Grading the draft in real-time is an exercise in scrutiny, projecting player and position value against the history and roster needs of each team as the picks come off the board.
We’re slapping letter grades on each pick in the first round with a summary of what we love, dislike and all things in between.
Let’s start at the top:
1. Tennessee Titans: QB Cam Ward, Miami
Picking atop the draft for the first time since 1978 when the Houston Oilers selected Earl Campbell, the Titans get the only QB in this class worthy of a first-round pick. Ward might not bring the cachet of Caleb Williams (No. 1 in 2024) or the fanfare of Heisman winner Travis Hunter, but he’s the right pick for a franchise mired in mediocrity with no clear answer in place at the NFL’s most important position.
Grade: A-
2. Jacksonville Jaguars (via trade with Cleveland Browns): WR-CB Travis Hunter, Colorado
First-time GM James Gladstone, running his first draft at the ripe old age of 34, was raised in scouting under the close watch of gambling GM Les Snead with the Rams, where the franchise lived for years on the premise no price was too steep for premier talent. No matter how many snaps Hunter gives the Jaguars, he’s an upgrade at multiple positions because of playmaking skills and gamebreaking ability. Hunter chatted with Jacksonville’s offensive and defensive coordinator on Thursday night when the pick was made, further the notion he will be one of the most fascinating stories to watch during the 2025 season.
Grade: A+
3. New York Giants: OLB Abdul Carter, Penn State
With Brian Burns on one side and Carter on the other and NT Dexter Lawrence in between, the Giants are building an unblockable front. Carter is a relentless pass rusher who lives in the backfield and gives the Giants their version of Micah Parsons.
Grade: A
4. New England Patriots: OT Will Campbell, LSU
The devil’s advocate problem here is all about prototypes. Campbell’s wingspan is under 78 inches and the smallest reach taken at the NFL Scouting Combine in more than 15 years. He’s an exceptional athlete, with a dancer’s feet and lateral agility, and power is an asset. Maybe he winds up at guard, and that “if” is massive considering the stakes at No. 4. Not only this investment, but the insurance policy he represents for 2024 No. 3 pick Drake Maye.
Grade: B-
5. Cleveland Browns (via trade with Jacksonville Jaguars): DT Mason Graham, Michigan
Active inside with Myles Garrett on the edge, Graham has the motor to make an impact. But he’s undersized and his overall production at the position is lacking. The refuse-to-lose mentality is well-suited with defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, but the value at this point in the draft leaves us wondering what could have been in Cleveland. We’ll be marking this moment for hindsight comparison to Ole Miss DT Walter Nolen and Oregon DT Derrick Harmon. We would go lower with this grade if the trade compensation with the Jaguars, including a future first-rounder, wasn’t a consideration.
Grade: C+
6. Las Vegas Raiders: RB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State
A perfect match for the Pete Carroll plan, Jeanty defines the idea of bell-cow back and becomes the Raiders’ version of Marshawn Lynch. Las Vegas had nothing at the position last year and finished 32nd in the league in rushing. This pick represents an enormous depth-chart upgrade. Good luck finding one bigger in a year-over-year comparison.
Grade: A+
