As the NFL Draft approaches, teams prepare to make strategic selections that could shape their rosters for years to come. For that reason, the 2025 Draft should be more exciting even than usual, due to the impressive talent slated to head to the draft. This year, a number of franchises are desperate to plug major holes in their lineups. They are literally in win-now mode and searching for players that can help them this season. The picks chosen in the draft will go a long way towards shaping the culture of their teams, most importantly for franchises that are in dire need.
Saquon Barkley is clearly the best player in the class and this makes for an interesting situation. The New York Giants made him the No. 2 overall pick in 2018. His performance still ripples throughout the league today as teams continue to realize their need for instant-impact, game-changing playmakers. Last year was ugly for the Las Vegas Raiders. That 79.8 rushing yards per game was the lowest mark in the NFL over the last two seasons. That number alone should indicate how important it is for the Raiders to improve their running attack via the draft.
Key Departures and Team Needs
They have experienced one of the most remarkable overhauls this entire offseason in Philadelphia. Josh Sweat, Brandon Graham, C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Milton Williams are gone. These departures create a huge void in the Eagles’ defensive line that their new draft picks will have a lot to cover. The franchise must strategically choose players who can maintain or elevate their competitive edge in the NFC East.
On the New England Patriots, some serious changes are going under foot. They’re hoping to line up a new, to-them-tackle who made 38 starts at LSU. It’s a clear effort to improve their offensive line. A better offensive line would do wonders to protect their new quarterback and increase the new offense’s productive capability.
Another team looking at absolute triage is the Cincinnati Bengals, who caved in 2024 and ended up fielding the D ranked dead last in the entire league. They are targeting McMillan, a playmaker on whose talent the cliché “too good to pass up” was created for. Head Coach Zac Taylor isn’t hiding his enthusiasm over McMillan’s possible impact. Plus, he’s so versatile and athletic – we expect to get a ton of production from him. This mood further highlights the Bengals’ desperate need for defensive added help.
Rising Stars and Their Potential
Hunter is climbing fast among the top players in this draft class. He’s someone who can have a huge immediate impact on both offensive and defensive sides of the ball for the Jacksonville Jaguars. His versatility as a playmaker and pass catcher could offer an immediate upgrade to an offense that desperately needs more consistency and efficiency.
Trevor Lawrence has struggled with consistency the last two years. If the Jaguars want to continue developing a more potent offensive attack, acquiring better talent to support Lawrence will be necessary. This starts with talent who can draw mismatches and offer a diverse array of threats to defenses on offense.
Last season, Loveland was the talk of the town thanks to his gaudy statistics. He was covered on 41% of his routes and caught 56 passes, hauling in five touchdowns over the course. His ability to create separation and leverage mismatches could make him a valuable asset for teams looking to diversify their offensive strategies.
The Importance of Strategic Drafting
Yet as teams begin to approach the draft, they are often caught in that fine line of need versus talent. As Giants’ General Manager Joe Schoen put it after drafting a quarterback this year, “You don’t pass on that position, that kind of player.” His sentiments capture the attitude of most teams as they try to decide what to do with their picks with each passing round.
The draft represents a great equalizing opportunity — one not lost on organizations such as the Miami Dolphins. With his Day 2 selections, Grier is setting himself up to address any team need with confidence. This framework creates opportunities for franchises to not only address short-term needs in their cities but set up long-term strategy to grow and develop.
Meanwhile, Nick Bosa remains a focal point for San Francisco as they seek to bolster their roster with players who can effectively contribute on defense. The team has been looking for franchise-altering players since 2019, which makes this draft instrumental in doing just that.
Explosive traits have evaluators drawing Von Miller comparisons to particular prospects. If so, it would open up a whole new position for teams to evaluate defensive prospects for years to come. In that eventuality, it would create a much more proactive talent grab for people who deliver short-term value.
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