Cam Ward went from zero-star recruit to No. 1 choose within the NFL draft. Travis Hunter price Jacksonville a premium. Jaxson Dart was chosen earlier than Shedeur Sanders.
Whereas Ward, Hunter and Abdul Carter went 1-2-3 as anticipated, Sanders wasn’t picked in any respect within the first spherical.
“All of us didn’t anticipate this, in fact, however I really feel like with God, something’s doable, every little thing’s doable,” Sanders advised household and pals at his draft get together. “I don’t assume this occurred for no motive. All that is, in fact, gasoline to the fireplace. Below no circumstance, everyone knows this shouldn’t have occurred, however we perceive we’re on to larger and higher issues. Tomorrow’s the day. We’re going to be completely happy regardless.”
Sanders was handed over by each workforce that had a necessity for a possible franchise quarterback, regardless that some draft analysts had him rated increased than Ward. The New York Giants had two alternatives to take Sanders — who starred at Colorado underneath his father, coach Deion Sanders — and went with Penn State edge rusher Carter with the No. 3 choose, bolstering an already sturdy go rush.
The Giants then moved again into the primary spherical and chosen Dart at No. 25, hoping he might find yourself offering what one other Mississippi quarterback — Eli Manning — did for the franchise.
After the Tennessee Titans chosen Ward first total, the Jaguars moved up from No. 5 to pick out the Heisman Trophy winner with the second choose. Hunter, a playmaking broad receiver and cornerback at Colorado, desires to turn into the primary full-time, two-way participant within the NFL since Chuck Bednarik did it with the Philadelphia Eagles greater than 60 years in the past.
The Jaguars gave the Cleveland Browns a ton to offer Hunter that chance.
“I’m tremendous excited to go residence,” stated Hunter, whose hometown is Boynton Seaside, Florida. “It means quite a bit that they gave up a lot. It means they imagine in me.”
The New England Patriots took LSU left deal with Will Campbell with the fourth choose, giving quarterback Drake Maye extra safety.
Campbell broke down in tears on stage, saying: “I’m gonna battle and die to guard him.”
Michigan defensive deal with Mason Graham went fifth to Cleveland. Boise State working again Ashton Jeanty was picked at No. 6 by the Las Vegas Raiders.
The New York Jets chosen Missouri offensive deal with Armand Membou with the seventh choose. Arizona broad receiver Tetairoa McMillan went to the Carolina Panthers with the No. 8 choose.
The New Orleans Saints selected Texas offensive deal with Kelvin Banks Jr. at No. 9. Michigan’s Colston Loveland turned the primary tight finish off the board when the Chicago Bears chosen him at No. 10.
The Titans explored their choices with the primary choose earlier than it turned clear just a few weeks in the past that Ward could be their man.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell introduced Ward’s title to kick off the draft, which for the primary time was held subsequent to historic Lambeau Area. The NFL’s smallest market is internet hosting the league’s largest offseason occasion as hundreds of followers from throughout the nation traveled to Titletown for the festivities.
Goodell rode a bicycle onto the draft stage and was adopted by former Packers stars Clay Matthews, Jordy Nelson, Mason Crosby, Ahman Inexperienced and James Jones, in addition to rap megastar and Inexperienced Bay superfan Lil Wayne.
As normal, followers booed Goodell when he opened the extravaganza.
Titans followers cheered contained in the draft theater after listening to Ward’s title referred to as. An missed highschool participant out of Texas, Ward started his school profession at Incarnate Phrase, an FCS faculty in San Antonio. He performed two seasons at Washington State after transferring there in 2022 after which set faculty information in his solely season at Miami, ending fourth in Heisman Trophy voting.
“Every part that I went by, not lots of people went by the method from highschool thus far could make it to this stage and proceed to have the identical work ethic since day one, however I had God by my facet and when you have that, the remaining takes care of itself,” Ward stated.
The Titans are coming off a three-win season and have missed the playoffs three straight years. Ward is the fourth quarterback Tennessee has drafted within the first spherical over the previous twenty years, becoming a member of Marcus Mariota (No. 2, 2015), Jake Locker (No. 8, 2011) and Vince Younger (No. 3, 2006).
Mariota is the one QB drafted by Tennessee in that span who led the workforce to a playoff win. That was again in 2017.
Will Levis, the thirty third total choose in 2023, is 5-16 as a starter in his two seasons with the Titans.
Ward led the nation with 39 landing passes and completed second with 4,313 yards passing whereas main the Hurricanes to a 10-3 report. Ward additionally had solely seven interceptions and accomplished 67.2% of his passes.
The Browns obtained Jacksonville’s first-round choose (No. 5), picks Nos. 36 and 126, and a first-rounder in 2026 to commerce down and clear the best way for the Jaguars to select Hunter. The Jags additionally acquired fourth- and sixth-round picks on this draft.
Hunter wore a neon pink blazer and flashed an enormous smile after Jacksonville chosen him, regardless that he hadn’t spoken to the workforce for the reason that scouting mix. He caught 96 passes for 1,258 yards and 15 touchdowns whereas making 35 tackles, breaking apart 11 passes and selecting off 4.
The San Francisco 49ers took Georgia edge rusher Mykel Williams with the eleventh choose. Alabama guard Tyler Booker went to the Dallas Cowboys at No. 12.
Michigan defensive deal with Kenneth Grant was chosen by the Miami Dolphins with the thirteenth choose. The Indianapolis Colts snagged Penn State tight finish at No. 14 and Georgia edge rusher Jalon Walker went fifteenth to the Atlanta Falcons.
Mississippi defensive deal with Walter Nolen was picked by the Arizona Cardinals at No. 16 and Texas A&M edge rusher Shemar Stewart went to the Cincinnati Bengals at No. 17.
The Seattle Seahawks took North Dakota State guard Gray Zabel with the 18th choose and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers obtained Ohio State broad receiver Emeka Egbuka at No. 19.
Texas cornerback Jahdae Barron was chosen by the Denver Broncos with the twentieth choose. After the Pittsburgh Steelers selected Oregon defensive deal with Derrick Harmon twenty first, North Carolina working again Omarion Hampton went to the Los Angeles Chargers at No. 22.
The Packers made their rowdy followers completely happy, taking Texas broad receiver Matthew Golden with the twenty third choose. Golden turned the primary wideout chosen by Inexperienced Bay within the first spherical since Javon Walker in 2002.
Ohio State guard Donovan Jackson was chosen by the Minnesota Vikings with the twenty fourth choose. After Dart went to New York, the Falcons moved again into the primary spherical and grabbed Tennessee edge rusher James Pearce Jr. at No. 26.
Georgia security Malaki Starks went to the Baltimore Ravens with the twenty seventh choose and the Detroit Lions took Ohio State defensive deal with Tyleik Williams twenty eighth.
The Washington Commanders picked Oregon offensive deal with Josh Conerly Jr. at No. 29 and Kentucky cornerback Maxwell Hairston went thirtieth to the Buffalo Payments.
Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell was picked by the defending Tremendous Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, who moved up one spot to No. 31.
The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs completed off the primary spherical by taking Ohio State offensive deal with Josh Simmons, who might present Patrick Mahomes some much-needed safety.
The primary spherical featured 4 trades and ended with Michigan cornerback Will Johnson and Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe nonetheless within the inexperienced room.
