Grading all 32 picks from the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft

After months of build-up and speculation over which players would be selected with the early picks and what teams might agree trades as the evening progressed, the first round of the 2025 NFL draft on Thursday night in Green Bay, Wisconsin, did not disappoint.

Here, DAZN News has graded all 32 picks from a thrilling, drama-packed night.

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1. Tennessee Titans – Cam Ward

Cam Ward might not have been rated as the top overall prospect in the 2025 draft class, but he was seen as by far the best quarterback on offer. Recognising the importance of having quality in the sport’s most important position, the Tennessee wisely spent their No.1 overall pick to secure a franchise signal caller who, although not a perfect prospect, has been compared to Titans legend and former NFL MVP Steve McNair. 

If he fulfils his potential, Ward can be a star in Nashville for the next decade.

Grade: B+

2. Jacksonville Jaguars – Travis Hunter

The Jaguars paid a hefty price to move up from pick No.5 to take pick No.2 from the Cleveland Browns – giving up a first- and second-rounder this year, plus their first-round pick for 2026 – but that bold move allowed them to select the most gifted and unique player in the draft. Travis Hunter was a star in not one but two positions – wide receiver and corner back – at the University of Colorado and he aims to do the same in the NFL.

Jacksonville’s new regime of head coach Liam Coen and 34-year-old general manager James Gladstone made a huge splash on draft night and secured a premier option for quarterback Trevor Lawrence.

Grade: A

3 & 25. New York Giants – Abdul Carter & Jaxson Dart

For all the talk of whether the Giants would splurge their No.3 pick to address their need for a long-term solution at quarterback, they instead leant into a strength by beefing up their already formidable pass rush department, selecting Penn State edge Abdul Carter. Widely considered to be – alongside Hunter – one of only two true blue-chip prospects in this draft class, Carter has been likened to fellow former Nittany Lion star Micah Parsons.

Then the Giants popped back up late in the first round to secure their QB of the future, giving up picks 34 and 99, plus a 2026 third-rounder, to acquire pick No.25 from the Houston Texans.

And it wasn’t for Shedeur Sanders, the Colorado signal caller who has been linked with New York for much of the pre-draft process and who didn’t get selected in the first round at all in the end.

Instead it was for Jaxson Dart, the raw but toolsy Ole Miss trigger man who has been hand selected by Giants head coach Brian Daboll. He’ll sit behind starter Russell Wilson for his rookie year, learning at the feet of a Super Bowl winner.

Grade: A

 

4. New England Patriots – Will Campbell

The Patriots were likely hoping the Giants would have plumped for a quarterback with the No.3 pick, meaning they could’ve swooped in and taken Carter with the next selection.

But instead, with the top two talents in the class off the board, they addressed their biggest weakness, picking LSU offensive tackle Will Campbell to protect star quarterback Drake Maye’s blindside.

This is no homerun pick, however, as doubts over Campbell’s relatively short arm length for a tackle have led some to suggest his future might rest in the slightly less valuable role of left guard.

Grade: C

 

5. Cleveland Browns – Mason Graham

In isolation, the Browns got solid value in selecting Mason Graham with the fifth overall pick. The top defensive tackle in this year’s draft, the former Michigan Wolverine will beef up Cleveland’s run defense and augment a defensive line that already boasts the league’s best pass rusher in Myles Garrett.

But it is impossible to separate this pick from what the Browns gave up to get here, trading away the chance to select a truly generation prospect in Hunter. In that context, this will be a hard one for Browns fans to get behind.

Grade: D

 

6. Las Vegas Raiders: Ashton Jeanty

The numbers game of the draft argues that the best picks are those that offer the most surplus monetary value – getting high-end production from a player in a premium position while they are still on their rookie contract is a team-building cheat code.

Running backs earn significantly less than, say, quarterbacks and pass rushers, so the maths dictates that high first-round picks are best spent elsewhere.

But running backs of Jeanty’s quality are extremely rare. With 2,601 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns for Boise State last year, the 21-year-old powerhouse was widely considered one of the three or four best players in the 2025 draft. New Raiders coach Pete Carroll loves to run the ball. And, boy, can Jeanty run it.

Grade: B+

7. New York Jets – Armand Membou

Before the draft, the biggest question mark over Armand Membou’s NFL readiness was over whether the Mizzou right tackle would be able to switch sides and operate in the ordinarily more valuable role of left tackle. In New York, however, that is a moot point, as the Jets used their first-round pick just last year to take Olu Fashanu. 

Grade: C+

 

8. Carolina Panthers – Tetairoa McMillan

Tetairoa McMillan was a polarising player in pre-draft evaluations, with some experts ranking him the runaway best pure receiver in the class, while others felt there were several pass catchers better than the Arizona State standout. He might not project to be a top-five player in his position at the NFL level, but the 6ft 4ins Hawaiian provides a huge target for Panthers quarterback Bryce Young.

