2025 NFL Draft: Full First-Round Recap and Analysis
2025 NFL Draft: Full First-Round Recap and Analysis
The first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, held at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, featured a mix of expected selections and surprising moves. Here's a comprehensive breakdown of each pick, followed by an analysis of the biggest winners and losers from Day 1.
First-Round Picks
- Tennessee Titans – Cam Ward, QB, Miami
The Titans selected Cam Ward, a dynamic quarterback from Miami, aiming to revitalize their offense with his dual-threat capabilities. - Jacksonville Jaguars (via Browns) – Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado
In a bold move, the Jaguars traded up to acquire Travis Hunter, a versatile two-way player from Colorado, expected to make immediate impacts on both offense and defense. - New York Giants – Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State
The Giants bolstered their pass rush by selecting Abdul Carter, an explosive edge rusher known for his athleticism and tenacity. - New England Patriots – Will Campbell, OT, LSU
Addressing their offensive line needs, the Patriots picked Will Campbell, a reliable tackle from LSU, to protect their young quarterback. - Cleveland Browns (via Jaguars) – Mason Graham, DT, Michigan
After trading down, the Browns selected Mason Graham, a dominant interior lineman from Michigan, to anchor their defensive front. - Las Vegas Raiders – Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
The Raiders added a dynamic playmaker to their backfield with Jeanty, aiming to enhance their rushing attack. - New York Jets – Armand Membou, OT, Missouri
The Jets focused on strengthening their offensive line by selecting Membou, providing better protection for their quarterback. - Carolina Panthers – Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
Carolina addressed their receiving corps by drafting McMillan, a talented wideout known for his route-running and hands. - New Orleans Saints – Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas
The Saints reinforced their offensive line with Banks Jr., aiming to improve both pass protection and run blocking. - Chicago Bears – Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
Chicago added a versatile weapon to their offense with Loveland, a tight end capable of contributing in both the passing game and blocking schemes. - San Francisco 49ers – Mykel Williams, DE, Georgia
The 49ers strengthened their defensive line by drafting Williams, a powerful edge rusher expected to complement their pass rush. - Dallas Cowboys – Tyler Booker, G, Alabama
Dallas focused on their interior offensive line by selecting Booker, aiming to enhance their protection schemes and running lanes. - Miami Dolphins – Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan
The Dolphins addressed their defensive front by drafting Grant, a stout tackle known for clogging running lanes and pressuring quarterbacks. - Indianapolis Colts – Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
Indianapolis enhanced their offensive options by selecting Warren, a versatile tight end capable of contributing as a receiver and blocker. - Atlanta Falcons – Jalon Walker, DE, Georgia
The Falcons bolstered their pass rush by drafting Walker, an athletic defensive end expected to disrupt opposing quarterbacks. - Arizona Cardinals – Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss
Arizona focused on their defensive line by selecting Nolen, aiming to strengthen their run defense and interior pass rush. - Cincinnati Bengals – Shemar Stewart, DE, Texas A&M
The Bengals added to their defensive end rotation with Stewart, an athletic pass rusher expected to enhance their defensive front. - Seattle Seahawks – Grey Zabel, G, North Dakota State
Seattle addressed their offensive line needs by drafting Zabel, a reliable guard aiming to provide stability and protection. - Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
The Buccaneers added a dynamic receiver to their offense with Egbuka, known for his route-running and speed. - Denver Broncos – Josh Conerly Jr., OT, Oregon
Denver addressed their offensive line by selecting Conerly Jr., a tackle expected to provide better protection and run blocking. - Pittsburgh Steelers – Derrick Harmon, DT, Michigan State
Pittsburgh fortified their defensive line by drafting Harmon, a disruptive interior presence expected to anchor their defense. - Los Angeles Chargers – Jeremiah Trotter Jr., LB, Clemson
The Chargers strengthened their linebacker corps by selecting Trotter Jr., a tackling machine with strong instincts. - Green Bay Packers – Matthew Golden, WR, Texas
