The 2025 NFL Draft set the stage for many NFL teams to spark a dramatic turnaround over the next few seasons. Early in the first round of the draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars made a bold move to trade up and select Heisman trophy winner Travis Hunter with hopes of Hunter becoming a two-way star for the Jaguars. Hunter didn’t finish the season, but the Jaguars did have a big turnaround sparked by early-season success with Hunter and quarterback Trevor Lawrence. Another big winner in the first round of the 2025 draft was the New York Giants, which picked up two foundational players in edge rusher Abdul Carter and their quarterback of the future, Jaxson Dart. Of course, not every first-round pick was an instant hit for their team, and as teams prepare for the 2026 NFL Draft, it is important to look back at each team’s recent draft decisions.
#32 OT Josh Simmons = A-
During his rookie season, Chiefs offensive tackle Josh Simmons demonstrated the ability to be a high-upside pass protector. However, Simmons’s rookie season did not come without challenges, and to truly evaluate his value as a first-round draft pick, it is important to examine three phases of his rookie season. Simmons started the first five games of the Chiefs’ 2025 season and demonstrated elite footwork and athleticism, enabling him to handle NFL speed rushers effectively. On the other hand, Simmons missed Week 6 to Week 9 due to a private family matter, and when he returned in Week 11, he immediately had to face the Denver Broncos outstanding pass rush. In Week 13, Simmons season ended with a wrist injury that landed him on the injured reserve list for the rest of the season.
#31 LB Jihaad Campbell = B+
During his rookie season in 2025, linebacker Jihaad Campbell proved he was worth the Philadelphia Eagles’ spending a first-round pick to add another component to their defense. Heading into the season, Campbell found himself in an intense competition for playing time with a loaded linebacker room. However, Campbell worked his way onto Vic Fangio’s defense and played in 17 games for the Eagles, finishing 4th on the team in total tackles. Philadelphia used Campbell as a utility player, sometimes as an edge rusher and other times as a traditional off-the-ball linebacker. Before the draft, Campbell had a great reputation as an outstanding pass coverage player. Still, during the 2025 season, Campbell showed that he is also an effective player against opposing rushing attacks.
#30 CB Maxwell Hairston = B
When the Buffalo Bills selected cornerback Maxwell Hairston, Hairston was expected to be a Day 1 starter for the Bills’ defense. However, during training camp, Hairston sprained his LCL after tripping in practice. That injury kept Hairston out for the Bills’ pre-season games and the first 7 weeks of the 2025 NFL season. On the other hand, in Week 8, Hairston was ready to make his debut, and he did it against the Carolina Panthers. But during week 9, Hairston had to face Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy, and Hairston held his own against Worthy and intercepted his first pass in his NFL career. In Week 10, Hairston showed his resiliency by responding to giving up a touchdown to Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle by intercepting a pass intended for Waddle later in the game. Hairston’s season ended early due to an ankle injury in Week 18.
#29 OT Josh Conerly Jr. = B
Offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr. ended up being a high-value draft pick for the Washington Commanders, with Conerly playing in all 17 games for the Commanders at right tackle. Early in the season, Conerly experienced a trial-by-fire as he struggled to consistently block elite pass rushers like Brian Burns and Micah Parsons. However, in each season, Conerly showed significant improvement and ultimately surrendered only 8 quarterback sacks and 43 total pressures. Conerly ended up playing 100% of the Commanders offensive snaps, and while he did get called for 13 penalties, he developed into a solid right tackle for the Commanders offense.
#28 DT Tyleik Williams = B+
Defensive tackle Tyleik Williams had a modest season for the Detroit Lions statistically in 2025. However, he consistently contributed as a rotational defensive lineman for Detroit’s defense, recording 18 total tackles and 1.0 quarterback sack. During the season, Williams demonstrated the ability to be disruptive at the point of attack and to anchor down against double teams. In addition, Williams had active hands and consistently used his bull rush to collapse the pocket on opposing quarterbacks. Williams stood out as a stout run defender, and he showed flashes of interior pass-rush moves.
