The NFL Draft is less than 24 hours away, and it’s looking like we could be in for one of the craziest ones in recent history.

In recent years we’ve had a somewhat good idea of where the top quarterbacks on the board will go by this point in time. Last year it was practically set in stone that Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, and Drake Maye would go top 3. The puzzle of this year’s QB class is much harder to solve. Cam Ward looks to be the clear QB1, but behind him is where the questions begin. I don’t think all that highly of any the other QBs, but at the same time, there’s a lot of QB needy teams in this league right now. Will these teams reach for their next QB or roll the dice for a chance at better value? Keep reading to see how I have Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft playing out.

Pick	Explanation
1. Cam Ward, QB, Miami	This is starting to feel like an obvious choice. Will Levis is not the long term answer in Tennessee, and Ward is looking more and more like the surefire QB1 in the class. I’ve always been a believer in Ward. His ability to make plays under significant amounts of pressure shows me that he can thrive in any situation.
2. Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado	I wouldn’t exactly say Sanders is the best available here, but the Browns need to figure out their QB situation fast; they cannot be relying on Deshaun Watson to be a key part of their QB room. Sanders may be a riskier pick than Ward, but he certainly has upside and the Browns are in a position where they need to take that gamble on a potential QB of their future.
3. Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado	The Giants’ QB needs are less urgent with Russell Wilson here to hold down the fort for a year. Hunter and Abdul Carter are the clear best players on the board in this draft, and I would be shocked if the Giants pass on one of them. Given the Giants already have Brian Burns to anchor their pass rush, Hunter fills bigger needs for this team, adding depth to both the CB and WR rooms. I would expect him to see rotational reps at both positions and have the chance to emerge as WR2 in this offense. He put up significant production at both positions in college, and I feel it would be a waste to force him onto one side of the ball full time.
4. Abdul Carter, ED, Penn State	If Hunter and Carter are gone, I’m almost certain the Patriots use their first pick on an offensive tackle (whether that’s at 4 or after a trade down). However, they cannot pass up on Abdul Carter if he falls into their laps. Harold Landry was a nice addition to the pass rush, but he’s no superstar. Carter has the chance to be the best edge rusher in New England since Judon left. He produced 12 sacks at Penn State last season, and should be in for plenty of sack opportunities right away in the NFL.
5. Will Campbell, OL, LSU	There’s been a lot of buzz about Mason Graham going in this spot, but Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence has lacked proper protection his entire NFL career. In this new system, the Jaguars should do everything they can to set their franchise guy up for success, and securing the best tackle in the class would be an excellent start.
6. Mason Graham, DL, Michigan	The Raiders have a lot of needs to address after a rough 2024. Christian Wilkins has been a great run stopper up front, but he could use a partner in crime. There’s a lot of directions the Raiders could go here, but I have them pairing Wilkins up with one of the best players in the class.
7. Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona	Without Aaron Rodgers at quarterback, I have a hard time trusting Allen Lazard as the #2 receiving option of an NFL team. I think it’s pretty likely the Jets target a pass catcher to pair up with Garrett Wilson here. Tyler Warren is an option, but I see the Jets giving Jeremy Ruckert a shot at tight end and addressing an even thinner WR depth chart.
8. Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State	It’s possible Jeanty is gone by this point, as the Jaguars and Raiders could also use a running back, but Graham and Campbell off the board leave Jeanty as the clear best available. The Panthers may have extended Chuba Hubbard, but Jeanty just had one of the best college running back seasons of all time. You don’t pass on that at pick #8 unless you have a top tier RB on your roster, something Jeanty will likely be from day one.
9. Will Johnson, CB, Michigan	The Saints have lost both CB Marshon Lattimore and CB Paulson Adebo in the last calendar year. It’s time to reload at the position, and Johnson seems pretty likely to be the second corner off the board after Travis Hunter. There has been buzz around a QB here, but I expect them to wait until Day 2 with Ward and Sanders gone.
10. Armand Membou, OL, Missouri	The Bears certainly beefed up their offensive line this offseason, but I feel they could still benefit from an upgrade at the tackle position. Membou has the potential to serve as an anchor on this new look Bears line, giving QB Caleb Williams much more protection than his rookie year.
11. Kelvin Banks Jr., OL, Texas	Trent Williams has been this team’s franchise left tackle for a while now, but he’s 36 years old. It’s time to find a long term replacement. Banks has plenty of upside and could fill in on the right side in his first couple seasons.
12. Malaki Starks, S, Georgia	It’s been a while since the Cowboys have had a true game changer at the safety position, and I see it as one of their bigger needs headed into the draft. I’m a big fan of Notre Dame ball hawk Xavier Watts, but the Cowboys already CB Trevon Diggs to catch picks. Starks seems like a more logical fit and seems to be the most likely safety to go this early.
TRADE 13. James Pearce, ED, Tennessee	With Matt Judon still in the open market, the Falcons need for a big name edge rusher is greater than ever. I could see them being aggressive to move up for one, and the Dolphins would be willing to trade down with their supposed top choice in Kelvin Banks Jr. off the board. I’m not huge on Williams or Walker this early, and Pearce seems to be the next most likely edge to go here.
14. Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State	I think some teams will be hesitant to spend an early pick on a tight end given their mixed history of success, but Warren is a special player and this would be a steal. He had a better statline this year than most WRs even did. The Colts haven’t had a clear #1 tight end since Eric Ebron left in 2020. They would be foolish to pass up on Warren if he’s available.
