NFL Draft 2023 What we learned from Round 1 includes Eagles loving Georgia players Seahawks in win-now mode

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NFL Draft 2023 What we learned from Round 1 includes Eagles loving Georgia players Seahawks in win-now mode

The first round of the was as hectic as ever, with two quarterbacks taken within the first two picks and three signal-callers taken within the top-four selections. The Houston Texans traded up to No. 3 to have two of the top three picks, while seven of the top-14 picks came out of the SEC.Running backs went early and wide receivers went late. Offensive tackles went at a premium and quarterbacks were ignored after No. 4. This draft was certainly unpredictable as the first round concluded.What did we learn after 31 picks? Did the smokescreens actually come to fruition? TEN QB #8 Maybe the Reddit user meant the second round for Levis? The Kentucky quarterback ended up not going No. 2 overall to the , but he wasn't drafted in the first round at all! What a great job by teams to get the Levis smokescreen going as a decoy for what they really wanted to do in regards to their plans -- whether they were taking a quarterback or not.Toward the end of the first round, it became apparent Levis wasn't going in Round 1. He certainly wasn't going in the top two, as the Texans had their sights set on all along.For teams like the and to pa s on Levis in the teens was something. Team needs and lack of trades later in the draft doomed Levis, who ended up being the Chris Paul Jersey ATL RB #7 The ended up taking a running back in the top-10, at No. 8. Robinson was the first running back taken in the top-20 since went No. 2 overall in 2018, ending any speculation if Robinson would fall.The second running back taken was , but he went much earlier than expected at No. 12. Two running backs were taken in the top-12 for the first time since 2017 ( and were both picked in the top-10).So much for teams not taking a running back high because of positional value. The top running backs were taken early, but both are expected to be very good players in the . BAL WR #4 No wide receivers were taken in the first 19 picks, which was quite a bit of a surprise given the pre-draft hype with . The Ohio State wide receiver was the first player at his position taken, but not until No. 20 by the .That started a run of four straight wide receivers taken from No. 20 to No. 23, the first time in the common draft era that's ever happened. The receivers went off the board, but later than expected.Once Smith-Njigba was picked, teams moved quickly to get their pa s-catcher. DET LB #46 For a team with two picks in the top-18, the Lions . Detroit surprisingly selected running back Jahmyr Gibbs at No. 12 overall (after trading down from No. 6), despite having and in Jevon Carter Jersey their backfield. The Lions took linebacker , the only linebacker taken in the first round. In the 1980s and 1990s, running back and linebacker this early in the draft was the premium. Those positions getting selected that early are on the backburner.General manager Brad Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell are defying the odds. The Lions needed some help at linebacker, but appeared set at running back. Keep in mind they could have had at No. 6. HOU QB #7 Houston kept the smokescreen going like it didn't exactly know what it was doing at No. 2. Turns out, the Texans knew exactly what they were doing. The Texans had ambitions of taking an edge rusher high in the draft, but they also got their next franchise quarterback in the proce s. After Houston took C.J. Stroud at No. 2 overall, the Texans made a ma sive trade with the to trade up to No. 3 and select . Houston parlayed the No. 12 and No. 33 picks to move up to No. 3 and get Anderson, getting the second-best quarterback in the draft along with arguably the draft's best defensive player.Getting a premier quarterback and edge rusher in this draft for Houston seemed impo sible. The Texans got both. Pick Six Newsletter Crafted By The Best NFL Experts Get the day's big stories + fun stuff you love like mock drafts, picks and power rankings. I agree to receive the "Pick Six Newsletter" and marketing communications, updates, special offers (including partner offers), and other information from CBS Sports and the Paramount family of companies. By pre sing sign up, I confirm that I have read and agree to the and acknowledge Paramount's . Please check the opt-in box to acknowledge that you would like to subscribe. Thanks for signing up! Keep an eye on your inbox. Sorry! There was an error proce sing your subscription. PHI DT #98 The Eagles did have aspirations to trade up in this draft -- for one player. That was Jalen Carter, who Philadelphia only had to Kelly Oubre Jr. Jersey move up one spot in the draft to get -- giving up the No. 10 pick and a 2024 fourth-round pick for a player that was No. 1 on their draft board. Philadelphia had aspirations it could land Carter and the culture of their building would handle any i sues Carter had heading into the draft. The Eagles were impre sed with Carter's visit and are convinced he'll be a tremendous a set for the organization, reuniting him with former Georgia teammates and .There was a minor hole at defensive tackle for Philadelphia. The position is now a ma sive strength, making up for the lo s of in free agency. ARI OT #70 Arizona did trade down from No. 3 overall, but moved back up to No. Ricky Rubio Jersey 6 to get the offensive lineman franchise quarterback Kyler Murray sought all along. Murray reportedly wanted . on the Cardinals and told the organization how he felt about the top offensive lineman selected in this draft. Murray gets more protection with Johnson, who will likely slide into left guard or right tackle (is under contract as the left tackle). Johnson could complete with at right tackle, but the Cardinals do have an opening at guard. SEA WR #11 The Seahawks were patient with their draft board, deciding to commit to the quarterback they signed to a ma sive extension rather than draft his succe sion. Seattle had two chances to select Will Levis at No. 5 and No. 20 and pa sed both times, with the second pick resulting in making an already good offense even better.Seattle selected Jaxon Smith-Njigba at No. 20, adding him to a wide receiver group that already has and . The Seahawks also have at running back behind an ever-improving offensive line with and at the tackle spots. The Seahawks have their young offensive core set around their veteran quarterback. They'll need all the offensive weapons needed with the in the NFC West. PHI EDGE #3 Somehow, fell toward the back end of the first round. The Eagles didn't even have to trade up for a player they wanted at No. 10 (and wouldn't have minded taking Smith there). Smith is the third Georgia player the Eagles selected in the first round of the draft over the last two years, joining Jalen Carter (No. 9, 2023) and Jordan Davis (No E'Twaun Moore Jersey . 13, 2022).The Eagles have taken four Georgia players within the past two years, with Nakobe Dean being selected in the third round last year. Dean and Carter are expected to start on the Eagles defense this year, while Smith and Davis will be part of a loaded defensive line rotation. Howie Roseman certainly loves his Georgia players. The Eagles have stacked up on Georgia defensive players and Alabama offensive players over the last three years. BAL QB #8 CMP%62.3YDs2242TD17INT7YD/Att6.88 Jackson became the richest quarterback in history (in terms of average annual salary) before the draft started, signing his five-year, $260 million extension to stay in Baltimore. The paid Jackson, then got him another wide receiver to throw to with -- their second wide receiver taken in Round 1 in the last three years.Having the fewest yards amongst wide receivers last season, the Ravens added Flowers with free agent signing . and . They also have and at tight end.Not only does Jackson have his money, but this is arguably the best group of pa s-catchers he's ever had. The Ravens made their quarterback very happy over the past two weeks.It's time to celebrate the NFL's stars of tomorrow with a brand new jersey. .

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