Winners and losers from Round 1 of the NFL Draft

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By Christopher Price

FOXBOROUGH — It was a wild first night of the 2025 NFL Draft. From the surprise trade that left Travis Hunter with the Jaguars, to Shedeur Sanders’s tumble down the draft boards, it was a fascinating evening. Here are our picks for the winners and losers from the first round.

Jacksonville: It gets the Heisman Trophy winner, a unique talent who can play on both sides of the ball. The Jaguars are giving up an awful lot, including their first-round pick next season, but they get a ton of credit for taking a gamble and dealing up for someone like Travis Hunter. The two-way star is an electric player and a face of the franchise who makes Jacksonville relevant on the NFL landscape. (The Jaguars also got picks 104 and 200.)

Cleveland: (Both things can be true!) The Browns traded down, got a bunch of picks — 5, 36, and 126, as well as Jacksonville’s 2026 first-rounder — and added the best defensive tackle in the draft in Michigan’s Mason Graham. The Jaguars should be better in 2026, but getting that 2026 first-rounder back from Jacksonville could be a really nice lottery ticket for Kevin Stefanski and the Browns.

Matthew Golden: For the first time since 2002, the Packers drafted a wide receiver in the first round. The Green Bay crowd just about lost its collective mind when Golden stepped to the mic to fire up the crowd. Great move by the rookie receiver to endear himself to the home fans.

New York Giants: The Giants land in our winners bracket simply for not mucking things up, to be honest. (It’s a low bar, I know, but we’re talking about the Giants here.) They stick at No. 3 and got the most impactful defensive player in the draft in Abdul Carter, adding to a good pass rush. And they traded back into the late stages of the first round to get a quarterback in Jaxson Dart. I’ll say this: They’ll have the most unintentionally hilarious quarterback room in the history of the game with Jameis Winston, Russell Wilson, Tommy “Cutlets” DeVito, and Dart. (“Hard Knocks” with the Giants this summer would be must-see TV.)

Philadelphia: Jihaad Campbell was a legit mid-first rounder before a shoulder issue, but the Eagles got an absolute steal in him at No. 31. Philadelphia adds another sensational defensive piece for the front seven. There’s a lot of Dont’a Hightower in Campbell’s game. If he’s healthy, he’s another terrifying presence for the Super Bowl champs’ defensive front.

Shedeur Sanders: The Colorado quarterback, who had been mocked as high as No. 3 to the Giants, spent the night tumbling down the draft board clear out of the first round. (It looked briefly like he might have ended up in New York after the Giants traded back into the back end of the first round, but they ended up going after Dart.) It’ll be fascinating to see where Sanders ends up, and how he responds this season.

Mel Kiper Jr.: Kiper spent most of the pre-draft process stumping loudly for Sanders as his No. 1 quarterback. On Thursday, as Sanders continued his free fall, Kiper pulled out the name of every great signal-caller who didn’t hear their name called in the first round over the course of his career. Kiper gets credit for sticking to his guns, but needless to say, the night didn’t end up the way he might have hoped.

Atlanta: This one needs a little nuance. The Falcons get credit for adding two terrific defensive pieces in James Pearce and Jalon Walker … but the cost for a relatively small trade for a guy like Pearce was massive. Atlanta gave away a first-round pick to the Rams next year. With the amount of uncertainty at the quarterback position for the Falcons, that selection could be a top-10 pick.

Roger Goodell: The commissioner’s ability to find and utilize human shields in the wake of an expected withering crowd reaction remains unparalleled. He hauled a collection of Green Bay legends (and Packers superfan Lil Wayne) on stage with him at the start of the night, which tempered some of the booing. (Some A-plus trolling on the part of former Green Bay legend Clay Matthews also helped.) But the Wisconsin crowd relished the chance to let him hear it.

Tyler Warren: The Penn State product was thought to be a lock as the first tight end off the board — Warren was ticketed to the Bears in just about every mock out there — but he was bumped down the board a few spots by Michigan’s Colston Loveland, who was scooped up by Indianapolis.

Offensive tackle Josh Simmons is a perfect pick at No. 32 for the Chiefs, who are in real need of some help at the tackle position. (Old friend Joe Thuney was abused in the Super Bowl playing out of position.) If Simmons checks out medically, he should step in and contribute relatively quickly for the Kansas City offense. — Christopher Price

The Eagles got an absolute steal in Jihaad Campbell. The Alabama linebacker, a legit mid-first round prospect, ended up tumbling all the way toward the end of the night, where Howie Roseman picked him up after making a deal with the Chiefs for the No. 31 choice. Philadelphia gets another sensational defensive piece for the front seven. — Christopher Price

The Bills take cornerback Max Hairston, continuing a very surprising slide for Ohio State’s Will Johnson, considered by many before the draft as the best corner (outside of Travis Hunter) in the class. Reports have surfaced that teams are concerned about a knee issue for Johnson, who may fall out of the first round entirely. — Christopher Price

Offensive tackle Josh Conerly goes to Washington. He was one of the non-Campbell types who I thought might appeal to the Patriots if New England decided to look elsewhere. (Or if the Patriots were going to double dip on offensive lineman at the start of the second round.)

Steady presence when it comes to run and pass blocking. Good technique player who is still a little raw. Going to be interesting to watch his development. — Christopher Price

I would have loved for the Patriots to get someone like Tyleik Williams, at least until New England landed Milton Williams in free agency. Big, disruptive defensive tackle out of Ohio State. Would have been easy to connect him to the Patriots. But he ends up in Detroit. — Christopher Price

The Ravens beef up the back end of their defense with Malaki Starks at No. 27, solidifying a very strong safety duo alongside Kyle Hamilton in Baltimore. Starks was a do-it-all safety at Georgia and his versatility should translate nicely in a solid Ravens secondary. — Amin Touri

The Falcons land James Pearce (Tennessee) after the trade up to No. 26. Atlanta’s defensive front now includes Pearce and Jalon Walker. Really good night for the Falcons’ defense. — Christopher Price

The thinking was that New York was trading back into the late stages of the first round to get Shedeur Sanders, but the Giants surprised everyone by opting instead for Jaxson Dart.

