NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - The Latest on the NFL draft (all times EDT):
11:25 p.m.
Music City certainly has helped itself attract a crowd with a free concert by country star Tim McGraw. Still, Nashville has had another big, really big turnout.
An estimated 200,000 fans turned out Friday, giving Nashville back-to-back days with such a crowd.
Butch Spyridon, president and CEO of Nashville’s convention and visitors bureau, thanked the fans who came out for the second day of the draft and fan experience across the Cumberland River.
Nashville and the NFL have quite a finale planned for Saturday. Country singer Dierks Bentley will perform a free concert on the draft stage once the final name is called, and a final display of fireworks.
___
11 p.m.
Southern California, the school that has produced the most NFL draft picks, is having its leanest year in two decades.
The Trojans hadn’t gone so deep into a draft without a player taken since 2001, when linebacker Markus Steele lasted until the fourth round, the 121st overall pick.
USC and Michigan are the only schools to have at least one player drafted since 1939. The Trojans have had 505 players selected all time and had four players taken last year, all in the first three rounds and led by the No. 3 overall pick in Sam Darnold. Darnold went to the Jets.
The Jets also took the first USC player in this draft as well when they took offensive tackle Chuma Edoga at No. 92 overall.
___
10:45 a.m.
Drew Lock didn’t have to go far once the Denver Broncos finally ended his wait at the NFL draft. His flight wasn’t booked to leave Nashville until Saturday anyway.
Lock walked the red carpet Thursday night, then sat around in the green room without hearing his name called through the first round. On Friday, he watched from the CAA headquarters in Nashville when Denver traded up to No. 42 to make back-to-back selections, and former Broncos linebacker Al Wilson called the Missouri quarterback as the selection.
The wait has given Lock plenty of motivation. How much? Not just a chip.
Lock says it’s more like a Pringles can full of chips. And now Lock gets to play for John Elway, and he says it’s pretty surreal to play quarterback for an organization run by one of the best quarterbacks of all time.
___
9:45 p.m.
The Southeastern Conference is well on its way to having the most players taken in the NFL draft for the 13th consecutive year.
Twelve of the first 24 picks in the second round Friday night came from the SEC, and the league has produced 22 of the 64 players drafted (34.4 percent) entering the third round.
Florida offensive lineman Jawaan Taylor was the first of three straight SEC players chosen, going No. 35 overall to the Jaguars. South Carolina wide receiver Deebo Samuel (49ers) and Mississippi offensive lineman Greg Little followed.
Missouri quarterback Drew Lock, who went No. 42 to the Broncos, started a run of four SEC players taken in five picks. The second round ended with wide receiver DK Metcalf of Mississippi going to the Seahawks.
The Atlantic Coast Conference and Big Ten each have had a total of nine players selected through two rounds. The Pac-12 has eight draftees and the Big 12 six.
The SEC had 53 players taken in last year’s draft.
___
9:40 p.m.
NFL teams stocked up in the second round on defensive backs to better defend against the league’s quarterbacks and wide receivers.
A total of 11 cornerbacks and safeties were selected in the second round Friday night for the most popular position of the round. The run on defensive backs started with cornerback Byron Murphy of Washington the first pick of the night by Arizona, and the Chiefs made Virginia safety Juan Thornhill the 11th of the round at No. 63 overall.
Wide receiver and offensive line tied for the second-most position with seven apiece taken in the second round.
___
9:30 p.m.
Arizona and the Miami Dolphins finally have agreed to the trade expected for weeks with the Cardinals taking quarterback Kyler Murray with the No. 1 pick overall in the draft.
The Cardinals sent quarterback Josh Rosen, the 10th overall pick just last year, to Miami for the No. 62 pick overall and a fifth-round pick in 2020. Rosen had to wait until late in the second round before changing teams after the former UCLA star had a rough rookie season with the Cardinals going 3-13.
Now Arizona can work on prepping Murray as the starter without Rosen around.
___
9:20 p.m.
The Los Angeles Rams - finally - have made their first pick in the 2019 draft.
The Rams waited until near the end of the second round before making Washington safety Taylor Rapp the 61st pick overall.
They came into the draft with the No. 31 pick after losing the Super Bowl to the Patriots. They swapped that pick and moved to No. 45 in the second round to sit out the opening night of the draft completely. Then the Rams wound up moving down three times before their first pick because general manager Les Snead is confident in his ability to unearth starters and contributors in the middle rounds.
