The 2025 NFL Draft was absolute chaos. Honestly, seeing Lambeau Field hosted under the Green Bay lights felt right, but the actual board? That was a different story. You had the Tennessee Titans sprinting to the podium for Cam Ward at number one, while the Jacksonville Jaguars shook the entire room by trading up to grab the Heisman winner, Travis Hunter, at two. It’s the kind of draft that people will still be arguing about in 2030.
Breaking Down the Big Winners and the nfl draft results by team
Draft grades are mostly guesswork until the pads come on in August, but some teams clearly had a vision. Others? Well, they left fans scratching their heads.
Take the New England Patriots. They needed a left tackle like a fish needs water. Landing Will Campbell from LSU at pick four was a "don't overthink it" move that instantly makes Drake Maye’s life safer. But the real story in Foxborough was the depth. They grabbed TreVeyon Henderson in the second, providing a legitimate home-run threat in the backfield. If Henderson stays healthy, that offense has a completely different ceiling.
Then there are the Cleveland Browns. They played the board like a fiddle. Trading back from the second spot to five—and still snagging Michigan’s Mason Graham—is a masterclass in asset management. Graham is a wrecking ball on the interior. Pairing him with that existing defensive line is almost unfair.
The Giants and the Quarterback Question
The New York Giants had two first-round picks, and they didn't waste them.
✨ Don't miss: NBA Teams Playing Today: Why Saturday Night Is Must-Watch Basketball
- Abdul Carter (DE, Penn State) at No. 3: A pure speed rusher.
- Jaxson Dart (QB, Ole Miss) at No. 25: The eventual successor.
Schoen and Daboll are betting their careers on Dart. It’s a bold move considering they had to trade back into the first to get him. Dart has the moxie, but moving up for a QB after taking a pass rusher in the top three shows a front office that knows its clock is ticking.
A Team-by-Team Look at the Standout Hauls
It’s easy to get lost in the 257 total picks. Let's look at some of the most impactful nfl draft results by team from that wild weekend in Wisconsin.
The Dallas Cowboys: Bulk and Violence
Jerry Jones went back to basics. After losing Zack Martin to retirement, the Cowboys spent the 12th pick on Tyler Booker, an Alabama guard who describes his own playing style as "violent." It’s not a sexy pick, but it’s necessary. They followed that up with Donovan Ezeiruaku, an edge from Boston College. The Cowboys’ draft was basically a loud statement that they want to win in the trenches again.
👉 See also: Why the Green and White Rugby Jersey Still Rules the Pitch
The Kansas City Chiefs: Protecting the Dynasty
Even at the bottom of the first round, the Chiefs find value. Josh Simmons, the tackle from Ohio State, fell right into their laps at 32. He has top-10 talent but had some injury concerns that scared other teams off. For Kansas City, it's a low-risk, high-reward gamble to keep Patrick Mahomes upright. Later, they snagged Jalen Royals, a wideout from Utah State who is electric after the catch.
The Baltimore Ravens: Safeties and Steals
The Ravens taking Malaki Starks at 27 felt like a glitch in the matrix. How does a guy that good fall that far? Starks and Kyle Hamilton playing together in the same secondary is a nightmare for every offensive coordinator in the AFC North.
Surprise Picks and Day 3 Values
Every year, someone goes way earlier than expected. This year, it was Grey Zabel.
The North Dakota State guard went 18th overall to the Seattle Seahawks. People were stunned. Zabel is a mountain of a man, but taking a small-school interior lineman in the top 20 is a massive projection. Mike Macdonald clearly wants to establish a physical identity, and Zabel is the poster child for that.
On the flip side, keep an eye on Shedeur Sanders. After all the media circus, he fell to the fifth round (pick 144) to the Cleveland Browns. Whether you love him or hate him, getting a talent like that in the fifth round is incredible value. He’ll sit behind Deshaun Watson for now, but the narrative writes itself if Watson struggles.
📖 Related: Indian relay horse racing: Why this chaotic, high-speed sport is the real heart of the plains
Notable First-Round Selections
- Las Vegas Raiders: Ashton Jeanty (RB, Boise State) — A true workhorse for a team that needs an identity.
- Carolina Panthers: Tetairoa McMillan (WR, Arizona) — Finally, a massive target for Bryce Young.
- Chicago Bears: Colston Loveland (TE, Michigan) — Because you can never have enough weapons for Caleb Williams.
- Atlanta Falcons: Jalon Walker (LB, Georgia) and James Pearce Jr. (DE, Tennessee) — Basically a defensive overhaul in one night.
Why These Results Matter for the 2026 Season
The draft isn't just about picking players; it's about the shifts in power dynamics. The AFC South got significantly more interesting. With Ward in Tennessee and Hunter in Jacksonville joining Stroud and Richardson, that division is a gauntlet of young, elite talent.
The NFC North remains the toughest division in football. The Lions added Tyleik Williams to an already stout defense, while the Packers grabbed Matthew Golden to give Jordan Love another vertical threat. There are no easy Sundays in that part of the country.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
Now that the rosters are set, the real work starts. If you want to stay ahead of the curve before your fantasy draft or the season opener, here is what you should do:
- Watch the UDFA Tracker: Teams like the Eagles and Ravens often find starters among undrafted free agents. Keep an eye on the guys who didn't get their names called but signed quickly after the seventh round.
- Monitor Training Camp Battles: Specifically in Dallas and New England. Both teams drafted offensive linemen early who are expected to start Day 1. If they struggle with pro-level speed in July, those offenses will be in trouble.
- Study the Betting Lines: Oddsmakers usually react faster than analysts. Watch how Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year odds shift now that we know the schemes these players are landing in.
The 2025 draft was a turning point for several franchises. Whether you’re a Titans fan celebrating a new franchise QB or a Cowboys fan happy to see some "violence" back on the line, the landscape of the NFL just shifted significantly.