The Athletic has around-the-clock reside protection of the 2025 NFL Draft. Try Dane Brugler’s all-encompassing draft information, “The Beast,” and his breakdown of the highest 300 prospects accessible
In the end, draft week has arrived.
For these of you who haven’t been listening to each scouting element over the previous a number of months (though, loads of you actually have), right here’s a fast refresher on the place the whole lot stands heading into the 2025 NFL Draft …
Who has the No. 1 choose within the draft?
The Tennessee Titans. They’re now on their third GM (fourth, counting an interim) and second head coach since going 12-5 in 2021. Former GM Ran Carthon employed Brian Callahan forward of final 12 months’s disappointing 3-14 marketing campaign, which in the end led to Carthon’s dismissal and the arrival of longtime Chiefs scouting government Mike Borgonzi as the brand new basic supervisor.
So, the Titans — who nonetheless appear kind of misaligned with regard to the GM and training employees — are beginning over. Type of. And although something remains to be doable, particularly if the Titans can get one other group to commerce up for the No. 1 choose, loads of smoke suggests Borgonzi will choose Miami QB Cam Ward to open the 2025 NFL Draft.
Will Levis has but to show able to being a full-time NFL starter, that means QB is a transparent place of want for the Titans. It’s one want in a line of many, nonetheless, as Tennessee nonetheless has to search out playmakers on each side of the ball — particularly, receivers (or tight ends) and a number of pass-rushing threats. The Titans’ roster additionally wants extra assistance on the offensive line, doesn’t have a agency reply at operating again and isn’t nice up the center defensively.
If it’s doable, buying and selling the No. 1 choose is perhaps advisable, as Tennessee might use extra high-value draft capital. It at present has eight whole picks, however six are outdoors the highest 100.
Who has probably the most (and the fewest) picks within the NFL Draft?
After years in NFL Draft darkness as a result of disastrous Deshaun Watson commerce, the Browns lastly have a large draft haul with which to work. Cleveland has probably the most draft capital of any group getting into the 2025 draft: 4 picks (Nos. 2, 33, 67, 94) within the high 100 and 10 alternatives total. The Jaguars, Titans, Patriots and 49ers spherical out the highest 5 when it comes to choose quantity, whereas the Giants and Seahawks (4 top-100 alternatives every) are additionally in robust place, too.
That is additionally set as much as be a comparatively robust 12 months for the Buffalo Payments, who’ve gotten used to choosing on the backside of Spherical 1 through the Josh Allen period. The Payments have 4 picks inside the highest 110 (30, 56, 62 and 109).
The Minnesota Vikings, who made a number of trades in 2024 to land J.J. McCarthy and Dallas Turner within the first spherical, have the least capital this 12 months — simply two top-100 picks (Nos. 23 and 97) and 4 alternatives whole. Additionally in tough spots this 12 months are Atlanta and Washington, every having simply two top-100 alternatives and 5 picks whole heading into the weekend.
Who would be the No. 1 choose within the draft?
In a category that possible gained’t produce something near a consensus high 10 amongst NFL draft boards, nothing needs to be utterly dominated out at No. 1. As talked about, although, Tennessee is reportedly keen on Ward, the most effective passer in a comparatively so-so quarterback class.
It’s possible no quarterback within the 2025 class would have heard his identify referred to as forward of Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels or Drake Maye a 12 months in the past — however Ward is fairly firmly the most effective prospect on this group.
The 6-foot-2, 219-pounder has one of many extra distinctive developmental tales we’ve seen in years. He was a Wing-T quarterback in highschool earlier than beginning his faculty profession at tiny Incarnate Phrase, then matriculating to Washington State and ultimately Miami.
The one frequent thread in Ward’s arc is that he steadily improved throughout every of his 5 faculty seasons. With explosive arm expertise and pure passing instincts, he exploded for greater than 4,000 yards with 39 touchdowns final season at Miami, setting the Division I file for profession TD passes (158).
