2025 NFL draft live updates: Pros, cons for every first-round pick

The 2025 NFL draft began Thursday night in Green Bay, Wisconsin, with the Tennessee Titans selecting Miami quarterback Cam Ward with the No. 1 overall pick. All 32 teams are scheduled to make first-round picks on Thursday.

We will be tracking all 257 picks for Rounds 1-7, and you also can check out all the best available draft prospects.

The draft continues with Rounds 2-3 on Friday (7 p.m. ET) and concludes with Rounds 4-7 on Saturday (noon ET).

ESPN’s team of reporters will submit pros and cons below for each of the 32 players selected in Thursday’s first round:

coverage:
Top prospects at every position
Kiper’s position rankings

Round 1 picks / order

Why they picked him: Ward is the best quarterback in the draft class and fits the biggest need on the Titans’ roster. Having played 38 games in college, Ward has the experience to play right away if called upon. Titans coach Brian Callahan utilizes similar passing concepts to what Ward was asked to execute at Miami. Callahan’s immediate future depends upon the success he’s able to achieve with Ward under center. The Titans like Ward’s confidence and believe that will help him handle the pressure that comes with being the top pick.

Biggest question: Will Ward’s playmaking ability be a gift or a curse? His arm strength and confidence will lead to some ill-advised throws that can result in turnovers. The Titans’ success will depend on whether Callahan can balance Ward’s desire to take risks with the potential for big plays. Callahan acknowledged there’s a delicate balance when coaching a player with that tendency. Tennessee isn’t built to overcome turnovers, but also needs to be more explosive on offense. — Turron Davenport

Why they picked him: Hunter is an elite player on both sides of the ball and he instantly upgrades a Jaguars offense that has few playmakers. He’ll draw attention from receiver Brian Thomas Jr. and is a massive boost for quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who has struggled with his consistency over the past two seasons. The Jaguars say they believe Hunter is the best player in the draft and in addition to his considerable talent he brings star power to a franchise that hasn’t had much of that over the past decade.

Biggest question: How are the Jaguars going to use him? The key is to have a plan for him, and they’re likely to start him on offense and give him a package on defense, which could expand as he grows more comfortable. The Jaguars gave up a lot for Hunter — the No. 5 pick, No. 36 and No. 126 this year and their No. 1 pick in 2026 — and there will be tremendous pressure to get him on the field as much as possible but they must make sure they avoid overworking him mentally early. — Michael DiRocco

Why they picked him: Carter is considered the kind of blue-chip or generational prospect that general manager Joe Schoen said “you don’t pass on that type of player.” He has explosive traits that have evaluators making comparisons to All-Pro Von Miller. It’s also a clear indication that the Giants had a clear distinction between Carter and any of the other remaining quarterbacks (including Jaxson Dart and Shedeur Sanders). Carter helps Schoen fulfill his desire to get the best players for 2025 with the pressure on to produce wins this season.

Biggest question: What do the Giants do now at quarterback? They passed on Sanders, Dart and Jalen Milroe, among others, at No. 3. Do they move back into the bottom of Round 1 to find their potential quarterback of the future? That probably depends on the cost. Or maybe they wait until Friday. The Giants obviously didn’t like any of the quarterbacks enough to take them at the top of the draft over Carter. Still, Schoen and coach Brian Daboll have yet to draft and develop a quarterback entering Year 4. At some point it’s going to be necessary, especially considering owner John Mara said earlier this year that finding a quarterback of the future is the team’s top priority this offseason. — Jordan Raanan

Why they picked him: One of the top goals for the Patriots in this draft is building more infrastructure around quarterback Drake Maye. Consider that the Patriots ranked last in run block win rate (67%) and ahead of only the Bengals in pass block win rate last season (51%). Coach Mike Vrabel called Campbell a “foundational piece” and a “21-year-old who is mature beyond his years.” Vrabel said Campbell made a “huge impact” on the Patriots through the pr-draft process and said, “This was a very, very easy pick for us.”

Biggest question: Is Campbell built to play tackle into the future? Campbell’s arm length (33 inches at LSU’s pro day) had some teams viewing him more as a guard. But Vrabel said the Patriots plan to play him at tackle, where he started 38 games at LSU. — Mike Reiss

Why they picked him: After trading back with the Jaguars and getting a draft haul that includes a 2026 first-round pick, the Browns landed Graham, a consensus top-five prospect at a position the team values. Graham was a disruptive player on the interior of the defensive line and the Browns love to rotate pass rushers along the defensive front. He fits Cleveland’s penetrating defense and could play a significant role as a rookie.

