The Bengals selected Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow at No. 1 overall, giving Cincinnati its franchise quarterback. The Redskins took star pass rusher Chase Young at No. 2. Few surprises followed, and after much speculation, there wasn't a trade until the 49ers moved out of the 13th pick, jumping back one slot.
In Chicago, there was no excitement expected. The Bears didn't own a first-round pick and didn't make a move to acquire one. They own two picks in the second round Friday -- at No. 43 and No. 50 overall.
On Thursday, the Bears just watched as division rivals added some intriguing pieces. So here are the five takeaways from the first round of the NFL Draft, from a Bears perspective.
The Packers made one of the boldest moves of this first round, trading up and selecting Utah State quarterback Jordan Love at No. 26 overall.
Love is considered a developmental quarterback, and he was inconsistent in throwing for 20 touchdowns and 17 interceptions in 2019. The arm strength of Love was appealing to NFL teams, and Green Bay made the aggressive move to nab him. Coach Matt LaFleur and the Packers will now get the chance to develop Love into their next franchise quarterback.
Of course, it's worth wondering how 36-year-old starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers received the news of Love being selected. Rodgers has continued to perform at a high level.
The first two selections of the draft were inevitable, with the Bengals taking Burrow and Redskins selecting Young. From there, the attention turned to the Lions, who had a decision to make at No. 3.
The Lions selected the best cornerback in the draft by picking Jeff Okudah out of Ohio State. It means the Bears have a tough matchup for their offense to counter twice a year, with top receiver Allen Robinson likely set to line up opposite of Okudah in 2020.
Okudah was a first-team All-American in 2019 who checks all the boxes for the NFL. Robinson should be ready for a tough competitor at cornerback.
Vikings add playmaker
The Vikings wanted to maximize their lofty investment in quarterback Kirk Cousins, and they made a first-round pick with that in mind.
Minnesota selected LSU receiver Justin Jefferson at No. 22. He hauled in 111 receptions for 1,540 yards and 18 touchdowns last season. A 6-foot-1 target, Jefferson ran a 4.43 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine.
Jefferson bolsters what Cousins can do and will make receiver Adam Thielen even more dangerous.
When the Dolphins dealt away key veterans and started an apparent rebuild in 2019, it was termed Tanking for Tua Tagovailoa.
The Dolphins landed with the No. 5 pick after going 5-11, and they came away with the Alabama star Tagovailoa after concerns over his injured hip caused him to drop a bit. For Miami, it was a worthwhile bet.
Though his durability is a true question, Tagovailoa's arm talent and leadership qualities are exceptional coming out of the college game.
There's a thought that draft winners and losers can't be determined until years later, but in the case of NFL coaches' and general managers' home draft setups, we had clear results early.