Draft week is upon us as the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft begins on Thursday Night from Green Bay. This draft class has been polarizing as it's viewed as a weaker draft class which makes it incredibly difficult to project in the lead up to the draft. Part of this drafts intrigue is some of it's biggest players as Cam Ward has promise, Travis Hunter can play two positions, Abdul Carter is inexperienced and impressive as an edge rusher, and everyone will be eying where Shedeur Sanders is selected.
The first few picks of the draft will set the tone for the rest of the first round as it could easily shake up the running back and tight end markets while other positions are much deeper. As we're just days away from the first round of the draft, we look to predict how each first round pick will play out.
Cam Ward has done everything but admit that he has a guarantee that he'll be drafted first overall by the Tennessee Titans. The Titans have gone all in preparing to draft Cam Ward, signing top offensive linemen in free agency to build the roster around him. After drafting Cam Ward, the Titans will have a roster good enough to start pushing for the playoffs in a weaker AFC South.
The Browns have needs on both ends of the football and in a season where the team is seemingly in limbo why not draft a player that'll try playing both. Travis Hunter can come in and play wide receiver and cornerback for the Browns this season as the team tries to figure out where he fits best long term.
The New York Giants have set themselves up to take the best player available if their top quarterback isn't on the board with the 3rd pick and the team lands themselves arguably the best player in the draft. The Giants can't afford to pass on a top tier player to fill a need from another tier and Abdul Carter fits the top tier talent status. Adding Carter to the defense makes the Giants better now while allowing the team to walk away from Kayvon Thibodeaux this offseason.
While the New England Patriots will be upset to miss out on one of the two "blue chip" players in this year's draft, it may work out for the best. Drake Maye dealt with injuries as a rookie and missing out on the two top prospects allows the team to select an offensive tackle 4th overall. Will Campbell can come in and protect Drake Maye's blindside right away and if the concerns over his arm length come to be true then he'll be a solid guard.
The Jaguars were in the bottom quarter of the league at stopping the run last season allowing 132.6 rushing yards per game. If the team is going to get better it starts with improving up the middle which Mason Graham would help with. Graham has the power and quickness you'd like in a defensive tackle and he'll help the team with strong ability as a pass rusher.
The Las Vegas Raiders have seemed like the most likely landing spot for Ashton Jeanty and GM John Spytek has been public with his stance on drafting elite running backs. The Raiders adding Ashton Jeanty gives the team a star running back that can take a ton of pressure off of Geno Smith as the new regime looks to build this team back toward competing.
The New York Jets have a plethora of positions they’d like to upgrade but overall they have a ton of blue chip talent. After losing tight end Tyler Conklin in free agency, the team upgrades at the position by drafting Tyler Warren. Adding Warren to the offense gives Justin Fields a safety blanket while he can help open holes for Breece Hall in the rushing attack.
Leading up to the NFL Draft, Jalon Walker is emerging as a likely top ten selection. As the Panthers look to come out of their rebuild, Jalon Walker is a potential cornerstone piece of their defense. Walker can impact the game as an off-ball linebacker while he has the ability to be a high upside player if the team moves him to edge rusher.
The latest news around Derek Carr’s shoulder injury and the possibility that it may keep him out the entire season will only push the Saints closer to picking a Quarterback. As Shedeur Sanders slides a bit after the Giants signed two quarterbacks, the Saints get their QB of the future and he comes on a rookie contract which allows the team to figure out its salary cap issues.
The Chicago Bears saw Caleb Williams get sacked 68 times as a rookie and used this offseason to bolster the offensive line to protect their investment. The team should be able to put the finishing touches on the offensive line, completing the overhaul. Armand Membou may be the best offensive lineman in the class and with experience playing Left tackle he'd go in the top 5 but, the Bears instead land an exceptional lineman.
The 49ers hardly ever get to pick this high in the draft, and when they do, they need to hit on a player at a premium position on a rookie contract as the team navigates Brock Purdy's looming contract extension. As the team faces wide receivers like Puka Nacua, Cooper Kupp, and Marvin Harrison Jr twice a season, the team will look to add a shutdown cornerback. Will Johnson was trending toward being a top five pick before his injury, and his tools make him a solid piece to add to the 49ers defense.
This offseason was a blow to the Dallas Cowboys and their depth at edge rusher as Demarcus Lawrence and Chauncey Golston left in free agency. The Cowboys will need to get after the quarterbacks in the NFC East and selecting Shemar Stewart would give the team another star opposite Micah Parsons. Stewart hasn't had the production teams would like to see but, he has elite traits and should continue to grow as he refines his technique.
The Miami Dolphins' offseason plans got thrown into a blender when left tackle Terron Armstead announced his retirement after dealing with injuries. As the team looks to keep Tua Tagovailoa healthy, the team will need to land a cornerstone offensive tackle in this draft. Kelvin Banks Jr was one of the best offensive linemen in College Football this season and can step in right away for the team at left tackle.
The Colts are in a prove it year for Anthony Richardson as the team brought in Daniel Jones to push him this preseason. As the team looks to see if Anthony Richardson is the right guy to build around, the team has built a solid wide receiver core and has an elite running back. Colton Loveland isn't the complete tight end like Tyler Warren is but, he's a high upside tight end who has already shown he can carry an offense's receiving game.
The Atlanta Falcons have gone all in the past few NFL Drafts building up their offense and now as the quarterback and weapons are in place it's time to pour some assets into the defense. Drafting Jahdae Barron brings a ton of versatility to the Falcons secondary giving the team a solid cover cornerback with the ability to move around the defensive backfield.
