There is a convention trumpeted among the old vanguard of the football community, hypothesizing that running backs are no longer worthy of first-round picks. Since football is a sport that is resistant to progressive thinking, a legion of sycophants often blindly parrot this notion, trotting rudimentary economic theories about how running backs are an inefficient use of a quality resource.After selecting Saquon Barkley with the second overall pick, New York Giants general manager Dave Gettleman burned down the traditional model of team-building, opting for the most electrifying player of this year's class. Gettleman is now married to the Barkley pick, with his career riding on his grand experiment against the tired tropes that the culture of football is rooted in. Tasked with fixing one of the marquee franchises in the NFL, Gettleman could provide a model for the future, or serve as a cautionary tale to any executive who dares take a calculated risk."Guys have kind of laughed around the league when we’d be on the clock in Carolina and I’d have my pick in 28 seconds,” Gettleman told reporters prior to the draft. "If you know what you want, then go do it."It was obvious Gettleman knew what he wanted as soon as he was hired by the Giants. He tried his best to hide how much he loved Barkley, but he was evidently struck by the sight of the running back galloping away from defenders in the open field, providing the optical illusion that his competition was decelerating while he scampered to the end zone. It should be patently obvious that teams are tasked with selecting players for their future potential, not the player they are now, and Barkley could join Odell Beckham Jr. as the operative Kings of New York for decades, dueling perhaps only against the Yankees' duo of Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge.By taking a cursory glance at the Giants, it's baffling to think they finished 2-14 with Beckham, Sterling Shepard, and Evan Engram aboard. Add Barkley into the fray as a player who is capable of winning the rushing title in his rookie year, all while serving as a home-run threat as a receiver, and the Giants' disastrous 2017 campaign appears certain to look like an anomaly. If Barkley can lead the Giants back to the playoffs in his rookie year, or better yet, a Super Bowl during his rookie contract, he can become the transformative player who appeared to have the Heisman Trophy locked up in October. And if Barkley turns out to be every bit as good as advertised, wouldn't it look silly to renounce him because of some farcical ideal applied to the economics of draft picks? The Giants selected a ferocious player at No. 2 in 1981 and he turned out to be the greatest linebacker of all time in Lawrence Taylor. Thirty-seven years later, the Giants seem to have struck good fortune again.There is a non-zero chance Barkley fails to live up to this potential. It is possible one of his cohorts usurps him as the best running back in the class and makes the Gettleman-Barkley marriage look foolish in the process. But why apply these hypothetical failures now? Gettleman selected a player who has the potential to propel the Giants and topple the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles. By paying no mind to the position itself, the Barkley-Gettleman partnership is a march against convention. History will now dictate whether Thursday serves as the beginning of the revolution.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

