5 Teams Set To Dominate The 2025 NFL Draft…And 5 That Are Totally Screwed
With the 2025 NFL Draft fast approaching, it’s time to take stock of how teams will perform this draft. There are many great college players ready to make a name for themselves in the pros, and teams are eager to bring them on board.
Here are a few teams in a strong draft position and a few that may be in trouble.
Which teams are set to make a splash in the 2025 NFL Draft?
Dominate: Cleveland Browns
The Browns have had a rough few seasons. Acquiring alleged abuser DeShaun Watson has only brought absolute misery, as the quarterback has failed to stay on the field and failed to perform when he does briefly appear. However, Cleveland’s fortunes could be changing with the 2025 NFL draft.
The Browns not only have the second overall selection but also have 4 of the first 100 picks, and the 104th pick is a cherry on top. With access to top-tier talent in the first two rounds and 10 total picks giving some capital to wheel and deal, the Browns are in a strong draft situation this year. However, we’ve seen this movie before, and it typically doesn’t end well for the Brownies. Hopefully, this year will be different for the Cleveland faithful.
Screwed: Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings made an impressive run to the playoffs last year after losing star QB Kirk Cousins to free agency (though this may have been for the best based on how he played in Atlanta). While Sam Darnold showed out last season, he’s no longer with the team, and the Vikes are once again in need of a quarterback.
Unfortunately, the draft is not likely a place where they will find one. The Vikings only have four picks in the entire draft, and the first two are numbers 24 and 97. Woof. Missing 70+ picks of viable NFL talent is not ideal, especially when they’d likely need to trade up to find a franchise quarterback. Maybe Aaron Rodgers really wants to follow in Favre’s footsteps again.
Dominate: Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks remain one of the best run franchises in the NFL, consistently remaining over .500 and contending for the playoffs, seemingly regardless of actual talent on paper. This level of quality is also displayed in their ability to make deals and build draft capital. The Hawks have five picks in the top 100 and 10 picks overall after acquiring draft positions from the Steelers in exchange for D.K. Metcalf.
Metcalf was then immediately replaced with Cooper Kupp, which is arguably an upgrade (if he can stay on the field). We’ll see what the Seahawks can do with all these picks in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Screwed: Pittsburgh Steelers
Speaking of the D.K. Metcalf trade, the Steelers draft board doesn’t look too hot right now. The Steelers only have six picks in the draft as of now, and because of the Metcalf trade, they don’t have a second-round pick. In fact, they only have the 21st and 83rd picks in the top 100, and then don’t pick again for another 50 selections until 123. It’s going to be a tough task to make those first three picks an immediate impact.
However, there are swirling trade rumors of T.J. Watt seeking a trade, which would certainly load up the Steelers’ coffers with draft capital. If they deal with the superstar pass rusher, they may have a better outlook for the draft, but as of now? Not so much.
Dominate: San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers are coming off of a very disappointing season following a trip to the Super Bowl in 2024. However, they are ready to go for the NFL draft. The Niners have four picks in the top 100 and 6 in the top 150. They’ll need to replace Deebo Samuel at the wideout position, so having all these picks should be a huge help there. With 11 total picks, they have the flexibility to trade up and target specific players they really like.
The 49ers would actually have even more draft capital if they didn’t commit a “payroll accounting error” in 2022 that cost them their 5th round pick this year. Even still, the 49ers are all set to take a major stab at the draft and build a winning team for years to come. With some Brock Purdy trade rumors going around, we might even see them make a splash in the 1st round.
Screwed: Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons are in a tough spot. They paid Kirk Cousins a mondo deal only to end up sitting him at the end of the year. They appear to want to trade him, but his big contract and, even worse, no-trade clause makes that very difficult. To compound these problems, the team only has five picks in the draft.
Fortunately, they do have two picks in the top 50, but after the 46th pick, they only have picks 118 and 218. This means making trades will be much more difficult, and they will have serious difficulty filling out the roster with young talent like most teams do. Trading Cousins could bring in some additional picks, but it appears he won’t be dealt until after the NFL draft, when it will be known whether teams like the Browns or Steelers have a rookie ready to go at quarterback.
Fortunately for the Falcons, their roster is already pretty solid, and they do have a 1st round QB in Michael Penix Jr. ready to go if Cousins does get dealt, meaning they won’t need to scramble for a QB this time around.
Dominate: Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens have come off with yet another great season and playoff run, with a ton of draft picks ready to beef up the team. They have 11 picks in the NFL draft and 5 in the top 150. The Ravens already have elite players in virtually every position, so they can pick the best player available at any spot.
They might want to add a pass rusher, as Kyle Van Noy and Odafe Oweh are both in the last year of their deals. While they did bring in future Hall of Famer Deandre Hopkins, it’s possible they want another WR to fill out the room. Regardless, the Ravens are in a great place for the 2025 season, and that will start with their strong position in the 2025 NFL draft.
Screwed: Los Angeles Rams
The Rams made a surprise appearance in the playoffs last year after starting the season 1-4. Unfortunately, we don’t think they’ll be able to turn this draft around the same way. The Rams have eight picks in the NFL draft, but half of them are in the 6th round. In the first five rounds, the Rams have selections 26, 90, 101 and 127.
A late pick in the 1st and then no picks in the 2nd means that most top-tier NFL talent will be gone by the time they pick again in the 3rd. Maybe they can deal with some future picks to get players they need in this draft, but we’re not sure it’s gonna happen.
Dominate: Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars have hit a rough patch after a brief stint of being a playoff team. However, they’re ready to reload and make an impact in the 2025 draft. The Jaguars have seven picks in the top 150 and 10 picks overall, including the 5th overall pick. This is a good thing because the team does need to refill some positions via the draft.
The main concern is defensive backs, where they could even get lucky and have Travis Hunter fall down to the 5th pick. The Jags have a ton of freedom to move spots if they need to, trade away and build future draft capital, or even acquire established NFL talent.
Screwed: Washington Commanders
The Commanders had a terrific draft in 2024 by virtue of bringing in rookie sensation Jayden Daniels alone. With a stud QB, the Commanders are in a good position for the future, but not exactly for this draft. The Commanders don’t pick until the 29th in the first round, then 61 in the second, which means that it will be more difficult to acquire players with immediate impact.
They also only have five picks in the draft, with none in the 3rd round. The Commanders need a pass rusher after losing Jonathan Allen in free agency, which will likely account for their first round pick, however they’ll have to see who’s on the board at the end of the first round. Despite this being a tougher draft, the Commanders are still in a good position for the future.
5 Teams Set To Dominate The 2025 NFL Draft…And 5 That Are Totally Screwed
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