NFL Draft 2025 winners and losers: Browns make intriguing QB move, Steelers lose Rodgers leverage

All 257 picks are within the books, and each common supervisor and head coach across the NFL seemingly sat at a podium Saturday night time with a smile and stated one thing to the impact of, “we got our guys.”

Time will inform in the event that they did.

However after an eventful weekend in Inexperienced Bay — highlighted by one of many extra beautiful draft falls in latest reminiscence — right here’s a take a look at the notable winners and losers from the 2025 NFL Draft.

Winners

The Browns’ fascinating QB gamble

I panned Cleveland’s considering Thursday night time after the Browns handed on a participant, Travis Hunter, who might become one of many league’s most electrical abilities. That commerce received’t age nicely for the Browns if Hunter turns into the star the Jaguars imagine he’ll.

And out of doors of Myles Garrett, little in regards to the Browns’ 2025 seems promising, particularly the quarterback room, which out of the blue is probably the most confounding within the league.

Have a look: an injured Deshaun Watson, a 40-year-old Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders.

However taking a flier on Sanders at No. 144 was a lot totally different than taking Sanders at No. 2. Or No. 33. Or No. 36. Or No. 67. This is a chance for Sanders to reach with a special set of expectations; nobody in Cleveland might be relying on him to be the starter in 2025. As a substitute, he’ll begin the place each fifth-round decide begins his profession: combating for a spot on the roster post-Labor Day.

Nothing might be assured. Nothing might be given. Heck, Sanders wasn’t even the primary quarterback the Browns drafted — they took Gabriel 50 spots increased. Thus, Sanders’ first actual check within the execs received’t be the Pittsburgh Steelers or Baltimore Ravens protection; it’ll be ensuring he’s increased than Gabriel on the Browns’ depth chart.

If he disappoints in camp, the Browns can lower him. One other fifth-round whiff. Occurs on a regular basis. If he excels, Sanders can climb the depth chart; it’s not implausible to see him begin some video games in 2025.

It seems just like the Browns will stage a contest in coaching camp between Flacco and Pickett, who’s on his third workforce in three years, in addition to Gabriel and Sanders, although the rookies don’t determine to get many first-team reps early on. Watson’s standing stays a query mark, although he’s unlikely to return to the sector in 2025 and will by no means take one other snap for the workforce.

However extra vital is the lengthy recreation the Browns are taking part in. With out outwardly saying it, they’re successfully punting their QB search to 2026, when the draft is predicted to have a a lot deeper class, with Texas’ Arch Manning doubtlessly on the high. Taking Sanders doesn’t preclude the Browns from something subsequent spring. Bear in mind, Cleveland netted an additional first-round decide within the commerce with Jacksonville. That’s useful.

This workforce, due largely to the uncertainty at quarterback, is prone to wrestle this fall. And the ache of 2025 might repay in an enormous manner come April 2026.

Basic supervisor Andrew Berry added some punch to his roster this weekend: Michigan defensive deal with Mason Graham, UCLA linebacker Carson Schwesinger, Ohio State working again Quinshon Judkins and Bowling Inexperienced tight finish Harold Fannin Jr. have been the Browns’ first 4 picks. All appear to be future starters. Land a top-tier quarterback in 2026 and the Browns might out of the blue have a formidable nucleus.

Cleveland received’t be married to Sanders’ success — if he excels, it’ll become a gem of a fifth-round decide. If not, the Browns can nonetheless go massive at quarterback subsequent spring.

The Bears’ plan round Caleb Williams

Give Chicago Bears common supervisor Ryan Poles and new coach Ben Johnson credit score: they’re not sitting again and easily hoping Caleb Williams makes a 12 months 2 bounce. They’re exhausting the assets at their disposal to construct an infrastructure round Williams that may assist him change into the participant they want him to be.

So many organizations resist considering like this and finally fail their younger quarterback. It’s why the hit price for QBs chosen in Spherical 1 is below 40 p.c. The Bears, going again generations, have been among the many most responsible events. Take final season. It was an absolute circus.

A minimum of they discovered from it.

Johnson’s arrival has modified one thing in Chicago: A defense-first franchise has shifted, remaking itself on the opposite facet of the ball. The previous Detroit Lions offensive coordinator introduced with him an impetus to personal the road of scrimmage, and the end in free company was two new guards (Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson) and a brand new middle in Drew Dalman. Quarterbacks hate push from the inside. This could make Williams’ life simpler.

Then on the primary night time of the draft, Johnson pushed for Colston Loveland, the shifty tight finish out of Michigan. There’s no disgrace in a common supervisor giving his offensive coach (and play caller) what he needs: The Lions used to feast in 12-personnel (with two tight ends on the sector) and the Bears will pair Loveland with Cole Kmet. (For these shocked the Bears went with Loveland over Penn State’s Tyler Warren, they weren’t the one NFL workforce to have Loveland ranked increased on the board.)

