Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson was the first winner on Day 1 of the NFL draft because of his massive contract extension, but he wasn’t the only one, with a handful of teams nailing the first round Thursday night.
The day also started with plenty of question marks, mainly because the Cardinals continued to make head-scratching moves. Trades throughout the first round caused plenty of chaos, including the Texans making two picks inside the top three.
But let’s not waste any more time.
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If you prefer your NFL draft with a heaping portion of trades and surprises, Thursday night’s first round was the perfect play for you.
From top quarterbacks rising and falling, to teams trading in both directions, to some of the biggest names still being left on the board for Day 2, the 2023 NFL draft is already off to an unforgettable start.
After an action-packed first night in Kansas City, here’s an updated look at how the second and third rounds could turn out Friday.
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Pittsburgh Steelers (via CHI): Joey Porter Jr.
Kentucky quarterback Will Levis was not selected in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft.
The Cardinals made three trades Thursday night, but GM Monti Ossenfort said he doesn’t expect star receiver DeAndre Hopkins to be moved at any point during this week’s draft.
We look at the pros and cons of every pick in Thursday’s opening round.
Round 1 of the 2023 NFL Draft is in the books, but a ton of good prospects are still available — including 10 players in our top 32 overall.
Star Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons was “sick to his stomach” that a rival competitor landed an elite draft pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
After the Philadelphia Eagles selected Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter — regarded by many analysts as the top talent in the draft, if not for legal trouble — Parsons almost walked off the set of a live draft show, practically shivering at the thought of the Eagles’ defense.
Appearing on Bleacher Report’s Draft Show, Parsons gave his thoughts on the Jalen Carter pick and discussed Philly’s D with Eagles wideout AJ Brown.
Most of the prospects in attendance in the green room at the NFL draft in Kansas City were fortunate enough to see their dreams come to fruition on Thursday night.
However, for four of the 17 prospects who were invited to the green room, they will have to wait until Day 2 after not hearing their names called at during the opening night.
The four players who were left remaining in the green room after the first 31 selections were made include: Kentucky quarterback Will Levis, Georgia Tech edge-rusher Keion White, Penn State cornerback Joey Porter Jr.
KANSAS CITY — Lamar Jackson had a great day Thursday.
Start with his new five-year contract extension that is expected to be worth $260 million. The deal makes Jackson the highest-paid quarterback in the NFL on its annual $52 million average. And he did it without the help of an agent.
So he saved himself $7.8 million in agent fees.
Cha-ching!
Ravens, Lamar Jackson Finally End Soap Opera, Agree To Five-Year Contract Extension
Then Jackson’s day turned into an exciting night because the Baltimore Ravens drafted Boston College wide receiver Zay Flowers with the 22nd overall selection.
After a dramatic fall from top-five projections all the way out of the first round, Kentucky quarterback Will Levis could probably use some encouragement.
ESPN liberally showed footage of Levis and his loved ones in the green room in Kansas City, looking increasingly jaded as pick after pick heard his name go uncalled Thursday night. Levis earned comparisons to (and contrasts from) some of the league’s great 21st-century slippers, such as Jets and Ravens quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers and Lamar Jackson.