2025 NFL Draft a long look

The Draft Day Winners

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jason Licht Does It Again

Nobody does the draft better than Jason Licht right now. The Bucs GM has been criminally underrated for his drafting prowess, but this class might finally get him the recognition he deserves.

Taking Emeka Egbuka at 19 raised some eyebrows - why draft a receiver when you've got Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and Jalen McMillan? Simple. Evans is 31, Godwin's coming off that nasty ankle injury, and Egbuka is the smoothest route-runner in this class. Sometimes you draft for tomorrow while competing today.

Then Licht got aggressive. Benjamin Morrison in Round 2 was a steal - this kid would've gone first round if not for the hip injury. By Round 3, Jacob Parrish was sitting there like a gift. The Kansas State corner can slide inside to nickel and immediately upgrade their weakest position group.

Even the late rounds hit. Tez Johnson in the seventh? Guy runs a 4.6 but plays like he's running 4.4. Film don't lie, and Johnson's tape is beautiful.

From top to bottom, Tampa Bay addressed needs while staying true to their board. That's championship-level drafting.

Kansas City Chiefs: The Rich Get Richer

Pat Mahomes needed help. After getting pressured on over 40% of dropbacks in the Super Bowl, the Chiefs made protecting their franchise QB priority one.

Landing Josh Simmons at 32 was borderline theft. This kid was tracking top-10 before that knee injury. Brett Veach basically got a first-round talent with the last pick of Round 1. That's the kind of value that wins championships.

Omarr Norman-Lott gives them interior pass rush they've been missing. The Tennessee product led the nation with an 18.9% pass-rush win rate - Steve Spagnuolo is going to have fun with this one. Ashton Gillotte in Round 3 was another home run, bringing the kind of motor and production that translates immediately.

When you can upgrade your biggest weakness (pass protection) and add pass rushers who can get home, you've had a good weekend. The Chiefs just restocked for another title run.

Jacksonville Jaguars: Swinging for the Fences

James Gladstone made the biggest splash of the draft, and honestly? It might be genius.

Trading up for Travis Hunter cost them big - a 2026 first-rounder plus change - but this isn't just any prospect. Hunter is the best pure football player in this class, maybe in the last five classes. The kid can shut down elite receivers on one side of the ball and torch defensive backs on the other.

Here's the thing: in today's NFL, versatility is currency. Hunter gives Liam Coen a chess piece nobody else has. Want to run 12 personnel but need speed? Put Hunter at receiver. Need to press a slot receiver? Hunter's your guy. The positional flexibility is off the charts.

The supporting cast wasn't bad either. Wyatt Milum in Round 3 was great value - guy didn't allow a sack in three years and graded out in the 97th percentile for pass blocking. Sometimes the best trades are the ones that seem crazy at first.

The Solid, Unspectacular Middle

New England Patriots: Building Around Their Guy

The Patriots did exactly what they needed to do: surround Drake Maye with talent.

Will Campbell might be more guard than tackle long-term, but the kid can play. TreVeyon Henderson gives them a home-run threat they haven't had in years, and Kyle Williams brings that deep speed that'll keep safeties honest.

Smart, if not spectacular. Sometimes that's all you need.

Cleveland Browns: The Trade That'll Define a Decade

Moving off the second pick will be scrutinized forever, but Cleveland maximized their return. Mason Graham at five is tremendous value - this kid was the best run defender in college football.

The real story? Shedeur Sanders falling to Round 5. Yeah, he's not the biggest or strongest arm, but the kid completed 81.8% of his passes and rarely turned it over. Sometimes the best quarterbacks are the ones who just don't beat themselves.

If Sanders hits, Cleveland looks brilliant. If not, they still got a potential All-Pro defensive tackle and extra picks. Not bad for a day's work.

Baltimore Ravens: The Annual Ravens Things

Baltimore does this every year - finds value, fills needs, trusts their process.

Malaki Starks was their kind of pick - versatile, smart, can play multiple positions. Eric DeCosta loves guys like this. Mike Green in Round 2 carries some baggage, but the Ravens have turned projects into Pro Bowlers before.

Nothing flashy, everything solid. That's Ravens football.

The Head-Scratchers and Missed Opportunities

Detroit Lions: What Were They Thinking?

The Lions have been money in recent drafts, which makes this weekend so confusing.

Tyleik Williams in Round 1? With Alim McNeil already there? When you need edge rush help? It's not that Williams can't play - he can. It's that it doesn't make sense with their roster construction.

Then they traded two 2026 third-rounders for Isaac TeSlaa, a receiver who caught 56 passes in college. Fifty-six! And they gave up future picks for him? That's not the Detroit we've come to know and love.

Tate Ratledge in Round 2 was good value, but this draft felt disconnected from their usual process. Sometimes even the best GMs have off days.

San Francisco 49ers: Missing the Forest for the Trees

The 49ers had a rough go of it, and it starts with Mykel Williams at 11. Look, Williams can play, but when you've got Nick Bosa and need help elsewhere, it's a luxury pick.

Doubling down with Alfred Collins in Round 2 just compounded the issue. Meanwhile, their cornerbacks are aging and the offensive line needs help. Sometimes you can't just draft the best player available - you've got to draft for need.

Robert Saleh inherits a defense with plenty of talent, but not necessarily in the right places.

Minnesota Vikings: Handcuffed by Previous Moves

The Vikings had two picks in the first 102 selections. Two! That's what happens when you trade for veterans - it catches up eventually.

