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NFL Draft first-round grades: Bears, Steelers and Falcons make baffling choices
Unlike the 2024 NFL Draft, where six quarterbacks were taken in the first round, the 2025 class didn’t feature much star power at the most important position. Only two quarterbacks were selected in the first round in Green Bay on Thursday.
While the class lacked depth at QB, it did have players who could become instant difference-makers for their new teams. With that in mind, here are grades for all 32 selections:
1. Tennessee Titans
Whether Ward is a franchise-altering player like Commanders QB Jayden Daniels or Texans QB C.J. Stroud remains to be seen, but he could be an upgrade over Will Levis, who went 2-10 in 12 starts last season. Ward won the 2024 Davey O'Brien Award as college football's best QB after tossing 39 touchdown passes in 13 starts.
2. Jacksonville Jaguars (trade from Browns)
The Jaguars traded four picks for Hunter, but it could be a worthwhile investment for Jacksonville. In 2024, he had 15 touchdown catches and four interceptions in 13 games, winning the Heisman Trophy.
3. New York Giants
Edge-rusher isn’t the Giants' biggest need, but Carter has drawn comparisons to Dallas Cowboys edge-rusher Micah Parsons (a former Penn State star) throughout the predraft process. In his first season as an edge-rusher in 2024, Carter recorded 24 tackles for loss in 16 games, earning a first-team All-American nod.
4. New England Patriots
Campbell made first-team All-SEC twice in three seasons at LSU, but his arm length (32 ⅝ inches) could be an issue. The average arm length of NFL edge-rushers is typically between 33 and 34 inches.
5. Cleveland Browns (trade from Jaguars)
Pairing Graham with edge-rusher Myles Garrett should make the Browns' front seven even more formidable. Per Pro Football Focus, he posted a stellar 92.6 run-defense grade and above-average 13.8% pass-rush win rate in 12 games last season.
6. Las Vegas Raiders
Teams have recently avoided spending high draft capital on RBs, but it’s easy to see why the Raiders made an exception for Jeanty. He ran for 2,601 yards in 14 games in 2024, the second most in a season in FBS history.
7. New York Jets
The Jets clearly needed a replacement for OT Tyron Smith, who retired on April 16. While Membou made second-team All-SEC in 2024, NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein noted Membou is “far below the height standards for NFL starting tackles.”
8. Carolina Panthers
McMillan, who had 1,316 yards in 12 games in 2024, gives QB Bryce Young another weapon, but can he generate enough explosive plays at the next level? Per PFF, he averaged 5.1 yards after the catch per reception, which tied for 248th in the FBS.
9. New Orleans Saints
Banks was a first-team All-American in 2024 and won the Lombardi Award as the nation’s top O-lineman. He should improve the Saints' pass blocking after they ranked ninth in pressure rate last season (23.9%), via Pro Football Reference.
10. Chicago Bears
Why would the Bears take Loveland when Penn State TE Tyler Warren was still on the board? Warren won the 2024 John Mackey Award as the best TE in college football, while Loveland had just 582 receiving yards in 10 games.
11. San Francisco 49ers
Williams has prototypical size for an edge-rusher, but it’s fair to wonder why he wasn’t more productive at the college level. In three seasons, he never finished with more than five sacks.
12. Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys needed a successor for Zack Martin, who retired this offseason, but taking Booker here feels like a reach. Per PFF, he allowed three QB hits and seven hurries in 13 games in 2024.
13. Miami Dolphins
Grant gives the Dolphins' defensive line more depth, but taking 2024 first-team All-American Ole Miss DT Walter Nolen may have been a better choice. In 12 games in 2024, Grant had seven tackles for loss and three sacks.
14. Indianapolis Colts
Warren should immediately bolster Indianapolis’ air attack, which finished 25th in the league in passing yards last season (197.7). In 16 games in 2024, Warren had a career-high 104 receptions for 1,233 yards and eight TD catches.
15. Atlanta Falcons
It's surprising Walker fell this far, but the Falcons are probably pumped he did. Walker won the 2024 Butkus Award as the best LB in college football, finishing with 11 tackles for loss in 14 games.