This offseason the Arizona Cardinals have started to build up their defensive front but, the team could still use a young pass rusher. Mike Green led College Football in sacks this season before proving he could do it against top end talent during the Reese's Senior Bowl. Having Mike Green opposite Josh Sweat would help give this team the pass rush presence it lacked last season.
After a season filled with defensive woes, the Bengals didn't use free agency to bolster their defense as they extended Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. As Trey Hendrickson remains a candidate to be traded the team needs to find a young, cheap edge rusher and can find one in Mykel Williams. Injury kept Williams from having the massive season many hoped he'd have but, he has all the traits to be an elite pass rusher.
The Seahawks tore down a ton of their roster this offseason, choosing to retool this team around Sam Darnold. The first step should be addressing the offensive line, which has been a massive issue for close to a decade. Josh Conerly is an elite athlete at the position, and as he continues to get stronger, he'll only get more impressive as a tackle.
All Todd Bowles has said this offseason is that he needs to add some ballhawks and playmakers to the secondary. Nick Emmanwori checks that box as he's one of the rarest athletes at the position in the history of the draft. Emmanwori's explosiveness and athleticism make him a chess piece for Todd Bowles and can form an elite safety duo with Antoine Winfield.
The Broncos attempted to go running back by committee in 2024 and it didn't pan out like the team would've hoped for. The Broncos need to add a bell cow running back and can do so by drafting Omarion Hampton. Hampton is nearly the full package as a running back and his traits indicate he can take the next step as a receiver to become a 3-down back in the NFL.
In a weaker wide receiver class, the top wide receiver may end up falling and if Tetairoa McMillan the Steelers should jump on it. As the team expects to land Aaron Rodgers, nabbing another elite threat on the outside would give the team one of the toughest offenses to slow. Having a core of Dk Metcalf, George Pickens, and Tet McMillian in place would give the team a solid core to help ease their next quarterback into the NFL.
Losing Poona Ford in free agency to the Rams was a massive blow as the Chargers now have a massive hole on the defensive line. Derrick Harmon is a valuable piece for NFL front offices as he's a reliable defensive tackle in the passing and rushing attack. Harmon can come in right away and be the cornerstone for the Chargers as they look to get younger up front.
The Packers will have to find a way to slow the offenses of the Vikings, Lions, and the up and coming Bears. As the team has moved on from several veteran pass rushers the past few offseasons, adding James Pearce Jr gives the team a young talent coming off of the edge. Pearce had a down season but, his impressive first step and speed make him a massive threat opposite Rashan Gary.
The Vikings don't have a ton of holes after addressing the offensive line in free agency this year. The biggest hole for the team is at safety as the team needs to add a younger piece next to Harrison Smith. Malaki Starks can come in and play centerfield for the Vikings allowing Harrison Smith to continue making plays in the box as he continues to get older.
The Texans signaled a full scale rebuild on the offensive line this offseason by trading away Laremy Tunsil and Kenyon Green this offseason. As the team looks to solve its offensive line issues, Josh Simmons can be a start by filling in at left tackle. Simmons would've been arguably the top offensive tackle in the class if not for his season-ending injury but the Texans will bet on his ability and bouncing back post-injury.
The Rams used last year's draft to build an exciting young defensive line which has the team swinging toward being a solid defensive team under Sean McVay. As the team continues to bolster its group, Jihaad Campbell fits into the team's build on defense. Campbell has the speed to be a sideline-to-sideline linebacker for the Rams while his pedigree makes him an intriguing piece if deployed as an edge rusher.
The Ravens have lost key pieces on the interior offensive line in back to back off-season's which will need to be addressed in the draft. Tyler Booker is a great fit for the Ravens based on some of their prior draft picks and signings. Tyler Booker is powerful as a run blocker and he won't be asked to pull often with Derrick Henry running behind him which will make his job easier. As a pass protector, Booker is strong enough to wall off defenders which will help keep Lamar Jackson upright.
The Detroit Lions defense got riddled with injuries and broke down which cost the team in the playoffs this year. As the team returns to health, the goal should be continuing to build depth on the defensive line. Walter Nolen is an ideal fit in the Lions' defense as he can disrupt opposing offenses in a 3-technique. Nolen can step in right away and give the team another talented pass rusher who will get to win in 1 on 1 matchups next to Aidan Hutchinson.
Thus far, the Commanders' offense has been fully focused on building around Jayden Daniels, trading for weapons and pieces on the offensive line. The offense wasn't the reason for the Commanders' NFC Championship loss, and as the team looks to get better defensively, it starts in the trenches. Nic Scourton comes to the NFL with a very polished game and the production to go along with it, which should make him an instant impact player.
The Buffalo Bills signed Josh Palmer this offseason giving Josh Allen a more reliable weapon on the outside but, as the team continues to cycle through veteran wide receivers the team should look to add another young piece. Matthew Golden is a very exciting prospect who showed how fast he is at the NFL combine but, that hasn't been unlocked yet. Golden can come in and serve as the team's Z Receiver while he won't need to be the go to guy early on.
In an effort to get younger and cheaper up front, the Chiefs traded away Joe Thuney creating a void on the offensive line. Grey Zabel fits the mold of what Joe Thuney was for the team as he can truly play every position on the offensive line. Zabel can start his career at left guard or at right tackle while he can also serve as the team's swing offensive lineman as he continues to develop.
Heading up to the NFL Draft, the Philadelphia Eagles appear to be moving on from Dallas Goedert as they gauge his trade value before he enters the final season of his contract. As the team prepares to move on from Goedert, Mason Taylor can come in and give the team a similar impact on offense. Taylor has improved as a blocker, which will help in the Eagles' dominant rushing attack, while his ability as a receiver will ensure the team doesn’t miss Goedert too much.