Including a younger wideout within the second spherical in Missouri’s Luther Burden III, who can contribute instantly from the slot, offers Williams another choice.

Going offense with their first two picks despatched a transparent message: Caleb, we’re doing every part we will that will help you.

The Chargers’ offense

Generally, it’s a must to give credit score to a company that will get it. Jim Harbaugh’s Los Angeles Chargers know what they’re and know what they need. Final 12 months, lots scoffed when L.A. handed up on two gifted wideouts in Malik Nabers and Rome Odunze to take a towering offensive deal with in Joe Alt with the fifth decide.

Alt figures to be a spine on the Chargers’ offensive line for a decade.

This 12 months, the Chargers weren’t drafting as excessive for a cause: They made the playoffs in Harbaugh’s first season. L.A. nonetheless addressed its wants, piling up three offensive ability place gamers ranked within the high 10 at their place in Dane Brugler’s The Beast.

Taking a working again within the first spherical is one thing loads of groups would resist, however North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton seems like an ideal slot in coordinator Greg Roman’s scheme. The necessity at large receiver was apparent, and Mississippi’s Tre Harris can line up reverse Ladd McConkey and has the makings of a dependable possession receiver in an offense that likes to run the soccer.

Justin Herbert wanted extra expertise round him. The Chargers obliged.

The Rams’ draft wizardry

After not making a first-round decide in seven years, the Los Angeles Rams nailed their choice final April, grabbing edge rusher Jared Verse.

They have been again in character this 12 months, shifting out of the primary spherical in a commerce with the Atlanta Falcons. The payoff may very well be substantial: To maneuver again 20 spots, the Rams acquired Atlanta’s first-round decide for 2026, which may very well be a top-10 choice. Spectacular work from common supervisor Les Snead and coach Sean McVay.

Los Angeles, which wished to maneuver as much as draft Brock Bowers final 12 months, discovered an choice at tight finish on this draft in Terrance Ferguson, a four-year starter out of Oregon who might change into an ideal complement in the course of the sector to the 1-2 punch on the surface in Davante Adams and Puka Nacua. A former basketball participant, Ferguson figures to be a dependable, rangy goal for Matthew Stafford, and possibly one other chess piece McVay can exploit.

With Stafford now 37, the Rams could be sensible so as to add a youthful passer who can carry the torch each time he decides to retire. Having a further first-round decide in what’s anticipated to be a far deeper quarterback draft subsequent spring will give them ample alternative.

Younger QBs in want of weapons

The Bears weren’t the one workforce to assist their budding franchise quarterback.

For years, the New England Patriots have struggled to area a reliable offense. And when the workforce landed a gifted younger quarterback price constructing round in final 12 months’s draft, the motive grew to become apparent: assist Drake Maye any manner they may. Discover him targets. Discover him blockers. Discover him expertise.

If that meant overpaying a bit for a veteran receiver coming off an damage in Stefon Diggs, wonderful.

However the surest path to serving to Maye would come by way of the draft, and with their first 4 picks this weekend, the Patriots went offense. They landed the perfect deal with within the class in Will Campbell, added ability place expertise in working again TreVeyon Henderson and wideout Kyle Williams, then grabbed middle Jared Wilson, who can be taught behind new starter Garrett Bradbury. New (and in addition former) coordinator Josh McDaniels must be thrilled. He’s received a younger core with all types of expertise. Basic supervisor Eliot Wolf and new coach Mike Vrabel deserve credit score.

One other younger quarterback who received assist was the Carolina Panthers’ Bryce Younger, who welcomed a first-round decide at large receiver for the second straight 12 months. In Tetairoa McMillan, Younger can have a brand new weapon reverse Xavier Legette.

Sensible decide by Panthers GM Dan Morgan and coach Dave Canales, even with different wants staring them within the face. As a result of if Younger fizzles out, the Panthers aren’t going wherever, anyway. Precedence No. 1 must be his continued enchancment. McMillan might change into an enormous a part of that.

Is the Indianapolis Colts’ Anthony Richardson in the identical dialog with Maye and Younger? For starters, the third-year QB must win the job in Indy over Daniel Jones in coaching camp. But when Richardson does, he’ll have a troublesome, versatile new weapon to work with in Tyler Warren, who figures to be the Colts’ starter at tight finish from Day 1.

Inexperienced Bay’s large receiving room

Why would the Inexperienced Bay Packers — a perennial playoff workforce armed with one of the crucial gifted younger large receiver rooms in soccer — spend two of their first three picks on that place?