Grade: C

 

9. New Orleans Saints – Kelvin Banks Jr

Like the Jets, the Saints spent a first-round pick on an offensive tackle for the second year in a row, adding Texas standout Kelvin Banks Jr to their addition of Taliese Fuaga in 2024.

Although there are question marks over the long-term solution at quarterback in New Orleans, with uncertainty over Derek Carr’s future, whoever starts under centre for the Saints stands to be well protected.

Grade: C

 

10. Chicago Bears – Colston Loveland

The Bears’ selection of Michigan tight end Colston Loveland with the 10th overall pick was a little surprising for a couple of reasons. One, because Penn State’s Tyler Warren was more commonly rated as the best tight end in the class (although all evaluators seemed to agree it was a close call).

And secondly because, in Cole Kmet, Chicago already have an above-average player in the position. But Loveland’s size, athleticism and pass-catching ability will open up a wealth of fascinating 12 personnel (line-ups with two tight ends) options for first-year head coach Ben Johnson.

Grade: B

 

11. San Francisco 49ers – Mykel Williams

The Niners made Georgia’s Mykel Williams the second edge off the board after Carter and will pair him with Nick Bosa to form what, in theory, could be a frightening pass-rush duo. Williams, at 6ft 5ins, is huge, powerful and athletic, but with injuries a contributing factor he was inconsistent for the Bulldogs last year. 

Grade: C-

 

12. Dallas Cowboys – Tyler Booker

Most mock drafts predicted that the Cowboys would add an offensive weapon for quarterback Dak Prescott with their first-round pick, either a running back or wide receiver. Instead, they opted to protect Prescott by choosing Alabama guard Tyler Booker.

It’s a conservative move for Dallas but one that sees them land a hugely smart offensive lineman who will improve their struggling run game. Pick No.12 is high for a guard, though, especially when strong options in premium positions were still available.

Grade: D

 

13. Miami Dolphins – Kenneth Grant

Grant was less consistent than his fellow Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham last year and Oregon’s Derrick Harmon or Walter Nolen out of Ole Miss might have been safer picks in the same position. But Grant is enormous – at 6ft 4ins and 331lbs – and will beef up the Miami defense.

Grade: C

 

14. Indianapolis Colts – Tyler Warren

Rated by many as the best tight end in the class, Warren did it all at Penn State – caught passes, destroyed defenses after the catch and even lined up as a wildcat quarterback. The Colts will have been thrilled to have seen Warren fall into their lap, picking up a one-man offense in the mid-first round.

Grade: A

 

15 & 26 Atlanta Falcons – Jalon Walker & James Pearce Jr

The Falcons made the most stunning pick of the entire 2024 draft when they took quarterback Michael Penix with the eighth overall pick. This year, they provided another surprise. It didn’t come with their No.15 pick, where they took arguably the second-best edge rusher in the class to plug their biggest area of weakness with Georgia’s Jalon Walker.

Where the shock came was at pick No.26, where they traded up with the Los Angeles Rams to take another hugely talented pass rusher in James Pearce Jr from the Tennessee Volunteers.

With those two moves, they instantly upgraded their defense by multiple notches. But the cost of that trade with the Rams was enormous, seeing them give up their 2026 first-round pick to move up from No.46. Hefty price, big risk.

Grade: C-

 

16. Arizona Cardinals – Walter Nolan

In a draft class stocked with talent at the defensive tackle position, Walter Nolan might have the highest upside of them all. The Cardinals will add the Ole Miss star to recent free agent signing Calais Campbell to compile a potentially elite defensive front in Arizona.

Grade: B+

 

17. Cincinnati Bengals – Shemar Stewart

The Bengals were in desperate need of defensive improvements. Even with Trey Hendrickson screaming off the edge and leading the NFL in sacks last season, they still ranked 25th for points allowed. Shemar Stewart represents a bet on potential. The Texas A&M edge mustered only 4.5 sacks across his entire college career, but he has the size and athleticism to develop into a top player in his position.

Grade: C-

 

18. Seattle Seahawks – Grey Zabel

His positional versatility might not be quite as impressive at Travis Hunter’s, but Grey Zabel possesses an invaluable ability to play across any of the five offensive line roles. Likely to settle as either a guard or a centre at the NFL level, the North Dakota State lineman was one of the standout performers at the Senior Bowl in February and adds much-needed quality to the Seahawks’ sub-par O-line.

Grade: B+

 

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Emeka Egbuka

Ohio State have produced a slew of elite NFL wide receivers in recent years. The Buccaneers are banking on Emeka Egbuka – who won a National Championship with the Buckeyes last season – being the next. A crafty slot receiver with YAC (yards after catch) jets to burn, he should be a sound complement to the great Mike Evans and contingency for Chris Godwin, who is recovering from ankle surgery. 

