Fernando Mendoza’s decision to skip the NFL Draft festivities has put David Bailey in an enviable position.
With Mendoza opting to spend Thursday night in Miami with family and friends, Bailey is in line to be the first player to walk across the stage outside Acrisure Stadium and hug NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.
It’s a moment that Bailey, a hard-hitting pass rusher from Texas Tech and anticipated No. 2 overall pick, is relishing.
“That,” Bailey said Wednesday morning, “would be a blessing.”
Bailey is the highest rated of the 17 prospects who accepted the NFL’s invitation to attend the draft in Pittsburgh. He will walk the red carpet Thursday before the draft’s 8 p.m. start, and he will settle into the so-called “green room” to see if the New York Jets take him after the Las Vegas Raiders pick Mendoza, the Indiana quarterback.
“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Bailey said of his decision to attend the draft. “Not too many people can say they went to the draft. I feel like I’d be a fool if I didn’t. Life is about experiences, and I would be a fool not to come here and experience what (the NFL and the city) is putting on.”
The agenda Wednesday for the prospects began with a youth football camp at Hazelwood’s Green Park. Shortly after the ribbon-cutting ceremony for U.S. Steel Community Field at Hazelwood Green, the NFL prospects took part in a clinic designed for local youth football players and Special Olympics athletes.
The players took turns guiding the youngsters through stations in which basic football skills and drills were taught.
“It’s giving back,” said Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles, whose father, former NFL player Lorenzo Styles, grew up in Farrell. “I was once a kid in their shoes. I looked at it like NFL players and Ohio State players were superheroes. To do an event like this, it’s awesome. The kids are so genuine. They love to come out here and have fun.”
The clinic gave the prospects a reprieve from the hustle and bustle surrounding the draft festivities, an opportunity to not think about the life-changing decisions that awaited in the next 36 hours.
If there was any anxiety about the draft, the players did a good job of not displaying it.
“I ain’t got no nerves,” said Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, an expected top-five pick. “I don’t know why. Maybe they will kick in on draft day.”
Added Styles, one of five former Buckeyes players to accept the NFL’s draft invitation: “I’m not nervous at all. I’m ready and just really excited to get to work.”
Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson was one of three wide receivers who opted to attend the draft festivities. Not that he had much say in the decision.
“My parents thought it would be a good opportunity for me,” Tyson said. “I didn’t know what I was embarking on. I’m just along for the ride.”
At Arizona State, Tyson’s position coach was Hines Ward, the Steelers’ all-time receptions leader and multi-time Pro Football Hall of Fame semifinalist. If Tyson remains on the board long enough, he could follow in Ward’s footsteps by suiting up for the Steelers. No matter the destination, though, Tyson is embracing a goal he set many years ago.
“I was in kindergarten, and I wrote on a paper that I wanted to go to the NFL, so I’m finally seeing that come true,” he said. “Looking back at all the people that really poured into me and got me to this place, I can’t thank God enough.”
While the top part of the draft appears to be cut-and-dry on paper, NFL Draft analysts expect some surprises in the opening round. The first shakeup took place last weekend when the Cincinnati Bengals traded the No. 10 overall pick for New York Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence.
“I think it’s going to be unpredictable,” NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah said Wednesday. “Talking to a lot of GMs and coaches for the last week, nobody has a good feel for what is going to happen. I think there are going to be a lot of trades.”
Five deals were executed involving first-round picks a year ago. The record of 18 trades involving first-round picks took place in 2022.
ESPN’s Matt Miller gave first-round “grades” to just 11 players this year, which he believes could lead to a flurry of moves involving teams trying to acquire top talent. Or teams desiring to trade back because they don’t believe an elite player will be available when it’s their pick.
“I tore up my mock draft about eight times trying to figure out how it’s going to go,” Miller said. “There is unpredictability, and I think we’re going to see a lot of trades because of that. The fact there is a small number of blue-chip players, I think teams are going to move up to get one of those players. There are teams sitting in the top five that may want to move out, and there are others who may want to move up.”