Skip to main content

2025 NFL Draft grades for Round 1: Live pick-by-pick analysis

Ayrton Ostly   Paste BN
play
Show Caption

Months of scouting, analysis and predictions have led to this. The first round of the 2025 NFL draft kicked off the three-day event in Green Bay, Wisconsin in exciting fashion.

For the first time in NFL history, all 32 franchises entered the night with their first-round selections but that was far from how things ended.

The Tennessee Titans started the night off as expected by selecting Miami quarterback Cam Ward No. 1 overall. One pick later saw the first of many trades on the night as the Jacksonville Jaguars moved up to No. 2 overall via trade to select Colorado cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter.

There would be a further three trades and few surprise picks as the night wore on. One of the biggest stories was the fall of Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders. He was widely expected to be a first-round selection but he remains undrafted after the first night of the NFL draft.

Instead of Sanders, it was Ole Miss' Jaxson Dart who was the second quarterback off the board after the New York Giants traded back into the first round to select him. There were another pair of deals as the Falcons moved up to get another edge rusher and the Eagles and Chiefs swapped picks to close the night.

Some teams addressed their needs very well while others left us scratching our heads. Here's our analysis of every pick in Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft:

NFL draft live grades

This section will be updated.

32. Kansas City Chiefs (via Philadelphia Eagles): OT Josh Simmons, Ohio State

  • Grade: A

The Chiefs moved back a spot but still got one of the best tackle prospects in the draft. Simmons likely would've been a top-15 pick if not for a mid-season knee injury. Once fully recovered, he has the potential to be a long-term starter at tackle for the Chiefs. They get great value here and depth in case free agent signee Jaylon Moore or Jawaan Taylor can't hold up consistently.

31. Philadelphia Eagles (via Kansas City Chiefs): LB Jihaad Campbell, Alabama

  • Grade: B

Philadelphia moves up a spot to select one of the best prospects, regardless of position, in the class. Campbell has the build of a modern linebacker at 6-foot-3 and 233 pounds. He's a thumping hitter in run defense and has the athleticism to cover. This is a curious pick considering the Eagles just gave linebacker Zack Baun an extension but Campbell could be used more as a pass rusher than during his time at Alabama.

30. Buffalo Bills: CB Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky

  • Grade: B+

Hairston was the fastest player at the NFL combine and that shows up on tape from his time at Kentucky. He lacks size at 5-foot-11 and 183 pounds but could be a starter at nickel cornerback for a team loking for more speed in the secondary. Hairston had great ball production in college with six interceptions and 10 passes defensed in his last two years. This is a great fit for a playoff contender.

29. Washington Commanders: OL Josh Conerly Jr., Oregon

  • Grade: D+

Washington opts to bolster the offensive line at No. 29 here with Conerly who was a multi-year starter for the Ducks. He played better in 2023 than 2024 and struggled at times against the upgrade in competition. His size at 6-foot-5 and 311 pounds may make it tough to hang at tackle in the NFL. Considering the Commanders' glaring needs on defense and the abundance of options on the board, they get a tough grade for this pick.

28. Detroit Lions: DT Tyleik Williams, Ohio State

  • Grade: C+

Detroit entered the draft with few glaring needs and select the massive Williams at No. 28. The Ohio State defensive tackle is a big presence in the middle at 6-foot-3 and 334 pounds with a high floor as a run defender. He compares well to a player the Lions already have on their roster: Alim McNeill. That redundancy, especially in a class with fantastic defensive tackle depth, takes their grade down.

27. Baltimore Ravens: S Malaki Starks, Georgia

  • Grade: A

The Ravens potentially get another first-round steal in the three-year starter for Georgia. Starks offers great versatility in coverage with the football IQ and commitment to run defense that will fit perfectly in the AFC North. Baltimore needed help in the secondary and grab the best defensive back on the board here.

