Round One of the NFL Draft is Full of Surprises

This season’s crop of college talent clearly made an impact on a number of coaches and general managers around the NFL. How else can you explain the incredible number of trades that took place during the first round of the 2012 Draft Thursday night?

Roger Goodell had said he wanted to add suspense back to the NFL Draft (cause that’s what people are looking for). Recently he sent out a memo requesting teams not make their picks known public prior to the draft (the same day the Colts announced they were taking Andrew Luck). What he got was a first round that had eight trades.

There were quite a few trades throughout the entire round, but since most of us will only recognize the names involved in the top ten I’ll just go over them.

No 2, Washington- Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor: Everyone already knew about this one. The Washington Redskins gave up the house for this guy (the No 6 pick and their 2^nd round pick in 2012 as well as their ’13 and ’14 first round picks.

No 3, Cleveland- Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama: The Cleveland Browns needed him, but they sure gave up a whole lot simply out of fear to move up one whole spot and make sure that Tampa Bay didn’t leap frog them and take him (the No 4 pick as well as their 4^th, 5^th, and 7^th round picks).

No 4, Minnesota- Matt Kalil, OT, USC: Minnesota Vikings fans had to be laughing when they found out that they traded down in order to take the same guy they would have taken had they kept the No 3 pick.

No 5, Jacksonville- Justin Blackmon, WR, OK State: The Jacksonville Jaguars did exactly what it needed to do by adding arguably the best wide receiver in the draft, and all they had to give up in order to jump two spots was their 4^th round pick (you paying attention Cleveland?).

No 6, Dallas- Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU: This will likely go down as the best Draft Day move that Jerry Jones has ever made. Since taking over the Dallas Cowboys in 1989 it is his 59^th Draft Day trade and it give them a much needed cover corner. To move up to No 6 from 14 he gave the Rams the team’s 2^nd round pick (feeling stupid yet Cleveland?).

No 7, Tampa Bay- Mark Barron, S, Alabama: Adding one of the best defenders to the roster in exchange for two spots on the draft board and a 4^th round pick—sounds like a win-win to me.   

The second and third rounds of the draft will be Friday night starting at 7 PM ET.