NFL draft: Titans take QB Cam Ward No. 1; Shedeur Sanders still on the board

GREEN BAY, Wis. — In a first round when nine defensive linemen were drafted, NFL teams found a different way Thursday night to disrupt the quarterback.

They ignored him.

Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, once widely predicted to go first overall, instead was bypassed 32 times, even as his college teammate was selected almost immediately.

No. 32 Kansas City Chiefs: Josh Simmons, OT (Ohio State) — Began his career at San Diego State before transferring to the Buckeyes. Suffered a torn patellar tendon that ended his 2024 season after six games.

Sam Farmer’s analysis: Began his career as a right tackle, switched to left tackle. Coming off a knee injury and dropped in draft.

No. 31 Philadelphia Eagles: Jihaad Campbell, LB (Alabama) — The Crimson Tide’s leading tackler who contributed five sacks, 11½ tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and an interception last season. Extremely versatile.

The Eagles moved up a spot in the draft by sending their 32nd pick and No. 164 picks to the Kansas City Chiefs.

Sam Farmer’s analysis: The Eagles, who lost Nakobe Dean in playoffs, traded up to take an old-school middle linebacker.

The Rams did not make a pick Thursday night in the first round of the NFL draft. But next year they will have the opportunity to make two.

That math worked just fine for general manager Les Snead and coach Sean McVay.

The Rams traded the 26th pick and a third-round pick to the Atlanta Falcons for a second-round pick and a seventh-round pick this year and a first-round pick next year.

No. 30 Buffalo Bills: Maxwell Hairston, CB (Kentucky) — Ran the fastest 40 at the combine, a scorching 4.28. Had five interceptions last season, three of which he returned for touchdowns.

Sam Farmer’s analysis: The Bills need someone to line up opposite Christian Benford, and Hairston could be up to the task.

No. 29 Washington Commanders: Josh Conerly Jr., OT (Oregon) — First-team All-Big Ten selection last season. Began his high school career as a running back.

Sam Farmer’s analysis: Conerly can play left tackle or guard, and the Commanders need to do whatever they can to protect Jayden Daniels.

No. 28 Detroit Lions: Tyleik Williams, DT (Ohio State) — Extremely quick and instinctive. A second-team All-American in 2023 who last season had 2½ sacks and eight tackles for loss.

Sam Farmer’s analysis: With the outstanding Alim McNeill coming off a torn ACL, the Lions needed to get another run stopper to clog the middle.

No. 27 Baltimore Ravens: Malaki Starks, S (Georgia) — Instinctive and versatile, Starks can line up all over. Very fast, although he didn’t show that as much at the scouting combine.

Sam Farmer’s analysis: Paired with Kyle Hamilton, Starks can be a big addition to a franchise that historically has been exceptional at that position.

No. 26 Atlanta Falcons: James Pearce Jr., DE (Tennessee) — Fastest defensive lineman at the combine, running the 40 in 4.47 seconds. Two-time All-SEC selection. Had 19½ sacks in his college career.

The Falcons got the 26th pick and a third-rounder in this year’s draft from the Rams in exchange for a second-round pick (No. 46), a seventh-round pick (No. 242) this year and a 2026 first-round selection.

Sam Farmer’s analysis: Falcons take two edge rushers in the first round. Yes, they are determined to rectify their pass-rush problems.

No. 25 New York Giants: Jaxson Dart, QB (Mississippi) — The former USC quarterback transferred to Mississippi in 2022 to play under Lane Kiffin. He threw for 81 touchdowns with 27 interceptions in three seasons.

For the No. 25 pick, the Giants sent the Houston Texans their 34th and 99th picks in this year’s draft, plus a third-round pick in 2026.

Sam Farmer’s analysis: Many people thought it would be Shedeur Sanders, but mobile Dart — formerly of USC — turned a lot of heads.

No. 24 Minnesota Vikings: Donovan Jackson, G (Ohio State) — The two-time All-Big Ten selection will help bolster the Vikings’ passing and running games.

Sam Farmer’s analysis: Jackson started at left guard, then moved out to left tackle. Vikings need a left guard to solidify interior of offensive line.

The Chargers ran down the clock on their first-round selection, but the delay shouldn’t be interpreted as doubt.

The choice of Omarion Hampton was unanimous.

No. 23 Green Bay Packers: Matthew Golden, WR (Texas) — Averaged 17.0 yards per catch last season, scoring nine touchdowns. Returned 14 kickoffs for 437 yards. Ran a 4.29-second 40.

