Surprises Galore: A Recap of the NFL Draft First Round

The NFL Draft is an exciting event that captivates fans every year. It is a high-powered job fair where NFL teams get to pick their new employees based on skillset and franchise needs. The draft is always full of surprises, and this year's first round was no exception. Here's a recap of the most notable moments of the night.

No big wow: The Carolina Panthers kicked off the draft by selecting Bryce Young at No. 1, which was not surprising. Young was the consensus top quarterback in the draft, and the Panthers needed a new building block with a new coaching staff.

Wow, we were wrong: Many people speculated that C.J. Stroud would slip in the draft due to rumored low scores on the S2 test. However, the Houston Texans surprised everyone by selecting Stroud at No. 2 overall. The Ohio State quarterback is a talented player, and the Texans hope that he will become their franchise quarterback. DeMeco Ryans, the new head coach of the Texans, must have seen something in Stroud that other teams missed.

I mean, wow, they did it again: The Philadelphia Eagles made a smart move by moving up one spot to select Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter. Many people believed that Carter was the most talented player in the draft, and the Eagles were able to snag him. In addition, the Eagles also selected Nolan Smith at No. 30, a well-liked prospect who slid down the draft board. The Eagles had a great first round, adding two talented players to their roster.

Oh, OK, wow: Two running backs, Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs, went in the top 12, which is rare for the draft. The Atlanta Falcons selected Robinson at No. 8, and the Detroit Lions chose Gibbs at No. 12. This goes against the logic that running backs are not one of the higher-value positions in draft economics. However, both players have a lot of talent, and their respective teams believe they can contribute immediately.

Wow, man, how? One of the most surprising moments of the draft was when Will Levis, a projected top-10 pick, remained in the green room all night. Levis, who played at Kentucky, was expected to be one of the top quarterbacks in the draft, but he was not selected. It is unclear why teams passed on him, but it was painful to watch him sit in the green room all night.

Holy s—t, wow: The Houston Texans made a jaw-dropping move by trading a boatload of picks to the Arizona Cardinals for Alabama's Will Anderson Jr. at No. 3. Anderson is a talented defensive end, and the Texans believe that he can be a game-changer for their defense. The Texans have mortgaged their immediate future for Anderson and Stroud, but they believe it was worth it to get two high-value positions.

In conclusion, the first round of the NFL draft was full of surprises and exciting moments. Some picks were predictable, while others left fans scratching their heads. However, one thing is for sure: the draft is always unpredictable, and that's what makes it so entertaining.