2025 NFL Draft Grades: Grading Each Pick From The 1st Round Of The 2025 NFL Draft

Here are the grades for every pick of the 1st Round of the 2025 NFL Draft.

The 1st Round of the NFL Draft is in the books. Here is how each pick graded out.

Tennessee Titans Select Miami QB Cam Ward: C

The Tennessee Titans are betting the franchise on Miami QB Cam Ward, hoping that he will harness his arm talent and playmaking into becoming a franchise quarterback. Cam Ward is the top quarterback in this year’s draft, but is he a good prospect compared to other drafts? Picks aren’t made in a vacuum, and you have to consider how good (or bad) a team will be next year and whether they can get a better quarterback in the draft next year. I believe that would be the case for the Titans, so I give this a C.

2. The Jacksonville Jaguars Select Colorado WR/CB Travis Hunter: D

This grade is not reflective of Travis Hunter, one of the best two players in the draft who will make a great NFL player. Rather, it’s due to the trade that the Jaguars made with the Browns to move up to this spot. Hunter is a great player, and he will make Jacksonville better on both sides of the ball if they choose to deploy him that way. But, this is a team that needs to build through the trenches, and they’ve now given away their best two opportunities this year and their best one next year to do just that. This is a poor long-term move, and it deserves a grade of D.

3. The New York Giants Select Penn State Edge Abdul Carter: B+

The New York Giants have plenty of needs on the roster, especially at quarterback and the offensive line. But, Carter is one of the top two players in the draft, and the gap from his tier to the next one is simply too big to ignore. The Giants are going best player available with Carter, the best defensive player in college football last year that has starred at both box linebacker and on the edge for the Nittany Lions. He will pair with Brian Burns to form one of the best pass-rushing duos in the NFL, and 2022 top-ten pick Kayvon Thibodeaux may be on his way out. Overall, the get a guy with Hall of Fame potential at a premium position, even if it’s not at a position of need. That deserves a grade of B+.

4. The New England Patriots Select LSU OT Will Campbell: B+

The Patriots have lots of holes on the offense, and had there been a superstar WR prospect, they may have went that way at this pick. But, That player isn’t in this draft, so they went with one of the best offensive tackles in the NFL Draft. Questions about arm length may limit Will Campbell’s ceiling below being one of the very best offensive tackles in the league. But, he’s got a very high floor, he’s going to help protect Drake Maye right away, and his upside is still at a Pro Bowl level. It’s a solid pick at a position of need, and it deserves a B+.

5. The Cleveland Browns Select Michigan DT Mason Graham: A+

In a vacuum, this is a good pick, but certainly not an A+. But, when you factor in the absolute haul they got from the Jaguars to move down from 2 to 5, it’s a home run. They received picks 5, 36, and 126 this year, plus Jags’ first-rounder next year, for picks 2, 104, and 200 this year. That’s a great haul, and now they’re looking at having two high picks next year. As for Graham, he’s still a bit undeveloped as a pass-rusher, but he’s phenomenal against the run, athletic for the position, and has a fantastic motor. He will be a good player on the interior right away with the potential to grow into an All-Pro. This is a clear A+.

6. The Las Vegas Raiders Selected Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty: C

The Las Vegas Raiders love splashy picks, and they certainly made one here. Make no mistake, Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty is a great running back prospect and one of the best five players in this draft. He has everything you’d want in a runner, though he can improve catching the football out of the backfield and in pass protection. But, the Raiders have so many needs at so many positions that are more valued, and for that, I give it a C.

7. The New York Jets Select Missouri OT Armand Membou: A

Armand Membou is my favorite offensive lineman in the NFL Draft. He dominated the SEC last year at just 20 years old, and is a phenomenal athlete with a ton of development still left to do. The Jets have not had a good offensive line in over a decade, but they’re making a big effort to change that. Last year, they took Penn State LT Olu Fashanu in the 1st round, and now they double down with Membou. Membou will slot in as a day-one starter at right tackle, and the Jets now have the best young tackle duo in the country. This deserves an A.

