Each year, the NFL Draft comes along with a great deal of unpredictability. Leading up to the event, predictions are plastered across the internet. But even when the draft contains a consensus first-overall pick, the rest of the first round sees its share of surprises.
The most recent edition of the draft was a bit of a toss-up between Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud, although many believed the Carolina Panthers would select Young first overall anyway. And on draft night, they did just that.
This made Stroud the clear number two pick, but after the Houston Texans made their choice, it was time for the rest of the first round to take shape. True to predictions or surprised selections. That’s what makes the NFL Draft an exciting watch.
2023: JAHMYR GIBBS
A surprise can be a good thing, and with Jahmyr Gibbs, the Detroit Lions have a young speedster with a lot of potential on their roster. Gibbs was expected to be a late first-round or early second-selection, so it was surprising to see the Lions take him at number twelve.
Having already added David Montgomery to their roster, drafting a running back early didn’t seem like a road the Lions would take. But in the end, Gibbs will work out. He’s been a strong second option for the Lions so far and will only continue to improve.
2022: COLE STRANGE
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The New England Patriots are not about flash. Their franchise has long been about straight-forward football, and that has translated into championships. But Tom Brady is gone, and the Patriots are trying to find their next long-term quarterback.
In 2022, they drafted Cole Strange at number twenty-nine. A guard who was projected to be a third or fourth-round pick. But the Patriots saw something they liked in Strange and made the move to add protection to their offensive line, where Strange became a starter.
2021: ZACH WILSON
Trevor Lawrence was coming out of college as a phenom, so the first overall pick of the 2021 draft was clear from the start. But number two was open for debate. And when the New York Jets were on the clock, they selected Zach Wilson.
Despite what sports pundits said leading up to this draft, Justin Fields should have been the second player selected. There were concerns about Wilson and Fields adjusting to the NFL, but at this point in their careers, Fields is on track to be a franchise quarterback.
2020: JORDAN LOVE
The next crop of superstar quarterbacks were selected during the 2020 NFL Draft. Joe Burrow, Tua Tagovailoa, and Justin Herbert have cemented their statuses as franchise quarterbacks, but when the Green Bay Packers announced their quarterback pick, it came as a surprise.
At number twenty-six, the Packers drafted Jordan Love, who in 2023 became the team’s starting quarterback, but at the time, the choice was controversial. The selection of Love added speculation to what was a turbulent situation with Aaron Rodgers and his future with the team.
2019: DANIEL JONES
The New York Giants were looking for a new quarterback to fill the void left by Eli Manning, and at number six, they drafted Daniel Jones, who was considered to be a surprise selection. The Giants had another pick at seventeen, but who knows if Jones would have still been available.
The franchise made their move early and drafted who they believed could lead their team into the future. And in 2023, Jones got paid. Despite the criticism Jones faces, the Giants continue to believe in him and his ability to be their quarterback.
2018: BAKER MAYFIELD
The best quarterback available in the 2018 NFL Draft was Josh Allen, who the Buffalo Bills selected at number seven. It was surprising to see the New York Jets pass him up at number three in favor of Sam Darnold, but the Cleveland Browns surprised everyone first.
With the top selection, the Brown drafted Baker Mayfield, who had questions surrounding him. The franchise had been seeking a star quarterback, and they put their trust in Mayfield, who had a solid career with the team, but passing up on Allen remains a shocking decision.
2017: MITCHELL TRUBISKY
The Chicago Bears had almost the entire prospect class available to them when they were selected second in the 2017 NFL Draft. A pick they acquired through a trade with the San Francisco 49ers. After much speculation, the Bears drafted Mitch Trubisky.
This draft is most notable for Patrick Mahomes being picked at number ten. It wasn’t a guarantee that Mahomes would work out, let alone become the league’s next mega-star quarterback, but the Bears had an opportunity to add him to their franchise.
2016: PAXTON LYNCH
The Denver Broncos were bound to have a problem replacing Peyton Manning, but during the 2016 NFL Draft, they had to try. The Broncos drafted Paxton Lynch, a project quarterback they had high hopes for in the wake of Manning’s retirement.
For the Broncos, it was worth a shot. There were other options for the team, like placing their focus on the running game and drafting Derrick Henry, but they were adamant about figuring out their quarterback situation and decided to make a surprising first-round pick.
2015: ERECK FLOWERS
When a team needs an offensive lineman, they are often quick to pull one from the draft board, which is what the New York Giants did at number nine with Ereck Flowers. This was considered a surprising top-ten selection, but the Giants made their decision.
Flowers faced a lot of criticism during his time with the Giants before leaving the franchise and bouncing around the league. On draft night, the Giants overlooked Andrus Peat, who was drafted a few spots after Flowers. Peat became a three-time Pro Bowl lineman.
2014: ERIC EBRON
The Detroit Lions drafted competition for their tight end room with Eric Ebron, who turned out to be a strong selection, but a surprising pick at number ten considering Ebron wasn’t looked at as a day-one starter. But Ebron turned into a Pro Bowl tight end.
From this draft class, seventeen first-round picks became Pro Bowl players, so there was no shortage of talent available. The Lions could have drafted Aaron Donald or Odell Beckham Jr. for bigger franchise gains, but their choice to draft Ebron had its rewards.
