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The Latest: Titans grab Cam Ward at No. 1 as expected, then Jags trade up to pick Travis Hunter

By Canadian Press on April 24, 2025.

The 2025 NFL draft first round is underway in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Miami quarterback Cam Ward went No. 1 overall to the Tennessee Titans.

The drama picked up after that, with the Jacksonville Jaguars trading up to the No. 2 pick to take two-way standout Travis Hunter, and the Cleveland Browns sliding back to No. 5.

Here’s the latest:

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Jaguars use trade to pick Travis Hunter at No. 2

Two-way standout and Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter will join the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2025. Hunter shined as a wide receiver and cornerback under head coach Deion Sanders at Colorado, finishing the 2024 season with 1,258 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns on 96 receptions while adding 35 tackles, 11 pass deflections, four interceptions, and a forced fumble.

Jaguars make bold trade, up to No. 2

The Jacksonville Jaguars shipped the No. 5 overall pick, 36th pick, 126th pick, and a 2026 first-rounder to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for the 2025 No. 2 overall pick, a fourth-rounder, and a sixth-round selection.

Titans select Cam Ward with No. 1 pick

The Tennessee Titans addressed their biggest need with the selection of Cam Ward, considered the gem of a rather thin crop of quarterbacks.

The two-time transfer wrapped up his collegiate career as a redshirt senior at the University of Miami after pit-stops at Incarnate Word and Washington State.

During his sole season with the Hurricanes, Ward threw for 4,313 yards and 39 touchdowns, leading the team to a 10-3 record.

Matthews delights Packers fans with Bears snipe

Clay Matthews, one of the former Green Bay Packers who joined Goodell on the stage before the start of the draft, delighted the Packers fans in attendance with a quick message before the start of the draft.

Matthews joked that he got a message from President Donald Trump and that, “It says, ‘My fellow Americans, the Bears still suck!’”

Goodell brings Packers legends, Lil Wayne on stage

Goodell was joined by various Packers legends as well as rapper Lil Wayne, a Packers fan.

They rode in on bikes. Packers players borrow children’s bikes to ride from their locker room in Lambeau Field to their practice fields.

Many players borrow the same child’s bike for an entire training camp, or even for multiple years.

Goodell booed, a draft tradition as rich as his hugs

Roger Goodell was booed as he rode a bike onto the draft stage in Green Bay.

The bike? That’s a Packers tradition. The booing? Well, that’s a draft tradition.

In what might have started as true jeers for the commissioner, the booing tradition has become almost a “Hi, Roger!” at this point.

NFL draft is about to begin

The NFL draft is about to begin at the top of the hour.

Miami QB Cam Ward is expected to be the first pick to the Tennessee Titans.

But we’ll see soon enough…

Titans to kick off draft with first pick

Tennessee is widely expected to select Miami’s Cam Ward as they try to find the star quarterback they’ve been missing since the late Steve McNair’s departure nearly two decades ago.

The Titans’ starter last year was Will Levis, who was the second pick in the second round in 2023.

Tennessee has taken three quarterbacks in the first round, (who combined for a single playoff victory), over the last couple of decades:

Goodell open to taking away home playoff games from some division champs

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says he’d be open to taking away the automatic home game for division winners in the first round of the playoffs — but only for teams that win weak divisions.

The Detroit Lions have proposed that teams with the better record should earn a higher playoff seed, regardless of whether they are wild cards or division champs.

Goodell told ESPN on Thursday that Detroit’s proposal may be “too big a step out of the box.” He says every team’s first goal entering the season is to win its division.

But Goodell says taking away the home game from division winners that don’t have a record of .500 or better “might be a step in the right direction.” He says the league is debating that change.

Travis Hunter happy to have father alongside him

Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter is happy to have his father on hand to watch him get drafted.

The Palm Beach Post said Travis Hunter Sr. was granted permission to travel to the draft before returning to Florida on Friday. The Post reported that the elder Hunter is under home confinement as part of his probation after serving a 90-day sentence on gun and drug charges. He was unable to attend the ceremony when his son won the Heisman Trophy in December.

“It’s just a blessing to have my dad in my corner, to go out and walk the stage and see his smiling face,” Hunter said Wednesday after the likely first-round draft pick completed a clinic with Special Olympics athletes.

Thunderstorms delayed NFL draft activities yesterday

The Frozen Tundra would’ve melted from all the rain.

