NFL Draft Day 1 (Round 1)
JAX- Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson
NYJ- Zach Wilson, QB, BYU
SF (From MIA)- Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota State
ATL- Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida
CIN- Ja'Marr Chase, WR, LSU
MIA (from PHI)- Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama
DET- Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon
CAR-Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina
DEN- Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama
PHI (from DAL)- Devonta Smith, WR, Alabama
CHI (from NYG)- Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State
DAL (from PHI)- Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State
LAC- Rashawn Slater, OT, Northwestern
NYJ (from MIN)- Alijah Vera-Tucker, OL, USC
NE-Mac Jones, QB, Alabama
AZ- Zaven Collins, LB, Tulsa
LV- Alex Leatherwood, OL, Alabama
MIA- Jaelan Phillips, DE, Miami
WAS- Jamin Davis, LB, Kentucky
NYG (from CHI)- Kadarius Toney, WR, Florida
IND- Kwity Paye, DE, Michigan
TEN- Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech
MIN (from NYJ)- Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech
PIT- Najee Harris, RB, Alabama
JAX (from LAR)- Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson
CLE- Greg Newsome, CB, Northwestern
BAL- Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota
NO-Payton Turner, DE, Houston
GB- Eric Stokes, CB, Georgia
BUF- Gregory Rousseau, DE, Miami
BAL (from KC)- Jayson Oweh, EDGE, Penn State
TB- Joe Tryon, EDGE, Washington
Positional Breakdown:
QB- 5
RB- 2
WR- 5
TE- 1
OT- 4
OG- 1
DE- 4
EDGE- 2
LB- 3
CB- 5
The Top 7 went about as expected, although it may have been smarter the Bengals to take an offensive lineman. We did not see the trades everyone expected in the Top 10 for teams wanting quarterbacks. Instead, Mac Jones and Justin Fields both lasted past the top 10.
Offense dominated the top 10 with 8 of the picks. The first surprises came at 8 and 9 with the two corners in Surtain and Horn. Both players were expected to last a little longer and those picks may have dictated the trades that followed.
The first trade was Dallas dropping back form 10 to 12 in an exchange with Philadelphia. The Eagles got a premier pass-catcher in Alabama WR Devonta Smith, who reunites with QB Jalen Hurts. The Bears traded with the Giants to move up to No. 11 to select a new franchise QB in Ohio State's Justin Fields. Dallas used their pick to select LB Micah Parsons, who is expected to be a great linebacker in the league.
The Lions and Chargers got lucky as the top two tackles in the draft fell into their laps. Neither was the glamorous pick, but both players should have good careers nonetheless. The Jets selected the only guard of the first round in Alijah Vera-Tucker after trading with Minnesota--which also addressed offensive line on Thursday night.
Defense seemed to be a theme in the latter half of the night. Intriguing LB Zaven Collins went off the board at 16 to Arizona, and Miami landed the best pass-rusher in the draft in Jaelan Phillips. The Titans landed one of the class's top corners, while the Colts got a potential defensive stud. Rising linebacker Jamin Davis went earlier than expected at No. 19, and Cleveland snatched underrated CB Greg Newsome at 26.
As per usual, there were some surprise players sneaking into the back end of Round 1. The Saints took DE Payton Turner at No. 28 and the Packers took CB Eric Stokes at No. 29, both of whom were projected third round players.
The night ended with a bit of a run on pass rushers. After Turner was selected, three of the next four picks were pass rushers. Buffalo landed former top prospect Gregory Rousseau at 30. He has some good athletic traits but is far from a perfect prospect. Baltimore drafted DE/OLB Jayson Oweh from Penn State, who had zero sacks last season. Tampa opted for a very versatile sleeper in Washington's Joe Tryon. He likely would have been selected early tonight if on the board and can play both end and linebacker.
I was also surprised WR Rashod Bateman lasted so long.
There are still many good players on the board entering Day 2.