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The 2025 NFL Draft is finally here! Mock draft season is over, and the Round 1 festivities kick off at 8:00 p.m. ET from Green Bay, Wisconsin, and ClutchPoints has you covered with live NFL draft grades for all 32 selections. Check back after every pick to see how your team and all the league teams picked their newest potential stars.
Check back right here after each pick in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft for live grades!
2025 NFL Draft live first-round grades
1. Tennessee Titans — QB Cam Ward, Miami
The Titans' picking Cam Ward first has been the worst-kept secret of the 2025 NFL Draft. While it's not a shocking choice, it's the right one. Quarterback is the most important position in football, and when you have a chance to draft a franchise signal-caller at No. 1, you have to take it.
Ward would have been the sixth or seventh QB taken in the 2024 NFL Draft, but this isn't 2024. Life is all about timing, and this is Ward and the Titans' time to find each other. Tennessee fans would probably prefer Caleb Williams or Arch Manning, but this is what they've got.
Ultimately, it's the right pick in the wrong draft, so the Titans get as good a grade as they can get in that situation.
Grade: A-
2. Jacksonville Jaguars (via Cleveland Browns) — CB/WR Travis Hunter, Colorado
Trading up in the first round is a risky proposition, but trading from five to two in a three or four blue-chip-player draft does make sense.
Heading to Jacksonville means that Travis Hunter will likely play more offense than defense, as Liam Coen is an offensive-minded head coach, and helping Trevor Lawrence is the top priority this offseason. In a vacuum, this deal is a good one to get one of the best football players in this draft.
That said, the Jags gave up a ton to move up three slots. They send No. 5, 2025 2nd and 5th Round picks, and a 2026 1st Round selection to the Browns, which means Hunter better be a difference-maker on at least one side of the ball, if not both.
Overall, the Jags took a bold swing on an incredibly talented player in a draft not loaded with those. So, we'll send a pretty good NFL draft grade down to DUUUUVAAALLL.
Grade: B+
3. New York Giants — EDGE Abdul Carter, Penn State
Again, this is a three or four blue-chip-player draft at best, and Abdul Carter is definitely one of those. When you see him play, he looks a lot like Micah Parsons, and it's not just because of the No. 11 Penn State jersey.
Carter is a game-disruptor and the right pick here. Like the Titans, though, the issue here is that the Giants would much rather have a franchise quarterback. Even if the Penn State pass-rusher becomes Myles Garrett or Parsons, the Giants could still stink like Garrett and Parsons' teams did last season,
This is absolutely the right pick for the G Men long term instead of reaching for Shedeur Sanders or Jaxson Dart. Still, only because of the weakness at the top of the 2025 NFL Draft, we can't go higher than an A-.
Grade: A-
4. New England Patriots — OL Will Campbell, LSU
This is another solid pick made with the head and not the heart. Sure, Patriots fans would love to put a Ja'Marr Chase or Malik Nabers-type wideout next to Drake Maye, but that just wasn't in the cards. Heck, they would have liked a long-armed, 6-foot-7 bookend left tackle, too, but that player just isn't at the top of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Instead, the Pats took Will Campbell, who has a real chance to be a longtime starter at LT, even if his arms are a fraction of an inch too short. Mike Vrabel will love this selection, especially because if it doesn't work out perfectly as an LT solution, Campbell's floor seems to be as a Pro Bowl guard.
Because they did the prudent thing and took a player who can become a bedrock for the post-Belichick and Brady rebuild, New England gets a winning mark.
Grade: A
5. Cleveland Browns (via Jacksonville Jaguars) — DT Mason Graham, Michigan
Mason Graham is an excellent pick here for the Browns. He's not the sexiest player in the draft, but he is incredibly solid and can be an anchor on the defensive line, helping Garrett create even more havoc for opposing offenses.
The Browns' offense is going to be a mess for a while, as long as Deshaun Watson is under contract. In the meantime, building a playoff-caliber defense is their only path to the postseason. Adding Graham is a step in that direction.
