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FFL: Preseason | NFL: Week 1

Titans land QB Cam Ward, Jaguars splash with Travis Hunter move

Thu Apr 24 9:07pm ET
Field Level Media

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- After the Tennessee Titans tabbed Miami quarterback Cam Ward as the first overall pick of the 2025 NFL Draft as expected, the Jacksonville Jaguars traded up from No. 5 to grab Colorado's two-way star Travis Hunter with the second pick.

In addition to the second overall pick, which they used to select the 2024 Heisman winner, the Jaguars also received a fourth-round pick and sixth-round pick. The Browns received the No. 5 overall pick and selected Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham. Cleveland also received second- and fourth-round picks this year, and a first-round pick in 2026.

Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi said the franchise was almost certain Ward would be the pick before the NFL Scouting Combine in February even before meeting the person because of what they saw from him as a player.

"We pretty much had all the questions answered probably three weeks (before) the draft," he said.

At No. 3, the New York Giants selected Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter and the New England Patriots followed by making a promised upgrade to the offensive line in front of 2024 No. 3 pick Drake Maye. The Patriots welcomed LSU left tackle Will Campbell at No. 4.

Despite speculation other teams were angling to move ahead of the Raiders, Las Vegas held onto the No. 6 pick and went with Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty. Jeanty rushed for 2,601 yards and 29 touchdowns in 2024. The Raiders were No. 32 in the league in rushing with 1,357 total yards and no ballcarrier with more than 420 yards.

Ward passed for 4,313 yards and 39 touchdowns, both single-season school records, last season at Miami, being named ACC Player of the Year. He began his collegiate career with two seasons at FCS Incarnate Word before transferring to Washington State, where he played two more seasons, before his final season at Miami.

Hunter, who followed coach Deion Sanders from Jackson State to Colorado, had 96 receptions last season for 1,258 yards, averaging 13.1 per catch with 15 touchdowns.

Jeanty finished his college career with 4,769 rushing yards and 50 rushing touchdowns. He also caught 80 passes in his career with six scores.

--Jim Hoehn, Field Level Media

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Player Notes
Justin Fields Apr 24 8:10pm CT
Justin Fields

The New York Jets selected Missouri right tackle Armand Membou with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft on Thursday night. Membou showed at the scouting combine that he has the ability to be a Pro Bowl right tackle as he transitions to the NFL. He has very powerful hands and is a plug-and-play guy right away for a Jets offensive line that is already pretty strong on the inside. The 21-year-old stands at 6-foot-4 and 332 pounds. It's not prototypical size for a right tackle, but Membou makes up for it with his power and showed that he was plenty dominant for the Tigers in 2024. He plays with quickness and plenty of body control as well. The addition of Membou is great news for new Jets quarterback Justin Fields and running back Breece Hall if he remains with the organization heading into the 2025 season this fall.

From RotoBaller

Tetairoa McMillan Apr 24 8:10pm CT
Tetairoa McMillan

The Carolina Panthers selected Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft on Thursday night. McMillan is a big-play receiver that has drawn comparisons to Tampa Bay Buccaneers wideout Mike Evans, who is a future Hall of Famer. He has the ability to make the contested catches down the field, which will be a big plus for developing young quarterback Bryce Young as he looks to take the next step in Year 3. McMillan has a big catch radius like Evans, but the question at the NFL level will become whether the former Wildcat can create consistent separation from cornerbacks. In Carolina, he'll add to the Panthers receiver depth and should slot in at least as the team's No. 3 behind Xavier Legette and veteran Adam Thielen. McMillan has the ability to play inside as well. He could be a strong wideout for years to come, but for fantasy, it's not the greatest landing spot for 2025.

From RotoBaller

Ashton Jeanty Apr 24 8:00pm CT
Ashton Jeanty

The Las Vegas Raiders selected Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft on Thursday night. The Raiders were connected to Jeanty all along as they looked for a true RB1 in their backfield. Jeanty was the Heisman Trophy runner-up and is a true workhorse with elite game-breaking ability and tackle-breaking abilities. Ball security will be key for Jeanty heading to the next level, but he should be an immediate impact player for the Raiders backfield and in fantasy. Veteran Raheem Mostert will back him up in Vegas in his first year in the NFL. Jeanty is built like a body builder and has been compared to Emmitt Smith. He has future All-Pro talent and has the chops to become one of the next faces of the NFL if he can avoid serious injuries. Jeanty will be a top-three selection in rookie-only drafts this fall.

