The NFL Draft took place this past weekend, and there was no shortage of Ducks involved. Continuing an ongoing trend since 2007, there were no Oregon first rounders this year — which, given the team’s unprecedented success of late, is fairly amazing. But there was still plenty of excitement to be had and, as is always the case these days, the action was documented exhaustively on Twitter. In case you missed it, we provide the chance to relive it digitally, in real time:
Start us off, @NFL!
And here we go! #NFLDraft
— NFL (@nfl) April 27, 2012
The first pick was no shocker…
RD1 – PK1 #Colts: A. Luck (QB-Stanford) – bit.ly/I41FuM #NFLDRAFT — NFL (@nfl) April 27, 2012
Robert Griffin III went to the Washington Redskins second overall, and the rest of the first round proceeded without too many dramatic surprises. USC’s Matt Kalil (No. 3 to the Minnesota Vikings) and Nick Perry (No. 28 to the Green Bay Packers), as well as Stanford’s David DeCastro (No. 24 to the Pittsburgh Steelers), were the only Pac-12 players to go in the first round. Meanwhile, LaMichael James prepared himself for day two:
In 24hrs dreams become reality… — LaMichael James (@LaMichaelJames) April 27, 2012
Though it would have been fun, a reunion between James and LeGarrette Blount was not meant to be:
In case anyone was anticipating an LGB/LMJ pairing in Tampa, no dice. RT @IDS_BroncoBeat: Doug Martin to the Bucs at 31
— Rob Moseley (@DuckFootball) April 27, 2012
For the 32 teams that didn’t get Lamike In the 1st round.. They gon regret it later
— Kody smoody Sutton (@SmoodySutton) April 27, 2012
Friday brought the second round to life, and it was finally James’ time:
RD2 – PK29 #49ers: L. James (RB-Oregon) – bit.ly/Hzg3ge #NFLDRAFT — NFL (@nfl) April 28, 2012
Kenjon Barner was watching, and immediately sent a congratulatory message to his good friend.
S/O to my bro LMJ congrats bro welcome to the Niner family— Kenjon Barner (@KBDeuce4) April 28, 2012
Meanwhile, the pundits weighed in…
49ers see Darren Sproles like “space player”. As I said Harbaugh is creative. Unafraid to mix a traditional power O w/ spread elements.— Smart Football (@smartfootball) April 28, 2012
I love SF drafting LaMichael James as he will bring to their offense what Darren Sproles brought to SD & NO. — Russell Lande (@RUSSLANDE) April 28, 2012
49ers are not fooling around, I see. With LaMichael James added to the mix they’ve assembled quite an arsenal on offense. — Michael Smith (@undecided) April 28, 2012
And another teammate:
Congrats @LaMichaelJames… When are you taking the o-line to dinner? Ha — Carson York (@CarsonYork) April 28, 2012
James, for his part, was a little overwhelmed:
This is why I can’t respond… twitter.com/LaMichaelJames… — LaMichael James (@LaMichaelJames) April 28, 2012
The “did you know” moment of 2012’s draft: LaMichael James and Wale are friends! Okay, then.
I want to give a special to s/o to @Wale for calling me and keeling my head high thank you!
— LaMichael James (@LaMichaelJames) April 28, 2012
We all know how close James and Oregon running backs coach Gary Campbell are…
I’m also close I’m able to stay close to my ducks and coach cam! I love that man like my father
— LaMichael James (@LaMichaelJames) April 28, 2012
Even Willie Lyles got some love, which had to make a few Duck fans twinge:
I want to give a s/o to everyone wondering if I’m cool with will lyle yes I”am he’s always been there for me when I needed him #loyalty — LaMichael James (@LaMichaelJames) April 28, 2012
It would take until the fifth round for another Duck to be chosen…
RD5 – PK20 #Dolphins: J. Kaddu (LB-Oregon) – bit.ly/Hzg3ge #NFLDRAFT — NFL (@nfl) April 28, 2012
So excited to be a part of the @MiamiDolphins #blessed
— Josh Kaddu (@JoshKaddu) April 28, 2012
At least one pundit seemed to like the pick:
#Dolphins got raw, but explosive LB in #Oregon‘s Josh Kaddu. He’ll contribute on special teams right away. Has upside. Rated 102 on my board
— Chris Steuber (@ChrisSteuber) April 28, 2012
With former luminaries such as Darron Thomas, Cliff Harris, David Paulson and Eddie Pleasant still on the board, it would be an hour before another Duck was picked — and it wasn’t any of those four players.