Breaking a long-standing trend, the Packers selected Golden, a wide receiver expected to provide a new target for their quarterback. - Minnesota Vikings – Kalen King, CB, Penn State
The Vikings addressed their secondary by drafting King, a cornerback known for his coverage abilities and ball skills. - New York Giants (via trade) – Jaxson Dart, QB, Ole Miss
In a strategic move, the Giants traded up to secure Dart, a quarterback expected to compete for the starting role. - Los Angeles Rams – Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina
The Rams enhanced their backfield by drafting Hampton, a powerful runner expected to complement their offensive scheme. - Baltimore Ravens – Malaki Starks, S, Georgia
The Ravens enhanced their secondary by selecting Starks, a versatile safety known for his coverage skills and physicality. - Detroit Lions – Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa
Detroit bolstered their secondary by selecting DeJean, a cornerback with strong coverage skills and versatility. - Washington Commanders – James Pearce, EDGE, Tennessee
The Commanders added to their pass rush with Pearce, an edge rusher known for his explosiveness and potential. - Buffalo Bills – Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky
The Bills added speed to their secondary with Hairston, the fastest player at the combine, expected to contribute immediately. - Kansas City Chiefs – Ja'Lynn Polk, WR, Washington
The Chiefs selected Polk, a wide receiver expected to add depth and versatility to their receiving corps. - Philadelphia Eagles – Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama
The Eagles concluded the first round by drafting Campbell, a linebacker known for his athleticism and playmaking abilities
Draft Day Winners
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars made a significant move by trading up to select Travis Hunter, a dynamic two-way player known for his exceptional skills as both a cornerback and wide receiver. Hunter's versatility is expected to provide immediate impact on both sides of the ball, aligning with Jacksonville's strategy to enhance their roster's flexibility and playmaking ability.
Cleveland Browns
Opting for a strategic trade-down, the Browns secured Mason Graham, a dominant defensive tackle from Michigan. Graham's accolades include being a unanimous All-American in 2024 and earning the Rose Bowl Defensive MVP. His addition strengthens Cleveland's defensive front, and the extra draft capital acquired positions them well for future moves.
Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens continued their tradition of astute drafting by selecting Malaki Starks, a versatile safety from Georgia. Starks is praised for his range and football intelligence, qualities that fit seamlessly into Baltimore's defensive schemes. His ability to contribute to various roles is expected to bolster the Ravens' secondary immediately.
Draft Day Losers
Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons raised eyebrows by trading up to draft James Pearce, an edge rusher with noted off-field concerns. This decision was particularly surprising given that Atlanta had already addressed their pass rush earlier in the draft, leading to questions about the necessity and risk of this pick.
Dallas Cowboys
Dallas's selection of offensive lineman Tyler Booker was seen as a reach, especially after missing out on their preferred wide receiver target. With pressing needs at other positions, this pick has been criticized for not aligning with the team's immediate requirements.
Shedeur Sanders
Once considered a top quarterback prospect, Shedeur Sanders's fall out of the first round was one of the night's most surprising developments. His slide has sparked discussions about his draft stock and future prospects in the NFL.
Notable Trends
- Quarterback Surprises: The Tennessee Titans' selection of Cam Ward as the first overall pick was unexpected, especially with other top talents like Abdul Carter still available.
- SEC Dominance: The Southeastern Conference once again showcased its strength, tying a record with 15 players selected in the first round.
- Wide Receiver Depth: While the class lacked a clear-cut top receiver, the depth at the position was evident, with multiple teams finding value picks to enhance their offensive units.
Final Thoughts
The first round of the 2025 NFL Draft was marked by strategic maneuvers, unexpected selections, and the ever-present drama that defines draft night. Teams like the Jaguars, Browns, and Ravens capitalized on opportunities to strengthen their rosters, while others made moves that left analysts and fans questioning their direction. As the draft progresses, it will be interesting to see how these decisions shape the upcoming NFL season.
