NASHVILLE Gabe Holmes Jersey 2019 , Tenn. (AP) — s always, and an infatuation with players who protect them and disrupt them during the first round of the draft.Maybe for the next two rounds they will go after the speed demons and running backs who, in many cases, fell through the cracks as the trenches were filled with the behemoths who work there.In all, 12 defensive linemen and five on offense were chosen Thursday night after Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray went to Arizona and became the second consecutive Heisman Trophy winner from his school taken atop the proceedings, following Baker Mayfield to Cleveland in 2018. Two more QBs went: Duke’s Daniel Jones to the Giants at No. 6, a bit of a surprise, and Ohio State’s Dwayne Haskins at 15, where the Redskins sat patiently and saw him fall into their arms.Add in three linebackers and two tight ends and the theme of opening night becomes clear.“We’re building our team and we need building blocks,” said Raiders coach Jon Gruden, who took one of those mammoth blocks in Clemson defensive end Clelin Ferrell at No. 4. “We had some in place. But we needed these guys to come in and inherit that responsibility.”There are two more blockers remaining, Oklahoma guard Cody Ford and Florida tackle Jawaan Taylor. They are among five players invited to the draft who didn’t go yet but almost surely will Friday night.Also rem Brian Gutekunst said. “We’re going to try to take the best players available that we can (going forward). If there’s more defensive players that fall our way, we certainly have room for them.”Atlanta had room for two likely starters in front of QB Matt Ryan: Boston College guard Chris Lindstrom at 14 and, after dealing back into the opening round, Washington tackle Kaleb McGary at 31.More hulks.Ryan was sacked 42 times and took 108 hits, a career high.“We were focused on offensive line,” general manager Thomas Dimitroff said. “We need to protect Matt.”Speed and elusiveness wasn’t ignored in Round 1, of course. Start at the top with Murray, who can run with anybody in this crop.Arizona defied NFL custom and at least temporarily created a quarterback quandary by selecting Murray to start proceedings in a wet and wild selection show.As thousands of fans withstood rain that began just about when Commissioner Roger Goodell spoke Murray’s name, the Cardinals spent a second straight high pick on a signal caller. Arizona moved up from 15th overall to 10th in 2018 to grab Josh Rosen.NFL teams simply don’t do that Youth Phil Dawson Jersey , but with a new coach in college-trained Kliff Kingsbury, the Cardinals made the bold move. At least until they likely move Rosen elsewhere in a trade.“I’ve known Josh since high school, so me and him are cool,” said Murray, who turned down the Oakland A’s to stick with football. “We got along really well, so I’ve always been fond of him. But us being teammates now, I can’t control anything but going in there and working hard.”Murray was one of only three Big 12 players taken, along with teammate Marquis Brown, a wideout headed for Baltimore, and TCU defensive end — what did you expect from this draft? — L.J. Collier. The Pac-12 also had only three, while the SEC scored nine, the ACC had eight, and the Big 10 had seven.Ohio State edge rusher Nick Bosa went second to San Francisco as expected. The 49ers have used a first-round selection on four defensive linemen in the past five drafts.Bosa’s older brother, Joey, plays for the Chargers and was the 2016 Defensive Rookie of the Year. Their father also played in the NFL.“Good genes Stitched Mike Iupati Jersey , man,” Bosa said with a laugh. “It was just excitement all around. My brother wanted me to go higher than he did (third overall), so just for my dream to come true and my family to be there to watch, it was pretty great.”Across the Bay, Oakland had three selections: Ferrell, Alabama’s Josh Jacobs, the lone running back to go Thursday, and Mississippi State safety Johnathan Abram.The Giants also went three times, getting Jones, Clemson DT Dexter Lawrence and, after trading back in for the 30th spot, cornerback DeAndre Baker of Georgia. TEMPE, Ariz. (AP)Arizona addressed a need in the second round of the NFL draft, selecting wide receiver Christian Kirk of Texas A&M, who grew up just a few miles down the road from the Cardinals‘ headquarters.The 5-foot-11 Youth Mike Iupati Jersey , 205-pound receiver lists the Cardinals’ Larry Fitzgerald as a mentor and has a couple of former A&M teammates on the Cardinals roster. He said ”the stars aligned” for him to go to his hometown team.Arizona has Fitzgerald and not much else at wide receiver so Kirk has a chance to help right away. Kirk – a star at Saguaro High School in Scottsdale – had more than 3,000 all-purpose yards and 40 touchdowns in his three seasons with Texas A&M.”I’m a Valley kid, born and raised,” Kirk said. ”So just to be able to have this opportunity to go into the Cardinals organization and help make this organization better and to win games. When I got the phone call, it was just so surreal. Just no words to be able to describe it.”Kirk also is a standout punt returner, something the Cardinals already have talked to him about.”Yes, sir,” he said. ”Special teams, every aspect, punt and kick return and to just be able to do that wherever I can bring value and have an impact on the field.”He was the 47th player overall and fifth wide receiver chosen in the draft.General manager Steve Keim said he’d followed Kirk’s career for some time because of the local ties.”Not only is he a great player on the field but he’s certainly a class act off,” Keim said. ”Fits our DNA that coach has talked about over and over. Not only a very good receiver, dynamic player but also adds value in the return game.”Kirk said Fitzgerald has ”always been a guy that I’ve looked up to, just not only on the field but off the field, to be able to carry myself.”The things that he does in the community. I’m just so excited to get out with him,” Kirk said Stitched Jamar Taylor Jersey , ”and be able to learn from a future Hall of Fame wide receiver and go out there and be able to play together.”Cardinals tight end Ricky Seals-Jones and cornerback Brandon Williams were his teammates at Texas A&M. Arizona running back D.J. Foster was ”a big brother to me” as teammates at Saguaro High, he said.”It’s crazy how things go full circle,” Kirk said. ”It feels like all the stars aligned and it was just meant for me to be here.”In three seasons with the Aggies, Kirk caught 234 passes for 2,856 yards and 26 touchdowns.Arizona’s only other pick on Friday was a compensatory selection, the 97th choice overall, and the Cardinals used it to take versatile offensive lineman Mason Cole from Michigan. The 6-foot-5, 298-pound Cole said he can play all along the offensive line but is most comfortable at center and guard.At Michigan, he became the first true freshman to start a season opener on the offensive line. Cole started every game in his Michigan career. Cole began as a tackle, shifted to center and went back to tackle because of a team need there in his final season, Keim said.Arizona traded its own third-round pick, the 79th selection overall, to Oakland as part of the deal that allowed the Cardinals to move up five spaces and take quarterback Josh Rosen 10th overall in the first round on Thursday.Through the first three rounds, the Cardinals have yet to draft a defensive player.—