The first round of the 2025 NFL Draft is in the books. In a year in which there were few star players and not a lot of consensus, the event didn’t disappoint for drama. The night started with every team owning its own first-round pick for the first time in the modern era. It ended with multiple blockbuster trades involving 2026 first-rounders.
Plenty of people argue you have to wait three years to grade a draft pick. In one sense, they’re right. No one knows how these players will pan out, including the teams picking them.
But there are some general maxims to follow.
- More often than not, trading down is the optimal move given the draft’s uncertainty to give a team more chances to hit on picks. This year that’s especially true, with the differences between prospects flattening out rapidly. It’s not a great year to have a top ten pick. It’s a strong year to have as many top 100 picks as possible.
- The greatest benefit of draft picks is securing cost-controlled production before players are eligible for contract extensions. So teams get more value out of hitting on a rookie at a high-demand position like pass rusher or tackle than at safety or running back. Or in other words, it’s more optimal to spend premium picks on premium positions.
- No team’s draft board looks the same as another, and none look the same as the consensus draft boards built from media evaluators and analysts who are plugged in to how the NFL sees players to varying degrees. As a broad rule, the consensus big board is directionally right more often than not. Teams that “reach” for a player are gambling that they’re smarter than other teams. Sometimes they are. Often they’re not.
- The goal is to pick players who will make the team better, so needs matter. But the window for needs is broader than fans and frankly teams themselves often think. Positions that seem rock solid now can become a pain point by the end of the season. Every GM says they picked the best player available on the board, but some actually follow through better than others.
With that out of the way, let’s get into it.
First-Round 2025 NFL Draft Grades
1 – Tennessee Titans: Miami QB Cam Ward
Grade: B+
This pick has been a lock for weeks. In a draft riddled with debate, it’s also largely gone unchallenged. Ward has established himself as the clear top quarterback prospect in an overall weak class. While he might not stack up well with other No. 1 prospects or even others selected in the top three picks, the general thought is that he meets the talent threshold to be a potential high-end starting quarterback eventually. For a team like the Titans with a glaring hole at the position, the logic behind taking Ward makes complete sense.
Even if Ward is a riskier bet, the upside of landing a starting quarterback makes this the right pick. It’s just worth talking about the downside. Ward will be entering a tough situation, which is true for most No. 1 picks. Tennessee’s offensive line was abysmal last year and there’s a stark lack of weaponry on offense. The front five should be better, but the skill position talent might be worse. Titans HC Brian Callahan also remains unproven and he’s now in the precarious position of being misaligned with the front office, as GM Mike Borgonzi and president Chad Brinker were not in charge when he was hired just a year ago.
Like most No. 1 picks, Ward will probably be asked to step into the starting lineup immediately. Unlike many top picks, Ward would arguably benefit from some seasoning, particularly to hone some of his fundamentals. He plays with a bit of a backyard style that can be high-variance. The similarities to Packers QB Jordan Love are eery, and Love benefited significantly from time on the bench in Green Bay.
However, the X-factor is Ward’s intangibles. There have been plenty of articles citing people who have overlapped with him at various points on his long college journey, going from Incarnate Word to Washington State to Miami. Those pieces are overflowing with praise for his poise and how he helped raise the standard at all of his stops. If those are accurate and not just standard myth-making for the top pick, then the future could be bright for the Titans.
2 – TRADE, Jacksonville Jaguars (CLE): Colorado CB/WR Travis Hunter
Grade: A-
It did not take long at all for this draft to get shaken up in a major way, with the Jaguars pulling off a blockbuster on the clock trade to move up from No. 5 to No. 2 for Hunter. The trade details:
Jaguars get
- No. 2 pick
- 4th (No. 104)
- 6th (No. 200)
Browns get
- No. 5
- 2nd (No. 36)
- 4th (No. 126)
- 2026 1st (JAX)
It’s a massive, massive haul. Depending on which trade value chart you use, the Browns are getting a first-round pick in surplus value, and a top ten pick on some charts. Jacksonville indicated it wanted to start off the new era under GM James Gladstone and HC Liam Coen with a splash, and they’ve certainly done that.
It’s bold, it’s a risk and in a lot of ways it’s unprecedented. But Hunter is an unprecedented player. He’s a true two-way athlete, the kind the NFL hasn’t seen for a long time and certainly not in the modern era. There’s not a blueprint for the Jaguars to follow with Hunter, and that is inherently risky.