The Ole Miss signal-caller rose quickly throughout the pre-draft process with some impressive workouts, including at the combine. But it’s still a big surprise that he ended up going in before Sanders. (On another note, this has been a good night for the Giants, who landed Dart and Abdul Carter. Nice night for Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen.) — Christopher Price

The Giants and Texans have made a trade, with New York jumping up to No. 25. Did this create an opening for Shedeur Sanders? Or will the Giants take Jaxson Dart? — Christopher Price

Minnesota selected Ohio State offensive lineman Donovan Jackson with the No. 24 pick. He’ll join a Minnesota interior that went through an extensive overhaul this offseason.

Matthew Golden out of Texas makes a a lot of sense for the Packers. Golden is sort of a one-trick pony, but boy, what a trick. He ran a 4.29 at the combine, which makes him a terrific home-run hitter. Not sure about his consistent ability to make plays between the hash marks, but his quickness can make up for that. It’ll be interesting to see how he fits in with the Green Bay passing game. — Christopher Price

By Amin Touri

As has become increasingly expected in recent weeks, Will Campbell is a New England Patriot.

The LSU offensive lineman was taken fourth overall by the Patriots at Thursday’s NFL Draft, giving New England a potential immediate upgrade at left tackle.

“It means everything,” Campbell said. “I played for an historic program at LSU, and now to play for one in New England, I guess I’m lucky. But I’m just super excited and thankful to wear that logo on the side of my helmet and across the front of my chest. It’s a complete honor, and I’m just excited.”

Campbell’s first priority in his new gig will be protecting Drake Maye, who was among the most-sacked quarterbacks in the NFL last season.

“I’m super excited,” Campbell said. “[Maye]’s a heck of a player, a heck of a leader, and he’s the commander of our offense. I’m not only excited to play with him, but the rest of the team. I’m excited for the future that we have in Foxborough, and I think we’ve got a special season coming.”

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None of the teams left in the first round are quarterback-needy.

23. Green Bay

24. Minnesota

25. Houston

26. Los Angeles Rams

27. Baltimore

28. Detroit

29. Washington

30. Buffalo

31. Kansas City

32. Philadelphia

Unless there’s a trade between now and the end of the first round, Shedeur Sanders is going to wind up available at the start of the second round. — Christopher Price

North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton to the Chargers is a great pick.

This is a terrific find for Los Angeles and Jim Harbaugh. He’s not Ashton Jeanty, but he’s not too far removed. Big, strong runner with good hands who can also contribute in the passing game. A three-down back. He’s going to make the Broncos regret passing on him. — Christopher Price

By Ben Volin

Patriots first-round draft pick Will Campbell adorned his draft-night suit with three pins.

There was the pin for his beloved Louisiana State University. A blue square pin to promote the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism created by his new boss, Robert Kraft.

And there was a white circle pin with the No. 2 in purple. Campbell said it was in honor of his former LSU teammate Kyren Lacy, who died by suicide on April 12.

“Kyren was a special human being,” said Campbell, Lacy’s teammate for three years. “He’s got such a great family, and was not only such a good football player, he was such a good teammate, a good son, a good older brother, and just a good dude in general. And it’s just terrible what happened.”

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Shadeur Sanders continues to slide. The Steelers take Oregon defensive tackle Derrick Harmon.

Really good pass rusher, but … let’s talk about what this means for Pittsburgh’s quarterback situation. Does this mean they’re still into the idea of Aaron Rodgers? I find it hard to believe they’re that into Mason Rudolph trying to start 17 games next year.

Pittsburgh doesn’t have a second-round pick. Do they try to trade up into the second round and go after Jaxson Dart? Lots of questions, very few answers right now for the Steelers under center. — Christopher Price

I know that Michigan cornerback Will Johnson had the knee injury, but it’s still a surprise to see Jahdae Barron out of Texas going ahead of Johnson. (Barron was just drafted by Denver at No. 20 overall.)

Would have thought that the Broncos would be more into the idea of someone like North Carolina running back Omarion Hampton. Intriguing pick for Denver.

The fact that Hampton, the second-best back in the draft, is still out there is really interesting, especially as we get closer to No. 38 overall. — Christopher Price

If you’re a Patriots fan, it’s important to remember there’s a lot of time between now and the No. 38 overall choice. But there are an awful lot of interesting names out there at wide receiver. Here’s a quick check of who’s still on the board:

Matthew Golden (Texas)

Jayden Higgins (Iowa State)

Luther Burden (Missouri)

— Christopher Price

There are certain things in life you can count on, and Ohio State receivers being pro ready is one of them. Emeka Egbuka is a pro’s pro. This is a guy who made his bones in the slot as a collegian, but has an ability to make catches all over the field.

A really good pickup for a team in Tampa Bay that is really deep at receiver. Was surprised that the Buccaneers didn’t go after a pass rusher, but Egbuka is a guy you can’t pass up. — Christopher Price

Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who had been mocked as high as No. 3 to the Giants, has spent the night tumbling down the draft board. The next logical landing spot for him might be with the Steelers at No. 21. If he doesn’t fit with Pittsburgh, he might end up falling completed out of the first round. — Christopher Price

Grey Zabel to the Seahawks is a terrific pickup. Smart, tough, and physical, he played every position along the offensive line as a collegian. If he had somehow lasted to the early stages of the second round, I thought he would have been a great fit in Foxborough. Tremendous add for the Seahawks; I talked to him at the combine and came away very impressed. — Christopher Price

After their pass rush was thrown into flux this offseason by the retirement of Sam Hubbard and potential departure of Trey Hendrickson, the Bengals opt for an edge rusher in Texas A&M’s Shemar Stewart.

