NEW YORK — During Thursday night’s first round of the 2014 NFL Draft, the collector-coveted skill positions made an early splash with Blake Bortles going third overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars, top receiver Sammy Watkins going one pick later to the Buffalo Bills and massive pass-catcher Mike Evans landing in Tampa Bay with the seventh overall pick.
NEW YORK — During Thursday night’s first round of the 2014 NFL Draft, the collector-coveted skill positions made an early splash with Blake Bortles going third overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars, top receiver Sammy Watkins going one pick later to the Buffalo Bills and massive pass-catcher Mike Evans landing in Tampa Bay with the seventh overall pick.
While other promising collector-friendly weapons such as tight end Eric Ebron and receiver Odell Beckham went off the board in the middle of the first round (to Detroit and the Giants, respectively), the real fireworks took place near the end of Thursday night, when Panini America-exclusive athlete Johnny Manziel went No. 22 to the Cleveland Browns, helping the NFL draw its biggest television audience ever. Fittingly, another potential hobby heavy-hitter — QB Teddy Bridgewater — ended a historic first round by going to the Minnesota Vikings with the 32nd and final selection.
Panini America was there all night long, documenting the NFL Draft like only it can: By producing real-time 2013 Score Football Rookie Card reveals for 28 of the 32 first-round picks. The good news? Rounds two and three of the 2014 NFL Draft take place tonight, and we’ll be back at it again tonight. Enjoy — and check back after every pick for the world-premiere unveiling of each player’s first officially licensed NFL Rookie Cards.
You can also follow along on Twitter using the hash tag #ScoreRookie.
It was a riveting 1st round and the really fascinating thing will be to see the moves and surprise selections reflected in the card values.
For instance Bortles, as the first QB selected, will see considerably higher card values than he would have had he been taken later in the draft, where he was projected to go.
Johnny Manziel is Cleveland’s newest savior, a job that has cost players such as Colt McCoy, Brady Quinn, and Tim Couch their careers, and Brandon Weeden is speeding his way towards total irrelevance. But as a Brown? No way do Johnny Football issues reach the lofty heights they would have had Jerry Jones adopted him to serve as Romo’s understudy.
Teddy Bridgewater will enjoy an up arrow as the the Vikes’ newest franchise signal caller and the club’s 2nd 1st round pick. He has Cassel and Ponder to learn under and when the dude is ready, he, Cordarelle Patterson, possibly Jarius Wright and Kyle Rudolph should make beautiful music together.
Lastly…although Panini produced some magnificent cards in ’13, the depth and sheer number of talented, high-upside athletes in this years’ draft will see some breath-taking card values.
Here’s to the 2014 NFL Rookie class, and here’s to seeing what Panini does with the gifted group! Bring it Panini… Bring it!
Aswome previews! Do you know when we will get a full score preview?
this is ridiculous, somehow the Bears players are always left out. Thanks panini
Do you have any idea when 2014 score football and 2013 contenders hockey are coming out?
2014 Score Football arrives in early June; 2013-14 Contenders Hockey will be out later this month.
Good to see the Colts 3rd rounder Donte Moncrief in this one, no surprise their second rounder OT Jack Mewhort didn’t make the cut lol. Thanks Tracy!
C’mon, no Dez Southward for the Falcons?
cant wait!