The first round of the 2020 NFL Draft went virtually without a hitch.
The Southeastern Conference (a record 15 picks) dominated. Quarterbacks were in demand. And Ohio State had three former players taken in the top three picks.
Here is how the first round played out and how truly streaky it is:
Heisman goes first
When the Cincinnati Bengals chose Joe Burrow with the first-overall pick they continued a Heisman streak.
Three-straight Heisman Trophy winners have gone first overall:
2019 — Joe Burrow, senior, LSU, QB, Cincinnati
2018 — Kyler Murray, junior, Oklahoma, QB, Arizona
2017 — Baker Mayfield, senior, Oklahoma, QB, Cleveland
Tiger kings
LSU had five first-rounders, with LB K’lavon Chasson (No. 20, Jacksonville), WR Justin Jefferson (22, Minnesota), LB Patrick Queen (28, Baltimore) and RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire (32, Kansas City) joining Burrow.
Players taken/not taken
With Andrew Thomas (4th overall) and Isaiah Wilson (29th overall), Georgia has now had at least one player drafted in the first round in the last three drafts.
Georgia Tech’s last first-round pick was 10 years ago (Derrick Morgan, 16th to Tennessee).
Alabama now has had 33 first-rounders since Nick Saban arrived in 2007, with at least one player selected in the first round every year since 2009.
New Orleans’ selection of offensive lineman Cesar Ruiz at 24 extended Michigan’s streak of 82 years with at least one player drafted by an NFL franchise.
Position breakdowns
Quarterbacks were in high demand with four picks among the first 32, but up-front players protecting the quarterback were in higher demand with seven offensive linemen taken first.
In all, six wide receivers — the deepest position in this draft — were taken first, but it took until the 12th selection for one to go (Alabama's Henry Ruggs III, to the Las Vegas Raiders.) Six defensive backs and five linebackers were taken early.
LSU’s Edwards-Helaire was taken among the first 32, ensuring at least one running back has been drafted in the first round since 2014..
Trade clauses
It took until the 13th spot before a trade was made when Tampa Bay moved up one spot to get tackle Tristan Wirfs of Iowa. The Buccaneers got that pick from NFC champion San Francisco.
Here are how the four first-round trades played out:
1. San Francisco traded its first-round (No. 13; from Indianapolis) and seventh-round (No. 245) draft picks to Tampa Bay for the Buccaneers' first- (No. 14) and fourth-round (No. 117) picks. Tampa Bay selected Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa and (No. 245). San Francisco selected Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina and (No. 117).
2. New England traded its first-round (No. 23) draft pick to Los Angeles for the Chargers' second- (No. 37) and third-round (No. 71) picks. L.A. Chargers selected Kenneth Murray, LB, Oklahoma. New England selected (No. 37) and (No. 71).
3. Minnesota traded is first-round (No. 25) draft pick to San Francisco for the 49ers' first- (No. 31), fourth- (No. 117 from Tampa Bay) and fifth-round (No. 176) picks. San Francisco selected Brandon Aiyuk, WR, Arizona State. Minnesota selected Jeff Gladney, CB, TCU, (No. 117) and (No. 176).
4. Miami traded its first-round (No. 26; from Houston) draft pick to Green Bay for the Packers' first- (No. 30) and fourth-round (No. 136) picks. Green Bay selected Jordan Love, QB, Utah State. Miami selected Noah Igbinoghene, CB, Auburn and (No. 136).
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