NFL draft: Jags business up for Travis Hunter as QB-needy groups cross on Shedeur Sanders

Global News Post 43 minutes ago Videos Leave a comment 1 Views

The first pick out of the 2025 NFL draft went a lot as anticipated because the Tennessee Titans decided on the gifted Miami quarterback Cam Ward No 1 total. It was once at No 2 – and who wasn’t picked later – the place issues were given somewhat extra attention-grabbing on Thursday night time in Green Bay.

Jacksonville, who were sitting at No 5, traded as much as take the Cleveland Browns’ spot at No 2, the place the Jaguars decided on Travis Hunter. Hunter is without doubt one of the most enticing gamers to go into the NFL in years: a perfectly gifted athlete who can play each offense, at large receiver, and protection, at cornerback. In go back, the Browns gained 4 selections, together with the Jags’ second- and fourth-rounders this yr and their 2026 first-rounder. Jacksonville additionally gained a fourth-rounder and a sixth-rounder in go back from the Browns.

But one guy whose title wouldn’t be referred to as all night time was once Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders. Some scouts imagine Sanders, who was once coached by means of his Pro Football Hall of Fame father Deion Sanders at Colorado, is a greater prospect that Ward. Others had raised questions on his arm power and readiness for the professionals. The Steelers had been noticed as a imaginable touchdown spot for Sanders however they opted for defensive take on Derrick Harmon with the 21st pick out. The New York Giants then traded for the Texans’ pick out at No 25. They did opt for a quarterback, however as an alternative selected Jaxson Dart of Ole Miss. Sanders will now have to attend till no less than the second one around, which begins on Friday, to be informed his long term.

Ward had no such wait. Titans enthusiasts cheered within the draft theater after listening to his title referred to as. An overpassed highschool participant out of Texas, Ward started his school occupation at Incarnate Word, an FCS faculty in San Antonio. He performed two seasons at Washington State after shifting there in 2022 after which set faculty data in his handiest season at Miami, completing fourth in Heisman Trophy vote casting.

The Titans are coming off a three-win season and feature neglected the playoffs 3 immediately years. Ward is the fourth quarterback Tennessee have drafted within the first around during the last twenty years, becoming a member of Marcus Mariota (No 2, 2015), Jake Locker (No 8, 2011) and Vince Young (No 3, 2006). Mariota is the one QB drafted by means of Tennessee in that span who led the staff to a playoff win. That was once again in 2017. Will Levis, the 33rd total pick out in 2023, is 5-16 as a starter in his two seasons with the Titans.

Ward led the rustic with 39 landing passes and completed moment with 4,313 yards passing whilst main the Hurricanes to a 10-3 file. Ward additionally had handiest seven interceptions and finished 67.2% of his passes.

The most sensible 3 was once rounded out by means of the Giants, who went for Penn State defensive finish Abdul Carter. Carter, who led the rustic with 23.5 tackles for loss and had 12 sacks ultimate season, bolsters a Giants protection that already has forged cross rushers in Kayvon Thibodeaux and Brian Burns and a powerful D-line that incorporates Pro Bowler Dexter Lawrence.

The New England Patriots determined so as to add coverage for Drake Maye, the promising quarterback they took within the first-round ultimate yr, by means of settling on LSU offensive take on Will Campbell. At 6ft 6in and 320lb, Campbell was once a three-year starter for the Tigers and a first-team All-America variety as a junior ultimate season. Campbell performed 37 of his 38 school video games at left take on and logged 2,451 snaps. He allowed simply two sacks during the last two seasons, and now his process can be to offer protection to the blind aspect of Maye.

The Browns had been at No 5 after their business with the Jaguars they usually selected Michigan defensive take on Mason Graham, the defensive MVP of the Rose Bowl all through Michigan’s nationwide championship season in 2023.

“We felt like it was a fantastic opportunity for our organization to go down three spots and add a player in the trenches,” Browns GM Andrew Berry mentioned of the business with the Jags after settling on Graham.

The first operating backpedal the board arrived when the Las Vegas Raiders took a large step to addressing the NFL’s worst dashing offense by means of settling on Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty with the 6th total pick out. Las Vegas averaged simply 79.8 yards dashing consistent with recreation ultimate season, and Jeanty would possibly remind Raiders trainer Pete Carroll of Marshawn Lynch, whom he coached in Seattle. Jeanty steadily went his personal model of “Beast Mode” at Boise State and was once the one participant, in keeping with Pro Football Focus, to hurry for greater than 1,000 yards ultimate season on performs that incorporated a damaged take on.

The New York Jets decided on Missouri offensive take on Armand Membou with the 7th pick out. Arizona large receiver Tetairoa McMillan went to the Carolina Panthers with the No 8 pick out. The New Orleans Saints selected Texas offensive take on Kelvin Banks Jr at No 9.

Michigan’s Colston Loveland was the primary tight finish off the board when the Chicago Bears decided on him at No 10. Loveland set a faculty file for a decent finish with 56 receptions for 582 yards and 5 touchdowns as a junior ultimate season. Loveland provides the Bears a doubtlessly potent tight finish tandem with Cole Kmet. New trainer Ben Johnson favored to make use of two tight ends when he was once Detroit’s offensive coordinator.

There was once a roar from the house crowd in Green Bay once they took the gifted Texas large receiver, Matthew Golden, at No 23. It broke a protracted pattern for the Packers: that they had now not picked a large receiver within the first around since 2002.

—