Biggest 2025 NFL Draft takeaways | A to Z Sports NFL Newsletter
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Biggest 2025 NFL Draft takeaways
The 2025 NFL Draft featured no shortage of intriguing storylines and drama. Now, it’s time for the fallout. Some players with high expectations will disappoint, and others that nobody saw coming will make huge impacts. Here are our biggest takeaways from how this year’s draft shook out.
Arizona Cardinals’ draft class has the biggest risk/reward factor: Talent-wise, the Cardinals hit two home runs with their first round selection of defensive tackle Walter Nolen and second round pick of cornerback Will Johnson. Nolen has perhaps the highest ceiling of all DTs that were chosen, and not long ago Johnson was perceived as the best CB in the draft.
However, both come with asterisks. Nolen has noted character and work ethic issues, and multiple teams were concerned about the state of Johnson’s knee injury that ultimately led to him to falling to No. 47 overall. If Nolen can clean up his act and Johnson stays healthy, Arizona landed two great players at premium positions. The Cardinals also rolled the dice a bit by using six of their seven picks on the defensive side of the ball. That’s a big vote of confidence in their offense, which was subpar last season.
Baltimore Ravens make most controversial pick of the draft: By most accounts, the Ravens had a very good draft. They secured the consensus top safety with their first-round pick in safety Malaki Starks, and addressed many of their top needs with their whopping 11 selections. However, the pick that everybody is talking about is EDGE Mike Green, who Baltimore took in the second round.
Green’s talent is undeniable, but may teams took him completely off their draft boards due to him being twice accused of sexual assault. No formal chargers have been filed against him, but obviously those are extremely serious allegations. The Ravens are already dealing with similar circumstances with kicker Justin Tucker, who still remains on their roster.
Chicago Bears have set up QB Caleb Williams to join the elite ranks: If Williams doesn’t have a big year in 2025 and can’t lead Chicago to the postseason, it won’t be the fault of the Bears’ front office. Not only did they completely rebuild his offensive line during free agency, but they spent their first three draft picks on offense. Chicago first selected tight end Colston Loveland, which was mildly surprising with Tyler Warren still available. Regardless, Loveland figures to have a very good career.
The Bears then got a steal with wide receiver Luther Burden III in the second round, who not long ago was considered to be a top 20 pick. In the third round, they got even more offensive line help by taking OT Ozzy Trapilo, who could start right off the bat. Williams had a solid rookie year with what he had to work with, but he should be able to take his game to the next level in 2025.
Cleveland Browns and QB Shedeur Sanders could get the last laugh: The biggest story of the draft was undoubtedly the fall of Sanders. While most knew there was a possibility he would slide down the board, nobody thought he would have to wait until the fifth round to hear his name called. However, Sanders handled himself professionally and is staying focused on getting his career up and running.
If Sanders proves the doubters wrong and ends up becoming Cleveland’s franchise quarterback, he will be considered one of the biggest draft steals of all time. For the first time ever, the Browns could be the team that got it right, with the rest of the league missing out. They already have a stacked defense, especially after selecting DT Mason Graham and linebacker Carson Schwesinger with their first two picks.
Houston Texans failed to accomplish their main mission: The Texans blew up their offensive line following the 2024 season, which is fine considering it wasn’t very good. They did very little to fix it during free agency, leading most to believe they would go heavy at OL in the draft. However, out of their nine picks they only selected one, OT Aireontae Ersery in the second round.
Instead of being aggressive, Houston hope that OL Donovan Jackson would slide to its selection at No. 25, but he went to the Minnesota Vikings just one pick in front. The Texans could have taken OT Josh Simmons, who would have been a great value, but instead traded down into round two. They also puzzlingly took WRs with two of their top three picks. Even if both of them work out, QB C.J. Stroud is staring down the barrel of having to run for his life again in 2025.
Most of Jacksonville Jaguars’ picks could make an immediate impact: The Jaguars stood on business during the draft, ensuring that they got as many Year 1 contributors as possible. Sure, it cost them a 2026 first-round pick to move up, but WR/CB Travis Hunter fills two needs and provides them with the type of game-changing talent they need. Hunter was widely regarded as the best player in the draft.
CB Caleb Ransaw, OG Wyatt Milum, RB Bhayshul Tuten, and linebackers Jack Kiser and Jalen McLeod could all also make significant contributions as rookies. Ransaw and Milum will likely be starters, and Tuten will pair well with Travis Etienne, possibly even leapfrogging him as the starter down the line. Jacksonville has done a great job of getting younger and more talented.
New England Patriots QB Drake Maye poised for breakout year: Similar to what the Bears did with Williams, the Patriots have done a nice job of putting pieces around Maye to be successful. New England spent their first four picks on the offensive side of the ball, starting with getting its franchise LT Will Campbell, who will hopefully spend the next several years protecting Maye’s blindside.
The Patriots then selected do-it-all RB TreVeyon Henderson in the second round, who should become their workhorse out of the backfield. Third-round pick WR Kyle Williams will make a nice complement to Stefon Diggs, and Jared Wilson (also a round 3 pick) is likely the center of the future for New England. With an improved offensive line and better weapons around him, Maye could make his mark in 2025.