Stewart brings elite athleticism and traits to the table but it didn’t translate to production in College Station; he had just 4 1/2 sacks over three seasons for the Aggies.

The Cardinals grab a defensive tackle in Ole Miss lineman Walter Nolen at No. 16.

A twitchy and athletic interior lineman, Nolen has very high upside but is a raw prospect who will need plenty of polishing to succeed in Arizona.

Another team gets a better prospect at an area of need than they likely expected, as the Falcons snap up Georgia linebacker Jalon Walker.

Walker is a bit of a hybrid, splitting his snaps at Georgia between rushing off the edge and dropping back as an off-ball linebacker. His athletic talent and versatility made him the second-best edge option on the board behind Abdul Carter, but there are questions about whether he can be elite enough at either position to make an impact in the NFL.

Walker won the Butkus Award as the nation’s best linebacker after finishing the season with a team-high 6 ½ sacks and 10 ½ tackles for loss for Georgia.

By Emma Healy

Mike Vrabel had high praise for Will Campbell, whom the Patriots selected with the No. 4 pick in this year’s NFL Draft.

“This was a very, very easy pick for us,” the first-year coach told reporters in Foxborough.

Campbell, an offensive tackle from Monroe, La., was a three-time All-SEC pick, a 2024 All-American, and a 2024 Jacobs Blocking Trophy winner at LSU.

“This is a young player who cares deeply about the team [and] is a leader in that room,” Vrabel said. “We love his football character, his play demeanor, his play style, how coachable he is. A 21-year-old player that started 38 or 40 games in the SEC is something that is impressive.”

Beyond Campbell’s lengthy resume and physical attributes, the Patriots were drawn to his intellect, Vrabel said.

“I’m confident in how quickly he is able to process and change and have a lot of different pitches at such a young age,” Vrabel said.

It wasn’t until last week that the Patriots settled on using their No. 4 pick on Campbell. Vrabel, Elliot Wolf, and VP of player personnel Ryan Cowden finalized their decision after running Campbell and a few other players through a workout.

But Campbell’s first-round selection doesn’t guarantee him a starting spot.

“He’ll come in here, and he’ll compete to be the left tackle just like everybody else is going to compete for their spots,” Vrabel said. “That’s what we’re trying to create here: something that there’s competition in every position and that our players believe that the best players are going to play.”

Vrabel said the Patriots would have considered trading their first-round pick, but the phone wasn’t ringing. He didn’t rule out trading back up into the first round before the day is over.

“We would have entertained anything that anybody offered us, but it was pretty quiet,” Vrabel said. “We would have been open, but [I was] excited to stay there and pick and get Will at a great spot and a great value.”

Campbell will likely work closely with right tackle Morgan Moses, who the Patriots added in free agency this offseason.

“It became evident to me quickly that this was the type of person and player that we wanted on our football team,” Vrabel said of Moses. “He is going to help not only Will but anybody else in that room and anyone else we’re going to add in the next three days.”

As expected, the Colts did indeed take a tight end at No. 14, picking up Penn State’s Tyler Warren.

Indianapolis likely didn’t expect Warren to fall to 14th but will have no complaints in adding the nation’s best tight end. NFL.com called him the “ultimate “whatever, whenever” player in the 2025 draft” who does it all — he can produce in the passing game against man and zone, he can pick up yards after the catch, he can block in the run game. Warren is one of the strongest plug-and-play prospects in the draft, and the tight end-needy Colts will be thrilled.

The Dolphins take the other half of Michigan’s championship-winning interior from 2023, adding DT Kenneth Grant at No. 13.

Grant is agile and explosive at 6-foot-4 and 331 pounds but had some inconsistent reps in 2024, running a little hot and cold as Michigan slumped from its highs of the season previous. Still, Grant should be an instant upgrade in Miami’s interior line that has struggled since the departure of Christian Wilkins in 2023.

Campbell told Yahoo! Sports it was his first time wearing Louis Vuitton.

The Cowboys take the first interior lineman of the draft, taking Alabama’s Tyler Booker with the 12th pick.

Dallas was rumored to be very high on Booker ahead of the draft and fulfilled those rumors, adding a powerful run blocker and strong pass blocker to an offensive line that struggled to hold up in the interior last season.

How did the Patriots do with their first-round pick? The grades are in.

Christopher Price: B+

Campbell is the best offensive linemen in the draft, and is going to a team desperately in need of OL help. Even with the questions about his arm length and whether he’s a guard or tackle — he came up just short of industry standards when it came to wingspan — he should provide much-needed stability for an offensive line that was all over the place last season.

Nicole Yang: B+

Campbell fills an obvious need, so it’s hard to be negative about the selection. The Patriots needed a starting left tackle and they got one. But Campbell, with his wingspan (not arm length), would be a historical outlier at the position. That the grade drops significantly if he moves to guard. Coach Mike Vrabel also said the team would have been willing to entertain trade offers to move down but never received any.

Chad Finn: B+

Picking Campbell at No.4 is boring, anti-climactic, and necessary. Grade drops to a C- if he’s a guard. Now excuse me while I follow Ashton Jeanty’s entire career wondering what might have been in Foxborough

The 49ers go with Georgia edge Mykel Williams at No. 11, looking to reload a pass rush that struggled to hit the same level in 2024 as it had in the past.