#27 Safety Malaki Starks = A
Safety Malaki Starks stepped into a Day 1 starting role for the Baltimore Ravens defense during the 2025 season. As a rookie, Starks played in 15 out of 17 games for the Ravens, and he stood out as a high-volume playmaker for the Ravens’ defense. Starks played 94% of the Ravens defensive snaps, and he recorded 84 total tackles, 2 interceptions, and 4 pass breakups. Early in the season, Starks had a baptism-by-fire as he struggled to keep up with the elite speed of NFL receivers. However, Starks improved as the season went on, and he recorded his first NFL interception in Week 9 over the Miami Dolphins. While Starks struggled with consistency in pass coverage, he was an elite run support player, excelling at coming downhill to attack opponents’ rushing attacks and rarely missing a tackle.
#26 Edge James Pearce Jr. = A-
During the 2025 NFL Draft, the Atlanta Falcons took a chance and traded up to pick former University of Tennessee edge rusher James Pearce Jr. late in the first round. Pearce gave the Falcons a good return on their gamble by playing in all 17 games for the Falcons this season. During the 2025 season, Pearce recorded 26 total tackles, 10.5 quarterback sacks, 16 quarterback hits, 5 pass deflections, and 1 fumble recovery that Pearce returned for 27 yards. By the end of the season, Pearce led all 2025 rookies in quarterback sacks and ranked 13th overall in the NFL in quarterback sacks. After an outstanding 2025 season, Pearce is expected to be a centerpiece for Atlanta’s pass rush.
#25 QB Jaxson Dart = B+
Quarterback Jaxson Dart’s performance during the 2025 season gave New York Giants fans a ray of hope that the Giants have a chance to return to contender status in the future. During the season, Dart played in 14 games for the Giants and started 12 of those games. While playing for the Giants, Dart completed 63.7% of his passes for 2,272 passing yards with 15 touchdowns and only 5 interceptions. In addition, Dart established himself as a dual-threat quarterback by running the ball for 487 yards and 9 rushing touchdowns. Dart’s breakout campaign earned him a finalist spot for the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award. However, Dart’s season was shortened by concussions, but he was effective at cementing himself as the future franchise quarterback for the Giants.
#24 Interior OL Donovan Jackson = B
Offensive guard Donovan Jackson was a successful first-round draft pick for the Minnesota Vikings during the 2025 NFL draft. During the 2025 season, Jackson played in 14 games for the Vikings as a Day 1 starter for the Minnesota offensive line. Jackson excelled at pass protection and was ranked 25th among all starting guards in the NFL during his rookie season. However, Jackson struggled to produce at that same level as a run blocker for the Minnesota offense. On the other hand, Jackson did a great job of avoiding penalties against his offense, keeping his penalty count low in 2025.
#23 WR Matthew Golden = B
Wide receiver Matthew Golden was the first receiver drafted in the first round of the NFL draft by the Green Bay Packers since 2002. Adding Golden to the Packers’ offense paid off, with Golden playing in 14 games and catching 29 passes for 361 yards. Despite his demonstrated ability to be an effective wide receiver in the NFL, Golden did not score a touchdown during the regular season. Golden’s speed made him an outstanding vertical threat for the Packers, and while he was targeted only 40 times, he dropped only one pass during the 2025 season. In addition, during the playoffs against the Chicago Bears, Golden caught 4 passes for 84 yards and scored his first NFL touchdown.
#22 RB Omarion Hampton = B-
During the 2025 NFL season, Los Angeles Chargers running back Omarion Hampton saw his productivity stunted by injuries. However, during the nine games that Hampton played in 2025, he performed at a high level and was an efficient back for the Chargers’ offense. In the handful of games that Hampton was completely healthy, he showed the ability to become a workhorse running back for the Chargers. In addition, Hampton also became an effective weapon in the Chargers’ passing game, catching 32 out of 35 passes thrown his way. While injuries limited Hampton’s 2025 production, he has the potential to be an effective playmaker for the Chargers over the next few seasons.
#21 DT Derrick Harmon = B
Defensive tackle Derrick Harmon made an immediate impact for the Pittsburgh Steelers defensive line. However, due to an MCL sprain, Harmon did not make his NFL debut until Week 3 against the New England Patriots. In his first game, Harmon recorded his first career quarterback sack against New England quarterback Drake Maye. Harmon made an impact with his heavy hands and his ability to shoot gaps, disrupting the running games of the Steelers’ opponents. After playing in 12 games for Pittsburgh, Harmon had 22 total tackles, 2.0 quarterback sacks, 22 quarterback pressures, 1 pass deflection, and 1 fumble recovery.