A thunderstorm Wednesday morning abruptly ended interview sessions with NFL draft prospects and sent people scurrying for cover.

Workers inside the draft theater were instructed to seek shelter because of lightning and events were held up until the rain cleared up.

The sun was shining within two hours and the schedule was back on track.

Dart’s No. 9 draft odds skyrocket

QB Jaxson Dart’s odds to go No. 9 overall have skyrocketed.

Dart opened at plus-650 odds, sat at plus-1,000 this morning, and currently sits at plus-425 with less than an hour until the draft, according to BetMGM Sportsbook.

Dart is the most-bet player to go in the top 10 at BetMGM (currently plus-310).

NFL draft betting odds have clear favorites

Betting odds are settling in with less than an hour to go before the start of the NFL draft.

Cam Ward, Travis Hunter and Abdul Carter remain overwhelming favorites to go with the top three picks, according to BetMGM Sportsbook.

Offensive lineman Will Campbell has minus-800 odds to be picked fourth, with running back Ashton Jeanty minus-300 to go fifth and offensive lineman Kelvin Banks Jr. at minus-250 to go sixth.

There has been some movement at the No. 9 pick held by New Orleans with quarterback Jaxson Dart having the second best odds at plus-425 to the plus-120 for Georgia edge rusher Mykel Williams.

NFL shines spotlight on flag football

While the NFL draft takes over Titletown and Lambeau Field, the league is leveraging the excitement surrounding its premier offseason event to promote flag football.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, Cam Ward, Travis Hunter and other draft prospects participated in a flag football skills clinic with middle school students and 75 Special Olympics athletes yesterday.

What does this year’s quarterback class look like?

The consensus surrounding this draft is the quarterback class isn’t nearly as strong as last year.

Five of the first 10 picks a year ago were quarterbacks. While Miami’s Cam Ward figures to be the No. 1 overall pick this year, there’s a variety of opinions on how soon the other top quarterbacks will get taken.

AP Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi predicts three quarterbacks will get selected in the first round, with the New Orleans Saints trading up to take Sanders at No. 4.

Deion Sanders says his sons are ‘built for’ draft scrutiny

Coach Prime is not stressing over his sons’ draft odysseys, even as highly touted quarterback Shedeur navigates heavy doses of negativity and safety Shilo is projected to go undrafted altogether.

“You’ve got to understand, when that last name is on your back, you’re going to be attacked and ridiculed by naysayers,” Sanders said.

But, he said, his sons “are built for this.”

Will Johnson shows off national championship bling

Michigan cornerback Will Johnson had the most prized accessory of anyone on the red carpet, showing off his 2023 national championship ring.

2025 NFL schedule to release in May

The full schedule won’t be out until next month, but we know it will include the first regular-season NFL games in Madrid, Dublin and Berlin.

The preseason will kick off July 31 when the Los Angeles Chargers take on the Detroit Lions in the annual Hall of Fame game.

It’ll all wrap up Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, with Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.

Malaki Starks walks NFL carpet with fiancée Savanna

Georgia defensive back Malaki Starks already has big plans following his rookie season.

He’s getting married to his fiancée, Savanna Jackson, in March 2026.

Starks is wearing a pink suit and says it’s his favorite color.

Deion Sanders says his sons are ‘built for’ draft scrutiny

Coach Prime is not stressing over his sons’ draft odysseys, even as highly touted quarterback Shedeur navigates heavy doses of negativity and safety Shilo is projected to go undrafted altogether.

“You’ve got to understand, when that last name is on your back, you’re going to be attacked and ridiculed by naysayers,” Sanders said.

But, he said, his sons “are built for this.”

Where will Shedeur Sanders and the other QBs land?

The consensus surrounding this draft is the quarterback class isn’t nearly as strong as last year.

AP Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi predicts three quarterbacks will get selected in the first round, with the New Orleans Saints trading up to take Sanders at No. 4.

When will Ashton Jeanty, other running backs be picked?

An interesting element in this year’s draft is whether the big 2024 seasons by Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry encourage a team to take a running back with a top-10 pick.

The only running back in the past six drafts to get taken in the top 10 was Texas’ Bijan Robinson, who went eighth to Atlanta in 2023. This draft class has plenty of quality running backs, most notably Boise State’s Jeanty.

Hairston feels at home in Green Bay

With a number of mock drafts linking him to the Green Bay Packers, Kentucky cornerback Maxwell Hairston looked at the thousands of fans in the Lambeau Field stands during his red-carpet entrance and tried to envision himself playing here.