Donovan Jackson was solid value, and Tai Felton brings speed. But when you've got holes in the secondary and limited chances to fill them, every pick has to count. This felt like missed opportunities.

The Rookie Class That'll Make an Immediate Impact

Some guys are just ready to contribute from Day 1. Here's who's making noise in early camps:

Offensive Rookie of the Year Race

It's Ashton Jeanty's award to lose. The Boise State back forced 152 missed tackles last season - that's absurd. Pete Carroll's got his new Beast Mode, and Las Vegas finally has a running game worth watching.

Cam Ward is the only rookie QB starting Week 1, which historically gives him the edge. Tennessee built around him with Elic Ayomanor, Chimere Dike, and Gunnar Helm. If the Titans are competitive, Ward's got a real shot.

Don't sleep on Colston Loveland. Ben Johnson made Sam LaPorta look like Tony Gonzalez last year. Loveland's skillset is even better suited for that offense.

Defensive Rookie of the Year Contenders

Abdul Carter is walking into a pass rusher's dream scenario. With Brian Burns and Dexter Lawrence eating up blockers, Carter's going to see a lot of one-on-one matchups. His 66 pressures at Penn State weren't a fluke.

Malaki Starks might lead rookies in picks. Playing next to Kyle Hamilton in that Ravens defense? He's going to see plenty of opportunities when quarterbacks try to avoid throwing Hamilton's way.

Jahdae Barron won the Jim Thorpe Award for a reason. Playing opposite Pat Surtain II means offenses will test him early and often. Good luck with that.

The Trends That Shaped the Draft

Quarterback Concerns Were Real

This was the worst QB class in recent memory, and Sanders falling to Round 5 proved it. Teams just weren't buying what this group was selling. When the best quarterback prospect goes first overall and the second-best lasts until the fifth round, that tells you everything.

Pass Protection Is Premium

Teams learned from watching Mahomes get pressured in the Super Bowl. Multiple tackles went in Round 1, and the premium for pass protection has never been higher. Young quarterbacks need time to develop - smart teams are giving it to them.

Versatility Rules Everything

Hunter going second overall sent a message: teams value players who can do multiple things. The salary cap forces teams to be creative, and versatile players provide scheme flexibility that's worth its weight in gold.

The Most Controversial Moves

Atlanta's All-In Moment

Trading next year's first for James Pearce Jr. was aggressive, especially after already taking Jalon Walker. Arthur Smith is clearly all-in on this defensive makeover, but giving up 2026 draft capital for a guy with character concerns? That's risky business.

Cleveland's QB Room Confusion

Taking Dillon Gabriel AND Sanders with Flacco and Pickett already on the roster? Someone's not making the team. Either they're planning trades or they really don't trust their current options. Either way, it's unusual roster management.

Dallas's WR Whiff

CeeDee Lamb can't do it all himself, but the Cowboys acted like he could. Not taking a single receiver when guys like Rome Odunze and Brian Thomas Jr. were producing immediately? That's going to hurt when defenses double Lamb all season.

Sleepers and Fantasy Goldmines

Smart fantasy players are already targeting these guys:

Kaleb Johnson is going to eat in Pittsburgh. Arthur Smith's system made Derrick Henry look 25 again - imagine what he'll do with a 22-year-old bulldozer. Johnson's 4.42 yards after contact per attempt is elite production.

Jaydon Blue brings 4.38 speed to a Cowboys backfield that needs juice. With Miles Sanders and Javonte Williams on one-year deals, Blue could be the starter by midseason.

Tre Harris might be the steal of Round 2. This kid was Ole Miss's best receiver when healthy, and Joshua Palmer's departure leaves 65 targets available in LA. Harris could be Justin Herbert's new favorite target.

Looking Three Years Down the Road

Drafts aren't judged in the moment - they're judged when contracts expire and teams start winning championships.

Hunter's selection could revolutionize how teams think about defensive backs. If he succeeds playing both ways, expect copycats throughout the league. The NFL always follows success.

Ward's development timeline will determine Tennessee's competitive window. Get the quarterback right, and everything else becomes easier. Miss on the quarterback, and you're back to square one.

Sanders falling to Round 5 could be the story of this draft. Colorado quarterbacks have a funny way of exceeding expectations in the NFL. If Cleveland's development program works its magic, they might have found their franchise QB for pennies on the dollar.

New England's commitment to Maye with four offensive picks shows they believe he's the guy. Smart teams don't invest that heavily in supporting cast unless they're confident in their quarterback's potential.

The Bottom Line

This draft had everything: bold trades, surprising falls, and enough head-scratchers to fuel talk radio for months.

Tampa Bay, Kansas City, and Jacksonville made moves that could define their franchises for the next decade. The Bucs restocked their championship core, the Chiefs added the pieces for another run, and Jacksonville swung for a generational talent.

On the flip side, Detroit and San Francisco had weekends they'd probably like back. Even the best front offices occasionally miss the mark, and both teams made decisions that contradicted their usual philosophies.

The rookie class lacks the depth of recent years, but the top end is special. Ward, Hunter, and Jeanty headline a group that could reshape their franchises immediately. Sanders might be the steal of the century if he develops properly.

Training camps will tell us more, but early indicators suggest significant variance in how teams executed their strategies. The draft's long-term impact won't be known for years, but the immediate winners and losers are already becoming clear.

Some franchises positioned themselves for sustained success. Others might be looking at longer rebuilds than they anticipated. That's the beauty and brutality of the NFL Draft - one weekend can change everything.

The tape doesn't lie, and neither do the results on the field. By December, we'll know who really won in Green Bay.