The draft featured three on-the-clock trades in the top 10 and three more later in Round 1 (not counting the deals that were worked out before the draft). The only thing missing on Day 1 was a blockbuster deal involving a veteran player, though the Eagles tried to satisfy that need two days later by acquiring running back D'Andre Swift from the Lions.

What was predictable: Nothing reveals a team's big-picture plans quite like the draft, and this year was no different. Instead of reacting to the week's results on short notice, we let the draft breathe. Then we made calls to bring you post-draft nuggets on all 32 teams, including intel from on-the-clock decisions, background on key picks, Day 1 strategy, stats and trends, sleepers and pick reactions from league execs and scouts. Let's see where the NFL's NFC teams look like following the draft...

NFC EAST

Dallas Cowboys

The Dan Quinn effect is a real thing in Dallas. The Cowboys have one of the NFL's deepest defenses yet still spent their first- and third-round picks on defensive help. When their defensive coordinator has a vision for a player, the Cowboys typically see that through by selecting him if available. That was the case with Michigan defensive tackle Mazi Smith and Texas linebacker DeMarvion Overshown.

The Cowboys were closely watching Mississippi State corner Emmanuel Forbes, who went No. 16 overall to Washington. At 26, with tight end Dalton Kincaid off the board, Dallas was deciding between Smith and Syracuse offensive tackle Matt Bergeron. It opted for defense, believing an interior run defender with the ability to push the pocket could be a missing piece. And don't sleep on Overshown's ability to play early. He's a well-known hitter, but Dallas thinks he can develop into an all-down linebacker because of his speed.

New York Giants

The Giants leaned on their own analysis of how the draft would play out to locate cornerback help late in the first round. They eyed Maryland's Deonte Banks but had to be strategic -- three corners had gone off the board by the 17th pick, and New York forecasted that, even with a four-man receiver run to come, Banks very well could be gone if they sat tight at No. 25. The Giants believed Kansas City and at least one other team was looking to move up. So they swung a deal with Jacksonville to move up one spot.

The Giants believe they got two impact corners in the draft -- sixth-round corner Tre Hawkins III from Old Dominion is more than a flier -- he's a true sleeper who will push for playing time.

Philadelphia Eagles

A big part of the Eagles' draft was the acquisition of Lions running back D'Andre Swift for a fourth-round pick and a swap of seventh-rounders, and the expectation is Swift will upgrade the Eagles' backfield receiving game. Swift is a slick route-runner with 156 catches the past three years. Throwing to backs hasn't been Philly's game; no Eagles tailback had more than 29 targets a year ago. Expect that to change. The Eagles could try to do a short-term extension with Swift, too, though the player appears set to hit 2024 free agency. He has missed at least three games in each of his first three seasons and will be seeking a fully healthy campaign.

Washington Commanders

Emmanuel Forbes as CB2 was a mild surprise for mock drafters who had Christian Gonzalez going higher, but Forbes gained steam as the pre-draft process played out. NFL coaches agreed that, assuming his slim frame (6-foot-1, 180 pounds) isn't a major issue, his playmaking will translate. Mississippi State coach Zach Arnett considers Forbes an "interception machine" after watching him nab 14 picks over three years. "The best ball skills I've seen as a coach," Arnett told me. Washington expects some growing pains as Forbes learns to cover the likes of CeeDee Lamb and A.J. Brown twice per year. But the Commanders believe the long-term play will yield elite results.

NFC NORTH

Chicago Bears

Offensive tackle Darnell Wright, the Bears' No. 10 overall pick, told local media that offensive line coach Chris Morgan "kicked my ass, if we're being honest" during a pre-draft workout. That early April session in Knoxville, Tennessee -- with GM Ryan Poles, a former Boston College offensive tackle, in attendance -- showed Wright's resolve and ability to work through discomfort, which Chicago noted. Wright thrived in pre-draft workouts, including a stellar combine performance, and was perhaps the most gifted tackle in the class, though some teams had maturity concerns. The Bears were good with Wright's character, believing he worked his way through a bumpy early college career. The Bears wanted to trade back to acquire additional draft capital leading up to the draft, believing Jalen Carter might be there to entice Philly at No. 10.

Detroit Lions

The Lions faced questions about value after taking running back Jahmyr Gibbs No. 12 overall despite also holding the 18th pick (which they used to take Iowa linebacker Jack Campbell). Would Gibbs have been there at 18? Was an off-ball linebacker a reach in the top 20? I've talked to several NFL execs who loved Detroit's draft, one of whom said it felt like a "2001 throwback."

