It will take time before we know which GMs bombed Thursday's first round and who will be remembered as organizational heroes.
But certain decisions at the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago felt a bit ... off. Perhaps these choices to laugh in the face of convention will one day be seen as deft master strokes by big-picture thinkers. For now, they feel like, well, head scratchers.
Jameis Winston to Tampa Bay Buccaneers
We often scare ourselves into making certain decisions and I could see a scenario in which the Bucs end up regretting their concern over Marcus Mariota's college scheme. Maybe I'm wrong, but if I'm evaluating quarterbacks head-to-head, I'm putting some stock into turnover numbers, completion percentage and, most importantly, character off the field. At least for the moment, Mariota checks out ahead in every category. Perhaps Winston ends up maturing and, like Matt Ryan's late-college career, the interceptions are nothing to worry about. But why wonder? Why hope? Why not be sure? -- Conor Orr
No running backs for Cowboys or Cardinals
The draft isn't over, but after failing to swing a trade for Adrian Peterson, I expected the Cowboys and Cardinals to chase down this year's top-two running backs. Instead, Dallas and Arizona sat home while Todd Gurley and Melvin Gordon landed elsewhere.
There's no evidence that either team tried to trade up.
Coming off playoff seasons, both the Cardinals and 'Boys still need backfield help. Dallas watched DeMarco Murray sign with the Eagles, while Arizona's running game was an absolute liability last autumn. Aggressively filling the position would have made a lot of sense for two teams with Super Bowl aspirations. -- Marc Sessler
Redskins pass on Leonard Williams
USC defensive tackle Leonard Williams was widely believed to be the best player in this draft. The Redskins should have been pinching themselves when he was still on the board with the fifth pick. A potential All-Pro had fallen into their lap! At the very least, they were well set up to convert all that Williams buzz into a lucrative trade, the exact scenario Scot McCloughan discussed days earlier. Instead, the Redskins stayed home and selected Iowa offensive lineman Brandon Scherff. When the Jets -- another team with plenty of existing defensive line depth -- scooped up Williams with the very next pick, it felt like a lesson on how to correctly accept a gift from fate. -- Dan Hanzus
Andrus Peat to New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints had plenty of needs to address with their five selections in the draft's first 80 picks. One of those need areas wasn't offensive tackle, where Terron Armstead has shown promise and Zach Strief has been a solid veteran. Coach Sean Payton confirmed that Peat will stay at tackle, which could mean Strief kicks inside to help out at guard following the Ben Grubbs trade. -- Chris Wesseling
Phillip Dorsett, Indianapolis Colts
The Colts entered the draft with a receiving corps that already included T.Y. Hilton, Andre Johnson and Donte Moncrief. Wideout appeared well down the needs chart. Dorsett has talent, to be sure, and speed -- a 4.33 40 yard dash. However, that the Colts continue to ignore the defensive side of the ball is puzzling. Indy needs help at safety and linebacker. Is coach Chuck Pagano not a defensive coach? What does the selection of Dorsett tell us about the Colts' faith in Moncrief after the wideout showed promise last year? It certainly tells us Duron Carter hasn't matched the hype. Ryan Grigson went with his board, but the Colts piling up pass-catchers is puzzling given that there is still only one football. *-- Kevin Patra *
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