My 2025 NFL Draft Reactions: The Good and The Bad
By Trinity Barnette
The Good
Cam Ward to the Titans (Pick #1)
Was I surprised? No. Was it the right move? Absolutely.
Cam Ward was the best quarterback prospect in this class if you’re looking for leadership, creativity, and real NFL-level processing.
The Titans finally understood the assignment: protect the most important position.
According to Sports Illustrated, Tennessee earned a B+ for the pick, and The Athletic agreed, calling Ward “an instinctive, high-upside quarterback who could stabilize the franchise for a decade.”
Mel Kiper Jr. even noted that Ward was “one of the safest bets” despite the chaos of this year’s quarterback pool.
I think Tennessee made a smart, no-drama move — and they actually gave Ward some help instead of tossing him into the fire with no weapons (looking at you, other franchises).
Travis Hunter to the Jaguars (Pick #2)
I knew Travis Hunter would go top five. What I didn’t expect was the Jaguars pulling the trigger.
At first, I was a little confused — but the more I thought about it, the more I loved it.
Hunter isn’t just a corner or a receiver — he’s an event.
The Athletic praised the Jags for “betting on the best pure athlete in the class,” while ESPN Insider said he “has All-Pro potential on either side of the ball.”
If Jacksonville uses him right, Hunter could shift the entire identity of that team.
Big risk? Sure.
But honestly? Worth it.
Shemar Stewart and the Bengals’ Defensive Focus
Okay Bengals fans — we needed a defensive glow-up. And while not everyone’s handing out A+ grades, I’m personally pretty happy.
Shemar Stewart (Texas A&M, EDGE) was the first pick at 17 overall.
Mel Kiper Jr. gave the Bengals a C grade overall, mainly because Stewart is still “a projection” with just 4.5 college sacks.
Basically: the potential is there, but the consistency has to catch up.
Cincinnati also drafted Demetrius Knight Jr. (LB), Dylan Fairchild (OG), Barrett Carter (LB), and others later.
It wasn’t flashy, but it was functional.
As a fan, I’ll take a solid, defense-heavy draft over a flashy disaster any day.
Sometimes you don’t need to “win” the draft to win games — you just need to quietly fix what’s broken.
Jihaad Campbell to the Eagles (Pick #31)
Philadelphia continues to be that team that just sits there and lets great players fall into their lap.
Getting Jihaad Campbell this late was borderline theft.
He’s athletic, smart, and fits Philly’s aggressive style perfectly.
I hate how good they are at drafting — but respect is respect.
Walter Nolen to the Cardinals (Pick #16)
When the Cardinals make a good move, you have to document it like it’s a Bigfoot sighting.
Walter Nolen was one of the best run-stuffers available, and Arizona didn’t overthink it.
The Athletic said he has “All-Pro upside if he develops a few pass-rush moves,” and SI gave the Cardinals a B+ for not getting cute and just taking the right player.
The Cardinals defense desperately needed some bite, and Nolen could be that guy.
Mini Winners Shoutout:
Colts: Adding TE Tyler Warren = giving Anthony Richardson a real chance to succeed.
Lions: Scooping Tyleik Williams was a perfect Dan Campbell culture pick.
Packers: Matthew Golden (WR) gives Jordan Love more firepower without overspending.
The Bad
Quinn Ewers to the Dolphins
I have a lot of questions, and not a lot of answers.
When the Dolphins drafted Quinn Ewers, I had to physically sit back and process it.
Miami is supposed to be in “win-now” mode — yet they used valuable draft capital on a quarterback with serious inconsistency issues and questionable decision-making?
According to Sports Illustrated, Ewers was a “polarizing prospect who never fully lived up to his college hype.”
The Athletic straight up said that this pick was “more about insurance than impact,” which is just a fancy way of saying it’s not moving the needle.
ESPN’s draft winners and losers even listed Ewers as one of the “highest-risk” picks in the second round.
Personally, I’m not a fan — and it feels like the Dolphins made this move out of fear instead of strategy.
Enjoy the chaos, Miami. You drafted a TikTok haircut when you needed a franchise stabilizer.
Isaiah Bond NOT Getting Drafted
Now THIS deserves a standing ovation.
Isaiah Bond, the former Alabama and Texas wide receiver who faced sexual assault allegations earlier this year, did not hear his name called — and honestly?
Good.
It’s about time the NFL stops pretending that talent should outweigh basic decency.
According to ESPN, Bond’s off-the-field issues were a “major red flag” that many teams completely took off their draft boards.
And as they should.
I’m genuinely relieved that—for once—the league didn’t reward someone accused of that kind of behavior with millions of dollars and a “fresh start.”
There are too many incredible, hardworking players with clean records to ever justify giving guys like him a pass.
Let’s hope this energy stays consistent.
The Shedeur Sanders Free Fall
Now onto one of the wildest storylines of the entire draft:
Shedeur Sanders — once a projected first-round pick — dropped all the way to the 5th round.
FIFTH. ROUND.
The Athletic described it as “a shocking tumble fueled by off-field concerns and questions about his leadership.”
Mel Kiper Jr. said the fall was one of the “most stunning developments” of the weekend.
Some scouts reportedly worried about his “coachability” and “handling of adversity,” while others flat-out questioned if he had the processing speed for the next level.
Whatever the reasons, it was CHAOS watching it unfold.
And it’s a brutal reminder: hype only gets you so far.
When draft night comes, the NFL is going to see right through Instagram filters, marketing campaigns, and famous last names.
Other Picks That Made Me Raise an Eyebrow:
Cowboys Drafting Tyler Booker (OG, Alabama) at #12 I mean…cool, but y’all needed so much more than another lineman. SI gave this pick a straight C.
Raiders Taking Ashton Jeanty (RB, Boise State) at #6 Running back at 6 overall…in 2025?? Are you serious right now?? The Athletic called it “a 1995 move in a 2025 league.”
Browns Passing on TreVeyon Henderson for Shedeur Sanders.
