By: Kipp Branch

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

I sat in the confines of my own home and watched every first-round selection of the NFL draft. Let’s take a look at my winners and losers in the first round:

Winner: Jacksonville Jaguars: It turned into a Clemson love affair for the Jaguars.

Trevor Lawrence was selected number 1 overall, which has been known for months, but the Jags get a generational talent at QB who will be the face of the franchise for 12-15 years.

Lawrence’s number will probably get retired in Jacksonville when his career is done.

The selection of Travis Etienne at pick 25 was great in my opinion as the Jags got the most productive RB in the history of the ACC. A threat to take it to the house on every play and can catch the football out of the backfield. A true three down back.

Urban Meyer went offense for a team that needed everything. Now the Jags can address the pass rush with the first pick in the second round. Grade: A+

Loser: Houston Texans: The Texans have no first or second round picks in 2021 because of the Laremy Tunsil trade of couple of years ago. Too many negative waves surround this franchise. Grade: F

Winner: Chicago Bears: The Bears got their QB in Justin Fields by trading up to pick 11 with the Giants, and taking the second best rated QB in the draft.

The Bears with a solid QB are a Super Bowl contender with their defense. The question about Fields is how quickly can the Bears get him ready to play?

I’m predicting he is ready to go on day 1 in Chicago. What a steal by the Chicago Bears to get Justin Fields and finally fix their QB issues once and for all. Grade: A+

Loser: Cincinnati Bengals: Joe Burrow gets carted off the field last year with a blown ACL, but yet the Bengals pass on the best offensive lineman in the draft?

Ja’Marr Chase should be an elite receiver who was a 2020 opt out at LSU, but not getting protection help for your franchise QB makes the Bengals look once again like their nickname the Bungles. Grade: C

Winner: Detroit Lions: My Lions got the best offensive lineman in this draft in Penei Sewell OT from Oregon. You have to be a Lions fan to understand how great this pick is.

This shows a commitment by the new regime to change the culture of this franchise. Lions’ fans are ecstatic with this pick. Championship teams are built from the inside out. Grade A+

Loser: New Orleans: The Saints went defense, which was a shock after the retirement of Drew Brees.

I thought the Saints might trade up to get into the QB sweepstakes unless they are about to make a deal for Aaron Rogers.

They draft Payton Turner a DE from Houston, who may have been a reach at pick 28. You draft a defensive player from a conference that plays the worst team defense in college football the AAC? Head scratcher there Saints. Grade: C-

Beat trade of the night went to the Chicago Bears trading up to get Fields. Kudos to the Eagles for trading up and grabbing Devonta Smith to help that porous WR room.

Most surprising pick went to San Francisco in taking Trey Lance. I love the pick, but thought they would play it safe with Mac Jones.

Mac Jones landed right in the Patriots lap and New England’s QB issues are instantly solved.

Biggest Draft Winner of the Night: The Atlanta Falcons with their selection of TE Kyle Pitts of Florida at pick 4.

I think Pitts was the best overall player in this draft and history will prove this to be true. He is a matchup nightmare for anyone the Falcons face. Grade: A+++++++++