2025 NFL Draft First Round Review
Jake Wimberly
Ross Gaskin Contributing:
The 2025 NFL Draft was this past weekend, and this one did not disappoint. There were lives changed, teams rejuvenated, and even some historic draft slides. 257 men had their lives changed, and while some might not have gone as high as they believed they should have, these men can forever say that they were drafted in the NFL. Below is a review of each team's 1st round draft pick.
#1 Tennessee Titans: Cam Ward QB Miami
Cam Ward was the obvious #1 overall pick, and has the talent and the drive to turn the Titans completely around. In Cam Ward’s 5 year college tenure, he threw for 18,187 yards and 158 TDs. Ward is an unbelievable talent who has overcome impossible odds, and he will be a great player in the NFL for years to come.
#2 Jacksonville Jaguars: Travis Hunter WR/DB Colorado
The Jacksonville Jaguars said that they wanted to make a splash in this year's draft and boy did they. The Jags drafted the most polarizing player in college football, and the Heisman winner, Travis Hunter. Hunter played both WR and DB for JSU and Colorado, showing unprecedented skill and stamina.
#3 New York Giants: Abdul Carter EDGE Penn State
Abdul Carter, while fighting some injuries, was the most dominant defensive player in college football. In his 3 years at Penn State, Carter racked up a total of 172 tackles, 23 sacks, and 39.5 TFLs. The Giants have brought their defense from good to elite with this one pick.
#4 New England Patriots: Will Campbell OT LSU
Will Campbell walked into this draft as the best OT in college football, and he left the draft as the first OT taken off the board. With the LSU Tigers, Will Campbell played 2,553 snaps and only allowed 5 total sacks. Campbell is a big, tough, and skilled OT who, in his words, will die protecting his QB. The Pats made a great pick.
#5 Cleveland Browns: Mason Graham DT Michigan
While this pick came as a shock to fans around the country, Mason Graham is still a fantastic pick and an even better player. He is a big body that can clog holes and disrupt both the run and the pass. Graham paired up with Myles Garrett will be a great combination for that Browns defense.
#6 Las Vegas Raiders: Ashton Jeanty RB Boise State
Ashton Jeanty is coming off a record breaking season with Boise State, and will be a DAWG for the Raiders. In the 2024 season, Jeanty rushed for 2,601 yards and 29 TDs, coming just short of the single season rushing yards record. Coach Pete Carol has coached a long line of great RBs and expects that to continue with Jeanty and Raiders.
#7 New York Jets: Armand Membou OT Missouri
The big and dominant right tackle from Missouri had a fantastic college career that warranted this high of a draft pick. Armand Membou, in his 2,100 snaps played for the Tigers, only gave up 3 sacks and started in 29 games. It is safe to say that the Jets will have a dominant right tackle for years to come.
#8 Carolina Panthers: Tetairoa McMillan WR Arizona
The Panthers took another WR in the 1st round for the second year in a row, but this dude is different. Tetairoa McMillan has been one of the most dominant WRs for the past 2 seasons. In his career, McMillan racked up 3,423 receiving yards and 26 TDs on 213 receptions. McMillan will surely have a great career in the NFL.
#9 New Orleans Saints: Kelvin Banks Jr. OT Texas
This draft was loaded with phenomenal offensive linemen and Kelvin Banks is one of the best. This monster was the 2024 Lombardi award winner, awarded to the best O-Lineman, after only giving up 1 sack in 538 pass blocks. Kelvin Banks, when it is all said and done, will be considered the best OT from this class.
#10 Chicago Bears: Colston Loveland TE Michigan
The Bears know they have to build around their QB, Caleb Williams, and they made that abundantly clear with their first round pick. Colston Loveland has been a very solid TE for Michigan catching for 1,466 yards and 11 TDs in his 3 year college career. Expect for Colston Loveland and the Bears offense to electric this year.
#11 San Francisco 49ers: Mykell Williams EDGE Georgia
The 49ers have always had an emphasis on their defense, and Mykell Williams fits their mold perfectly. Mykell had a great career with the Georgia Bulldogs totaling 67 tackles, 18.5 TFLs, and 14 sacks. This dude is a very dynamic athlete and he will be successful no matter where the 49ers put him on the field.