26. Atlanta Falcons (via Los Angeles Rams): Edge James Pearce Jr., Tennessee

  • Grade: B

Atlanta had a huge need at edge rusher entering the draft and decide to get a true edge in Pearce. The Volunteers product had an impressive 19.5 career sacks over three years in the SEC and offers elite burst in a lean, long frame. The Falcons had just four remaining picks in the 2025 NFL draft so they sacrificed a future first-round pick to make this move up. They get a third-round pick in this draft to compensate but that's still a big price to move up.

25. New York Giants (via Houston Texans): QB Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss

  • Grade: C

New York traded back into the first round and gave up their second- and a fourth-round pick in this year's draft to do so. Dart could be a long-term answer at the position but has a steep learning curve in the NFL after running a very quarterback-friendly offense in college that relied heavily on RPO and play-action concepts. This could be a move to keep coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen off the hot seat but could take more time than they have to pan out.

24. Minnesota Vikings: OL Donovan Jackson, Ohio State

  • Grade: C+

Jackson was a standout guard for the Buckeyes before filling in at tackle after teammate Josh Simmons went down with injury mid-season. He offers great length and movement skills at the position and should be an NFL guard for years to come. This is a very curious pick because the Vikings invested heavily in offensive line in free agency and have needs on defense, primarily in the secondary.

23. Green Bay Packers: WR Matthew Golden, Texas

  • Grade: A-

The Packers' receiving corps has plenty of promising young players but they could use more speed at the position. Golden certainly provides this with his field-stretching abilities and bounce to high-point contested catches. He can line up on the outside and offer a succession plan for Christian Watson who will be a free agent next year.

22. Los Angeles Chargers: RB Omarion Hampton, North Carolina

  • Grade: B

Hampton is a tier above the rest of the running back prospects in one of the best classes at the position seen in the last 15 years. He has ideal size and offers great speed, explosiveness, footwork and vision with great potential as a receiver as well. He is an ideal fit in the Chargers' offense but this team has a list of needs on defense which drops their grade down despite the fit.

21. Pittsburgh Steelers: DT Derrick Harmon, Oregon

  • Grade: B+

It's hard to find a better succession plan for franchise icon Cameron Heyward than the long-armed, productive interior defender Harmon. The Oregon product was the lynchpin of one of the best defenses in college football and racked up five sacks in 2024. This is a fantastic fit. Still, the Steelers are slated to start Mason Rudolph at quarterback and that's not a good option for a team with playoff aspirations.

20. Denver Broncos: CB Jahdae Barron, Texas

  • Grade: B+

Denver opts to build on a strength with the versatile Barron. The Longhorns cornerback lined up at multiple spots in the secondary but may end up at nickel in the NFL due to his size (5-foot-11, 194 pounds) and shorter arms. No matter where he lines up, he offers elite speed and ball production. Denver's secondary gets another starter alongside reigning Defensive Player of the Year Patrick Surtain II. They get a slight knock for not addressing needs on offense.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: WR Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State

  • Grade: B-

Tampa Bay gets one of the most pro-ready players in the entire draft with Egbuka here. The slot wide receiver was a standout route runner with the Buckeyes with a similar skillset to Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. The Buccaneers were without slot wideout Chris Godwin for most of 2024 and now have a succession plan firmly in place. They get this grade because of how the board looks considering their glaring needs on defense.

18. Seattle Seahawks: IOL Grey Zabel, North Dakota State

  • Grade: A+

This is one of the best picks of the first round in regards to need and fit. Zabel was a standout tackle in college but translates best to the interior due to his shorter arms. He dominated the Senior Bowl at center and could line up there for a Seahawks team that had one of the worst interior offensive lines in the league in 2024. It's hard to find a better fit for a huge need on the Seahawks' roster.

17. Cincinnati Bengals: Edge Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M

  • Grade: B-

It's undeniable the Bengals need help off the edge and they take one of the most elite athletes seen at the position in years. Stewart is all about traits with great size, length, speed and explosiveness. But Stewart tallied just 4.5 career sacks in college and there were more proven options at edge rusher on the board at this pick. He is a lot of projection at this point with a high ceiling but a low floor.

