The 2025 NFL Draft is rapidly approaching. We’re less than 24 hours from Roger Goodell walking up to that podium. Let’s try to predict the top five picks of the first round tomorrow.
Pick No. 1: Tennessee Titans select QB Cam Ward, University of Miami
Ward is a -20000 favorite to be the first overall choice and the new franchise quarterback for the Tennessee Titans. That’s lock status.
The only thing that threatened to throw this off was a trade. New general manager Mike Borgonzi nipped that in the bud, saying that they were comfortable where they are. All signs point to Ward; no need to second-guess this one.
Pick No. 2: Cleveland Browns select WR/CB Travis Hunter, University of Colorado
In the lead-up to the draft over the past week, this pick was still somewhat in the air. Initially, Abdul Carter was -125 to be the second pick, then Shedeur Sanders at +115, followed by Cam Ward at +600. Hunter came in fourth at +650. Now, Travis has seemingly solidified his spot as the No. 2 selection.
Perhaps this is an incredible decoy to drum up trade interest. It would be a con worthy of a movie like Draft Day. At this point, there’s too much smoke from national sources and local beat writers for there to be no fire. Travis Hunter, you are a Cleveland Brown.
Pick No. 3: New York Giants select DE Abdul Carter, Penn State
As previously mentioned, Carter was once the favorite to go one spot higher. Now, he’s a big favorite to go to New York with the third pick. The clear best player available will likely find himself on a loaded defensive line, which raises questions.
New York runs a 3-4 defensive scheme, and acquired one of the best pass-rushing linebackers in Brian Burns. Dexter Lawrence is one of the best nose tackles in the game. The question becomes whether or not Carter’s presence spells doom for Kayvon Thibodeaux. The former fifth overall pick has been up and down as an outside linebacker and is heading into a pivotal fourth season. Perhaps a draft night trade is in the cards, or else New York will have a lot of talent to manage delicately.
Pick No. 4: New England Patriots select LT Will Campbell, LSU
Somehow, the fourth overall pick is at -475 odds. Chalk, chalk, chalk.
With Drake Maye looking like the goods at quarterback, the Patriots have an opportunity to take a blue-chip left tackle. Someone protecting your franchise quarterback’s blind side is never a bad move. There are questions about Campbell’s ability to stick as an anchor, but his production in an SEC loaded with pass rush talent is hard to ignore.
Unless there are any shenanigans in the top three or a massive trade offer for the fourth pick, this feels very likely.
Pick No. 5: Jacksonville Jaguars select WR Tetairoa McMillan
Finally, going away from chalk!
Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty is the odds-on favorite to be selected here. It does make some sense, as neither Travis Etienne nor Tank Bigsby has a stranglehold on this backfield. But the Jaguars have many needs, most of all an identity.
Brian Thomas Jr. has the makings of an elite receiver already. Adding McMillan, the best receiver in this class, gives Jacksonville a potentially dangerous duo on the outside for Trevor Lawrence to throw to. One pick isn’t going to fix this team overnight, but it could give them something to lean on.
