Biggest Winners from Day 1 of the NFL Draft

The first day of the NFL Draft was filled with surprises — from shocking trades to highly-touted prospects falling down the board.

Thursday served as a reminder that nobody ever really knows what’s going to happen at the NFL Draft. With Day 2 rapidly approaching, let’s take a quick look at a few teams that came out on top in Round 1.

Here are the biggest winners of Day 1 of the NFL Draft:

Cleveland Browns

The Browns made the first big move of the night, trading back three spots from No. 2 and acquiring future draft capital. With the No. 5 pick, Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham was the selection. Graham was the best interior defender in the class. Putting him on the same defensive line as Myles Garrett is a scary sight for opposing offensive lines. In addition to the No. 5 pick, the Browns also received the No. 36 and No. 126 this year plus Jacksonville’s first-round pick in 2026 (Cleveland traded away No. 2, No. 104, and No. 200 in the swap). The Browns got a difference-maker and stocked up for next year’s class which is expected to feature several strong QB prospects.

Las Vegas Raiders

Standing pat and picking the best player on the board is sometimes the best move a team can make. The Raiders reportedly explored different trade options. In the end, they stood pat with No. 6 and took arguably the best overall player in the class, RB Ashton Jeanty. The Boise State runner took the college football world by storm last season, rushing for 2,601 yards and 29 TDs. Raiders HC Pete Carroll has a history of drafting running backs early. Jeanty will help his new offense form an identity. With him in the backfield and Brock Bowers at TE, the Raiders potentially have two of the best players at their respective positions on rookie deals in 2025.

Denver Broncos

Teams typically use the NFL Draft to address glaring weaknesses on their roster. If you don’t have a QB, you draft a QB. If your defensive line can’t generate consistent pressure, you spend a high-draft pick on a pass rusher. However, some teams choose to play their cards differently and lean into their strengths. That’s exactly what the Denver Broncos did by drafting Texas CB Jahdae Barron with pick No. 20. He will join a stacked secondary in Denver which features the reigning Defensive Player of the Year Patrick Surtain II. With Surtain being the league’s premier outside corner, Barron will be able to step in to his natural position in the slot. Despite his lack of prototypical size, Barron plays with an edge and consistently made plays all over the field for the Longhorns.

Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles are used to being winners on draft night. Every year, Philadelphia picks near the end of the first round and watches as other teams overthink themselves. They sit idly by while elite prospects fall down the board. In this year’s case, Alabama’s Jihaad Campbell was still available late on Thursday. To make sure they secured Campbell, the two teams that met in the Super Bowl two months ago flipped draft spots with the Eagles sending a fifth-round pick (plus No. 32) to the Chiefs to move up one slot to No. 31. Now, the rest of the NFL will have to watch Campbell become a vital part of Philadelphia’s defense for the next several years.

Los Angeles Rams

The Rams are winners — and didn’t even draft a player on Thursday. When LA was put on the clock at No. 26, it was announced they made a deal with the Atlanta Falcons. The Rams sent No. 26 and No. 101 to the Falcons for No. 46 and Atlanta’s 2026 first-round pick. Essentially, the Rams moved down 20 spots and picked up an additional first. It’s extraordinary value for a Rams team that hasn’t always valued future draft capital. Even if the Falcons have a good season next year, it’s more than likely that 2026 first-rounder will be in the 10-20 range. It could be even better if QB Michael Penix Jr. — who only made three starts last season — doesn’t live up to expectations. Plus, the Rams can still address any holes on their current roster at No. 46.