Honestly, if you looked at the mock drafts back in January, nobody saw this coming. We all thought the quarterback class was "weak." We figured the Tennessee Titans would play it safe. Instead, the 2025 NFL Draft picks turned into one of the most chaotic, defensive-heavy, and high-stakes weekends Green Bay has ever seen.
The atmosphere at Lambeau Field was electric, but the real story was the sheer volume of talent that slipped into the middle rounds. While the headlines scream about the top names, the real value of the 2025 NFL Draft picks lies in the teams that stopped chasing shadows and started drafting actual football players.
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The Cam Ward Gamble: Tennessee’s New Era
It started at the top. The Titans didn't blink. They took Cam Ward out of Miami with the first overall pick, and the league basically held its breath.
Ward is the definition of "high ceiling." He’s got that backyard football flair that makes coaches lose their hair and fans lose their minds. In 2024, he led the FBS with a 92.9 PFF grade. He throws from angles that shouldn't exist. But he also fumbled 11 times last season. It’s a massive risk for Brian Callahan, especially when you consider they passed on a "sure thing" like Travis Hunter to grab their franchise signal-caller.
Speaking of Hunter, the Jacksonville Jaguars didn't just sit around and wait. They got aggressive. They traded up with Cleveland to snag the Heisman winner at number two. Hunter is a unicorn. Is he a corner? Is he a receiver? Most experts think he'll start at corner, but don't be shocked if Doug Pederson draws up 10-15 snaps a game for him on offense. He played over 1,500 snaps at Colorado—the guy just doesn't get tired.
2025 NFL Draft Picks: The First Round Breakdown
The first round felt like a run on "big men" and "game-changers." Here is how the top of the board actually shook out:
The New York Giants stayed home at three and took Abdul Carter. The Penn State edge rusher is a monster. He had 66 pressures last year, and now he’s lining up next to Dexter Lawrence and Brian Burns. Good luck to any NFC East quarterback trying to find a second of peace in that pocket.
New England grabbed Will Campbell at four to protect whoever eventually starts at QB. Then, the Browns—after trading back—still landed Mason Graham at five. Getting the best interior defender in the draft after a trade-back is a masterclass in value.
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Then came the Raiders. Everyone knew they needed a runner. Ashton Jeanty was the only choice. The Boise State star forced 152 missed tackles last year. That’s not a typo. He’s basically a human pinball, and he gives Las Vegas an identity they've been missing since Josh Jacobs left.
Other notable Day 1 selections:
- Tetairoa McMillan (WR, Arizona) to Carolina at No. 8: Bryce Young finally has a massive target who wins every 50/50 ball.
- Colston Loveland (TE, Michigan) to Chicago at No. 10: Caleb Williams gets a security blanket who runs routes like a wideout.
- Malaki Starks (S, Georgia) to Baltimore at No. 27: The Ravens doing Ravens things, taking the best safety on the board who somehow fell to the end of the round.
Why the Second Round Was the Real Sweet Spot
If you want to know which teams are actually going to improve in 2026, look at the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft picks. This is where the "steals" happened.
Will Johnson, the Michigan corner, somehow slid to the Arizona Cardinals at pick 47. There were whispers about a knee issue, but on tape? He’s a shutdown guy. Jonathan Gannon is quietly building a terrifying defense in the desert.
Chicago also went back to the well, grabbing Luther Burden III at 39. Pairing Burden with D.J. Moore and Rome Odunze is just mean. It’s unfair. The Bears officially have no excuses left on offense.
And don't sleep on the Bills taking T.J. Sanders at 41. They needed interior pass rush after some veteran departures, and Sanders has the quickness to be a three-down player immediately.
The Quarterback "Slump" and the Day 3 Survivors
Aside from Ward at one, the quarterback market was... weird.
Shedeur Sanders didn't go in the top five. He didn't even go in the top ten. He eventually landed, but the wait was the talk of the draft. Jaxson Dart went to the Giants at pick 25 (via trade with Houston), which was a bit of a shocker. Dart has the arm, but coming from Lane Kiffin’s offense, there are real questions about how he reads a pro-style defense.
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Down in the sixth round, you had guys like Riley Leonard going to the Colts and Will Howard heading to Pittsburgh. These aren't just "camp arms." Leonard is an elite runner who fits Shane Steichen’s scheme perfectly if Anthony Richardson struggles with health.
Winners, Losers, and the Compensatory Chaos
The San Francisco 49ers entered the weekend with a massive chest of compensatory picks—four in total. They used that volume to move around and secure depth that most teams can't afford.
The Baltimore Ravens also walked away as winners. They had 11 total picks. When Eric DeCosta has that many swings at the plate, he usually hits a few home runs. Landing Malaki Starks and then Mike Green in the second (despite off-field questions) gives them two Day 1 starters for a unit that lost key pieces in free agency.
On the flip side, the Atlanta Falcons and Minnesota Vikings had the fewest picks with only five each. When you have that little draft capital, you have to be perfect. Minnesota focused on the trenches with Donovan Jackson in the first, but they didn't have the ammunition to address their secondary needs later on.
What Happens Next for These Rookies?
Now that the dust has settled on the 2025 NFL Draft picks, the real work starts. Mini-camps are around the corner, and the expectations are through the roof.
For the Titans, the clock is ticking on Cam Ward. He doesn't need to be an All-Pro in Week 1, but he has to show that the fumbles are a thing of the past. If you're a fantasy football player or just a die-hard fan, keep an eye on Ashton Jeanty in Vegas. He’s going to get 20 carries a game from the jump.
If you're looking to track how these picks are developing, you should focus on three things:
- Rookie Mini-Camp Snap Counts: See who is actually running with the first team.
- Preseason Performance: Especially for the mid-round quarterbacks like Riley Leonard and Will Howard.
- Injury Reports: Keep a close watch on Will Johnson’s knee in Arizona; if he’s healthy, he’s the Defensive Rookie of the Year favorite.
The 2025 class might have been "unpredictable," but that’s exactly why it’s going to be so fun to watch. These players aren't just names on a screen anymore—they are the new faces of the league.
Go check your team’s local beat writers for the specific undrafted free agent signings, because in a year this deep, the next star might not have even been drafted at all.