Grade: C+

 

20. Denver Broncos – Jahdae Barron

Another team leaning into what was already an area of strength, the Broncos added Jahdae Baron, the top cornerback in the 2025 draft, to a defensive backs unit that already included the best cornerback in the NFL in Patrick Surtain II. Barron snagged five interceptions with the Texas Longhorns in 2024.

Grade: B+

 

21. Pittsburgh Steelers – Derrick Harmon

Despite a glaring need at quarterback as they continue to wait for Aaron Rodgers to decide whether he’ll sign with them, the Steelers instead selected another of the top defensive tackles in the 2025 draft class. Harmon shone with the Oregon Ducks and has the potential to emerge as a high-end tackle in the league, especially as he’ll now come under the tutelage of veteran Cam Heyward.

Grade: B

 

22. Los Angeles Chargers – Omarion Hampton

The Chargers signed Najee Harris in free agency, now they have added another running back to help out Justin Herbert and his offense in the form of Omarion Hampton. Hampton rushed for 1,660 yards for the University of North Carolina last season, his second successive campaign of 1,500+ yards. 

Grade: B

 

23. Green Bay Packers – Matthew Golden

The Packers selected a wide receiver for the first time in more than 20 years and it was high time they did so. Green Bay have a solid receiving corps but lack a true No.1 pass catcher. Matthew Golden racked up 987 yards for Texas last season and, with a time of 4.29 seconds, ran the fastest 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine in March.

Grade: A

 

24. Minnesota Vikings – Donovan Jackson 

The Vikings were viewed as potential trade-back candidates, earmarked as possible deal partners for QB-needy clubs like the Giants or Browns if they wanted to come back into the first round. Instead, Minnesota stuck at 24 and picked adaptable Ohio State offensive lineman Donovan Jackson.

A guard by trade, Jackson impressed at left tackle for the Buckeyes last year after a season-ending injury to Josh Simmons. He’ll revert to guard in the NFL, where he’ll help protect JJ McCarthy.

Grade: C

 

27. Baltimore Ravens – Malaki Starks

The Ravens already have Kyle Hamilton, the best safety in the NFL, patrolling their secondary. Now they have doubled down in the position by taking the top safety in the 2025 draft class in Malaki Starks. The former Georgia Bulldog was less effective last season than he had been the year before, but all his physical skills and high potential were on display at the combine. 

Grade: B+

 

28. Detroit Lions – Tyleik Williams

The Lions took advantage of this year’s talent-rich defensive tackle class to fix one of the few clear holes in their roster. Yet another Ohio State product to hear his name called in the first round, Tyleik Williams recorded 11.5 sacks and 28 tackles for a loss in four years in Columbus.

Grade: C

 

29. Washington Commanders – Josh Conerly Jr

The Commanders were the biggest winners in last year’s draft when they took Jayden Daniels with the second overall pick. The former LSU quarterback produced one of the all-time great rookie seasons as he led Washington to the NFC Championship game.

As a result, they were picking at the opposite end of the first round in 2025. And with that pick, they’ve elected to bolster Daniels’ protection by taking Oregon tackle Josh Conerly Jr. After the Commanders traded for star left tackle Laremy Tunsil this offseason, there’s a strong chance Conerly will be switched inside to guard.

Grade: C

 

30. Buffalo Bills – Maxwell Hairston

One of the biggest surprises of Thursday night in Green Bay was the fact that Michigan’s Will Johnson – rated by some as the top cornerback in the class – did not hear his name called.

Doubts over his speed and an inconsistent, injury-blighted 2024 contributed to Johnson’s slide. And the Bills overlooked him here in favour of Maxwell Hairston presumably because the Kentucky youngster’s superior athleticism makes him a better fit to improve their man defense. Hairston ran the fastest 40-yard dash at the Combine this year (4.28s).

Grade: C

 

31. Philadelphia Eagles – Jihaad Campbell

At this point, you have to wonder what kind of pact Eagles GM Howie Roseman has made with Beelzebub for how often top-rated prospects seem to fall into his hands on draft night.

Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell was unanimously graded as a top-15 player in this year’s class, yet – after they gave up a fifth-rounder to switch places with the Kansas City Chiefs at the end of round one – he fell all the way to the Super Bowl champions. Campbell will augment an already terrifying defensive unit at Lincoln Financial Field.

Grade: A+

 

32. Kansas City Chiefs – Josh Simmons

After the Eagles terrorised Patrick Mahomes throughout Super Bowl LIX in February, it became abundantly clear that the Chiefs needed to improve their offensive line.

They signed left tackle Jaylon Moore to a $30 million deal in free agency and now they have picked up arguably the most talented tackle in the 2025 draft class in Josh Simmons.

The reason Simmons was still available with the last pick on Thursday night was because the former Ohio State lineman is recovering from a torn patella tendon that ended his 2024 season after just six games.

If Kansas City are confident in his medical reports, though, they could have one of the steals of the entire draft.

Grade: A

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