2025 NFL Draft First Round Recap: Love, Hate & I Have Questions....
32 picks up and 32 picks down, the 1st Round of the NFL Draft is done. A handful of crazy trades and some head scratching picks made for once again an exciting opening night.
Three Picks I Loved…
#27) Baltimore Ravens - Malaki Starks (SAF) Baltimore
Every year there seems to be a player who drops in the draft due to having too much tape to pick apart and playing a position of “lesser” value. This year that player was Malaki Starks, and in typical Ravens fashion, he was quickly scooped up to stop his fall. Starks will slide in next to All-Pro SAF Kyle Hamilton and instantly form one of the best, if not the best, safety tandems in the league. A role that was manned last year admirably by Ar’Darius Washington now goes to Starks, a bigger and more talented player, giving the Ravens elite versatility and ball skills across the backend of their secondary.
#31) Philadelphia Eagles - Jihaad Campbell (LB) Alabama
For what feels like the 4th or 5th year in a row, Howie Roseman ends up with an SEC player whose talent level fall exceeds his draft slot. This time it comes in the form of Alabama LB Jihaad Campbell,. a position of need the Eagles typically never target highly. Campbell is the consensus top LB in this class whose movement skills and rush backer versatility share a lot of similarities to Zack Baun, a player who enjoyed a career break out in 2024 under DC Vic Fangio. Assuming Campbell follows the career path of the players before him and lives up to his talent level, he looks to be the latest installment of “how does he keep getting away with it”.
#32) Kansas City Chiefs - Josh Simmons (OT) Ohio State
One of the biggest questions surrounding the Chiefs offense heaing into the 2025 offseason of their disastrous Super Bowl loss, was how to fix their offensive line, particularly at tackle. Simmons was a popular target for them in mock drafts due to his versatility playing either tackle spot. My personal OT1 in the class and a Top-10 player, he was always projected to slide due to injury concerns but for a team like Kansas City who has enough in the building to let him take a redshirt season or half a season, the potential of a future star LT/RT at #31 is fantastic value.
Three Picks I Hate…
#9) New Orleans Saints - Kelvin Banks Jr. (OT) Texas
Kelvin Bank going in the Top-10 was not a surprise. He had a heavy surge in hype over the last week leading up to the draft that made it clear he would go high. The dislike of this pick simply comes down to how I grade the player. Banks, in my opinion, is a fine player but closer to a 2nd rounder than Top-10 prospect. If New Orleans was dead set on OT at #9 players like Josh Conerly from Oregon or Josh Simmons from Ohio State would have been better selections according to my board.
#25) New York Giants - Jaxson Dart (QB) Ole Miss
One of the most obvious selections in the Draft was the New York Giants trading up into the back end of the First Round for a QB. What pick it would be, and who they would take was always the question, but regardless they were likely to end up on this list. Dart is a fine prospect but ended up with a 3rd Round Grade for me, which even with the typical position bump is a far cry from the 25th overall pick. There are some traits to like about Dart, and the trade up cost for the player given his position wasn’t egregious, but it’s hard to see this pick as anything other than a desperate staff and front office trying to save their jobs.
#26) Atlanta Falcons - James Pearce Jr. (EDGE) Tennessee
Speaking of egregious trade up costs, the Atlanta Falcons for the second year in a row, had one of the biggest surprise moves of the first round. Many expected their first selection at #15 in Jalon Walker, to be the only pick they made tonight. However, in a surprise jump, they vaulted all the way to the Rams spot at the cost of their 2026 first rounder. A price that far exceeded what the Giants paid for a QB one spot earlier, and for a player in Pearce, with major off-field questions. The speed and pass rush upside of Pearce may be a good fit for the Falcons defense that sorely needs the juice, but the price just doesn’t match up with the value for the player.
Three Pick I Have Questions About…
#5) Cleveland Browns - Mason Graham (IDL) Michigan
Cleveland, the original holders of the #2 overall pick, were expected by many to take Travis Hunter, the reigning Heisman Trophy Winner and a rare prospect due to his two-way ability, but opted instead to move back to the #5 pick in a trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars. On the surface the trade is a great idea, picking up an extra 2nd and a future 1st for a three slot move down for a non-quarterback is excellent value. Add in the selection of Mason Graham, a Top-5 player on my board at a position of need, it’s hard to say it’s a bad move.
But if you asked me to be the GM who willing passes on selecting Travis Hunter, a potentially generational and franchise altering player, I’m not sure I would be able to pull that trigger.
#19) Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Emeka Egbuka (WR) Ohio State
The selection of Egbuka in a vacuum is a totally defensible pick. He is an excellent player with the playstyle and skillset that fits perfectly into the type of offense the Bucs want to run. The questions surrounding the pick is one, is their WR room too crowed? With Tampa legend Mike Evans continuing to rack up 1,000 yard seasons, Chris Godwin back on a fresh deal, and 2024 3rd Round Pick Jalen McMillan coming off a solid freshman campaign, there is not a lot of space for more targets. The second would be for a team with needs at CB, LB and EDGE, is passing on talented players at any of those positions worth it for what looks to be a long term succession plan for a WR you just paid 2 months ago.
#20) Denver Broncos - Jahdae Barron (CB) Texas
The questions surrounding Denver’s selection have nothing to do with the player they chose. Barron is a technically sound corner with excellent IQ and versatility, who should be able to step in from Day-1. It is more about how does he fit into this defense, a defense that at its best last year ran man coverage at the 4th highest rate in football. Barron is a fantastic prospect but is more known for his zone coverage ability than man-to-man. The trio of Pat Surtain, Riley Moss and Barron on paper is one of the best in football, but I am curious to see how roles and play calling will be catered to maximize each player.