It’s also a chance for upside — a chance for the Jaguars to be on the cutting edge and do something no other team has done before. If Hunter ends up just as a receiver or just as a cornerback, there’s still a solid floor to the pick, though that would be a disappointment with the level of investment the Jaguars just made. If Hunter becomes a high-end player at both positions like he did in college, the Jaguars just got two stars for the price of one.
Put another way, if you knew you could get the NFL’s Shohei Ohtani, what would you pay?
I’d have liked this pick better if the Browns had made it, as the Jaguars are adding to their risk factor by trading so much to get Hunter. Still, the upside for Jacksonville is the same as it would be for Cleveland.
3 – New York Giants: Penn State DE Abdul Carter
Grade: B+
I have a slightly less rosy grade on this pick than I suspect other outlets will have, and it has little to do with Carter. There’s a strong argument to be made for him as the No. 1 overall pick. He’s the clear best player available at this slot and one of less than a handful of blue-chip players in this class. It’s hard to go wrong adding high-end pass rushers to the roster.
At the same time, it doesn’t necessarily feel like this is the most optimal usage of the pick for the Giants. Carter doesn’t fit cleanly on the roster with Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux already occupying the two starting spots. Getting all three onto the field at the same time might be a bit of a challenge unless the Giants play Carter at off-ball linebacker. He played there initially at Penn State but it’s not an optimal use of his talents. Carter is probably better than Thibodeaux but having both him and Burns on the edge is a potential weakness against heavy running teams, like the division rival Eagles.
I don’t know what trade offers the Giants got for this slot but there’s a potential case to be made that the best move would have been trading down to get more picks and address a roster that still has numerous holes going into Year 4 under GM Joe Schoen and HC Brian Daboll.
4 – New England Patriots: LSU OT Will Campbell
Grade: B
This is where the board drops off sharply. Campbell is viewed as more of a guard than a tackle by many teams. But all that matters is what the team on the clock thinks, and the Patriots think Campbell can play tackle. If they’re wrong and he eventually slides inside to guard, he still fills a major need and makes the offensive line better.
Is taking a guard fourth overall an ideal use of the draft capital? Probably not but it’s also not the worst, especially given how high guard salaries have grown the past few years. The league is putting more of a premium on offensive linemen in general, not just tackles.
5 – TRADE, Cleveland Browns (JAX): Michigan DT Mason Graham
Grade: A
The first four picks of this draft ended up being the free square on the bingo cards mocksters filled out in recent weeks, although the Jaguars picking Hunter instead of Cleveland was a major twist. The intrigue was with the fifth pick, and after weeks of Graham being mocked to the Jaguars before a change in the wind this past week, he ends up going fifth after all.
A significant part of this haul for the Browns is the additional second-round pick they picked up this year and the first-rounder next year. Graham fills a significant need for a pass-rushing defensive tackle that Cleveland has been trying to fill with various Day 2 picks and prove-it deals to free agents. Graham doesn’t have elite measurables but he’s just reliably disruptive on film. He’s a quality football player, and the Browns need those as they try to rebuild the franchise.
6 – Las Vegas Raiders: Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty
Grade: A-
Everyone and their momma had Jeanty going to the Raiders for weeks until the annual wave of draft week chatter had some folks second-guessing. In fairness, it seemed like the Jaguars were going to take Jeanty and make the Raiders’ decision for them, but there are a ton of reasons the pick makes sense. New Raiders HC Pete Carroll is famous for his love of establishing the run and Las Vegas’ starting running back right now is probably 33-year-old Raheem Mostert. Sometimes it’s just simple.
It’s fair to question the value of using the No. 6 pick on a running back instead of a tackle or pass rusher. However, Jeanty is one of the best backs to enter the league in some time and nearly beat Barry Sanders‘ rushing record this past season. Given the renaissance the position made this past year, I’m not going to ding the Raiders too much.
7 – New York Jets: Missouri OT Armand Membou
Grade: A-
It was a 50-50 proposition between Membou and the Penn State tight end here. Both positions were significant needs for the Jets. It’s hard to fault them for sticking to the trenches, however. The current starting right tackle for the Jets would have been either Chukwuma Okorafor or Carter Warren. Membou gives the Jets an athletic, high-upside option to pair with last year’s first-round LT Olu Fashanu. There’s a great chance the Jets have solved their tackle spot for several years after a drought of poor offensive line play.