8. The Carolina Panthers Select Arizona WR Tetairoa McMillan: B

The Carolina Panthers have plenty of holes to fill, and could’ve used this pick on the offensive line or on the defensive line. But, they’re choosing to get Bryce Young one of the best wide receivers in the draft in Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan. McMillan, 6-foot-4, struggles to get separation at times, but is fantastic at the catch point and will provide Bryce Young a big target. Young showed big signs of progress last year in the second half of the season, and the Panthers need to figure out if he’s their long-term franchise quarterback. This will pick will help them do that, and why it’s a big board reach for many, it’s a solid selection at a pick of need, worthy of a B grade.

9. The New Orleans Saints Select Texas OL Kelvin Banks Jr: B+

The New Orleans Saints are looking to rebuild an offensive line that just took a blow with the retirement of Ryan Ramczyk. Enter Texas OL Kelvin Banks Jr. Banks’ stock slipped a bit during the season and suffered an ankle injury at the end of the regular season. But, he’s started since day one for the Longhorns and is ultra-talented. Can he stick at tackle? His length is a question mark, as is his natural quickness. But, worst case scenario, he swings down to guard and is a star there. This is a high-floor pick with a solid ceiling at a position of need, and it deserves a B+.

10. The Chicago Bears Select Michigan TE Colston Loveland: C-

The Chicago Bears have needs both on the offensive line and on the defensive line. But, in traditional Bears fashion, they’re ignoring those more important positions to pick what amount to a luxury pick for a team that already has a bunch invested in pass-catchers. As for Loveland, he’s the best natural pass-catching tight end in the draft, and his numbers at Michigan took a hit due to a subpar quarterback situation last year. But, he is a zero in the run game, and the better tight end prospect in the draft is Tyler Warren. Given that it’s a non-premium position and the team has bigger needs elsewhere, plus passing up a better player at the position, it gets a C-.

11. The San Francisco 49ers Select Georgia Edge Mykel Williams: B-

No one would’ve predicted heading into the 2024 season that the San Francisco 49ers would be picking 11th, but here we are. And, after a disappointing season and with their core aging, they decided to take a big swing at a premium position in Georgia DE Mykel Williams. Williams has great size and protoypical power and speed for the position. He’s strong at the point of attack due to those traits. But, he is really raw as a pass-rusher, and his production has been inconsistent. I would’ve liked for San Francisco to get a player that is more likely to make a big impact next year, but it’s a solid swing at a high-ceiling player at a premium position. That deserves a B-.

12. The Dallas Cowboys Select Alabama OG Tyler Booker: B

The Dallas Cowboys had one of the best offensive lines in all of football not long ago. But, they are all gone now, with great players in Travis Frederick, Tyron Smith, and Zack Martin all having retired. They’re investing in getting back to a good offensive line and run game with recent high picks like Tyler Smith, Tyler Guyton, and now Tyler Booker. Booker is a true guard, and is a force in the run game, both in zone blocking schemes and as a puller. He’s going to instantly help a poor Dallas run game and could step right in for Zack Martin. That being said, based on big boards and positional value, this is a bit of a reach, so I give it a B.

13. The Miami Dolphins Select Michigan DT Kenneth Grant: A-

The Miami Dolphins are soft in the trenches. There’s no sugarcoating it, and it’s holding them back from being serious contenders. This pick will be a big step forward on solving that problem. Grant, a massive run-stuffing defensive tackles that has shown some flashes as a pass-rusher, is instantly going to make the Miami defensive a lot more physical up front and will add a nasty streak to the team. This is a pick they’ve refused to make in recent years, and I love that they did it now. It gets an A- from me.

14. The Indianapolis Colts Select TE Tyler Warren: B+

They say that a tight end is a quarterback’s best friend. And, the way Anthony Richardson threw the football last year, he needs a best friend. Enter Penn State’s Tyler Warren. Warren, one of the best players in the entire draft, is a converted quarterback that did it all for the Penn State offense last year. He’s not the most natural route-runner, but he’s great at the catch point, elite after the catch, and can even be used in the run game as a ballcarrier. He shows promise as a blocker, and is a fantastic natural football player with elite size for the position. It’s not a premium position, and who knows if Anthony Richardson can get him the ball. But, it’s one of the five best players in the draft at pick 14. It’s a B+.

15. Atlanta Falcons Select Georgia LB/Edge Jalon Walker: A

The Atlanta Falcons had an absolutely dreadful pass rush in 2024, and they needed to try to fix it if they want to win the NFC South and have a prayer at beating anyone good. That makes Jalon Walker a great fit. It’s unclear how exactly they will deploy him as Georgia played him all over. But, whether it’s more as a natural edge player or as a box linebacker that blitzes a lot, he’s going to generate pressure on the quarterback. He’s got great athleticism and power for his size and is a polished pass-rusher for his position. I give this pick an A.

16. The Arizona Cardinals Select Ole Miss DT Walter Nolen: A

The Arizona Cardinals need talent and athleticism up front, though they’re ahead of schedule in their rebuild elsewhere. They take a big step forward in improving the defensive line with Ole Miss DT Walter Nolen. Nolen, the former top recruit in the country, started his career at Texas A&M before ending up at Ole Miss. He’s had good, but not great, production. But, he’s young, and the natural talent is off the charts and in the mold of a player like former Eagles great Fletcher Cox. This is such a smart pick given his ultra-high ceiling, and deserves an A.

17. The Cincinnati Bengals Select Texas A&M DE Select Shemar Stewart: C-

The Bengals defense let them down in a huge way in 2024, and they need to rebuild it pretty much from scratch. Starting defensive end Sam Hubbard retired, and Trey Hendrickson is in a contract year and could be traded. So, a defensive lineman was a need. And Texas A&M DE Shemar Stewart is a physical freak, arugably the best physical specimen in the entire draft. But, his production in Aggieland didn’t come close to matching that talent, and he’s going to take a few years to develop, if he ever does. That would be fine for another team, but this is a team trying to win now. For that, I give it a C-.

18. The Seattle Seahawks Select North Dakota State OL Gray Zabel: B

The Seattle Seahawks have to fix the interior of the offensive line this offseason, and took a big step towards doing that in Thursday’s first round. They went with North Dakota State OL Gray Zabel. Zabel can play anywhere on the offensive line, but is going to slide inside and help that interior offensive line at either guard or. center. He should be a plug-and-play starter in Seattle, and earns a solid B.

19. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers Select Ohio State WR Emeka Egbuka: C-

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers rallied down the stretch last year to win the NFC South despite plenty of holes on defense. They had a chance to fill one of those holes with the 19th pick, either at corner or at edge. Instead, they did neither, selecting Ohio State WR Emeka Egbuka. Egbuka is a solid prospect that projects to be, ironically, a pretty similar player to current Bucs wide receiver in Chris Godwin. He will help them right away. But, the Bucs have one of the best pass-catching groups in the league right now, headlined by Godwin and future Hall-of-Famer Mike Evans. They still have those holes, and needed to use this pick on defense. That means they get a C-.

20. Denver Broncos Select Texas DB Jahdae Barron: B+

The Denver Broncos were one of the surprise teams of the 2024 NFL season, and the future is bright in the Mile High City. It’s a bit brighter now, as Jahdae Barron is one of the best pure football players in the draft. The All-American is a bit of a Swiss Army Knife as a defensive back with great speed and physicality for his size. The team already has a lockdown corner in Patrick Surtain II, so Barron will be able to do what he does best and roam. This is a solid pick, and it gets a B+.

21. The Pittsburgh Steelers Select Oregon DT Derrick Harmon: A

Cam Heyward isn’t going to play forever, and the rest of the interior defensive line for Pittsburgh is pretty bad. Enter Derrick Harmon. Harmon is a massive player for his role as a 3-4 DE who won’t play over the center very often at all. He’s powerful at the point of attack, he’s got great hands, and has a good motor. He will instantly slot in the starting lineup in Pittsburgh. And, this grade is given a bit of a bump because they didn’t fall into the Shedeur Sanders trap that would’ve led the franchise into ruin. Job well done, Pittsburgh. They get an A.

22. The Los Angeles Chargers Select North Carolina RB Omarion Hampton: B

We know that Jim Harbaugh loves to build physical football teams, and they have invested a lot into the offensive line in his two offseasons in LA to give them one of the better units in the league. But, even after bringing in Najee Harris, the running back room was not good and lacked high-end talent and explosiveness. Enter Omarion Hampton. In many drafts, he would be the best running back in the class, as he has great vision, solid power, and good long-range speed. Plus, he’s good out of the backfield as a pass-catcher and solid as a pass-blocker. It’s hard for me to grade first-rounders used on running backs very high, so this gets a B.

23. The Green Bay Packers Select Texas WR Matthew Golden: A-

The Packers hadn’t used a first-rounder on a wide receiver for 23 years until Thursday night in front of the hometown crowd. They decided that Matthew Golden, a WR from Texas that showed solid production and tested off the charts, is worthy of breaking that streak. Golden is an absolute burner who has more skills than just running past people in coverage. Many had him as the best receiver in the draft, and a deep Green Bay wide receiver room needed someone with the ability to make plays down the field. This is a good pick for a team that really doesn’t have a lot of holes. It gets an A-

24. The Minnesota Vikings Select Ohio State OL Donovan Jackson: C+

Both guard spots were an offseason need for the Vikings. They filled one with veteran Will Fries, and now have made a move for another by drafting Buckeye Donovan Jackson. Jackson played a ton of football for Ohio State, starting nearly 9 games and filling in admirably at tackle this year after a slew of injuries. He’s not the most powerful guard you’ll see, but he has good technique and is an asset in both the run game and the pass game on the interior. But, this pick may be a bit of a reach, as he’s not this high on most big boards. It’s not a bad pick, but it’s not a great one either. It’s worthy of a C+

25: The New York Giants Select Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart: C-

Quarterback picks are not made in a vacuum. You have to look to see what’s coming in future draft classes and you can’t rush the selection of a quarterback. Unfortunately, because clueless Giants owner John Mara decided to bring back a lame duck coach and GM in Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen, they reached for a quarterback in the 1st Round to try to save their jobs this year. Dart is fine as a prospect, can move in the pocket, and has solid accuracy on short and intermediate throws. But, he would not have been a first-rounder last year, and isn’t one of the best 32 players in this draft either. To make matters worse, they traded up for the pick, giving up #34 and #99 this year and a third-rounder next year. For me, the opportunity cost of missing out on a great quarterback class next year makes this a C-.

26. The Atlanta Falcons Select Tennessee Edge James Pearce Jr.: F

The Falcons’ pass rush does need fixed, and they went to extreme lengths to do it, drafting two pass-rushers in the 1st Round. Sadly, they’ve made a colossal mistake. The Falcons traded with the Rams to get back into the 1st Round, giving up their 2026 first-rounder and the 46th pick and 242nd pick this year in exchange for this pick and pick 101 this year. That is an awful trade in a draft class that is universally agreed to be not very good, with next year’s class highly-thought-of. And, the player they drafted has serious questions about his ability, work ethic, and weight at the next level. Pearce has the kind of quickness and bend you love to see at defensive end. But, he’s so raw, and the production doesn’t match the athleticism at this stage. This is a pick you make at the top of the 2nd Round as a rebuilding team. You don’t give up what they gave up to make it. It’s a ridiculous choice. They get an F.

