Round One of the NFL Draft is over, which means there’s only one more thing left to do. Obsess over our team's first round selection. If you’re looking for an unbiased grade for your team, you’ve come to the right place.
Below, Draft Experts, Drew Beatty, Francesco Scivittaro, Joe Burks, and Steve Bradshaw, of the NFL Trading Room break down every single pick from round one of the 2025 NFL Draft.
AFC North
Baltimore Ravens
Every single year, the Baltimore Ravens patiently wait for value to fall into their laps. This year, it happened in the form of Malaki Starks, who put up the best safety tape in the class during his time at Georgia. This is a “rich get richer” sort of move.
Grade: A
Cincinnati Bengals
The reasons to draft Shemar Stewart are obvious. There just aren’t many human beings who can move like him, particularly not at his size, and they usually go sooner than 17th overall. While not overly productive in college, Stewart was still disruptive.
Still, I’m personally not a fan of spending a mid-first rounder on players with this big a hole in his production file. This pick could work out for the Bengals, and their process is justifiable, but it’s not the sort of gamble that I prefer teams take. I do think there is something sticky about the lack of play-finishing, and Stewart will have to turn that around to return value for this pick.
Grade: B-
Cleveland Browns
Trading away Travis Hunter is extremely risky. On the one hand, from a mathematical standpoint, they got a haul, acquiring Jacksonville’s 5th overall pick, 36th overall pick, and a 2026 first (with other later picks moving back and forth).
On the other hand, there is no precedent from trading away a prospect like Travis Hunter. While getting that much draft capital for a non-QB is theoretically a great move, it’s reasonable to think Travis Hunter will be categorically more valuable than any other non-QB.
The onus is on the Browns to absolutely nail at least two of the major picks they acquired. The good news is that Mason Graham is a good start. He was the best prospect at a position where it’s nearly impossible to acquire elite players except by drafting them, and one that’s been a thorn in Cleveland’s side for a while now.
Any time you trade away the best prospect in the draft, your grade will be low. However, the Browns did about as well as they could within those parameters, getting an extra first and second rounder just to move back three spots, and then taking an excellent prospect at a premium position of need.
Grade: B
Pittsburgh Steelers
Possibly, Derrick Harmon was only available at this spot because of a medical red flag that popped up late during the draft process. Regardless, Harmon is a productive, disruptive interior pass rusher and was durable during his college career.
While some will question the Steelers presumably punting on the quarterback position, adding to their defensive line depth, in addition to future-proofing the position group, is a solid use of the 21st pick.
Grade: B+
AFC East
Buffalo Bills
While he posted outstanding testing numbers at the NFL combine, Maxwell Hairston didn’t quite have first round corner tape in my eyes. He’s also lighter than I like for corners, who typically need to be able to hold up in physical engagements, even if most of the job description happens before contact.
Still, Hairston had an extremely productive penultimate season in the SEC and there aren’t many athletes like him at a position where reactive athleticism is critical. The Bills added major ball-hawking ability and athleticism to their secondary.
Grade: B-
Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins had significant needs in both trenches, and they addressed the defensive line with Kenneth Grant. 1T defensive linemen who dominate against the run but can also push the pocket and be disruptive against pass protection are a rare breed.
While Grant isn’t quite a finished product in the latter category, he shows the juice to get there. The best case for this pick is a rare archetype that’s essentially not acquirable outside of the draft.
Grade: B+
New England Patriots
Going into this draft, the Patriots’ one and only priority should have been to give Drake Maye as much help as possible, which could have come from a pass catcher or offensive lineman. The Patriots kept their eye on the ball and took the best offensive lineman in the draft.
In New England, Will Campbell will get a legitimate shot to stick at left tackle, but in the worst case will be an excellent player in the interior. So far, so good.
Grade: A-
New York Jets
With a major need at right tackle, the Jets took the best pure tackle in the class in Armand Membou. While I consider Will Campbell the best overall offensive lineman in the draft, Membou put up the best tackle tape in the country this season and tested like an athletic freak.
Grade: A
AFC West
Denver Broncos
The Broncos got one of the best defensive backs in the class at 20th overall, good value any way you look at it. Jahdae Barron fits like a glove next to Patrick Surtain, with inside-outside versatility to give the Broncos options in the defensive backfield.