And breathe.A thrilling opening round of the 2018 NFL Draft is in the books, and there's a ton to unpack.Let's evaluate who were the big winners and losers from the first 32 picks.WinnersJosh RosenRosen, derided by a legion of anonymous scouts for having interests outside of football, landed in an ideal situation when the Cardinals traded up to the No. 10 pick to select him. His reward? An offense led by David Johnson and future Hall of Fame wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, while the Cardinals look to prove they're still relevant in an increasingly competitive NFC West. Not far from his home state of California, Rosen is hell-bent on proving several teams wrong, while destroying tropes in the process. - Arun SrinivasanRavens fansAfter years of watching the cement-footed Joe Flacco heave deep ball after deep ball, hoping for a pass interference penalty, Ravens fans have hope on offense with the Lamar Jackson pick. Grabbing the electric Louisville quarterback with the 32nd pick will inject life into the league's 27th-ranked offense in yards-per-game. Baltimore certainly has some decisions to make about how to use Jackson with Flacco still under contract, but the addition of the draft's most exciting player is a huge win for the fan base. - Dane BelbeckEli ManningEli Manning is now gifted with one of the most electrifying playmakers in recent memory after the Giants took Barkley second overall. Manning, often used a Rorschach test, can rely on a host of weapons in trying to lead the Giants out of the basement and toward one final Super Bowl run. Call Manning all the names you'd like, but he's got no excuse for failure in 2018. - Arun SrinivasanRunning backsThere was a convention in league circles that running backs weren't worth first-round picks. Apparently, NFL general managers know more than the Twitterati, with Saquon Barkley becoming the highest selected running back since Reggie Bush in 2006, while Rashaad Penny and Sony Michel went to the Seahawks and Patriots, respectively.Debate all you want about market inefficiency or whatever buzz word you want to use to win bar arguments, running backs are still a valuable commodity. - Arun SrinivasanBearsChicago's sneaky good defense got that much better on the first night of the draft. The Bears finished 2017 with a top-10 defense and brought aboard one of the top defensive prospects in the draft in linebacker Roquan Smith.That the Bears didn't have to budge from their perch at No. 8 to get him makes the selection that much sweeter. - Michael McClymontLosersBillsThe Bills entered the day in one of the most enviable positions, with the No. 12 and No. 22 picks in hand. They used those picks to move up to get their quarterback of the future, but coughed up two second-round draft picks to land what amounts to a project at the position.Buffalo added a premier talent in linebacker Tremaine Edmunds at No. 16 but relinquished an additional three picks to do so. All of that capital the rebuilding team stockpiled is significantly depleted.- Michael McClymontTyrod Taylor Taylor was named the Browns' 2018 starter in mid-March, with head coach Hue Jackson insisting that wouldn't change regardless of who Cleveland ultimately took with the first overall pick. However, while Taylor might have been able to hold off the raw talents of Josh Allen or Sam Darnold, it's hard to envision the uber-competitive and more NFL-ready Baker Mayfield being content on the bench for too long.Sorry, Tyrod, but the 2017 Heisman winner is taking your job before Week 1. - Jack BrowneHarold LandryThe NFL draft is a fickle beast and a player often bound to be taken in the first round inexplicably drops. Welcome to Harold Landry's evening, as the defensive end was left waiting as his cohorts took the stage Thursday. An excellent pass rusher, Landry may be fuming as Day 2 rages on. At least it'll serve as motivation against the other 31 teams. - Arun SrinivasanAFC West QBsThursday's opening round was a highly entertaining affair, unless you are one of the four starting quarterbacks in the AFC West. Two of the three teams from the division that held first-round picks opted to go with defense, as the Denver Broncos added Bradley Chubb at No. 5 and the Los Angeles Chargers grabbed Derwin James at No. 17. That means a division that already has defensive studs such as Khalil Mack, Von Miller, Joey Bosa, and Justin Houston only got better, and pivots lacking in foot speed like Philip Rivers, Derek Carr, and Case Keenum are going to be under siege all season. - Dane BelbeckRaidersIf Oakland's first draft under Jon Gruden is a sign of what's to come, then it could be a long decade for Raiders fans.First, the Raiders made arguably the worst pick of the first round by reaching for offensive tackle Kolton Miller at No. 15 overall. The putrid defense should have been the priority and potential game-wreckers Derwin James and Tremaine Edmunds were still on the board. Next, Oakland took a huge risk by sending a third-rounder to the Steelers for troubled receiver Martavis Bryant, who's one more drug violation away from a one-way ticket out of the NFL. - Jack Browne(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The first round of the 2018 NFL Draft is in the books with 32 players off the board so far. With six more rounds to go and over 200 players still to be drafted, there are plenty of talented prospects available. We count down the top players still on the board at each position.QuarterbacksMason Rudolph, Oklahoma State

The Baltimore Ravens finished the opening round of the 2018 NFL Draft with a bang, trading with the Philadelphia Eagles to grab Lamar Jackson with the 32nd overall pick.The electrifying quarterback will instantly bring excitement to the AFC North outfit, along with a lot more if everything goes according to his plan."The Ravens gonna get a Super Bowl out of me," Jackson told Deion Sanders of NFL Network before punctuating it with, "believe that."How head coach John Harbaugh opts to use Jackson with Joe Flacco still under contract remains to be seen, but the former Louisville star's game-breaking ability makes him a player who must see the field next season.With Robert Griffin III also on the team, the Ravens now have two of the last seven Heisman winners on their quarterback depth chart.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Baltimore Ravens have selected quarterback Lamar Jackson out of Louisville with the 32nd overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft.It looked as though the 2016 Heisman Trophy winner wouldn't hear his name called in the opening round, but the Ravens made a last-second trade to acquire the 32nd pick from the Eagles to select the electric pivot.Jackson is among the most exciting college quarterbacks in recent memory, piling up over 7,200 yards passing and 3,172 rushing yards the past two seasons while contributing to 96 touchdowns.It will be interesting to see what the Ravens do at the quarterback position after the selection of Jackson, as both long-time starter Joe Flacco and Robert Griffin III are under contract with the club.Lamar Jackson BioPosition: QB

The New England Patriots have selected running back Sony Michel out of Georgia with the 31st overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft.Michel was an exciting rusher at Georgia, particularly as a senior in 2017 when he scored 17 touchdowns, had 1,323 yards, and averaged 8 yards per touch over 14 games. Michel is the second player from Georgia drafted by the Patriots in the first round after they took offensive lineman Isaiah Wynn at No. 23.The 23-year-old joins a crowded backfield in New England that includes Rex Burkhead, James White, and Jeremy Hill.Sony Michel BioPosition: RB

The Pittsburgh Steelers selected safety Terrell Edmunds out of Virginia Tech with the 28th pick in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft after the Buffalo Bills selected his brother Tremaine Edmunds 16th overall.The brothers are the first set of siblings to be drafted in the same first round.Terrell may not start right away, with veteran Morgan Burnett joining the defense as a free agent this offseason and 2016 second-round pick Sean Davis on the roster.The selection was announced by Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier, who walked onto the stage to massive applause Thursday after suffering a major spinal injury last season.Terrell Edmunds BioPosition: S

He may not have been selected in the top five on Thursday, but nobody can ever accuse Josh Rosen of being shy on confidence.After the Arizona Cardinals traded up to the No. 10 spot to select the former UCLA quarterback, Rosen offered a very bold statement for the teams who passed him by.

