The 2025 NFL Draft is almost here — Thursday, April 24, in Green Bay — and promises to shake up the league in a big way. With college stars like Cam Ward, Travis Hunter and Abdul Carter headlining a deep and unpredictable class, front offices are preparing to make franchise-altering decisions.
There's added intrigue this year: Will the New York Giants pass on a quarterback? Can Shedeur Sanders slide into a starting role? And how high will Travis Hunter go after his historic Heisman-winning season playing both sides of the ball? Teams such as the Titans, Browns, and Saints could define the next decade of their franchises with the picks they make. Let's dive into how this year's first round could play out.
1. Tennessee Titans - Cam Ward, QB, Miami
This pick has become increasingly apparent as the process has unfolded. Ward possesses every trait a franchise NFL quarterback needs, and Tennessee is desperate to find its franchise guy. This makes Ward a perfect pairing for Brian Callahan in year two.
2. Cleveland Browns - Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado
Browns general manager has publicly compared Travis Hunter as a prospect to Shohei Ohtani, the baseball player. If that means anything, it probably means that the Browns view Hunter as a player capable of playing both ways in today's NFL. Hunter possesses elite traits for both a wide receiver and a cornerback, and he will give the Browns another dynamic on both sides of the ball. The reigning Heisman trophy winner gives the Browns the face of the franchise, and they can address the quarterback position later in the draft.
3. New York Giants - Abdul Carter, Edge, Penn State
This would be the best-case scenario for the New York Giants. Stay put at number three overall and take one of the best pass-rushing prospects we have seen since Myles Garrett. If not for a stress fracture in his foot found during the pre-draft process, Carter would have been in conversation to be number one overall. Instead, he goes to New York to team up with Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux. You turn on the tape and see why Abdul Carter can be a game-wrecker in today's NFL. Shades of Micah parsons. With signing Jameis Winston and Russell Wilson in the offseason, it doesn't look like the Giants will be taking a quarterback. Take the guy with all pro potential and worry about the quarterback position next year in a much better draft class.
4. New England Patriots - Will Campbell, OT, LSU
Protecting Drake Maye has to be priority number one for the New England Patriots. Campbell is one of the better offensive tackle prospects in the last couple of years and will be an instant starter for the Patriots. I see a lot of people talking about his arm size, but that shouldn't worry you too much. If he isn't cut out to be a tackle, you move him inside to guard, and he is a Pro Bowl-caliber player there.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars - Mason Graham, DT, Michigan
Mason Graham would instantly come in and be an upgrade for the Jaguars. Many deem him the safest pick in this draft. You know what you are going to get with this guy. He was a three-year starter at Michigan and dominated during his time there. This should be an easy selection for Jacksonville, as he will be the perfect pairing with Travon Walker and Josh Allen.
6. Las Vegas Raiders - Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
Usually, I wouldn't be in favor of the Raiders drafting a running back this high, but you simply cannot pass up on the talent that is Ashton Jeanty. The Raider's run game hasn't been the same since they got rid of Josh Jacobs. Jeanty can give Pete Carroll a marshawn lynch type of running back to work with. I simply don't think you can pass up this type of talent.
7. New York Jets - Armand Membou, OT, Missouri
The Jets offense will look a lot different than it did last year. With Aaron Rodgers gone and Justin Fields now expected to be the quarterback, a good first step will be to go out and protect him. Membou is widely considered the second-best tackle in this class, and he could come in and give the Jets an instant upgrade on the offensive line.
8. Carolina Panthers - Jalon Walker, LB, Georgia
Carolina desperately needs to improve on the defensive side of the ball, and Walker has the versatility to play anywhere on the field. He is athletic and could play off-the-ball linebacker, but he also has a lot of pass-rushing abilities. Carolina needs to get younger at the position, and if Walker falls to them, they have to capitalize and take advantage.
9. New Orleans Saints - Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
This is where I feel like the Saints have to make a move for a quarterback. Derek Carr is battling a shoulder injury, and we don't know what his future might look like in New Orleans. Shedeur Sanders falls right to their laps, and they have to take him. Sanders isn't a polished quarterback and will need some time to develop, but he is a natural thrower and could be what the New Orleans Saints need to get back to contention. Sanders isn't for everybody personality-wise, but I think it is worth the gamble if you are the Saints at this stage.
10. Chicago Bears - Kelvin Banks Jr, OT, Texas
The Bears must address the offensive line in this draft and continue building around Caleb Williams. The offensive line was abysmal last season for Chicago, and they have put resources this offseason to try and fix that, but they need more. Banks can come in and likely slot into a guard spot early on, but has the versatility to move to tackle and be the franchise tackle in the future. He possesses many traits that are attractive to general managers and head coaches, and he's a perfect fit in Chicago as they need to continue to protect Caleb Williams.