Sam Farmer’s analysis: Packers draft a receiver in the opening round for the first time since taking Javon Walker in 2002. Scorching-fast field stretcher.

No. 22 Chargers: Omarion Hampton, RB (North Carolina) — Rushed for 1,660 yards in 281 carries last season, scoring 15 touchdowns. Big back at 6 feet, 220 pounds.

Sam Farmer’s analysis: Jim Harbaugh is all about establishing the ground game. Adding fuel to Hampton’s fire: the Broncos passed on him.

No. 21 Pittsburgh Steelers: Derrick Harmon, DT (Oregon) — An outstanding pass rusher who led FBS defensive tackles with 55 pressures. He also contributed five sacks and 10½ tackles for loss.

Sam Farmer’s analysis: Cam Heyward will be 36 heading into the season, and he could help round Harmon into an outstanding interior rusher.

No. 20 Denver Broncos: Jahdae Barron, CB (Texas) — An outstanding player in the slot and a player with a knack for making a big play. He can cover tight ends and tough on short passes.

Sam Farmer’s analysis: Barron, who ran a 4.39 40, is a great tackler who has an excellent soon-to-be mentor in Pat Surtain. Broncos can move him all over.

No. 19 Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Emeka Egbuka, WR (Ohio State) — Buckeyes’ all-time leading receiver. With Chris Godwin coming off an injury, the Buccaneers need to stock the shelves at WR.

Sam Farmer’s analysis: In four seasons with the Buckeyes, he caught 205 balls for 2,868 yards and 24 touchdowns. Ten of those scores came last season.

No. 18 Seattle Seahawks: Grey Zabel, G (North Dakota State) — North Dakota State led the nation in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns, and Zabel was a fixture on that offensive line.

Sam Farmer’s analysis: Fourth year in last five this school has had an offensive lineman drafted. Seahawks had to address vulnerability at interior OL.

No. 17 Cincinnati Bengals: Shemar Stewart, Edge (Texas A&M) — Athletic specimen who didn’t put up jaw-dropping numbers. Can play multiple spots along the defensive line. Limited to 1½ sacks and one forced fumble last season.

Sam Farmer’s analysis: Bengals defensive line is Trey Henderson and a bunch of guys. Stewart looks better physically than his modest sack numbers.

No. 16 Arizona Cardinals: Walter Nolen, DT (Mississippi) — A key part of the Mississippi defense that set school records last season in sacks (52) and tackles for loss (120). First-team All-SEC and All-America.

Sam Farmer analysis: Front seven is in middle of an overhaul. Cardinals hope he’s more productive than 2024 1st-rounder Darius Robinson (one sack).

No. 15 Atlanta Falcons: Jalon Walker, Edge (Georgia) — Won the Butkus Award as the nation’s top linebacker. Can play inside and on the edge. Puts heavy pressure on quarterbacks.

Sam Farmer’s analysis: The Falcons were 31st in the league with just 31 sacks last season. Can move all over a defensive front and contribute.

No. 14 Indianapolis Colts: Tyler Warren, TE (Penn State) — The Big Ten receptions leader caught 104 passes last season for 1,233 yards and eight touchdowns. Can also run the ball, with 32 carries for 224 yards and six touchdowns in his college career.

Sam Farmer analysis: Colts had next to no production from their tight ends last season. Warren caught 104 passes in 2024 and is very versatile.

No. 13 Miami Dolphins: Kenneth Grant, DT (Michigan) — A mountain at 340 pounds but moves extremely well. Had 6½ tackles for loss and three sacks last season. A key component to Michigan’s stifling run defense.

Sam Farmer’s analysis: Second Michigan DT off the board. Dolphins have major turnover at the position, including Calais Campbell returning to Cardinals.

Many Southern California high school football programs have distinguished roll calls when it comes to alumni who have made it to the NFL, but one of those schools achieved something remarkable Thursday night.

Servite became the first school in California history to have two players selected in the top 10 of the same NFL draft, according to CalHi Sports and HSFA data. Defensive tackle Mason Graham was drafted at No. 5 by the Cleveland Browns and wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan was selected eighth overall by the Carolina Panthers.

No. 12 Dallas Cowboys: Tyler Booker, G, (Alabama) — A converted defensive lineman, Booker is particularly adept at run blocking.

Sam Farmer’s analysis: With the retirement of nine-time Pro Bowl guard Zack Martin, the Cowboys needed a forklift-strong force in the interior.