The Seattle Seahawks have selected running back Rashaad Penny out of San Diego State with the 27th overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft.The Seahawks have been searching for a backfield mate for Russell Wilson since Marshawn Lynch's retirement. Penny joins a running back group that's highlighted by Chris Carson, Mike Davis, and C.J. Prosise.A hugely productive college runner, Penny also excels as a receiver and a returner.Rashaad Penny BioPosition: RB

The Atlanta Falcons selected wide receiver Calvin Ridley out of Alabama with the 26th pick in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft.Ridley joins one of the NFL's most potent offenses and will play alongside one of the league's best wide receivers in fellow Alabama alum Julio Jones.The wide receiver helped Alabama win two national championships during his three-year career and has plenty of experience against the best defenses in college football.Although some may be worried that his production failed to match a prodigious freshman year, Ridley's route-running ability and underrated speed and acceleration should make him a welcome asset to the Falcons.Calvin Ridley BioPosition: WR

The Carolina Panthers have selected wide receiver D.J. Moore out of Maryland with the 24th overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft.Carolina needed to get Cam Newton a weapon on the outside, with Torrey Smith and Devin Funchess sitting atop the receiver depth chart.Moore compares to Panthers legend Steve Smith thanks to his outstanding physicality and skills after the catch.D.J. Moore BioPosition: WR

The Pittsburgh Steelers sent wide receiver Martavis Bryant to the Oakland Raiders for the No. 79 overall pick (third round) in the 2018 NFL Draft, the team announced Thursday. The Steelers originally said the trade was for the No. 75 pick.The troubled receiver attempted to force his way out of Pittsburgh during the 2017 season after his role diminished following a return from a yearlong suspension for multiple violations of the NFL's substance-abuse policy.However, the Steelers appeared reticent to give up on the pass-catcher after sticking beside him during his off-field issues.Bryant will give Jon Gruden's offense a much-needed deep threat and form a formidable trio with Amari Cooper and free-agent signing Jordy Nelson.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Josh Allen emerged as one of the most controversial picks in recent memory, but he's just relieved to be off the board.After a brief wait, the Buffalo Bills traded up to the seventh overall pick to select Allen, marking him as their quarterback of the future.Prior to the draft, a series of questionable tweets made by Allen when he was in high school were highlighted by several Twitter users, leading some to believe he'd descend down draft boards.Allen said he'd likely address his previous tweets upon meeting his new Bills teammates."I don't have to, but I probably will. I want them to know that I am going to work on being the best teammate possible. I've never had a problem in my past with any teammates," Allen said to ESPN's Suzy Kolber via Mike Rodak.Allen appeared to be eternally grateful to the Bills after a tumultuous 24 hours."I want to say thank you to the Bills organization for making the leap and putting their faith in me. I'm gonna make them look like they are the smartest people out there," he said.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Bills made another bold move to grab their new defensive dynamo after jumping up for Josh Allen.Buffalo gave up the No. 22 and No. 65 overall picks for the Baltimore Ravens' No. 16 pick and selected linebacker Tremaine Edmunds out of Virginia Tech.Standing at a ridiculous 6-foot-5 and just 19 years old, Edmunds has one of the highest ceilings in the draft.Tremaine Edmunds BioPosition: LB

The 2018 NFL Draft's quarterback class has already made history.For the first time ever, four pivots were taken in the draft's top 10 picks, according to ESPN's Field Yates.The Cleveland Browns shocked the world by taking Baker Mayfield with the No. 1 overall pick before the New York Jets nabbed Sam Darnold at No. 3.Next, the Buffalo Bills traded up to No. 7 for Josh Allen, then the Arizona Cardinals followed suit by moving up for Josh Rosen with the last pick of the top 10.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New Orleans Saints have selected edge rusher Marcus Davenport out of Texas-San Antonio with the 14th overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft.Davenport is expected to fortify a pass rush that already includes All-Pro defensive end Cameron Jordan.During his final collegiate season, Davenport earned Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year honors.Gifted with excellent athleticism and straight-line speed, Davenport figures to be a nightmare for NFC South offensive coordinators.Marcus Davenport BioPosition: DE/OLB