Hairston said the possibility would be “lit” and noted that he’d benefit from the fact that former Kentucky cornerback Carrington Valentine already plays for the Packers.

No nerves for Alabama QB Milroe

Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe seems at ease as he awaits his fate in the draft amid varying outside opinions on when he might get taken.

Milroe said whatever team takes him, he will know that’s what God had in store for him.

Golden’s outfit is good as gold

Texas wide receiver Matthew Golden’s outfit lives up to his name.

He’s wearing a black-and-gold suit plus a chain with a large “G,” which he calls a nod to his “Golden Child” nickname.

Golden says his late grandmother always wanted one of her grandchildren to make it to the NFL.

Ashton Jeanty offers advice to young players

Ashton Jeanty led Boise State to a College Football Playoff berth and could get taken earlier than any running back since Saquon Barkley got taken second overall in 2018.

His message to future draft hopefuls? Don’t let anybody tell you, you can’t.

NIL draft? Players cash in on red carpet

Competition was fierce again this year among companies hoping to outfit prospects in their suits.

Baynes + Baker co-founder Ravi Punn says players sometimes earn six figures to rep a brand, especially in the era of name, image and likeness earnings. He called the NFL draft “the Oscars of sports.”

“The suits are seen for a few hours before the draft, during the draft, the next day when outfits are getting graded — and forever online with social media,” Punn said.

1st-round draft order 21-32

21. Steelers

22. Chargers

23. Packers

24. Vikings

25. Texans

26. Rams

27. Ravens

28. Lions

29. Commanders

30. Bills

31. Chiefs

32. Eagles

1st-round draft order 11-20

11. 49ers

12. Cowboys

13. Dolphins

14. Colts

15. Falcons

16. Cardinals

17. Bengals

18. Seahawks

19. Buccaneers

20. Broncos

1st-round draft order 1-10

1. Titans

2. Browns

3. Giants

4. Patriots

5. Jaguars

6. Raiders

7. Jets

8. Panthers

9. Saints

10. Bears

Picks 6-10 of AP’s NFL mock draft

6. Las Vegas Raiders: ASHTON JEANTY, RUNNING BACK, BOISE STATE

7. New York Jets: WILL CAMPBELL, OFFENSIVE TACKLE, LSU

8. Carolina Panthers: JALON WALKER, EDGE RUSHER, GEORGIA

9. New England Patriots (from the New Orleans Saints): ARMAND MEMBOU, OFFENSIVE TACKLE, MISSOURI

10. Denver Broncos (from the Chicago Bears): TYLER WARREN, TIGHT END, PENN STATE

▶ Check out the full mock draft

The top 5 of AP’s NFL mock draft

1. Tennessee Titans: CAM WARD, QUARTERBACK, MIAMI

2. Cleveland Browns: TRAVIS HUNTER, CORNERBACK/WIDE RECEIVER, COLORADO

3. New York Giants: ABDUL CARTER, EDGE RUSHER, PENN STATE

4. New Orleans Saints (from the New England Patriots): SHEDEUR SANDERS, QUARTERBACK, COLORADO

5. Jacksonville Jaguars: MASON GRAHAM, DEFENSIVE TACKLE, MICHIGAN

▶ Check out the full mock draft

Tradeless 1st round?

This year’s NFL draft is on target to achieve a first.

Barring a last-minute trade, every team will go into the draft with its original first-round pick for the first time in the common draft era that began in 1967.

That’s in stark contrast to recent years when teams were much more willing to trade away or swap first-round picks.

How to watch, listen to the NFL draft

The 2025 draft will be televised on ABC/ESPN and NFL Network. It will air on the radio through SiriusXM, Westwood One Sports and ESPN Radio.

The first round commences at 8 p.m. EDT. The second and third rounds will begin at 7 p.m. Friday, and the fourth through seventh rounds will be at noon on Saturday.

Green Bay provides unique draft setting

The league’s smallest market spent nearly a decade seeking to host the NFL draft. That quest has finally become reality.

Packers CEO Mark Murphy has said he expects a total attendance of 250,000 over the event’s three days, a major drop from the record 775,000 fans who attended last year’s draft in Detroit. But the Lambeau Field setting, with its hall of fame, museum and small-town charm, will give attendees a chance to take in the league’s rich history in Green Bay.

The Associated Press

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