Between April 24 and 26, 257 prospects were drafted by all 32 teams of the National Football League in Green Bay, Wisconsin. While some teams were successful with their draft selections, others fell short. Let’s take a look at which teams stood out in the 2025 NFL Draft—and which ones missed the mark.

Successful Teams in This Year’s Draft

Arizona Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals had one of the better drafts this year. Their selections included:

• Round 1 (16): DT Walter Nolan, Mississippi
• Round 2 (47): CB Will Johnson, Michigan
• Round 3 (78): EDGE Jordan Burch, Oregon
• Round 4 (115): LB Cody Simon, Ohio State
• Round 5 (174): CB Denzel Burke, Ohio State
• Round 6 (221): OG Hayden Conner, Texas
• Round 7 (225): S Kitan Crawford, Nevada

Grade: A-

Arizona focused heavily on defense during the first two days, landing two potential stars in Nolan and Johnson. If Nolan can refine his skills and Johnson stays healthy, the Cardinals’ defense could take a big step forward. Cody Simon has a knack for finding the ball and should contribute inside and outside. Burke, while raw, has the athleticism to develop. On offense, Conner fills a need on the line, and Crawford has the traits to surprise as a nickel safety. Arizona should look to sign undrafted free agent receivers, but overall, it was a successful draft.

Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens, as always, let the draft come to them and ended up with a loaded class:

• Round 1 (27): S Malaki Starks, Georgia
• Round 2 (59): EDGE Mike Green, Marshall
• Round 3 (91): OT Emery Jones Jr., LSU
• Round 4 (129): LB Teddye Buchanan, California
• Round 5 (141): OT Carson Vinson, Alabama A&M
• Round 6 (178): CB Bilbao Kone, Western Michigan
• Round 6 (186): K Tyler Loop, Arizona
• Round 6 (203): WR LaJohntay Westwr, Colorado
• Round 6 (210): DT Aeneas Peebles, Virginia Tech
• Round 6 (212): CB Robert Longerbeam, Rutgers
• Round 7 (243): OG Garrett Dellinger, LSU

Grade: A

Starks will be a playmaker from Day 1. Green fell due to off-field concerns but could prove a steal. Buchanan and Peebles should contribute early on defense. Jones, Vinson, and Dellinger add depth and size to the offensive line. Loop could be the long-term answer at kicker. Kone and Longerbeam offer potential in the secondary, and Wrestler is a tough, fast slot option. Baltimore maximized value across the board.

Indianapolis Colts

The Colts came away with a strong draft class, including:

• Round 1 (14): TE Tyler Warren, Penn State
• Round 2 (45): EDGE J.T. Tuimoloau, Ohio State
• Round 3 (80): CB Justin Walley, Minnesota
• Round 4 (127): OT Jalen Travis, Iowa State
• Round 5 (151): RB DJ Giddens, Kansas State
• Round 6 (189): QB Riley Leonard, Notre Dame
• Round 6 (190): DT Tim Smith, Alabama
• Round 7 (232): LB Hunter Wohler, Wisconsin

Grade: A

Warren and Tuimoloau were outstanding early picks. Walley provides needed depth in the secondary. Travis is a strong blocker with the potential to step in for a starting role. Giddens is a solid backup behind Jonathan Taylor. Leonard is a developmental quarterback, and Smith adds size to the defensive line. The Colts executed well on all fronts.

Middle-of-the-Road Draft Classes

Buffalo Bills

Buffalo made nine selections:

• Round 1 (30): CB Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky
• Round 2 (41): DT T.J. Sanders, South Carolina
• Round 3 (72): EDGE Landon Jackson, Arkansas
• Round 4 (109): DT Deonte Walker, Kentucky
• Round 5 (170): CB Jordan Hancock, Ohio State
• Round 5 (173): TE Jackson Hayes, Georgia Tech
• Round 6 (177): CB Dorian Strong, Virginia Tech
• Round 6 (206): OT Chase Lundt, Connecticut
• Round 7 (240): WR Kaden Prather, Maryland

Grade: B

Hairston’s speed and toughness stand out. Jackson fits the scheme well, and Sanders could be a solid rotational piece. However, trading up twice for defensive tackles limited draft capital flexibility. While some late-round picks like Prather and Hayes have upside, Buffalo didn’t fully capitalize on its opportunities.

New York Jets

The Jets made nine selections and received a Grade: B+.

They passed on the top tight ends but addressed needs with athletic players across the board. Melbourne is raw but promising on the line. Taylor offers potential as a receiving tight end. Thomas and Smith provide depth at corner and wideout. Defensively, Moore and Mauigoa could be solid contributors. Still, the decision not to draft a quarterback to compete with Justin Fields holds this class back from a higher grade.

Teams That Struggled in the 2025 NFL Draft

Cincinnati Bengals

With only six selections, the Bengals had limited room for error:

• Round 1 (17): EDGE Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M
• Round 2 (49): LB Demetrius Knight Jr., South Carolina
• Round 3 (81): OG Dylan Fairchild, Georgia
• Round 4 (119): LB Barrett Carter, Clemson
• Round 5 (153): OT Jalen Rivers, Miami
• Round 6 (193): RB Tahi Brooks, Texas Tech

Grade: C+

Stewart has immense physical upside but lacked production in college. Knight and Fairchild could become starters, but the team bypassed higher-upside players at premium positions. Carter and Rivers fill depth roles, and Brooks enters a crowded backfield. A small draft class and lack of impact picks led to a disappointing haul.

New Orleans Saints

The Saints had nine picks but failed to address key needs early:

They needed help at quarterback and offensive line but missed the mark. While Banks and Shough have upside, neither is a sure thing. Broughton, Sanker, and Stutsman add depth on defense, but better prospects were likely available. Riley could eventually replace Marshon Lattimore, and Neal has red-zone potential. Diggs is a late-round edge rusher to watch, but overall, this class lacked direction.

Grade: C

Conclusion: Many teams found success in the 2025 NFL Draft, while others landed somewhere in the middle or outright struggled. As always, time will tell how these picks pan out once the season begins.