How will your team fare on the first two nights of the 2025 NFL Draft, from the first through the third rounds? The Sporting News once again has you covered tracking all the selections and handing out grades in real time on Thursday and Friday nights.
Although the quarterbacks take center stage again, running backs, wide receivers, offensive tackles and edge rushers are among the loaded positions in this class. That makes for some intriguing and surprising selections after another predictable No. 1 overall pick.
From the top, with the Tennessee Titans tied to taking Miami’s Cam Ward as their new franchise QB, through No. 102 overall, this is your hub for in-depth live reactions for the first through third rounds, grading every team and player fit:
MORE 2025 NFL DRAFT: Live picks tracker | 3-round mock draft | Top 250 big board
NFL Draft grades 2025: Expert analysis for Rounds 1-3
Round 1
1. Tennessee Titans: Cam Ward, QB, Miami (6-2, 219 pounds)
The Titans got sold on Ward’s strong arm and athleticism giving them the complete package they needed to be their best long-term franchise QB since the late Steve McNair. Ward passed all the pre-draft tests and can thrive soon with some added support under offensive-minded Brian Callahan.
2. Jacksonville Jaguars (from Browns): Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado (6-0, 188 pounds)
The Jaguars pulled off the first draft shocker by giving up plenty, including a first-rounder next year, to land Hunter to help them with key needs on both sides of the ball. Hunter will be a key target opposite rising star wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr., the team’s first-rounder in 2024. Hunter also will shore up corner opposite Tyson Campbell, helping battling some tough wideouts in the AFC South and beyond. The minus is only for the high cost.
3. New York Giants: Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State (6-3, 250 pounds)
The Giants make it three-for-three for acing the right picks at the right spots. They have some punch in their front seven, but not a dominant, versatile all-around disruptor both in the pass rush and run defense. Carter is a transcendent addition to boost Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux in their 3-4.
4. New England Patriots: Will Campbell, OT, LSU (6-6, 319 pounds)
The Patriots keep up the predictable nature going in a great way, as locking down left tackle pass protection for second-year first-round QB Drake Maye was imperative, even over boosting the pass rush. Campbell will be a decade-long rock, also being a big, experienced asset in run blocking.
5. Cleveland Browns (from Jaguars): Mason Graham, DT, Michigan (6-3, 296 pounds)
The Browns passed on taking Hunter and also don’t take Shedeur Sanders to fill their void at franchise QB. Instead, after adding a ton of draft capital with the Jaguars trade, end up with a safe, high-motor inside havoc wreaker to pair with two-time reigning Sporting News defensive player of the year, end Myles Garrett.
6. Las Vegas Raiders: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State (5-8, 211 pounds)
The Raiders had to be nervous about being sniped by the Jaguars a pick earlier, until that team moved up to No. 2 to get Hunter. That gave Las Vegas a clear, no-brainer shot to fill their much needed feature back role to suit the mentality of Pete Carroll and Chip Kelly to better support Geno Smith and the downfield spread passing game.
7. New York Jets: Armand Membou, OT, Missouri (6-4, 332 pounds)
The Jets go back to the position of high need after taking Olu Fashanu at No. 11 overall last year. Membou helps fill a big need at right tackle with his powerful run blocking for a new more grounded Lions-adjacent offense with Justin Fields and Breece Hall under Tanner Engstrand.
8. Carolina Panthers: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona (6-4, 219. pounds)
The Panthers keep up the momentum of strong picks by getting a great blend of talent and positional need. McMillan is the missing piece in the offense, a big, true go-to receiver for Bryce Young. His red zone work and field-stretching ability outside should remind offensive-minded coach Dave Canales of Mike Evans, his former No. 1 in Tampa Bay.
9. New Orleans Saints: Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas (6-5, 315 pounds)
- Grade: B-
Kellen Moore makes a different kind of offensive pick vs. opting for a pass rusher, given there’s more depth at that position vs. a reliable pass-protecting tackle. This might be a mild reach for the Saints but fills a key need in their new-look offense with QB uncertainty.
