On April 24, the 2025 NFL Draft will begin, and many months’ worth of speculation will be replaced by feverish anticipation. The 2025 class is believed to be stacked with defensive playmakers and NFL-ready offensive linemen, with some top running back and tight end talent also available.
As always, though, much of the focus has been on the quarterback prospects, with Miami’s Cam Ward widely expected to hear his name called first. But when does the draft start? How long will the opening round take? And in what order can we expect the next generation of NFL stars to be taken?
2025 NFL Draft – Day 1 at a Glance
The opening day of the NFL Draft will include just the first round, with Rounds 2 and 3 taking place on Day 2, and the final four rounds on Day 3. A day before the draft, every team still possesses its original first-round pick; something that hasn’t been the case for over 55 years.
Cam Ward, Travis Hunter, and Abdul Carter are expected to be taken among the first four picks, with Hunter’s Colorado teammate, Shedeur Sanders, an interesting player to monitor. Boise State running-back phenom Ashton Jeanty, Penn State tight end Tyler Warren, and Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan are among the most exciting offensive prospects.
With the current first-round draft order based solely on how each team fared in 2024, the teams will be picking in the following order, barring any late trades.
- Tennessee Titans
- Cleveland Browns
- New York Giants
- New England Patriots
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- Las Vegas Raiders
- New York Jets
- Carolina Panthers
- New Orleans Saints
- Chicago Bears
- San Francisco 49ers
- Dallas Cowboys
- Miami Dolphins
- Indianapolis Colts
- Atlanta Falcons
- Arizona Cardinals
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Seattle Seahawks
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Denver Broncos
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- Los Angeles Chargers
- Green Bay Packers
- Minnesota Vikings
- Houston Texans
- Los Angeles Rams
- Baltimore Ravens
- Detroit Lions
- Washington Commanders
- Buffalo Bills
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Philadelphia Eagles
The lack of trades to this point is believed to be due to the depth of the class, with significant talent available in the late first round and on Day 2. The lack of premium quarterback talent in the 2025 class is also believed to be a factor.
Which Positions Are Likely to Dominate Day 1?
Unlike 2024, when six quarterbacks were taken in the first 12 picks, the first round is expected to be more balanced this year. Ward is expected to be taken first overall, and could be one of four quarterbacks taken on Day 1. It’s also possible that he’ll be the only quarterback taken, with the class believed, by some, to lack high-end talent at the position.
With so much variation in analysts’ predictions, here is a quick rundown of how many players in each position are likely to be taken in the first round.
Quarterback: 1-4 (Projection: 3)
Running Back: 1-3 (Projection: 2)
Wide Receiver: 2-5 (Projection: 4, including Hunter)
Tight End: 1-2 (Projection: 2)
Offensive Line: 4-7 (Projection: 6)
Defensive Tackle: 2-4 (Projection: 3)
Defensive End/Edge Rusher: 4-6 (Projection: 5)
Linebacker: 2-3 (Projection: 2)
Cornerback: 3-6 (Projection: 3, including Hunter)
Safety: 1-2 (Projection: 2)
What Time Does the Draft Start? And How To Watch?
The first round of the 2025 NFL Draft is scheduled to start at 8 PM ET.
Coverage of the draft will be shown on NFL Network, ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPN Deportes. The event can also be streamed on NFL+ and ESPN+.
What Time Will It End?
Each team will have 10 minutes to make their pick, meaning the first round could finish as late as 01:30 A.M., factoring in an opening monologue from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. Things will likely move a lot quicker than that, though, with the first round finishing shortly before midnight in 2024.
