Top five storylines from a wild first round of the 2025 NFL Draft

The first round of the 2025 NFL Draft delivered excitement from the very first pick. With some teams staying the course and others shaking things up, there is already plenty to unpack.

DAZN News breaks down the top five moments from day one of the draft that had the entire league buzzing.

As most predicted, Cam Ward was the first overall selection

Tennessee's intention to draft Ward was one of the worst-kept secrets of the pre-draft process—but that didn't make the moment any less special. When his name was called, the excitement was just as real—for the Titans' organisation, their loyal fans, and Ward himself.

Ward will immediately become the face of the franchise and the man responsible for spearheading the Titans' rebuilding efforts.

Jaguars make blockbuster trade to move up and select Travis Hunter

The first trade in the draft was also the most impactful, as the Jaguars acquired the second overall pick before using it on arguably the most talented player in the 2025 Draft Class.

Jacksonville traded their 2025 5th overall selection, the 36th pick (second round), the 126th pick (fourth round), and a 2026 first-round pick to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for the second overall selection, the 104th pick (fourth round) and the 200th pick (sixth round).

Hunter didn't hide his excitement.

Widely regarded as a generational talent—and seen by many teams as the top prospect at both wide receiver and cornerback—Hunter will focus primarily on offense, where he's poised to team up with 2024 rookie sensation Brian Thomas Jr. to form one of the league's most dynamic wideout duos.

Shedeur Sanders' stunning slide out of the first round

As one of the most polarising players in the draft class, nobody truly knew when Sanders would be selected. Few expected him to fall out of the first round, but as several quarterback-needy teams passed over him, it became apparent that he wasn't destined to hear his name called on the opening night of the draft.

In a message posted on his social media, Sanders shared his surprise.

Still considered a top candidate early in the second round, Sanders will likely get his shot to prove himself in the NFL—and if he succeeds, he'll have the perfect opportunity to show the teams that passed on him exactly what they missed.

The resurgence of the running back

After years of being devalued—with only two running backs taken in the first round over the past three drafts—the 2025 class signalled a shift. Ashton Jeanty was selecrted sixth overall by the Las Vegas Raiders, while Omarion Hampton was taken 22nd by the Las Vegas Chargers.

Jeanty's selection was the highest for a running back since Saquon Barkley went second overall in 2018—fitting, given Barkley's standout 2024 campaign helped restore league-wide belief in the value of elite backs.

Both Jeanty and Hampton have the talent to become three-down playmakers for their new franchises, hopefully continuing the running back revolution.

The New York Giants came out swinging

The Giants used the third overall selection on talented edge rusher Abdul Carter and still got the quarterback they desired after moving up nine places to take Mississippi quarterback Jaxson Dart.

New York sent its 2025 second-round pick (34th overall), its third-round selection (99th) and a 2026 third-rounder to the Houston Texans in the trade.

Carter will instantly elevate the Giants' defensive line, which already comprises talented players such as Dexter Lawrence II, Brian Burns, and Kayvon Thibodeaux.

Dart will have time to learn the role while playing behind Russell Wilson before eventually taking over as the starter.

Watch the NFL draft live and for free on DAZN

The 2025 NFL Draft continues until Saturday, April 26. 

This year's NFL Draft will be available to watch for free on NFL Game Pass on DAZN (excluding the US and China).

For more information and to watch for free, click here.

NFL Draft schedule

• Round  : Thursday, April 24 (8pm ET / 1am BST)
• Rounds 2 and 3: Friday, April 25 (6pm ET / 11pm BST)
• Rounds 4-7: Saturday, April 26 (12pm ET / 5pm BST)