The Athletic

I have been covering the NFL Draft for almost two decades — and the 2025 class might be the most polarizing of them all. Some NFL scouts believe one or two quarterbacks are deserving of this year’s first round, while others think drafting any QB in Round 1 would be a mistake. A comment from one AFC scout: “Man, I feel bad for the teams trying to find one (quarterback) in this group.” And it isn’t just that position. Outside of Travis Hunter, there is very little consensus about the non-quarterbacks at the top of this draft. “Hunter,” a second AFC scout told The Athletic, “is the only guy this year who would have been a top-10 pick last year — probably in most years.” I share those opinions not to be a buzzkill, but rather as a reminder to keep an open mind with this year’s first round. One team’s No. 2 prospect might be another team’s No. 15. The polarizing nature of this year’s draft will make it interesting. Embrace it now.