Green Bay, Wisconsin, was buzzing with excitement as the 2025 NFL Draft concluded its first round on Thursday night. The Tennessee Titans made headlines by selecting Cam Ward, a former zero-star recruit, with the first overall pick. Ward, who shone at Miami, is now set to take on the challenge of leading an NFL team from the start.
Another significant moment came when the Jacksonville Jaguars moved up to the second pick to secure Travis Hunter, a versatile two-way player. Hunter’s selection was costly for Jacksonville, but the team believes his dual-threat ability will pay dividends in the coming seasons.
At the third pick, the New York Giants took Abdul Carter, an edge rusher from Penn State, marking a key addition to their defense. The Giants showed their commitment to strengthening their squad in this draft.
The first round was filled with surprises beyond the top three picks. The Ohio State Buckeyes had a strong showing, with four players selected, including Emeka Egbuka and Josh Simmons. Conversely, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish struggled, failing to get a single player picked in the first round. Their cornerback Benjamin Morrison had been projected to go earlier, but a season-ending injury hurt his draft stock.
Notably, as tensions rose, Shedeur Sanders, the anticipated quarterback and son of football great Deion Sanders, went undrafted in the first round. This caught many off guard, especially given high expectations prior to the draft. During his watch party, Sanders reflected, saying, “We all didn’t expect this, of course, but I feel like with God, anything’s possible.”
As for what’s next, the action continues with the second round set to begin on Friday at 6 p.m. ET. A total of 14 players from the Southeastern Conference were selected in the first round, tying a record for any conference, while top schools like Ohio State and LSU continued to dominate the draft scene.
With Day 2 on the horizon, teams like the Cleveland Browns and the Las Vegas Raiders will look to make substantial picks that could shape their franchises moving forward. Keep an eye on the second round for potential breakout players and further surprises as teams continue to bolster their rosters.
