, and if they did, it was a putrid one.
Now, they seem resolute and —gulp — are making some wise moves. And through the first two days, it’s hard to argue they haven’t had one of the best drafts this year. The Bengals.
What a time to be alive.
Antonio Brown ‘s troubles aren’t over by any stretch
The NFL has been investigating the accusations against him for months. Brown’s former trainer, Britney Taylor, said Brown sexually assaulted her and raped her, and another woman said he sent her threatening text messages after she had come forward and accused him of behaving inappropriately toward her.
While the NFL has yet to pass its final judgment, most of the league feels a significant punishment is on the way and could see him sidelined for an entire season.
Broadcast fumble There have been a few missteps in this draft by either the NFL or the broadcasters, but the latter made a huge mistake Friday.
After receiver Tee Higgins was taken by the Bengals, some key stats were put on the screen. Unbelievably, one of the “stats” was about how his mom, Camillia, “fought drug addiction.”
Something so personal and powerful does not belong in the same category as times.
I was wrong
Uncredited / Associated Press
My instinct was to argue that the league should have delayed the draft and pushed it back to when things would be calmer. Show respect for the tens of millions of people without jobs and the tens of thousands who have lost their lives. But the draft, as globally unimportant as it may be in these times, has been one of the most pleasant moments in a time filled with horrors. It has been a needed distraction. Maybe more than ever.
Mike Freeman covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter: @ mikefreemanNFL
Download the B / R app and watch starting Saturday, April , at noon ET.
.
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings