The Tennessee Titans chosen Cam Ward with the No 1 choose whereas two-position star Travis Hunter landed with the Jacksonville Jaguars on the opening day of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Miami quarterback Ward had lengthy been projected to grow to be the primary participant off the board, and there was to be no late surprises on Thursday evening when his identify was introduced by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to kick off proceedings in Inexperienced Bay, Wisconsin.
It’s the fortieth time NFL groups have used the No 1 choose on a quarterback because the first Draft in 1936.
Heisman Trophy winner Hunter adopted intently behind at No 2 because the Jaguars traded up from No 5 to the Colorado star with the second choose.
Along with the second general choose, which they used to pick the 2024 Heisman winner, the Jaguars additionally obtained a fourth-round choose and sixth-round choose.
Hunter served as one of the crucial fascinating case research in Draft historical past after his success at each large receiver and cornerback all through highschool and school.
He registered upwards of 700 snaps on each offense and protection in the course of the 2024 season at Colorado and is bidding to shatter conference by persevering with to play either side of the ball upon reaching the NFL.
The Browns obtained the No 5 general choose and chosen Michigan defensive deal with Mason Graham. Cleveland additionally obtained second- and fourth-round picks this 12 months, and a first-round choose in 2026.
At No 3, the New York Giants chosen Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter and moved again into the primary spherical in a cope with the Houston Texans for Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart at No 25.
The New England Patriots made a promised improve to the offensive line in entrance of 2024 No 3 choose Drake Maye and welcomed LSU left deal with Will Campbell at No 4.
Regardless of hypothesis different groups had been angling to maneuver forward of the Raiders, Las Vegas held onto the No 6 choose and went with Boise State working again Ashton Jeanty, who rushed for two,601 yards and 29 touchdowns in 2024. The Raiders had been No 32 within the league in dashing with 1,357 complete yards and no ball provider with greater than 420 yards.
The Tremendous Bowl champion Eagles traded up one spot from No 32 with the Chiefs and threw of their fifth-round choose, choosing Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell.
Who’s No 1 choose Ward?
In drafting Ward the Titans resume their seek for a long-term reply below heart simply two years after drafting quarterback Will Levis out of Kentucky within the second spherical.
Ward adopted an unconventional path to changing into the No 1 choose having began his school profession at small college Incarnate Phrase, the one programme to supply him a scholarship. Having seen his 2020 marketing campaign shortened following the coronavirus pandemic, Ward went on to throw for 4,648 yards and 47 touchdowns to only 10 interceptions as a sophomore earlier than transferring to Washington State.
There he accomplished 643 of 982 passes for six,966 yards and 48 touchdowns to only 16 interceptions over two seasons, and initially declared for the 2024 NFL Draft earlier than as an alternative transferring to Miami for his senior 12 months.
He completed his last season in school 305 of 454 passing for 4,313 yards and 39 touchdowns to only seven interceptions whereas dashing for 204 yards and 4 scores, profitable ACC Participant of the Yr in addition to the Manning Award as the highest quarterback in school.
With Ward comes a cocktail of large poise and persistence within the pocket, an aggressiveness and willingness to assault downfield, feather contact and delicately-layered throws, the expertise to throw off-platform and with a number of arm angles, and the flexibility to increase performs, create off-script and damage defenses outdoors of the pocket.
“Ward is a thick, compact quarterback with excellent arm energy and playmaking capability,” says NFL Community Draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah.
“He performs a really free-wheeling model of soccer. He drifts in his drop, throws from quite a lot of arm angles and sometimes falls away from the goal upon launch of the soccer. He can actually energy the ball into tight home windows, however his aggressive nature can put factors on either side of the scoreboard.
“He has very fast arms within the RPO sport and he can navigate round free rushers by dropping his arm angle. He took the free yards along with his legs when voids offered themselves in Miami’s unfold assault. General, Ward will have to be reined in, however he is a really gifted thrower of the soccer. If he can be taught to raised handle the sport, he has a really excessive ceiling.”