The 2025 NFL Draft began with little surprise as the Tennessee Titans selected Miami quarterback Cam Ward with the first overall pick. However, the excitement peaked at the second slot during Thursday’s event in Green Bay when the Jacksonville Jaguars executed a trade to move up from fifth to second overall, claiming Travis Hunter from the Cleveland Browns. Hunter, a dual-threat player capable of excelling at both wide receiver and cornerback, is regarded as one of the most intriguing prospects in recent drafts. In exchange, the Browns acquired four draft picks, including two from the Jaguars and a first-round pick in the 2026 draft.

An unexpected absence from the first round was Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who many scouts initially viewed as a potential top pick. Coached by his legendary father, Deion Sanders, at Colorado, Shedeur had drawn comparisons to Ward but faced scrutiny regarding his arm strength. While the Pittsburgh Steelers had potential interest, they opted for defensive tackle Derrick Harmon at pick 21. The New York Giants also missed out, trading for the Texans’ pick at 25 to select Jaxson Dart, a quarterback from Ole Miss, leaving Sanders to await the start of the second round on Friday.

Ward’s journey to the top pick was remarkable. He is a former overlooked recruit from Texas who started at Incarnate Word before transferring to Washington State and then enjoying a record-setting season at Miami, culminating in a fourth-place finish in the Heisman Trophy voting. The Titans, who struggled with just three wins last season and have not made the playoffs for three consecutive years, hope Ward will revive their fortunes. He is the fourth first-round quarterback selected by the Titans in the past twenty years, following Marcus Mariota, Jake Locker, and Vince Young. Mariota is the only one among them to secure a playoff victory during his tenure.

In his final college season, Ward led the nation with 39 touchdown passes and was second in passing yards with 4,313, while maintaining a completion rate of 67.2% and tossing just seven interceptions.

Completing the top three picks, the New York Giants selected Abdul Carter, a defensive end from Penn State. Carter produced standout numbers last season, leading the country with 23.5 tackles for loss and recording 12 sacks. This addition promises to strengthen an already formidable Giants defense along with standout performers like Kayvon Thibodeaux and Brian Burns, alongside Pro Bowler Dexter Lawrence on the defensive line.

The New England Patriots aimed to bolster the protection for their young quarterback, Drake Maye, by drafting LSU offensive tackle Will Campbell. Standing at 6’6″ and weighing 320 pounds, Campbell started for three years at LSU, garnering recognition as a first-team All-American for his impressive performance and solidifying his capability by allowing only two sacks over the last two seasons.

The Cleveland Browns, sitting at number five post-trade, used their selection to take Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham, who earned the defensive MVP title at the Rose Bowl during Michigan’s championship run.

The first running back was drafted when the Las Vegas Raiders, seeking improvement on their dismal rushing offense from last season, went with Ashton Jeanty from Boise State at sixth overall. Jeanty’s performance included a unique playstyle reminiscent of Marshawn Lynch’s “Beast Mode” and showed resilience as the only player to rush over 1,000 yards with a broken tackle.

Other notable picks included the New York Jets selecting Missouri offensive tackle Armand Membou at seven, the Carolina Panthers taking Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan at eight, and the New Orleans Saints opting for Texas tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. at nine.

The Chicago Bears made headlines by drafting Michigan tight end Colston Loveland at ten, who posted a record for tight ends at his school with 56 receptions, showcasing his potential to form a dynamic duo with existing player Cole Kmet. This choice aligns with new coach Ben Johnson’s history of leveraging multiple tight ends during his time with the Detroit Lions.

The Green Bay Packers ignited cheers from their home crowd when they selected Texas receiver Matthew Golden at number 23, breaking a long-standing trend of not choosing a receiver in the first round since 2002.