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Updated on: April 25, 2025 / 12:30 AM EDT / CBS News
The Tennessee Titans selected Miami quarterback Cam Ward as the No. 1 overall pick in Thursday’s NFL Draft, a drama-free move that had been predicted for weeks by football pundits, and one of only two quarterbacks taken in the entire first round.
In a sign of the importance of the position, Ward becomes the third straight quarterback to go No. 1 overall, after the Chicago Bears selected USC’s Caleb Williams with the first pick in 2024, and the Carolina Panthers selected Alabama’s Bryce Young in 2023.
The last non-quarterback to go No. 1 was Georgia defensive end Travon Walker in 2022, picked by the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Although Ward was considered a virtual lock to go to the Titans, the rest of the draft was playing out as one of the most unpredictable in years.
That unpredictability came to fruition almost immediately when, after Ward’s selection, the Jacksonville Jaguars traded a haul — including the No. 5 pick — to the Cleveland Browns in order to move up to No. 2 and take two-way Colorado star Travis Hunter, who has expressed a desire to play both cornerback and receiver in the NFL as he did in college.
The biggest surprise of the night was that Hunter’s teammate — Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders, son of NFL legend Deion Sanders — dropped out of the first round entirely after initial projections had him going as high as first overall.
Unlike 2024’s draft class, considered one of the most talent-laden in decades, 2025 doesn’t have anywhere near as many blue-chip prospects, and forecasts on who might go where have been all over the map. A case-in-point being the Seattle Seahawks’ selection of guard Grey Zabel at No. 18, who had been projected by most to go on day two.
The overriding theme appeared to be the trenches. While an unprecedented six quarterbacks were taken in the first 12 picks in 2024, only one, Ward, was chosen in the top-12 Thursday. Seven of those first 12 were on the offensive and defensive lines.
It wasn’t until pick No. 25 that another quarterback was taken, with the New York Giants — who used the third overall pick on Penn State edge Abdul Carter — trading back into the first round to snag Jaxson Dart of Ole Miss. In stark contrast to the 2024 draft, Ward and Dart were the only two quarterbacks selected Thursday.
For the first time ever, meanwhile, the draft was being held in Green Bay, Wisconsin, just outside Lambeau Field, the iconic home of the Packers.
Rounds two and three will take place Friday beginning at 4 p.m. Eastern Time, while rounds four through seven will be held Saturday beginning at noon.
NFL Draft order and picks for the first round
- No. 1: Tennessee Titans — QB Cam Ward, Miami
Quarterback Cam Ward of Miami poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected first overall pick by the Tennessee Titans during the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft at Lambeau Field on April 24, 2025 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Getty Images
- No. 2: Jacksonville Jaguars (via trade with Cleveland) — CB/WR Travis Hunter, Colorado
- No. 3: New York Giants — DE Abdul Carter, Penn State
Edge rusher Abdul Carter of Penn State arrives prior to the 2025 NFL Draft at Lambeau Field on April 24, 2025 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Getty Images
- No. 4: New England Patriots — OT Will Campbell, LSU
- No. 5: Cleveland Browns (via trade with Jacksonville) — DT Mason Graham, Michigan
Defensive Tackle Mason Graham of Michigan arrives with Kimberly Graham and Allen Graham prior to the 2025 NFL Draft at Lambeau Field on April 24, 2025 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Getty Images
- No. 6: Las Vegas Raiders — RB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State
Running Back Ashton Jeanty of Boise State poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected sixth overall pick by the Las Vegas Raiders during the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft at Lambeau Field on April 24, 2025 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Getty Images
- No. 7: New York Jets — OT Armand Membou, Missouri
Armand Membou of Missouri participates in a drill during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 2, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Getty Images
- No. 8: Carolina Panthers — WR Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona
Wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan of Arizona poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected eighth overall pick by the Carolina Panthers during the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft at Lambeau Field on April 24, 2025 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Getty Images
- No. 9: New Orleans Saints — OT Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas
Kelvin Banks Jr. of Texas runs the 40-yard dash during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 2, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Brooke Sutton / Getty Images
- No. 10: Chicago Bears — TE Colston Loveland, Michigan
- No. 11: San Francisco 49ers — DE Mykel Williams, Georgia
Mykel Williams of Georgia speaks to the media during the 2025 NFL Combine at the Indiana Convention Center on February 26, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Getty Images
- No. 12: Dallas Cowboys — G Tyler Booker, Alabama
- No. 13: Miami Dolphins — DT Kenneth Grant, Michigan
Defensive tackle Kenneth Grant of Michigan speaks at the podium during the 2025 NFL Combine at the Indiana Convention Center on February 26, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Brooke Sutton / Getty Images
