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.
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.
Fans gather at the NFL Draft stage during the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft at Lambeau Field on April 24, 2025 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
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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 big question mark of the night appeared to be where Hunter’s teammate — Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders, son of NFL legend Deion Sanders — would land, and whether he could drop 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.
A second quarterback wasn’t taken until pick No. 25, when the New York Giants traded back into the first round to snag Jaxson Dart of Ole Miss.
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.
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No. 2: Jacksonville Jaguars (via trade with Cleveland) — CB/WR Travis Hunter, Colorado
Wide Receiver/Cornerback Travis Hunter of Colorado arrives prior to the 2025 NFL Draft at Lambeau Field on April 24, 2025 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
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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.
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No. 4: New England Patriots — OT Will Campbell, LSU
Offensive Tackle Will Campbell of LSU walks the stage prior to the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft at Lambeau Field on April 24, 2025 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
Tight end Colston Loveland of Michigan speaks at the podium during the 2025 NFL Combine at the Indiana Convention Center on Feb. 27, 2025, in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Brooke Sutton / Getty Images
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.
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No. 12: Dallas Cowboys — G Tyler Booker, Alabama
Guard Tyler Booker of Alabama poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected twelfth overall pick by the Dallas Cowboys during the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft at Lambeau Field on April 24, 2025 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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: Kansas City Chiefs
No. 32: Philadelphia Eagles
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Faris Tanyos
Faris 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.
