Day one of the 2013 NFL Draft is in the books.  To say that things went unexpectedly would be a huge understatement.  While we’ve talked about the potential for the first round to go a number of ways, things played out in a way I’m certain no one could’ve predicted.  There were trades galore, some VERY questionable reaches and a lot of top-rated players slid down the board (and in some cases clean out of the first round). 

So with Thursday Night in the rearview mirror, who were the winners and losers from round one? Let’s take a look. 

Check out our grades for each pick in the first round, and follow along as we update every pick LIVE during the draft. 

Winners

Minnesota VIkings: The Vikings had the best first round, period.  Somehow my highest-ranked defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd fell into their lap at No. 23, then they bolstered their secondary with one of the best corners in the class, Xavier Rhodes. 

But the Vikings weren’t done there.  They traded back up into the first round, acquiring the No. 29 pick from the Patriots and used that pick to add wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson.  Minnesota was the first team to have three first-round selections since 2001.  Some may argue that they gave up too many picks to get Patterson, but he was far and ahead the best receiver still available and worth what they gave up.  

Carolina Panthers: The Panthers didn’t execute any trades and only had one pick, but man did they knock it out of the park with No. 14.  I’ve been saying they needed to take a defensive tackle for months.  To have someone as talented, and with such high potential as Star Lotulelei fall into their lap was an unexpected gift.  I guarantee it didn’t take the Panther’s war room long to pull the trigger here. 

Green Bay Packers: Call me a homer if you like, but you can’t argue with how great this pick is.  Ted Thompson is notorious for sitting back and taking the best player available that fills a need, and no one fit that bill better than Datone Jones at 26.  He’s an instant upgrade on that defensive line and will be a starter from day one.  Teams with weak offensive lines like Chicago and Detroit should be worried about having to lineup against Jones twice a year. 

Losers

Oakland Raiders: Everyone thought the Raiders were smart trading back and acquiring a second-round pick to replace the one they lost in the Carson Palmer trade.  Moving back to No. 12 look like it wasn’t going to be a problem at all with players like Sharrif Floyd, Star Lotulelei, Xavier Rhodes and Desmond Trufant still on the board.  But then Reggie McKenzie went and surprised everyone by reaching for former Houston cornerback D.J. Hayden.  This really looked like a classic Al Davis pick and seriously baffles me. 
 

New York Jets: Don’t get me wrong, the Jets got two amazing players in Dee Milliner and Sheldon Richardson with picks No. 9 and 13.  The problem here, is that they had MUCH bigger needs on offense and defense.  The Jets could’ve grabbed Geno Smith, Tyler Eifert, Cordarrelle Patterson and Bjoern Werner, just to name a few.  New York didn’t really need a defensive tackle (and certainly not this high) and is putting Milliner in a very tough situation.  Whether they like it or not, selecting Milliner ninth overall basically tells him, and the world, that you expect him to come in and replace Darrelle Revis.  That’s a really hard spot to put at rookie in.