No. 11 San Francisco 49ers: Mykel Williams, DE (Georgia) — Plays faster than his 4.77 40 suggests. Led the Bulldogs in pressures in 2022 and ’23. Had five sacks and two forced fumbles last season.

Sam Farmer’s analysis: The 49ers have long searched for a bookend to Nick Bosa, and now they have one. Ramps up rush off the edge.

No. 10 Chicago Bears: Colston Loveland, TE (Michigan) — An All-American last season, Loveland caught 56 passes for 582 yards and five touchdowns. In his Michigan career, he scored 11 touchdowns in three seasons.

Sam Farmer’s analysis: The Bears have Cole Kmet, but they wanted another receiving option for Caleb Williams. Loveland is a solid blocker as well.

No. 9 New Orleans Saints: Kelvin Banks Jr. OT (Texas) — A three-year starter and two-time All-American, Banks played tackle throughout his college career but might move inside in the NFL.

Sam Farmer’s analysis: The Saints have had a revolving door at right guard. They pass on the chance to take a quarterback and instead focus on the OL.

No. 8 Carolina Panthers: Tetairoa McMillan, WR (Arizona) — Set a bunch of school records, finishing his career with 213 receptions for 3,423 yards with 26 touchdowns.

Sam Farmer’s analysis: Joins Graham as the second former Servite High School player taken in the top 10. Some scouts have compared this tall target to a young Mike Evans.

No. 7 New York Jets: Armand Membou, OT/G (Missouri) — The super-athletic Membou might best fit in the NFL as a center or guard, as he doesn’t have ideal arm length for a tackle. Strong and sturdy, particularly in the run game.

Sam Farmer’s analysis: Membou will step in at right tackle and will join an offensive line that now has three first-round picks on it. Fourth OL taken by Jets since 2020.

No. 6 Las Vegas Raiders: Ashton Jeanty, RB (Boise State) — Astounding average of 7.0 yards per carry last season with 29 rushing touchdowns. Also caught 41 passes for 810 yards and 10 touchdowns. Second in Heisman voting.

Sam Farmer’s analysis: Raiders had one 100-yard rushing game last season. The best running back in this draft class will change that. Moves like Maurice Jones-Drew.

No. 5 Cleveland Browns: Mason Graham, DT (Michigan) — Graham, a former wrestler, was a finalist for both the Bronco Nagurski and Outland Trophies. He was defensive MVP of the Rose Bowl in 2023. Part of a defense that allowed just 2.6 yards per rush when he was on the field.

Sam Farmer’s analysis: Michigan standout heads to rival state of Ohio. Browns needed someone to ramp up that interior pass rush.

No. 4 New England Patriots: Will Campbell, OT (Louisiana State) — A three-time All-SEC pick, Campbell has plenty of experience. He has relatively short arms, however, which create something of a challenge as to where on the line he’ll best fit as a pro.

Sam Farmer’s analysis: Scouts have some concerns that Campbell’s arms are not overly long, but this blind-side protector will be a bodyguard for QB Drake Maye.

No. 3 New York Giants: Abdul Carter, Edge (Penn State) — Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and unanimous All-American. Twelve sacks last season and two forced fumbles. Ran a 4.48 40-yard dash.

Sam Farmer’s analysis: Giants will forever lament passing on Micah Parsons. They weren’t going to allow this superior edge rusher slip past them.

No. 2 Jacksonville Jaguars: Travis Hunter WR / CB (Colorado) — Won the Heisman Trophy last season, becoming the second defensive player to do so after Charles Woodson. Played both receiver and cornerback for the Buffaloes.

Sam Farmer’s analysis: The Jaguars make a big trade up to land the two-way player who Browns GM calls the NFL’s answer to Shohei Ohtani.

The Jaguars got the second-overall pick, the 104th overall and 200th overall picks from the Cleveland Browns, who received the fifth, 36th and 126th overall picks in the 2025 draft and a 2026 first-rounder.

No. 1 Tennessee Titans: Cam Ward, QB (Miami) — Ward played for three college teams in five seasons: Incarnate Word, Washington State and Miami. He had 39 touchdowns and seven interceptions last season.

Sam Farmer’s analysis: Ward gives the club a better and more accurate decision maker. Titans last took a quarterback in the first round in 2015, with Marcus Mariota at No. 2.

As they moved from station to station in the shadow of the Chargers’ practice facility, Tyler Conklin seemingly never strayed too far from Justin Herbert. No moment is too early for a new tight end to strike up a relationship with the star quarterback.

