- To no one’s surprise, Tennessee took Miami quarterback Cam Ward with the first overall pick in the NFL Draft.
- The Jacksonville Jaguars took a gigantic swing, trading up to second to pick Heisman-winning two-way player Travis Hunter of Colorado.
- Hunter’s teammate, quarterback Shedeur Sanders, wasn’t picked in the first round, but sportsbooks have him favored to go early in Round 2.
The first round of the NFL Draft on Thursday night yielded a couple of big surprises, although the #1 pick was never in doubt. There were only two quarterbacks taken in the first round, but one of those signal-callers went first.
Ward Goes First to Tennessee
The Tennessee Titans didn’t mess around with the first pick, taking Miami quarterback Cam Ward. The Titans had hinted they were taking Ward with their move early Thursday morning, when they signed Tyler Lockett to a one-year contract.
The veteran receiver is another weapon to help Ward get acclimated to the NFL, and there are high hopes for the quarterback. Ward had a huge season in leading Miami to a 10-3 record, completing 67.2% of his passes for 4,313 yards, 39 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. It’ll be an adjustment for him, but Ward has the tools to be successful in the NFL.
Jaguars Make Massive Move to Pick Hunter Second
Ward had barely reached the stage to accept his selection before a considerable bombshell was dropped on the NFL Draft. Jacksonville was picking fifth, but they moved that pick, along with their 2025 second and fourth-round picks, and their 2026 first-round pick to Cleveland, who had the #2 draft selection.
The Jaguars used that pick to take Colorado’s Travis Hunter. The Heisman-winning receiver/cornerback was incredible in 2024, catching 96 passes for 1,258 yards and 15 touchdowns. But he might be a better shutdown cornerback, as Hunter had four interceptions and 11 passes defended as teams tried not to throw his way.
Hunter reiterated that he wanted to continue to play both ways in the NFL. It’ll be fascinating to see how the Jaguars use him. Will the rookie be another weapon for quarterback Trevor Lawrence, an addition to a defense that was the worst in the league against the pass, or both?
Sanders Favored to Go Early in Round 2 After First-Round Freefall
One of the biggest stories of the night was the fall of Shedeur Sanders. The Colorado quarterback was slated in many NFL mock drafts to go as high as third, but most had him going in the first round. However, an anonymous assistant coach claimed Sanders was the worst interview he’d ever had, raising questions about the pivot.
Sanders wasn’t picked in the first round, which means he is still on the board when the NFL Draft resumes on Friday, April 25, at 6:00 PM ET. Some NFL betting sites favor Sanders to come off the board immediately when Cleveland picks 33rd.
Many figured that after Sanders fell out of the top 10, he would be picked 21st by Pittsburgh, who went with Oregon defensive tackle Derrick Harmon. The New York Giants also had a chance to take Sanders with their second first-round pick, but they took Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart as the second quarterback of the first round.
Where Sanders goes is now the biggest story for the rest of the draft, but the odds are that he is selected earlier rather than later.
You must be logged in to comment. Don't have an account? Sign up today.