The Arizona Cardinals selected quarterback Josh Rosen out of UCLA with the 10th overall pick in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft.The pick was acquired in a trade with the Oakland Raiders.Rosen was a prodigious high school talent who met the hype upon starting as a true freshman at UCLA. Gifted with outstanding touch on his passes, he can immediately compete for the starting role with the Cardinals.The quarterback possesses excellent arm strength and should be able to get the most out of David Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald.Josh Rosen BioPosition: QB

The San Francisco 49ers have selected offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey out of Notre Dame with the ninth overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft.McGlinchey joins Notre Dame teammate Quenton Nelson, who went sixth overall on Thursday, as top-10 picks off one of the most dominant offensive lines in college football.The addition of McGlinchey is a huge addition for Kyle Shanahan's offense in San Francisco, as the 49ers allowed 43 sacks last season, 10th worst in the entire league.Mike McGlinchey BioPosition: OT

The Chicago Bears have selected linebacker Roquan Smith out of Georgia with the eighth overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft.Smith, the third defensive player drafted this year, spent most the 2017 season considered a top pick and was expected to be a top-ten selection in the days leading up to the draft.The Bears get an every-down player who should be a starter from Day 1 in Chicago's 3-4 defense, which was ranked 10th in yards, beside fellow inside linebacker Danny Trevathan.Roquan Smith BioPosition: LB

Santa Clara County District Attorney office has video proof that the ex-girlfriend of San Francisco 49ers linebacker Reuben Foster was in a fight with another woman, according to Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area. The video could explain an alternate reason for the injuries suffered by Foster's ex-girlfriend.Foster's former girlfriend, Elissa Ennis, had recanted her original statement on Wednesday, which accused the linebacker of dragging her out of their house by her hair and punching her in the head multiple times in February. Ennis said she had wrongly accused Foster because "she was extremely upset and told him if he broke up with her she would 'trash his career.'"Related - 49ers' Lynch: If Foster did hit a woman, he won't be part of teamThe attorney for Ennis, Stephanie Rickard, says the prosecutor is in possession of the video, which shows the alleged victim sustaining injuries in a fight with another woman. Rickard says she will let the prosecutor decide whether the video will be released.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Buffalo Bills selected quarterback Josh Allen out of Wyoming with the seventh overall pick in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft after trading up from the No. 12 overall pick with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.Allen was a candidate to be taken first overall but fell to Buffalo, who swapped first-rounders and sent two second-rounders to Tampa Bay for the rights to its new franchise player.The 21-year-old had a controversial 24 hours before the draft, as offensive tweets from his high-school days surfaced.The big-armed pivot may be the most polarizing prospect in the draft. Some are enamored with his elite physical skill, while others question his accuracy and football IQ.Allen will battle with AJ McCarron for the Bills' starting job.Josh Allen BioPosition: QB

The Indianapolis Colts have selected guard Quenton Nelson out of Notre Dame with the sixth overall pick in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft.Nelson was widely considered as the best offensive line prospect in the draft and will immediately serve as one of the anchors of the group.The former Notre Dame standout is a superior run blocker who can easily maul defensive lineman and attack at the second level.Nelson needs to improve as a pass blocker but he's arguably the safest prospect from this year's class and few would be surprised if he contributes immediately at a Pro Bowl level.Quenton Nelson BioPosition: G

The Denver Broncos have selected edge rusher Bradley Chubb out of North Carolina State with the fifth overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft.The Broncos opted to address a major need on the defensive side of the football with the addition of Chubb, as the club ranked 22nd in the league with only 33 sacks last season.Chubb was a monster at North Carolina State the last two seasons, combining for 20 sacks and 44 tackles for loss. His addition will give the Broncos a pair of star pass-rushers, as Von Miller remains among the top edge rushers in the league.Bradley Chubb BioPosition: DE/OLB

The Cleveland Browns have selected cornerback Denzel Ward out of Ohio State with the fourth overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft after taking quarterback Baker Mayfield with the first overall pick.While Ward has been the consensus top-rated cornerback in the draft, the pick comes as a surprise with edge rusher Bradley Chubb on the board, as well as quarterbacks Josh Rosen and Josh Allen being available if a team traded up for either.Ward will be expected to step in as a starter from Day 1 with Briean Boddy-Calhoun, Jamar Taylor, and T.J. Carrie projected as the top-three group prior to the Ohio State product's selection.Denzel Ward BioPosition: CB

The New York Jets finally have their man under center.After trading up to the third overall pick in March, the Jets selected quarterback Sam Darnold out of USC in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft.Darnold won't need to be rushed into the starting lineup, with Josh McCown and Teddy Bridgewater already in the QB room. That's ideal for Darnold, as he possesses a raw skill set and high turnover rate, and will likely need time to develop.The 20-year-old is arguably the most talented pure passer in the draft and was the favorite to go first overall to the Browns, who took Baker Mayfield instead.Sam Darnold BioPosition: QB