TRADE 15. Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas	Barron is the player I would’ve had Miami taking at 13, and they still secure him a couple picks later. He put up a killer statline last year at Texas, including 11 passes defended and 5 interceptions. Corner is not necessarily the Dolphins’ biggest need, but they could still use a reliable #2 behind Jalen Ramsey, and the team’s need to address the trenches can wait given the deep nature of the class.
16. Omarion Hampton, RB, UNC	James Conner has been the lead back here for a while, but how much longer will he stay healthy and produce at the same level? The Cardinals need a long term RB plan, and it’s unclear whether Trey Benson has what it takes to eventually take over. Hampton can ease Conner’s early down load right away, and could eventually become the top dog of this backfield. Teams will not let Jeanty’s historic season overshadow one of the best RB classes in a while behind him.
TRADE 17. Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama	This would be a tough spot for the Bengals to pick, as their top needs are at corner and offensive lineman and the clear top three at each position would be off the board. I have them trading their pick to Houston, who lacks a clear anchor to their linebacker core. Campbell is the top LB in this class and has the upside to fill that role. He logged almost ten tackles per game last year.
18. Walter Nolen, DL, Ole Miss	The Seahawks look pretty strong at their skill positions and in the secondary, but they still need to improve in the trenches. Nolen is a versatile defensive lineman who led Ole Miss in tackles for a loss last year with 14, 6.5 of those being sacks. He has been successful against the run and the pass, giving the Seahawks flexibility to play him in just about any role up front.
TRADE 19. Kenneth Grant, DL, Michigan	Let the run on defensive linemen begin. After seeing the Nolen pick at 18 I have the Chargers moving up to address what’s arguably their top need. Grant was paired up with Mason Graham at Michigan to make for one of the scariest d-line duos in college. He has the upside to anchor the d-line in Los Angeles, and reunites with his coaching staff from his first two years of college.
20. Matthew Golden, WR, Texas	This could be a late landing spot for Jalon Walker, but I see Walker’s value being in his versatility within a LB corps rather than his success of the edge. The Broncos are set at LB, and it has been a while since they’ve had stability at WR. It’s time they address that.
21. Jaxson Dart, QB, Ole Miss	The Steelers have been linked time and time again to aging QB Aaron Rodgers, but given his hesitancy to commit, I think they should move on and let him retire. They’re better off grabbing a young, promising QB here, and if Rodgers decides to come to Pittsburgh, they can compete. Dart may not have the upside of Ward or Sanders, but he has a good chance to be a solid NFL QB.
TRADE 22. Tyler Booker, OL, Alabama	The Bucs have some pretty strong tackles and a promising young center in Graham Barton. The guard position could still be addressed, and Booker may be the best guard in the class.
23. Josh Simmons, OL, Ohio State	The Packers offensive line was good last year, but outside of center Elgton Jenkins, it lacks a big game. Simmons would help ensure that this Green Bay o-line keeps on succeeding for the next handful of years.
24. Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina	Harrison Smith isn’t getting any younger, and Camryn Bynum just left in free agency. The Vikings need someone who can lead their safety group into the future. Emmanwori had 4 interceptions last year, which isn’t quite as much as Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts, but he took two of them for pick sixes. Originally a linebacker in high school, Emmanwori also adds versatility to make an impact all over the field.
TRADE 25. Derrick Harmon, DL, Oregon	The Bengals move down and still address one of their biggest needs in a defensive lineman. Harmon would be able to slot in next to B.J. Hill and add to a Bengals run stopping effort that struggled last season. QB Joe Burrow could have made the playoffs last year if the Bengals defense held their own. Harmon will help prevent the Bengals from running into the same problem this year.
26. Jalon Walker, LB, Georgia	Walker’s surprise tumble ends here with a Rams team on which he fits perfectly. The Rams could use help both off the edge and in the rest of their LB corps. Walker can add a little bit of both to this team.
27. Donovan Jackson, OL, Ohio State	Jackson played next to Simmons last year and contributed to an Ohio State o-line that helped both Buckeye RBs (TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins) hit 1,000 yards this season. His contribution to this Baltimore o-line would be huge in helping RB Derrick Henry succeed as much in Year 2 as a Raven as he did in Year 1.
28. Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky	The Lions added one new starting corner in D.J. Reed, but could use another new face at the position with Brian Branch shifting to safety full time. Hairston lacked the same production in 2024 that he had back in 2023, but he has the potential to be an elite ball hawk DB.
29. Donovan Ezeiruaku, ED, Boston College	Ezeiruaku was a bit inconsistent prior to the 2024 college football season, but he was an absolute force last season logging 16.5 sacks. I think he’s flying under the radar in this draft class and the Commanders have been in need of a Chase Young/Montez Sweat replacement for a good bit now.
30. Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State	Garrett Wilson. Chris Olave. Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Marvin Harrison Jr. These are among the players at Emeka Egbuka played alongside during his time at Ohio State, yet he still received national attention every single year. To reach 1,000 yards behind Marvin Harrison Jr. and do it again behind the young Jeremiah Smith is very impressive. In Buffalo, he’ll have the chance to shine right away on a team that lacks a true #1.
31. Mike Green, ED, Marshall	It’s not often Group of 5 players get drafted in the first round, but Mike Green is not just any old Group of 5 player. After transferring from Virginia, he has flourished at Marshall and led all of FBS with 17 sacks this season. The Chiefs have a great run stopper in Chris Jones, but it’s time to pair him with a promising pass rusher.
32. Josh Conerly Jr., OL, Oregon	This Super Bowl-winning roster has very few holes, but Lane Johnson isn’t going to last much longer in the NFL. Addressing the OT position makes a lot of sense here, and Conerly would be ready to slot in at right tackle whenever the time comes.

Feel free to comment with your thoughts, and enjoy the draft!