Plus, you can't discount general manager Andrew Berry picking up another first-round pick in 2026, a year that might feature Arch Manning among other talented signal-callers. The pick itself is a solid A, but getting a dynamic defender with all the other picks bumps this to the moon.
Grade: A+
6. Las Vegas Raiders — RB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State
The final blue-chip player is now off the board as Pete Carroll and the Raiders take running back extraordinaire Ashton Jeanty. This is a big swing, taking an RB at No. 6, but in a draft like this, it makes a ton of sense.
With an old coach, Geno Smith, Maxx Crosby, and some solid supporting cast pieces, the Raiders are really going for it, trying to go from the basement to the penthouse in short order.
The opportunity cost of drafting a back this high usually isn't the smartest move, but betting on talent in a draft where it isn't clear exactly how much talent there is makes sense. Jeanty can be a game-changer, so it's hard to kill this selection.
Grade: B+
7. New York Jets — OT Armand Membou, Missouri
Two themes are developing at the top of the 2025 NFL Draft. Teams are drafting to fill their biggest needs, and they are (mostly) making the smart decision instead of the fun one. The Jets badly need a right tackle, and Armand Membou is absolutely the best prospect at that position.
Membou is a nasty mauler, and no matter what happens long-term with the Jets' quarterback situation, the former Mizzou tackle will be a constant at RT.
Another WR across from Garrett Wilson or a dynamic tight end would have fired up fans, but Membou was the right—though not the most exciting—selection.
Grade: A-
8. Carolina Panthers — WR Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona
So, just as we write about teams making the smart but boring selections in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Panthers flip that on its head.
Carolina's defense was horrific last season, and taking a pass-rusher, defensive tackle, or defensive back here would make the most sense. However, you know what's fun? Getting a condor-of-a-wide-receiver to help Bryce Young next season.
Tetairoa McMillan isn't the fastest or the slickest WR, but he is a big boy who knows how to go up and get it. Scouts are split on just how good he'll be at the next level and if he's worth a top-10 pick. But putting him with last year's late first-rounder Xavier Legette and again mentor Adam Thielen could create a dominating WR duo for years to come.
And Young will love that.
Grade: B+
9. New Orleans Saints — OT Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas
Well, the Shedeur Sanders Slide is officially on as his final top-10 backstop goes with offensive tackle Kelvin Banks Jr.
Despite their struggles last season, the Saints actually had a solid offensive line when most of the main players were healthy. But building on a strength is never a terrible idea. Still, there are a lot of needs elsewhere.
New head coach Kellen Moore comes from the Cowboys and Eagles, where great offensive lines are always a priority. That's why this makes a lot of sense. Plus, the Saints will have to rebuild eventually, and Banks is a solid building block.
The former Longhorn may ultimately find a home as a guard instead of a tackle, but in the end, we are back to safe and heady picks from these teams.
Grade: B
10. Chicago Bears — TE Colston Loveland, Michigan
We have a shocker! The 2025 NFL draft has now officially begun as we have our first polarizing pick.
Colston Loveland is a big, fast, talented tight end who is a no-doubt Round 1 pick. That said, you'll be hard-pressed to find a draft analyst who had the Michigan Man coming off the board before Penn State end Tyler Warren.
Loveland will be an excellent target for Caleb Williams, who needs a good outlet when he starts to scramble out of the pocket (which he does too much). It's hard to see, though, why Loveland, who is better up the seam, is a wiser choice than Warren, who is much more versatile.
Grade: B-
11. San Francisco 49ers — EDGE Mykel Williams, Georgia
The 49ers could have used an offensive lineman, but the best are off the board. So, they did the next-best thing and took a pass rusher to hopefully become a perfect complement for Nick Bosa.
Mykel Williams just looks like a DE at 6-foot-5, 260 pounds, but while he has all the traits, the production just hasn't been there. Despite playing on some of the best defensive lines in college football history, Williams has 4.5, 4.5, and 5.0 sacks in the last three seasons.