The New York Giants have selected running back Saquon Barkley out of Penn State with the second overall pick in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft.Barkley is the highest selected running back since the New Orleans Saints took Reggie Bush with the second pick in 2006.A phenomenal talent in the open field, Barkley will immediately take reps as the first-team running back and should provide the Giants with another outstanding pass catcher coming out of the backfield.Barkley's combination of speed, size, power, and field vision had many analysts rating him as the best running back prospect to enter the league in a generation.Paired with Odell Beckham, Evan Engram, and Sterling Shepard, Barkley figures to be a key component of a resurgent Giants team.Saquon Barkley BioPosition: RB

The Cleveland Browns have selected quarterback Baker Mayfield out of Oklahoma with the first overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft.The move comes as somewhat of a surprise as the 2017 Heisman Trophy winner wasn't mentioned among the possible top picks until Wednesday, but vaulted to the top of the board in the last 24 hours.Mayfield, who is among the most accomplished pivots in college football history, becomes the sixth quarterback the Browns have drafted since 2010. While he will certainly go to Cleveland's camp with a ton of hype, it's not guaranteed he will be the starter after the club acquired Tyrod Taylor in the offseason.Baker Mayfield BioPosition: QB

It appears the Denver Broncos could be interested in moving up in Thursday's first round of the NFL draft, as a source told Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network that the club is expected to explore a trade from the No. 5 pick to the No. 2 spot currently occupied by the New York Giants.The move would be made with a quarterback as the reported target.It would be fairly surprising if Denver made such a trade, as the Broncos signed quarterback Case Keenum in the offseason, but the club could target one of the top prospects in the draft to learn from the sidelines before taking over as the starter.With Eli Manning still in the fold in New York, the trade back would make sense for the Giants, as they could target a top prospect at a position of need from the No. 5 slot.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL allowed this year's top prospects the opportunity to show off their best outfits on the red carpet as they arrived for the 2018 draft.Here are the best and worst outfits from this year's fashion show.BestJuJu Smith-Schuster