- No. 14: Indianapolis Colts — TE Tyler Warren, Penn State
Tyler Warren of Penn State speaks at the podium during the 2025 NFL Combine at the Indiana Convention Center on February 27, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Brooke Sutton / Getty Images
- No. 15: Atlanta Falcons — LB Jalon Walker, Georgia
Jalon Walker of Georgia speaks at the podium during the 2025 NFL Combine at the Indiana Convention Center on Feb. 26, 2025, in Indianapolis, Indiana. Brooke Sutton / Getty Images
- No. 16: Arizona Cardinals — DT Walter Nolen, Ole Miss
Walter Nolen of the Mississippi Rebels looks on before the start of the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl against the Duke Blue Devils at EverBank Stadium on January 02, 2025 in Jacksonville, Florida. James Gilbert / Getty Images
- No. 17: Cincinnati Bengals — DE Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M
Edge rusher Shemar Stewart of Texas A&M poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected seventeenth overall pick by the Cincinnati Bengals during the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft at Lambeau Field on April 24, 2025, in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Getty Images
- No. 18: Seattle Seahawks — G Grey Zabel, North Dakota State
Grey Zabel of North Dakota State participates in the vertical jump during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 2, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Brooke Sutton / Getty Images
- No. 19: Tampa Bay Buccaneers — WR Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State
Emeka Egbuka of Ohio State speaks to the media during the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Feb. 28, 2025, in Indianapolis, Indiana. Getty Images
- No. 20: Denver Broncos — DB Jahdae Barron, Texas
Jahdae Barron of Texas participates in a drill during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 28, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Getty Images
- No. 21: Pittsburgh Steelers — DT Derrick Harmon, Oregon
Derrick Harmon of Oregon participates in a drill at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 27, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Brooke Sutton / Getty Images
- No. 22: Los Angeles Chargers — RB Omarion Hampton, North Carolina
Omarion Hampton of North Carolina participates in a drill during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 1, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Brooke Sutton / Getty Images
- No. 23: Green Bay Packers — WR Matthew Golden, Texas
Wide receiver Matthew Golden of Texas celebrates after being selected twenty-third overall pick by the Green Bay Packers during the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft at Lambeau Field on April 24, 2025 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Getty Images
- No. 24: Minnesota Vikings — G Donovan Jackson, Ohio State
Donovan Jackson of Ohio State participates in a drill during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 2, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Brooke Sutton / Getty Images
- No. 25: New York Giants (via trade with Houston) — QB Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss
Jaxson Dart of the Mississippi Rebels participates in a drill during Ole Miss Pro Day at the Manning Athletic Center on March 28, 2025 in Oxford, Mississippi. Getty Images
- No. 26: Atlanta Falcons (via trade with Los Angeles Rams) — DE James Pearce Jr., Tennessee
James Pearce Jr. of Tennessee runs the 40-yard dash at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 27, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Brooke Sutton / Getty Images
- No. 27: Baltimore Ravens — DB Malaki Starks, Georgia
Safety Malaki Starks of Georgia poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected twenty-seventh overall pick by the Baltimore Ravens during the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft at Lambeau Field on April 24, 2025, in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Getty Images
- No. 28: Detroit Lions — DT Tyleik Williams, Ohio State
Tyleik Williams of Ohio State participates in a drill at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 27, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Brooke Sutton / Getty Images
- No. 29: Washington Commanders — OT Josh Conerly Jr., Oregon
Josh Conerly Jr. of the Oregon Ducks participates in a drill during Oregon Pro Day at Moshofsky Center on March 18, 2025 in Eugene, Oregon. Getty Images
- No. 30: Buffalo Bills — CB Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky
Cornerback Maxwell Hairston of Kentucky (C) and family attend the 2025 NFL Draft at Lambeau Field on April 24, 2025, in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Joshua Applegate / Getty Images
- No. 31: Philadelphia Eagles (via trade with Kansas City) — LB Jihaad Campbell, Alabama
Linebacker Jihaad Campbell of Alabama celebrates with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected thirty-first overall pick by the Philadelphia Eagles during the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft at Lambeau Field on April 24, 2025, in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Getty Images
- No. 32: Kansas City Chiefs (via trade with Philadelphia) — OT Josh Simmons, Ohio State
Josh Simmons of Ohio State speaks to the media during the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 1, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Michael Hickey / Getty Images
Faris TanyosFaris Tanyos is a news editor for CBSNews.com, where he writes and edits stories and tracks breaking news. He previously worked as a digital news producer at several local news stations up and down the West Coast.