"They said the hell with value and just took good football players," an NFC exec said. "That guy [Gibbs] is a player. When they tee it up on Sunday, I don't think anyone will care where he was taken. And those players very much fit Dan Campbell's toughness approach."

The Lions did leverage the Gibbs pick to get a fourth-rounder out of Philadelphia in the D'Andre Swift trade.

The Lions took Iowa's Sam LaPorta as TE2 (No. 34 overall) because, as one scout said, "He can play multiple spots, he's smart and he's faster than [Michael Mayer]," who was picked No. 35 by the Raiders.

Green Bay Packers

Packers drafts are notable for the reliance on wide receivers in the second round, and Michigan State's Jayden Reed joins a lineage including Christian Watson, Davante Adams, Randall Cobb and Greg Jennings. But another second-round pick -- Oregon State tight end Luke Musgrave -- also has major upside. According to one AFC scout, Musgrave might have had Dalton Kincaid-like buzz had he not missed most of the 2022 season because of a left knee injury.

"With his measurables, he could have pushed for the first round with more productivity," the scout said. Musgrave has pedigree, too. His uncle is former NFL quarterback Bill Musgrave, who's on the Cleveland Browns' staff. Luke's mother, Amy, was part of the U.S. developmental ski team in the 1980s. His father, Doug, was an Oregon quarterback in the early '90s.

Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings received multiple calls while on the clock at No. 23 but ultimately chose to stay with Jordan Addison, who was, based on fit, perhaps the top receiver on Minnesota's board, a natural complement to Justin Jefferson as an inside-out threat and route-runner.

Minnesota loves third-round corner Mekhi Blackmon's attitude -- he plays like a starter, even if he's not ready yet. But it believes he can work into one, assuming he gets stronger.

Don't sleep on the Jaren Hall selection in the fifth round; Minnesota did a lot of work on the QB class. Some expected Hall to go higher on Day 3. He's the ideal developmental QB who might push Nick Mullens for the No. 2 spot behind Kirk Cousins. Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell knows how to evaluate quarterbacks, so they wouldn't have made this pick unless they believed Hall might have something to build on.

NFC SOUTH

Atlanta Falcons

Taking a running back at No. 8 overall isn't trendy, but some teams I've talked to think Bijan Robinson at No. 8 signifies a boiling point. The logic goes like this: Teams typically draft first-rounders with the second contract in mind. Is the player in question a long-term solution at the position? But because longevity is a factor in the devaluing of running backs (along with the surplus of good backs on Day 2 or 3 of the draft), taking the second contract off the table and embracing the possibilities with an elite back can be freeing.

"What you'll see from teams like [Atlanta and Detroit] is, take an RB in the first round, then turn around and take another one in three to four years and don't worry about the silly stuff," an NFL personnel director said. That requires conviction in a team's plans for a special back, which the Falcons have here. The Falcons were high on Robinson and a number of players near the top of the first round, a group that includes Illinois cornerback and No. 5 pick Devon Witherspoon. But their conviction on Robinson was strong. 

"He's a true unicorn," an NFL offensive coach said. "He changes everything they do." As for quarterback, I've talked to a few people who believe Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud might have been the only passers Atlanta would have thought twice about had they dropped to No. 8. But overall, the Falcons were pretty set on building around Desmond Ridder.

Carolina Panthers

As Carolina zeroed in on Bryce Young over the past two months, the chances of the Panthers trading back from No. 1 slowly dwindled. But they never got an aggressive offer from a team wanting move into the top spot anyway. Houston would have been the logical suitor. Most around the league believe the Texans liked Young the best. But the Texans surrendered the chance at Young by beating the Colts in Week 18. Las Vegas once explored a trade with Chicago before the Bears traded out, with the Raiders attempting to jump from No. 7 to 1, but Carolina made the strongest move and Las Vegas never explored a deal with the Panthers.

One other note on Carolina's process: Quarterback Anthony Richardson performed well in interviews. Young was the guy, but Carolina was definitely intrigued by Richardson, who made a case for second in the pecking order.

Don't sleep on the Chandler Zavala addition in the fourth round. The Panthers need starting offensive line help because of injuries, and Zavala has impressive physical traits. His bench press (30 reps), vertical (32.5 inches) and 40 time (5.01) at NC State's pro day ranked high among guards in the pre-draft process.

