Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur speaks with reporters at the NFL annual meeting on March 30 in Phoenix. (AP file photo)

PITTSBURGH — Counting the Green Bay Packers among them, eight teams were still waiting on Friday afternoon to make their first selection of the NFL draft after Thursday’s chaotic opening round that featured a flurry of trades.

Just 16 of the 32 first-round picks chosen that night were made by the original teams that earned them.

The 49ers and Bills traded out of the first round, joining the Packers, Falcons, Bengals, Broncos, Jaguars and Colts on the sideline. That’s the second-most teams sitting out Round 1 since 1970. Ten teams didn’t pick in the first round in 2022.

Green Bay was among those that previously traded their firsts, the Packers getting Micah Parsons in a blockbuster deal on the eve of last season with the Dallas Cowboys.

“It was really not a lot different with the exception the phones weren’t ringing, we weren’t having a lot of conversations with other teams,” Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said about the slow night. “A lot more discussions about the players. … I think it was, it went like I thought it would go.”

After Fernando Mendoza went first to the Las Vegas Raiders — a pick that was expected for months — the mystery began to unravel.

The Jets took edge rusher David Bailey after canceling his top 30 visit. The Cardinals made the first surprise move, choosing running back Jeremiyah Love at No. 3.

Quarterback Ty Simpson went to the Rams at No. 13 in the most unexpected pick of Day 1. He could be the eventual successor to 2025 AP NFL MVP Matthew Stafford.

The hometown Steelers fans booed NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell when he first walked on a stage in what’s become an annual tradition. But many of them were left shaking their heads and wringing their Terrible Towels in disappointment because the Eagles swooped in and picked wide receiver Makai Lemon.

Philadelphia made one of the eight draft-night deals, swapping picks with Dallas to move up from No. 23 to No. 20 to select Lemon while he was on the phone with Pittsburgh’s front office.

“I guess it was meant to be. I’m super excited to be in Philly,” Lemon said.

After missing out on Lemon, the Steelers took an offensive tackle in the first round for the third time in four years, selecting Max Iheanachor.

Several players who had first-round grades weren’t picked, including defensive tackle Kayden McDonald, cornerback Colton Hood, safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, edge rusher Cashius Howell, cornerback Avieon Terrell and wide receiver Denzel Boston.

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