Welcome to my fantasy football breakdown of the 2025 NFL Draft’s first round, where dreams were made for 32 bright-eyed rookies, and the chessboard of professional football is reset with fresh, ambitious talent.
In this featured piece recapping round one, I will delve into the immediate impact of the newly minted rookies and how their arrival alters the dynamics for veteran players within their teams.
From soaring fantasy stocks of rookies poised to make a significant mark in their debut seasons to veterans who might find their positions threatened or bolstered by these young additions, we’ll explore who emerged as the winners and losers of this pivotal day in the NFL calendar.
Join me as we break down the changing landscapes of NFL squads and assess the potential shifts in strategy and performance prompted by this year’s Day 1 selections.
- Dynasty Fantasy Football Draft Kit
- Dynasty Rookie Draft Simulator
- DBro’s Dynasty Rookie Draft Primers
- NFL Draft Guide
2025 NFL Draft Winners
Dave Canales just got his Mike Evans.
I think this is a great spot for the former Arizona receiver. I wanted Tetairoa McMillan to go somewhere to be a true alpha. And I think the Panthers’ offense is exactly that.
Xavier Legette is coming off a disappointing rookie season and Jalen Coker (albeit impressive as a rookie) was a former undrafted free agent.
Opportunities should be there for McMillan in Carolina. Bryce Young, despite his many flaws, has shown an ability to support fantasy production with his wide receivers.
I also love that Adam Thielen is still on the roster, to help mentor these young wideouts, so they can grow together with their third-year quarterback.
McMillan earned top-10 draft capital with above-average size. Don’t overthink it.
One of the splashiest moves from Day 1 hit early, with the Jacksonville Jaguars trading up to No. 2 overall to select Travis Hunter.
The Jags got pick No. 2, plus a fourth- and sixth-round pick. The Browns received No. 5, No. 36, No. 126 and the Jaguars’ 2026 first-round pick.
We shall see how Jacksonville decides to deploy Hunter. The expectation is that he will primarily play offense while moonlighting on defense. However, I imagine an offensive head coach didn’t send his first pick next year to play a guy more on defense.
With Trevor Lawrence as his quarterback, Hunter is a winner. That wouldn’t have been the case in Cleveland. In fact, among the teams with top-five picks, Jacksonville was one of the best. The former Colorado standout might not be the true No. 1 WR, though, which is where this projection gets somewhat murky.
Brian Thomas Jr. established himself as the No. 1 WR last season, and all offseason, it has been overwhelming praise for the Jaguars’ offense running through Thomas.
The Jaguars also really need a cornerback on the perimeter. So, he is going to play both ways. How that works out remains to be seen, given that it’s never been done before. But downgrading Thomas substantially because they traded up for Hunter isn’t something I will do. Thomas earned targets at the college level with Malik Nabers on the roster.
Keep in mind that the Jaguars rank sixth in vacated targets (and seventh in air yards) entering the 2025 season. There’s more than enough to go around (except for Gabe Davis) and concentrate the offense on Thomas/Hunter. Just don’t hold out hope for Brenton Strange or Parker Washington to smash in 2025.
The Raiders’ landing spot is solid for Ashton Jeanty. Las Vegas has an underrated offensive line and Geno Smith is, at worst, an average quarterback. More importantly, Jeanty is going to see all the volume he can handle. He will get all the touches he needs to score fantasy points.
I don’t think the offensive line has many glaring holes, although there is a potential depth need at the guard spot. Jordan Meredith is in the final year of his contract (restricted free agent). Cody Whitehair is a free agent. Las Vegas also needs to make sure it gets left tackle Kolton Miller extended ASAP.
Ashton Jeanty‘s average draft position (ADP) in 2025 will likely be late in the first round. Based on the proposition of talent/opportunity, it’s not a bad bet to make on the uber-talented rookie running back from Boise State.
Jerry Jeudy might have dodged a bullet on Draft Night. Travis Hunter was expected to join the Cleveland Browns as a wide receiver, but now it appears Jeudy is dialed in as the No. 1 WR for the Dawg Pound.
There are worse situations than 20+ targets per game from Joe Flacco/Kenny Pickett. According to 4for4.com’s vacated air yards and targets tracker, no team has more available targets than the Browns entering 2025. Cedric Tillman, we have life.