11. San Francisco 49ers - Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss
San Francisco needs to get younger along the defensive line, and Nolen would be a perfect fit for them. San Francisco lost some defensive personnel in free agency, and they need to reload here in the draft badly. Nolen is a twitched-up interior rusher who can shoot through games and has a pass-rushing ability. He is an impressive prospect who should be able to come in and start day one for the 49ers.
12. Dallas Cowboys - Matthew Golden, WR, Texas
The Cowboys opted to stay in state and select the receiver out of Texas, Matthew Golden, to give Dak Prescott and company another weapon. I am a big fan of Golden and think he has the potential to be the best receiver in the class. He is a guy who can line up outside, beat coverage, and offer some run-after-the-catch ability. I think his best football is ahead of him. He reminded me a lot of Devonta Smith coming out of college, and I see a lot of similarities in how they play.
13. Miami Dolphins - Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas
With Jalen Ramsey requesting a trade and looking like he is leaving Miami, the Dolphins desperately need to get younger in the secondary. Given his versatility, I only draft Barron here over Will Johnson, and I think that could be attractive for many teams. Barron is a ball hawk with excellent instincts and is capable of playing inside and outside. There is a lot to like from this guy.
14. Indianapolis Colts - Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
The Colts rush to the podium with this pick if this is how the draft plays out. The Colts have been looking for another offensive playmaker for a few years, and they will get all that in Tyler Warren. Warren did many things at Penn State, showcasing his versatility. He is an excellent route runner and offers a lot of run-after-the-catch ability. If the board falls like it does here, the Colts should be satisfied selecting the young tight end out of Penn State.
15. Atlanta Falcons - Mike Green, Edge, Marshall
The Falcons desperately need help at the edge position, and they opt for the production guy out of Marshall, Mike Green. Green had a lot of production at Marshall, and his game should easily translate to the NFL. The knock on Green is that he isn't an ideal size for the position, and he can find himself getting pushed around a lot in the run game, but I think this is a situation where you take the production he had at Marshall.
16. Atlanta Cardinals - Mykel Williams, Edge, Georgia
While it wasn't quite the season, I'm sure Mykel Williams was looking for production-wise, as he still has all the tools to be an elite pass rusher in the league one day. He stands 6-foot-5, 260 pounds, with 34 ⅜ inch arms. Those guys are usually going to get drafted high. He offers a lot of versatility at the position, rushes on the outside, and kicks into the inside on third downs. With Atlanta's desperate need to get some guys who can get after the quarterback, Williams is worth taking a flyer on.
17. Cincinnati Bengals - Shemar Stewart - Edge, Texas A&M
Stewart is one of the bigger gambles in this draft class. He is one of those players whose side is vast, but his floor is not great. He was a guy who tested out of his mind at the combine and possesses freak-like athleticism at the position, but he didn't have a lot of production at Texas A&M, where he never eclipsed 1.5 sacks in a single season at the collegiate level, and wasn't a great run stopper either. This gamble might be worth taking a flyer on, but this guy has all-pro potential if it works out.
18. Seattle Seahawks - Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
Mike Macdonald knows all about this kid, Will Johnson, and the type of player he is. He wasn't afraid to start him as a true freshman during his first and only season as the Michigan defensive coordinator. This is a situation where Seattle is taking the best player available. Johnson is only slighted to fall because many people have concerns over his injuries the last couple of seasons and his not working out ahead of the draft. Throw that aside, you throw on the tape, and you see this guy's talent. Pairing him with Devon Witherspoon will give Seattle a prolific secondary for years.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Donovon Ezeiruaku, Edge, Boston College
The Bucs need a pass rusher, which makes too much sense for them not to pass up. The Boston College star is a high-energy guy with elite pass-rushing traits who can fit nicely with Tampa Bay's pass-rushing rotation. This guy just seems like a Bucs pick.
20. Denver Broncos - Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
If you are the Broncos, you have to take advantage of how the board fell and take your chances on another weapon for Bo Nix and the young offense. McMillan is a bigger receiver who is best when running deep, and the quarterback gives him a chance. I see a lot of Drake London in this guy's game, and Denver can address the dire need for a running back later in the draft, as it is simply a deeper class than the wide receiver position.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers - Derrick Harmon, DL, Oregon
It's no secret that Pittsburgh is in the market for a quarterback. However, I don't believe that Jaxson Dart is worth taking at this point in the draft, and I instead opt for the defensive lineman out of Oregon who says he models his game after Cam Hayward. Pittsburgh's run defense struggled down the stretch last season, and they need to get younger at the position. This would be a relatively easy pick for Pittsburgh to make. Hayward is expected to be 36 in two weeks, and Pittsburgh desperately needs some help on the inside.
