Predicting the top 5 picks of the upcoming draft

By Hunter Walker, Sports Editor

April 18, 2025

SANFORD, Maine – The NFL draft is approaching fast and is set to start on Thursday, April 24. Here is who I predict will be drafted in the top 5 picks of the draft.

#1 Overall, Tennessee Titans select QB Cam Ward

The Titans have been in need of a QB for a few seasons now and Cam Ward is likely going to be the best QB in the draft class. The Titans do need an offensive line as well but the draft class is not strong enough for them to build their entire offensive line through the draft. By selecting Cam Ward they’d put him in a challenging spot if they start him right away but he could definitely build chemistry with wide receiver Calvin Ridley.

#2 Overall, Cleveland Browns select Edge Rusher Abdul Carter

This would not be the greatest pick for the Browns because they could use a receiver more, but they would be pairing a great edge rusher with another one, Myles Garrett. Garrett has already won Defensive Player of the Year in his career and is consistently one of the best defenders in the league, if they had him rushing the QB from one side of the offensive line and Carter rushing from the other side they would easily have one of the best defenses in the league. While this won’t help their offense, the receivers in this draft class are good enough for them to select one in a later round, or even a running back if they want to go that route.

#3 Overall, New York Giants select Athlete Travis Hunter

The Giants could use a QB, and everybody thinks that QB will end up being Shedeur Sanders, however, many NFL scouts do not believe that Sanders is first round talent and especially not top five. The Giants would be smart to take Hunter who would add another weapon to their receiving corps outside of just Malik Nabers, and they can make him a cornerback as well to help improve their poor defense. If the Giants do want to draft a QB this could be a risky move, but if other teams also don’t see him as first round talent then the Giants could have the chance to get him in the second round, if that happens then the risk pays off big time since Hunter and Sanders were just playing together in college, this is unlikely to happen, but drafting Hunter will already make their team a better team to draft a QB to next year.

#4 Overall, New England Patriots trade back to #6, Las Vegas Raiders select Defensive Tackle Mason Graham

The Patriots realistically do not need to pick at number four if guys like Travis Hunter and Abdul Carter are gone, so instead I have them trading back two picks with the Raiders and getting the Raiders third round pick on top of that. Now that the Raiders have the fourth overall pick they will be selecting Mason Graham who will be a great fit. The Raiders new general manager John Spytek wants to prioritize the pass rush when building the team and this would be the perfect way to do it. By trading up to pick four they’d be jumping over the Jacksonville Jaguars at number five who could also be in the running for Graham. Graham will bring a lot of help to their defensive line which is pretty weak outside of Maxx Crosby, they do have Christian Wilkins but he has only been with the Raiders one year and it was a down year for him.

#5 Overall, Jacksonville Jaguars select Wide Receiver Tetairoa McMillan

The Jaguars need another receiver to pair up with Brian Thomas Jr. who will be heading into his second year. McMillan would bring a massive upgrade to their offense especially after they just traded Christian Kirk to their division rival Houston Texans. McMillan to many people is the best receiver in the draft class and is the most realistic option for the Jaguars to select if they are unable to get Mason Graham. If the Jaguars get McMillan and QB Trevor Lawrence is fully healthy they could win a lot more games than they did last season and it will be all thanks to the weapons they’d have on offense.