The 2025 NFL Draft: A Wild Ride of Surprises, Controversies, and Dashed Dreams

The 2025 NFL Draft, held in the chilly embrace of Green Bay, Wisconsin, from April 24-26, was a three-day spectacle that left fans and analysts arguing and blood boiling, and Twitter—er, X—ablaze with hot takes. With 257 picks, a flurry of trades, and enough drama to rival a reality TV finale, this draft delivered everything from jaw-dropping surprises to picks that had fans throwing cheese curds at their screens. Let’s break it down.

The Expected: Cam Ward chosen with the 1st pick

No shocker here: the Tennessee Titans snagged Miami quarterback Cam Ward with the No. 1 overall pick. Ward, with his playmaking ability and four years of starting experience, is the franchise QB Tennessee’s been needing since… well, forever. Titan's fans are already planning the parade, but let’s hope Ward is good enough to negotiate the gauntlet of AFC defenses.

Surprise Picks: Was that the real pick? Did that happen?

The draft’s biggest “wait, what?” moment came early when the Jacksonville Jaguars traded up from No. 5 to No. 2, mortgaging a 2026 first-round pick, plus more to draft Colorado’s talent, Travis Hunter. The Jags are betting the house that Hunter can be a Deion Sanders-level star on both sides of the ball. But if he’s not catching TDs and picking off passes by Week 1, Jacksonville’s GM and head coach maybe packing their bags.

Controversial Picks: Cue the Volcanic Explosions

The New York Giants sparked a riot on X by trading up to No. 25 for QB Jaxson Dart from Ole Miss. With Daniel Jones’ ghost still haunting MetLife Stadium, fans wanted a surefire star, not a guy some scouts ranked below Sanders and Jalen Milroe. The pick screams “we’re trying to save our jobs,” and maybe a call from Eli, but if Dart’s 91.9 passing grade from 2024 doesn’t translate, Giants Nation might burn down the stadium.

The Vibe: Dash, Dart, or Drown

The 2025 draft was unpredictable, with players taken in the first round that many, including me, thought could be picked up in much later rounds. Day two was a frenzy, with trade ups and trade downs, but the New Orleans Saints stayed firm and took their possible QB of the future in Tyler Shough with the 40th pick in round 2 and the Seahawks with the 92nd pick take Jalen Milroe and at 94 the Cleveland Browns take their first QB in Dillon Gabriel. Shough, Milroe, and Gabriel went earlier than expected, while Shedeur Sanders’ fall dominated the headlines. Another head-scratcher? The Cleveland Browns apparently needed more QBs, so they waited until Round 5 and the No. 144ist pick to draft Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders. Remember, Shedeur was projected by some as a top 10 pick. His slide was the draft’s drama, with cameras on the Mel Kiper meltdowns. Kiper losing it round after round, made it even more entertaining. Cleveland’s gambling that Sanders will outshine his draft position and maybe be the QB 1 they have been waiting for.

Rest of the Draft: OL, DL, and TE

So, there were plenty players that could fill out your roster but none that excited the fans. Sorry, this was for the true football nerds and geeks who, like myself, love the dogs in the trenches. TE's get the nod for some dirty work as well. Day three was full of needs and players most people have not heard of, but these players could have been drafted in any order and some could have just been take as UDFAs. And with a huge amount of fan fair and ridiculousness, the Patriots select Mr. Irrelevant, CB from Memphis, Kobee Minor, with the 257th pick.

Final Thoughts

This draft was a rollercoaster of hype, hope, and “huhs?”. Teams like the Cardinals, Colts, and Cowboys drafted for best available while the Raiders, Bears, Dolphins, and Steelers filled needs with value. Some on the other hand, like the Jaguars, Browns, and Jets rolled the dice on rookies hoping to hit it big. On the other hand, some teams like the 49ers, Falcons, Lions, and Commanders went all in, drafting a few key positions that they believe will catapult them into the promise land. Rookie OTAs are in two weeks where the real test begins: will these picks be Pro Bowlers or punchlines?