The 2025 NFL Scouting Combine has concluded and the NFL Draft board is becoming much clearer. During the week massive moves were made as Deebo Samuel was traded to the Commanders while the Rams resigned Matthew Stafford. As the new league year is set to begin several other moves will be made which will create a shift in each teams need.
Leaving the week massive performances by Nick Emmanwori, Shemar Stewart, Matthew Golden, and James Pearce Jr have NFL scouts buzzing. After a massive week shaking up the NFL Draft boards here is how we see the First Round shaking out.
The news leaving the NFL Combine is that the Tennessee Titans are exploring trading out of the top pick which indicates they're not eyeing a quarterback. The Titans are likely selecting the best player available and here they land the best player in the class in Edge Rusher Abdul Carter. The Titans simply have too many needs to pass up on the best player available and they'll eye a quarterback next year in a much deeper draft class.
The Cleveland Browns appear set on holding onto Myles Garrett despite his trade request earlier this offseason. One way to ease Garrett's concerns would be landing a long term plan at quarterback and here the Browns do so taking Shedeur Sanders. This class doesn't have a clear top quarterback but, Sanders style of play is best suited for making an immediate impact in the NFL.
After releasing Daniel Jones the New York Giants made a run at Matthew Stafford but, missed out and now need a quarterback. There has been talks that the Giants would like to trade up to the 1st pick but, they could stand pat and land a quarterback with the third overall pick. Ward's dual threat ability gives him a chance to be special in the NFL and Brian Daboll has a great track record with quarterbacks.
Coming into NFL Combine week, everyone was talking about Will Campbell's arm length, leaving the week everyone is talking about his athletic ability. The tape speaks for itself with Will Campbell and even though his arms are shorter than 33 inches, Will Campbell will be a Top Ten pick at tackle and he should be. The Patriots desperately need to protect Drake Maye and in Will Campbell the team lands a cornerstone offensive tackle.
Given the needs at the top of the class, Travis Hunter could very well fall to the 5th overall pick despite being one of the top players in the class. For the Jaguars it would be a dream come true if Travis Hunter fell to them as he'd be able to fill needs at cornerback or wide receiver. The Jaguars already have an elite receiver in Brian Thomas Jr and pairing him with Travis Hunter long term would give the team an elite duo for Trevor Lawrence.
The Raiders miss out on the top two quarterbacks in the class and are forced to go with the best player available with the 6th overall pick. Mason Graham is an incredible constellation prize for the Raiders as he has an argument as the best player in the class. Adding Mason Graham to a defensive front that already has Maxx Crosby and Christian Wilkins gives the team a clear identity and can help in slowing the powerful offenses in the AFC West.
The New York Jets have plenty of needs to fill after several massive moves didn't pan out. One of the biggest misses was the team's move to acquire Haason Reddick who recorded just one sack this season after the team lost Bryce Huff. Here the Jets land the star of the Pre Draft process in Shemar Stewart who has dominated the Senior Bowl and the Combine. New Head Coach Aaron Glenn gets a defensive piece to mold as Stewart looks to turn his pressures into sacks.
Leaving the NFL Combine, Matthew Golden is flying up NFL Draft boards after wowing teams with the numbers he put up in physical testing. Heading into the Combine, Golden already looked the part of a first round pick but, after showing he can be a field stretching wide receiver in the NFL. The Panthers desperately need to surround Bryce Young with weapons and a player like Golden who can get open consistently, is what the team needs opposite Xavier Leggette.
A ton of questions linger about James Pearce Jr as he didn't live up the lofty expectations coming into the year. At the NFL Combine, Pearce got his draft stock heading back in the right direction looking like one of the best prospects in the class. The Saints have plenty of work to do as their core is aging and adding a young elite pass rusher in Pearce Jr will help as the team rebuilds.