Williams is one of the youngest players in the draft — he won’t turn 21 until the end of June — and is a big upside prospect to help revamp San Francisco’s defense. — Amin Touri

By Conor Ryan

With Drake Maye ready to take another step forward in 2025, the Patriots plucked the top offensive tackle in the 2025 NFL Draft class to protect his blind side.

New England selected LSU left tackle Will Campbell with the No. 4 pick in the draft — filling a pressing need for a Patriots roster that has been rocked with instability and porous play at the line of scrimmage for years.

The 6-foot-6-inch, 319-pound Campbell is an imposing figure at left tackle who compiled an impressive resume over his collegiate career with the Tigers.

But there are still a fair share of questions about Campbell and his validity as an elite, franchise fixture at the next level.

Here are five things to know about the Patriots’ new offensive lineman.

READ MORE

A bit of a surprise at No. 10, with the Bears taking Michigan tight end Colston Loveland to give Caleb Williams another option in Ben Johnson’s offense.

Penn State’s Tyler Warren was widely expected to be the first tight end off the board, but Chicago goes with Loveland, who has the potential to be an elite pass-catcher in the NFL. He may struggle as a blocker at the next level, but Loveland should produce plenty playing across from Cole Kmet in a strong tight end duo in Chicago. — Amin Touri

A third tackle goes in the top 10. The Saints pass on the opportunity to grab QB Shedeur Sanders and go with Texas offensive tackle Kelvin Banks Jr.

Banks saw his stock drop a bit amid a banged-up 2024, but his strong technique, athleticism, and consistency as a three-year starter were still enough to tempt New Orleans at No. 9. The Saints’ offensive line was among the worst in the NFL last season, and Banks should be an immediate upgrade. — Amin Touri

The Panthers opt to get Bryce Young some help at No. 8, taking WR Tetairoa McMillan out of Arizona.

McMillan is arguably the best pure receiver in the draft — a more typical, big-bodied No. 1 receiver than Hunter — and his physicality and ball skills make him an exciting prospect. There are some concerns about his play speed and separation, but there’s potentially a monstrous outside receiver in there somewhere.

McMillan finished last season with 84 catches for 1,319 yards and 8 touchdowns for the Wildcats. — Amin Touri

The Patriots QB offered his thoughts about No. 4 pick Will Campbell on social media.

It’s a second straight year solidifying the offensive line for the Jets, who go with Missouri right tackle Armand Membou at No. 7.

Second behind Will Campbell on most boards among offensive tackles, Membou is a more raw prospect with higher upside and excellent athleticism and agility. He has only played right tackle in college and will likely remain on that side in the pros.

Like Campbell, Membou isn’t the most impressive in terms of size and length — 6-foot-4 and 332 pounds with 33 ½ inch arms — but his talent was enough to earn him a top-10 selection. — Amin Touri

The Raiders are making a swing at No. 6, taking Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty to add a new dimension to their offense.

Jeanty is one of the most exciting prospects on the board after a historic season for Boise State in which he rushed for 2,601 yards and 29 touchdowns and was the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy.

Running backs aren’t valued quite as much as they used to be, but Jeanty could be an explosive force out of the backfield from day one. — Amin Touri

Position: Tackle | College: LSU | Height: 6-6 | Weight: 319 lbs

Get to know Campbell: A three-time All-SEC pick, a 2024 All-American and a 2024 Jacobs Blocking Trophy winner, the highly recruited Campbell lived up to his status at the college level.

His NFL projection is a peculiar one. His notable lack of arm length and top-end athleticism create a puzzle of where to play him as a pro. Publicly, teams have stated Campbell proved his worth at offensive tackle in the SEC. But concerns about his movement were raised by some evaluators, a combination that spells a career at guard, like what happened to former Florida State tackle and Alabama center Landon Dickerson of the Eagles.

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The Browns are back on the clock after a huge trade and opt to beef up their defensive front, taking Michigan DT Mason Graham to pair with star edge rusher Myles Garrett.

Graham isn’t the most exciting of the top picks but the Michigan product was the clear top defensive tackle on the board after a dominant season on the interior for the Wolverines. He doesn’t profile as an elite interior pass rusher at the next level, but Graham could be an strong anchor on the defensive line for a decade. — Amin Touri

By Christopher Price

In the end, the Patriots made the safe, smart decision by going with LSU’s Will Campbell at No. 4.

Campbell is the best offensive lineman in the draft, and New England is in need of help along the offensive line. Even with the questions about his arm length — he came up just short of industry standards when he was checked at the combine — he should instantly provide some stability for the Patriots.

“He’s been obviously productive,” New England offensive line coach Doug Marrone said earlier this month. “I’ve not noticed [arm length] being an issue for him at the level that he’s at right now.”

“I think that I’ve shown everything I need to on tape to show I can play tackle at an elite level,” Campbell said at the combine. ”You can go look at my tape. There’s not one play on there that when I got beat you say, ‘Oh, that’s because he has shorter arms.

“I don’t have stereotypical offensive tackle arms, but I’m aware of that. And that’s something that I use every week in my game plan and my preparation to attack different defenders.”

The 6-foot-6-inch, 320-pounder has a near-peerless resume: in 2024, he was a consensus All-American, All-SEC (first team), and was co-winner of the Jacobs Blocking Trophy as the top lineman in the SEC. In 38 career starts against SEC competition, he yielded just four sacks.

But throughout the pre-draft process, he was dogged by questions about his arm length. The intrigue was heightened when he measured at 32 5/8 inches at the combine, and 33 inches at LSU’s Pro Day.

