Did you ever go to camp with your best friend?
I didn’t go to camp as a kid, but had I, it would have been great to have one of my best friends with me.
Seems three National Football League teams did have visions of bringing friends together in camp when they complemented their quarterbacks with one of their key college teammates.
The Jacksonville Jaguars had the first pick in the draft, and with a choice as obvious as Chadwick Boseman getting the best actor award in the Academy Awards, they took Clemson Quarterback Trevor Lawrence. Then late in the first round, with the 25th pick, they chose the guy he handed off to in college, runningback Travis Etienne.
Joe Burrow, who was the Cincinnati Bengals top pick in last year’s draft, got good news while he is rehabbing his late season knee injury. Cincinnati spent their first round pick, fifth overall, on his favorite college target, wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase. A personal side note here, I think the Bengals, and Burrow, would have been a lot better off if they had gone with Oregon Offensive Tackle Penei Sewell. Burrow isn’t rehabbing from his injury because of his receiving corps, but a weak offensive line.
Never-the-less, The tandem that tore up the college world on their way to a national championship a year ago is now working together for the Bengals.
In Miami, the Dolphins, who many think got the best of the draft and had a lot of picks to succeed, chose wide receiver Jaylen Waddle with their first pick. The Alabama receiver was a primary target in college two years ago to now Dolphins signal caller Tua Tagovailoa.
Jacksonville, Cincinnati and Miami have brought together dynamic college duos and now would like to have them succeed at the pro level. This is a clear opportunity to see if college prowess translates to NFL success. If it does, then these three teams are set up to possess explosive offenses for years to come. And, knowing how organizations work, you can be sure that all three quarterbacks were quizzed on the character of their college teammate before making him a first round draft choice.
Etienne, Chase and Waddle got the most important of all recommendations from someone who knows them best … their college quarterback.