Of course the wildest offseason in NFL history would feature one of the craziest first rounds in NFL Draft history. A whopping nine trades were executed in the first round, with two of those trades including star receivers A.J. Brown and Marquise “Hollywood” Brown.
Trades played a large role in six receivers being selected with the first 18 picks. Conversely, only one quarterback was selected in the first round, with former Pitt star Kenny Pickett staying in Pittsburgh after he was selected by the Steelers with the 20th overall pick. The Packers, despite trading Davante Adams to the Raiders earlier this offseason, did not use either of their first-round picks to select a receiver to help two-time reigning league MVP Aaron Rodgers.
Let’s take a closer look at each of the trades that went down during Day 1 of the 2022 NFL Draft, starting with the trades that included the trades of veterans receivers.
A.J. Brown bolts for Philadelphia
Tennessee traded 2020 Pro Bowl receiver A.J. Brown to Philadelphia in exchange for the No. 18 and No. 101 overall picks. The Titans used the 18th pick to select Treylon Burks, who caught 11 touchdowns during his final season at Arkansas while averaging 16.7 yards per catch. In return, the Eagles gave Jalen Hurts a proven receiver who should help complement second-year wideout DeVonte Smith.
Hollywood heads West
Baltimore sent shockwaves through the NFL after trading Brown to the Cardinals in exchange for the No. 23 and No. 100 picks in the draft. Baltimore then traded the 23rd overall pick to the Bills in exchange for the 25th and 130th overall picks. The Ravens, who selected former Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton with the 14th overall pick, used the 25th overall pick to select Iowa center Tyler Linderbaum.
Brown, who served as Lamar Jackson’s favorite target over the past two seasons, will be reunited in Arizona with Kyle Murray, his college quarterback at Oklahoma. Murray gets a new receiver who can help replace Christian Kirk, who signed a multiyear deal with the Jaguars during free agency.
Saints strike savvy deal
New Orleans was able to move up in the first round without having to part with the 19th overall pick. The Saints gave the Commanders the 16th, 98th and 120th overall picks in exchange for the 11th overall pick. New Orleans used the pick to select former Ohio State standout Chris Olave, the third receiver selected in the draft. They used the 19th pick to acquire Trevor Penning, one of the top-rated offensive tackles in the draft.
Despite moving down in the draft, Washington was able to acquire one of the draft’s top wideouts in Penn State’s Jahan Dotson, who should help open things up for Terry McLaurin while making life easier for Carson Wentz.
Jets pull off the hat trick
New York received acclaim for their selections of Cincinnati cornerback Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner with the fourth overall pick and Ohio State receiver Garrett Wilson with the 10th pick. They then traded back into the first round after traded two Day 2 picks and one Day 3 pick in exchange for the 26th and 101st overall picks. With the 26th pick, the Jets further shored up their defense with the selection of Florida State pass rusher Jermaine Johnson II. Johnson should help bolster a New York pass rush that tallied just 33 sacks last season.
Tricky Lions
Detroit surprised everyone when they gave Minnesota three draft picks (including the 32nd and 34th picks) to acquire the 12th overall pick. The thought was that the Lions planned to pounce on a quarterback. Instead, the Lions used the pick to select receiver former Alabama receiver Jameson Williams, who tore up defenses to the tune of 79 receptions for 1,572 yards and 15 touchdowns last season.
Here’s a full rundown of every trade that was executed during Day 1 of the 2022 NFL Draft.
First Round 2022 NFL Draft trades
Saints receive
Round 1, No. 11 overall (Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State)
Commanders receive
Round 1, No. 16 overall (Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn State)
Round 3, No. 98 overall
Round 4, No. 120 overall
Lions receive
Round 1, No. 12 overall (Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama)
Round 2, No. 46 overall
Vikings receive
Round 1, No. 32 overall
Round 2, No. 34 overall
Round 3, No. 66 overall
Eagles receive
Round 1, No. 13 overall (Jordan Davis, DT, Georgia)
Texans receive
Round 1, No. 15 overall (OG Kenyon Green)
Round 4, No. 124 overall
Round 5, No. 162 overall
Round 5, No. 166 overall
Ravens receive
Round 1, No. 23 overall
Cardinals receive
WR Marquise Brown
Round 3, No. 100 overall
Titans receive
Round 1, No. 18 overall (Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas)
Round 3, No. 101 overall
Eagles receive
WR A.J. Brown
Chiefs receive
Round 1, No. 21 overall (Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington)
Patriots receive
Round 1, No. 29 overall (Cole Strange, OG, Chattanooga)
Round 3, No. 94 overall
Round 4, No. 121 overall
Bills receive
Round 1, No. 23 overall (Kaiir Elam, CB, Florida)
Ravens receive
Round 1, No. 25 overall (Tyler Linderbaum, C, Iowa)
Round 4, No. 130 overall
Jets receive
Round 1, No. 26 overall (Jermaine Johnson II, EDGE, Florida State)
Round 3, No. 101 overall
Titans receive
Round 2, No. 35 overall
Round 3, No. 69 overall
Round 5, No. 163 overall
Jaguars receive
Round 1, No. 27 overall (Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah)
Buccaneers receive
Round 1, No. 33 overall
Round 4, No. 106 overall
Round 6, No. 180 overall