Last night’s first round of the 2025 NFL Draft was honestly kind of wild—in the best way. There were unexpected trades, some surprising picks, and a few moments that had fans and analysts doing double takes. Going into it, everyone had their predictions, but as usual, the draft had a mind of its own. What really stood out was how aggressive some teams were, especially at the top of the board, and how a few big names ended up slipping further than anyone expected.
The Tennessee Titans had the first overall pick and used it on Cam Ward, the quarterback from Miami. I wasn’t totally shocked by the pick, but it definitely confirmed that they’re ready to move on and try something new at the QB position. Ward is a dual-threat guy—he throws well and can run too—which fits what a lot of teams are looking for these days. He put up huge numbers in college, so the pressure’s definitely on for him to turn the Titans around.
Then came the Jaguars, who pulled off a major trade to jump up to the second pick and take Travis Hunter from Colorado. That move came out of nowhere. Hunter is one of the most exciting players in this draft because he plays both offense and defense—he’s a cornerback and a wide receiver. You don’t see that very often, and it’s clear the Jags are trying to make a statement by grabbing a guy who can change the game in more ways than one.
At third, the Giants picked Abdul Carter from Penn State, a powerful edge rusher who should bring some serious heat to their defense. He’s the kind of player that can immediately upgrade a pass rush, and with how important it is to get to the quarterback these days, that pick made a lot of sense. After that, the Patriots took Will Campbell, a tackle from LSU. It wasn’t a flashy pick, but it felt very on-brand for New England. They needed help on the offensive line, and Campbell is one of the most solid linemen in the draft.
One of the more fun picks was at number six, when the Raiders went with Ashton Jeanty, a running back from Boise State. He’s explosive and super quick—exactly the kind of guy who can make highlight-reel plays. Vegas has always liked making big, bold picks, and this one fits that vibe for sure.
And then there were the Packers, who finally did something fans have been begging them to do for years. They actually drafted a wide receiver in the first round—Matthew Golden from Houston. It’s been like 20+ years since they last did that. Golden is a smooth receiver with great hands, and it shows that the team is really trying to give Jordan Love the tools he needs.
One of the biggest surprises of the night wasn’t who got picked, but who didn’t. Shedeur Sanders, the quarterback from Colorado and son of Deion Sanders, was expected by a lot of people to go in the first round. But he didn’t. Teams like the Steelers and Giants, who could definitely use a quarterback, passed on him. It was pretty surprising, and now everyone’s watching to see when he’ll get picked on Day 2.
There were a few interesting trades, too, like the one that helped the Jaguars move up, and a late-round deal between the Eagles and Chiefs. It felt like a lot of teams were willing to take risks and shake things up to go after the players they wanted. That kind of energy made the whole first round more unpredictable and way more entertaining to watch. All in all, the first round set the tone for what looks like a really exciting draft. There’s still a ton of talent left on the board, so the next few rounds should be just as fun. But for now, the first night gave us a lot to talk about—and a lot to look forward to when the season kicks off.