The NFL's first "prime-time" draft did not disappoint. It consisted of trades, surprises, and history. The first round got started off with the Big 12 sweeping the first four picks and five of the first six, but the 3 of the first 4 picks were all from University of Oklahoma (common draft record). SEC players would be picked 5 through eight except at number 6. The first ten picks would end up in a mild surprise and a shocker at the tenth pick.
With the first pick of the NFL Draft the St. Louis Rams select...Sam Bradford QB/Oklahoma. I know this is not a shocker as every mock draft pegged him to go number one. Then the next two picks by the Detroit Lions and Tampa Bay Buccaneers were also no brainers as Ndamukong Suh DT/Nebraska and Gerald McCoy DT/Oklahoma were picked. The first surprise albeit a small one came at the fourth pick as the Washington Redskins selected Trent Williams OT/Oklahoma instead of taking Russell Okung, who was predicted by many as the best offensive tackle in the draft. To round out the first five picks the Kansas City Chiefs pick Eric Berry S/Tennessee, by many experts is considered the drafts most ready player to start this year in the NFL.
Seattle Seahawks picked up Russell Okung OT/Oklahoma State with the sixth overall selection. Now it was the Browns turn who could have used a quarterback and Jimmy Clausen was still on the draft board, but instead went with cornerback Joe Haden out of the University of Florida. Oakland Raiders had the eighth pick and in the past Al Davis has been known to pick head scratchers, just like last year as he picked up Heyward-Bey ahead of Crabtree. The Raiders were in need of offense but Al Davis shocks the world again by getting All-American linebacker Rolando McClain out of Alabama. The Bills selected next and got all purpose-back C.J. Spiller from Clemson University. The Jacksonville Jaguars are known for reaching for players and they had the biggest surprise of the draft until the 25th pick, and chose Tyson Alualu DT/California.
Other notable picks include the San Diego Chargers trading up from 28th to 12th to get Ryan Matthews RB/Fresno State. Philadelphia traded up not to get safety help but pass rush help as they chose Brandon Graham OLB/Michigan. With the 16th selection the Tennessee Titans chose defensive-end Derrick Morgan out of Georgia Tech and ACC defensive player of the year. Houston Texans got the cornerback help they needed by selecting University of Alabama's Kareem Jackson at number 20. The most shocking pick went at number 25 as the Denver Broncos chose Quarterback Tim Tebow from University of Florida. The New Orleans Saints ended the first round with Patrick Robinson CB/Florida State.
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