27. The Baltimore Ravens Select Georgia S Malaki Starks: A

It seems like a great player that’s somehow slipped down the board falls into Baltimore’s lap every year, doesn’t it? That’s exactly what’s happened once again, as the Ravens land one of the best pure football players in the draft in Georgia safety Malaki Starks. Starks isn’t a burner, though he’s not prohibitively slow for the position, either. And, he’s got great size and the prototypical instincts you want to see for a safety against the run, in the intermediate passing game, and as a centerfielder. He will combine with Kyle Hamilton to form an awesome safety tandem. Baltimore gets an A.

28. The Detroit Lions Select Ohio State DT Tyleik Williams: D

The Lions have done a fantastic job drafting in the Brad Holmes-Dan Campbell era. But, this one may have been a reach. Ohio State DT Tyleik Williams is a solid player, especially against the run, and he will make an impact in that facet of the game right away. He can line up over the center as a nose guard and create havoc and has a great work rate to chase down ballcarriers after he’s shed his block. But, he is not going to be a factor, at least for a while, as a pass-rusher in The NFL. I think another edge rusher to pair with Aidan Hutchinson should’ve been the priority here for a team whose window to win a Super Bowl is right now. The Lions get a D.

29. The Washington Commanders Select Oregon OT Josh Conerly Jr.: B+

The Washington Commanders found their franchise quarterback last year in Jayden Daniels, sending the team’s rebuild into overdrive. They’re trying to win a Super Bowl this year, and Josh Conerly Jr. can help them do just that. Conerly, who will play right tackle for Washington with offseason acquisition Laremy Tunsil on the right side, will be a plug-and-play right tackle for the Commanders. Arm length is a concern, but he has solid athleticism and strength at the point of attack in pass-blocking, and has great technique in the run game, as well. He’s going help keep Jayden Daniels upright, which is the first priority for the franchise. It gets a solid B+

30. The Buffalo Bills Select Kentucky CB Maxwell Hairston: B

The Buffalo Bills are so close to getting over the top to a Super Bowl appearance and win. They’re hoping the ultra-athletic Maxwell Hairston can help them do just. The cornerback out of Kentucky ran a blazing 4.28 40-yard dash at the NFL combine. He’s not just a one-trick pony either. Hairston has the film to back up those great testing numbers. He can play both on the outside and slot, and has made plays on the ball throughout his career with three pick-sixes. Hairston is the type of cornerback the Bills don’t necessarily have, which makes this a good fit. I’m higher on Will Johnson than I am Hairston, but overall, a solid B.

31. The Philadelphia Eagles Select Alabama LB Jihaad Campbell: A

The Eagles sent a fifth-rounder to the Kansas City Chiefs to move up one spot and make sure they got their guy. That guy is Alabama LB Jihaad Campbell, and it’s a sensational pick by Howie Roseman and company. Campbell is one of the best ten football players in the draft and has the elite size and testing numbers to back it up. He truly can do it all as a box linebacker including stuff the run, cover ground side-to-side, shoot gaps as a blitzer, and use his length and speed to be an asset in coverage. It is stunning that a player this good fell to the best roster in the NFL. He’s going to be a Pro Bowler, and everyone is going to wonder how Philadelphia got him. This pick is an A.

32. The Kansas City Chiefs Select Ohio State OT Josh Simmons: A

The situation at offensive tackle for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2024 could be best described as dire. It was pretty well known that they were targeting the position in the 1st Round Thursday night, and they got a good one in Josh Simmons. The Buckeye missed a large portion of last season with a season-ending knee injury, but when he was on the field he was terrific. Simmons is a natural pass-blocker with ballerina feet and gymnast balance and great length. He’s never going to be a great run blocker, but he can help teams on reach blocks and schemes that allow him to move his feet and try to beat a defender to the spot. Ultimately, run blocking is secondary to keeping Patrick Mahomes upright. If that knee heals up correctly, they just stole a top-ten pick at #32. It’s an A for me.