10. Chicago Bears: Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan (6-5, 248 pounds)
The Bears were prepared to rev up their 12 personnel with Ben Johnson but more from a receiving standpoint to boost second-year No. 1 overall QB Caleb Williams, helping Cole Kmet, D.J. Moore and another 2024 first-rounder, Rome Odunze. The only big question is why they took Loveland over the more dynamic, versatile consensus top tight end Tyler Warren.
11. San Francisco 49ers: Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia (6-5, 260 pounds)
The 49ers were looking at the best offensive lineman or edge rusher available and with Campbell, Membou and Banks off the board, it was a lot easier to turn to Williams, the safest, highest-floor pass rusher in this class. Williams is the ideal fit for Robert Saleh to play well off Nick Bosa and produce big impact right away.
12. Dallas Cowboys: Tyler Booker, G, Alabama (6-5, 321 pounds)
The Cowboys saw venerable future Hall of Fame right guard Zack Martin retire in the offseason. Jerry Jones did not waste time replacing him, getting another early offensive line investment to match left tackle Tyler Guyton and left guard Tyler Smith. It’s not a flashy Cowboys pick that some expected, but it’s a classic savvy safe move by Jones for a reliable plug-and-play long-term starter.
13. Miami Dolphins: Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan (6-3, 331 pounds)
Grant is a surprising pick but like the 49ers, the offensive tackles were gone so the Dolphins wait to replace retired Terron Armstead. Grant can eat up a lot space for Anthony Weaver’s three-man front and also has rare juice for his frame for the inside pass rush. It’s not too shocking he didn’t last long on the board after Graham. He is great support for Zach Sieler.
14. Indianapolis Colts: Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State (6-5, 256 pounds)
The Colts should be thrilled for getting their top target at any position, surviving the Bears taking a different tight end four picks earlier. Warren is a great chess piece with more athletic upside for Shane Steichen than his former top Eagles starter, Dallas Goedert. He can complement their big-play receivers well on short-to-intermediate routes all over the field for either Anthony Richardson or Daniel Jones.
15. Atlanta Falcons: Jalon Walker, LB, Georgia (6-1, 243 pounds)
The Falcons also benefit from some teams passing on an elite all-around defensive talent, including two division foes, the Panthers and Saints, in the top 10. He can be their versatile version of Micah Parsons with his explosive pass rush and solid run stopping. He also has great range and speed whether lining up at linebacker or edge.
16. Arizona Cardinals: Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss (6-3, 296 pounds)
The Cardinals needed to get the best defensive lineman available for Jonathan Gannon’s four-man front. After seeing the Eagles be so strong inside, Gannon taps into that potential for some massive upside in Nolen. He can blow up a lot of plays in the backfield vs. run and pass.
17. Cincinnati Bengals: Shemar Stewart, EDGE, Texas A&M (6-5, 267 pounds)
The Bengals maybe got a little aggressive to fill their need for a pass-rushing end as either a contingency for a possible Trey Hendrickson trade or a replacement for Joseph Ossai opposite Hendrickson in the wake of Sam Hubbard’s retirement. But otherwise, this is a great pick for Al Golden given Stewart’s explosive upside for the scheme.
18. Seattle Seahawks: Grey Zabel, G/C, North Dakota State (6-6, 312 pounds)
The Seahawks get a much-needed option to upgrade their interior offensive line. Zabel is a plus tackle-level athlete who can move people out of the way for Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet in the new athletic run-blocking scheme of Klint Kubiak.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State (6-1, 202 pounds)
The Buccaneers, as strong NFC contenders, make more of a pick with the future beyond Mike Evans and Chris Godwin in mind, knowing that Jalen McMillan proved he was an impact rising option as a rookie third-rounder. Egbuka fits their offense with Baker Mayfield and will thrive a la Jaxson Smith-Njigba, but that will be more prevalent in his second season.
20. Denver Broncos: Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas (5-11, 194 pounds)
The Broncos could have chose to go offense, but with Egbuka off the board, it made sense to land Barron to give them a massive upgrade in slot coverage between ace shutdown corner Pat Surtain II and young playmaker Riley Moss. The best available approach was smart, keeping up their defensive-minded offseason theme.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon (6-3, 310 pounds)
The Steelers had a massive need at quarterback and passed on both Sanders and Jaxson Dart to reach a bit for a second-round player, extending for a need despite the fact Nolen and Grant were well off the board. Harmon gives them a run-stuffing boost but they have may left more overall impact on the table.