Ward remains to be very a lot a piece in progress, nonetheless, from course of and decision-making standpoints. His ft are inconsistent, plus he takes too many probabilities with the soccer and tends to function with out urgency from the pocket. Nonetheless, many scouts consider Ward’s historical past of year-to-year enchancment can proceed within the NFL. (Many mentioned comparable issues about Levis, who remains to be on Tennessee’s roster, earlier than he was chosen in Spherical 2 in 2023).
Ward reminds many of a bigger Kyler Murray. Shedeur Sanders, possible QB2 on this draft, feels just like Broncos QB Bo Nix.
Will there be trades?
Virtually actually, sure, however nobody’s fairly positive the place.
This draft class doesn’t have an overabundance of clear-cut blue-chip expertise atop the board. Many NFL groups possible will enter the draft with solely a few dozen true first-round grades on their respective boards; some might need fewer than 10.
There are nonetheless a number of QB-needy groups within the high 10, although, even when most of them are having a tough time justifying spending excessive on the place this 12 months. The Titans, Browns, Giants, Jets and Saints all nonetheless want long-term solutions at quarterback. The Steelers (choose No. 21) are in that very same boat.
Ought to Sanders fall outdoors the highest three, a group might make a transfer up for him. Groups comparable to Cleveland or both of the New York squads would possibly attempt to commerce again into Spherical 1 to seize Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart, Alabama’s Jalen Milroe or Louisville’s Tyler Shough earlier than Thursday night time concludes.
If a rash of QBs go early this 12 months, high quality expertise elsewhere can be pushed down the board. Groups searching for a solution at tight finish (Penn State’s Tyler Warren, Michigan’s Colston Loveland) is perhaps available in the market for a commerce up. Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty could possibly be one other trade-up goal, together with Michigan defensive sort out Mason Graham.
What’s the present draft order?
The Spherical 1 draft order for Thursday night time, as of April 22:
The total draft order — all 257 scheduled picks — may be discovered right here. If you wish to take a deeper dive, The Athletic’s Dane Brugler launched a full seven-round mock draft final week.
Prospects to Watch
1. Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado
One of the best soccer participant on this draft by a fairly vast margin, Hunter can also be probably the most distinctive prospect we’ve seen in years. Had been he only a vast receiver, he’d be the top-ranked participant at that place on this 12 months’s class. Had been he only a nook, he’d be the No. 1 nook.
However he’s each. And there’s actually nobody to match him with, as Hunter’s two-year run on each side of the ball at Colorado was not like something we’ve seen in modern-day soccer. The closest comparability can be Corridor of Famer and fellow Heisman winner Charles Woodson. A possible culture-changing athlete on both aspect of the ball (and certain each over time), Hunter is a real soccer unicorn.
2. Abdul Carter, edge, Penn State
If not for uncertainty surrounding a foot damage that stored him out of pre-draft testing, Carter might need been the favored option to go No. 1. Carter’s camp maintains his damage is not going to require surgical procedure or have an effect on his rookie season. If that’s true, then Carter is definitely the most effective edge in a category stuffed with athletic cross rushers.
Inbuilt the identical mould as fellow former Penn State star Micah Parsons, the 6-4, 250-pound Carter has stack linebacker expertise and appeared to get higher as an edge rusher each time he acquired right into a stance final 12 months. His Faculty Soccer Playoff run was dominant, and his future appears to be like extraordinarily brilliant as a doable positionless front-seven hybrid.
3. Mason Graham, DT, Michigan
One of the best defensive sort out in a terrific DT class, Graham was a constant presence at Michigan from his true freshman season on, anchoring one of many nation’s top-performing defenses throughout his three-year run (which included a nationwide title in 2023). At 6-3, 306, Graham has energy throughout his physique with sufficient bend and physique twitch to destroy nearly any block try.
A former elite wrestler, Graham all the time performs with nice leverage and is flexible sufficient to align nearly wherever alongside the defensive entrance. He’s a three-down weapon and a possible culture-changer inside for an NFL protection.
4. Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
One of many uncommon examples of a operating again who is actually price a top-10 choice, Jeanty is the kind of three-down offensive weapon who can influence the whole lot an offense does — run or cross. A succesful hole runner with elite imaginative and prescient and make contact with steadiness, Jeanty (5-9, 211) can also be explosive sufficient to push the sting and carve groups up through zone schemes.
