It's far too early for anyone to really tell, but from this vantage point, it looks like the Cleveland Browns made all the right moves on Day 1 of the 2017 NFL Draft.From resisting thetemptation to take a quarterback in a purportedly weak year at the position, to trading into the back end of the first round to make it three picks within the first 32, the Browns made shrewd moves geared toward winning down the road, but not necessarily in Week 1 of the 2017 season.There was plenty that happened on Day 1, including the Chicago Bears surprising some by trading up for quarterback Mitchell Trubisky and new Atlanta Falcons defensive end Takkarist McKinley making a speech that won't soon be forgotten, but winning rosters aren't forged in just the first round.Here's a look at the selection order for rounds 2-7 and the results from Day 1, starting with pass rusher Myles Garrett (Browns) and ending with offensive tackle Ryan Ramczyk (New Orleans Saints).The Bears' move for Trubisky was the first of several stunning moments in the first round, and perhaps the most contentious move of all.SB Nation's Adam Stites put it like this:"Even if you love Mitchell Trubisky and think hes the future of the franchise in ChicagoI have yet to meet you, enthusiastic Trubisky fangiving up a package of two third-round picks and a fourth-round pick to move up a grand total of one spot detracts from the excitement."Stites also noted the desultory state of Chicago's secondary, though even if they hadn't traded with the San Francisco 49ers to move up a spot, No. 3 probably would not have been too early to pick safety Jamal Adams.Instead, the highly touted free safety out of LSU went at No. 6 to the New York Jets, a pick that drew plenty of praise. ESPN Stats & Info pointed out the Jets had a tough time stopping quarterbacks last year:The New Orleans Saints had two picks in the first round, and Bleacher Report's Mike Tanier gave them an A+ on their first choice, cornerback Marshon Lattimore at No. 11.As the perfect score would suggest, Tanier couldn't help but marvel at his ability, even while he was focusing elsewhere: "Marshon Lattimore is so good that when you try to scout other players, he upstages them. Several times during draft season, I found myself watching Raekwon McMillan or some receiver facing Ohio State, and I would suddenly have to rewind the tape a little bit."Other interesting picksfrom a general standpoint, as no doubt every fan finds their own team's picks worthy of intense scrutiny and fascinationincluded the Pittsburgh Steelers selecting linebacker T.J. Watt (younger brother of J.J. Watt) at the tail end of the first round and the Houston Texans trading up for quarterback Deshaun Watson.The QB out of Clemson warned before the draft that teams would regret passing up on him, which the Bears and Kansas City Chiefs ended up doing by picking Trubisky and Texas Tech quarterback/human trebuchet Pat Mahomes, respectively. Watson was happy to be heading to Houston."It's amazing," Watson said on the ESPN broadcast."I tell myself not to cry but can't hold it back. Now I'm finally being introduced into the National Football League. It's a blessing, but I worked for it."Watson might also consider the Browns as having passed up on him, considering their quarterback situation is dire and they traded with the Texans to allow them to make that pick.But it's hard to find fault at this stage with the guys Cleveland did take. They drafted a gnarly edge rusher in Garrett, the incredibly versatile Jabrill Peppers out of Michigan and an athletic, speedy tight end in Miami's David Njoku.There's still plenty more NFL Draft to go, but the Browns are off to as fine a start as any team after one day.
Click here to read full news..