From RotoBaller

Drake Maye Apr 24 7:50pm CT
Drake Maye

The New England Patriots selected LSU offensive tackle Will Campbell with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft on Thursday night. This one was expected as the Patriots look to bolster their offensive line in front of young quarterback Drake Maye. There are concerns about Campbell's arm length as he heads to the next level, but he can make up for it with elite athleticism. Campbell has always been a left tackle in his football career and is expected to stick at the position as he heads to the NFL to protect Maye's blind side. The 21-year-old is excellent in run protection as well as protecting the quarterback. The Louisiana native stands at 6-foot-6, 319 pounds. Despite having short arm, Campbell has elite hands and uses them as well as anybody in this draft at the position. If he stays healthy, Campbell should be a staple for the Pats on the left side of the O-line.

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Myles Garrett Apr 24 7:50pm CT
Myles Garrett

The Cleveland Browns selected Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft on Thursday night. Cleveland came into Thursday evening with the No. 2 overall pick, but they completed a blockbuster deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars to move down to No. 5. Graham is a two-time All-American from Los Angeles and was also a star wrestler in high school. The 21-year-old is versatile and disruptive, although his numbers didn't exactly stand out at the collegiate level. Graham has the ability to make tackles everywhere and has strong hands at the point of contact. The Browns will now try to school him up as a pure pass-rusher to help out Myles Garrett on the outside. If Graham develops into more of a pure pass-rusher, Cleveland will be very satisfied with his pick after dropping back several spots for more draft capital.

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Travis Hunter Apr 24 7:40pm CT
Travis Hunter

The Cleveland Browns have traded the No. 2 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft to the Jacksonville Jaguars in exchange for the fifth overall pick, the 36th pick, and a 2026 first-round pick. The Jaguars will also receive the 104th and 200th overall picks. In the first blockbuster trade on Thursday night, the Jaguars traded up to acquire the second overall pick, likely to be used on Colorado WR/DB Travis Hunter.

From RotoBaller

Kayvon Thibodeaux Apr 24 7:40pm CT
Kayvon Thibodeaux

The New York Giants selected Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft on Thursday night. Carter was hands down the best defensive prospect in this year's draft class and was a unanimous All-American selection. He lived in opponent's backfield and led FBS with 23.5 tackles for loss in 2024. Carter will combine with Kayvon Thibodeaux and Brian Burns for the Giants to boost their pass rush moving forward in a division that includes the reigning Super Bowl-champion Philadelphia Eagles. Carter has an amazing first step off the line as he rushes the passer and has a high motor. Despite dealing with several injuries during the pre-draft process -- he didn't require surgery for his foot -- the 21-year-old didn't fall outside of the top five picks this year. Carter could make the kind of immediate impact that Micah Parsons did in Dallas.

From RotoBaller

Travis Hunter Apr 24 7:30pm CT
Travis Hunter

The Jacksonville Jaguars completed a blockbuster trade with the Cleveland Browns to move up to the No. 2 overall pick to take University of Colorado wide receiver/defensive back Travis Hunter in the 2025 NFL draft on Thursday night. The 21-year-old is a unicorn for his ability to be elite as both a defender and offensive skill player. The general consensus is that he will make a bigger mark as a cornerback initially in his NFL career, but Jaguars new head coach Liam Coen surely has designs in mind to use him on offense as well alongside Brian Thomas Jr., Dyami Brown and Parker Washington. Not only will Hunter immediately be another weapon for quarterback Trevor Lawrence, but he'll be a key addition to a Jacksonville secondary that was quite honestly brutally bad in 2024. For fantasy purposes, Hunter will likely struggle to make an immediate impact in 2025 with limited snaps on offense per game.

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Cam Ward Apr 24 7:20pm CT
Cam Ward

As expected, the Tennessee Titans selected University of Miami quarterback Cam Ward with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft on Thursday night. This had been the expectation for several weeks now. The Titans fell in love with Ward quickly after meeting with him for the first time at the scouting combine in February. The 22-year-old has good size, a big arm and plenty of mobility to make plays outside of the pocket. In his only year with the Hurricanes, Ward threw for a career-high 4,313 passing yards, 39 touchdowns and seven interceptions while racking up 204 rushing yards and four TDs on 60 carries. He should be considered more of a pocket passer at the next level, where he figures to start immediately over former second-rounder Will Levis. Look for the Titans to try and clean up his mechanics to help with his accuracy. Ward has the skills to be a solid NFL starter in time, but inconsistencies should be expected in Year 1.

