First Round Of NFL Draft Was Unpredictable, As Predicted
The 2013 NFL Draft was being tabbed by many as the most unpredictable draft in recent memory, and Thursday night's opening round certainly lived up to that billing.
It was a first round that saw a lot of things happen, or didn't happen, for the first time in a long time.
For instance, three offensive linemen were taken in the top four picks, marking the first time that has happened since 1968.
The Buffalo Bills selected quarterback E.J. Manuel, of Florida St., with the 15th pick, making him the only quarterback taken in the opening round. The last time only one quarterback was taken in the first round was 2001, when the Atlanta Falcons selected Michael Vick with the top pick.
With Manuel going number 15, it marks the latest a quarterback has gone since 2000, when the Jets took Chad Pennington 18th. Since then, a quarterback had been selected with the first overall pick 10 times in 12 years.
Over that span, an average of nearly three quarterbacks has been taken in the first round each year.
The Bills selected Manuel ahead of West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith, who most felt would be the first signal-caller taken.
The Oakland Raiders selected University of Houston cornerback D.J. Hayden with the 12th pick, and while that may surprise some, apparently, the Raiders were ready to take Hayden with the third-overall pick, had they not traded down.
In case you didn't notice, no running backs were taken in the first round. That is the first time that has happened since 1963.
The Minnesota Vikings had three picks on the first night, selecting Florida defensive tackle Shariff Floyd with their first pick, at pick #23. Floyd was picked by some people to go as high as number three, to the Raiders, but fell to the Vikings.
Minnesota made a draft-night trade with the New England Patriots, to secure the 29th selection. After that trade, many speculated the Vikings would take Notre Dame Linebacker Manti Te'o, but instead went offense, picking Tennessee receiver Cordarrelle Patterson.
There are plenty of big names left, as the draft moves into the second round, including Smith, Te'o, Eddie Lacy, and Tyrann Mathieu, but it's the first round that has everybody talking right now.
What teams did well? What teams did not so well?
Check out how each team graded out, after their respective draft choices.
Digging deeper, to include individuals, as well as organizations, who were the winners and losers of the first round?
The second and third rounds of the draft will be held on Friday, April 27, beginning at 5:30 pm (cdt), with the remainder of the draft concluding on Sunday.