NFL Draft 2025 1st Round Results: What Really Happened at Lambeau

The energy in Green Bay was basically electric. You could feel it through the screen. Lambeau Field, with all that history, served as the backdrop for a night that felt both predictable and completely unhinged at the same time. Honestly, we all knew Cam Ward was going to Tennessee. That was the "lock" of the century. But after that? The NFL draft 2025 1st round results turned into a high-stakes poker game where half the players were bluffing and the other half were throwing chairs.

If you weren't glued to the ticker, you missed some truly weird moves. We saw a generational "unicorn" go second overall, a massive slide for a famous name, and more offensive tackles taken than most people have fingers. It wasn't just about filling holes; it was about teams desperately trying to find an identity in a league that's moving faster than ever.

The Big Fish: Cam Ward and the Two-Way Terror

The Tennessee Titans didn't overthink it. They needed a savior under center, and Cam Ward was the guy. He’s got that "it" factor—the ability to make a play out of nothing when the pocket collapses into a mess of limbs and turf. He finished his Miami career with 4,313 yards and 39 touchdowns. Those aren't just numbers; that's production that translated to him being the undisputed No. 1.

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Then things got interesting.

The Cleveland Browns were sitting at No. 2. Most people expected them to just stay put and take the best player available. Instead, they pulled the trigger on a massive trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Jags moved up, and everyone’s jaw hit the floor when they took Travis Hunter.

Is he a corner? Is he a wide receiver? Yes.

Hunter is the closest thing we’ve seen to a modern-day Deion Sanders. He played over 100 snaps a game in college. In Jacksonville, he’s basically going to be Trevor Lawrence’s new best friend on offense and a lockdown nightmare on defense. It’s a risky move, for sure. Playing both ways in the NFL is a recipe for burnout, but the Jags are betting on the "generational" tag being 100% real.

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The Full NFL Draft 2025 1st Round Results

Let's look at how the rest of the night shook out. It was a heavy night for the trenches and a rough one for quarterbacks not named Ward or Dart.

1. Tennessee Titans: Cam Ward, QB (Miami)
2. Jacksonville Jaguars (via CLE): Travis Hunter, CB/WR (Colorado)
3. New York Giants: Abdul Carter, EDGE (Penn State)
4. New England Patriots: Will Campbell, OT (LSU)
5. Cleveland Browns (via JAX): Mason Graham, DT (Michigan)
6. Las Vegas Raiders: Ashton Jeanty, RB (Boise State)
7. New York Jets: Armand Membou, OT (Missouri)
8. Carolina Panthers: Tetairoa McMillan, WR (Arizona)
9. New Orleans Saints: Kelvin Banks Jr., OT (Texas)
10. Chicago Bears: Colston Loveland, TE (Michigan)
11. San Francisco 49ers: Mykel Williams, EDGE (Georgia)
12. Dallas Cowboys: Tyler Booker, OG (Alabama)
13. Miami Dolphins: Kenneth Grant, DT (Michigan)
14. Indianapolis Colts: Tyler Warren, TE (Penn State)
15. Atlanta Falcons: Jalon Walker, LB (Georgia)
16. Arizona Cardinals: Walter Nolen, DT (Ole Miss)
17. Cincinnati Bengals: Shemar Stewart, EDGE (Texas A&M)
18. Seattle Seahawks: Grey Zabel, OG (North Dakota State)
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Emeka Egbuka, WR (Ohio State)
20. Denver Broncos: Jahdae Barron, CB (Texas)
21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Derrick Harmon, DT (Oregon)
22. Los Angeles Chargers: Omarion Hampton, RB (North Carolina)
23. Green Bay Packers: Matthew Golden, WR (Texas)
24. Minnesota Vikings: Donovan Jackson, OG (Ohio State)
25. New York Giants (via HOU): Jaxson Dart, QB (Ole Miss)
26. Atlanta Falcons (via LAR): James Pearce Jr., EDGE (Tennessee)
27. Baltimore Ravens: Malaki Starks, S (Georgia)
28. Detroit Lions: Tyleik Williams, DT (Ohio State)
29. Washington Commanders: Josh Conerly Jr., OT (Oregon)
30. Buffalo Bills: Maxwell Hairston, CB (Kentucky)
31. Philadelphia Eagles (via KC): Jihaad Campbell, LB (Alabama)
32. Kansas City Chiefs (via PHI): Josh Simmons, OT (Ohio State)

The Surprises and the "Wait, What?" Moments

Honestly, the biggest story that isn't a "result" is who wasn't on that list. Shedeur Sanders.

The Colorado QB was projected as a top-10 lock by almost every major analyst six months ago. But as the night went on, the cameras kept cutting to him in the green room. It was uncomfortable. He eventually slid out of the first round entirely, finally landing with the Browns in the fourth round. People are citing "character concerns" or his play style, but seeing a talent like that fall while teams like the Giants waited until pick 25 to grab Jaxson Dart was a trip.

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Speaking of the Giants, they were the "aggressors" of the night. After grabbing Abdul Carter at No. 3 to fix their pass rush, they traded back into the first round with Houston to snag Dart. It's a clear signal that the Daniel Jones era has officially entered the "thanks for the memories" phase.

And can we talk about the Falcons? They already had a first-round pick in Jalon Walker. Then they traded a 2026 first-rounder to the Rams just to get back in at No. 26 for James Pearce Jr. It’s a "win-now" move that feels a bit desperate, but hey, if they get 20 sacks between those two, nobody will care about the 2026 pick.

Why the Trenches Dominated

If you’re a fan of big men, this was your Super Bowl. We saw a run on tackles and defensive linemen that felt endless. Will Campbell and Kelvin Banks Jr. going in the top 10 wasn't a shock—teams are terrified of their quarterbacks getting hit. Campbell, specifically, didn't allow a single sack in over 490 pass-block snaps at LSU in 2023. That’s the kind of security blanket coaches crave.

The middle of the round was a graveyard for skill players. From picks 12 to 18, it was almost exclusively interior linemen and defensive tackles. The Seahawks taking Grey Zabel from North Dakota State at 18 was a "scout's favorite" pick. He's a versatile mauler who can play anywhere on the line. It’s not a sexy pick, but it’s how you win games in December.

Actionable Insights for Fans and Bettors

Now that the dust has settled on the NFL draft 2025 1st round results, here is what you actually need to do with this information:

• Watch the Rookie of the Year Odds: Travis Hunter is the shiny toy, but Ashton Jeanty in Las Vegas is the real sleeper. The Raiders are going to feed him the ball 25 times a game. His volume alone makes him a betting favorite.
• Don't Sleep on the Giants' Offense: Jaxson Dart might not start Day 1 (Russell Wilson is there), but if the Giants' line holds up with their new additions, that offense is going to look very different by Week 8.
• Evaluate Your Team's "Window": If your team traded away 2026 assets (looking at you, Atlanta and Jacksonville), they are officially in a two-year window. If they don't make a deep playoff run by 2026, a total rebuild is coming.
• Check the UDFA Market: Since so many big names like Shedeur Sanders and Shilo Sanders slid or went late, the Undrafted Free Agent (UDFA) market is currently flooded with talent. Keep an eye on who your team signs this week; these "leftovers" are better than usual this year.

The 2025 draft proved that the NFL is moving toward two extremes: hyper-versatile athletes like Hunter and massive, immovable objects on the line. If you didn't get one of those two, you're probably playing catch-up.