From RotoBaller

Drake Maye Apr 24 5:50pm CT
Drake Maye

New England Patriots brass traveled to Louisiana in recent days to visit with LSU offensive lineman Will Campbell, sources told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. The Patriots have been linked to the All-American tackle with their No. 4 overall pick in this year's NFL draft and did more homework on him late in the process. The Patriots have been fielding calls to trade out of the fourth overall pick in the days leading up to the first round on Thursday night, but if they hold onto the pick and both Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter and Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter are off the board, they are expected to call Campbell's name as they try to build up their offensive line in front of young quarterback Drake Maye. The biggest knock on Campbell as a potential bust at the next level is due to his short arms for an offensive lineman.

From RotoBaller

Omarion Hampton Apr 24 5:40pm CT
Omarion Hampton

A source who keeps his finger squarely on the pulse of the league suggests that North Carolina running back Omarion Hampton could fall to the Pittsburgh Steelers at pick No. 21 in the first round of this year's NFL draft on Thursday night. The thinking is that the Denver Broncos prefer Ohio State RB TreVeyon Henderson and are willing to trade up a few spots to secure him. It's a very deep draft at the RB position this year, which means as many as three or four RBs could be taken in the first round. After Najee Harris landed with the Los Angeles Chargers in free agency, the Steelers certainly are in the market for a new RB to help share the backfield load with Jaylen Warren in 2025. If the Steelers were to select Hampton in the first round, he'd be expected to lead the team in backfield touches by the end of his rookie season despite the presence of Warren.

From RotoBaller

Jaxson Dart Apr 24 5:30pm CT
Jaxson Dart

The Athletic's Jeff Howe is hearing from teams that wouldn't be shocked if Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart is the second QB off the board after Miami's Cam Ward goes to the Tennessee Titans at No. 1 overall. There will be a potential race at the quarterback position later in the first round on Thursday night, and the New York Giants, New Orleans Saints, Los Angeles Rams and Pittsburgh Steelers have been showing interest in Dart. The Athletic's Dianna Russini reports that the Giants are trying to acquire a second first-round pick at the back end of the round for the very purpose of landing a signal-caller. The belief is that teams trying to trade back into the first round for a QB will need to jump the Steelers at No. 21. The G-Men signed veterans Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston in free agency, but they are fully expected to draft a QB this week to potentially compete with Wilson for the starting gig in training camp.

From RotoBaller

TreVeyon Henderson Apr 24 5:30pm CT
TreVeyon Henderson

The Denver Broncos, who hold the No. 20 overall pick in the first round of Thursday night's NFL draft, could trade up a few spots to take Ohio State running back TreVeyon Henderson, a source who keeps his finger squarely on the pulse of the league tells Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio. The Broncos don't seem likely to trade all the way up into the top 10 to grab Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty, mainly because they like both Henderson and North Carolina's Omarion Hampton plenty. Even if head coach Sean Payton passes on a RB in the first round on Thursday evening, we'd expect the Broncos to come away with a rookie rusher at some point this week. Javonte Williams departed in free agency, and Denver desperately needs to upgrade their ground game alongside Jaleel McLaughlin and Audric Estime. Henderson would immediately become the favorite for RB1 duties if he were to land with the Broncos.

From RotoBaller

Ben Johnson Apr 24 5:20pm CT
Ben Johnson

The Chicago Bears are among the teams making calls in an attempt to trade up from No. 10 overall in Thursday night's first round of the 2025 NFL draft, sources tell The Athletic's Dianna Russini. Teams think that the Bears are trying to move up from 10th overall in an effort to land Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty, who is the consensus top RB this year in a deep draft class at the position. It was reported weeks ago that the Bears are in love with Jeanty, and they might feel the need to jump in front of the Las Vegas Raiders at No. 6 overall if they feel he's a must-have piece for the offense in head coach Ben Johnson's first year with the team. If the Bears to select Jeanty on Thursday night, it would obviously be bad news for D'Andre Swift's fantasy value heading into the 2025 season. The belief is Johnson would use a Jeanty-Swift tandem similarly to how he used Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery in Detroit.

