Instant Reactions To Every First Round Pick In The 2025 NFL Draft
After a first round that was as unpredictable as expected, these are my thoughts on every pick.
1. Tennessee Titans: Cam Ward, QB (Miami)
The obvious selection, the Titans get an electric playmaker at the game's most important position. The face of the franchise, Ward had the skill set and mentality to turn the team around. His fit in the Titans' offense under Brian Callahan should be perfect.
2. Jacksonville Jaguars: Travis Hunter, WR/CB (Colorado)
It is an absolute shocker that the Jaguars were able to trade up to this spot with the Browns, and they paid a hefty price to do so. However, they got the draft's best player in return. On offense, he fits perfectly alongside Brian Thomas Jr. and on defense he becomes the team's number one corner.
3. New York Giants: Abdul Carter, EDGE (Penn State)
One of the best pass rushing prospects in recent memory, the talent was too good to pass up for the Giants even if it wasn’t a true position of need. The New York defensive line now consists of Carter, Brian Burns and Dexter Lawrence, giving the team an identity that recalls the same one they had in the late 2000’s when they won multiple Super Bowls.
4. New England Patriots: Will Campbell, OT (LSU)
A predictable but necessary selection for the Patriots, Campbell is almost certainly going to be the team's starting left tackle right away. While I have my reservations about him sticking at that position long term due to his arm length, New England also has a need at guard, where I believe his skill set fits best. Still, it would be quite high to select a guard.
5. Cleveland Browns: Mason Graham, DT (Michigan)
First and foremost, trading out of the selection used to take Travis Hunter is risky business that history likely won’t look back on kindly. However, taking Graham here is good for Cleveland, who likely had him as a top five player on their board. I was lower on him as he was a top 20 player for me, but playing next to Myles Garrett gives the Browns defensive line some real firepower.
6. Las Vegas Raiders: Ashton Jeanty, RB (Boise State)
One of the three truly elite prospects in the class, Jeanty is the immediate favorite for Offensive Rookie of the Year. An immediate upgrade for a Raiders' offense that ranked dead last in rushing last season, Las Vegas continues to add game-changing pieces to its offense with premium draft selections.
7. New York Jets: Armand Membou, OT (Missouri)
An athletic right tackle for a team that consistently invests in the offensive line with early first round picks. Due to the selection of Olu Fashanu last year, New York will likely allow Membou to stay on the right side.
8. Carolina Panthers: Tetairoa McMillan, WR (Arizona)
A big-bodied wide receiver who dominates at the catch point, his fit in Carolina is interesting, as I thought the team needed to add quick separators for Bryce Young. However, McMillan and Leggette give the Panthers two young wideouts to build the offense around in hopes that Young can continue to take steps forward.
9. New Orleans Saints: Kelvin Banks Jr., OT (Texas)
For a team that needs basically everything, New Orleans chose to start by investing in the trenches. Long term, I project Banks to move inside to guard due to balance issues that consistently pop up in pass protection, but expect the Saints to start him out at left tackle.
10. Chicago Bears: Colston Loveland, TE (Michigan)
What a fun offensive nucleus being built in Chicago! After taking Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze in the first round last year, they added another weapon in Loveland. Look for new head coach Ben Johnson to use Loveland in the slot often as he can be used similarly to Amon-Ra St. Brown.
11. San Francisco 49ers: Mykel Williams, EDGE (Georgia)
Potential is the word most often used when discussing Mykel Williams as he’s still just twenty years old. A powerful pass rusher who isn’t a finished product, being able to learn from Nick Bosa, one of the league's most technically proficient pass rushers, will be invaluable. Still, it might be two years until his potential is fully unlocked.
12. Dallas Cowboys: Tyler Booker, G (Alabama)
It was rumored for months that the league was higher on Booker than the media and that proved to be true on Thursday. A quality piece for the middle of the Cowboys offensive line, this addition feels indicative of a return to the physical running game that Dallas has long been known for. Now they just need to find a running back to carry the ball.
13. Miami Dolphins: Kenneth Grant, DT (Michigan)
Miami no doubt would have liked to trade out of this spot as many of their desired options were already selected but instead chose to take Grant. A talented interior player, he helps make the Dolphins culture a bit tougher, coming from a stout Michigan defense.
14. Indianapolis Colts: Tyler Warren, TE (Penn State)
One of the worst-kept secrets in the draft was that the Colts loved Tyler Warren, and they got the chance to take him. While the number 44 will be reminiscent of Dallas Clark, Warren is going to need some special usage to get the most out of him. He’s an instant starter, however.
15. Atlanta Falcons: Jalon Walker, EDGE (Georgia)
While he played both pass rusher and linebacker at Georgia, Walker is likely to play the edge for the Falcons due to an anemic pass rush that had plagued them for years. Walker no doubt has the athletic ability to rush the passer, his short arms could be prohibitive and is the reason I preferred him at linebacker.
16. Arizona Cardinals: Walter Nolen, DT (Ole Miss)
If the Cardinals are able to get the best out of Nolen, he will give them a transformative player on the interior of their defense, something they have been trying to draft in the first round since they last did so successfully with Patrick Peterson. As it stands, he is the best pass rusher on the team, regardless of position.