Iconic Browns running back Jim Brown wants Cleveland to take one of his own with the top overall pick Thursday.Brown said he would make former Penn State standout Saquon Barkley the first player off the board, and then focus on snagging a franchise quarterback with the No. 4 overall pick, according to SB Nation's Dan Kadar.The Browns seem unlikely to follow the 82-year-old's preferred plan, however, as quarterback Baker Mayfield is reportedly set to be the No. 1 pick.If Cleveland does have eyes for Barkley, though, an early run on quarterbacks could allow the dynamic back to fall into the franchise's lap three picks later, potentially locking down the Browns' backfield for the next decade.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Three teams enter the 2018 NFL Draft with multiple first-round picks, but it sounds as though there may be more by the end of the night.Six teams have contacted the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday with an interest in potentially acquiring their 30th overall pick, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.The New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles, who own the 31st and 32nd overall picks, respectively, have also received calls for their selections.In 2017, five of the final eight picks of the first round were involved in draft-day trades.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Commissioner Roger Goodell says the league will look into making changes to kickoffs due to increasing safety concerns."We see that there's a higher incident (rate) of injuries on that play," Goodell said Thursday on NFL Network, according to NFL.com's Austin Knoblauch. "So we try to look at this and (say), 'What is it we can do to make it a safer play but also improve the excitement of it?' And there's actually been some creative thinking that we're going to discuss again next week. Several different concepts from special teams coaches, other coaches - we even have one from a well-known college coach - concepts that are alternatives, but really exciting plays."Related: NFL threatens to 'do away with' kickoffs if the play doesn't become saferMembers of the NFL's competition committee have pushed for rule changes to reduce the danger of injuries on kickoffs.Green Bay Packers president Mark Murphy said concussion rates are five times higher on kickoffs than on any other play in the game, and emphasized that the league would eliminate them if safety concerns aren't addressed.Neither Murphy nor Goodell elaborated on what new kickoff concepts will be considered.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Trevor Davis will not be charged after being arrested for making a joke about a bomb at Los Angeles International Airport, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles City Attorney confirmed to ESPN's Rob Demovsky.Davis was arrested on April 8 for making criminal threats.The 24-year-old has played sparingly for the Packers since being selected in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL Draft. Davis caught five passes for 70 yards in 16 games during the 2017 season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After months of speculation that the Cleveland Browns would use their first overall pick on either Josh Allen or Sam Darnold, reports have surfaced, mere hours before the draft, that multiple head coaches and general managers believe the Browns will use the top pick on Baker Mayfield.It now appears not everyone bought in. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport spoke to more than one general manager who was unconvinced the rumors were true. Appearing on NFL Network's draft preview show, Rapoport said "I just talked to another GM who's known John Dorsey well, and he said 'he's not taking Mayfield. I know that's false.'"While it appears all three quarterbacks are in contention to be the No. 1 selection Thursday night, no decision will be final until Dorsey steps to the podium in Arlington.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The digital home for Thursday Night Football will remain on Amazon Prime, as the NFL announced they have reached an agreement with the outlet on a two-year deal through the 2019 season."Amazon was a tremendous partner for Thursday Night Football in 2017, and as we continue our mission of delivering NFL games to fans, whether they watch on television or on digital platforms, we are excited to work with them again for the next two seasons," chief media and business officer for the NFL Brian Rolapp said in a statement.Thursday Night Football will be available to over 100 million Amazon Prime members worldwide and will also be open for users on Twitch.The renewal comes with a continuation of the Emmy-winning Prime Original Series "All or Nothing." NFL Films produced the docuseries that will feature the Dallas Cowboys this season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL draft is here. Keep up with all the picks as they happen with theScore's draft tracker. Refresh the page for live updates.ROUND: 1 | 2-3 | 4-7Round 1🕒 On the clockPickTeamPlayerSchool1CLEPickTeamPlayerSchool2NYGPickTeamPlayerSchool3NYJ⇄ from INDPickTeamPlayerSchool4CLE⇄ from HOUPickTeamPlayerSchool5DENPickTeamPlayerSchool6IND⇄ from NYJPickTeamPlayerSchool7TBPickTeamPlayerSchool8CHIPickTeamPlayerSchool9SFPickTeamPlayerSchool10OAKPickTeamPlayerSchool11MIAPickTeamPlayerSchool12BUF⇄ from CINPickTeamPlayerSchool13WASPickTeamPlayerSchool14GBPickTeamPlayerSchool15ARIPickTeamPlayerSchool16BALPickTeamPlayerSchool17LACPickTeamPlayerSchool18SEAPickTeamPlayerSchool19DALPickTeamPlayerSchool20DETPickTeamPlayerSchool21CIN⇄ from BUFPickTeamPlayerSchool22BUF⇄ from KCPickTeamPlayerSchool23NE⇄ from LARPickTeamPlayerSchool24CARPickTeamPlayerSchool25TENPickTeamPlayerSchool26ATLPickTeamPlayerSchool27NOPickTeamPlayerSchool28PITPickTeamPlayerSchool29JAXPickTeamPlayerSchool30MINPickTeamPlayerSchool31NEPickTeamPlayerSchool32PHICopyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cleveland Browns general manager John Dorsey has known which player he'll draft first overall for about six weeks, ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported Thursday, according to Will Brinson of CBS Sports.Dorsey reportedly informed Browns ownership of the decision approximately a month ago but kept his choice a secret from head coach Hue Jackson until two days ago.A report published Thursday morning indicates that rival coaches and general managers believe Cleveland will take Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield with the top pick. The Browns also hold the fourth overall selection.Before that report, USC's Sam Darnold and Wyoming's Josh Allen were favored to go first overall on Thursday night.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Josh Allen apologized Thursday for his racially insensitive tweets that resurfaced the night prior, and added that he previously went through his Twitter history to try to take down offensive material."I had even typed in keywords to see if anything I had tweeted popped up that I needed to clean up, but nothing like these came up or I just missed them," the quarterback prospect told Chris Mortensen of ESPN. "My agency went over any past social media, and these didn't come up after I did the search."A number of tweets Allen posted in high school from 2012-13 containing the "N-word" went viral late Wednesday, the eve of the 2018 NFL Draft. Allen is thought to be a candidate to be selected first overall, though the Cleveland Browns are reportedly more enamored with Oklahoma's Baker Mayfield."If I could go back in time, I would never have done this in a heartbeat," Allen said of the tweets. "At the time, I obviously didn't know how harmful it was and now has become. I hope you know and others know I'm not the type of person I was at 14 and 15 that I tweeted so recklessly. ... I don't want that to be the impression of who I am, because that is not me. I apologize for what I did."Allen first apologized for the posts when contacted Wednesday by Stephen A. Smith of ESPN. He acknowledged that the tweets - which are now deleted - were authentic and posted by him."It sucks," Allen said hours before the draft. "My family is hurting. We never envisioned a day or night like this."Allen is still expected to hear his name called early in the first round, but it's possible the insensitive material could have a last-minute impact on his stock. The Wyoming product said no NFL teams have reached out to him regarding the tweets, but that he'll prove his character to whichever franchise drafts him."I will set the record straight for any team, any teammate, the media, and I think once they meet me and they're around me, see how I act and how I think, that it's not going to be a problem at all," Allen said.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NFL teams are not only focused on prospect selections during draft week, they're also engaged in trade talks involving current roster players.One veteran rumored to be on the move this offseason is Seattle Seahawks safety Earl Thomas. ESPN's Dan Graziano reports there's a sense around the league that the Dallas Cowboys aren't done making a run at the All-Pro defensive back, and trade talks have "centered around" Dallas' second-round pick (No. 50 overall).Graziano adds a potential trade will not be completed until the Cowboys are certain they can sign Thomas to a long-term contract after being acquired. Thomas has one year and $8.5 million left on his current deal with a $10.4-million cap hit.The six-time Pro Bowler skipped Seattle's voluntary workouts last week, though head coach Pete Carroll is counting on his safety to attend mandatory camp.Thomas would fill the Cowboys' biggest need on the defensive side of the ball, with Jeff Heath and Xavier Woods currently atop the depth chart.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Lamar Jackson seems fully willing to follow the path that led Jimmy Garoppolo to (briefly) become the NFL's highest-paid quarterback."Oh, definitely it worked out," Jackson said Wednesday at a pre-draft press conference at AT&T Stadium, according to Charean Williams of Pro Football Talk. "He learned a lot from Tom Brady."Garoppolo was Brady's backup for his first three-and-a-half years in the NFL after being selected in the second round of the 2014 draft. After a midseason trade sent him to the San Francisco 49ers in 2017, he signed a contract extension that made him the top-paid quarterback in the league in terms of annual average value, until it was topped by Kirk Cousins' fully-guaranteed deal with the Minnesota Vikings this offseason.It was reported Wednesday the Patriots have "legit" interest in Jackson, after holding two workouts with the quarterback prospect. Jackson seems to match their interest in a potential pairing that would have him serve as Brady's backup for the foreseeable future."I’m just happy for my name to be on their mind, period," Jackson said. "It's cool to me. I'm cool with it in a positive way."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A woman who says Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson sexually harassed her has shared handwritten notes she says he sent her while she was an employee of the team.Images of the letters can be viewed at Sports Illustrated; they're transcribed in italics below.Sports Illustrated offered the Panthers and Richardson's personal attorneys a chance to review the notes and verify whether or not it was his handwriting, but didn't receive any response.Letter 1:The week before we play New England please do the following:

