UCLA’s Takkarist McKinley carries a photograph of his grandmother onstage after being selected by the Atlanta Falcons during the first round of the 2017 NFL football draft, Thursday, April 27, 2017, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
As UCLA finished its month of spring practices, the program also sent five players to the next level through the NFL Draft before six more signed with teams are undrafted free agents.
Led by first-round pick Takkarist McKinley, UCLA’s five picks were tied for the second most from a Pac-12 school in the 2017 draft. Utah led the conference with eight picks while USC and Washington each had five. Michigan led the nation with 11.
McKinley, whose emotional reaction to getting drafted won the Internet on Thursday night, will reportedly not earn a fine from the NFL after the new Atlanta Falcon dropped an f-bomb on live television.
Cornerback Fabian Moreau and defensive tackle Eddie Vanderdoes both heard their names called in the third round on Friday. Moreau, whose recent pectoral injury may have hurt his draft stock, was picked 81st overall by the Washington Redskins after he was projected by some as a low first-round draft pick before injury. Vanderdoes gets to return to Northern California as he was selected 88th overall by the Oakland Raiders.
Linebacker Jayon Brown and offensive lineman Conor McDermott rounded out the UCLA field in the draft, going to the Tennessee Titans in the fifth round and the New England Patriots in the sixth round, respectively.
UCLA’s half-dozen undrafted free agents who signed with teams:
- WR Kenneth Walker III: Jacksonville Jaguars
- DT Eli Ankou: Houston Texans
- DB Marcus Rios: Denver Broncos
- DB Randall Goforth: Philadelphia Eagles
- WR/DB/KR Ishmael Adams: LA Rams
- OLB Deon Hollins: Denver Broncos