16. Arizona Cardinals: DT Walter Nolen, Ole Miss

  • Grade: B+

With Walker off the board, the Cardinals opt to address a need along the defensive line. Arizona signed both Calais Campbell and Dalvin Tomlinson in free agency but the team needs a long-term building block at the position. Nolen has incredible burst off the line with long arms for his 6-foot-4, 300-pound frame. He has a high ceiling as a pass rusher and can grow alongside 2024 first-round pick Darius Robinson.

15. Atlanta Falcons: LB Jalon Walker, Georgia

  • Grade: A-

The Falcons have a huge need at edge rusher and take one of the more explosive players in the draft with the local prospect Walker. He played off-ball linebacker primarily in college before lining up at edge rusher more in 2024. Atlanta could use help at both spots and offers defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich a versatile piece on defense.

14. Indianapolis Colts: TE Tyler Warren, Penn State

  • Grade: A

Indianapolis targeted their tight ends the fourth-least in the NFL last year and get arguably the best prospect at that position at No. 14. Warren is a versatile player who carried most of the load for Penn State's offense in 2024. He's got great size and creates a mismatch in coverage. He'll be a contributor immediately and will help the Colts determine whether or not Anthony Richardson is the quarterback of the future.

13. Miami Dolphins: DT Kenneth Grant, Michigan

  • Grade: B

Miami has a massive need at defensive tackle and get a massive prospect to fill that need. Grant is a lot of projection at this point but has ridiculous athletic tools considering his 6-foot-3, 330-pound frame. He's a great fit for the Dolphins at nose tackle. There aren't many offensive linemen worth taking at this point and Grant has a high ceiling at the position.

12. Dallas Cowboys: G Tyler Booker, Alabama

  • Grade: C+

Booker is one of the more polarizing prospects taken in the first round. There is no denying his power as a run blocker, length, size and demeanor. But he was one of the slowest offensive linemen at the combine and is limited foot speed-wise. They filled a need with Zack Martin's retirement but there were many better players at other positions of need that they could've addressed instead.

11. San Francisco 49ers: Edge Mykel Williams, Georgia

  • Grade: A-

San Francisco needs a lot of help on the defensive line opposite Nick Bosa and Williams fits the bill exceptionally well for this team. His comically long arms and powerful frame is a match for what the 49ers look for in edge rushers. He played hurt in 2024 but showed flashes of dominance as one of the youngest players in the class. He has a high floor as a run defender and can grow as a pass rusher in San Francisco.

10. Chicago Bears: TE Colston Loveland, Michigan

  • Grade: B+

The Bears chose their next-best pass catcher on the board in Loveland. He projects better in the NFL than in college where he spent years in a run-heavy system with the Wolverines. Loveland offers a similar skillset to Zach Ertz and upgrades the skill positions around quarterback Caleb Williams. Chicago does get dinged slightly for taking a tight end this high as the team has needs in the trenches on both sides of the ball.

9. New Orleans Saints: OT Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas

  • Grade: A-

New Orleans is not exercising tackle Trevor Penning's fifth-year option which leaves a need at left tackle for the future past 2025. Banks can play guard in 2025 then take over at tackle in 2026. His athleticism and skills in pass protection should provide a solid foundation to grow. The Saints have a lot of needs but getting a top offensive lineman instead of reaching for a quarterback is the right decision.

8. Carolina Panthers: WR Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona

  • Grade: B-

Carolina grabs the top pure wide receiver off the board in the big-bodied McMillan. He'll offer a different skillset for the Panthers' offense and a big target for Bryce Young in Year 3. But this is a team that ranked last in the NFL on defense by points, yards, rushing yards, passing touchdowns and first downs allowed last year. They desperately need help on that side of the ball and don't pick again until No. 57 overall.

7. New York Jets: OT Armand Membou, Missouri

  • Grade: A

Membou is one of the most athletic offensive tackles seen in the last 20 years and has great size at 6-foot-4 and 332 pounds. He has no wingspan concerns like Campbell; one of his few knocks is he lined up specifically at right tackle in college but that'd be no issue with the Jets. The new regime in New York did the right thing in grabbing the best player available at a position of need. With Membou and 2024 first-rounder Olu Fashanu, the Jets should have bookend tackles for years to come.

