The 2025 NFL Draft kicks off Thursday at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, where the Tennessee Titans are on the clock with the first overall pick in what promises to be a big weekend for many franchises.
Unlike last year’s quarterback-heavy draft that saw six signal-callers selected in the first 12 picks, the 2025 class offers a different profile – fewer consensus blue-chip prospects but exceptional depth at several key positions.
When and Where to Watch
The three-day event begins at 8 p.m. ET with Round 1, continues Friday at 7 p.m. ET with Rounds 2-3, and concludes Saturday at noon ET with Rounds 4-7. Coverage will be available on ESPN, ABC, NFL Network, and the ESPN App, with 16 top prospects attending in person.
Quarterback Landscape
Miami’s Cam Ward has emerged as the presumptive first overall pick to the Titans, with draft expert Daniel Jeremiah noting that Ward possesses a “very high ceiling” if his gunslinging tendencies can be properly channeled.
Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, son of Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, remains a polarizing prospect who could still land in the top 10 despite questions about certain aspects of his game. Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart rounds out the potential first-round signal-callers, though some analysts believe Louisville’s Tyler Shough and Alabama’s Jalen Milroe could also hear their names called late Thursday or early Friday.
The “Unicorn” and Other Elite Prospects
The consensus top non-quarterback prospect is Colorado’s Travis Hunter, a Heisman Trophy winner who excelled at both wide receiver and cornerback under coach Deion Sanders. Browns general manager Andrew Berry recently called Hunter a “unicorn player” – a fitting description for someone who recorded 92 receptions for 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns on offense while adding four interceptions and 15 passes defended on defense last season.
Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter, who led the FBS with 23.5 tackles for loss and recorded 12 sacks en route to First-Team AP All-American honors, is widely expected to be selected at either pick #2 or #3, depending on the Browns’ and Giants’ decisions.
Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty presents an interesting case study in positional value. Despite coming off a historic season in which he rushed for 2,601 yards – falling just 28 yards short of Barry Sanders’ single-season record – and scored 29 touchdowns, Jeanty will likely be selected after Hunter and Carter due to the NFL’s devaluation of the running back position. NFL analyst Lance Zierlein has compared Jeanty to Hall of Famer LaDainian Tomlinson.
Position Strength
This draft class features exceptional depth at several positions, particularly running back, wide receiver, defensive tackle, edge rusher, tight end, and safety. NFL draft analyst Field Yates notes that his top 200 prospects include 26 edge rushers, 24 wide receivers, 22 running backs, 14 safeties, and 12 tight ends.
Teams with multiple picks, like the 49ers and Ravens (each with 11 selections), are well-positioned to capitalize on this depth, especially in Rounds 2-4 where quality starters should still be available.
Teams to Watch
The Saints at pick #9 represent one of the draft’s biggest wildcards, particularly after recent news of Derek Carr’s shoulder injury. While New Orleans hasn’t selected a first-round quarterback since Archie Manning in 1971, the combination of a new coach in Kellen Moore and uncertainty under center could prompt action.
League sources also indicate a potential early run on pass rushers, with the Raiders (#6), Jets (#7), Panthers (#8), Saints (#9), and 49ers (#11) all possibly targeting edge defenders or disruptive interior linemen.
Draft Order Dynamics
For the first time in several years, no first-round picks have been traded prior to draft day, meaning all 32 teams currently hold a selection in Thursday’s first round. The Titans lead off, followed by the Browns, Giants, Patriots, and Jaguars in the top five.
Whether this holds once the clock starts ticking will have to be seen, as teams eye specific prospects and may look to move up, while others could trade down to accumulate additional picks in this deep class.
Now, all eyes turn to Green Bay. And the first pick of the 2025 NFL draft is…