“He’s a really special guy,” Conklin said Tuesday as the Chargers began their offseason program. “He obviously has the arm, can make every throw on the field, which is crucial, but also just the athleticism he has to extend plays. I think he can do a lot of things that just elevates everybody around him and that’s really exciting to be around.”

With Herbert still at the center of the team’s plans, the Chargers spent the first phase of free agency hoping to surround the quarterback with steady playmakers. Conklin caught 51 passes for 449 yards receiving and a career-best four touchdowns for the New York Jets last season before signing with the Chargers on a one-year contract. Fellow free agents Mike Williams and Najee Harris were also seen on the field Tuesday on the first day of voluntary offseason workouts.

Already planned for an early kickoff to Week 1 in Brazil, the Chargers will get an early start to their preseason too when they face the Detroit Lions in the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio, the NFL announced Wednesday.

The game will take place July 31 at 5 p.m. PDT to open the NFL preseason. The Chargers will honor former tight end Antonio Gates, who was selected for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in February.

Jalen Ramsey helped the Rams win a Super Bowl title in the 2021 season before he was traded to the Miami Dolphins a year later in a cost-cutting move.

Could the Rams and the three-time All-Pro cornerback reunite?

As NFL teams prepare for this week’s draft, the Dolphins have made it known that Ramsey is available to be traded. Rams general manager Les Snead said Tuesday that he had been in contact with the Dolphins as part of annual draft-week conversations.

Matthew Stafford is the Rams’ starting quarterback.

For now.

And perhaps for several more seasons.

But how much longer the 16-year veteran and Super Bowl champion will play is unclear, and the team is preparing for the post-Stafford era.

Perhaps a replacement will fall into place as soon as this week’s NFL draft, which begins Thursday. The Rams have the No. 26 pick in the first round and seven other picks.

Cam Ward of Miami, Shedeur Sanders of Colorado, Jaxson Dart of Mississippi, Tyler Shough of Louisville and Jalen Milroe of Alabama are among the top quarterbacks in this class. Not that Rams general manager Les Snead or coach Sean McVay acknowledges much interest.

Matthew Stafford does not play a role in the Rams’ draft process. But “every once in a while,” the veteran quarterback said, the team might ask for his opinion about a prospect.

Stafford, however, does not dig very deep, confident that the Rams’ brain trust will make the right picks.

“I’m excited that I’m not in the green room again,” said Stafford, the top pick in the 2009 draft. “I just get to sit back, relax and see who’s going to be a big, integral part of what we’re doing this year.”

The Rams are entering the draft on a roll. In the last two drafts they selected players such as star receiver Puka Nacua, defensive tackle Kobie Turner, edge rusher Jared Verse and defensive lineman Braden Fiske. All were finalists for the league’s offensive or defensive rookie-of-the-year awards, with Verse winning last year.

Compared to his first NFL draft as a general manager when he owned the fifth overall pick, Joe Hortiz’s phone has been eerily silent this draft season. That’s how the Chargers GM knows his strategy is working.

“We’re going to try to pick as late as we can every year,” Hortiz said.

The 22nd pick in Thursday’s draft has attracted fewer trade propositions than last year’s selection, Hortiz acknowledged, but he’s happy to keep picking later in the first round if it means the Chargers can build on last season’s success. Hortiz set the table for the Chargers’ 11-win season by acing his first draft and hopes for an equally impressive encore this week.

The three-day draft brings a rarely seen sparkle to the eye of the former Baltimore Ravens scout. This is, as Hortiz called it, “the scout Super Bowl.”

Sam Farmer takes you on a brief tour of the media area at the 2025 NFL draft in Green Bay.

The Rams once again are on the move for the NFL draft.

But for the first time in five years, coach Sean McVay and general manager Les Snead will not make their picks from a luxury home transformed into a Rams-centric draft house.

The Rams will conduct the April 24-26 draft from the Los Angeles Fire Department Air Operations headquarters in Van Nuys, the team announced Thursday.

The quaint neighborhood surrounding Lambeau Field is unlike any other near an NFL stadium.

The parking prices? Those are pretty familiar.

Those fans looking to park close to the draft had to shell out $100 and sometimes as much as $200 for a spot in somebody’s driveway or on one of the neatly maintained lawns.

The pricier places offered amenities: Bathroom’s open.

There are a couple of draft traditions that Roger Goodell has learned to embrace over the years. One is “the boo” — he knows he’s going to get a Bronx cheer from fans in attendance, it’s part of the job — and the other is “the hug,” when he and just-drafted players greet each other with a bear hug on stage.

