NFL Draft 2025 Sees Surprising Picks and Trades in Green Bay

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — The 2025 NFL Draft kicked off Thursday with a surprising choice for the Tennessee Titans, who selected Miami Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward with the first overall pick. Ward, 22, completed 67.2% of his passes last season, throwing 39 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He was recognized as a Heisman Trophy finalist.

Ward’s road to the NFL Draft was unique. He began at the University of Incarnate Word as a zero-star recruit before transferring to Washington State and finally finishing at Miami. Despite a tumultuous journey, his performance has made him the consensus first pick.

As the draft unfolded, the Cleveland Browns shocked many by trading their second overall pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Browns received the fifth overall pick, along with a second-round pick and a future first-rounder. Jacksonville used the pick to select Travis Hunter, a standout player from Colorado. Hunter, a Heisman winner, played both wide receiver and cornerback in college.

New York Giants General Manager Joe Schoen also faced tough decisions. Reports indicated the team might select either Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter or Shedeur Sanders, a talented quarterback. However, with a new focus on rebuilding, the Giants took Carter at third overall.

Ohio State‘s Josh Simmons was among the prospects who opted not to attend the draft, citing personal reasons. Despite this, a total of 15 players were present, including standout talents like Alabama’s Tyler Booker and Georgia’s Malaki Starks.

This year’s draft has been touted as one of the strongest in recent years, especially for positions like running back and defensive end. With multiple teams needing a quarterback, the draft is seen as pivotal for franchise building.

As the first round progressed, teams looked for strategic improvements to elevate their offensive and defensive lines amid a mixed quarterback class. With the Titans and Jaguars making bold moves, the narrative of the evening has unfolded dramatically, underscoring the unpredictability of the NFL Draft.