“My resume speaks for itself,” Campbell said last month. “I’ve been able to play in the best conference in college football at the highest level for three years. I feel like that’s separated me from everybody else. A three-year starter in the SEC. You can go look at all of [it]. It speaks for itself.“

Obviously, people have to nitpick something,” he added. “I mean, I’ve heard it all my career. When I was coming out of high school, the college coaches said the same thing. I proved them wrong. And that’s something that I anticipate doing again.”

By Amin Touri

As expected, the Patriots take LSU offensive tackle Will Campbell with the No. 4 overall pick.

Campbell was the consensus top tackle on the board throughout the pre-draft process with his strong pass-blocking instincts and footwork, elite pedigree as a three-year starter for the Tigers (Campbell started as a true freshman), and near-perfect production — Campbell allowed just five sacks over three full seasons in Baton Rouge.

There is some concern about Campbell’s arm length, but Mike Vrabel and the Patriots weren’t scared off taking a tackle to protect Drake Maye.

After a blockbuster for the second pick, there’s no such drama for the third, with the Giants sticking and picking Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter.

Along with Travis Hunter, Carter was considered one of the two blue-chip prospects in the draft as the nation’s most dominant pass rusher. Carter gave offensive tackles nightmares this season with his elite athleticism and bend that make him so hard to keep on the outside.

Carter delivered in the biggest moments for Penn State, playing some of his best football in the College Football Playoff. Carter joins one of the most exciting pass rushes in the NFL with Kayvon Thibodeaux and Dexter Lawrence on the Giants’ defensive line. — Amin Touri

According to Adam Schefter, the Giants tried to trade up to No. 1 overall, offering Tennessee this year’s first-round pick (No. 3) overall, next year’s first, and additional draft capital. The Patriots have struggled to find willing trade partners for No. 4 overall, but it seems they would have had an opportunity to trade down had they managed to hang on to the top pick in Week 18 last year. — Nicole Yang

After plenty of speculation around whether they might go for a quarterback with the second pick or field a trade offer, the Browns did indeed accept a haul for No. 2, swinging a big trade with the Jaguars.

Jacksonville traded a package built around the No. 5 pick this year and its 2026 first-round pick to move up to No. 2 and select Travis Hunter, the draft’s most exciting prospect.

How special was Hunter at Colorado? In 2024, he won the Heisman Trophy as the nation’s best player, the Chuck Bednarik Award as the nation’s best defensive player, and the Fred Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s best wide receiver. There’s nobody like him in this draft, or any other.

The question now is where he’ll play. Hunter has been very clear that he intends to play full-time on both sides of the ball, but there’s some skepticism about whether that’s feasible at the NFL level. The consensus has been that he’ll likely play full-time on one side, then contribute on the other as either a slot receiver or nickel corner for a couple dozen snaps on the other.

Don’t tell that to Hunter, though. If anybody’s going to play both sides full-time, it’s him. — Amin Touri

By Amin Touri

A huge trade already: The Jaguars are trading up to No. 2 overall.

The Browns are trading the No. 2 pick plus a fourth-rounder and a sixth-rounder to Jacksonville in exchange for No. 5, a second-rounder, and fourth-rounder this year, and the Jaguars’ first-round pick next year.

Cleveland was reportedly planning to take calls up until it was time to make the pick and agreed to a blockbuster. The only question is whether Jacksonville will go with Travis Hunter or Abdul Carter with the pick; Hunter seems the likely choice.

Analysis: Now we have an idea what the haul could have been for the Patriots had they not won their final game and ended up with the No. 1 pick. — Chad Finn

No surprises at the top of the draft, as the Titans take Miami quarterback Cam Ward with the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Ward has long been solidified as the top choice in this year’s draft as the only QB worthy of the first pick, and it has been expected for weeks that the Titans would snap him up as soon as they were on the clock.

Ward took a winding path through college football, beginning his career at FCS school Incarnate Word, then playing two seasons at Washington State before transferring to Miami for his final season. It was with the Hurricanes that Ward leapt into contention for the top pick, winning the Davey O’Brien Award as the nation’s best QB after throwing for 4,313 passing yards and an FBS-best 39 touchdowns. — Amin Touri

The NFL Draft is underway in Green Bay. Commissioner Roger Goodell arrived on stage on a bicycle and was greeted by raucous boos from the crowd.

By Christopher Price

My favorite Mike Vrabel story: He once said he used to watch the draft every year to see how they were trying to replace him. With that in mind, here are three guys who figure to be paying extra close attention to what the Patriots might be doing in the early rounds this weekend:

• Vederian Lowe: The journeyman left tackle did as well as he could last year, but New England will be looking to shore up Drake Maye’s blindside moving forward. If it’s not Will Campbell, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Patriots try and find someone on Day 2 who could move on Lowe’s starting job in 2025 and beyond.

• Javon Baker: There are reports that Baker is already doing his best to develop a working relationship with Vrabel. That’s the best thing possible. The fourth-round pick has to approach this spring and summer with a genuine sense of urgency if he wants to stick around for 2025 and beyond. (Honestly, if I was him, I’d spend every waking moment honing my special teams skills. The more he can do, the greater the chances are that he’ll find a way to remain on the roster.)

• Ja’Lynn Polk: I think he gets a little more wiggle room than Baker, After all, he was a second-round pick as opposed to being a fourth rounder. But he also needs to address this offseason with a real sense of urgency, especially if New England does indeed draft multiple receivers. (His best path forward would be to spend as much time working and throwing with Drake Maye as he possible can. Take advantage of the already established connection.)

By Chad Finn

• Hope Giants GM Joe Schoen does something epically stupid and takes Shedeur Sanders No. 3, leaving Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter for the Patriots

• Take LSU tackle Will Campbell at No. 4 if Carter isn’t there. Then get him on an extreme arm-lengthening program.

