CLEVELAND — It was an unforgettable first day of the NFL Draft that saw dreams realized as teams looked to the future of their franchises.

What You Need To Know

  • Former Ohio State coach Urban Meyer didn’t send shockwaves across the NFL by drafting Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence with the first pick in his tenure as head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

  • Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields went number 11 to the Chicago Bears

  • The Cincinnati Bengals drafted LSU wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase with the fifth pick in the draft

Trevor Lawrence celebrated from his home in South Carolina, saying he’s looking forward to getting to work with former Ohio State coach Urban Meyer.

“I think the biggest thing is that he’s a winner. You see he’s done that his whole career. So I’m really excited to be a part of that,” said Lawrence. 

Rather than find some protection for Joe Burrow, the Cincinnati Bengals decided to reunite him with Ja’Marr Chase, a wide receiver who helped him tear up college football and win a national championship at LSU.

“I’m just happy to be in this moment right now enjoying this with my family, so I'm ready to go put on a show. Let’s do it,” Chase said on the draft stage.

Ohio State star Justin Fields received a loud ovation from Bears and Ohio State fans after learning he’s heading to the Windy City to become the Bear’s new face of the franchise. And he’s hoping to bring the character and skill traits that made him a star for the Buckeyes.

“I think the kind of player the Bears are getting is a versatile player that can make plays both with my arm and also with my legs and of course a smart player — a player that’s going to make smart decisions and a player that wants to win, that’s willing to do whatever to win,” said Fields during a press conference. 

Since the Browns broke a decades-long playoff drought, Browns fans had to wait patiently to see the team select the six-foot, nearly 200-pound cornerback Gregory Newsome II out of Northwestern late in the first round. The Browns released a video of general manager Andrew Berry and coach Kevin Stefanski welcoming him to Cleveland.

“You’re exactly what we want: Smart, tough, accountable, really talented (and a) great guy, so we’re really looking forward to making you a Brown tonight,” said Berry.

“Appreciate that, man. Y’all going to get the best player in me every single day. I promise you that,” said Newsome. 

Some local athletes could hear their name called on Day 2 of the NFL Draft, like St. Ignatius grad Liam Eichenberg out of Notre Dame. He plays left tackle and could also play guard in the NFL. ​

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