Highlights From Day One Of The NFL Draft

Las Vegas didn't disappoint for the opening of the NFL draft, providing a glitzy reception for the young stars taken in round one of the draft. The teams themselves contributed to the drama, pulling off a whopping nine trades, which included star receivers AJ Brown and Marquise Brown being sent to new teams.

The draft opened with a run of 5 defensive players picked, before swinging wildly the other way, with the next 7 picks all being offensive tackles and wide receivers. 9 of the next 16 picks changed hands on the night, with nine teams making multiple picks in the first round, the Jets taking 3 players overall.

The Jets seemed to pick really well with their draft capital, particularly picks 4 and 10. They took Sauce Gardner, favorite to be 1st Cornerback in the draft and they followed up with Garrett Wilson, who had again been favored to go first from the Wide Receiver class.

Their late first-round pick Jermaine Johnson was more of an upside play but joins an already strong looking front 7 bringing back injured Carl Lawson next season. This team definitely has the talent to improve on their 4-13 record last year, and with the Patriots not really improving and a 4th place schedule on deck including weaker NFC teams and the Texans, winning 6 or more is a fair bet.

Green Bay just couldn't bring themselves to pick a receiver after the top 6 were taken off the board. They ended up with two very solid defensive players, and I expect them to be very tough to score on especially when the cold winter sets in at Lambeau Field.

However, this team is going to struggle to score as many points without Davante Adams, and with no pick now until 53 I would like to see them trade up to grab a George Pickens or Skyy Moore before they come off the board.

Whilst the Rams and the Bucs didn't make any first-round picks I don't think either team will fear the Packers as much now that their star receiver is out of the conference, and both still look to have the weapons to outduel the Packers.

I'd much rather be backing the Bucs at +425 or the Rams at +500 effectively giving me a +180 bet on one of the two NFC favorites to win the Conference Championship game.

With all the Deebo Samuel trade talk ahead of the draft, it was another late contract star WR that moved to a new team, with the Eagles landing AJ Brown and reportedly giving him a new 4-year contract. This looks like such a steal for the Eagles with the only real question mark being health for Brown who has missed games in the past few years with niggling injury.

The options for Jalen Hurts look really solid now for the Eagles, the pressure is off DeVonta Smith, who can develop nicely as a complementary piece for the offense rather than the focal point.

I'd take them as a +300 shot to win the NFC East and with a friendly AFC schedule including a revenge tour of the AFC South for AJ Brown my lock of the post draft markets is Eagles to make the Playoffs at +105.