• Draft an Iowa State wide receiver in the second round. Preferably the tall one with the same last name as Tee Higgins, not the one named Jaylin with a four-letter last name. Too close to Ja’Lynn Polk.

By Christopher Price

Here’s a look at where the Patriots will be picking this weekend:

• First round (No. 4 overall)

• Second round (No. 38 overall)• Third round (No. 69 overall)

• Third round (No. 77 overall — from Atlanta)

• Fourth round (No. 106 overall)

• Fifth round (No. 144 overall)

• Fifth round (No. 177 overall 00 from Dallas)

• Seventh round (No. 220 overall)

• Seventh round (No. 238 overall)

A few final pre-draft predictions for New England:

• The Patriots will stick and pick at No. 4, taking Will Campbell.

• New England will try and trade up out of the No. 38 spot. If they can, they might get in on a wide receiver late in the first round, or they’ll double dip on the offensive line.

• They’ll take at least one running back and one tight end. There’s not a sizable area of need at either position, but this is a good draft for both spots, and the Patriots will take advantage.

• New England will either draft a quarterback in the late rounds or sign a UDFA quarterback.

By Christopher Price

One of the more interesting notes about this weekend is that we’ll be able to hear from vice president of player personnel Ryan Cowden on Saturday. Cowden hasn’t been made available to the media since he was initially hired earlier this offseason. (Mike Vrabel and Eliot Wolf are also scheduled to speak this weekend as well.) Cowden has a background with Vrabel; the two worked together for a stretch in Tennessee.

By Ben Volin

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Thirty-two players will have their dreams come true on Thursday night when they hear their name called in the first round of the NFL Draft. Fifteen of them will experience a once-in-a-lifetime thrill when they walk out on the stage next to Lambeau Field, hug commissioner Roger Goodell, and hold up their new NFL jersey for millions to see on television.

The moment is brief, but the logistics to make it all happen are complex. The Globe was granted behind-the-scenes access at the draft Thursday night, replicating the draft experience from the green room to the spotlight:

Green Room

The NFL’s top priority this year: Space. The green room was cramped last year in Detroit, but this year it’s in a giant convention center hall in the Resch Expo Center.

Each prospect gets his own “living room” with four couches and three armchairs to comfortably seat a player and his entourage.

While waiting to hear his name, the player can order food from a menu that includes bacon butter burger sliders, brat cheesesteak sliders, chorizo and beer cheese mac, crab cakes, boneless wings, fried cheese curds, a Wisconsin charcuterie cup, or for those watching their weight, grilled chicken or a cherry salad. The dessert menu includes gelato (mango sorbet or espresso brownie), fruit, and three different kinds of chocolate Bonbons.

Each living room is also outfitted with an old-school corded phone, though it is likely just for effect.

Roger Goodell has his own green room backstage. Yes, it is well stocked with his biggest vice, M&M’s — a jar each of regular and peanut, and two large backup bags of each.

How the pick is made

The real draft takes place on the second floor of the Resch Center, where the 32 team personnel reps are all watching the draft. The draft pick is sent in from team headquarters to the personnel rep, who then calls it down to the NFL control room backstage.

The NFL has pre-printed cards with approximately 250 player names, with only the team and the pick needed to be filled in. This card is then handed to Goodell as he confirms the pronunciation of the player’s name and heads out to the stage.

The control room then radios the pick to the representatives at Nike sitting backstage. They have all 32 jerseys with the No. 1 on the back, and stitch on the player’s name before he reaches the stage.

Walking to the stage

Once the player’s name is called, he will be escorted down two long corridors leading to the stage. Hanging on the walls are the logos of all 32 teams carved out of wood by a local Wisconsin artisan, one of several local touches in this year’s draft.

Right before walking outside, the player reaches a podium and a mirror, where waiting for him is his new team hat from New Era. The player doesn’t realize that the mirror is two-way, and that the NFL is televising him trying on his new hat for the first time.

Onto the stage

The player walks out into the bright lights. Immediately in front of him are Goodell and the podium. Sitting beneath him in front of the stage are a group of superfans from all 32 NFL teams, dressed in Viking horns and light-up Cowboy hats and giant foam cheeseheads. On the side of the stage area, the prospect will see green walls similar to those used for the Lambeau Leap inside the stadium.

About 100 yards away is a mass of fans watching the draft and tailgating in the parking lots of Lambeau Field. The NFL doesn’t have a crowd estimate yet, but it could be upwards of 100,000 people on Thursday night. That’s fewer than the 250,000 that showed up last year to Detroit, but Green Bay is much more difficult to get to.

Once the player hugs Goodell, completes his TV interview and finishes his moment in the spotlight, he is whisked away again to the Resch Center to go through the “car wash” — interviews with ESPN, NFL Network, SiriusXM, local reporters in Green Bay, and a conference call with media in their new home market.

After about 90 minutes of interviews, the players are free to go celebrate with family and friends.

By Ben Volin

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Dennis Briege became an NFL fan the same way many of his fellow Germans did. He attended a preseason game in Germany in the late 90’s with his father, immediately got hooked, and picked one of the league’s top teams to follow. The team he chose was the Patriots.

“They say to me, ‘bandwagon,’” said Briege, 43, from Berlin. “No, no, I was a fan for one or two years before Tom Brady.”

Now Briege is in Green Bay this week as the Patriots’ international fan of the year. He participated in a fan forum with Roger Goodell Wednesday night, will watch Thursday’s first round from the draft theater outside Lambeau Field, and on Saturday will get on the draft stage and announce one of the Patriots’ late-round picks.

