Yahoo Sports NFL draft analyst Charles McDonald offers pick-by-pick analysis and grades in Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Here’s how he rated teams in the 2024 and 2023 drafts if you’re scoring at home.
Grade: B
The Titans needed a quarterback and drafted the top one in the class. Ward is a quality quarterback prospect with good upside to grow into a franchise player, and the Titans have put together a good enough offensive line where he’ll have a real chance to reach his ceiling. Ward might not be as highly thought of as the quarterback prospects from last year, but he’s worthy of the first pick and the Titans had a huge hole at quarterback.
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Player comparison: Steve McNair
Grade: B+
The Jaguars have made the first bold move of the draft, with new general manager James Gladstone taking the “F them picks” approach from his former workplace with the Rams. The Jaguars are getting the best player in the draft and will get to decide his fate on offense or defense, but Hunter plans on playing both ways. Obviously the Jaguars have not spoken much about Hunter prior to the draft, but it’s hard to hate on a team that already believes they have their quarterback moving up and getting Hunter.
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Player comparison: Odell Beckham, Champ Bailey
Grade: B+
This pick gives the Giants one of the fiercest pass rushes in the league and puts Abdul Carter with star defensive linemen Dexter Lawrence and Brian Burns. If the Giants’ cornerback play can improve this year, this could be one of the most improved defenses in the league. The presence of Lawrence, Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux will give Carter some great matchups to wreak havoc as a rookie. Perhaps the Giants could’ve gone offensive line here, but Carter’s upside as a pass rusher, in that front seven, is hard to turn down.
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Player comparison: Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila
Grade: B+
Simple is as simple does. The Patriots needed a left tackle and they got arguably the best guy in this class. The Patriots offense has their quarterback in Drake Maye, but they still needed offensive tackle help which they can get here in a hurry with Campbell. Even if Campbell isn’t a tackle, they can still get their best five linemen on the field.
Player comparison: Rashawn Slater
(Yahoo Sports)
Grade: A-
Trading back to get Mason Graham is a great process for the Browns. Graham can be a stalwart 3-technique next to Myles Garrett and give them a long-term talent they needed at that position. It’s hard to find defensive tackles with pass rush potential and he’s got it.
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Player comparison: Christian Wilkins
Grade: C-
Player comparison: Priest Holmes
Grade: A
Membou makes a ton of sense here as the Jets build a bookend duo with Olu Fashanu, who was a stellar rookie left tackle last year for New York. Membou is flatly one of the best players in the draft and should be an immediate, long-term right tackle for the Jets with massive upside to be a Pro Bowl player — or better.
Player comparison: Duane Brown