RD6 – PK8 #Bills: M. Asper (G-Oregon) – bit.ly/Hzg3ge #NFLDRAFT — NFL (@nfl) April 28, 2012
Happy for my brother Mark Asper heading to Buffalo! — Ramsen Golpashin (@RGolpashin70) April 28, 2012
Mark Asper to the Bills! @jairusbyrd got another Duck on the squad.
— Spencer Paysinger (@SpittyP) April 28, 2012
Bills GM Buddy Nix, on Mark Asper: “This old boy is as big as a house.”
— Rob Moseley (@DuckFootball) April 29, 2012
Nearly three more hours passed before David Paulson was finally selected…
RD7 – PK33 #Steelers: D. Paulson (TE-Oregon) – bit.ly/Hzg3ge #NFLDRAFT — NFL (@nfl) April 28, 2012
So excited to be part of the Pittsburgh steelers organization. Thanks for all of the support. twitter.com/dpaulson22/sta… — David Paulson (@dpaulson22) April 28, 2012
David Paulson, love this guy. My readers know that. He’s a TE from Oregon who will have to play FB, or joker TE. Owen Daniels Lite.
— James C Wexell (@jimwexell) April 28, 2012
Leave it to York to provide a nice punchline:
Wonder how many players with MBA’s have been drafted before? #davidpaulsonfacts
— Carson York (@CarsonYork) April 29, 2012
It sounds like both Asper and Paulson will have to adjust to major position changes…
Looks like Buffalo drafted Mark Asper with plans to make him a center and the Steelers like David Paulson because he can play some fullback. — Rob Moseley (@DuckFootball) April 29, 2012
The draft finally ended with Pleasant, Thomas, Harris, Lavasier Tuinei, Terrell Turner and Darrion Weems still searching for teams. It wouldn’t take long for some of them to be snatched up via free agency, though.
Congrats to Cliff Harris, who has signed with the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent #goducks — Andy McNamara (@McNamaraUO) April 29, 2012
Guys touted a yr ago as projected #1s who didn’t get drafted at all: Burfict, Paige-Moss, Cliff Harris, Chase Minniefield & MarcusForston.
— Bruce Feldman (@BFeldmanCBS) April 28, 2012
And, of course, some media members couldn’t resist the easy jokes…
Cliff Harris just left in his car for Philadelphia from Fresno. Expected to get in by midnight.
— Dan Rubenstein (@Dan_Rubenstein) April 29, 2012
Then came Tuinei and Weems:
Congrats to @LavasierTuinei, who has signed a free agent deal with the Seattle Seahawks #GoDucks — Andy McNamara (@McNamaraUO) April 29, 2012
Thank you everyone for the support…the grinding continues! #Seahawks #focus — Lavasier T. Tuinei (@LavasierTuinei) April 29, 2012
Big props to @dweems74, who has signed a free agent contract with the Minnesota Vikings. Teach him well @GeoffSchwartz74 #goducks
— Andy McNamara (@McNamaraUO) April 29, 2012
Grind continues
— Darrion Weems (@dweems74) April 29, 2012
At long last, late Sunday night the word came that Eddie Pleasant had found a team:
Finally, official congrats to Eddie Pleasant! Houston Chronicle reporting safety among 21 UDFAs signed by the Texans #goducks — Andy McNamara (@McNamaraUO) April 30, 2012
And with that, it was all over. As of Monday, neither Thomas nor Turner had found a suitor. Thomas, though, did at least earn invites to a couple tryouts:
Darron Thomas news: Steelers and Cardinals have invited the former Ducks QB to minicamp on tryout basis. But he remains unsigned.
— JayMart (@JayMart) April 30, 2012