Briege admitted he’s “very nervous” about the experience, but the toughest part of the week was just getting here. Briege traveled for nearly 24 hours straight, flying from Berlin to Brussels to Chicago to Green Bay.

“I wanted to go to the draft for years, and now I have the chance,” Briege said.

And like almost every Patriots fan, Briege has one player he expects the team to draft Thursday night.

“I hope Will Campbell,” he said of the left tackle from LSU. “We need a wide receiver or cornerback like Travis Hunter, but I think the left tackle is good and I want Will Campbell.”

By Ben Volin

Here’s one more mock draft before the NFL makes its selections on Thursday night.

Read Ben Volin’s On Football analysis of the first round here.

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It’s a big night in Foxborough, with the Patriots set to make a top-five selection in the NFL Draft for a second consecutive year.

Globe Patriots beat writer Christopher Price is on the ground at Gillette Stadium, where fans are lining up for New England’s draft night party.

By Ben Volin

Last year’s NFL Draft was loaded with quarterback prospects, and the competition was intense.

For the first time ever, six QBs went in the first 12 picks, including the first three overall. By the time the Raiders picked at No. 13, the quarterback bin had been picked clean.

The competition for quarterbacks in this year’s draft, which starts Thursday night in Green Bay, Wis., could also be fierce. Yet it is likelier to come at the end of the first round or the top of the second, not in the top 15 picks.

Miami quarterback Cam Ward is a lock to go No. 1 overall to the Titans. But several other quarterback-needy teams don’t appear to be too thrilled with the next options.

“We had six last year, there’s no way you keep up that pace,” NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah said. “The quarterback class this year, while it’s not as star-studded, it’s just, that’s the roller coaster.”

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By Nicole Yang

The Patriots have nine selections in this year’s draft.

Here’s a look at how they could use their picks:

Round 1, fourth overall: OT Will Campbell, LSU

All signs point to the Patriots taking Campbell. The lack of stability at left tackle has hampered the offense the past few seasons, so finding a long-term solution remains paramount. Yes, there are questions about Campbell’s arm length and wingspan — both measured below average for a pro tackle — but his tape and production at the SEC level make him a top-end prospect.

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By Christopher L. Gasper

It’s all yucks, dueling compliments, and blissful cooperation for new Patriots coach Mike Vrabel and holdover personnel chief Eliot Wolf thus far. Their arranged marriage, designed to restore relevance and competence to Foxborough football, is still in the honeymoon phase.

That Kraft-manufactured matrimony is about to get its first true test Thursday with the start of the seven-round NFL Draft. We’ll see just how well Vrabel and his imported lieutenants (Ryan Cowden and John “Stretch” Streicher) and Wolf and aide de camp Alonzo Highsmith play together and pick players together, as well as where the power lies. This represents a sharper and stickier litmus test than tossing around money bags in free agency on established players, because the draft is the ultimate eye-of-the-beholder exercise that ultimately reveals who holds the personnel power. Just ask appointed Patriots Hall of Famer Bill Parcells.

Owners of the No. 4 overall pick, the Patriots aren’t in a clear-cut situation with their power structure or their draft choice. If the mock drafts are prescient, neither two-way sensation Travis Hunter nor spring-loaded pass rusher Abdul Carter will be available. So, whose football philosophy and talent evaluations will win out? Do the Patriots end up with a compromise candidate at No. 4 (hello, talented T-Rex-armed left tackle Will Campbell) because no one wants to step on toes?

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By Emma Healy

The 2025 NFL Draft kicks off Thursday night from Green Bay. Barring a trade, the Patriots will have a top-five pick for the second year in a row. Their No. 4 selection is a consolation from another season of ineptitude, in which they managed to win just four games.

The No. 1 pick was within reach, but in true 2024 Patriots fashion, they won a game they needed to lose, defeating the Bills in Week 18 to fall back three places.

This is the fourth time the Patriots have had the No. 4 pick and the first since 1994, when they selected Southern Cal linebacker Willie McGinest. McGinest went on to play 12 seasons in New England, making two Pro Bowls and winning three Super Bowls. He also holds the record for postseason sacks (16) and was inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame in 2015.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft.

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By Christopher Price

Tetairoa McMillan is considered by many to be the best pure wide receiver in the draft. The 6-foot-4-inch, 219-pounder was a first-team AP All-American, and was All-Big 12. Despite playing for a woeful Arizona team, he finished third in the FBS with 1,319 receiving yards, with a team-leading 84 catches and eight receiving touchdowns. Terrific stats, considering he was the only serious offensive option for the Wildcats (who finished 4-8) in 2024. He’s expected to be taken in the top half of the first round.

Why he’d fit: Although Stefon Diggs gives the Patriots a little more margin for error in finding wide receiver help in the draft, they still could use help. McMillan is a big-body receiver with the sort of speed and hands that produce highlight-reel touchdowns, even playing for a ramshackle team.

Why he wouldn’t: He’s got a thin frame for a tall receiver, which could translate to a lack of physicality as a blocker. Those size issues occasionally lead to trouble in getting a clean release off the line of scrimmage against a physical cornerback.

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By Christopher Price

Mason Graham is a 6-foot-3½-inch, 296-pounder who is one of the top defensive line prospects in the draft. A first-team All-American and first-team All-Big Ten honoree, he started 12 games and led Michigan defensive linemen with 45 tackles, including seven for loss, with 3.5 sacks, three quarterback hurries, one pass breakup, and one blocked kick. That was on the heels of a 2023 season in which he and the Wolverines won the national championship and Graham was the Rose Bowl defensive MVP. A versatile, agile presence who can play the run and the pass with equal aplomb, he projects to be taken in the top 15.

