Image via Getty/David Eulitt
The months of scrolling through mock drafts and playing pretend-GM for your favorite team are over, the NFL Draft is finally here. While this was one of the rare years for the draft where there was uncertainty of what would actually happen in the early stages of the draft, many did project (including us) that there would be at least three quarterbacks taken off the board in the first 10 picks.
CJ Stroud, Bryce Young, and Anthony Richardson were all selected within the first four picks with Young being the top pick of the draft. The trio made history as their selections marked the first time in NFL history that three Black quarterbacks were selected in the top 10.
As the first round went on, we witnessed several surprising picks including a pair from the Detroit Lions and some surefire steals from the reigning NFC Champion Philadelphia Eagles. But the most notable moment of the night was the moment that didn’t happen at all. Kentucky quarterback Will Levis, who was projected to go in the top 10 on our most recent draft, fell out the first round unexpectedly despite several teams with quarterback holes.
Only time will tell if that will backfire for some teams but with that being said, we put together every winner and loser from the NFL Draft.
*This was based off the first round and will be updated following each day.*
WINNER: Houston Texans
Selections: QB CJ Stroud, OLB Will Anderson
It’s hard to say anybody truly had a better night than the Houston Texans on the opening night of the NFL Draft. After shipping away Deshaun Watson to the Cleveland Browns and getting a massive haul of picks in return, they have already begun to lay the foundation of the future with the picks of CJ Stroud (No. 2 overall) and Will Anderson (No. 3 overall). Bryce Young went first overall, but there is a possibility that Stroud could be the best passer in the draft, while Anderson is seen as the consensus top defensive prospect. It was a home run night for the Texans, giving their fans belief that a legitimate football team is being built in Houston.
LOSER: Detroit Lions
Selections: RB Jahmyr Gibbs, LB Jack Campbell
The Detroit Lions will Detroit Lion. After a promising season, surely the Lions would build off that success with two solid first round picks. They didn’t. They reached for Jahmyr Gibbs. They reached for Jack Campbell. While they could turn out to be good players, it’s the spot you’re selecting them at which is the issue. Some might say that these prospects could’ve been available later. But if you’re looking at the Lions’ draft room, they feel like they won the Super Bowl. D’Andre Swift seems to be on his way out so Gibbs could be his replacement but it just seemed very early to select these two.
WINNER: Philadelphia Eagles
Selections: DT Jalen Carter, OLB Nolan Smith
How did this happen? There needs to be an investigation for this. How did the NFC champions draft arguably the best talent in the entire NFL Draft at No. 9? Let’s just blame the Lions for reaching with their picks but the Eagles landing Jalen Carter and then Nolan Smith with their second pick is just unfair. Howie Roseman is running laps around the competition. The depth of their defensive line is unreal and this was a defensive line that was the anchor behind the Eagles tallying the third highest total sacks in season in NFL history. Not to mention, the defense is full of Georgia Bulldogs that played together. The Eagles’ defense will be scary and as they lose players in the next few years, they’ll have reinforcements ready behind them. Pray for the NFC East.
LOSER: Washington Commanders
Selection: CB Emmanuel Forbes
Drafting Emmanuel Forbes isn’t necessarily a bad pick, because he is one of the top cornerback prospects in the draft. But this couldn’t have been the pick that the fanbase wanted or can get excited about. There was a belief that they could swing for Will Levis, though passing on him signals they are confident in what they have in Sam Howell. There was also a belief they could make a run for Jaxon Smith-Njigba as a splash pick to rejuvenate the fanbase. That also didn’t happen. Combine this with the fact the Eagles struck gold with Jalen Carter and Nolan Smith, it was a rough night for this NFC East hopeful.
LOSER: Green Bay Packers
Selection: DE Lukas Van Ness
While Lukas Van Ness isn’t necessarily a bad pick, the Packers have gone another year without addressing the wide receiver position. That seems to be much more important this year with Aaron Rodgers gone and Jordan Love assuming QB1 status. The trend of taking defensive players hasn’t exactly bolstered their defense dramatically. The Packers were an average defense last year overall and were consistently gashed by the running game.We’ll see what they do in the following rounds to address the offense.
WINNER: Seattle Seahawks
Selection: WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba
The Seahawks didn’t have to do any moving up or make any trades to get the best wide receiver prospect in the draft. Jaxon Smith-Njigba just fell right into their laps. The Seahawks already have DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, and now adding Smith-Njigba is the perfect weapon to form one of the best trios in the league. Viewed as a technician in the slot, it will be hard for defenses to slow Smith-Njigba down with Metcalf and Lockett on the outside. Geno Smith got a new contract with the Seahawks and now has a new weapon to throw to.
WINNER: New York Giants
Selections: CB Deonte Banks, OL John Michael Schmitz, WR Jalin Hyatt
Joe Schoen and the New York Giants went 3-for-3 to start out the NFL Draft. Deonte Banks was a terrific pick at No. 25 even with the Giants missing out on some of the wide receiver prospects like Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Zay Flowers. The Giants then picked up John Michael Schmitz, who may have coveted as the top interior offensive lineman in the entire draft, and they followed that by picking up the best wide receiver in the college football last season in Jalin Hyatt, the Biletnikoff winner, to give Daniel Jones another weapon. Three A+ moves for a team that had picks at the backend of each round.