New Orleans Saints

Saints GM Mickey Loomis said pre-draft that running back Alvin Kamara's potential suspension wouldn't influence which players the Saints draft. But the flexibility third-round back Kendre Miller provides the position isn't lost on the Saints. New Orleans ranked the TCU product highly in the running back class, believes in his game and loves his potential, once he figures out the pass-catching and pass-blocking components. He's already a vicious downhill runner, and though the Saints are eager to see him in action, they will likely take it easy with him in offseason workouts and leading up to training camp while he recovers from a MCL injury. But New Orleans might need Miller sooner than expected.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

North Dakota State's Cody Mauch is the latest in the Bucs' long line of small-school linemen drafted by the club. Before taking Mauch in the second round this year, Tampa chose Central Michigan's Luke Goedeke in the second round last year, Humboldt State's Alex Cappa in the third round of 2018 and Hobart's Ali Marpet in the second round of 2015. While Goedeke started eight games last year and is in line to start this season, Cappa and Marpet combined to start 147 career games for Tampa. And Ryan Jensen, originally drafted by the Ravens, is an honorary member of this club as a Colorado State-Pueblo alum.

Despite having three entrenched starters at wideout, the Bucs will have a plan for intriguing sixth-rounder Trey Palmer. Tampa is hopeful Palmer can pick up some of the slack left by Scotty Miller, who signed with Atlanta this offseason.

NFC WEST

Arizona Cardinals

The word entering the draft was Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort sought to accumulate volume -- particularly in the middle rounds -- to improve a thin roster. That mission was satisfied on the first two nights of the draft. Ossenfort's first four trades included the acquisition of four third-rounders (this year and next), a fourth-rounder and two fifth-rounders. In 2024, the Cardinals will enjoy additional third-rounders from the Texans and Titans, along with a fifth-rounder from Philadelphia (that's not counting the additional first-rounder from Houston).

That's impressive work from Ossenfort, who satisfied several needs, including at quarterback -- it wouldn't be shocking if fifth-round passer Clayton Tune found a way to play early. Kyler Murray likely won't be back for Week 1 and Colt McCoy, who suffered concussion symptoms late last year, will be limited in offseason work. The Cardinals also have David Blough on the depth chart. But many scouts had Tune as QB6 in this class, with plus upside.

Los Angeles Rams

GM Les Snead's presence loomed large on the Stetson Bennett selection in the fourth round. Snead was intrigued by the quarterback early in the pre-draft process, and did a lot of legwork leading up to taking Bennett in the fourth round -- higher than many teams expected. Based on talent, the selection was not a reach: Some teams had Bennett ranked as QB6 based on the tape. Character/maturity concerns were on file for many teams, but one league exec pointed out the Rams aren't afraid to bet on players they believe in and look "more at the wiring, the look in their eye" than other risk-averse teams might.

Coach Sean McVay watched the tape of Bennett and liked what he saw. One concern for McVay this offseason as it relates to quarterbacks was roster priority. McVay knew the Rams had many positional needs, probably more than in the past, and only so many picks to fill them. But he knew that they had to fill the quarterback room (Matthew Stafford was the only passer on the roster as of two weeks ago), and L.A. trading back twice in order to acquire nine Day 3 picks made taking a quarterback that much easier.

San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers got a starting-level safety in Penn State third-rounder Ji'Ayir Brown, but some scouts see him as more of a true, downhill-driving safety than a replacement for Jimmie Ward, who excelled in nickel corner coverage. Teams I've talked to think San Francisco might want to add a slot corner to balance out the secondary. But Penn State coach James Franklin isn't putting a limit on what Brown can do. "Does a lot of things well, great instincts, smart football player, makes plays on the ball, tremendous leader, charismatic leader and aligned with the staff," Franklin told me.

Seattle Seahawks

I've talked to multiple teams who wonder whether the Seahawks now have the best receiving trio in the NFL after placing Jaxon Smith-Njigba alongside DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. The Seahawks did not expect Smith-Njigba to be there at No. 20, thinking he'd go somewhere in the teens. Seattle has had an up-close look at Cooper Kupp over the years, and Smith-Njigba has a similar skill set as an elite slot receiver who can also move to the outside.

I never got the sense Seattle was poised for a major QB move in the draft. Anthony Richardson would have been tempting. But as was pointed out to me, the Seahawks were pretty excited about replenishing the roster to win now. That played out in the second round -- they see Auburn pass-rusher Derick Hall as an immediate starter because of his combination of effort, physicality and speed, so that selection felt more crucial than straining for Will Levis or Hendon Hooker, despite all the QB homework they did on the pro-day circuit.