Why he’d fit: On the surface, Graham’s skill set, body type, and occasionally ornery approach make him an ideal fit for Mike Vrabel’s penetrating scheme. Graham has speed and power, and his background as a wrestler has allowed him to use his hands to great effect when shedding blocks. With New England’s depth along the defensive line, he could be brought along relatively slowly, but the eventual possibility of adding Graham to the interior of the defensive line — joining a group that includes Christian Barmore and Milton Williams — would make life a challenge for offenses throughout the AFC East.

Why he wouldn’t: His critics suggest Graham’s lack of length and weight for the position could be an issue at the next level. There’s also the question of priorities. If the Patriots are satisfied with their free agent additions up front or believe they can wait and get a comparable player later in the draft, they might be more inclined to use their high-value draft capital on another position of need.

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By Julian Benbow

The Eagles knew exactly whom they wanted with the fourth pick in 2013. Lane Johnson was their target, even though coach Chip Kelly had a connection with Oregon defensive end Dion Jordan from his days coaching the Ducks. When the Dolphins took Jordan, it made it easier for the Eagles to go with Johnson.

“We were excited with Dion Jordan going three to get Lane,” Eagles general manager Howie Roseman told the Athletic in hindsight. “We were excited about the opportunity to get Lane. We felt like this was a unique player at a unique position.”

Johnson has redefined the right tackle position and won two Super Bowls with the Eagles.

Draft picks are inherently unpredictable. Looking back can be easier than thinking ahead.

The biggest hits seem obvious in hindsight. Walter Payton, Charles Woodson, Edgerrin James, Derrick Thomas, Justin Smith, Trent Williams, and Jonathan Ogden are just a handful of players taken fourth overall that carved out stellar careers.

But the question every pick presents — and the question the Patriots will have to answer when they pick fourth overall on Thursday — is what are you expecting?

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By Christopher Price

Missouri’s Armand Membou is considered one of the best offensive linemen in the draft. A 6-foot-4-inch, 332-pounder, he was a second-team SEC honoree last season, starting 12 games and posting a Pro Football Focus grade of 90.4, third nationally among Power 4 offensive tackles. The 21-year-old is expected to be taken in the top half of the first round.

Why he’d fit: The Patriots had guard Mike Onwenu and backup Demontrey Jacobs as starting right tackles in 2024, so Membou could offer stability and an immediate upgrade. A prospect with tremendous athleticism and power, the idea of finding Membou a spot to flourish early while being mentored by 34-year-old veteran right tackle Morgan Moses (and eventually stepping into Moses’s shoes sooner rather than later) is a feasible path.

Why he wouldn’t: He’s a right tackle — he only played the right side in college — and the more immediate need for the Patriots is left tackle. (Moses projects as the starting right tackle.) The Patriots spent a sizable portion of last season trying to flip offensive linemen Onwenu and Chukwuma Okorafor from one side to another; the idea of starting 2025 on the same note with Membou seems less than ideal.

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By Ben Volin

Just to get this out of the way, here is what I wrote before the 2023 NFL Draft about the possibility of the Patriots taking running back Bijan Robinson in the first round:

“No. Just … no. It doesn’t matter that Robinson is a generational talent. Or that pairing him with Rhamondre Stevenson would give the Patriots the best backfield in the NFL. The Patriots aren’t a running back away from being a Super Bowl competitor. They have too many other needs at important positions. And running backs are too dependent on their offensive line, and too much of an injury risk. Robinson makes sense for a top contender like the Eagles or Bengals, not the Patriots.”

This was not a bold or controversial take, but rather conventional wisdom in the NFL. Only eight running backs in the last 15 years have been drafted in the top 10. Using a first-round pick is often a waste of an asset. History has proven that late-round running backs are often just as effective.

All of which is to say, I’m changing my mind.

Yes, the Patriots should strongly consider taking a running back next week with the No. 4 pick.

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The Patriots lost the No. 1 overall pick after a Week 18 win over the Bills at the end of last season, leaving New England to pick fourth in the first round on April 24.

New England owns each of its draft picks except its own sixth-rounder, which the Patriots swapped for the Chargers’ seventh-rounder in this year’s draft in the trade that brought J.C. Jackson back to New England in 2023.

The Patriots also have an extra third-rounder acquired from Atlanta in exchange for Matthew Judon in 2024, as well as a seventh-rounder picked up from the Titans in a trade for Nick Folk in 2023. The Patriots didn’t receive any compensatory picks this year.

Here are the Patriots’ picks for the 2025 NFL Draft:

⋅ Round 1, No. 4 overall

⋅ Round 2, No. 38 overall

⋅ Round 3, No. 69 overall

⋅ Round 3, No. 77 overall (via Atlanta)

⋅ Round 4, No. 106 overall

⋅ Round 5, No. 144 overall

⋅ Round 7, No. 217 overall (via Tennessee)

⋅ Round 7, No. 220 overall

⋅ Round 7, No. 238 overall (via Los Angeles Chargers)

By Nicole Yang

The Patriots own the No. 4 pick in the first round of this year’s NFL Draft.

Coach Mike Vrabel has said on multiple occasions he doesn’t have a strong sense of what the teams picking ahead of the Patriots will do. So, let’s take a look at the four scenarios that could happen on Thursday.

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Ben Volin can be reached at ben.volin@globe.com. Christopher Price can be reached at christopher.price@globe.com. Follow him @cpriceglobe. Nicole Yang can be reached at nicole.yang@globe.com.Follow her @nicolecyang. Amin Touri can be reached at amin.touri@globe.com. Emma Healy can be reached at emma.healy@globe.com or on X @ByEmmaHealy. Katie McInerney can be reached at katie.mcinerney@globe.com. Follow her @k8tmac.