6. Las Vegas Raiders: RB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State

  • Grade: A

Jeanty is one of the best running back prospects of the last five years. He's a rare prospect with elite contact balance that makes him hard to bring down. He has plenty of untapped potential as a receiver; Boise State didn't deploy him in the passing game that much. He should be an immediate boost for the Raiders' offense in both the running and passing game.

5. Cleveland Browns (via Jaguars): DT Mason Graham, Michigan

  • Grade: B+

Cleveland hasn't had a first-round pick since 2021 and spend it on arguably the safest player in the draft. Graham is a plug-and-play starter on the interior with a high floor thanks to his run defense abilities. He has limitations right now as a pass rusher but lining up next to Myles Garrett eases those concerns. Cleveland does get a slight ding for passing up on a chance to get the best player in the class at No. 2 overall.

4. New England Patriots: OT Will Campbell, LSU

  • Grade: A

New England needs a left tackle to protect franchise quarterback Drake Maye and Campbell's the best candidate to do so. There are wingspan concerns considering he ranks in the seventh percentile among all offensive linemen since 1999. His athleticism, power, leadership and experience give him a great shot to stick there.

3. New York Giants: Edge Abdul Carter, Penn State

  • Grade: A

The Giants make an easy decision and take the consensus second-best player in the class. Carter is an elite athlete at the position who moved from off-ball linebacker to edge and he has plenty of room to grow in the NFL. New York did the right thing by not reaching for a quarterback and instead taking a blue-chip player when given the opportunity to do so.

2. Jacksonville Jaguars (via Browns): WR/CB Travis Hunter, Colorado

  • Grade: B+

Jacksonville makes the first big splash of the night by moving up from No. 5 overall to No. 2 and select the consensus top player of the class. Hunter is a two-way star with All-Pro potential at cornerback and can be a solid No. 2 wideout on offense for the Jaguars. They gave up a steep price to move up three spots, though, and that's why the Jaguars do not get an A.

The team announced Hunter as both a wide receiver and defensive back, a potential statement of intent for his future in Jacksonville.

1. Tennessee Titans: QB Cam Ward, Miami

  • Grade: A

Tennessee needs a franchise quarterback and Ward has the best ceiling of any of the passers in this year's class. He has a very strong arm and the mobility to extend plays as well as push the ball downfield. He'll need to reel in his gunslinger mentality at the NFL level but offers hope for the future in Tennessee.

No. 1 pick history since 2010

  • 2010 (St. Louis Rams): QB Sam Bradford, Oklahoma
  • 2011 (Carolina Panthers): QB Cam Newton, Auburn
  • 2012 (Indianapolis Colts): QB Andrew Luck, Stanford
  • 2013 (Kansas City Chiefs): OT Eric Fisher, Central Michigan
  • 2014 (Houston Texans): DE Jadeveon Clowney, South Carolina
  • 2015 (Tampa Bay Buccaneers): QB Jameis Winston, Florida State
  • 2016 (Los Angeles Rams): QB Jared Goff, California
  • 2017 (Cleveland Browns): DE Myles Garrett, Texas A&M
  • 2018 (Cleveland Browns): QB Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma
  • 2019 (Arizona Cardinals): QB Kyler Murray, Oklahoma
  • 2020 (Cincinnati Bengals): QB Joe Burrow, LSU
  • 2021 (Jacksonville Jaguars): QB Trevor Lawrence, Clemson
  • 2022 (Jacksonville Jaguars): DE Travon Walker, Georgia
  • 2023 (Carolina Panthers): QB Bryce Young, Alabama
  • 2024 (Chicago Bears): QB Caleb Williams, USC

Who has the most picks in the 2025 NFL draft?

The San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens are tied for the most with 11 entering Round 1.

Who has the fewest picks in the 2025 NFL draft?

The Minnesota Vikings have the fewest picks in the draft with four.

Facebook Twitter Email