8 – Carolina Panthers: Arizona WR Tetairoa McMillan
Grade: A-
As someone who’s followed the Panthers for decades, I can tell you the team usually isn’t coy about their first-round pick. Nearly everyone was expecting Carolina to address the 32nd-ranked defense or to trade down. Instead, they get a playmaker for QB Bryce Young, who pulled his career off the mat late last season.
It’s a great move honestly. The Panthers will go as Young goes and setting him up to have the most success possible is the way forward. They addressed the defense in free agency and can circle back with the rest of their picks. McMillan is also a perfect fit for what Young excels at as a passer. He’s not fast but he’s an excellent jump ball threat and someone who can win on the perimeter. The back shoulder pass between Young and McMillan is going to be huge for Carolina going forward.
9 – New Orleans Saints: Texas OT Kelvin Banks
Grade: B+
As expected, the Saints spurn a quarterback and go for a meat-and-potatoes pick along the line of scrimmage. Banks should allow the Saints to push last year’s first-round OT Taliese Fuaga to his natural side on the right and give New Orleans bookend tackles. While Banks is a little shorter than average, he’s got good length, size and movement skills. He was the victim of some prospect fatigue this spring but the NFL never wavered on where he belonged. It’s not a flashy pick but this does represent some incremental progress for the Saints.
10 – Chicago Bears: Michigan TE Colston Loveland
Grade: B+
I preferred Loveland to Warren at tight end, even though the latter picked up more steam after a massive 2024 season and both are outstanding prospects. I think Loveland is a more refined receiver and a better blocker. For new Bears HC Ben Johnson, who thrives on creating mismatch opportunities with his personnel, Loveland can be a dynamic weapon for him to deploy alongside veteran TE Cole Kmet. There are so many options Loveland adds to the playbook with Johnson wanting to be a team that operates under center with the ability to go to 12 personnel (two tight end sets). I think that’s worth foregoing some of the defensive linemen on the board.
11 – San Francisco 49ers: Georgia DE Mykel Williams
Grade: B
San Francisco dipped into a deep group of defensive linemen, as expected, with their first selection. Williams didn’t stuff the stat sheet at Georgia but that’s a common problem given the system they run and how many NFL-caliber players they’re trying to find snaps for. He’s got the athletic traits teams covet, though perhaps not to the extent that was billed at points in his college career. The 49ers have been trying to lock down the other defensive end spot across from Nick Bosa for a while and Williams is a high-floor prospect who should be able to do that, even if he’s not necessarily the most explosive pass rusher available.
12 – Dallas Cowboys: Alabama G Tyler Booker
Grade: B-
It’s fair to say this is probably the first big “reach” of the draft. Per the consensus big board compiled by Arif Hasan, Booker was the No. 32 prospect. Most expected the Cowboys to address their need at receiver with this pick, especially with Texas WR Matthew Golden still on the board. But there was an undercurrent of buzz for an offensive lineman, and that’s where the Cowboys ultimately went with the pick, selecting a replacement for G Zack Martin.
I think it’s fair to say Golden would have been a better pick but I don’t hate the choice of Booker as much as I’m sure others do. For starters, guard is becoming a much more high value position than it has been in the past. Free agent guards have been cashing in the past couple of years and the league is putting a premium on quality offensive linemen, no matter where they play. He didn’t test well at the Combine but he landed in an offense that fits him well, so that’s a little less important. Booker is also a player evaluators rave about from an intangibles perspective.
There are parallels to draw with Dallas’ pick of C Travis Frederick in the first round several years ago. It was also lampooned as a reach at the time, but Dallas nailed a high-end reliable starter up front who helped them have an effective offensive line for years. If the same thing happens with Booker, this pick will be well worth it.
13 – Miami Dolphins: Michigan DT Kenneth Grant
Grade: C+
From a needs perspective, the Dolphins had just four defensive linemen on the roster, so they were a little boxed in here. Grant fills a sizable hole at nose tackle, and his size is likely one of the biggest reasons Miami was willing to take him 10 spots ahead of where the consensus big board had him ranked. Grant has freaky athleticism for his size, so there’s a chance there’s some pass-rushing upside he could unlock like Giants DT Dexter Lawrence. Lawrence is a unicorn, though, and that’s not necessarily a realistic expectation. Ideally the Dolphins would have gotten more juice with this pick but Grant should at least be a contributor.
