The first pick in the 2025 NFL Draft came as expected as Tennessee’s Titan overall picked talented Miami Quarterback Come Ward No. 1. In Green Bay, it was the two who made things a little more interesting on Thursday night, who weren’t later chosen.
Jacksonville, who sat on No. 5, traded up to take a spot for the Cleveland Browns at No. 2, where the Jaguars chose Travis Hunter. Hunter has been one of the most attractive players to join the NFL over the years. He is a stunningly talented athlete who can attack at cornerback and attack on defense. In return, the Browns received four picks, including this year’s Jags’ second round and the fourth round and the first round of 2026. Jacksonville also scored a fourth and sixth round from the Browns.
But one person whose name wasn’t called all night was Colorado quarterback Chedure Sanders. Some scouts believe that Sanders, coached by Father Deion Sanders of Colorado’s Pro Football Hall of Fame, has a better outlook. Others were questioning the strength of his arms and professional preparation. The Steelers were considered Sanders’ landing site, but chose defensive tackle Derrick Harmon on the 21st pick. The New York Giants then traded for a Texans pick at No. 25. They went to quarterback but instead chose Ole Miss Jackson Dirt.
Ward had no such wait. Titans fans cheered inside the draft theatre after hearing his name be called. A high school player often overlooked from Texas, Ward began his college career at Incarnate Word, a FCS school in San Antonio. He moved there in 2022 before playing two seasons for Washington State, setting a school record for his only season in Miami, finishing fourth in the Heisman Trophy vote.
The Titans have been out of their three-win season and have missed the playoffs for the third year in a row. Ward is the fourth quarterback to be drafted in the first round over the past 20 years by Tennessee, joining Marcus Mariota (2015 issue 2), Jake Crocker (August 2011 issue) and Vince Young (3 March 2006). Mariota is the only QB drafted by Tennessee in that range that led the team to a playoff victory. It’s back in 2017. Will Revis, the 33rd overall pick in 2023, is 5-16 as the starter for two seasons with the Titans.
Ward led the country with 39 touchdown passes and finished second with a 4,313-yard pass, leading the Hurricane to a 10-3 record. Additionally, the word only had 7 interceptions, completing 67.2% of the pass.
The top three were concluded by the Giants who went to Pennsylvania’s defensive side, Abdul Carter. Carter has already bolstered the Giants’ defense with solid pass rushes for Cavontibodeau and Brian Burns as he led the country with 12 sacks last season, and bolstered the strong D-line, including Pro Bowler Dexter Lawrence.
The New England Patriots have decided to add protection for Drake May, the promising quarterback he took in the first round last year by choosing LSU offensive tackle Will Campbell. At 6 feet 6 inches and 320 pounds, Campbell was the Tigers’ three-year starter and the first team national selection last season as a junior. Campbell played 37 of 38 college games with the left tackle, scoring 2,451 snaps. He has only allowed two bags in the last two seasons, but now his job is to protect May’s blind side.
The Browns came in fifth place after a deal with the Jaguar and chose Michigan’s defensive tackle Mason Graham, Rose Bowl defensive MVP, during the 2023 Michigan National Championship season.
“We felt it was a great opportunity for our organization to go down three spots and add players to the trench,” Browns GM Andrew Berry said of his deal with Jags after choosing Graham.
The first running back from the board arrived as the Las Vegas Raiders took a big step to deal with the NFL’s worst rushing offense by selecting Boise State’s Ashton Janti on their sixth overall pick. Las Vegas averaged 79.8 yards per game last season, and Jeanti might remind Marshawn Lynch’s Raiders coach, who coached in Seattle. Jeanty often does his own version of “Beast Mode” on Boise State, and was able to rush for over 1,000 yards last season on plays that included broken tackles, according to Pro Football Focus.
The New York Jets chose Missouri’s offensive tackle lure mand membrane on their seventh pick. Arizona wide receiver Tetaro Amakumillan went to the Carolina Panthers with a no-8 pick. The New Orleans Saints chose Texas offensive tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. at No. 9.
Michigan’s Colston Loveland became the first tight end off the board when the Chicago Bears chose him at No. 10. Loveland set a school record for tight ends with 582 yards as a junior last season and 56 receptions with five touchdowns. Loveland gives the Bears a potentially strong tight end tandem with Cole Kmet. New coach Ben Johnson liked to use two tight ends when he was Detroit’s offensive coordinator.
There was a scream when he scored talented Texas wide receiver Matthew Golden at No. 23 from Green Bay’s home cloud. It had a long tendency for the Packers. Since 2002, he has not chosen a wide receiver in his first round.
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NFL 2025 1st Round Pick
1) Tennessee Titan, Come Ward, QB, Miami
2) Jacksonville Jaguar, Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado (From Browns)
3) New York Giants, Abdul Carter, Edge, PA
4) New England Patriots, Will Campbell, OT, LSU
5) Cleveland Browns, Mason Graham, DT, Michigan (From Jaguar)
6) Las Vegas Raiders, Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise
7) New York Jets, Armand Membou, OT, MO
8) Carolina Panthers, Tetaroa Macmillan, WR, Arizona
9) New Orleans Saints, Kelvin Banks JR, OT, Texas
10) Chicago Bear, Colston Loveland, Michigan
11) San Francisco 49ers, Michael Williams, Edge, Georgia
12) Dallas Cowboys, Tyler Booker, OG, Alabama
13) Miami Dolphins, Kenneth Grant, Michigan DT
14) Indianapolis Colts, Tyler Warren, TE, Pennsylvania
15) Atlanta Falcons, Jaron Walker, LB, Alabama
16) Arizona Cardinals, Walter Noren, DT, Mississippi
17) Cincinnati Bengals, Shemar Stewart, Edge, Texas A&M
18) Seattle Seahawks, Grey Sabell, OG, North Dakota
19) Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio
20) Denver Broncos, Jahdae Barron of CB, Texas
21) Pittsburgh Steelers, Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon
22) Los Angeles Chargers, O’Mallion Hampton, RB, North Carolina
23) Green Bay Packers, Matthew Golden, WR, Texas
24) Minnesota Viking, Donovan Jackson of Ohio OG
25) The Giants of New York, Jaxson Dart, QB, Ole Miss (From the Texans)
26) Atlanta Falcons, James Pierce Jr., Edge, Tennessee (From the Rams)
27) Baltimore Ravens, Malachi Starks, S, Georgia
28) Detroit Lions, Ohio, DT, Ty Lake Williams
29) Washington commander, Josh Connery Jr., Oregon
30) Buffalo Bills, Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky
31) Philadelphia Eagles, Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama (From the Chief)
32) Kansas City Chiefs, Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio (From the Eagles)