When you allow your quarterback to get sacked 68 times in a season you have no choice but, to improve the offensive line. The Bears have poured a ton of resources into their offensive line but, they still need another piece or two to help in Caleb Williams development. Kelvin Banks Jr was far and away a one of the best offensive tackle in College Football and if he can keep Caleb Williams upright the Bears will start to see the quarterback they drafted first overall.
The 49ers are coming off an injury-riddled season and are looking to get right back to the top of the NFC West. The 49ers will lose cornerback Charvarius Ward in Free Agency, and the team will need to add a top cornerback to replace him. In Will Johnson, the team gets the best pure cornerback, instantly filling a need while giving the team a cheap controllable asset at the position allowing them to spend elsewhere in Free Agency.
The most likely pick for the Dallas Cowboys remains Boise State's breakout running back Ashton Jeanty. The Cowboys running game has taken a steep dip after losing Tony Pollard in free agency. Drafting Ashton Jeanty gives the team a dynamic weapon that'll transform the run game which help take some of the weight off of Dak Prescott's shoulders.
The Dolphins needs won't change this offseason as the team needs to build up the offensive line in front of Tua Tagovailoa. The Dolphins need to add players on the interior offensive line and in Tyler Booker the team lands the best guard in the draft. Booker helps bolster the Dolphins offensive line which should help keeping Tua Tagovailoa healthy and spreading the ball to Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.
Tyler Warren may end up being a victim of how loaded this draft class is at the tight end position as they'll be readily available on Day Two of the draft. The Colts need to add weapons around Anthony Richardson as they try to decide whether he's the future or not. Warren is a great fit for the Colts as he instantly gives the team an elite weapon at tight end while improving the run game for Jonathan Taylor.
The Atlanta Falcons get a ton of heat for continuing to use the first round to add pieces at skill positions but, if Tetairoa McMillan falls to 15th its a no brainer selection. The Falcons would instantly have a ton of size for Michael Penix with McMillan and Drake London on the outside and Kyle Pitts at tight end. McMillan may slide as the need for receivers isn't high at the top of the class but, he still has the potential to be a top player in this class.
The Arizona Cardinals need to land a blue chip talent leaving this draft and Mykel Williams fits the bill. The team needs a star pass rusher and Mykel Williams could instantly become the teams threat coming off of the edge. Williams' development could mirror former Georgia Edge Rusher Nolan Smith's as Williams hasn't put together a massive year yet but, he has all the traits to be a star in the NFL.
After wasting an MVP Caliber season from Joe Burrow and a Triple Crown season from Ja'Marr Chase, every draft pick by the Bengals may be spent on their defense. Jahdae Barron is getting rave reviews from NFL Draft analysts and for the Bengals he can instantly step in at cornerback or safety.
The Seattle Seahawks have been trying to bolster their offensive line since Russell Wilson was at quarterback and the needs are still there. If Geno Smith is going to utilize his trio of outstanding receivers he needs protection up front and the Seahawks will address it in this offensive line. Armand Membou flashed his athleticism at the combine and it matched what you see on tape, if he can't stick at offensive tackle he'll be a great guard in the NFL.
This weekend, nobody did more for their NFL Draft stock than South Carolina Safety Nick Emmanwori who tested off the charts. The athletic ability that Emmanwori has at his size is incredibly rare and now has him flying up NFL Draft boards. The Buccaneers need defensive difference makers and Emmanwori can impact play as a deep safety or in the box which gives the team a chess piece to work with.
The Denver Broncos found their franchise quarterback in Bo Nix, and if he didn't emerge the team would've had issues as the Broncos couldn't run the football. The Broncos couldn't find a consistent running back and Javonte Williams who led the team with 513 yards is a free agent. In Omarion Hampton the Broncos get younger at the position with a hard runner who excels in a gap scheme similar to Sean Payton's.
The Steelers felt the full impact of losing Diontae Johnson as defenses did everything they could to take away George Pickens as the other receivers couldn't beat them. At the Combine Burden showed the ability that made him such a highly touted prospect coming into the year and he's now in play in the first round once again. Burden gives the team a receiver that can stretch the field with the ability to win underneath which will take attention away from George Pickens.
