The first round of the NFL Draft on Thursday night was full of surprises, with the Jacksonville Jaguars making a massive trade to select Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter. The Jaguars traded multiple picks to move up to the No. 2 overall pick, where they selected Hunter, who is expected to be an immediate star for a team lacking star power. The New York Giants also made a splash by trading back into the first round with the Houston Texans to select Jaxson Dart instead of Shedeur Sanders. The Giants traded multiple picks to acquire the No. 25 overall pick and select Dart. Right after the Giants made their move, the Atlanta Falcons also traded back into the first round.
The final trade of the night involved the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs, who swapped picks with the Eagles moving up to No. 31 overall to select Jihaad Campbell. The Chiefs acquired the No. 32 pick and a fifth-round pick from the Eagles. The first round of the draft also saw several other notable selections, including Cam Ward going to the Tennessee Titans as the No. 1 overall pick, Abdul Carter being selected by the New York Giants at No. 3 overall, and Mason Graham going to the Cleveland Browns at No. 5 overall. The draft also featured players like Ashton Jeanty, Tetairoa McMillan, and Emeka Egbuka being selected in the first round.
Overall, the first round of the NFL Draft was filled with excitement and surprises as teams made bold moves to secure top talent. The Jaguars and Giants were particularly active in trading up to select their desired players, showing a willingness to take risks in pursuit of building a competitive roster. The Eagles and Chiefs also made a notable trade at the end of the first round, indicating their desire to address specific needs through the draft. With the first round complete, teams will now turn their attention to the later rounds of the draft to fill out their rosters with additional talent.
The draft also showcased a mix of offensive and defensive talent being selected in the first round, with players like Will Campbell, Kenneth Grant, and Shemar Stewart being chosen to bolster their respective teams. The Giants’ selection of Jaxson Dart at quarterback was surprising, as many had expected Shedeur Sanders to be selected instead. The Falcons made a bold move by trading back into the first round to select James Pearce Jr., adding to their defensive edge. Overall, the draft showcased the depth of talent available in this year’s draft class, with teams making strategic moves to secure the players they believe will make an impact in the upcoming season.
As the draft continues into the later rounds, teams will have the opportunity to further address their needs and build depth on their rosters. The trades and selections made in the first round set the tone for the rest of the draft, showing that teams are willing to take risks and make bold moves to secure top talent. With the first round complete, fans and analysts will now turn their attention to the later rounds to see which players are selected and how they will fit into their new teams. Overall, the first round of the NFL Draft was full of surprises and excitement, setting the stage for an exciting season ahead.