14 – Indianapolis Colts: Penn State TE Tyler Warren
Grade: A-
In a dream for Colts fans, the player many saw as the top tight end in the draft and someone Indianapolis would have to trade up to get ended up falling right into the team’s laps at No. 14 overall. The Colts had a massive need at the position and were hoping for either Warren or Loveland. Both would have been excellent fits. Warren is the more physical option of the two and plays a little bit like a bull in a china shop. Penn State did everything from handing the ball off to him to lining him up at quarterback. Adding Warren to an offense that includes either Anthony Richardson or Daniel Jones at quarterback, Jonathan Taylor in the backfield, Michael Pittman Jr. at receiver and Quenton Nelson paving a path at guard creates the potential for a punishing, physical unit.
15 – Atlanta Falcons: Georgia LB Jalon Walker
Grade: B+
Walker was widely expected to be a top-ten pick, with a floor of No. 8 to the defense-needy Panthers who spent tons of time with him this spring. He was No. 11 on the consensus big board, but as often happens with tweeners, he slid a little bit. The Falcons will have to figure out the best place to play Walker. He’s on the small side for a full-time edge rusher and doesn’t necessarily have the coverage skills to play off-ball full-time.
That said, he’s just a good football player. He plays fast and violent, stuffing the stat sheet from a variety of alignments this past season. There isn’t a person who had a bad thing to say about his leadership and work ethic this past draft season. If he fails in the NFL, it’s going to be because he lands with a defensive coordinator who fails to maximize his talents. But there are examples of players with his build who have had success at either edge rusher or off-ball linebacker, including Commanders LB Frankie Luvu, Vikings OLB Andrew Van Ginkel and Eagles OLB Nolan Smith.
16 – Arizona Cardinals: Ole Miss DT Walter Nolen
Grade: A-
There was some buzz about Nolen as a potential top ten selection. The questions about him weren’t about his film, per most reports, as instead teams had questions about the off-field work their scouts collected from his past few years in college football. Landing with the right team will be important and it is fair to wonder if the Cardinals have the coaching staff and locker room to get the best out of Nolen. They’re a franchise that’s still looking to establish things under the new regime. But from a talent perspective and a fit on the field, Nolen is a great pick. The Cardinals need difference-makers in the front seven and Nolen has the potential to be that kind of player.
17 – Cincinnati Bengals: Texas A&M DE Shemar Stewart
Grade: B
Stewart was one of the players with a lot of volatility in where he was projected to land in the first round. He generated polarizing opinions for a lot of teams and evaluators, as he was one of the most athletic prospects we’ve seen at the position, but was remarkably unproductive. He never had more than 1.5 sacks in any of his three seasons. There are some reasons for that — the college game is dramatically different and offers fewer true pass rush opportunities — but 4.5 sacks in three seasons is still shockingly low. There are plenty of examples of athleticism outweighing production when forecasting pass rushers transitioning to the NFL, however, so there are a lot of reasons for Bengals fans to be optimistic about this pick. It just might take some time.
18 – Seattle Seahawks: North Dakota State OL Grey Zabel
Grade: B+
Seattle got offers to trade out but elected to sit tight and address a glaring need on the interior offensive line. Seahawks GM John Schneider has said in the past he thinks interior offensive linemen often get overvalued, but with the way this class and the board shook out, Zabel made a ton of sense. He played left tackle in college for the Bison and can play all five spots up front, but will likely take over somewhere on the interior for the Seahawks. He’s an excellent fit for new OC Klint Kubiak‘s system, has good reviews for his toughness and fills a big need. Hard to ding this pick too much.
19 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Ohio State WR Emeka Egbuka
Grade: B
The expectation was that the Bucs would most likely look to reinforce a leaky defense with this pick but HC Todd Bowles and GM Jason Licht cautioned in March that an offensive player wasn’t off the table. Egbuka makes for a crowded receiving corps in the short term, joining Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and 2024 third-rounder Jalen McMillan. Evans is in a contract year and is 31 years old. Godwin is 29 and coming off a major ankle injury, though Tampa Bay still just signed him to a huge three-year extension this offseason. So there are some long-term concerns at the position that Egbuka helps allay. Still, a fourth receiver with bigger needs elsewhere is bordering on overkill a bit.
20 – Denver Broncos: Texas CB Jahdae Barron
Grade: C
This is the first pick of the round that I simply don’t get. Cornerback would have been near the bottom of the list of needs for the Broncos if I were ranking them, with Patrick Surtain II obviously the headliner and a solid rest of the room with Riley Moss and Ja’Quan McMillian. Barron is a solid prospect and probably is an upgrade over either player depending on whether he slots into the nickel or can hold up outside. But the Broncos skipped over some other quality prospects at positions of greater need, and also appeared to turn down an offer to trade down.
