Draft night is basically the only time of year when hope is a universal currency in the NFL. Honestly, if you watched the 1st rd nfl draft at Lambeau Field back in April, you saw exactly how quickly that hope can turn into sheer, unadulterated chaos. One minute you’re looking at a predictable board, and the next, a general manager throws a metaphorical grenade into the room.
It was a weird night.
Tennessee stayed true to the script by grabbing Cam Ward at number one, but after that? Everything went sideways. We saw trades that felt like desperate gambles and a few players sliding so far you started wondering if they’d forgotten how to play football overnight.
The Cam Ward Era Begins in Tennessee
The Titans didn’t overthink it. Brian Callahan needed a franchise centerpiece, and the Miami product was the clear-cut choice. Ward’s 2024 season was a masterclass in modern quarterbacking: 4,313 yards, 39 touchdowns, and only 7 picks. He’s got that "it" factor—the ability to turn a broken play into a highlight reel.
Some scouts were worried about his "backyard football" tendencies, but the Titans are banking on his high football IQ to smooth out those rough edges. He’s drawing comparisons to Jordan Love and Kyler Murray. If he hits his ceiling, the AFC South is going to be a nightmare for opposing defensive coordinators.
Jacksonville’s Massive Gamble on a Two-Way Star
The first real shocker of the 1st rd nfl draft came when the Jaguars decided they weren't waiting around at five. They traded a haul to Cleveland to move up to the second spot. The target? Travis Hunter.
The Colorado sensation is a unicorn. He’s the first guy we’ve seen in a generation who legitimately wants to play both cornerback and wide receiver at the pro level. Jaguars GM James Gladstone basically bet the farm on Hunter’s versatility.
- The Risk: Hunter ended his college season with a knee injury.
- The Reward: You’re getting the Heisman winner and arguably the best player in the country at two different positions.
Jacksonville is desperate to help Trevor Lawrence, and putting Hunter on the field next to Brian Thomas Jr. gives them a vertical threat that is borderline illegal. But it’s risky. 121 snaps a game at the college level is one thing; doing it in the NFL is a different beast entirely.
Why the Trenches Dominated the Early Board
If 2024 was the year of the quarterback, 2025 was the year of the "Big Uglies." After Ward went first, we didn't see another quarterback for a long, long time. Teams were obsessed with the line of scrimmage.
New England took Will Campbell from LSU at four to protect Drake Maye’s blind side. Smart move. Campbell didn’t allow a single sack in 491 pass-blocking snaps during his sophomore year. Then you had the Browns, who after trading down, still managed to snag Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham at five. Graham is a "soul-snatcher" on the interior.
It was a gritty, blue-collar start to the night. By the time we hit the mid-teens, seven of the first twelve picks were either offensive or defensive linemen.
The Shedeur Sanders Slide Nobody Saw Coming
Look, we all knew Shedeur Sanders was a polarizing prospect. Some mock drafts had him as high as number one. Others thought he was a late first-rounder. But falling out of the first round entirely? That was the biggest stunner of the night.
The Pittsburgh Steelers at 21 felt like the floor. Mike Tomlin was reportedly a fan. The Steelers are still stuck in a post-Big Ben purgatory. Instead, they took Oregon DT Derrick Harmon. The room went silent when that pick was announced.
What went wrong? Maybe it was the "Coach Prime" baggage. Maybe it was the concerns about his internal clock under pressure. Whatever it was, the 1st rd nfl draft ended without Shedeur hearing his name, leaving a massive storyline for Day 2.
The Giants’ Late-Night QB Heist
Joe Schoen isn't a guy who sits on his hands. After taking Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter at number three—a pick some graded poorly due to maturity concerns—the Giants traded back into the first round at 25.
Everyone thought it was for Sanders. It wasn't.
They took Jaxson Dart from Ole Miss. Dart is a fascinating prospect. He threw 29 touchdowns in 2024 and has that Eli Manning connection to Ole Miss that New York fans love. They didn't have to give up much to Houston to get the pick—a second, a third, and a future third. If Dart becomes the guy, it’s a legendary move. If not, it’s another bridge quarterback in a city that’s losing patience.
Winners and Losers: Who Actually "Won" the Night?
Draft grades are mostly nonsense until three years later, but we can look at the immediate impact.
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The Chicago Bears are clearly trying to build a fortress around Caleb Williams. They took Michigan tight end Colston Loveland at 10. Pairing him with DJ Moore and Rome Odunze gives Williams a "security blanket" with a massive catch radius.
The Carolina Panthers also did right by their young QB. Getting Tetairoa McMillan at eight gives Bryce Young a 6-foot-4 target who specializes in contested catches. Young needed a guy who could win when the play breaks down, and McMillan is that guy.
The Dallas Cowboys went with Tyler Booker at 12. It wasn't a "sexy" pick, but they needed to get back to their "bully-ball" roots. Booker is a mauler from Alabama who treats defensive tackles like blocking dummies.
What Most People Get Wrong About Draft Grades
People love to scream "Reach!" when a team takes a guy earlier than the "experts" predicted. Take the Seahawks at 18. They took Grey Zabel, a guard from North Dakota State. The internet lost its mind.
But here’s the reality: NFL teams don't draft based on your favorite YouTuber's big board. They draft based on scheme fit and medicals. Seattle needed a versatile interior blocker who could play right away. Zabel was that guy for them.
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Actionable Insights for Following the 2025 Class
If you're trying to track how these picks will pan out this season, keep an eye on these three specific metrics:
- Snap Counts for Travis Hunter: If the Jaguars play him more than 15 snaps on offense per game, watch for "fatigue" issues in the fourth quarter. It’s the biggest hurdle he faces.
- Pressure Rates for Abdul Carter: The Giants' defense is built on its front four. If Carter isn't generating pressure by Week 4, that "D" grade from some analysts might start to look prophetic.
- The "Checkdown" Rate for Cam Ward: If Ward is constantly escaping the pocket and throwing deep, he'll be a star. If he gets forced into a rigid, check-down-heavy system, he might struggle to adapt.
The 1st rd nfl draft is just the starting gun. The real work happens in the humidity of July training camps. If you're a Titans fan, you're sleeping well tonight. If you're a Steelers fan wondering why you passed on a QB? Well, it’s going to be a long season of "what ifs."
Check the training camp injury reports specifically for Travis Hunter and Will Campbell. Campbell is already dealing with an MCL sprain from LSU, and his recovery timeline will dictate whether the Patriots' offensive line is a wall or a sieve in Week 1. Also, keep tabs on the Giants' quarterback competition—Jaxson Dart isn't the starter yet, but the pressure on the incumbent is now at an all-time high.