While the Broncos could have looked to give Bo Nix more weapons, there is still time to do that. In the meantime, Barron was one of the best players remaining on the board and greatly improves the pass coverage outside of Surtain.
Grade: A-
Kansas City Chiefs
The draft fell perfectly for the Chiefs, who drafted Josh Simmons just before a tier break at offensive tackle. Simmons would have been an early to mid first round pick if not for his season-ending knee injury at Ohio State, and the Chiefs can afford to wait a few weeks into the NFL season before he’s fully recovered, if necessary.
The Chiefs got great value addressing a glaring need at a crucial position. I can’t give an A+ because the medicals are a risk, but this is a strong pick this late in the first round. Getting a free fifth rounder to move back one spot is icing on the cake.
Grade: A
Las Vegas Raiders
On the one hand, Ashton Jeanty is one of the few true blue chippers available in this draft. There’s no doubt he’ll step right in as an elite caliber player at the position, and the Raiders will be happy to have gotten a no-doubt playmaker in a draft very light on blue chip talent.
On the other hand, the Raiders have holes up and down the roster, and running back is more of a finishing touch than the starting point of a seminal draft. While I see the vision and Jeanty will feast under Chip Kelly’s guidance, I think this is putting the cart before the horse.
Grade: B-
Los Angeles Chargers
My thoughts on this pick are similar to those on the Raiders, except the Chargers picked significantly later and have a roster that is farther along. In a running back class this deep, it might have been wiser to attack other needs, but Omarion Hampton should be able to hit the ground running behind a solid offensive line with a revamped passing attack.
Hampton was the clear RB2 in this draft and would be the RB1 in many drafts, and the late first round is about where he should go. I’m not a big proponent of roster building with first round running backs, but these circumstances are about as acceptable as they come.
Grade: B+
AFC South
Houston Texans
The Texans chose not to make the flashy move on Thursday, trading back with New York and allowing them to land quarterback Jaxson Dart while picking up a second-rounder and two third-rounders in the process.
This makes a lot of sense. With Emeka Egbuka off the board at 19 and Mattew Golden being selected at 23, Houston had limited options to choose from at the receiver position. They obviously weren’t big enough fans of Luther Burden III or any of the offensive lineman to select them at pick 25 either, so this move is a good one.
Grade: B
Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis did what most mock drafts predicted. They stayed at pick 14 and selected an elite tight end prospect in Tyler Warren. This immediately upgrades the Colts’ passing game and helps quarterback Anthony Richardson out immensely.
It’s been a while since the Colts have had a game-changer at the tight end position. Warren is a versatile playmaker with fantastic athleticism. As a receiver, he boasts strong and reliable hands that help him bring in contested catches.
If Richardson can get him the ball, Warren will be a slam-dunk pick for Indianapolis.
Grade: A
Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville made the biggest move of the night by trading their second and fourth-round picks this year, along with their 2026 first-round pick, in exchange for the second-overall pick and selections in the fourth and sixth rounds.
They certainly gave up a significant amount, but this trade was well worth it. They selected wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter to improve positions of need on their offense and defense.
Hunter is one of the most unique prospects in NFL history. As a receiver, he has elite ball skills and has been extremely productive. As a defensive back, he flashes insane instincts, recognition, and range. If Hunter develops as a player properly, he could be a generational talent for Jacksonville.
Grade: A
Tennessee Titans
Tennessee selected their franchise quarterback on Thursday night with the first-overall pick. Drafting Miami’s Cam Ward was no surprise to anyone, as he easily profiles as the best quarterback in this draft class.
Tennessee isn’t necessarily a bad situation either, with a decent offensive line and a few solid veteran receivers. Ward is a great prospect, flashing a rocket arm, the ability to hit tight-window throws down the field, and solid mobility.
I expect him to find success in the NFL, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see Tennessee select an offensive weapon to help him out in 2025.
Grade: A
NFC North
Chicago Bears
Grade: B
The Raiders were, in fact, not bluffing with the Ashton Jeanty talk. With Jeanty and every other top offensive lineman off the board at 10, the options were limited. Seeing how far Mike Green and Donovan Ezeiruaku fell, it makes sense that they weren’t being considered at 10 either.
