As always, the first round of the NFL Draft was entertaining from start to finish. Even though the first two picks were as obvious as they can get, Round 1 had plenty of twists and turns. Here are the 10 biggest surprises.
1. No trades in the top 10
This year was the first since 2015 not to feature a single trade in the first 10 picks. The Miami Dolphins had long been rumored to be moving up for their quarterback, but Tua Tagovailoa fell to them at pick #5. The same goes for the Los Angeles Chargers and Justin Herbert at #6. With this impressive tackle class, at least one team was expected to leapfrog the OT-needy teams towards the end of the top 10 for one of them, that didn't happen.
2. Three tackles available to Cleveland at 10
There were four NFL Draft tackle prospects who were potential top-10 selections; Georgia's Andrew Thomas, Alabama's Jedrick Wills, Iowa's Tristan Wirfs, and Louisviile's Mekhi Becton. Thomas went fourth overall to the Giants, and when the Cleveland Browns found themselves on the clock, the other three were all still on the board. Cleveland turned its pick in immediately, as they never expected Wills to fall to them. Wirfs was the popular pick for the Browns in mock drafts, but they decided to go in a different direction.
3. CeeDee Lamb falls to 17
Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs III, and CeeDee Lamb formed an excellent trio at the top of the wide receiver class in the NFL Draft. Ruggs went 13th to the Las Vegas Raiders, Jeudy 15th to the Denver Broncos, and Lamb tumbled all the way to 17th, where the Dallas Cowboys were elated to snatch him up.
4. Austin Jackson the fifth tackle off the board
USC's Austin Jackson has an incredible story. He put his football career on hold in 2019 to donate bone marrow to his younger sister in a life-saving procedure. Given his young age (he won't turn 21 until next month) and natural athletic ability, Jackson has the potential to be a franchise left tackle. But his on-field play in college is far behind that of the top four NFL Draft prospects, as well as that of both Boise State's Ezra Cleveland and Houston's Josh Jones, two tackles who remain on the board as Cincinnati holds pick #33. The Dolphins are taking a risk with Jackson at pick #18, but he's the type of person to make that risk pay off.
5. Damon Arnette not just a first-rounder, but 19th overall
Ohio State is known for producing excellent NFL defensive backs, and Jeff Okudah was the latest in a long line of high NFL Draft picks when he was selected third overall by the Detroit Lions. The Buckeyes weren't done, however, as the Las Vegas Raiders selected Damon Arnette at pick 19. Arnette was a solid player during his time in Columbus, but was typically projected as a Day 2 or even Day 3 pick. He turns 24 in September, ran a 4.56s 40-yard dash, and his arms are just 30″ (compared to Okudah's 32 5/8″). The last time the Raiders reached on an OSU corner (Gareon Conley 24th overall in 2017), it didn't go well. Hopefully Arnette turns out better.
6. Jalen Reagor over Justin Jefferson
Entering the offseason, the Philadelphia Eagles' two biggest needs were cornerback and wide receiver. They addressed the first by trading for Lions All-Pro Darius Slay, leaving the Draft to solve the WR issue. LSU's Justin Jefferson, an excellent route runner and reliable target, was on the board for pick 21 in the NFL Draft, but the Eagles passed on him for TCU's Jalen Reagor. Reagor is an explosive player who is much faster than his 4.47s 40 would indicate, but it was a puzzling decision to take him over Jefferson. Reagor will be counted on to take the top off the defense and open up the field for Philly, and if utilized properly, could be a very effective player. But if he doesn't produce as expected, and Jefferson does, general manager Howie Roseman will have some explaining to do.
7. Saints take Cesar Ruiz
Most thought that New Orleans would add a safety or linebacker at 24, and LSU's Grant Delpit and Patrick Queen were both on the board. But the Saints passed both of them up, instead opting for Michigan center Cesar Ruiz. Ruiz is a young (21 in June) and excellent prospect, but the Saints were already pretty solid on the interior. Left guard Andrus Peat was just signed to a five-year $57.5 million extension. The team traded up in the NFL Draft for Texas A&M center Erik McCoy last year, who had a very good rookie season. And right guard is manned by Larry Warford, a Pro Bowler in each of the last three seasons. McCoy is expected to move to guard, which means Ruiz will start at center, and Warford will be a backup who costs nearly $13 million this year.
It is the last year of his contract, so New Orleans is planning for the future with this NFL Draft pick; the timing is a little odd considering the team is in win-now mode.
8. Packers trade up for Jordan Love
Aaron Rodgers will be 37 in December. The Green Bay Packers were 13-3 last year. They are in win-now mode and have only a few more shots at a Super Bowl with Rodgers. They'll certainly do everything they can to surround Rodgers with weapons and take advantage of what little remaining time they have, right?
Wrong. Not only did the Packers take Rodgers' successor in the first round of the NFL Draft, but they traded up to get him. Rodgers was reportedly blindsided by the move and felt betrayed, an ironic parallel considering what happened 15 years ago when Green Bay took Rodgers 24th overall to eventually replace aging Hall of Famer Brett Favre. Favre and Rodgers did not get along well, and it will be interesting to see if history repeats itself with Rodgers and Love.
9. Jordyn Brooks over Patrick Queen
The Seattle Seahawks owned pick 27, and for the first time since 2011, didn't trade their first-rounder in the NFL Draft. The team added Texas Tech linebacker Jordyn Brooks, a heat-seeking missile in-between the tackles who can cover ground in a hurry. Brooks was typically projected to be a second-round pick, but had gained some first-round buzz in the past week. Him going in the first isn't too surprising, but him being taking over LSU's Patrick Queen was. Queen was a one-year starter for the Tigers, and showed good instincts, elite speed and range, and solid and still developing ability in coverage. He is undersized at 6'0″ 230 lbs, but he is much better in coverage than Brooks, which is why the Baltimore Ravens were thrilled to take him with the very next pick.
10. Clyde Edwards-Helaire the only running back taken
Running backs in the NFL Draft first round are a taboo subject, and only one went this year. But it wasn't Georgia's D'Andre Swift or Wisconsin's Jonathan Taylor, the consensus two two backs in the class. It was LSU's Clyde Edwards-Helaire, a 5'7″ 209-pound bowling ball whose receiving prowess makes him a great fit in the Kansas City offense. He is a devastating threat out of the backfield, as he's just too quick and shifty for linebackers to cover, and his route running only gives him an even bigger advantage. CEH fits in great with the Chiefs, but it was still a surprise to see him taken over other RBs.
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