Under Robert Saleh and across from Bosa, though, Williams gets the best chance to succeed. As a production over traits guy myself, there are a few players I like better than Williams, but I get the intrigue with his athleticism.
Grade: B
12. Dallas Cowboys — OG Tyler Booker, Alabama
This is pretty early for a pure guard, but the underrated thing about Jerry Jones is that he actually loves building a solid offensive line with high draft picks more than anything else. Wide receivers like Matthew Golden or Luther Burden III, a running back like Omarion Hampton, or even a tight end like Warren might have made more sense.
Dak Prescott can't get the ball to any of those types of players, though, if he's on his back or—even worse—on the sideline in street clothes.
It's too bad Big D couldn't move back and make this selection 10-15 picks later, but it's not terrible by any means.
Grade: B-
13. Miami Dolphins — DT Kenneth Grant, Michigan
More than anything, the Dolphins need players on defense who can slow down the Bills offense and get in Josh Allen's face. Massive DT Kenneth Grant can do just that.
Grant is a mountain of a man at almost 6-foot-4 and over 330 pounds. When he's on, the big man can wreak havoc on offensive lines. If he can keep his weight down and become a better pass rusher, he could be a game-changer.
This is a little early for Grant, though, and there are other DTs on the board who are already more dynamic and profile as surefire three-down DTs as opposed to the former Wolverine, who may become a run-down player if he can;t get better at pushing the pocket.
Grade: B-
14. Indianapolis Colts — TE Tyler Warren, Penn State
Arguably the most telegraphed pick outside of Ward to the Titans, the Colts get their man in the Penn State tight end.
Warren can do so much and will give defense fits trying to figure out where he is lining up. He will also be a major safety blanket for Anthony Richardson, who needs a go-to guy (and a 6-foot-6 one is good for the inaccurate QB).
This is an excellent pick and a perfect fit for a team that really needs a player like this.
Grade: A
15. Atlanta Falcons — EDGE/LB Jalon Walker, Georgia
Jalon Walker is a fascinating prospect, as he started his career as an off-ball linebacker who switched primarily to edge last season. With that shift, he put up 6.5 sacks and 10.5 tackles for a loss.
At worst, Walker may be a tweener, but if the Falcons coaching staff uses him creatively, he could be a Parsons-type player.
A player like this can be a key centerpiece of a defense, and the Falcons need that badly. The NFL draft grades here will vary, but I believe that even at 6-foot-1, Walker can be a nightmare off the edge.
Grade: A-
16. Arizona Cardinals — DT Walter Nolen, Ole Miss
Walter Nolen was the top overall player coming out of high school for many scouting services. He was good at Texas A&M and excellent at Ole Miss.
Nolen had 6.5 sacks last season and can be an all-around D-lineman who can play multiple positions at the next level.
The Cardinals need foundational pieces in the trenches on defense, and Nolen can be that type of player if the coaches can get the best out of him. This is a smart pick that also fills a need.
Grade: A
17. Cincinnati Bengals — EDGE Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M
It's no secret that the Bengals were targeting an EDGE player here, whether that is to complement Trey Hendrickson or to replace him. In Shemar Stewart, the team gets a 6-foot-5, 267-pound pass-rusher who is built out of granite.
The traits and athleticism are off the charts, but Stewart needs to improve the production after putting up just 1.5 sacks in each of the last three seasons.
A more proven pass-rush specialist like Mike Green may have been a safer pick here, but you have to like Stewart's upside. It's a high-risk, high-reward pick, which is exactly what we've come to expect from the Bengals.
Grade: B-
18. Seattle Seahawks — OL Grey Zabel, North Dakota State
Grey Zabel is the most versatile offensive lineman in the 2025 NFL Draft, having started at four positions in college and then demonstrating he can play center, too, in the league.
The Seahawks need interior offensive line help to bulk up the power run game and to keep pass rushers out of Sam Darnold's face. Zabel should be able to upgrade that area for sure, no matter what position it is.