21 – Pittsburgh Steelers: Oregon DT Derrick Harmon
Grade: B
This was the spot everyone was eyeing for Sanders as it became increasingly clear he was going to slide out of the top ten picks. His slide continued even further as Pittsburgh opted to address its need at defensive tackle with Harmon. The versatile Harmon is a perfect fit for the Steelers and can play all across their defensive front, so in that sense, it’s a quality pick.
But when you pass on a quarterback, particularly with the Steelers’ current uncertainty at the position, it changes the conversation. Given what we know about Sanders’ slide, it’s fair to say picking him would have been a reach. Yet if Sanders pans out as even an average starting quarterback, Harmon has to be a perennial Pro Bowler to be more valuable. Obviously the floor for Sanders could be a lot lower but it’s worth wondering if the Steelers will regret this in a year or longer.
22 – Los Angeles Chargers: North Carolina RB Omarion Hampton
Grade: B+
Hampton is an excellent fit for a smashmouth Chargers offense that at times felt like it lacked explosiveness last year. The former Tar Heel has punishing size but proved at the Combine he has game-breaking speed to rip off long runs. He’s not just a two-down back, either, as while he’s not the most developed pass catcher, he’s competent in that area. Chargers OC Greg Roman doesn’t really throw to his backs anyway, so it’s moot.
23 – Green Bay Packers: Texas WR Matthew Golden
Grade: A-
One of the coolest moments of the draft broadcast was Green Bay breaking a 23-year drought of taking a receiver in the first round to take Golden, who was in attendance at the event in Titletown. It’s safe to say Golden is instantly a fan favorite. He’s also a pretty good prospect who fills a need for the Packers. Golden was getting buzz from scouts for technical skills like route running and tracking the ball before he went out and blazed a 4.29-second 40-yard dash, proving he has elite playmaking speed as well. The Packers not only needed a potential No. 1 option, they needed a player who could threaten defenses deep. Golden is a perfect fit.
24 – Minnesota Vikings: Ohio State OL Donovan Jackson
Grade: B+
Judging by the consensus big board, this is a reach as Jackson came in at No. 36. However, I think it’s fair to say consensus underestimated all of the interior linemen in this class. The top three are all clean projections who are tough, high-floor football players, Jackson included. He should be able to slot right in at left guard for the Vikings as they continue the revamp of an offensive line that was already pretty solid for most of last season. Jackson was particularly impressive filling in at left tackle for the national champion Buckeyes and that’s a nice little back pocket ability for Minnesota to have in case of emergency.
25 – TRADE, New York Giants (HOU): Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart
After passing on a quarterback at No. 3 overall, the Giants moved up to snag a signal caller — just not the one a lot of people thought. It turns out the reports about Daboll having a preference for Dart over Sanders and the other options were true, as New York made the Ole Miss passer the second quarterback off the board.
The trade has the usual quarterback premium attached to it but per the Jimmy Johnson chart the Giants are only surrendering a late third-rounder in value, which isn’t bad considering. They still have their original third-rounder to work with at No. 65 overall.
Giants get
- No. 25
Texans get
- 2nd (No. 34)
- 3rd (No. 99)
- 2026 3rd
Daboll made sure to emphasize after the pick that Dart would not be expected to start immediately, with Russell Wilson ahead of him and potentially even veteran QB Jameis Winston. The goal seems to be to let Dart learn behind the scenes and not rush him into action. Depending on how things go for the Giants, there’s a strong chance he sees the field at some point though. It’s not a stretch to say that his performance behind the scenes and on the field might save Daboll and Schoen’s jobs or be the final nail in the coffin.
26 – TRADE, Atlanta Falcons (LAR): Tennessee DE James Pearce
Grade: C
The Falcons made one of the biggest splashes in the first round, giving up a first-round pick next year to get back into the first round to land Pearce. The full trade details:
Falcons get
- No. 26
- 3rd (No. 101)
Rams get
- 2nd (No. 46)
- 7th (No. 242)
- 2026 1st
Getting the 101st pick back from Los Angeles saves this from being a total bloodbath for the Falcons but they’re still giving up a first or second in value, depending on which trade chart you subscribe to. They needed a pass rusher and Pearce is a more projectable fit as a true edge than Walker, but this is a steep price to pay. It’s also worth noting that the reason Pearce was available this late is serious character concerns. From a production, traits and tape perspective, Pearce is probably closer to a top 15 prospect. So there is some real upside to this pick for Atlanta but they’re accentuating what would already be a risky pick by giving up a pick in what might be a better overall class next year.
