The eyes of the football world will be on Green Bay this week as the 2025 NFL Draft officially begins on Thursday.
The NFL draft is hosted in Wisconsin for the first time since the 1940 NFL Draft in Milwaukee. This year’s draft is one of the most unpredictable in recent memory. Miami quarterback Cam Ward is projected to be the top pick, but there’s plenty of uncertainty after the predicted No. 1 overall pick.
With so much unknown in the build up to the draft, USA TODAY Sports predicts what to expect during the seven-round selection process.
NFL draft predictions
Five quarterbacks will be drafted inside the top 50 picks
Cam Ward is the likely first overall pick, with Shedeur Sanders expected to be selected shortly after. Jaxson Dart is also projected to be chosen in the first round. In my latest mock draft, I have all three quarterbacks going in the first round.
I predict Tyler Shough and Jalen Milroe will be drafted at the top of the second round. Keep an eye on the Cleveland Browns and New York Giants to target a quarterback in Round 2, especially if both teams pass on a signal caller in the initial round.
Quarterback is a premium position and we’ve seen them get drafted well before they are projected. A record-tying six quarterbacks were drafted in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
More than 20 running backs will hear their name called
After being devalued in recent years, the running back position went through a resurgence following the superb seasons from Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry, Bijan Robinson, Jahmyr Gibbs and others. I expect there to be a domino effect in the 2025 draft.
Running back is one of the deepest position groups in this year’s draft, and many scouts believe it is the deepest offensive position group.
Ashton Jeanty, Omarion Hampton, TreVeyon Henderson, Quinshon Judkins and Kaleb Johnson are all expected to hear their names called within the first two days of the draft. Running backs such as Devin Neal, Cam Skattebo, Damien Martinez and Dylan Sampson could also be selected on the second day. While several running backs are projected to get drafted on Day 3.
In the last five drafts, only in 2022 were more than 20 running backs selected.
Defensive line and edge rushers dominate the draft
A total of 44 defensive linemen and edge rushers were drafted in 2024. I predict around 50 defensive linemen and edge rushers will be drafted this year. It’s the strongest position group in this year’s class.
I project we’ll see at least 20 defensive linemen and edge rushers get drafted within the first three rounds. Abdul Carter, Mason Graham, Jalon Walker, Mike Green, Mykel Williams, Kenneth Grant, Derrick Harmon, Walter Nolen, Donovan Ezeiruaku, Shemar Stewart, Tyleik Williams and James Pearce Jr. are all first-round picks in my most recent mock draft.
Eight tight ends will be selected through four rounds
Headlined by Tyler Warren and Colston Loveland, this year’s tight end class is strong. This could be the first year at least two tight ends are selected in the first round since the 2019 draft when T.J. Hockenson and Noah Fant both went in Round 1.
Warren and Loveland are widely predicted to be selected in the first round. Following them, Mason Taylor, Harold Fannin, Elijah Arroyo, Terrance Ferguson, Gunnar Helm and Mitchell Evans are all likely to be drafted before the end of Round 4.
Twelve tight ends were selected in the 2024 draft, but we could see more than that this year.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2025 NFL Draft predictions: Breaking down four potential outcomes