NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell calls Sam Bradford's name first in Thursday night's NFL Draft.

NEW YORK – Sam Bradford is heading to St. Louis via a New York connection.

The Oklahoma quarterback was taken No. 1 overall on Apr. 22 at Radio City Music Hall by the St. Louis Rams, highlighting a night of high drama in the Big Apple, which also included an early round selection of Florida living legend Tim Tebow to Denver.  

“I feel great,” Bradford said of being taken first overall by St. Louis. “Obviously it's a dream come true, you grow up, you dream of playing in the NFL and you dream of hearing your name called on Draft day, but to actually have it happen, it's a feeling that's really unexplainable.” 

Although injured during his junior year, Bradford was projected by many as the likely top pick in this year’s draft – the first ever to be held on “prime time” television.  Ironically, the big night belonged to the Big 12. Like Bradford, five of the top six selections came from the Big 12 conference, including three Oklahoma Sooners.  

“That's pretty cool because I know the Big 12 has been getting a lot of slack lately,'' said Bradford, the 2008 Heisman Trophy winner. "People for some reason didn't think that we played much football in the Big 12 and sure didn't think we played much defense, so for two defensive tackles to go in the first three picks is a credit to the Big 12.''

Bradford, who is still a risk for St. Louis having only played three games in 2009 due to injury, joins a Rams team that was 1-15 last season and scored a league-low 175 points. He is recovering nicely from right shoulder surgery and will begin the season as the team’s starting QB with incumbent Marc Bulger recently released by the organization.

Bradford was immediately followed Thursday night by defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh of Nebraska, the AP Player of the Year; DT Gerald McCoy and OT Trent Williams, Bradford’s college teammate.

While the first several picks weren’t far off what many projected, give Denver credit for gambling on Tebow. When the Broncos took the Florida quarterback at No. 25, it drew the loudest reaction: A mixture of cheers and boos.  A winner of two national championships, Tebow’s unorthodox style made it tough to figure where he would land in the draft. But the Broncos and head coach Josh McDaniels appear to be among the few who believe the 2007 Heisman winner can be a long term answer under center.    

The Lions are hoping this year’s No. 2 pick is better than some of their past first-rounders. Suh is considered the best defensive tackle prospect in more than a decade. He won the Lombardi, Bednarik and Nagurski trophies in 2009.

Tennessee safety Eric Berry went fifth to Kansas City, breaking the Big 12 stranglehold. Then it was back to the Big 12 for Oklahoma State OT Russell Okung.  Florida cornerback Joe Haden was chosen by Cleveland, followed by Alabama inside linebacker Rolando McClain to Oakland. Clemson running back C.J. Spiller went ninth to Buffalo before the real surprises began.

Jacksonville took California DT Tyson Alualu, who was projected as a second-rounder. San Francisco then moved up two spots, dealing for Denver's pick to get Rutgers OT Anthony Davis.

Desperate for a running back since releasing LaDainian Tomlinson, San Diego jumped from 28th overall to 12th in a trade with Miami. The Chargers took Fresno State's Ryan Mathews, the nation's leading rusher. The Broncos then sent the 13th overall choice they got from the 49ers to Philadelphia. The Eagles took Michigan defensive end Brandon Graham.

That made four trades involving three consecutive picks. In total, the first round played out over 3 hours and 28 minutes. Rounds two through seven will be held Friday and Saturday.

Visit NFL.com draft tracker for full results: http://www.nfl.com/draft/2010/tracker#dt-tabs:dt-by-round/dt-by-round-input:1

---

Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites