Ward No. 1, Hunter No. 2: Titans, Jags Kick Off Epic NFL Draft

The Tennessee Titans wasted no time on Thursday night, selecting Miami quarterback Cam Ward with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, held amid electric energy in Green Bay, Wisconsin.[1][2] Ward, who rose from a zero-star high school recruit to college football's most dynamic signal-caller, threw for over 4,000 yards and 36 touchdowns in his final season with the Hurricanes, capping a career that included stints at Incarnate Word, Washington State and Miami.[1] Titans coach Brian Callahan called Ward the franchise's future, pairing him with a defense primed for contention.[2] All eyes then shifted to No. 2, where the Cleveland Browns held the card and whispers pointed to Colorado's Travis Hunter. Instead, the Jacksonville Jaguars pulled off a seismic trade, leaping from No. 5 by dealing their second-round pick (No. 36), a fourth-rounder and a 2026 first-round pick to the Browns.[3] The Jags landed Hunter, the 2024 Heisman Trophy winner who dazzled as both cornerback and wide receiver, racking up 96 catches for 1,258 yards and 15 touchdowns offensively while locking down top receivers on defense.[1][2] The blockbuster deal underscored Hunter's premium value, with Jaguars GM Trent Baalke citing his versatility as a game-changer for a roster needing playmakers.[3] Over 205,000 fans turned out for the draft's debut in Titletown, the NFL's smallest market hosting one of its biggest spectacles, complete with Tundra Vision boards and bowl seating.[2] Later picks rippled through the first round: Jaxson Dart went before Shedeur Sanders, who surprisingly lasted beyond the top 32, while Abdul Carter slotted in at No. 3.[1] The Green Bay Packers ended their 23-year first-round wide receiver drought by grabbing Texas' Matthew Golden at No. 23, their first since 2002.[2] As confetti fell and Ward and Hunter donned their new caps, the draft set the tone for a quarterback-rich class and a new era of two-way stars.