The primary spherical of the 2025 NFL Draft is within the books, and we didn’t fairly get the fireworks anticipated. After the gorgeous commerce that took the Jaguars as much as No. 2 we had a meandering, often-confusing first spherical that actually didn’t align with numerous the pre-draft course of.
Now we’re left with Shedeur Sanders on the board, solely two quarterbacks taken — and some of the stunningly non-sensical commerce ups in latest reminiscence.
Winner: The Jaguars and Browns
This was a case the place two groups discovered frequent floor and delivered on a mutually helpful commerce that ought to propel each groups in direction of their aim. The commerce was rumored for a lot of the afternoon, however felt unlikely to occur — till Jacksonville gave Cleveland an enormous haul so they may transfer as much as take Travis Hunter.
It’s a calculated danger by the Jags. Giving up the No. 5, a second, and their 2026 1st is numerous draft capital so as to get Hunter, however none of that issues in the event that they win. If Liam Coen can are available and repair the offensive points this crew had beneath Doug Pederson then they may simply win the AFC South — after which they’re laughing.
Crucially: The Jaguars have a imaginative and prescient. One thing that was sorely missing through the bumbling Trent Baalke/Pederson period, and [shudder] City Meyer earlier than that. They selected an offensive coach for a purpose, and with Brian Thomas Jr. within the fold because the No. 1 receiver it makes excellent sense to get a Swiss Military Knife of a weapon who could make an impression in no matter section of the sport he touches.
In the meantime, it’s acknowledgment by the Browns that there’s work to be performed — and this wasn’t the draft to do it. Cleveland’s focus must be on getting out from beneath their Deshaun Watson debacle, and discovering the suitable QB on the proper time. That would occur tonight within the 2nd spherical with extra expertise on the board, however on the very least the Browns received a lot better with the addition of Mason Graham, and has instruments on this draft and past to rebuild competitively.
This was a implausible deal for either side.
Loser: Shedeur Sanders
It’s mind-numbing that we’re on this place. I completely perceive the issues about his arm expertise to throw off-platform, and the mechanical points within the pocket — however nitpicking has gotten silly with Sanders.
The NFL is littered extraordinarily good quarterbacks who don’t have elite-level arm expertise, starting from Jared Goff to Baker Mayfield to Tua Tagovailoa. So to see the likes of Cameron Ward and Jaxson Dart not simply go above Sanders, however to the magnitude of pushing him out of the primary spherical is ridiculous.
When you’re Shedeur issues would possibly really feel fairly good proper now. There’s a very actual probability he’ll land on a a lot better crew just like the Los Angeles Rams, who can sit Sanders and develop him behind Matthew Stafford, in a a lot better offense than he’d be subjected to on a struggling crew.
Winner: The Ravens and Eagles … once more
Water is moist, and these groups did it once more. Two of the NFL’s finest entrance workplaces proved as soon as extra why they’re the category of the league, by profiting from groups making nonsensical picks forward of them and dealing the board.
Baltimore touchdown S Malaki Starks is a ridiculous win. It provides the Ravens top-of-the-line security tandems the league has seen in a while with Kyle Hamilton — one other latest choose they landed the identical approach. Starks was a participant I assumed might go as excessive as No. 13 to the Dolphins, and felt that was a great place for him. As a substitute groups simply let Starks fall into an unimaginable spot.
Equally the Eagles managed a draft steal of their very own, taking LB Jihaad Campbell with the thirty first choose. Campbell goes to land in Philly, study the protection, and turn out to be a standout participant in fast order. This can be a well-worn path the Eagles simply maintain taking, and it pays off each time.
Loser: Atlanta Falcons
This has nothing to do with the Jalon Walker choose at No. 15 — that was implausible. Walker was a steal at that spot and fills the largest want on the protection.
Nonetheless, the draft was tainted with the completely inane transfer to maneuver up 20 areas within the back-end of the first spherical to double-dip cross rushers with James Pearce. It’s the type of transfer a crew makes so as to add the ultimate piece to a deep playoff crew, not a determined hope from a corporation who may very well be selecting within the High 10 subsequent 12 months if Michael Penix Jr. doesn’t pan out.
What we find out about Pearce is that he’s proficient, however MANY groups eliminated him from their draft boards after interviewing with him in Indianapolis. We’ve heard issues about his work ethic, his demeanor, just about every little thing up and down the vary of issues in terms of psychological make-up — which is why he was projected to go within the 28-32 vary, not within the High 20.
Are the Falcons the geniuses the remainder of the NFL aren’t? Latest draft historical past makes {that a} robust argument to foyer for. This may have been a house run draft for the Falcons if they simply took Walker and have been smart the remainder of the best way. Now they threw away their 2026 1st spherical choose for a participant with numerous query marks.
Winner: Cameron Ward
Conditions like this solely occur as soon as within the blue moon, so congrats to the Miami QB for getting his bag and turning into a No. 1 total choose. It was completely the unsuitable transfer long-term for the Titans, who sacrificed touchdown the 2 sure-things on this draft (Travis Hunter and Abdul Carter) to take a quarterback who would in all probability be the fifth or sixth passer off the board if we mixed the 2023 and 2024 draft courses.
Loser: Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys discovered themselves in a tough spot. Tetairoa McMillan gave the impression to be their chosen choose, solely to see the Panthers nab him 4 spots earlier. Caught in a little bit of a no-man’s land, Dallas took a man who’s going to be a mean NFL starter — and little extra.
Tyler Booker is an old style NFL guard. He’s huge, and robust — but in addition plodding, and lacks athleticism. Booker can win on the level of assault if he will get his fingers on you, however his footwork is so sluggish that fast defensive tackles can first step previous him earlier than he makes a distinction.
Jerry and Stephen Jones are principally praying that Booker is the second iteration of Zack Martin, who was a house run choose for the franchise. If he’s not then they didn’t land a playmaker, didn’t get higher, and basically spent a twelfth total choose on a middling expertise.
I might have a lot most popular them to take a participant who may be impactful — even when the necessity wasn’t there. Simply get higher. Do one thing. As a substitute it’s as if the Cowboys locked themselves into taking an offensive lineman, and didn’t transfer off that place even when three guys went earlier than their choose.