SportsPulse: USA TODAY Sports NFL insiders Jarrett Bell and Lindsay H. Jones discuss who won, who lost and who shocked on the first day of the NFL draft. USA TODAY Sports
One of the most tumultuous first rounds in recent NFL draft history offered a little bit of everything. And though these 32 rookies are still months away from playing their first snaps in the NFL, it’s still not too early to assess some winners and losers from Thursday night.
Winners
New York Jets
After trading up three spots from No. 6, the Jets still might have had to settle for their quarterback pick. But with the Browns grabbing Baker Mayfield and the Giants passing on taking a passer, Todd Bowles and Co. might have snagged the best quarterback in the draft in Southern California's Sam Darnold. The Jets did give up a lot – swapping firsts and sending three second-round selections to the Colts – but if Darnold stabilizes the position, it will be well worth it.
Andrew Luck
The Colts gave up the most sacks (56) of any team last year. With Luck working on his way back from a shoulder injury, solidifying his protection upfront was paramount. Though Quenton Nelson is a guard, he is a Day 1 starter who excels at both run blocking and pass protection. He could blossom into an all-pro down the line.
Green Bay Packers
New general manager Brian Gutekunst displayed some efficient maneuvering in helping Green Bay stock up for the future while still addressing a big need. By trading out of the No. 14 spot with the Saints, he picked up a first-round pick in 2019 as well as a fifth rounder this year. Then, leveraging two of the league-high 12 picks with which they entered the draft, the Packers moved up nine spots to No. 18 to take cornerback Jaire Alexander, a player they likely would’ve considered at No. 14. And with 11 selections remaining (including four in the fifth round), Green Bay has enough ammo to move up on Day 2.
Gus Bradley
Bradley once helped Seattle Seahawks safety Kam Chancellor excel with his Cover 3 scheme. Now the defensive coordinator of the Los Angeles Chargers, Bradley must have been thrilled to scoop up another versatile defensive back in Florida State's Derwin James, who was a steal at No. 17. He joins an already stacked defense that could develop into one of the league’s best units.
Losers
New Orleans Saints
It’s tough to fault New Orleans for making win-now moves, and Texas-San Antonio edge rusher Marcus Davenport is a nice addition to pair with all-pro defensive end Cameron Jordan. But the price for moving up from No. 27 to No. 14 was steep. Had they stayed put, they could have still found value with someone like Florida’s Taven Bryan, whom the Jacksonville Jaguars took at No. 29, or Boston College’s Harold Landry, who remains available.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Ryan Shazier provided the best moment of the night when he walked on stage to announce Pittsburgh's first-round pick, but the Steelers didn't have a suitable replacement on the board at No. 28 with the top four linebackers already taken. Safety was still an area of need, but grabbing Virginia Tech’s Terrell Edmunds was one of the draft's most head-scratching moves. Trading receiver Martavis Bryant to the Oakland Raiders for the No. 79 selection could yield another contributor, but the remaining options at linebacker aren't very promising.
Wide receivers
This class might have paid for the struggles of last year's disappointing first-round group. Maryland’s DJ Moore was the first pass catcher off the board to the Carolina Panthers at No. 24. Alabama’s Calvin Ridley did fall to a nice spot with quarterback Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons at No. 26), but having only two players at the position drafted Thursday reinforces that NFL teams might have issues with how colleges are developing receivers.
Seattle Seahawks
Seattle is a team in transition with several holes to fill, so spending the No. 27 pick on San Diego State running back Rashaad Penny was a luxury selection for a franchise that desperately needs defensive help. Losing cornerback Richard Sherman, defensive end Michael Bennett and defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson has depleted the unit, and more hits could be coming with Chancellor and defensive end Cliff Avril dealing with potential career-threatening injuries. Even if coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider were set on taking a running back, Penny still likely could have been targeted by the team had it traded back again and added more assets for a rebuild.
Joe Flacco
The Ravens' move to take Lamar Jackson after trading up to No. 32 is fascinating because the Louisville quarterback lands in a spot where he can sit and develop. But Baltimore sent a clear message to Flacco. A team doesn’t invest a first-round draft pick as a throwaway. The Ravens do not owe Flacco any guaranteed money after the 2018 season, and now a succession plan looks to be taking shape.
Follow Lorenzo Reyes on Twitter @LorenzoGReyes.