From RotoBaller

Shedeur Sanders Apr 24 5:10pm CT
Shedeur Sanders

The Cleveland Browns acquired a 2025 fifth-round pick (No. 166 overall) and a fifth-rounder in the 2027 draft on Thursday from the Houston Texans in exchange for two 2025 sixth-round picks (one at No. 179 overall and one at No. 216 overall) and a 2025 seventh-rounder (No. 255 overall), according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The Browns hold the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft on Thursday night, and if they don't trade back within the first round, they are expected to take Colorado wide receiver/defensive back Travis Hunter with that selection. The Browns have also been rumored to be looking at trading back into the back half of the first round on Thursday evening to potentially take Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart. The No. 2 overall selection is viewed as much too high to take a chance on Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders.

From RotoBaller

Kirk Cousins Apr 24 5:10pm CT
Kirk Cousins

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins could watch the first round of this year's NFL draft on Thursday night to see what the QB landscape looks like before waiving his no-trade clause on Friday to allow for a possible trade. However, Underdog's James Palmer writes that it seems more and more likely that Cousins could be waiting to see how the second round plays out on Friday night before making any decisions. The 36-year-old veteran signal-caller has made it clear that he wants to be a starter elsewhere over serving as Michael Penix Jr.'s backup in 2025. After Penix took over for the struggling Cousins late last year, the veteran QB prefers to be traded to a team that doesn't have a young up-and-coming signal-caller on the roster already. The Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers and Minnesota Vikings have been mentioned as the three most likely candidates to consider trading for Cousins during the draft.

From RotoBaller

Deebo Samuel Apr 24 2:00pm CT
Deebo Samuel

The Washington Commanders are trying to trade back from the No. 29 overall pick in Thursday's 2025 NFL Draft, according to NFL insider Dianna Russini. However, if the team sticks with the pick, they are likely to take a defensive player. Washington has just five total picks in this year's draft after sending a fifth-round pick for wide receiver former 49ers Deebo Samuel Sr. and two mid-round picks for former Texans offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil. That said, a potential move-back for additional picks makes sense in a draft class that is not considered to be strong in the first round. If Washington stays at No. 29, the top edge rusher on its board could be the target.

From RotoBaller

Tyler Lockett Apr 24 2:00pm CT
Tyler Lockett

The Tennessee Titans signed veteran free-agent wide receiver Tyler Lockett to a one-year, $4 million deal on Wednesday. According to Titans insider Paul Kuharsky, the team views him as "primarily a slot who can still threaten downfield and be used on some outside routes." Before this signing, Van Jefferson or Treylon Burks was slated to be Tennessee's No. 2 receiver behind Calvin Ridley following the departure of Nick Westbrook-Ikhine. Lockett brings another veteran presence to the wide receiver room, and he'll presumably catch passes from rookie quarterback Cam Ward in 2025. While Lockett's arrival slightly improves Tennessee's pass-catching group, they are likely to continue to address the position on Day 2 or Day 3 of the 2025 NFL Draft.

From RotoBaller

Travis Hunter Apr 24 1:40pm CT
Travis Hunter

According to NFL insider Ian Rapoport, the Jaguars are the "team to watch" heading into Thursday night's 2025 NFL Draft. Specifically, the team could make the move up for the No. 2 overall pick to land Colorado wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter. Jacksonville has also been rumored to be interested in selecting Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty, so their draft-night activity is a top storyline to watch. New general manager James Gladstone is heading into his first draft with the organization and could be looking to make a big splash to bring in one of the "blue-chip" prospects in this year's class. If Hunter lands in Duval County, Trevor Lawrence might have one of the top wide receiver duos in the NFL in Brian Thomas Jr. and Hunter.

From RotoBaller

Colston Loveland Apr 24 1:40pm CT
Colston Loveland

Former University of Michigan tight end Colston Loveland is the top tight end on some NFL teams' draft boards and could be the first tight end selected during the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft on Thursday, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Penn State's Tyler Warren has been viewed as the clear TE1 in this class by many, but the other All-Big Ten performer could go off the board before him. Despite playing in run-heavy offenses, Loveland hauled in 101 passes for 1,231 yards and nine touchdowns over the last two seasons. He is a sharper run-router than Warren and could be ready to make an immediate impact as a pass-catcher. The Indianapolis Colts, New York Jets, and Los Angeles Chargers are potential top suitors for him on Day 1.

From RotoBaller