The Rams wanted to build depth and volume in their roster after entering the draft with just seven picks. The lower picks also come at lower prices, which make small differences in the Rams’ ability to afford the massive contracts handed out to Todd Gurley, Aaron Donald and Brandin Cooks before their NFC championship season.
___
8:35 p.m.
Eddie George made sure to remember, and honor, his former Tennessee Titans teammate at the NFL draft in Nashville.
George came out wearing a Titans’ No. 9 jersey worn by the late Steve McNair when he walked out with the family of Navy Lt. William Gilbert to announce Tennessee’s second-round draft pick at No. 51 overall. George made a wardrobe change from the jacket he wore Friday night when he took the stage with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and country star Tim McGraw to kick off the second night of the draft.
The Titans appropriately enough went with offense, taking Mississippi wide receiver A.J. Brown.
___
8:20 p.m.
Joejuan Williams of Vanderbilt has gotten to experience the rarity of being drafted into the NFL in the same city where he was born, grew up and went to college.
And he’s going to the defending Super Bowl champs, too.
The New England Patriots traded up and made a deal with the team they beat in the Super Bowl in February to take the 6-foot-4 cornerback at No. 45 overall.
Williams says this was special being born and raised and going to school in Nashville. The cornerback kept repeating how special this was. He says he had no words, but he sees playing for coach Bill Belichick as the right fit.
Cleveland followed up by trading with Indianapolis up to No. 46 and taking LSU cornerback Greedy Williams. Seattle made it seven defensive backs taken in the first 15 selections in the second round by taking safety Marquise Blair of Utah a pick later.
___
8:05 p.m.
It took another 27 picks since Washington took Dwayne Haskins before a quarterback went in the NFL draft.
Denver, pretty much searching for its guy since Peyton Manning retired, took Missouri’s Drew Lock with the 42nd spot. Lock had been projected by some to wind up in the Mile High City, but in the opening round.
Broncos boss John Elway lured Manning to Denver as a free agent in 2012 and Peyton got them to two Super Bowls, winning one. But Elway pretty much has struck out with his choices at the key position since.
So Elway traded up with Cincinnati to get Lock.
Through a dozen picks in the second round, the themes were blockers (five) and defensive backs (four).
___
7:40 p.m.
Defensive backs were a rare commodity in the opening round of the draft. So Arizona and Indianapolis began the second round with cornerbacks.
One day after opening the NFL draft by selecting Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Kyler Murray of Oklahoma, the Arizona Cardinals chose Washington cornerback Byron Murphy.
Considered by some scouts as the best cover defender in this draft, Murphy was projected to go in the opening round, but did not. Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins, taken 15th by the Redskins on Thursday, said Murphy was the best defensive back he faced last season. He was the fifth Huskies DB taken since 2015.
Next up was Temple’s Rock Ya-Sin, a cornerback with a penchant for hard hits who has had some issues with using his hands too much. But the Colts, with their initial selection this year, loved his aggressiveness.
Florida tackle Jawaan Taylor went to the Jaguars next ; he said Jacksonville is only two hours from his home. The Jags dealt with Oakland for that spot.
After San Francisco went for a deep-threat receiver, South Carolina’s Deebo Samuel, Carolina traded with Seattle for the 37th pick and got Mississippi tackle Greg Little to help protect Cam Newton.
Buffalo also got in on the trade action, getting Jacksonville’s slot at 38 to take Oklahoma’s Cody Ford, who figures to switch from tackle to guard. Three of the first six second-rounders were blockers.
___
7:30 p.m.
One day after opening the NFL draft by selecting Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Kyler Murray of Oklahoma, the Arizona Cardinals chose Washington cornerback Byron Murphy.
Considered by some scouts as the best cover defender in this draft, Murphy was projected to go in the opening round, but did not. Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins, taken 15th by the Redskins on Thursday, said Murphy was the best defensive back he faced last season. He was the fifth Huskies DB taken since 2015.
Former Titans running back Eddie George and country music star Tim McGraw joined Commissioner Roger Goodell onstage for the selection. McGraw is to perform a concert on the same stage after the third round concludes.
___
7:10 p.m.
While it isn’t unusual for fans who cheer for the same teams to bond at the NFL draft, several super fans in Nashville for Friday’s second and third rounds have enjoyed getting to know fans of teams they will be rooting against when the season kicks off.
And with some of the fans lining up Broadway, there was no doubt which team has their heart.
“This is more than commitment, this is my life,” Aaron Latimer from Saginaw, Michigan, said. He was wearing full lion makeup and dressed in a lion costume complete with a furry hood.