The Las Angeles Chargers enter year two of the Jim Harbaugh era and it feels as if the team is set to make some massive moves. The team may lose Khalil Mack in Free Agency while they also may release Joey Bosa. The team desperately needs a young piece on the defensive line and Walter Nolen can instantly come in and give the team pass rush production on the interior.
The Reese's Senior Bowl saw Mike Green go from a borderline first round pick to one of the most exciting players in this year's draft class. The Packers need to add pass rushers in a Division with explosive offenses in Detroit and Minnesota while the Bears are on the rise. Mike Green instantly gives the team a potential 10+ sack a year player and if he hits his ceiling he could be the best player in the class.
The NFL Combine hurt Malaki Starks not because of his performance but, because Nick Emmanwori put on a historic performance. Starks may fall down to the second safety taken as Emmanwori has a higher potential and can do more in the defense. Nonetheless, Starks is one of the best football players in the class and would instantly inject some youth into a veteran Vikings secondary.
CJ Stroud spent his entire second season running for his life as the offensive line couldn't block the man in front of them. This offseason will be all about building up the offensive line while also adding weapons around him. In Josh Simmons the Texans land the offensive tackle the team desperately needs to keep Stroud upright as the team looks to go on a deep run in the Playoffs.
The Rams finally ended the thought that they may move on from Matthew Stafford signing him to the extension he was asking for. The team will now continue their push to get back to the Super Bowl and they'll do so by continuing to build up their defense. The Rams add a true chess piece in Jalon Walker who can fill the team's need at off ball linebacker while also giving the team a potential edge rusher.
The Baltimore Ravens always luck out landing elite players deep in the draft that fit their exact need. Here the Baltimore Ravens nab Oregon offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr who perfectly fits what the Ravens need this offseason. Josh Conerly can help protect Lamar Jackson slotting in at Right Tackle with the potential to later fill in on the left slide.
The Detroit Lions defense started to show cracks down the stretch as their defensive line was decimated. This offseason the Lions will be doing anything they can to bolster the defensive line both with starting caliber players and depth pieces. After flashing at the Combine Derrick Harmon is clearly a first round pick and a perfect piece for the Lions. Harmon can eat up blocks on the interior giving the team a compliment to Aidan Hutchinson.
During the NFL Combine, the Washington Commanders made their first of many moves to build around Jayden Daniels this offseason trading for Deebo Samuel. After adding a gadget receiver, the team still needs one more piece outside and in Emeka Egbuka the wide receiver core would be set. Egbuka gets open with ease and can be a threat for Daniels in the middle of the field while defenses pay attention to what Samuel can do in the quick game and how Terry McLaurin can beat them deep.
The Bills have several massive needs as the team has lost some massive pieces over the past few offseasons. The biggest need still may be cornerback as some of the teams draft picks haven't been able to fill the void of departures in the secondary. Benjamin Morrison would've been a Top 20 selection if not for his season ending injury but, the Bills luck out adding a difference maker on the outside.
The Super Bowl fully exposed how much work the Chiefs need to put into their offensive line and after franchise tagging Trey Smith the team needs to fill needs at tackle. Grey Zabel proved he can stop the best of the best at the Reese's Senior Bowl and now he belongs in the first round conversation. Zabel can slide out to offensive tackle or play on the interior which gives the Chiefs plenty of options as they retool their offensive line.
After shining in the Super Bowl, defensive tackle Milton Williams is about to get paid and if the Eagles lose him, they'll get to draft a defensive tackle in a loaded draft class. Kenneth Grant is a massive piece on the interior that just walks offensive linemen into the lap of the quarterback. Adding Kenneth Grant alongside Jalen Carter keeps the Eagles loaded on the interior as they look to repeat as Super Bowl Champions.