A former highschool receiver (and quarterback), Jeanty is a terrific cross catcher and route runner out of the backfield, and he’s insanely tough to sort out within the open discipline. He was, fairly merely, faculty soccer’s most efficient again since Barry Sanders.
5. The TE1 contenders
The controversy between Warren and Loveland is among the 2025 draft’s most attention-grabbing conversations — each tight ends might wind up as top-10 gamers on this class. Warren (6-6, 256) is harking back to former Colts star Dallas Clark, as a three-down weapon with terrific manufacturing and an elite blocking ceiling. Loveland (6-6, 248), meantime, is the higher receiver, able to beating linebackers, safeties and even some corners in any respect ranges. He performs like a enjoyable cross between Ravens star Mark Andrews and Lions standout Sam LaPorta.
6. The OT1 contenders
One other positional debate that’ll be settled early within the first spherical, the race to be the primary sort out chosen this 12 months is between LSU’s Will Campbell and Missouri’s Armand Membou. Campbell, a three-year beginning junior, is probably the most technically sound offensive lineman on this class — with arguably the highest work ethic. Explosive with nice ft and correct, disciplined palms, Campbell (6-5, 319) works arduous to beat a scarcity of ultimate size on the sting, though some consider he’ll be a greater guard within the NFL.
Membou (6-4, 332) is a extra highly effective and spectacular athlete, though he’s not on Campbell’s degree when it comes to approach consistency.
7. Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
Essentially the most intriguing receiver within the class outdoors of Hunter, McMillan’s 6-4, 213-pound body reminds lots of Falcons standout Drake London — he’s in a position to win within the air towards anybody, whereas sustaining a capability to regulate to off-target throws.
Regardless of his big catch radius and manufacturing after the catch at Arizona, nonetheless, his 4.53-second 40-yard-dash time (1.58-second 10-yard cut up) does increase some issues about whether or not he’ll be as efficient off the snap within the league. If he’s not, he’ll be relegated to enjoying as a big-bodied X-only receiver.
8. Jalon Walker, Edge/LB, Georgia
One other hybrid defender, constructed equally to Carter, Walker (6-1, 243) was one of the vital lively front-seven playmakers in faculty soccer final season. He made performs whether or not he was within the stack as an inside linebacker, in protection or on the road of scrimmage as a cross rusher. He’s smaller than Carter however might need higher instincts for the soccer and will align as a sam linebacker … or absolutely anything else a group desires in a pass-rush weapon up entrance.
Workforce and scheme match can be necessary right here, as a result of coaches should preserve an open thoughts with a participant this gifted.
9. Shemar Stewart, Edge, Texas A&M
Top-of-the-line total athletes within the draft, Stewart (6-5, 267) ran a blazing 4.59 40 on the mix, plus posted a 40-inch vertical leap and broad leap of 10 ft, 11 inches. His athleticism-size-length mixture is harking back to former No. 1 choose Travon Walker.
Stewart’s degree of polish popping out of school is harking back to Walker, too, for higher or worse — Stewart performed in a heavy rotation at Texas A&M and solely had 4 1/2 sacks over three faculty seasons. It’d take a while for him to achieve his ceiling within the NFL, and there’s bust potential right here. However he might turn into one of many NFL’s finest defensive linemen.
10. Mike Inexperienced, edge, Marshall
Inexperienced enters the draft with loads of off-field baggage, as he’s twice been accused of sexual assault (as soon as in highschool and as soon as in faculty). He was not charged in both scenario and denied the allegations throughout his mix information convention.
From a soccer perspective, he’s one of many draft’s finest athletes and one other potential front-seven hybrid. One other former wrestling standout, Inexperienced (6-3, 251) performs with explosion and energy all through his body and has sufficient velocity to run with nearly anybody on the sphere. NFL groups should do their homework right here. Inexperienced is a possible top-10 expertise on this board however might fall into the latter half of Spherical 1.
(Illustration: Will Tullos / The Athletic; Photographs: Patrick Mulligan, Michael Pimentel, CFP / Getty Photos)
