Bevy of defensive playmakers are available in Round 2 of the NFL draft after historic offensive run

The unprecedented run on quarterbacks, wide receivers and pass protectors in the NFL draft 's opening round pushed plenty of standout defenders down the board and allowed some of the top teams to select players who normally wouldn't fall to them.

It also shoved plenty of first-round worthy defenders into the second round Friday, led by Cooper DeJean, the Iowa cornerback who broke his lower leg in November but has been cleared to return to football activities.

DeJean is one of the best ballhawks in this class and also one of the best punt returners available, having averaged 13.1 yards per return over the last two seasons.

Other defenders who will almost certainly hear their names called early Friday night when teams have had a chance to gather their thoughts and dive into the second round include Texas A&M inside linebacker Edgerrin Cooper and Alabama cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry.

Cooper led the Aggies in tackles (84), tackles for loss (17) and sacks (8). McKinstry, besides having among the coolest names in the draft, is seen as a plug-and-play performer.

McKinstry is like DeJean in two ways in that he's an elite punt returner and he's coming off an injury. McKinstry couldn't participate in drills at the NFL scouting combine because of a broken bone in his right foot. But he ran at his pro day on March 20 and then underwent surgery to repair the fracture. He's expected to be ready to go by training camp.

Another name to keep an ear out for is Illinois defensive tackle Jer'Zhan Newton, one of the best interior pass rushers in this year's draft. He pressured the quarterback more than 100 times over the last two seasons combined and also had 13 sacks and 22 1/2 tackles for loss in 2022 and '23. He didn't work out at the combine or his pro day after undergoing foot surgery after the season.

The first defensive player off the board Thursday night was UCLA edge rusher Laiatu Latu, who is coming off a senior season in which he had 13 sacks and 21 1/2 tackles for loss. The Indianapolis Colts chose him with the 15th pick after a record half-dozen quarterbacks, four offensive linemen, three wide receivers and a tight end were taken.

The latest the first defender had come off the board in previous drafts was eighth in 2021 when the Carolina Panthers selected cornerback Jaycee Horn.

In all, the first round featured the six quarterbacks selected along with seven wide receivers, nine offensive linemen and a tight end. On defense, there were five edge rushers, three cornerbacks and one lineman drafted.

That's 23 players on offense, nine on defense.

“The one thing we did feel, and I think everyone around the league felt, was it's a receiver-heavy draft (and) there were some talented quarterbacks,” Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton said. "You just do the math, then you thought, all right, who's going to be the first defensive player drafted?

“But I don't think there was a big surprise around the league the first 10, 12 (were on offense). ... So, I think when you have that receiver class with the quarterback class that it is a little bit historic. It doesn't happen that often. And then you have the tackles. So, I think that league-wide we felt there was going to be more offensive players taken in the first half of the draft.”

The second half, too.

Of course, some of the top talent available in Round 2 also is on offense. That includes wide receivers Ladd McConkey of Georgia and Adonai Mitchell of Texas.

McConkey might have slipped into Day 2 because of his injury-riddled 2023 season in which he dealt with ankle, knee and back ailments while catching 30 passes for the Bulldogs, two for touchdowns.

On the clock first Friday are the Buffalo Bills, who traded out of the first round in deals with the Chiefs and Panthers.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL

FILE - Iowa defensive back Cooper Dejean speaks during a news conference at the NFL football scouting combine, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, in Indianapolis. The unprecedented run on quarterbacks, wide receivers and pass protectors in the NFL draft's opening round pushed plenty of standout defenders down the board and allowed some of the top teams to select players who normally wouldn't fall to them. DeJean is one of the best ballhawks in this class and also one of the best punt returners available, having averaged 13.1 yards per return over the last two seasons. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)

Missouri defensive lineman Darius Robinson poses after being chosen by the Arizona Cardinals with the 27th overall pick during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Missouri defensive lineman Darius Robinson poses with fans after being chosen by the Arizona Cardinals with the 27th overall pick during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell meets with Green Bay Packers fans during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

NEW YORK (AP) — The 700-seat amphitheater at Little Island, a park in Manhattan built above the Hudson River on a series of tulip-shaped concrete columns, will open June 6 with Twyla Tharp’s “How Long Blues” in the choreographer’s first full-length work in a decade.

Countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo will sing all the major roles in a 90-minute remix of Mozart’s “Le Nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro)” running from Aug. 30 to Sept. 22. The works are part of a summer schedule that includes nine world premieres.

Zack Winokur, a 35-year-old director, choreographer and dancer, was announced as producing artistic director on Monday. The announcement was made by media executive Barry Diller, who alongside designer Diane von Fürstenberg was the driving force behind the park and largely funded its construction.

The 2.4-acre (0.97-hectare) park opened in 2021 in west Chelsea, and the amphitheater will be the third new major performing space in Manhattan to launch in a five-year span. The Shed began in April 2019 at Hudson Yards on the far West Side and the Perelman Performing Arts Center started performances last September at the World Trade Center site downtown.

“We’re all going in happily different directions,” Winokur said, referring to the new venues. “It should not be doing what other people are doing.”

Ticket prices will be capped at $25. A second space, a 200-seat venue called The Glade, will include free programming from Wednesdays through Sundays in July and August and utilize different curators each week. Those include Suzan-Lori Parks, Cécile McLorin Salvant and Justin Vivian Bond.

“On any given night in July and August, you can stumble into this gorgeous park which is essentially like an iconic architectural swimming island with the botanical garden on it, with sublime sunsets where you can have a beer and some food and get a free show in The Glade,” Winokur said.

There will not be rain dates and it is not yet certain how long start times can be held for bad weather to clear.

“How Long Blues” will start previews June 1 in a collaboration among Tharp, T Bone Burnett and David Mansfield.

Costanzo, who last month was hired as CEO of Opera Philadelphia, will take on “Figaro” in a staging directed by Dustin Wills with new arrangements by Dan Schlosberg and costumes designed by Emily Bode.

Winokur will direct “Robeson,” with music by John Bitoy and Khari Lucas that stars bass-baritone Davóne Tines and rearranges music of Paul Robeson while telling his life story.

Henry Hoke’s “Open Throat” will be a mostly spoken work with shadow puppets based on the novella about a queer mountain lion living beneath the Hollywood sign.

“Mama” will be written and performed by Britton Smith, along with The Sting, his funk liberation band, and choreography by Ebony Williams.

“Day For Night,” a dance choreographed by Pam Tanowitz, will take place around sunset.

FILE - The amphitheater at Little Island appears in New York on May 18, 2021. The 700-seat amphitheater will open June 6 with Twyla Tharp’s “How Long Blues” in the choreographer’s first full-length work in a decade. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens, File)