A pick like this continues the theme of drafting for need and making smart—if unsexy—picks for teams in this year's Round 1.
Grade B+
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers — WR Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State
The Buccaneers wanted to trade down here, according to insider reports, but with no teams looking to move up, they stayed and made the pick.
Emeka Egbuka is a fantastic possession receiver and will be a good addition to a room that includes Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and Jalen McMillan.
This pick may have been available later, and an impact defensive player like Jihaad Ward would have helped more in the short term, but this is a solid long-term play. You also have to wonder, though, whether a more explosive playmaker like Matthew Golden would have made more sense.
Grade: C+
20. Denver Broncos — DB Jahdae Barron, Texas
This is another surprising side of the ball selection, as most expected Sean Payton to take an offensive weapon to help Bo Nix's development.
What they did instead is take one of the best players left on the board in Texas cornerback/safety Jahdae Baron. The Broncos built on a strength, adding to an already-strong defense. That's not a terrible move.
This pick gets a solid grade here because Barron is a wildly versatile and talented player and because Payton has always been good at getting offensive skill position players in later rounds.
Grade: B+
21. Pittsburgh Steelers — DT Derrick Harmon, Oregon
Yet another need pick comes off the board as the Steelers draft a long-term replacement for Cam Heyward.
Harmon is a foundational player who can anchor a 3-4 defense up front, but he is not a difference-maker like Heyward was early on in his career. This is a responsible pick by the Steelers, but not one that will move the needle all that much.
This is such a Steelers-y pick that will keep Mike Tomlin in winning seasons and help T.J. Watt for sure, but does it help make them a contender again? No. Maybe a QB or another pass rusher would have.
Grade: C+
22. Los Angeles Chargers — RB Omarion Hampton, North Carolina
The Chargers need to get Justin Herbert more help, and a power running game will do that. They tried to piece together a backfield last season with the oft-injured JK Dobbins and Gus Edwards.
This is another step to creating a roster that Jim Harbaugh wants, and it takes pressure off the talented but underachieving QB.
Once again, in many drafts, taking an RB in Round 1 isn't all that smart, but in the 2025 NFL Draft, Hampton is as good a pick as any, especially with the Chargers already solid depth chart.
Grade: A-
23. Green Bay Packers — WR Matthew Golden, Texas
Somewhere, Aaron Rodgers is screaming into a pillow. The Round 1 WR in Matthew Golden.
The Packers have a packed wide receiver room with Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs, Christian Watson, Dontayvion Wicks, Bo Melton, and Mecole Hardman among others.
There isn't a true No. 1 for Jordan Love to throw to here, so Golden could be that guy. At 5-foot-11, 192 pounds with 4.29 speed, will he be that guy? It's hard to say, so at a deep position on the depth chart, you'd hope for a little more certainty there in the first round.
Green Bay also passed on corners and pass rushers, which are two positions that they need in a big way.
Grade: C+
24. Minnesota Vikings — OL Donovan Jackson, Ohio State
The Vikings essentially have a rookie quarterback in JJ McCarthy (likely) starting this year, so building the offensive line in front of him makes a lot of sense.
In Donovan Jackson, the Vikings get an excellent guard who slid over to left tackle last season and helped the Buckeyes win the national championship. That positional versatility should give Jackson a very high floor at the next level.
The only downside is that the Vikings only have four picks in the 2025 NFL Draft, which means trading down would have led to better grades here.
Grade: B
25. New York Giants (via Houston Texans) — QB Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss
The Giants did what many expected and traded back up into the first round to take their quarterback of the future. In recent days, the rumors heated up that Brian Daboll preferred Jaxson Dart to Shedeur Sanders, and that played out.
Yes, quarterbacks are a necessity, but this simply wasn't the year to do this. This is what happens when you should fire your coach and GM but don't. They get desperate and throw a Hail Mary, which is exactly what Dart is in Roud 1.