#20 CB Jahdae Barron = A-
Cornerback Jahdae Barron made an immediate impact for the Denver Broncos defense, recording a tackle and a fumble recovery that helped the Broncos pick up a Week 1 win against the Tennessee Titans. Barron primarily contributed to the Broncos’ defense as a depth player who often stepped into a Dime slot cornerback role behind veteran slot cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian. In Week 8 of the regular season, Barron intercepted his first pass as an NFL player against the Dallas Cowboys. In addition to his contributions on the defensive side of the ball, he was also a regular contributor on special teams for the Broncos.
#19 WR Emeka Egbuka = B+
Wide receiver Emeka Egbuka quickly became a focal point for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ passing offense during the 2025 season. Egbuka started all 17 regular-season games for Tampa Bay, and he caught 63 passes while being targeted 127 times. During his rookie season, Egbuka nearly posted a 1,000-yard season with 6 touchdowns, averaging 14.9 yards/reception. Two of Egbuka’s touchdown passes came in Week 1 against the Atlanta Falcons. The best week of Egbuka’s 2025 season was his 7 receptions for a career-high 163 yards and a touchdown against the eventual Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks.
#18 OT Grey Zabel = B
While being drafted out of North Dakota State as an offensive tackle, Grey Zabel started every game for the Seattle Seahawks at left guard. Zabel thrived in Klint Kubiak’s running game and ended the season at the top of the metrics to measure run blocking success for interior offensive linemen. During the season, Zabel stood out for his explosive strikes and tenacity, thanks to his habit of blocking to the whistle on every play. During the 2025 season, Zabel developed a reputation as tough and reliable, making him exceedingly valuable to NFL offensive linemen.
#17 Edge Shemar Stewart = C
Edge rusher Shemar Stewart had a rough transition to the NFL, starting with an extended contract dispute with the Cincinnati Bengals’ front office. That contract dispute forced Shemar Stewart to miss valuable time in training camp, and that led to Stewart spending time during the season on the injured list. When the Bengals drafted Stewart, they had high expectations for the edge rusher from Texas A&M. In reality, the Bengals used Stewart as a chess-piece player, moving him around to different edge and interior positions on their defensive line. Ultimately, by the end of the 2025 season, Stewart had recorded 11 total tackles, 1.0 quarterback sack, and 1 pass deflection. Due to a knee injury, Stewart was on the injured reserve list from Week 10 until Week 16, and in Week 17, he recorded his first career quarterback sack in the NFL.
#16 DT Walter Nolen = C+
Defensive tackle Walter Nolen was another defensive lineman who entered the NFL with high expectations, but injuries limited his impact for the Arizona Cardinals. A pre-training camp calf injury forced Nolen to miss the entire pre-season and the first seven games of the 2025 season. Nolen made his NFL debut in Week 9 against the Dallas Cowboys, and he recorded 4 total tackles, 2 tackles for loss, and a quarterback sack. However, Nolen would have a short run during his rookie season after sustaining a knee injury against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 16. By the end of the 2025 season, Nolen had played in 6 games and posted 11 total tackles, 2.0 quarterback sacks, 2.5 tackles for loss, 1 pass deflection, and 1 fumble recovery.
#15 Edge Jalon Walker = C+
Edge rusher Jalon Walker established himself as a hybrid linebacker while playing at the University of Georgia. However, during the 2025 season, the Atlanta Falcons primarily played Walker at the edge rusher position to give him time to master it. In the 14 games that Walker played in, he recorded 36 total tackles, 5.5 quarterback sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and 1 fumble recovery. Walker ranked 5th among edge rushers in the NFL with a get-off time of .88 seconds, and he led all rookie edge rushers with a 42.9% sack-conversion rate. In October, Walker missed two games due to a groin injury, and in December, his production was slowed by a quad injury.
#14 TE Tyler Warren = A+
Tight end Tyler Warren made an immediate impact in the Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen’s offense. Warren caught 76 passes for 817 receiving yards and 4 touchdown receptions, which was a franchise record for a rookie tight end. In addition, Warren ran the ball 6 times for 8 yards and a rushing touchdown, and at one point in the season, Warren was designated as the Colts’ backup quarterback after Daniel Jones suffered an injury. During his rookie season, Warren played in all 17 games for the Colts and showed his versatility as an in-line tight end, a slot receiver, a fullback, and at quarterback in the Colts’ wildcat formation.