#12 Dallas Cowboys: Tyler Booker OG Alabama
There was a Zack Martin sized hole on the Dallas O-Line, and the only way to fill it is to draft a Tyler Booker sized plug. This behemoth, Tyler Booker, measured in at 6’5” and 321 lbs, but he isn’t just size because he only gave 2 sacks in 39 games on 979 pass blocks for the Crimson Tide. Tyler Booker is a monster and a perfect fit for the Dallas Cowboys.
#13 Miami Dolphins: Kenneth Grant DT Michigan
Kenneth Grant was the 3rd Michigan Wolverine taken in the first round, and the 2nd Michigan DT taken as well. Grant did not take his time in Ann Arbor for granted as he racked up 69 tackles, 11.5 TFLs, and 6.5 sacks. This dude is the definition of a run stopper and will be a great DT in the NFL.
#14 Indianapolis Colts: Tyler Warren TE Penn State
In 2024, Tyler Warren was THE BEST TE in the country. Warren had 104 receptions, 1,233 recv. yards, 8 recv. TDs, 218 rushing yards, 4 rushing TDs, and he THREW a TD. The stats speak for themselves, this dude can have impacts all over the field and the Colts just got a good one.
#15 Atlanta Falcons: Jalon Walker EDGE Georgia
The Atlanta Falcons had the worst pass rush defense in the NFL for the 2024 season, and they potentially just fixed that problem by drafting Jalon Walker. With the Georgia Bulldogs, Walker racked up 89 tackles, 18 TFLs, and 12.5 sacks in his 3 year college career. Jalon Walker will continue to prove himself an elite edge rusher in the NFL.
#16 Arizona Cardinals: Walter Nolen DT Ole Miss
The 2025 Draft class was loaded with talented defensive linemen, and Water Nolen out of Ole Miss is one of the best. In the 2024 season, Walter Nolen had 48 tackles, 14 TFLs, and 6.5 sacks. One thing is for certain, no matter where Walter Nolen ended up, he will be a major difference maker on the D-Line.
#17 Cincinnati Bengals: Shemar Stewart EDGE Texas A&M
Shemar Stewart, despite very little production in college, is an athletic anomaly. This 6’6” 290lbs beast had one of the best combine performances with a 4.59 40-yard dash, a 40” vertical, and a 10' 11" broad jump. He has all of the potential in the world and his athleticism was too eye opening to pass up.
#18 Seattle Seahawks: Grey Zabel OG North Dakota State
Many of you may not know who Grey Zabel is, so you better look him up because he is an absolutely dominant guard. Grey Zabel only allowed 4 total sacks on over 1,100 pass blocks, leading to a 1st team All-American selection. Zabel has excellent technique, instincts, and strength making him one of the most promising Guard prospects in the draft class.
#19 Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Emeka Egbuka WR Ohio State
Emeka Egbuka was probably the most decorated WR in the entire draft class as he broke multiple Ohio State receiving records. In his 4 year Ohio State career, Egbuka had 205 receptions (1st all-time), 2,686 receiving yards (2nd all-time), and 24 TDs. I would not be shocked if Emeka Egbuka continues to be dominant in the NFL.
#20 Denver Broncos: Jahdae Barron CB Texas
After an unbelievable 2024 season, Jahdae Barron 100% earned the right to be drafted in the first round, and the Broncos were just lucky enough to get him. Barron in 2024 had 67 tackles, 11 pass break ups, and 5 INTs to cap off a great career at Texas. The Broncos will have an elite CB for many years with Barron.
#21 Pittsburgh Steelers: Derrick Harmon DT Oregon
While this pick came as a surprise to most people, the Steelers got a massive DT that will fit in perfectly with the Steel Curtain. In 2024 with the Ducks, Harmon had 45 tackles, 10.5 TFLs, and 5 sacks. The Steelers have definitely secured their defensive future with Derrick Harmon.