The message was clear: Final season wasn’t adequate. Not from Christian Watson or Romeo Doubs or Jayden Reed or Dontayvion Wicks. Inexperienced Bay’s collection of Texas’ Matthew Golden at No. 23 wasn’t simply head-turning as a result of it was the primary time the Packers drafted a receiver in Spherical 1 in 23 years; it was a telling assertion by the workforce’s entrance workplace that it needs extra from its receiver room.

As a result of nothing brings out the perfect in younger gamers like competitors.

This might be a very good one to observe in coaching camp, as a result of along with Golden — who has blazing 4.29 velocity — the Packers added one other wideout, TCU’s Savion Williams, within the third spherical. Jordan Love’s going to have choices on high of choices, and if Inexperienced Bay’s plan works out, it’ll make all of them higher.

Losers

The celeb quarterback

It doesn’t matter what you consider Shedeur Sanders’ soccer expertise, that’s not why he fell so precipitously on this 12 months’s draft. Bear in mind, QB is the one place groups love to achieve on. Zach Wilson went second general simply 4 years in the past. Trey Lance went a decide behind him. Josh Rosen went tenth in 2018 and was out of Arizona in 12 months. Paxton Lynch was a first-round decide who began 4 profession video games for the Broncos.

Sanders’ tape tells you he’s a second-round expertise at worst. He didn’t fall to the fifth spherical due to his tape.

His slide felt like a repudiation of every part else, primarily how Sanders and his workforce dealt with the draft course of. With quarterbacks, every part is one thing. Each interview. Each reply. Each element. Each story shared by a former teammate. Each quote to the media.

Character considerations? Medical considerations? Groups will overlook these points within the blink of a watch if the expertise is there. With out jaw-dropping expertise — Sanders is a succesful quarterback, not a dynamic one — each intangible is amplified.

These intangibles, it appears, price him this weekend. Sanders had loads of alternatives to assist himself all through the draft course of, however he dismissed them. He didn’t play within the Senior Bowl. He didn’t throw on the mix. With no less than a couple of groups, he didn’t interview all that nicely, in accordance with numerous stories. All of which isn’t unusual, however if you’re seen as extra backup than starter, groups wish to make certain they’re getting the best match. Humility issues, particularly for a thankless place like QB2 or QB3.

Loads had no real interest in Sanders in that regard.

Bear in mind Deion Sanders hinting over a 12 months in the past that he’d “pull an Eli” with Shedeur if he didn’t like the place his son landed within the draft? It was a nod to Eli Manning’s choice in 2004 to not play for the Chargers, who have been then pressured to ship him to the New York Giants. That remark, even when Deion later walked it again, couldn’t have gone over nicely in draft rooms.

Generally, groups merely don’t need the highlight — and the potential distraction — that comes with drafting a participant as well-known as Sanders for a secondary position. When expertise doesn’t supersede that, we get what we witnessed this weekend: a staggering tumble down the draft board.

The Steelers’ leverage with Aaron Rodgers

They want him. Badly.

At this level, it looks like Aaron Rodgers is the Pittsburgh Steelers’ solely viable choice at quarterback, until a playoff workforce from a 12 months in the past is prepared to relaxation its season on the shoulders of Mason Rudolph. Pittsburgh’s collection of Ohio State’s Will Howard within the sixth spherical Saturday did nothing to alter this.

The Steelers’ QB room in the intervening time seems like this: Rudolph, Howard and Skylar Thompson.

Does Rodgers save them? In all probability not. He’s 40. He has regressed since rupturing his Achilles. Does he elevate them? Sure, however bear in mind, he’d be becoming a member of a division already stacked with two perennial MVP contenders in Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow, each of whom are of their prime.

Rodgers did play higher down the stretch with the Jets final season, and Pittsburgh is stout on protection. He wouldn’t should be the savior within the Metal Metropolis, however somewhat a cog in a well-run operation. The nonsense that stymied his two seasons with the Jets — loads of which was Rodgers-related — isn’t one thing the Steelers are recognized for, or tolerate. In New York, it was Rodgers’ workforce. In Pittsburgh, it’s Mike Tomlin’s workforce.

Nonetheless, resting every part on Rodgers — who hasn’t even dedicated to returning for a twenty first NFL season — stays a dicey proposition. It was telling that, after he was employed, new Jets coach Aaron Glenn couldn’t get out of the Rodgers enterprise quick sufficient.

It feels like Rodgers will land in Pittsburgh in some unspecified time in the future; workforce president Artwork Rooney instructed the Steelers Audio Community on Friday that Rodgers does “want to come here” and that the Steelers anticipate phrase quickly. However they misplaced leverage.

(High photograph: Dustin Bradford / Getty Photos for ONIT)