#13 DT Kenneth Grant = C+
Defensive tackle Kenneth Grant entered Miami Dolphins training camp in pro-level physical shape, but he still had a tough transition in the NFL from a fundamental standpoint. During the 2025 season, Grant struggled to stay low at the line of scrimmage and had difficulty playing with effective leverage against blockers. However, in Week 7, Grant had a breakout game against the Cleveland Browns, recording 5 tackles. For most of the season, the Dolphins used Grant as a 3-technique on their defensive line, but they also moved him around to play nose guard and defensive end. By the end of the season, Grant had 33 total tackles, 2.0 quarterback sacks, 2 tackles for loss, and 1 pass deflection while playing 554 snaps during the season.
#12 Interior OL Tyler Booker = B-
Offensive guard Tyler Booker immediately made an impact on the Dallas Cowboys’ offensive line during the 2025 season. Booker played in 14 games for the Cowboys, and he excelled as a run blocker, helping Dallas reestablish itself as a physical team with a strong running game. However, as a pass blocker, Booker struggled at times to protect Dak Prescott against the speed rushers in the NFL. Part of his transition into the NFL was moving from left guard in college to a right guard position for the Cowboys. By the end of the season, Booker had only allowed 3 quarterback sacks, 25 quarterback pressures, and was only called for 7 penalties.
#11 Edge Mykel Williams = B+
Edge rusher Mykel Williams had a strong start to the 2025 season, starting the first 9 games of the season as an edge rusher opposite Nick Bosa. At the same time, it took Williams until October to record his first quarterback sack in the NFL. However, Williams was impressive with his elite athleticism and explosive first step. On the other hand, Williams struggled to use his hands consistently to defeat blocks against offensive tackles in the NFL. In addition to playing as an edge rusher, the 49ers also moved Williams around as a 3-technique and nose guard to utilize his athleticism against less athletic blockers. While Williams had his rookie season cut short after he tore his ACL in Week 9, he spent the rest of the season on the injured reserve list, but he still finished the season with 20 total tackles, 1.0 quarterback sack, and 19 quarterback pressures.
#10 Tight End Colston Loveland = B
Tight end Colston Loveland made an immediate impact playing within the Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson’s offense. During the season, Loveland became a featured target for quarterback Caleb Williams, helping the Bears return to the playoffs and win a playoff game. Loveland was targeted 82 times, but ended up catching 58 passes for 713 yards along with 6 touchdown receptions. Historically, Loveland was the Bears’ best draft pick at a receiving position since 1983, and had the best rookie season for a tight end since Mike Ditka in 1961. Against the Packers in the first round of the playoffs, Loveland caught 8 passes for 137 yards, and over the course of two playoff games, he had 193 receiving yards, which was the most for a rookie tight end in the playoffs since 1960.
#9 OT Kelvin Banks Jr. = A-
Offensive tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. was a big-time success for the New Orleans Saints, and he was able to immediately step in and start at left tackle for the Saints. That allowed New Orleans to move Taliese Fulago to the right tackle position, which provided a significant upgrade for the Saints’ offensive line. Banks excelled at pass protection during limited reps in the pre-season, but he had a more difficult transition during the regular season. However, Banks started at 17 games for the Saints and allowed only 5 quarterback sacks and 46 quarterback pressures, and was called for only 11 penalties while playing 1,066 snaps.
#8 WR Tetairoa McMillan = A
Wide receiver Tetairoa McMillen was a home-run draft pick for the Carolina Panthers, and he quickly established himself as the Panthers top receiving threat for the 2025 season. McMillen led the Panthers in every receiving category with 70 receptions, 1,014 receiving yards, and 7 touchdowns, and he posted two 100-yard receiving games. As a result of his consistent production during his rookie season, McMillen was selected as the AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. In addition to his regular-season success, McMillen also had 81 receiving yards in the Panthers playoff loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
#7 OT Armand Membou = B
Offensive tackle Armand Membou stepped in as a Day 1 starter for the New York Jets at right tackle as a book-end to Olu Fashanu. Membou played in all 17 games for the New York Jets and totaled 1,045 snaps on offense. During the season, Membou allowed 8 quarterback sacks, 33 quarterback pressures, and was only called for 11 penalties. During the NFL combine, Membou had demonstrated elite, even freakish, athleticism, and during the season, Membou continued to be impressive as a run blocker. Jets head coach Aaron Glenn complimented Membou during the season, stating that the young offensive tackle’s mentality as a mean, tough, and nasty blocker matched Glenn’s desired identity for the Jets’ new physical offensive approach.