That was something of an issue last year when the commissioner was fresh off back surgery.

“These guys get the best of me. They’re big and they’re strong, and it is that emotional time,” Goodell said Wednesday at the annual fan forum. “I don’t think they even really remember how strong they are.”

Super-fans of every NFL franchise are selected by the league and invited to the forum, which took place in the ballroom of a resort hotel in Green Bay. The commissioner participated in a fireside chat, then spent more than an hour answering questions and posing for pictures with the roughly 200 fans in attendance, some of them from European markets.

As for the ritual of the hug, Goodell said: “I literally went to my one-year checkup a couple weeks ago,” he said. “My doctor said, ‘If that happens again, I think I’m going to lose my [mind].’”

Added Goodell: “I did ask [a player], ‘If you’re going to do it, just go high.’ And he did. It didn’t hurt, and I’m okay. So it was a good moment.”

It was 25 years ago that Michigan quarterback Tom Brady waited and waited to be selected in the NFL. Finally, he was picked 199th overall… and went on to win seven Super Bowl rings.

Brady is the patron saint of the passed-over passers, and this Los Angeles Times beat-writer mock draft has plenty of those.

The University of Miami’s Cam Ward is chosen first overall in this reporters’ mock, but he’s the only quarterback selected in this opening round. This scenario contemplates Hall of Famer Deion Sanders languishing in the green room as his son, Shedeur, Colorado’s former quarterback, is left waiting far longer than many people have predicted to hear his name called.

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Could there be a stunner brewing at the NFL draft?

It’s widely expected that University of Miami quarterback Cam Ward will be the first overall selection Thursday night by the Tennessee Titans.

But the real mystery lies in what happens next, and whether Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders doesn’t have to wait too long to hear his name called or if he’ll be waiting around for a team to pick him. Either way, he won’t in the green room. The son of Hall of Fame defensive back Deion Sanders declined an invitation to attend the draft, as did Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart, whose name has been floating around lately as a potential first-round pick.

Here’s the potential stunner: Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe could blow up mock drafts everywhere and go in the opening round.

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Welcome to the first round of the NFL draft — and for once, everyone is invited.

Each NFL team still has its original first-round pick — no trades at the top so far — which means for the first time in the 32-team era, every franchise could be making a selection in the opening round.

But in this, the first-ever draft in Green Bay in the modern NFL era, it’s a good bet that clubs will be working the phones to package picks, especially if some of the top-tier quarterbacks have yet to hear their names called.

Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders isn’t attending the draft, nor is Mississippi’s Jaxson Dart, a quarterback who has generated a lot of interest of late. But Alabama’s Jalen Milroe will be in the Green Bay green room, praying his stay there won’t be overly long.

ONEIDA, Wis. — Moving the draft around the country isn’t just about staging an event — it gives the NFL a chance to invest in communities.

As part of the league’s Inspire Change initiative, Commissioner Roger Goodell visited Oneita Nation Elementary School outside of Green Bay to meet with students, teachers, administrators and community leaders.

The NFL and Green Bay Packers joined forces to provide a $150,000 grant to non-profit Compudopt, which provides new and refurbished laptops to communities in need. It will provide nearly 500 devices to the district for student use in school and at home.

Joining Goodell at the school was Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers; Packers president and chief executive Mark Murphy; former Packers center Scott Wells; Arik Armstead, the NFL’s current Walter Payton Man of the Year recipient; and Hall of Famer Curtis Martin.

The 2025 NFL draft is set to begin at 5 p.m. PDT. Here’s the draft order for the first round:

1. Tennessee Titans

2. Cleveland Browns

3. New York Giants

4. New England Patriots

5. Jacksonville Jaguars

6. Las Vegas Raiders

7. New York Jets

8. Carolina Panthers

9. New Orleans Saints

10. Chicago Bears

11. San Francisco 49ers

12. Dallas Cowboys

13. Miami Dolphins

14. Indianapolis Colts

15. Atlanta Falcons

16. Arizona Cardinals

17. Cincinnati Bengals

18. Seattle Seahawks

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

20. Denver Broncos

21. Pittsburgh Steelers

22. Los Angeles Chargers

23. Green Bay Packers

24. Minnesota Vikings

25. Houston Texans

26. Los Angeles Rams

27. Baltimore Ravens

28. Detroit Lions

29. Washington Commanders

30. Buffalo Bills

31. Kansas City Chiefs

32. Philadelphia Eagles