Given the board, Colston Loveland was a strong pick. Loveland is my (Steve) personal TE1 in the class and he fits the team better than Tyler Warren, given his ability to play in the slot which, is a need. Loveland is a matchup nightmare and a significant upgrade over Cole Kmet.
Detroit Lions
Grade: B -
At 28, Tyleik Williams was a solid pick and there’s not much more to it. The Detroit Lions needed help on the interior defensive line and Williams provides the team with an elite run defender.
It seems like the true value for Williams was in the early to mid-round, which is why I’ve knocked them down to a B-. If Williams never adds a ton of pass rush to his game, this could be a bit of a reach, but overall, it’s a solid pick.
Green Bay Packers
Grade: A
The Matthew Golden pick was a slam dunk for the Green Bay Packers. Even as someone who’s a bit lower on Golden, this is exactly the archetype that they needed.
Golden is a true outside receiver who can be the WR1 for an offense based solely on his speed and vertical ability. There’s a ton to like with Golden as a prospect when shooting for upside and near the end of the first round, this pick is almost perfect.
Minnesota Vikings
Grade: C -
The Donovan Jackson selection was one of the shockers of the night. Jackson is a fine player, but he’s much more suited to be a round two selection than round one.
It seems like any of the cornerbacks would have been a great pick here, or even reaching on a defensive tackle would have been better. Even when the offensive line talent dried up fast in round one, it seems like the Minnesota Vikings never changed their plan.
NFC East
Philadelphia Eagles
Philly came out of Round 1 with a defensive prospect from the SEC who was expected to be drafted much higher. Sound familiar? Philadelphia snagging the most impressive prospect who falls to the end of the first round seems to be a common theme in many drafts and has been their main strategy for building their defense into an impressive unit.
They selected linebacker Jihaad Campbell from Alabama, who many believed would be off of the board within the first 15 picks. Campbell is an explosive prospect who posted impressive production in Tuscaloosa, racking up 119 tackles, five sacks, 12 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, and an interception during his final year of college football.
It won’t be a surprise to look back in a few years and view this pick as a steal. Howie Roseman gets an A+ here.
Grade: A+
Washington Commanders
Washington chose to beef up their offensive line to protect sophomore quarterback Jayden Daniels, grabbing former Oregon offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr. with the 29th overall pick. This now gives the Commanders a stronger overall unit, especially at the tackle position.
They traded for star left tackle Laremy Tunsil from Houston earlier this offseason, so improvement in pass-protection has been their theme so far. This should be a major help to Daniels, who was one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks as a rookie last season.
Grade: B
Dallas Cowboys
Dallas didn’t make the bold move to add a first-round receiver opposite CeeDee Lamb, instead opting to once again bolster their offensive line with the selection of former Alabama guard Tyler Booker.
Booker is a bully on the football field, dominating blocks both on the interior and the second level. He should end up as a very solid player, but it’s easy to wonder if the Cowboys would’ve been better off selecting a pass-catcher with their first-rounder.
Either way, Booker is a great prospect with unbelievable length and size that should end up as a quality starter in Dallas.
Grade: B
New York Giants
The Giants took the best player available with the third-overall pick in Abdul Carter, an edge rusher from Penn State.
Carter is an extremely productive prospect with great athleticism that helps him fly around any offensive lineman in his path. He possesses great speed, bend, and technique that will allow him to project to be an elite defensive anchor for New York.
New York traded up with Houston for the 25th overall pick to select Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart. While I’m not sure that Dart was worth trading up for, I don’t think they overpaid to move back into the first round.
This is a risky pick that has a better chance of working out if New York lets Dart sit behind veteran quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston for a season. This will aid his development and ensure that they don’t put him on the field too early.
Overall, the Giants made a great selection in Carter, but a very risky one in Dart.
Grade: B+
NFC South
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
In one of the biggest surprises of the first-round, Tampa Bay added Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka with the 19th overall pick. While Egbuka is one of the safest picks in this draft and projects to be a perennial 900+ yard receiver, Tampa had abundant talent available at more pressing positions of need.