16. Arizona Cardinals
Nolen finished with 14 tackles for loss in 13 games in 2024, but the 21-year-old must learn to better control his emotions in the NFL. In a story published April 9, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported multiple scouting reports mentioned Nolen repeatedly walked off the field during practices at Ole Miss because of frustration.
17. Cincinnati Bengals
With the Bengals embroiled in contract negotiations with edge-rusher Trey Hendrickson, the team may hope Stewart gives them an insurance plan. However, he had only 4.5 sacks in three seasons with Texas A&M.
18. Seattle Seahawks
Seattle needed improved pass protection for QB Sam Darnold after tying for third in the league in sacks allowed (54) last season. Zabel — who allowed one sack in 16 games in 2024, per PFF — should do just that.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Egbuka set an Ohio State record for receiving yards (2,868) in four seasons with the Buckeyes, but this pick is still a bit of a head-scratcher. Tampa Bay already has proven WRs in Mike Evans and Chris Godwin and could’ve used this pick to improve its defense, which finished 16th in the league points allowed last season (22.6).
20. Denver Broncos
Barron won the 2024 Jim Thorpe Award as the best DB in college football, but the Broncos already have DB Patrick Surtain II, who won the 2024 Defensive Player of the Year. Plus, WR felt like a bigger need for Denver after it finished with the league’s sixth-most drops in 2024 (32), per Pro Football Reference.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers
Harmon was a second-team All-American in 2024, but the Steelers better hope QB Aaron Rodgers signs with them after passing on Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart and Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders. If Rodgers retires, the Steelers may have to start QB Mason Rudolph, who has a 9-8-1 starting record in the regular season in his seven-year career.
22. Los Angeles Chargers
Although Hampton rushed for 1,660 yards in 12 games in 2024, do the Chargers need another RB after signing Najee Harris in free agency? Of course, an offense that features two backs suits head coach Jim Harbaugh’s smashmouth philosophy.
23. Green Bay Packers
Golden is the first wide receiver the Packers have selected since Javon Walker in the 2002 draft. Green Bay may not regret taking Golden, who ran a 4.29 40-yard dash at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.
24. Minnesota Vikings
Jackson posted an above-average 71.8 PFF grade in 14 games last season, but he may have been available for the Vikings in the second round. In Tankathon’s final mock draft, the Arizona Cardinals took Jackson with pick No. 47.
25. New York Giants (trade from Texans)
Dart tossed 29 TD passes in 13 games in 2024, but he may need to learn how to read more complex offenses. He played for Ole Miss HC Lane Kiffin, who runs a high-tempo offense that doesn’t feature many NFL concepts.
26. Atlanta Falcons (trade from Rams)
The Falcons need more pass-rushers after finishing second-to-last in the league in sacks (31) in 2024. Still, trading back into the first round for Pearce carries risk, especially after he had just 7.5 sacks in 13 games in 2024.
27. Baltimore Ravens
Starks could be an excellent complement for star safety Kyle Hamilton. In three seasons with the Bulldogs, he intercepted six passes and defended 17.
28. Detroit Lions
Williams earned a third-team All-Big Ten nod in 2024, but edge-rusher was the Lions’ biggest need. Williams doesn’t provide much in the pass-rushing department, as he finished with 2.5 sacks in 13 games.
29. Washington Commanders
Conerly started for only two of his three seasons at Oregon and thus is a little more raw than other prospects. However, he allowed one sack in 14 games in 2024, via PFF.
30. Buffalo Bills
Hariston ran the fastest 40-yard dash (4.28) at the combine, but he lacks ideal size for a corner. He also missed five games in 2024 because of a shoulder injury.
31. Philadelphia Eagles (trade from Chiefs)
Once again, Eagles general manager Howie Roseman is adding another talented SEC prospect to Philadelphia’s stacked defense. In 13 games in 2024, Campbell led the Crimson Tide in tackles, with 117 in 13 games.
32. Kansas City Chiefs (trade from Eagles)
Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes needed better pass protection after he was sacked a career-high 36 times in 16 regular-season starts. Simmons fills a need, but he tore the patellar tendon in his left knee in 2024, which raises durability concerns.
More must-reads:
- Five worst picks from first round of the NFL Draft: Giants, Falcons pay steep prices
- 'Generational talent': Titans draft their new franchise QB with No. 1 overall pick
- The 'First running backs taken in every NFL draft since 2000' quiz
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