22. Los Angeles Chargers - Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
Jim Harbaugh might try to do a backflip celebrating Loveland making it this far in the draft. If this is how the board falls, the Chargers might submit their pick in 10 seconds. The Chargers need more dynamic weapons on the offensive side of the ball, and the former Michigan tight end knows the head coach well, Jim Harbaugh, so it would be a straightforward selection. He's a big guy and a smooth route runner with all the pro potential. This pick makes too much sense.
23. Green Bay Packers - Kenneth Grant, DL, Michigan
A run on some Michigan players here in the last couple of picks as the Packers opt to bolster their defensive line even more and take Kenneth Grant. Green Bay is not afraid to take players and not have them play right away, and that's what I think would be the case for Grant, but he would come in and contribute and has potential to be the run stopper everyone thinks he is. At 6-foot-4 and 331 pounds, Grant has twitchy movement skills for his size.
24. Minnesota Vikings - Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina
The Vikings need to find a long-term replacement for Harrison Smith at the safety position, and Emmanwori is one of the rarest safety talents to ever enter the NFL. He's built like a linebacker at 6-foot-3, 220 lbs, but he moves like a defensive back with a 4.38 40-yard dash. Did I mention he also has a 43" vertical jump? Yeah, the kid is a freak and could be one of the rarest defensive backs we have ever seen playing the position. He will fit in perfectly with what Brian Flores wants to do. What are they feeding these guys nowadays?
25. Houston Texans - Tyler Booker, OG, Alabama
This is another obvious pick for a team that needs to do a better job protecting its franchise quarterback, CJ Stroud. Booker would be steady at the guard position and give the Texans some stability at the offensive line position. They have to do a better job of protecting Stroud if they want to maximize their potential as a football team.
26. Las Angeles Rams - Trey Amos, CB, Ole Miss
The Rams need to find a way to get younger in the secondary, and they will have a guy who will come in and want to compete right away in Trey Amos. Amos is long, fast, and has ball skills. He reminds me a lot of Martin Emerson Jr. and could come in and help out the secondary right away.
27. Baltimore Ravens - Malaki Starks, S, Georgia
This is a staple the Ravens have been doing for a couple of years now, and to their credit, it has been working. Let the board come to them and simply take the best player available. Starks would be that guy in this situation. He didn't test well in the draft, but if you turn on the tape, this guy is as good as any defensive player. Baltimore will have a lot of options on the backside and a lot of versatility in that safety room if Starks does fall to them.
28. Detroit Lions - Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State
If it wasn't for a season-ending injury this past season, we could have been talking about Josh Simmons as potentially being the first tackle off of the board. Instead, he falls right into the laps of the Detroit Lions, who need to get younger on the offensive line and keep investing in it. Simmons played in only six games this past season and still put out one of the more consistent tapes from anyone in the class.
29. Washington Commanders - Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
The time to win is now for Jayden Daniels and the Washington commanders. It doesn't matter that they traded for Deebo Samuel this offense; they still need to add more weapons for Jayden Daniels, and Egbuka would come in and be an outstanding addition to the slot for Washington. He is an excellent route runner, and he has a bit of grittiness that will attract a lot of teams. He can always get open and move the chains on third down. Jayden Daniels will love this kid.
30. Buffalo Bills - Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky
After whiffing on the cornerback position and drafting Kaiir Elam, the Bills need to find some help opposite Christian Benford. Buffalo desperately needs to upgrade the secondary, and Hairston is a bigger and more physical player who can come in and contribute right away. He reminds me a lot of Devon Witherspoon coming out of college. The play styles are very similar.
31. Kansas City Chiefs - Grey Zabel, OG, North Dakota State
It wasn't a mystery why the Chiefs lost the Super Bowl and couldn't complete the three-peat; they couldn't block for Patrick Mahomes. Kansas City is now dealing with all of the cap constraints that come with winning, and they had to move on from Joe Thuney this offseason. Here is his replacement. Zabel has the potential to play anywhere on the line and would be an outstanding pickup for the Chiefs, who continue to need to invest in the offensive line and protect Patrick Mahomes.
32. Philadelphia Eagles - James Pearce Jr, Edge, Tennessee
There was a point in time when James Pearce was in the running to be the number one overall pick. A lackluster season this past year at Tennessee changed that, but he still has a ton of upside. Philadelphia would be the best place for him. He would be a situational pass rusher and could develop during this time. The Eagles won a Super Bowl because they were able to get after the quarterback; why change now?
As the 2025 NFL Draft unfolds, expect chaos, surprises, and franchise-altering decisions. This year's class features game-breaking talent, wildcards with sky-high ceilings, and a handful of boom-or-bust prospects that could swing the future of multiple organizations. Whether it's the Titans taking their future quarterback or teams like the Browns and Saints rolling the dice on electric playmakers, this draft could set the tone for the next wave of NFL dominance. The offseason is about hope; for 32 teams this weekend, that hope starts on the draft card. Buckle up.
