Before this year, who saw McCarthy, Nix, and Penix as first round locks? Let alone five QBs going top 10?
The NFL is all about the QB, you must invest in that with WRs, OL, and TE. Defensively it's about rushing the passer. What used to be a first round CB, Safety, or Linebacker is being pushed down due to value.
You may not see a run of first round QBs next year, but that's going to change. The 2021 NFL had five first round QBs. Only one is with his original team.
The second and third overall guys were traded for peanuts. Fields and Jones were traded to make room for newer and shinier top five QBs. The Broncos who got the former second overall pick just drafted what was projected heading into this year as a third day guy in round one. The Jaguars , who got the other former can't miss first round QB just so happen to be the team that kept the only guy of that draft on his original teams roster.
CBs and RBs have been devalued greatly. Coming back wouldn't have done anything but expose Cooper to further injuries. If he can outplay his draft position, he will get a restructured contract in year three anyways. The only way Cooper could've cashed in was to step in as a WR. At Iowa, that would've been career ending.