New York Giants may be a QB away from being legitimate contender: The Giants have quietly put together a nice roster, which they solidified during the draft. EDGE Abdul Carter was a no-brainer at No. 3 overall, and was considered to be the safest pick in this year’s class. Lining up next to him will be third-round pick DT Darius Alexander. Both Carter and Alexander will go a long way in improving New York’s run defense and pass rush.
Offensively, the Giants got great value in their fourth-round selection of RB Cam Skattebo. He along with Tyrone Tracy and Devin Singletary will make a solid trio, with Skattebo having the highest ceiling among them. TE Thomas Fidone II is a potential seventh-round steal given his athletic upside. However, QB Jaxson Dart could be the key to New York’s future. Between him, Russell Wilson, and Jameis Winston, if the Giants can get some stability and solid play at QB, they could make some noise in the NFC.
Top 2025 UDFA signings
The most underrated part of the draft process is what comes directly after — undrafted free agent signings. This is where hidden gems are discovered, and a handful of them will leave people scratching their heads as to how they didn’t get drafted. Let’s take a look at some of the notable UDFAs from around the league.
Los Angles Chargers RB Raheim Sanders: “If not for injuries, Sanders could have been one of the top rated RBs in the entire draft. He has a nice blend of power and 4.46 40-yard dash speed, as well as solid receiving skills. When healthy, Sanders can be a three-down workhorse back. His physical running style and well-rounded game is exactly what coach Jim Harbaugh loves in a RB. If Sanders is going to push for a roster spot, he'll have to really impress during offseason OTAs and training camp. Harris and Hampton will dominate the touches, but Sanders could slide into the RB3 role if he makes the most of his opportunities.” —Nick Roesch
Kansas City Chiefs TE Jake Briningstool: "Over the last three years at Clemson, Briningstool recorded 124 receptions (a school record) for 1,313 yards and 16 touchdowns. He has good size at 6-foot-6 and 241 pounds, and possesses good straight line speed and flexibility. It will be an uphill battle, but he has the tools to at least make the practice squad. Briningstool's size, fluidity, and strong hands are reminiscent of Kelce, and now he gets to learn from the man himself. They have embraced using multiple tight end sets over the last couple of years, and Briningstool has perhaps the highest upside as a pass catcher among all other backup TEs on K.C.'s roster.” —Nick Roesch
Carolina Panthers OL Luke Kandra: “Kandra posted over 800 snaps in each of his two seasons with Cincinnati, surrendering zero sacks in his final year. He was known for his consistency in pass blocking, but his play strength and run defense were certainly not being talked about enough in the pre-draft process. On top of bringing balance to his game, succeeding in both run and pass blocking, Kandra also tested out as a 93rd percentile athlete among offensive guards at his pro day this spring. His fast feet and strong hands show up throughout his tape, leaving many NFL Draft analysts completely dumbfounded that he went undrafted.” —Travis May
Detroit Lions WR Jackson Meeks: “Meeks goes up and gets that ball no matter who's tight on him. He had 21 contested catches for Syracuse in 2024. That is the second-most-contested catches in the nation last year. The Lions needed someone who could do that, and they got that in third-round pick Isaac TeSlaa, but they have it a little better. TeSlaa can separate; he doesn't need to do it all the time. The other thing you can see is blocking. This guy gets out there and does it in the pass game, and, more importantly, he does it in the run game too, and he does it very well there. You can see that this is something the Lions definitely had in mind when they signed him as a priority free agent." —Mike Payton
Buffalo Bills C Jacob Bayer: “He earned a career-high 80.3 pass blocking grade from Pro Football Focus this past year and was only credited with allowing one sack and zero QB hits. He now joins the Bills, who have their starters on the interior of their line figured out for 2025, but their reserve roles seem up for grabs. Bayer was invited to the Senior Bowl this year and impressed throughout against multiple defensive linemen who ended up hearing their names called early in the 2025 NFL Draft. I'm interested to see if Bayer is able to push to be the Bills' backup center, and I wonder if they will also have him work out as a guard to see if he could be a viable option to earn a roster spot at either spot." —Destin Adams
Los Angeles Rams OL Willie Lampkin: “The concerns surrounding Lampkin's size made his opportunity to compete at the 2025 Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama, even more critical. His performance did not disappoint. He showed that his success at North Carolina wasn't a fluke and that his effort, heart, and determination are truly unmatched. It ultimately wasn't enough for a team to take a risk on the massive size outlier Lampkin in the NFL Draft. However, the Rams now get the chance to bring him into their training camp and let him compete for a roster spot. He will be able to compete at either guard spot or center on the offensive line. I'm also curious if a creative offensive mind like Sean McVay would be willing to give Lampkin snaps at fullback and see if he could help elevate their run game." —Destin Adams
Ravens LB Chandler Martin: “Even though he's 5-11, 229 pounds, Martin tested extremely well, with elite speed and explosion. The combination gave him an 8.21 Relative Athletic Score. And watching his tape, you can see the attributes. After three years at Tennessee State as an overlooked prospect, Martin transferred to Memphis and led his team both years in tackles, tackles for loss, and sacks. Last season alone, he had seven total sacks—which is particularly impressive for an off-ball player. In his two years at Memphis, he was twice a First-Team All-AAC. Chandler Martin is a valuable addition, and he has the potential to make the 53-man roster as a rookie and truly contribute, adding versatility and explosiveness to Zach Orr's defense." —Wendell Ferreira
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