Passing on Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell, Boston College edge rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku and more potential additions to a barren Tampa defensive front is difficult to understand. Egbuka will look to fight for a slot/wide receiver three spots behind a receiver room of Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Jalen McMillan.
Grade: C+
Carolina Panthers
After a multitude of smokescreens surrounding Georgia linebacker/edge rusher Jalon Walker, the Panthers opted to add an offensive weapon in Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan. While this addition does provide quarterback Bryce Young with a much needed target, Carolina’s defense continues to look like one of the weakest units in the league.
With the defensive talent available at the Panthers’ pick, this selection reeks of reaching on positional need rather than adding the best players available. McMillan also projects more as a big slot player rather than a true outside/X receiver.
Grade: C+
New Orleans Saints
In one of the most unpredictable spots of the NFL Draft, the Saints opted to add Texas offensive tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. with the 9th pick. While this selection does allow New Orleans to replace Trevor Penning on the outside, Banks brings along a new blend of concerning issues.
Despite being one of the more technically advanced tackles in this draft class, Banks’ combination of athletic limitations, balance issues and lack of power are cause for reservation. His glaring lack of foot speed and pocket range has caused many analysts to propose a move inside to guard for the former Texas tackle.
Grade: C-
Atlanta Falcons
The most shockingly aggressive team so far in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Falcons added a pair of undersized edge rushers in the first round. With their first selection, Atlanta added former Georgia linebacker/edge rusher Jalon Walker. Later in the round, Atlanta sent a 2026 1st-round pick to the Los Angeles Rams to select Tennessee edge rusher James Pearce Jr.
The Walker selection, while somewhat redundant role-wise with Kaden Eliss, adds an instantaneous injection of athleticism and pass rushing talent into Atlanta’s defensive unit.
Grade: B
In a vacuum, the addition of Pearce would be one of the better fits of the draft so far. Unfortunately, Atlanta had to send a future first-round pick in order to get into position to select their second undersized edge rusher of the first-round (who also comes with a plethora of supposed off-field concerns).
NFC West
Grade: B
Seattle Seahawks
Contributing to a surprising first-round run on interior offensive lineman, Seattle added North Dakota State offensive lineman Grey Zabel. Despite playing offensive tackle at NDSU, Zabel projects more as an interior lineman at the NFL level. While most project him to guard, a potential move to center (another position of need for Seattle) has been floated around.
With one of the weakest interior offensive line units in the league, Seattle’s injection of overwhelming play strength and run blocking by way of Grey Zabel fills the biggest need on the team.
Grade: B-
Los Angeles Rams
One of the only teams to not make a selection in the first-round of the 2025 NFL Draft, the Rams traded the 26th overall pick to the Atlanta Falcons in a blockbuster draft trade. Sending 26 and 101 to Atlanta for 46, 242 and a 2026 1st round pick, the Rams quietly had one of the best nights in the league.
Adding a 1st round pick from a non-contender during the back-end of the first round to only move back 20 spots screams good process from the Rams front office. With the cornerback board still looking abundant, the Rams could look to add a first-round caliber defensive back on night two.
Grade: A+
Arizona Cardinals
After a draft cycle full of mocks sending an interior defensive lineman to Arizona, a majority of draft media was proven right after the addition of Ole Miss defensive tackle Walter Nolen at 16th overall. While he started the process being talked about as a top-10 caliber player, a plethora of supposed character concerns derailed the Nolen hype train.
Possessing some of the most pass rushing juice of any 3-tech in this draft class, Nolen fills a massive hole in Arizona’s roster. Paired with the free agency addition of Josh Sweat, Arizona’s defensive front is shaping up to be one of the best in the league.
Grade: B+
San Francisco 49ers
After parting ways with many of their top pass rushers in the 2025 offseason, San Francisco opted to reload their defensive front with Georgia edge rusher Mykel Williams. Filling the hole at edge rusher opposite of Nick Bosa, Williams’ ceiling (being only 20 years old) is sky-high.
While very raw as a pass rusher, Williams projects as an instant 2-down edge rusher due to his capabilities in run defense. He projects as a run defender in his early career while the 49ers look to develop him as a pass rusher.
Grade: B-