For the first time since Cam Heyward in 2011, a Buckeye was drafted in the first round of the NFL Draft. Like Heyward. The Steelers selected Ryan Shazier at the 15 spot. Shazier had an amazing combine and was able to add solid muscle to his weight since the Orange Bowl, going from 225 pounds to 237. The Steelers needed some help on defense and Shazier should be an instant playmaker, adding some youth to an older defense. It will be interesting to see how the Steelers will use Shazier; if they will keep him at the linebacker position, maybe even at Corner or even Strong Safety, but he his speed and ball-instinct will help out the Steeler’s defense in passing situations and pursuit of running backs. I am looking forward to the shot for when he stands next to Troy Polamalu with their helmets off.Shazier was not the only Buckeye taken in the first round. Bradley Roby was selected at the 31 spot by the Denver Broncos. I think anyone who paid at least some attention to last season in the NFL knew that the Broncos were known for their offense last year, led by Peyton Manning. It was their defense that arguably cost them some points in a few games, and even the Super Bowl, as they were not able to stop the methodical Seahawks offense. Roby came into this draft with some question marks about his off-field exploits, and his not so stellar Junior season against some of the best Big Ten receivers, but he has the highest ceiling of any of the Defensive Backs in this draft, and I bet Denver drafted him on potential. In the off-season, Denver lost some key defensive players, including veteran Champ Bailey, so Roby helps fill that void and should be able to learn from the experienced players on the defense.

The first round of the draft went surprisingly well and not too many surprises. The Jaguars pick for Blake Bortles at the 3 spot, the Patriots pick for injury prone Dominique Easley and possibly the Browns passing up on Sammy Watkins were the only ones I saw as surprising, but for the most part those who were expected to be drafted in that round were. Two other Big Ten players were selected in the first round, with Michigan’s Taylor Lewan getting picked up at the 11 spot by the Tennessee Titans, and Darqueze Dennard getting picked up at the 24 spot by the Cincinnati Bengals. If it were 1994 and not 2014, I think Carlos Hyde would have been a top 10 pick, and I was rooting for him to be picked up in the first round. The second round starts today, and I am sure that Hyde will be picked up early on. I think the Browns might take him at the 3 spot this round, and if not, he could be picked up by the Raiders, or even to the Buccaneers. As for our other Buckeyes, they are most likely going to be picked up on day three for rounds four through seven.