If Ward would have had been a mid-first-rounder last season, Dart may not have made Day 2. He is Daniel Jones Lite, so while Daboll may be able to coax something out of him, this pick is one the G Men may regret for a long, long time.
Grade: D+
26. Atlanta Falcons (via Los Angeles Rams) — EDGE James Pearce Jr., Tennessee
Wow! The Falcons go all-in on building a pass-rush in 2025, trading their 2026 first-round pick to the Rams to come back into Round 1 and take Tennessee EDGE James Pearce Jr.
Pearce Jr. is supremely talented but there are questions about his effort at times and whether his head is always in the game. Case in point: He forgot his t-shirt at the NFL combine and had to run his 40 in a sweatshirt.
I do really like his traits and production, though, and putting Pearce with Jalon Walker could take the Falcons' defense 10 steps up in just one offseason. This is a monster gamble, but I kind of like it.
Grade: B
27. Baltimore Ravens — S Malaki Starks, Georgia
The Ravens do it again because, of course, they do. Most draft evaluators had Makaki Starks as a top 10 or 15 prospect in this draft at worst. So, the Ravens sit where they are, patiently wait, and get one of the best players.
Putting Starks next to Kyle Hamilton (who also fell to the Ravens in the draft) immediately gives Baltimore one of—if not—the best defensive back ends in the NFL.
The rich get richer here, and the Ravens have set themselves up to have a top-10 defense for years to come.
Grade: A
28. Detroit Lions — DT Tyleik Williams, Ohio State
Nothing against Tyleik Williams, but this is a small reach and less of a position of need for the Lions than edge. The former Buckeye will be an excellent run defender and may be able to push the pocket and get a few sacks in the NFL, but Aidan Hutchinson needed a true pass-rush partner here.
This isn't a terrible pick by any means, but there are still some interesting true pass rushers on the board who would have been better selections. Williams is a Dan Campbell type of guy, though, so his toughness will improve the D for sure.
Grade: C+
29. Washington Commanders — OT Josh Conerly Jr., Oregon
The Commanders beefed up their offensive line this offseason but still need a young bookend to grow with Jayden Daniels. The young QB needs much better protection this coming season, and Conerly Jr. is a good way to do that.
Once again, this is needs-based and not all that exciting, but instead of taking a middling WR and hoping he grows into a No. 1 or 2, Washington simply did the responsible thing and took a tackle for Daniels.
Grade: B
30. Buffalo Bills — CB Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky
With all the top run-stuffing DTs off the board, the Bills turned their attention to their next-biggest need and grabbed cornerback Maxwell Hairston. The ball-hawking speedster is an excellent pick by the Bills, who need to cover better and create more turnovers.
The only downside here is that Will Johnson, the Michigan cornerback who may have been a top-10 pick if not for a foot injury, was still on the board, and the Bills passed on him for a corner who is much less physically imposing.
Grade: B+
31. Philadelphia Eagles (via Kansas City Chiefs) — LB Jihaad Campbell, Alabama
How about GMs just take the best defenders from the best college programs every year and then have a Super Bowl-caliber defense? That's what Howie Roseman does, and it works out pretty well.
The Eagles' boss did it again in the 2025 NFL Draft, getting a massive steal in Jihaad Campbell. He is an off-ball LB and tackling machine who has “decade-long star” written all over him.
With all the Georgia Bulldogs in front of him, Campbell should put up massive numbers from linebacker and even rush the passer a bit.
Howie, you did it again.
Grade: A+
32. Kansas City Chiefs (via Philadelphia Eagles) — OT Josh Simmons, Ohio State
Just like the Eagles, the Chiefs got exactly what they wanted due to injury concerns. Josh Simmons would have been a top-10 pick if he was healthy, but even coming off a knee injury, he should still develop into a starting—if not Pro Bowl—left tackle.
This fills a major need and brings Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs a talent they had no business getting with the last pick in the first round. This is exactly why the Chiefs and the Eagles are the class of the NFL.
Grade: A+