“This is what it’s about. People coming together having a good time, enjoying one sport. Different colors, different jerseys and just loving each other, enjoying each other. This is what should be about. That’s what the world should be about.”
Many fans who traveled to Nashville said they enjoy supporting their teams on the road as much as going to their team’s home games.
“Every opportunity I get to support the team, whether it’s coming to the draft, being a season ticket holder, or going to away games, I go,” Tampa native and Buccaneers fan Jamal Sanders said.
Sanders goes by the nickname “Jaybuc” and wore a “Phantom of the Opera”-style mask in Buccaneers colors covering half his face.
“I appreciate these moments because in addition to me bonding with other Buc fans, it’s an opportunity for us to get to bond with fans of other teams,” he said. “Even though we’re not fans of the same team, we’re one family, one community when it comes to the NFL.”
Decked out in a full Eagles uniform, including the pads but minus the helmet, Jamie Pagliei was ready for Round 2 to start hours before the announcement of Friday’s first selection. For the second consecutive day, Pagliei put on his gear and painted his face to go along with his green mohawk haircut.
“I’m in for a penny, I’m in for a pound,” he said. “All day, all day Eagles.”
Pagliei goes by the name “The Philly Sports Guy.” With hair, makeup and an outfit like that, it’s impossible to argue that nickname.
- Jim Diamond reported in Nashville.
___
7 p.m.
Terrell Owens didn’t attend the NFL draft when the receiver was selected out of Chattanooga on his way to a Hall of Fame career.
He’s in Nashville to help announce a draft selection for the San Francisco 49ers, and he says the NFL provides the same type of atmosphere and that the crowds have been tremendous in Music City.
Owens joined former Giants receiver David Tyree, former Atlanta linebacker Jessie Tuggle, Tennessee defensive lineman Jurrell Casey, Patriots center David Andrews and Cincinnati defensive tackle Geno Atkins in handing out 8,000 backpacks filled Wednesday by volunteers and 21 NFL prospects to school children Friday before the draft.
After handing out the food, the players and former players also talked and played games with the students.
Owens says he hopes they inspired the students and that he can obviously relate to the children coming from a small school and small hometown in Alexander City, Alabama. Owens says it’s an awesome thing that the NFL is doing with its Huddle Against Hunger program.
___
6:40 p.m.
Seven Pro Football Hall of Famers will announce selections for their former teams at the NFL draft.
In the second round, Jim Brown will handle the Browns’ pick, their first in this draft, barring a trade by Cleveland to move up from No. 49 overall. James Lofton will be onstage for the Packers’ pick, Carl Eller for Minnesota’s, and Darrell Green for Washington’s.
In the third round, Rayfield Wright will announce who Dallas is taking, while Jackie Slater will do the Rams’ choice and Terrell Owens the 49ers’ pick.
Dozens of other former players also will be announcing picks - and even current ones: Houston WR DeAndre Hopkins and New England LB Dont’a Hightower.
___
6 p.m.
Tennessee Titans controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk has vouched for the character of first-round draft pick Jeffery Simmons, who was arrested three years ago on a simple assault charge against a woman.
A tearful Simmons responded to Strunk’s words by vowing that he won’t let her down.
“Our locker room is so important, and we only have good men in there,” Strunk said Friday at a news conference introducing Simmons. “And this young man is a good man.”
Strunk said she didn’t speak directly with Simmons before the Titans selected the Mississippi State defensive tackle with the 19th overall pick in the draft. But she did watch the video in which Simmons was shown hitting a woman, leading to his arrest.
Simmons was found guilty of malicious mischief and pleaded no contest to a simple assault charge.
During a conference call Thursday night, Simmons said the woman that he hit was arguing with his sister. Simmons said he initially tried to break up the fight until “I just let my emotions take over.”
“It did not take me long to see that this young man had an incident when he was in high school,” Strunk said. “We all can look back on our lives in high school and wish we’d done things differently, but you can talk, ’I’m sorry,’ the best thing is that he’s lived the life of, ’I’m truly sorry and I’m going to be a good man.’ That made it really easy for me to become comfortable with Jeffery. We’re getting a great football player. That goes without saying. But we’re getting a great man.”
As Strunk spoke on his behalf, Simmons bowed his head with tears running down his cheek.
“I made that mistake and I regret it,” Simmons said. “Just to hear her say all that, I’m grateful. The key word she said was trust. I tell her in front of you guys, she can trust me. I won’t let her down. I won’t let any one of these guys down.”
___
More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL
Please read our comment policy before commenting.