Browns get QB, Giants select RB Barkley to open NFL draft

The more than 20,000 on hand inside of at AT&T Stadium, the first draft at
an NFL stadium, erupted in cheers as commissioner Roger Goodell announced the
Browns' decision.

Cleveland threw a curveball with its No. 4 selection, taking Ohio State
cornerback Denzel Ward.

A shakeup in the draft order occurred after the Colts' drafted sixth. Tampa
Bay traded the No. 7 pick to Buffalo -- which drafted Wyoming quarterback Josh
Allen -- for the Bills' first-round pick, No. 12, and two second-round
selections (the 53rd and 56th picks overall). The Bills also got the
Buccaneers' seventh-round pick.

With the No. 2 pick, the New York Giants selected Saquon Barkley of Penn
State. Barkley, considered by many analysts as the top player in the draft,
will join an offensive unit that includes Eli Manning, Odell Beckham Jr., Evan
Engram and Sterling Shepard.

There was some speculation the Giants might take a quarterback at No. 2, but
the new front office and coaching staff is firmly in Manning's corner.

At No. 3, the Jets went quarterback, choosing Southern Cal's Sam Darnold, who
before only a few days ago appeared to be a lock as the top overall choice.

Darnold, 20, was the first quarterback drafted this high by the Jets since Joe
Namath went first overall in 1965. They selected USC quarterback Mark Sanchez
fifth overall in 2009 and Richard Todd No. 6 overall in 1976.

Darnold, who left the Trojans after his redshirt junior season, will go to a
team desperately in need of a quarterback as a building block. The Jets went
5-11 last season. Thought to be a Heisman Trophy candidate entering the
season, Darnold's performance suffered in 2017 while playing behind an
inexperienced line and with young wide receivers.

Another trade put the Arizona Cardinals at No. 10, in position to select UCLA
quarterback Josh Rosen. The Cardinals made a trade with the Oakland Raiders to
move up five spots.

Ward, who most draft analysts had going no higher than No. 9, is considered a
true cover corner with great quickness and speed. The 5-foot-11, 183-pounder
ran a 4.32 40 at the NFL Scouting Combine.

NC State defensive end Bradley Chubb, viewed as an option for the Giants and
Browns, went fifth overall to give the Broncos a potent pass rusher to pair
with Von Miller. Chubb, 6-4, 275, had 20 sacks and 44 tackles for loss over
his final two seasons with the Wolfpack.

At No. 6, the Colts selected Notre Dame offensive guard Quenton Nelson and
after Allen went to Buffalo, the Chicago Bears selected Georgia linebacker
Roquan Smith with the eighth pick. Nelson's college teammate, offensive tackle
Mike McGlinchey, went No. 9 to the San Francisco 49ers.

--By John Henry, Field Level Media