We shall see what the Browns do at quarterback on Day 2 of the NFL Draft.
Jerry Jeudy 20 targets per game with Joe Flacco pic.twitter.com/fYEYvjv007
— Andrew Erickson™ (@AndrewErickson_) April 25, 2025
The Steelers didn’t take a running back in the first round, and they don’t have a draft pick in round two. Sure, they will add another back in the third round or on Day 3, but it’s clear that three-down workhorse Jaylen Warren is on the table.
The Chargers drafted Omarion Hampton 22nd overall to be their future bell-cow back. I could see Hampton and Najee Harris splitting work to some extent in 2025, but we know which running back will be spearheading this team at the end of the season and in 2026. In my estimation, this is an excellent landing spot for Hampton. The Chargers want to be a run-heavy offense. They have a very good offensive line and an elite passer at quarterback.
Keep in mind that Harris is only on a one-year deal. Don’t overthink the first-round draft capital for Hampton. Even if it might be annoying at times during the start of the 2025 season, drafting Hampton should pay off in the long run.
Jaxson Dart was the second quarterback off the board, not Shedeur Sanders. The Giants traded back up to select Dart, jumping the Los Angeles Rams. As the only other signal-caller not named Cam Ward selected in round one, Dart will have a chance to develop in New York behind Russell Wilson/Jameis Winston. All things considered, the 2025 NFL Draft was a solid run out for the Ole Miss passer.
If the veterans struggle, Dart might get a chance to play in the second half of the season. Going to Dart can be the final trump card Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen can pull to save their jobs if things start going south for Wilson.
Malik Nabers‘ value also has a chance to increase substantially with a trio of potential quarterback upgrades from last season.
Is Chicago the best spot for the 2025 season? Probably not. It’s a crowded offense with three established pass-catchers on the roster. But for what it’s worth, tight end Cole Kmet has an out in his contract in 2026.
So, if we are playing the long game (which is dynasty), this could end up being a great spot for Colston Loveland, attached to Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson over the long haul.
I think we might get an overreaction to the Year 1 landing spot — too many mouths to feed — without looking at the big outlook with Loveland. He may not light it up in Year 1, but he could have a monster Trey McBride-like Year 2 leap based on the current optics.
Loveland’s not a true “winner” because we didn’t get a smash Year 1 spot, but I am pretty confident in his long-term outlook with the Bears.
And for what it’s worth, Loveland’s short-term spot might not even be that bad. The Bears rank ninth in vacated target share, per 4for4, after losing Keenan Allen.
QBs With Upgraded Personnel
Getting Trevor Lawrence another key weapon in Travis Hunter is going to help him tremendously.
Pairing both Hunter and second-year receiver Brian Thomas Jr. is going to make this passing game dangerous in 2024 under new head coach Liam Coen.
More protection for Drake Maye. Whether Will Campbell is the best long-term option at left tackle remains to be seen, but it’s an upgrade on the Patriots’ offensive line regardless of where he settles.
The Jets got my highest-ranked tackle in Armand Membou, who can naturally fit on the right side upfront for Gang Green.
Tetairoa McMillan from Arizona gives Bryce Young a massive target to throw to.
Alabama’s Tyler Booker is a quality starting guard. Probably would have preferred another wide receiver, but I digress. Will Dallas ever draft a running back? Stay tuned.
Adding Matthew Golden to the mix will help Jordan Love get back on track after an up-and-down, injury-plagued 2024 season.
Seattle badly needed interior offensive line help. And they got it with Grey Zabel.
More protection upfront with Ohio State’s Donovan Jackson. Watch out for this offensive line to bully defenses. Stock is up for both Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason.
Washington added Oregon offensive lineman Josh Conerly, who can kick inside with the injury to Sam Cosmi.
When healthy, Josh Simmons could end up being the best tackle in this draft class. Without the immediate need for him to start right away, this was a perfect selection for Kansas City at 32 to add more long-term protection upfront for Patrick Mahomes.
As of the conclusion of Day 1, Mason Rudolph is the Steelers’ No. 1 QB. That’s a win. Oh, paging, Mr. Aaron Rodgers…
RBs who didn’t get Nuked by a Rookie RB
- D’Andre Swift (RB – DET)
- Travis Etienne Jr. (RB – JAX)
- Brian Robinson Jr. (RB – WSH)
- Audric Estime (RB – DEN)
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