2025 NFL Draft: The Dust Settles After a Thrilling Round One
The first round of the 2025 NFL Draft has concluded, leaving a fascinating tapestry of fulfilled expectations, surprising selections, and lingering questions. As the echoes of Commissioner Goodell’s pronouncements fade and the analysts dissect every move, it’s time to delve into the key storylines and assess the initial impact of the top 32 picks.
The Tennessee Titans, as widely predicted, kicked off the draft by selecting Miami quarterback Cam Ward with the first overall pick. Ward’s impressive collegiate career, marked by a blend of arm talent and athleticism, made him the consensus top quarterback in this class. The Titans are clearly betting on Ward to be the cornerstone of their franchise, hoping he can elevate an offense that has been searching for consistent quarterback play. This pick signals a clear commitment to building for the future in Nashville.
The Jacksonville Jaguars then made a bold move, trading up to the second overall spot to secure the uniquely talented Travis Hunter from Colorado. Hunter, a true two-way star who excelled as both a cornerback and a wide receiver, presents an intriguing prospect for the Jaguars. His versatility is unprecedented, and it will be fascinating to see how the Jacksonville coaching staff utilizes his diverse skillset. This high price tag reflects the Jaguars’ conviction in Hunter’s potential to be a game-changer on either side of the ball, or perhaps even both.
Rounding out the top three, the New York Giants opted for Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter. Carter’s explosive athleticism and pass-rushing prowess made him an attractive option for a Giants team looking to bolster their defensive front. While some questioned the Giants passing on a quarterback here, Carter’s potential to be a disruptive force off the edge was clearly too enticing to ignore. This pick suggests the Giants are prioritizing building a dominant defense as they navigate their quarterback situation.
The remainder of the first round unfolded with a mix of expected positional needs being addressed and a few head-scratching selections. The New England Patriots, needing to protect their young quarterback Drake Maye, selected LSU offensive tackle Will Campbell at pick number four. The Cleveland Browns, after their trade with Jacksonville, landed Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham at five, adding a disruptive interior presence to their defense.
Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty found his way to the Las Vegas Raiders at pick six, signaling a potential shift in their offensive philosophy. The New York Jets continued to invest in their offensive line, selecting another tackle in Armand Membou from Syracuse at pick seven. The Carolina Panthers provided Bryce Young with a big-bodied target in Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan at pick eight. The New Orleans Saints added to their offensive line with the selection of Texas tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. at nine, while the Chicago Bears gave Caleb Williams another weapon in Michigan tight end Colston Loveland at pick ten.
The San Francisco 49ers continued to bolster their defensive line with Georgia edge rusher Mykel Williams at eleven, and the Dallas Cowboys opted for interior offensive line help in Alabama guard Tyler Booker at twelve. The Miami Dolphins added a versatile defensive back in Kenneth Grant from Michigan at thirteen, and the Indianapolis Colts selected a developmental tight end in Penn State’s Tyler Warren at fourteen. The Atlanta Falcons, surprisingly, doubled down on edge rushers, selecting Jalon Walker from Georgia at fifteen after already having a strong presence at the position. Arizona then added a high-upside defensive lineman in Walter Nolen from Texas A&M at pick sixteen.
The middle portion of the round saw the Cincinnati Bengals address their defensive line with Shemar Stewart from Texas A&M at seventeen, and the Seattle Seahawks opted for offensive line help in North Dakota State’s Grey Zabel at eighteen. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers added a receiving threat in Ohio State’s Emeka Egbuka at nineteen, while the Denver Broncos selected a versatile defensive back in Texas’s Jahdae Barron at twenty. The Pittsburgh Steelers continued to build their defensive front with Oregon’s Derrick Harmon at twenty-one, and the Los Angeles Chargers added a dynamic running back in North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton at twenty-two.
The Green Bay Packers finally broke their long streak of not drafting a first-round wide receiver, selecting Texas’s Matthew Golden at pick twenty-three. The Minnesota Vikings added to their offensive line with Ohio State guard Donovan Jackson at twenty-four. In a surprising move, the New York Giants traded back into the first round to select Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart at pick twenty-five, indicating they are not entirely sold on their current quarterback situation. The Atlanta Falcons then selected their second edge rusher of the round, taking James Pearce Jr. from Tennessee at twenty-six. The Baltimore Ravens continued to add talent to their secondary with Georgia safety Malaki Starks at twenty-seven.
The final picks of the first round saw the Detroit Lions add to their defensive line with Ohio State’s Tyleik Williams at twenty-eight, and the Washington Commanders provided their young quarterback Jayden Daniels with protection in Oregon offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr. at twenty-nine. The Buffalo Bills, needing cornerback help, selected Kentucky’s Maxwell Hairston at thirty. The Philadelphia Eagles traded up one spot to select Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell at thirty-one. Finally, the Kansas City Chiefs, with the last pick of the round, bolstered their offensive line by selecting Ohio State’s Josh Simmons at thirty-two.
Several notable players surprisingly slipped out of the first round, including Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders and Michigan cornerback Will Johnson. Their availability will undoubtedly be a major storyline heading into the second day of the draft.
Overall, the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft provided a captivating glimpse into the future of several franchises. While some teams addressed immediate needs with seemingly safe picks, others took calculated risks on high-ceiling prospects. The true impact of these selections will only be realized on the field in the seasons to come, but the initial reactions and analyses suggest that this draft class has the potential to be a transformative one for many teams across the league. The stage is now set for an equally intriguing second and third round, where teams will look to find value and fill remaining holes on their rosters. The draft, as always, continues to deliver drama and fuel the hopes of fans across the NFL landscape.