#22 Los Angeles Chargers: Omarion Hampton RB North Carolina
Omarion Hampton has been one of the best RBs for the past two seasons, and the Chargers have definitely found their RB for the future. In his 3 year career with the Tar Heels, Hampton rushed for 3,565 yards and 36 TDs. Hampton has the skill and potential to win the OROY for the 2025 season, and lead the Chargers in a major way.
#23 Green Bay Packers: Matthew Golden WR Texas
4.29 40-yard dash. That is all that needs to be said. With 987 receiving yards and 9 TDs in 2024, Matthew Golden showcased great speed and phenomenal hands to prove that he can be a #1 WR for any team in the NFL. Matthew Golden might have been the Packers first WR taken in the first round since 2002, but it was worth the wait.
#24 Minnesota Vikings: Donovan Jackson OG Ohio State
Donovan Jackson might have been the most dynamic O-Lineman in this year's draft. Donovan Jackson played mostly guard, but due to injuries, he saw plenty of time at left tackle where he was just as, if not more, dominant. He’s big, fast, and nasty and the Vikings have a great protector for J.J. McCarthy.
#25 New York Giants: Jaxson Dart QB Ole Miss
The New York Giants traded back into the first round to draft their QB of the future, Jaxson Dart. Dart was a dynamic QB who in his Ole Miss Career threw for 10,617 yards (school record) and 72 TDs while adding 1,498 yards and 12 TDs on the ground. Jaxson Dart has the potential to completely change the direction of the New York Giants.
#26 Atlanta Falcons: James Pearce Jr. EDGE Tennessee
What’s better than 1 elite edge rusher? 2 elite edge rushers! The Atlanta Falcons got their pass rush problems completely fixed as they traded back into the first round to draft arguably the second best edge in the class. James Pearce Jr. in 3 seasons totaled 71 tackles, 29.5 TFLs, and 19.5 sacks. Pearce’s rare combination of size and speed will make him a force to be reckoned with in the NFL for a very long time.
#27 Baltimore Ravens: Malaki Starks FS Georgia
There was no better fit for the Ravens than Malaki Starks. Starks in his 3 seasons at Georgia had 197 tackles, 17 passes broken up, and 6 INTs. Malaki Starks can play almost every position on the defensive side of the ball, and the Ravens now have their next legendary safety.
#28 Detroit Lions: Tyleik Williams DT Ohio State
After a season where the Lions were plagued with injuries, especially on defense, they knew they needed depth. Tyleik Williams is a monster of DT who has a great chance of becoming a starter after a career where he had 136 tackles, 27 TFLs, and 11.5 sacks. Tyleik Williams has the potential to be a dominant force in the NFL.
#29 Washington Commanders: Josh Conerly Jr. OT Oregon
What do you do when you have the best young QB in the league? You get him the best protection you can. The Commanders did just that as they drafted Josh Conerly Jr. Conerly, in his college career, only gave up 2 sacks. Josh Conerly can play all over the O-Line, but there is no debating that he is dominant at LT.
#30 Buffalo Bills: Maxwell Hairston CB Kentucky
The Buffalo Bills biggest problem in 2024 was pass coverage, and they might have just found their solution. Besides his 6 INTs in college and locking down some of the best WRs in the nation, Maxwell Hairston also ran a 4.28 40-yard dash at the combine. One thing is for certain, nobody will run past Maxwell Hairston during his time in the NFL.
#31 Philadelphia Eagles: Jihaad Campbell LB Alabama
Breaking news, the Eagles draft a defensive player! The Eagles have made it clear that they have the best defense, and they will always have the best defense and that continues with Jihaad Campbell. In 2024, Jihaad Campbell had 117 tackles, 11.5 TFLs, 5 sacks, and 1 INT. With his size, speed, and strength, Jihaad Campbell can play anywhere on defense and find success.
#32 Kansas City Chiefs: Josh Simmons OT Ohio State
You have to protect the QB, and the Chiefs just got Mahomes a star OT. Despite fighting some injuries, Josh Simmons only gave up 5 sacks in his entire college career while also being one of the best OTs in the nation. Simmons quick feet and good punch should escalate him to starter status pretty much right off the bat.
Editors Note: All photos courtesy of 247sports.com