17. Cincinnati Bengals: Shemar Stewart, EDGE (Texas A&M)
The biggest boom or bust prospect in the 2025 class, Stewart is an athletic freak who will take some time to develop but could become a Pro Bowler in short order. If the team keeps Trey Hendrickson, they will form quite the duo.
18. Seattle Seahawks: Grey Zabel, G (North Dakota State)
The Seahawks finally chose to improve the interior of an offensive line that cost their teams numerous games last season. Zabel is worth the selection in this spot and projects as a long-time pro.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Emeka Egbuka, WR (Ohio State)
The most shocking pick of the draft? Despite re-signing Chris Godwin in free agency, the Buccaneers still chose to draft a wide receiver in Egbuka who plays the exact same role. It begs the question whether Godwin is progressing in his return from injury as quickly as Tampa Bay was expecting.
20. Denver Broncos: Jahdae Barron, CB (Texas)
A lot of teams have an identity that follows them through the ages and for Denver it appears to be stingy pass defense. They chose to add to that here with the addition of a versatile defensive back in Barron. Likely to play the slot often for the Broncos, pairing him with Patrick Surtain is one of the league's best.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Derrick Harmon, DT (Oregon)
Despite everyone on the ESPN panel assuming this pick was going to be Shedeur Sanders, the Steelers stayed true to their board and drafted a great player for their interior. A defensive line of Cameron Hayward and Harmon with T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith on the edge is nightmare fuel for offenses.
22. Los Angeles Chargers: Omarion Hampton, RB (North Carolina)
It is well documented how much coach Jim Harbaugh loves to run the football and he found himself a great young ball carrier to do it with. Sure to be an early betting favorite for Offensive Rookie of the Year, Hampton will get a ton of carries in Los Angeles.
23. Green Bay Packers: Matthew Golden, WR (Texas)
One of my favorite players in the class, he is so good he got the Packers to take a first-round wideout for the first time since 2002. A well-rounded receiver who runs good routes and catches everything, he slots in as the team's number one wide receiver.
24. Minnesota Vikings: Donovan Jackson, G (Ohio State)
A more natural guard, Jackson showed the ability to play tackle when he kicked outside after Josh Simmons got injured. His addition further strengthens a quality offensive line that will be tasked with protecting first-year starter J.J. McCarthy.
25. New York Giants: Jaxson Dart, QB (Ole Miss)
Although they passed on a quarterback with their selection at third overall, they were able to trade up with the Texans to add Jaxson Dart. To put it lightly, Dart needs a lot of work but head coach Brian Daboll must see some skills he believes he can mold. I would not let him play at all in his first season. Alas, he might have to in an attempt to save the jobs of Daboll and Joe Schoen.
26. Atlanta Falcons: James Pearce Jr., EDGE (Tennessee)
Once again, the Falcons added to their pass rush after trading up with the Rams to get this selection. Pearce is a highly athletic pass rusher who projects as a day one starter. Despite his talent, trading away a first and second round pick to take him feels like malpractice.
27. Baltimore Ravens: Malaki Starks, S (Georgia)
How do the Ravens do it? Every single year they manage to let the board fall to them and end up with an elite prospect. My fourth overall player in the class, Starks will play both safety and nickel corner in Baltimore and makes for one of the NFL’s best safety duos when combined with Kyle Hamilton.
28. Detroit Lions: Tyleik Williams, DT (Ohio State)
While it is somewhat surprising that he went in round one, Williams is a scrappy, physical defensive lineman who is a perfect fit for Detroit. A powerful run stuffer, he is still a work in progress as a pass rusher but has the athletic ability to develop that area of his game.
29. Washington Commanders: Josh Conerly Jr., OT (Oregon)
After finding their franchise quarterback in the last draft, it’s now time to do whatever it takes to make his life easier. Conerly has the ability to do that right away as a highly athletic pass rusher who flashes some of the best pass sets in the class. If he can get stronger, he could be one of the league's best offensive tackles.
30. Buffalo Bills: Maxwell Hairston, CB (Kentucky)
Other than Dart, this was the biggest reach of the night one in my opinion. A terrific athlete who ran the fastest 40-yard dash of any player at this year's combine, Hairston is a skinny 183-pound corner who gets bullied by bigger receivers and makes him a non-factor against the run.
31. Philadelphia Eagles: Jihaad Campbell, LB (Alabama)
Another team, like the Ravens, who always just do the right thing, general manager Howie Roseman did it again with Campbell. Typically, a team that doesn’t value linebackers highly, Campbell’s ability in coverage and as a pass rusher were likely enough to convince Philadelphia to end his slide. He and Zack Baun now form one of the NFL’s most dynamic linebacker duos.
32. Kansas City Chiefs: Josh Simmons, OT (Ohio State)
A top five player on my board, Simmons would have gone that high on Thursday were it not for a torn patellar tendon that ended his season. Of course, recovering from an injury as devastating as that one is no sure thing, but it is worth the risk for a talent like Simmons. An elite pass protector, perhaps Mahomes won’t be running for his life the next time Kansas City is in the Super Bowl.