#6 RB Ashton Jeanty = A-
Running back Ashton Jeanty stepped in and immediately became a focal point for a struggling Las Vegas Raiders offense. While playing most of the Raiders’ offensive snaps during the 2025 season, Jeany carried the ball 266 times, ranking 7th among NFL running backs. Despite carrying a heavy workload for the Raiders, Jeanty gained 975 rushing yards and scored 5 rushing touchdowns, along with 55 receptions for 346 receiving yards with 5 additional receiving touchdowns. During the season, Jeanty had to display his resilience amid a leaky offensive line that regularly had him behind the line of scrimmage. Yet, he produced 556 rushing yards after contact and forced 61 missed tackles.
#5 DT Mason Graham = B+
Defensive tackle Mason Graham was a successful first-round draft pick for the Cleveland Browns due to Graham’s ability to step right in and start 17 games for the Browns’ defensive line. In addition, Graham led all rookie defensive tackles with 49 total tackles, and he led all rookie defensive tackles in total snaps played. Graham demonstrated the ability to shimmy through trash and disrupt run plays at the point of attack. While Graham posted modest quarterback sack numbers, he finished second on the team in quarterback pressures behind the Browns’ edge rushers, including Myles Garrett. Ultimately, Graham had .5 quarterback sacks, but he finished tied 6th for tackles for loss among all NFL rookies with 7 TFLs.
#4 OT Will Campbell = A
Offensive tackle Will Campbell was a critical piece of the New England Patriots’ offensive line, which helped lead the team’s resurgence that took the team to Super Bowl LX. Campbell stepped in as a Day 1 starter in 2025 to protect the blind side of quarterback Drake Maye during Maye’s breakout season. During the first half of the season, Campbell was impressive with his elite footwork and balance, which enabled him to excel at pass protection against the NFL’s best pass rushers. However, in Week 12, Campbell suffered a Grade 3 MCL sprain, and from that point in the season, he struggled as NFL defenses began to direct their pass-rush schemes toward him. Consequently, Campbell missed four games due to the injury. Still, he was activated for the final week of the regular season and played left tackle for the Patriots during their postseason run to the Super Bowl.
#3 Edge Abdul Carter = B+
Abdul Carter had an unusual transition from playing a traditional off-the-ball linebacker position in college to becoming a full-time edge rusher for the New York Giants defense. Carter was a Day 1 starter for the Giants, and while he played in all 17 games for New York, he only produced 4.0 quarterback sacks. However, Carter was credited with 66 quarterback pressures, but after recording 0.5 sacks in his first NFL game, he didn’t get another sack for 11 consecutive games. However, Carter had a late-season surge, recording 3.5 quarterback sacks over the Giants’ final four games of the 2025 season. In addition to failing to produce elite quarterback sack numbers during his rookie season, he also faced disciplinary issues late in the season.
#2 CB/WR Travis Hunter = A+
The Jacksonville Jaguars made the boldest move of the 2025 NFL draft by trading up to the second overall pick in the draft to select wide receiver/defensive back Travis Hunter. Jacksonville drafted Hunter with the intentions of using him as a rare two-way starter in the NFL. During the season, the Jaguars utilized Hunter on both sides of the ball, and he was a productive player on offense and defense. As a receiver, Hunter caught 28 passes for 298 yards and scored 1 receiving touchdown. On the defensive side of the ball, Hunter produced 15 total tackles and broke up 3 passes. However, Hunter’s rookie season was cut short by an LCL tear that required surgery. During the portion of the season Hunter did play, he appeared on both sides of the ball for 7 games.
#1 QB Cam Ward = A-
Quarterback Cam Ward immediately stepped in as the starting quarterback for the Tennessee Titans, and he played in all 17 games for Tennessee despite playing behind a struggling offensive line. Ward led all rookies in pass attempts during the 2025 season, completing 59.8% of his passes for 3,169 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions. In addition, Ward ran the ball for 159 yards and scored 2 rushing touchdowns. Despite his success in a difficult situation, Ward was sacked 58 times and fumbled the ball 11 times during the season. Consequently, while under fire all season, Ward still grew as a quarterback playing from the pocket.
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