The 2025 NFL draft began Thursday night in Green Bay, Wisconsin, with the Tennessee Titans selecting Miami quarterback Cam Ward with the first overall pick. All 32 teams were scheduled to make first-round picks on Thursday, but the New York Giants’ move up to No. 25 to select Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart took the Houston Texans out of the first round. One pick later, the Atlanta Falcons made a deal with the Los Angeles Rams to move back into the first round and select Tennessee defensive end James Pearce Jr.

Here are the top 10 players to be selected in the 2025 NFL Draft in the first round:

1. Tennessee Titans: QB Cam Ward (Miami)

The Titans needed a quarterback and drafted the top one in the class. Ward is a quality quarterback prospect with good upside to grow into a franchise player, and the Titans have put together a good enough offensive line where he’ll have a real chance to reach his ceiling. Ward might not be as highly thought of as the quarterback prospects from last year, but he’s worthy of the first pick and the Titans had a huge hole at quarterback.

2. Jacksonville Jaguars (via trade w/ Cleveland Browns): WR/DB Travis Hunter (Colorado) The Jaguars have made the first bold move of the draft, with new general manager James Gladstone taking the “F them picks” approach from his former workplace with the Rams. The Jaguars are getting the best player in the draft and will get to decide his fate on offense or defense, but Hunter plans on playing both ways. Obviously the Jaguars have not spoken much about Hunter prior to the draft, but it’s hard to hate on a team that already believes they have their quarterback moving up and getting Hunter.

3. New York Giants: Edge Abdul Carter (Penn State)

This pick gives the Giants one of the fiercest pass rushes in the league and puts Abdul Carter with star defensive linemen Dexter Lawrence and Brian Burns. If the Giants’ cornerback play can improve this year, this could be one of the most improved defenses in the league. The presence of Lawrence, Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux will give Carter some great matchups to wreak havoc as a rookie. Perhaps the Giants could’ve gone offensive line here, but Carter’s upside as a pass rusher, in that front seven, is hard to turn down.

4. New England Patriots: OT Will Campbell (LSU) Simple is as simple does. The Patriots needed a left tackle and they got arguably the best guy in this class. The Patriots offense has their quarterback in Drake Maye, but they still needed offensive tackle help which they can get here in a hurry with Campbell. Even if Campbell isn’t a tackle, they can still get their best five linemen on the field.

5. Cleveland Browns (via trade w/ Jacksonville Jaguars): DT Mason Graham (Michigan)

Trading back to get Mason Graham is a great process for the Browns. Graham can be a stalwart 3-technique next to Myles Garrett and give them a long-term talent they needed at that position. It’s hard to find defensive tackles with pass rush potential and he’s got it.

6. Las Vegas Raiders : RB Ashton Jeanty (Boise State)

Ashton Jeanty is an incredible player, but this doesn’t seem like the player the Raiders need right now. Getting Geno Smith and Jeanty (to go along with Brock Bowers!) will significantly raise the floor on the offfense, but they still need offensive line help to maximize this thing.

7. New York Jets : OT Armand Membou (Missouri)

Membou makes a ton of sense here as the Jets build a bookend duo with Olu Fashanu, who was a stellar rookie left tackle last year for New York. Membou is flatly one of the best players in the draft and should be an immediate, long-term right tackle for the Jets with massive upside to be a Pro Bowl player — or better.

8. Carolina Panthers: WR Tetairoa McMillan (Arizona)

The Panthers have spent a lot of assets on wide receivers over the past two drafts, but adding McMillan gives Bryce Young a true “X” wide receiver and moves Xavier Legette to a WR2 role that’s a bit more appropriate for him. The Panthers have a talented offense with a deep offensive line and running game and now McMillan adding depth and starting talent to the wide receiver room.

9. New Orleans Saints: OL Kelvin Banks Jr. (Texas)

The Saints just needed to hit a single and they got that done with the selection of Kelvin Banks who should slide in as a long-term starter at tackle or guard. With Banks and Taliese Fuaga, the teams’ first round pick from last year, they should have two young offensive linemen on rookie contracts that can stabilize the offense as they continue to retool it.

10. Chicago Bears: TE Colston Loveland (Michigan)

The Bears needed more talent in their pass catching room and add Colston Loveland to their roster to boost their tight end spot. Loveland has room to grow physically as a blocker, but he’s young and has NFL-ready skills as a pass catcher in Ben Johnson’s new offense.

The draft continues with Rounds 2-3 on Friday (7 p.m. ET) and concludes with Rounds 4-7 on Saturday (noon ET).

X