22. Los Angeles Chargers: Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina (6-0, 221 pounds)
There’s nothing wrong with Hampton going in this first-round spot because it’s worthy of his talent, not far behind the complete workhorse package of Jeanty. But it’s kind of surprising to invest further in revamping the backfield again after signing Najee Harris in free agency. That said, Hampton can be a special feature back who adds another key element of explosiveness to a rebooted offense.
23. Green Bay Packers: Matthew Golden, WR, Texas (6-0, 195 pounds)
The Packers didn’t let down Jordan Love by finally breaking their 23-year run of not taking impact wide receivers in the first round. Adding Golden’s speedy deep threat is huge for their young QB and he can also help clean up their mess for a reliable go-to guy given all their injury issues at the position.
24. Minnesota Vikings: Donovan Jackson, G, Ohio State (6-4, 320 pounds)
- Grade: B+
The Vikings stuck with their guns for an interior offensive lineman even with Booker and Zabel off the board earlier than expected with Jackson being a borderline first-round talent. Jackson is a powerful run blocker with rare athleticism for his size.
25. New York Giants (from Texans): Jaxson Dart, QB, Ole Miss (6-2, 225 pounds)
The Giants took care of getting their defensive superstar in Carter and can still make out with a potential franchise QB after trading up but passing on Sanders. Dart’s big arm and dual-threat ability fits better in Brian Daboll’s offense. Dart also has the mental and physical toughness combination to succeed in New York.
26. Atlanta Falcons (from Rams): James Pearce Jr., EDGE, Tennessee (6-5, 245 pounds)
The Falcons trading up to get a second impact pass rusher in the first round is intriguing, especially maybe getting the next Jared Verse out of a deal with Verse’s team. Atlanta saw a falling star with freakish qualities and had to take the shot for his ceiling at a position of serious need. The cost to get him brings down the grade.
27. Baltimore Ravens: Malaki Starks, S, Georgia (6-1, 197 pounds)
The Ravens couldn’t let Starks keep falling as he gives their versatility secondary another big-time rangy playmaker to support Kyle Hamilton much better than fill-in Ar’Darius Washington. This is a terrific pick, yet another shrew move by Eric DeCosta and John Harbaugh.
28. Detroit Lions: Tyleik Williams, DT, Ohio State (6-2, 334 pounds)
The Lions saw their best interior offensive line targets go between Booker, Zabel and Jackson so they flipped their focus to the middle of the defensive line. Williams is a quick, compact inside pass rusher with solid early-down work vs. the run to give Aidan Hutchinson much-needed extra support.
29. Washington Commanders: Josh Conerly Jr., OT, Oregon (6-5, 311 pounds)
The Commanders could have considered pass rush but instead further shore up their offensive line more in front of Jayden Daniels, giving Laremy Tunsil a bookend and a strong run blocker to replace shaky former Chiefs right tackle Andrew Wylie.
30. Buffalo Bills: Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky (5-11, 183 pounds)
The Bills waited to further boost their pass rush after adding Joey Bosa, given the positional depth in this draft, so pivoting to the best healthy corner available made sense. Hairston’s speed is evident and he plays bigger than his size, but his real asset to help the Bills’ man coverage is physicality and technique.
31. Philadelphia Eagles (from Chiefs): Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama (6-3, 235 pounds)
The Eagles followed the Ravens’ lead and grabbed a defensive star who should have gone several picks earlier, right after Walker. They seem loaded at linebacker, but there are durability concerns with Nolan Smith and Nakobe Dean, making Campbell a natural upfield burst fit with great cover linebacker Zack Baun. Campbell will be moved around well to provide quick pass-rush impact for Vic Fangio.
32. Kansas City Chiefs (from Eagles): Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State (6-5, 317 pounds)
The Chiefs did sign former 49ers backup Jaylon Moore to address their issue at tackle but they couldn’t pass up a chance to get a second potential starter to upgrade from Jawaan Taylor and Wanya Morris. Moore could end up starting on the right side with Simmons getting groomed and quickly developed for left tackle.