The 2025 NFL Draft was weird. No, seriously. If you walked into a sports bar in 2024 and told someone the Cleveland Browns would take two quarterbacks on back-to-back days—neither of them in the first round—they’d have laughed you out of the building. But that's exactly what happened in Green Bay. Lambeau Field was packed, the cheese curds were flowing, and the Tennessee Titans basically sprinted to the podium to change their franchise's DNA.
Everyone wants to talk about the "stars," but the real story of the 2025 NFL draft picks is about the teams that stopped playing it safe. We saw a Heisman winner go second, a defensive tackle from Michigan make grown men cry (in a good way), and a quarterback slide that felt like it would never end.
The Cam Ward Gamble and the Top 10 Chaos
Tennessee didn't overthink it. They had the first pick and they took Cam Ward. Simple as that. The Miami QB has an arm that makes scouts drool, even if his "hero ball" tendencies occasionally give coaches heart attacks. Honestly, it was the only move they could make. When you're the worst passing team in the league, you don't pass on a guy who threw for over 3,000 yards and 15 touchdowns in his first pro season.
Then things got interesting. Jacksonville, picking second, grabbed Travis Hunter. Is he a wide receiver? Is he a cornerback? Yes. He’s both. Seeing him go that high was a statement that the NFL is officially ready for the "two-way" era to return. He’s basically a video game character come to life.
The First Round Heavy Hitters
- Tennessee Titans: Cam Ward, QB (Miami) - The new face of the franchise.
- Jacksonville Jaguars: Travis Hunter, WR/CB (Colorado) - The ultimate Swiss Army knife.
- New York Giants: Abdul Carter, DE (Penn State) - A pass-rushing nightmare.
- New England Patriots: Will Campbell, OT (LSU) - Protection for the future.
- Cleveland Browns: Mason Graham, DT (Michigan) - A literal mountain of a human.
It’s kinda funny how the "experts" were worried about the depth of this class. By the time we hit the middle of the first round, teams were snagging guys like Tetairoa McMillan (Carolina) and Colston Loveland (Chicago) who look like Day 1 starters. The Saints actually did something smart for once and bolstered the line with Kelvin Banks Jr. at pick nine. It wasn't flashy, but you can't throw the ball if your QB is on his back.
The Shedeur Sanders Slide Nobody Saw Coming
If you followed the hype, Shedeur Sanders was supposed to be a top-five lock. Or at least top ten. Instead? He fell. And fell. And fell some more.
He didn't hear his name called on Thursday. He didn't hear it on Friday. Finally, at pick 144 in the fifth round, the Cleveland Browns took him. Here’s the kicker: they had already taken Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel just one round earlier at 94. It was chaos. Taking two quarterbacks in the middle rounds is a move that either makes a GM a genius or gets them fired by Christmas. Sanders has the "clutch" gene, but the NFL clearly had concerns about his footwork and the "backyard" style of play that worked at Colorado but gets you killed in the AFC North.
Why the Defensive Steals Mattered
The Cincinnati Bengals might have won the draft without anyone noticing. Getting Shemar Stewart at 17 was a robbery. He’s a defensive end from Texas A&M who plays like he was built in a lab. Then you have the Raiders, who ignored the QB noise and took Ashton Jeanty at six. The Boise State running back is a beast. People say RBs don't matter anymore, but tell that to a defender trying to tackle a 215-pound locomotive in the fourth quarter.
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Honestly, the "steal" of the draft might be Will Johnson. The Michigan corner was a projected top-ten talent who fell to Arizona at pick 47 in the second round because of some injury scares. If he stays healthy, that’s an All-Pro player at a discount price.
Surprising Value in the Later Rounds
- Jalen Milroe to Seattle (92): The physical tools are insane. If he learns to sit in the pocket, he's a star.
- Kyle McCord to Philly (181): The Eagles love a project, and McCord’s deep ball at Syracuse was legitimately elite.
- Riley Leonard to Indy (189): A dual-threat guy who fits the Shane Steichen mold perfectly.
- Kobee Minor (Mr. Irrelevant): The Patriots took the South Carolina corner with the very last pick. History says he'll probably end up a Pro Bowler just because that's how the NFL works now.
What This Draft Tells Us About the Future
This wasn't a draft for the faint of heart. We saw 257 total selections, and for the first time ever, every single one of them came from a DI program. No small-school miracles this year. It was a "big boy" draft.
Teams are clearly prioritizing size and trench play again. Look at the Giants taking Abdul Carter or the Dolphins grabbing Kenneth Grant. The league is cyclical. For years, everyone wanted small, fast receivers. Now, everyone is realizing you need giants to block the other giants.
The trade market was also surprisingly quiet early on. For the first time in the common draft era, every team actually held their original pick as the draft started. It felt... orderly? Until the trades started flying in the second round, of course.
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How to Evaluate These Picks Right Now
If you're looking at your team's haul and feeling "meh," remember that draft grades on Day 1 are usually garbage. Remember when everyone hated the Justin Herbert pick? Exactly.
To truly judge these 2025 NFL draft picks, you have to look at the "fit."
- Did the team address a "premium" position? (QB, OT, Edge, CB)
- Did they reach for a need? (Like the Saints taking Shough at 40—a bit of a head-scratcher).
- Did they maximize value? (The Browns getting Sanders in the 5th is value, even if the fit is weird).
The 2025 class is going to be defined by the quarterbacks. If Cam Ward hits, the Titans are back. If Shedeur Sanders proves the doubters wrong, 31 other teams are going to look very stupid.
Actionable Next Steps
To keep track of how these picks are actually performing, you should:
- Monitor Training Camp Reps: Follow beat writers for teams like the Browns and Titans to see if Ward and Sanders are actually winning the locker room.
- Check the Snap Counts: A first-round pick who doesn't play 50% of the snaps by Week 4 is officially on "bust watch."
- Watch the Waiver Wire: Draft season doesn't end in April. Many of those 7th-rounders will be cut and signed by rivals before the season even starts.
- Review the 2026 Mock Drafts: It sounds crazy, but the holes teams didn't fill in 2025 are exactly what they'll target next year. Keep an eye on the scouts' big boards for the 2026 class to see where the talent gaps remain.