It’s the week of the 2025 NFL Draft (April 24-26 in Green Bay, Wisconsin), so we will soon know exactly how the first round will unfold.
Before the Tennessee Titans go on the clock with the first overall pick Thursday night and draft prospects begin coming off the board, we asked one question:
What is your bold prediction for Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft?
I think it’s possible that four QBs are selected in Round 1. The Saints (facing uncertainty around the availability of Derek Carr) and Steelers (with Aaron Rodgers undecided about his future) are in tough spots, lacking clearly defined starters on their rosters. The Browns and Giants might pass on QBs at Nos. 2 and 3 overall, respectively, but they surely wouldn’t hesitate to move up, if necessary, from the top of Round 2. It might not be a great quarterback class, but that sometimes doesn’t matter.
Boise State star running back Ashton Jeanty will be picked before Raiders head coach Pete Carroll can make the call at No. 6. The Giants likely have FOMO after watching Saquon Barkley, whom they drafted second overall in 2018, leave to win a Super Bowl with the rival Eagles — and they could use the third overall pick on Jeanty to alleviate that feeling. Or Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel, whose team picks at No. 4, could tab Jeanty to carry the load on offense, as Derrick Henry once did for Vrabel in Tennessee. If Jeanty’s still around at No. 5, the Jaguars could take him as the best player available, or trade out with someone else (the Bears, 49ers, Cowboys or even, if Carroll can’t wait until his original draft slot, Las Vegas) for additional draft capital.
There will be at least seven edge rushers drafted in the first round. This draft is deep in defensive linemen, especially on the edges. There are obviously potential top-10 prospects like Abdul Carter, Jalon Walker and Mykel Williams. There also are exciting talents such as Mike Green, Donovan Ezeiruaku and James Pearce Jr. And there are plenty more after those names. Disrupting the quarterback is critical to success in this league. That’s why it will be hard for several teams to pass on these types of players on Day 1.
It’s been almost unanimously assumed during the pre-draft process that Cleveland will select either edge rusher Abdul Carter or two-way player Travis Hunter with the second overall pick. However, early on Thursday night, the Browns provide a shocker when they take QB Shedeur Sanders in that spot.