The 2025 NFL draft was held at Lambeau Field and its adjacent Titletown District in Green Bay, Wisconsin, on April 24–26, 2025.  The first round was held Thursday evening and was kicked off when the Tennessee Titans selected Cam Ward, the University of Miami’s quarterback.  He was the expected number one pick and will come right in to start for the Titans who finished 3-14 last season.  The next pick was Travis Hunter who played both offense and defense for the Colorado Buffaloes last season to the Jacksonville Jaguars.  The Jaguars traded with the Browns to be able to draft the talented two-way player. The third selection was made by the New York Giants, taking Abdul Carter, the standout defensive end from Penn State. 

Perhaps the biggest story of the draft centered on Colorado Buffalo quarterback, Shadeur Sanders.  He was anticipated to go as high as top-five in the draft and by the end of the first day he hadn’t been selected. Then on Day two of the draft, Sanders was not selected in Rounds two or three. Finally in Round five, the Cleveland Browns traded up to select Sanders. The Browns had already selected another quarterback in Round three and had traded for a quarterback earlier in the offseason to supplement their current quarterbacks, Joe Flacco who had signed a one year $4M contract in April 2025 and the still injured DeShaun Watson.  Sanders comes into a crowded quarterback situation.

There were a number of draft picks from Virginia colleges:  

There were five Virginia Tech Hokies selected in the draft:

Bhayshul Tuten (RB) – Round four to the Jacksonville Jaguars   

Jaylin Lane (WR) – Round four to the Washington Commanders   

Dorian Strong (CB) – Round six to the Buffalo Bills   

Antwaun Powell-Ryland (EDGE) – Round six to the Philadelphia Eagles   

Aeneas Peebles (DT) – Round six to the Baltimore Ravens   

There was one draft pick from the University of Virginia Cavaliers:

Jonas Sanker (S) – Round three to the New Orleans Saints   

And one selected from the College of William & Mary:

Charles Grant (OT) – Round three, Pick 99 to the Las Vegas Raiders   

Getting drafted is a dream come true for many of these young athletes, while others have even higher ambitions.  Time will tell which draft picks turn out to be superstars and which will be busts.