NEW YORK -- An unpredictable first round of the NFL -- packed with trades, intrigue and uncertainty -- unfolded Thursday to bring a flurry of predictions and reporting to fruition ... in some cases, rotten fruition. There were plenty of prognostications that were absolutely on target, though. Here is a sampling:
1) NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport detailed a "love affair" that Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam had with Johnny Manziel in the days leading up to the draft, and Haslam's team ended up not only drafting the wunderkind from Texas, but trading up from No. 26 to get it done, as well.
2) NFL.com's Chris Wesseling was the one and only winner in a compilation of bold draft predictions. Wesseling called his shot with Ohio State linebacker Ryan Shazier being drafted before Alabama linebacker C.J. Mosley, something few expected. Shazier went to the Pittsburgh Steelers at No. 15, two picks ahead of Mosley going to the Baltimore Ravens.
3) Wide receivers and former college teammates Odell Beckham and Rueben Randle sort of called their own shot, as Beckham revealed Wednesday that Randle had told him the Giants were looking at Beckham for the No. 12 overall pick. The former LSU stars are now together again with the G-Men.
4) Rapoport clued people in on the Miami Dolphins' interest in Tennessee offensive tackle Ja'Wuan James last week:
The Dolphins made James the No. 19 overall pick in the draft.
5) Upon his arrival Tuesday in New York, Alabama linebacker C.J. Mosley indicated he had a feeling he might go with the No. 17 overall pick to the Baltimore Ravens, and he was exactly right. In his news conference after he was picked, Mosley said he'd received a good vibe from general manager Ozzie Newsome, a former Alabama star himself, each time he spoke with him.
6) The next time you hear someone say Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider's pre-draft comments are only good for a smokescreen, direct that person here. Schneider indicated a trade-down out of the No. 32 pick was a good possibility, and did exactly that in making a move out of the first round to allow the Minnesota Vikings to draft quarterback Teddy Bridgewater.
*Follow Chase Goodbread on Twitter **@ChaseGoodbread*.
