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Most mock drafts this year had Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota going with the 1st and 2nd picks, and unsurprisingly, that's how it went down. Lovie Smith and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers got what they are counting on as a franchise QB in Winston, and despite trade rumors just before the show kicked off, so did the Titans with Mariota.
The first wide receiver off the board was also not a surprise, with Amari Cooper going 4th to the Oakland Raiders, but there was one surprise-- watching phenom DE Leonard Williams fall out of the top-3... out of the top-5... and aaaaalmost into the laps of the Chicago Bears at #7. But no, the New York Jets decided they wanted to pluck him up at #6 overall, despite arguments that they didn't even need Williams to begin with.
Regardless, the Bears had a huge need at wide receiver with the trade of Brandon Marshall to the Jets, and they effectively filled his shoes with the selection of 6'3, 212 pound Kevin White out of West Virginia.
White will start immediately, and Adam Gase was the happiest person at Halas Hall, according to GM Phil Emery at his post-selection press conference.
Day 1/ Round 1 is now over (FULL RESULTS HERE), and we'll regroup with continued coverage Friday. Rounds 2 and 3 begin at 6pm CT Friday, and rounds 4-7 will run Saturday starting at 11:00am CT.
What are your thoughts on Round 1? Cast your Grade for the Bears selection of Kevin White HERE.