No Grades, Just Real Talk: A Key Thought on Each NFL First-Round Pick
What Each First-Round Pick Means for 2025 and Beyond
I tried to warn people.
Here’s what readers of Between The Hashmarks’ final pre-draft buzz feature read of a possible Shedeur Sanders slide late Wednesday night, based on what I had been hearing in the weeks leading up to the NFL Draft:
From multiple conversations both on the team-side, and among agents who represent potential first-round picks and are thus in constant conversations with teams, it sure sounds like Shedeur Sanders could slide.
“Where Sanders winds up going may be the most interesting storyline of this entire draft,” one agent tells me. “I think he could slide and not be taken until the second round.”
The agent’s assessment jibes with what I’ve been hearing from several teams that they were a bit put off by what I’ve been told is “arrogance” from Sanders during private meetings and visits to facilities.
Two teams that are likely quarterback-needy have dropped Sanders down their overall board.
Conventional wisdom would suggest that if Sanders is available at No. 21 that the Steelers would stop his slide.
However, if Pittsburgh isn’t sold on him, Sanders could become one of those late-first round trade targets that would prevent him from slipping all the way into night two of the draft.
There were 32 picks made Thursday night, including a blockbuster trade at the No. 2 overall selection where arguably the premier prospect in the entire class lands with a quarterback who was once hailed as a generational prospect, and yet, the focus all night seemed to be on Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders’ slide.
Sometime around the No. 15 pick, I had to step away for a live TV appearance, and when I returned to the television and turned the volume back up on ESPN, I was blown away by how incredulous Mel Kiper Jr. and Louis Riddick were that the Steelers didn’t choose Sanders and he was still available.
Did these guys not hear the things that I had? Is the outrage dialed up to 1,000 to drive a narrative?
This wasn’t unexpected. There were warning signs flashing and flares being shot up from buildings across the NFL that perhaps the Sanders Hype Train was speeding far too quickly into a hairpin turn.
Maybe the Browns will take Sanders on Friday night at No. 33 overall, or perhaps the Saints will stop his slide, but it is wholly obvious by now that teams across the league don’t hold Sanders in the same acclaim as fans or those in the media do, nor do they view Shedeur Sanders the player worth the frustration of putting up with Shedeur Sanders the person that they met in individual meetings.
Where Sanders lands has yet to be seen, but here is one quick takeaway for all 32 picks from Thursday night’s first rounds.
You won’t find any grades here, just a sharp first reaction to every pick made so far.
No. 1 - Tennessee Titans: Cam Ward, QB, Miami
In a one-quarterback class, Ward was always destined to be the selection here. Titans head coach Brian Callahan needs to reset the clock, and Tennessee is betting he can turn back the clock and help Ward reach his potential as quickly as Joe Burrow, Matthew Stafford, and Peyton Manning did under his tutelage.
No. 2 - Jacksonville Jaguars: Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado
An absolutely stunning blockbuster trade pulled off by General manager James Gladstone makes the boldest move of the night to emerge with the draft’s premier playmaker, wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter. If Hunter plays wide receiver, he’s a significant upgrade in quarterback Trevor Lawrence’s arsenal. Hunter averaged 13.1 yards per reception and caught 15 touchdowns which could be the spark that ignites the Jaguars and reinvigorates Lawrence’s career.
No. 3 - New York Giants: Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State
Abdul Carter is the premier defensive player and potentially the prospect with the most upside in the entire NFL Draft. Carter is a one-man wrecking crew in the mold of Micah Parsons, and, after logging 13 sacks in his first season ever playing off the edge, he lands opposite Brian Burns as a worthy counterpunch to the elite Philadelphia Eagles offensive line and a cornerstone of the Giants’ rebuild on the fly.
No. 4 - New England Patriots: Will Campbell, OT, LSU
Will Campbell was the most experienced and accomplished left tackle in this class, which makes him the easy pick for the New England Patriots. The only thing that matters in New England is protecting Drake Maye, who was sacked 34 times in 13 games last season.
No. 5 - Cleveland Browns: Mason Graham, DL, Michigan
Mason Graham is an elite three-down defensive tackle who excels at stopping the run on his way to the quarterback. Cleveland knows that it faces Derrick Henry twice each season and needs to bolster its defensive line to bring out the best in its secondary. Planting Graham next to All-Pro Myles Garrett is a strong foundation for the rebuild on defense.
That’s just the beginning...
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