In a way, it’s a lot like their decision last year to double down with signing QB Kirk Cousins for $100 million guaranteed in free agency, then spend the No. 8 pick on QB Michael Penix Jr. While they improved their chances of landing a quality starter at the most important position in the sport, they also simultaneously handicapped any surplus value they would get from either move panning out.
Once again, the Falcons are behaving like they’re smarter than the other 31 teams. Time will tell if they’re right. Odds are they’re not.
27 – Baltimore Ravens: Georgia S Malaki Starks
Grade: B
The Ravens are masters at sitting tight and letting the board come to them. Inevitably, a promising player usually falls, one who they have a clearer vision for than other teams, and they pounce. Starks isn’t as good as S Kyle Hamilton, who also was available for Baltimore a lot later than people thought. But he’s been overthought in some similar ways. He’s a solid player who fits a big need for the Ravens on the back end of their defense. The one qualm I have is the Ravens passed on players at other higher value spots at outside linebacker, corner and offensive tackle where they also arguably have needs.
28 – Detroit Lions: Ohio State DT Tyleik Williams
Grade: B
Once again, the Lions reached against consensus to get a player they deemed a fit for their culture and defense. Williams came in at No. 41 on the consensus board, the lowest-rated player outside of Dart to be selected in the first round. At this stage in the draft, though, that’s not an unreasonable reach by Detroit. Williams is similar in a lot of ways to current Lions DT Alim McNeill as a big-bodied tackle who’s a pain in the run game and better than most run stuffers when it comes to rushing the passer.
29 – Washington Commanders: Oregon OT Josh Conerly
Grade: B
Washington continues to pour resources into the protection for QB Jayden Daniels, adding a first-round tackle after this offseason’s blockbuster trade for LT Laremy Tunsil. Conerly is probably going to play on the right side, with the potential to kick over to the left once Tunsil’s time in Washington is done. He’s incredibly athletic for a tackle and a promising pass protector but he needs time in the NFL to get stronger and improve his technique. There could be some growing pains. There’s a ton of upside, however.
30 – Buffalo Bills: Kentucky CB Maxwell Hairston
Grade: B-
The Bills needed a cornerback and there were plenty of options available. Michigan CB Will Johnson slid due to medical concerns after being the consensus top corner for most of the spring. East Carolina CB Shavon Revel and Ole Miss CB Trey Amos were other options bandied around in this range. Buffalo elected for the speedy Hairston who ran the fastest 40 at the Combine this year at 4.28 seconds. They also passed on some pass rushers, including Marshall DE Mike Green and Boston College DE Donovan Ezeiruaku. Green also had serious red flags and slid out of the first round, so it’s hard to blame the Bills too much for passing, but Ezeiruaku was squeaky clean.
31 – TRADE, Philadelphia Eagles (KC): Alabama LB Jihaad Campbell
Grade: B
The reigning champions have a great roster and a little bit of room to get frisky, so Eagles GM Howie Roseman gave up a fifth to move up one spot and ensure he got his guy. Philadelphia famously has not dedicated major draft capital or free agent dollars to linebackers under Roseman historically, but the same thing was said about running backs last year. He continued breaking the trend by inking LB Zack Baun to a big deal after an All Pro season, and now has doubled down on the linebacker position with a first-round pick on Campbell.
I’m a proponent of what good linebacker play can do for a defense but it is a tough position to transition from college because the requirements for linebackers in the NFL are so different. Campbell was the clear top player at the position this year but slipped due to injury concerns. He might be a candidate for the PUP list to start the season due to surgery to repair a torn labrum. This pick is more of a gamble than it might appear at first glance.
32 – TRADE, Kansas City Chiefs (PHI): Ohio State LT Josh Simmons
Grade: A
The common refrain around Simmons this spring has been that if he hadn’t torn his patellar tendon in the fall, he would have made a run at being the top tackle in this class and probably a top-five pick. There are some demeanor questions he’s had to answer in interviews with teams as well as injury concerns (a torn patellar is a gnarly injury that’s harder to rehab than a torn ACL), but the value for the Chiefs at the end of the first round is outstanding. Simmons can redshirt if necessary after Kansas City’s other moves this offseason, then potentially lock down either tackle spot for the foreseeable future when he’s healthy.
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