Walk-up songs for all 22 green-room prospects were revealed Thursday hours before the start of 2018 NFL Draft. Which draftee-to-be picked the best tune?Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Miami Dolphins are one of many teams rumored to be targeting a quarterback early in this year's NFL draft, but it appears they've given their current starter some job security for the upcoming season.Miami has assured quarterback Ryan Tannehill that he'll start in 2018 even if the team drafts a quarterback in the first round, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.Pelissero added that the Dolphins will still consider moving up for a quarterback, but the "smart money says they stand pat at 11 and take the best available defensive player."Related: Dolphins' Gase names Tannehill starter: 'That's not changing anytime soon'Tannehill suffered a knee injury late in 2016, and that same knee caused him to miss the entire 2017 season. The signal-caller reportedly restructured his contract in March to give the team more cap space.The Dolphins have been linked to quarterback Baker Mayfield in the draft process, but he'll likely be selected well before their current pick. However, with Tannehill's long-term health in question, Miami could target another top passer, whether or not the team trades up on Thursday.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL draft has arrived! After months of speculation, reports, and mocks, fans will finally find out which players will be sporting their team colors this upcoming season, and hopefully for many years after.And with a number of polarizing prospects, intriguing storylines, and last-minute rumors, the 2018 draft is set up to be the most memorable edition in recent years.Here's why :Uncertainty at No. 1The Cleveland Browns own the first overall pick, but good luck figuring out who they'll select.Mere hours before general manager John Dorsey takes to the podium, no one is certain which name will be called. As of yesterday, Dorsey hadn't even told his wife.It's assumed the Browns will target a quarterback, but which direction will they go? For months, it was assumed that Dorsey was deciding between Sam Darnold and Josh Allen, but if Thursday's reports are true, Baker Mayfield has entered the conversation. This is the first time in recent memory that the first overall pick was not known before Day 1. The last six No. 1 picks - Myles Garrett, Jared Goff, Jameis Winston, Jadeveon Clowney, Eric Fisher, and Andrew Luck - were all widely assumed to be the selection in league circles leading up to draft day.This is a potentially franchise-altering night for a number of teams, and the Browns will seemingly keep both fans and evaluators guessing until the very last moment.Quarterbacks and trades!(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)The NFL is a quarterback-driven league, so it's no surprise that the 2018 QB class will have the largest impact on the draft as a whole.There's a real possibility that a quarterback will be selected with the first, second, and third overall picks, while a total of five could be chosen on Day 1 for the first time since 1999. Darnold, Allen, and Mayfield are the top signal-callers on a number of draft boards, but Josh Rosen and Lamar Jackson offer high-caliber skill sets as well. Jackson's unique blend of athleticism and college production has been a hot topic in recent months, as analysts have been divided on how high he should be selected.Plus, with a number of teams desperate for a long-term answer at quarterback, there could be multiple trades inside the top ten. The Miami Dolphins, Arizona Cardinals, Buffalo Bills, and New England Patriots are among those reportedly interested in moving up, while the many potential deals have made mock drafts nearly impossible. Some will call it frustrating, but we enjoy the change of pace.With that, the 2018 draft promises to be the most exciting and intriguing in recent memory.Let the chaos ensue.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Dallas Cowboys are taking some preventative measures to limit the amount of boos directed at NFL commissioner Roger Goodell for the start of the draft at AT&T Stadium on Thursday night.Goodell has been ferociously booed by fans while taking the stage at recent drafts, but he is expected to be joined by Hall of Fame quarterbacks Roger Staubach and Troy Aikman, and likely future Hall of Fame tight end Jason Witten at this year's event."I'm sure he's going to get a good response with us being out there," Staubach said, according to Todd Archer of ESPN. "If they boo, all of us are in trouble."Cowboys fans and owner/general manager Jerry Jones have been butting heads with Goodell for most of the past year over running back Ezekiel Elliott's six-game suspension in the 2017 season.Jones seems ready to move on."I don't know of anybody, maybe other than me, that's had more boos than Roger has," Jones said at the pre-draft press conference. "I know about how that works. I do hope we can be positive in our reception. We are going to do something pretty special, and he did have a final say in that."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Carolina Panthers are signing tight end Greg Olsen to a two-year contract extension that will give him a chance to become the highest-paid player at his position, a source told Adam Schefter of ESPN.The deal is reportedly worth $8.55 million per season, but has a maximum value of $10.05 million annually.Olsen, who's spent the last seven seasons in Carolina, previously auditioned for the Monday Night Football analyst job but said he was intent on continuing his playing career. Set to enter the final campaign of his contract, he made it no secret he wanted a new deal.Olsen was set back by a foot injury last term but posted three consecutive seasons of 1,000-plus receiving yards before that.The 33-year-old broke into the NFL as a first-round pick of the Chicago Bears in 2007.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL draft is an annual event filled with hope, as the worst teams look to find a franchise savior and the best teams look to tweak their lineup for another run at the Super Bowl.This year is no different as the NFL descends on Arlington, Texas with the Cleveland Browns holding the No. 1 overall pick in a draft filled with high-level quarterback prospects.Here are a few prop bets one can make to spice up the proceedings on Thursday:Who will get drafted first?