Biggest question: Can Graham become an elite pass rusher? In three seasons in college, Graham’s career high for sacks in a season was 3.5. Last season, the Browns had nine sacks from players lined up at defensive tackle, tied for fourth fewest in the NFL. — Daniel Oyefusi

Why they picked him: Pete Carroll wants to run the ball. And that’s something Las Vegas struggled to do last season, averaging 79.8 rushing yards per game — the fewest by any team over the past two seasons. Jeanty, a Heisman Trophy finalist, will provide an immediate boost in the backfield. In 2024, Jeanty totaled 2,601 rushing yards — second most in a season in FBS history. With the addition of Jeanty, the Raiders can take some pressure off new quarterback Geno Smith.

Biggest question: What are realistic expectations for Jeanty? He is the first running back selected within the first six picks of a draft since 2018, when the Giants drafted Saquon Barkley with the No. 2 pick. Taking him that high in the draft is a clear sign he will be the Raiders’ RB1 right away since his skill set gives him an edge over others in the running back rotation. Expect Jeanty to play a major role on offense as a rookie. Carroll wants to take the pressure off Smith and Jeanty is the kind of three-down running back who can help. — Ryan McFadden

Why they picked him: They wanted a plug-and-play tackle to play opposite last year’s first-round pick, Olu Fashanu. In theory, the Jets could have their bookend tackles for the next decade. With Joe Tippmann at center, and Alijah Vera-Tucker and John Simpson at guard, the Jets should have a formidable line. And young, too, with every starter under 29. Get ready for a smashmouth rushing attack, led by quarterback Justin Fields and running back Breece Hall. Membou was a three-year starter at right tackle, so he can slide easily into that starting role. He surrendered only one sack in 391 pass-blocking snaps last season, but his stock didn’t soar until the scouting combine. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.91 seconds, only the fifth prospect 330 pounds or more since 2003 to crack the 5.0 mark. Big fella can move.

Biggest question: How much is too much? The Jets have used four first-round picks on offensive linemen since 2020 (Mekhi Becton, Vera-Tucker, Fashanu and Membou). They should have one of the better lines in the league, but they might have sacrificed a playmaker for Fields. Tight end Tyler Warren was on the board, and would’ve helped the passing game a lot. — Rich Cimini

Why they picked him: As much as a defense ranked last in the NFL in 2024 needed help, McMillan’s talent was too much to pass up. The player nicknamed T-Mac reportedly ran a 4.48 40, fast for a 6-foot-4, 219-pound player. He’ll give quarterback Bryce Young speed and a much-needed possession receiver he didn’t have in last year’s first-round pick Xavier Legette.

Biggest question: Will the Panthers be able to fill big needs on defense after passing on edge rusher Jalon Walker at No. 8? McMillan was productive in college, but he still is somewhat of a project in terms of becoming a consistent deep threat and true No. 1 receiver. — David Newton

Why they picked him: The Saints were linked to various quarterbacks for the ninth pick, but at the end of the day, they went with a safe choice, selecting a player who could help build up an offensive line that struggled with injuries last year. The Saints did not pick up right tackle Trevor Penning‘s option and also cycled through left guards in 2024. Banks started 42 games at left tackle for Texas, and if the Saints envisioned him at that spot, then they could move Taliese Fuaga back to the right side, where he played in college.

Biggest question: Where do the Saints ultimately envision Banks playing? The Saints also have a need at guard and some projections have Banks moving inside, but it’s likely the Saints wouldn’t be investing such a high pick unless they saw a tackle of the future. Which side he ends up on is also a question at the early stage. The Saints still need to add more offensive playmakers and figure out their quarterback situation with Derek Carr‘s status uncertain. — Katherine Terrell

Why they picked him: Ben Johnson’s Detroit offense utilized 12 personnel (1 RB, 2 WR, 2 TE) on 32.2% of plays in 2024 (third-highest rate in NFL). The Bears drafting Loveland foreshadows heavy tight end usage continuing in Chicago with the prospect of Loveland being to the Bears’ offense what Sam LaPorta (who had 10 touchdowns as a rookie) was to Detroit’s. Loveland was targeted on 41% of his routes last season (the highest mark by any FBS tight end) and caught 56 passes with five touchdowns. The 21-year-old provides quarterback Caleb Williams with another option over the middle of the field (43% of Loveland routes were comebacks, outs or crosses in 2024).

Biggest question: What does Loveland’s selection mean for Cole Kmet? The Bears maintain that Kmet will have a big role in Chicago’s offense. The team views the veteran tight end, who had 474 receiving yards and four touchdowns in 2024, and the rookie as having complementary skill sets but also giving Johnson the ability to mix and match their roles on the field. “Having two guys with size that can separate, that can roll the ball in their hands, I think it creates mismatches, it creates creativity for an offense in Ben’s eyes,” Chicago senior director of player personnel Jeff King said. — Courtney Cronin

Why they picked him: The 49ers’ needs on the defensive line are no secret after releasing starting end Leonard Floyd and tackles Javon Hargrave and Maliek Collins during the opening days of free agency. But this class is considered deep at tackle, and defensive end is still the more premium position. In Williams, the Niners get someone who they believe can immediately help their run defense (he had 14 tackles at or behind the line of scrimmage in 2024) while he continues to develop as a pass rusher.

