The Tennessee Titans made headlines in the sports world by selecting Miami quarterback Cam Ward as the first overall pick in the highly anticipated 2025 NFL Draft, held on April 24, 2025, at the iconic Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. This choice was largely expected, as football analysts had been predicting it for several weeks, pointing to a perceived shortage of elite quarterback talent in this year's draft class. In fact, Ward was one of only two quarterbacks to be chosen in the entire first round.

Ward's selection continues a trend in the NFL, marking the third consecutive year in which a quarterback has been selected first overall. He follows in the footsteps of Caleb Williams from USC, who was picked by the Chicago Bears in 2024, and Bryce Young from Alabama, who was selected by the Carolina Panthers in 2023. The last time a non-quarterback was picked first overall was in 2022, when Travon Walker, a defensive end from Georgia, was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars.

As the first round unfolded, fans gathered at Lambeau Field, creating an electric atmosphere filled with excitement and anticipation. While Ward was widely viewed as a safe pick for the Titans, the remainder of the draft proved to be one of the most unpredictable in years. The drama began almost immediately following Ward's selection, when the Jacksonville Jaguars executed a blockbuster trade with the Cleveland Browns, moving up to the second pick to secure Travis Hunter, a versatile two-way star from Colorado. Hunter, who showcased his talents as both a cornerback and wide receiver in college, expressed a strong desire to continue playing both positions in the NFL.

Perhaps the most shocking moment of the evening was when Hunter's teammate at Colorado, quarterback Shedeur Sanders, the son of NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, slipped out of the first round entirely. Prior projections had suggested that Sanders could potentially be selected as high as first overall, highlighting the unpredictable nature of this year's draft.

In stark contrast to the highly regarded 2024 draft class, which was celebrated for its abundance of blue-chip prospects, the 2025 class lacked such star power. This was exemplified by the Seattle Seahawks selecting guard Grey Zabel at No. 18, a player many analysts had anticipated would be chosen on the second day of the draft.

The overarching theme of the first round was a significant emphasis on the trenches, as teams focused on strengthening their offensive and defensive lines. While the 2024 draft witnessed an unprecedented six quarterbacks taken among the first twelve picks, the 2025 draft saw only Ward join that elite grouping. A remarkable seven of the first twelve selections were dedicated to players in the trenches, underscoring a strategic shift in the league's priorities.

It wasn't until the 25th pick that another quarterback was taken. The New York Giants, who earlier used the third overall pick to select edge rusher Abdul Carter from Penn State, traded back into the first round to secure Jaxson Dart from Ole Miss. The limited number of quarterbacks chosenonly Ward and Dart were picked in the first roundfurther emphasized the relative scarcity of quarterback talent this year.

For the first time in history, the NFL Draft was hosted in Green Bay, a city synonymous with football and home to the storied Green Bay Packers. The event brought in a diverse crowd of fans, eager to witness the future stars of the league being selected.

The draft continues with rounds two and three taking place on Friday, April 25, starting at 4 p.m. Eastern Time, followed by rounds four through seven on Saturday, April 26, at noon.

NFL Draft Order and Picks for the First Round

  • No. 1: Tennessee Titans QB Cam Ward, Miami
  • No. 2: Jacksonville Jaguars (via trade with Cleveland) CB/WR Travis Hunter, Colorado
  • No. 3: New York Giants DE Abdul Carter, Penn State
  • No. 4: New England Patriots OT Will Campbell, LSU
  • No. 5: Cleveland Browns (via trade with Jacksonville) DT Mason Graham, Michigan
  • No. 6: Las Vegas Raiders RB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State
  • No. 7: New York Jets OT Armand Membou, Missouri
  • No. 8: Carolina Panthers WR Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona
  • No. 9: New Orleans Saints OT Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas
  • No. 10: Chicago Bears TE Colston Loveland, Michigan
  • No. 11: San Francisco 49ers DE Mykel Williams, Georgia
  • No. 12: Dallas Cowboys G Tyler Booker, Alabama
  • No. 13: Miami Dolphins DT Kenneth Grant, Michigan
  • No. 14: Indianapolis Colts TE Tyler Warren, Penn State
  • No. 15: Atlanta Falcons LB Jalon Walker, Georgia
  • No. 16: Arizona Cardinals DT Walter Nolen, Ole Miss
  • No. 17: Cincinnati Bengals DE Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M
  • No. 18: Seattle Seahawks G Grey Zabel, North Dakota State
  • No. 19: Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State
  • No. 20: Denver Broncos DB Jahdae Barron, Texas
  • No. 21: Pittsburgh Steelers DT Derrick Harmon, Oregon
  • No. 22: Los Angeles Chargers RB Omarion Hampton, North Carolina
  • No. 23: Green Bay Packers WR Matthew Golden, Texas
  • No. 24: Minnesota Vikings G Donovan Jackson, Ohio State
  • No. 25: New York Giants (via trade with Houston) QB Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss
  • No. 26: Atlanta Falcons (via trade with Los Angeles Rams) DE James Pearce Jr., Tennessee
  • No. 27: Baltimore Ravens DB Malaki Starks, Georgia
  • No. 28: Detroit Lions DT Tyleik Williams, Ohio State
  • No. 29: Washington Commanders OT Josh Conerly Jr., Oregon
  • No. 30: Buffalo Bills CB Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky
  • No. 31: Philadelphia Eagles (via trade with Kansas City) LB Jihaad Campbell, Alabama
  • No. 32: Kansas City Chiefs (via trade with Philadelphia) OT Josh Simmons, Ohio State