While the Tennessee Titans, the team with the top overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, are not officially on the clock yet, football experts predict they will select former Miami Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward. After him, there’s no clarity on when the next quarterback will be selected.
However, as Mike Greenberg shared in an episode of ESPN’s Get Up, quarterbacks going first in the draft haven’t had much success in recent years. Greenberg pointed out that last season, second overall pick Jayden Daniels had a better season than first overall pick and fellow QB Caleb Williams. Daniels led the Washington Commanders to the NFC Championship Game, though losing to the eventual Super Bowl LIX champions Philadelphia Eagles.
Meanwhile, the same case happened in 2023 when C.J. Stroud had a better season than Bryce Young, leading the Houston Texans to the playoffs. Greenberg also went back in 2022 when Kenny Pickett was the first quarterback selected while Brock Purdy was the last overall pick, making him Mr. Irrelevant. However, Purdy has a more relevant career over Pickett as he has started in a Super Bowl. Conversely, Pickett will be on his third team in four seasons.
Here’s why we might all be feeling sorry for the wrong person on Thursday night. #NFLDraft @GetUpESPN pic.twitter.com/jHVmOyNtsX
— Mike Greenberg (@Espngreeny) April 21, 2025
Greenberg added that out of the last eight NFL Most Valuable Players (all quarterbacks), none of them were the first QB selected in their draft class. Finally, nine starting quarterbacks during the 2024 postseason were not the first player selected from their position. Greenberg does have a point, saying that where you’re drafted isn’t important if you can prove that you can play.
-Lance Fernandez