Biggest question: Can the 49ers maximize Williams’ pass-rush potential? Williams had only 14 sacks in three seasons for the Bulldogs while lining up all over the defensive line. In San Francisco, he will be expected to play end in the team’s preferred wide-9 front, a spot where he spent little time in college. It’s worth noting he dealt with an ankle injury for most of last season but this is still a young (20-year-old) player who will need defensive line coach Kris Kocurek to help him along to be the bookend for Nick Bosa the team has been seeking since 2019. — Nick Wagoner

Why they picked him: The Cowboys saw Zack Martin retire in February after a Hall of Fame career and needed a replacement, despite having Brock Hoffman, who started seven games last year at right guard, and adding Robert Jones in free agency. He is a top run blocker. Booker is stout. The Cowboys play in a division with excellent interior linemen and he will help with that. Brian Schottenheimer said he wants the Cowboys to have a physical offense. Booker, who started 27 of 28 games in his career, will help with that too.

Biggest question: The question is not so much about Booker, although maybe there’s some concern about his ability in space. It’s more about how the Cowboys find help with playmakers for Dak Prescott as the draft continues. Tetairoa McMillan was one of their top targets, but he was picked at No. 8. The Cowboys need speed at receiver. They need a running back. They can answer those questions in Rounds 2 and 3. But let’s remember Jerry Jones said the Cowboys have had “substantive” trade talks that could come to fruition during or after the draft. — Todd Archer

Why they picked him: After losing Calais Campbell and Da’Shawn Hand in free agency, the Dolphins had an urgent need on their defensive line. Grant is a space eater at 6-foot-4, 331 pounds and should clear up rush lanes for Zach Sieler and Miami’s plethora of pass rushers. The Dolphins still have massive needs at offensive guard and cornerback, but GM Chris Grier says he feels confident he’ll be able to address those needs later in the draft.

Biggest question: Grier might be confident in his ability to address the team’s other needs with one of his picks on Day 2, but will the Dolphins regret not taking one of this draft’s elite cornerbacks in Will Johnson or Jahdae Barron? Grant is talented but will he continue to develop as a pass rusher (6.5 sacks in three seasons)? — Marcel Louis-Jacques

Why they picked him: The Colts were last in the NFL in tight end receptions last season and have since lost their top pass-catcher at the position (Kylen Granson) to free agency. The Colts have been frank about the need to upgrade the position, with general manager Chris Ballard saying earlier this month, “Do we need a game-changer? Absolutely.” The Colts have amassed a productive group of receivers and have a star at running back in Jonathan Taylor. But tight end has been a long-running void on the roster and Warren’s well-rounded game gives Indy a boost in the pass game and as a run blocker.

Biggest question: Can the Colts find ways to maximize Warren in their offense? Coach Shane Steichen has had success deploying tight ends in his previous stints as a playcaller with the Los Angeles Rams and Philadelphia Eagles. But thus far, he’s not been able to get good production from the position in Indianapolis. — Stephen Holder

Why they picked him: The Falcons have many holes on defense and Walker has the versatility to fit multiple roles. He played mostly off-ball linebacker last season for Georgia, but has experience on the edge, which is where Atlanta will need him the most. He has a ton of speed and ability to get to the quarterback, but also is effective against the run as well as in coverage. He’s also a high-character guy, which the Falcons always put a premium on.

Biggest question: How will the Falcons maximize his ability? At 6-foot-1 and 243 pounds, Walker is a bit undersized as a straight-up edge rusher. From a standpoint of pure physical attributes, he projects more as an off-ball linebacker. But Atlanta will probably use him in both ways, teaming up with Kaden Elliss as inside linebackers, as well as coming off the edge. Walker even lined up 50 times at slot cornerback with the Bulldogs. So, he’s capable of doing many things, which probably has new defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich salivating. — Marc Raimondi

Why they picked him: The Cardinals have been on a mission to rebuild their defensive front and Nolen is another piece of that puzzle. He’s big — 6-foot-4 and 296 pounds — and has a nose for the quarterback. His 6.5 sacks at Ole Miss last season led FBS among defensive tackles and while he had 12 tackles for loss, he also had 32 tackles within two yards of the line of scrimmage, a sign of his ability to get off blocks and make plays.

Biggest question: How does he fit into the Cardinals’ defensive front? Nolen is likely a Day 1 starter and will benefit from having a slew of veteran guys around him like Calais Campbell, L.J. Collier and Justin Jones. Arizona can afford to bring the rookie along more slowly than if he didn’t have the kind of support around him but the Cardinals will have to balance growth and development with unleashing Nolen’s talent, which is immense. — Josh Weinfuss