We knew coming into this year's draft that a number of former players from the Commonwealth were in for an exciting weekend. Besides Tremaine Edmunds going in the first round, there was very little guaranteed for any of these athletes. Now that the draft has come and gone, let's take a look at who had a great weekend and who could have fared better.
Winners -
Terrell Edmunds
Rd1 / Pick 28 - Pittsburgh Steelers
Even in a blog, sometimes it's best to say less. Terrell Edmunds wasn't expected to get drafted until late in the 2nd round. Instead he gets drafted a full round earlier and is announced by the feel-good story of the NFL, Ryan Shazier. Many expect him to be a starter year one, and a key piece to a franchise that will likely be playing in the post-season.
Kyle Lauletta -
Rd 4 / Pick 8 - New York Giants
As I mentioned on Thursday, when the Browns announced they were going to take Baker Mayfield with the 1st overall pick, Lauletta's stock became incredibly volatile. Some predicted he could go as early as the 2nd round. Even though he fell to the 4th, this is more about who he fell to, the New York Giants. Eli Manning is aging quickly and this roster does not have enough to be competitive in the NFC East in 2018. Which means, Kyle Lauletta could be asked to start in 2019. Even though Eli is aging, he's a total pro and will be an excellent mentor to Kyle.
Additionally, Giants head-coach, Pat Shurmur is considered by many to be an offensive genius and the reason for the Vikings 2017 success. Remember, Case Keenum had a breakout year in 2017 and much of that is attributed to Pat Shurmur. Between Eli Manning, Shurmur and offensive coordinator, Mike Shula, Kyle Lauletta will be surrounded by experienced and smart people. All of that gives him the tools to a successful NFL career.
Justin Fuente -
Yes, Tremaine and Terrell Edmunds were both recruited by Frank Beamer. However, they were both three star recruits and BOTH were drafted in the first round. Thursday night was an absolute testament to the Virginia Tech staff's ability to develop players. As other recruits take notice, this very well will put Justin Fuente in living rooms he may have not otherwise been invited to. We should also note both Tremaine and Terrell are likely to see significant playing time in 2018, if not starting on their respective teams. As both see playing time throughout the year, this will only help the Hokies' recruiting campaign.
Losers -
Josh Woodrum - Baltimore Ravens QB (Former Liberty University QB)
As I prepared for the week, I did not anticipate to be writing about the former Liberty QB. But the Baltimore Ravens traded up to draft Lamar Jackson in the first round. Not only will be tough for Josh to see more reps with another QB on the depth chart, the Ravens made a statement in the fashion in which they drafted Lamar. This is a message to Josh that they have no intentions to utilize him as the starter in the future. It's especially discouraging considering all of the progress Josh made in 2017. After spending the past two years with the Ravens, he will now likely have to find another practice squad and try to work his way onto a roster.
Tremaine Edmunds -
Rd 1 / Pick 16 - Buffalo Bills
Many were projecting him as a probable top 10 pick prior to Thursday. I thought he was a perfect fit for Chicago's defense, which tends to keep players for long periods and typically has a staple LB. Instead, Edmunds fell to 16th and was drafted by the Buffalo Bills. While I do believe he will be a very good NFL player, Sean McDermott's defense is not known for producing sacks. Last year, no one on the Bills roster had more than 4 sacks. At the end of the day, players are paid based on their stats and for a linebacker, you need sacks. Even though Tremaine only fell 8 spots, it could have very well cost him a lot of lettuce.
Wyatt Teller -
Rd 6 / Pick 29 - Buffalo Bills
Two years ago, he was considered a 1st-2nd round prospect. However, his productivity in 2017 saw a significant drop and many started questioning his effort level and there have been rumors about run-ins with coaches. He's a physical freak and has all of the intangibles of a first round pick, but his struggles with the coaches and drop in productivity dropped him into the 5th round of the draft. It should be noted, it's not all bad news for Wyatt. He hasn't allowed a sack since 2016, and that was with a dual-threat QB. The Bills will need him to protect rookie QB, Josh Allen.