The New Orleans Saints have made a number of phone calls in an effort to jump significantly up the draft board from No. 27 overall, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.If the Saints manage to swing such a trade, there's reason to believe it would be with an eye on a quarterback intended to become the heir apparent to 39-year-old Drew Brees.Saints head coach Sean Payton recently gave a lackluster assessment of this year's quarterback class, but that may have simply been a smokescreen. He told Peter King of The MMQB he wouldn't be surprised if Sam Darnold is the only successful pivot from this year's crop.New Orleans was known to be interested in picking Patrick Mahomes last year before the Kansas City Chiefs traded up to snag the former Texas Tech gunslinger.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Shahid Khan on Thursday revealed his intention to purchase Wembley Stadium from the English Football Association (FA), with the London Evening Standard reporting the billionaire has lodged a bid of £500 million for the London-based arena.Khan - a car parts tycoon from the U.S. who owns English Championship outfit Fulham and the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League - confirmed he's made an offer for the stadium in a statement to Fulham supporters, citing that the move serves to increase the Jaguars' presence in London, and will not remove the English club from its home at Craven Cottage."The games the Jaguars play at Wembley are essential to the financial stability of the Jaguars in Jacksonville, which is one of the smallest markets in the NFL," Khan wrote. "If my ownership interests were to include Wembley Stadium, it would protect the Jaguars' position in London at a time when other NFL teams are understandably becoming more interested in this great city. And the stronger the Jaguars are in London, the more stable and promising the Jaguars' future will be in Jacksonville. ..."To be clear, this venture is 100 percent independent of my investment in and operation of Fulham Football Club, Motspur Park, and Craven Cottage. No less attention will be paid to developing players and fielding a squad that will win with frequency and always make you proud. It will have no impact on Craven Cottage as the home of FFC. And this is imperative to know, and I encourage you to spread the word - absolutely nothing changes in our plans to redevelop the Riverside Stand."The FA confirmed it had received a bid for Wembley Stadium, though no figure was revealed along with that confirmation. The NFL acknowledged the bid as well, releasing a statement in support of Khan's efforts: "The potential purchase of Wembley Stadium is a further powerful sign of their commitment to the UK and their vision to help us grow the sport."Since undergoing reconstruction and opening in 2007, Wembley Stadium has also served as the home ground of the England national team, and Khan made it clear he intends to keep things that way, should his offer be accepted."Always know Wembley would be home to the England national teams, and that we would strive every day of the year to be the best possible steward for a venue that is iconic and beloved here and throughout the world," he wrote in his statement to Fulham's supporters.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.