By Lucas Camacho
Well, we got the WNBA Draft out of the way, and there was definitely some excitement there last week. But now comes the other big draft of the month: the NFL Draft. There are many questions going into the offseason, as there is a definite need at quarterback and not very much talent (if any) to actually satisfy teams that need one NOW. What there is a lot of in this class is everything else: wide receivers, running backs, tight ends, and linemen on both offense and defense. Here is what to look for, what some experts are saying, and why some of those experts are wrong.
WHO GOES AT NUMBER ONE?
Last year, we had an abundance of great quarterback prospects, including eventual Rookie of the Year Jayden Daniels. This year…not so much. There are very few quarterback prospects this year that can turn things around immediately for a franchise desperate for a quarterback. Despite this, the Tennessee Titans, who hold this year’s No. 1 pick, cannot afford to pass on a quarterback. Will Levis is an unmitigated disaster, and there’s no way the Titans can afford to leave him with the starting job. The only decent quarterback prospect that can fill that need is Cam Ward from Miami. He’s certainly done a great job during this process to showcase his potential, and Titans’ brass should be licking their lips at the idea of drafting him at No. 1 on Thursday. While the Titans have many needs, getting Ward will be a definite step in the right direction.
WHO GETS PICKED AFTER NUMBER ONE?
This doesn’t seem to be a debate: the No. 2 pick seems to be Travis Hunter from Colorado. The reigning Heisman Trophy winner is what I would call the Shohei Ohtani of football as he plays both offense and defense. He is an elite defensive back and has the potential to be a top wide receiver. For a team with holes on both sides of the ball, Hunter is a gift from the football gods. The real debate about the No. 2 pick will be if the Cleveland Browns KEEP the pick or trade down. The Browns have a LOT of holes, including at quarterback as they are stuck with an injured Deshaun Watson, who has clearly fallen from grace, and Kenny Pickett, who doesn’t leave a lot to be desired. It might help the Browns to trade down for something that can fill the glaring holes in their offense, or take Hunter and see which side of the ball he might be the most helpful on.
WHERE DOES SHEDEUR SANDERS GO?
One prospect that has been going up and down on people’s lists is Shedeur Sanders, son of NFL Legend Deion Sanders, from Colorado. I honestly don’t know why people think the New York Giants should pass on Sanders at No. 3 for Abdul Carter (but to be fair, Carter is a standout linebacker with a bright future ahead of him), but I can see one team suddenly emerging as a spot for Sanders. The New Orleans Saints was hit with devastating news that Derek Carr is out for the upcoming season. With him gone, the Saints have a lot of banged up players who might come back like Rashid Shaheed, who was having a great season before it was cut short, and Taysom Hill, the football Swiss-Army Knife whose age may be catching up with him, and many others. With that in mind, the Saints might be the best spot for Sanders to land as the team needs something to jump start a team with a fan base that’s sick of losing.
CAN WE EXPECT A BIG TRADE?
Look, ever since the movie Draft Day staring Kevin Costner and Jennifer Garner, people keep watching and waiting for a mind-blowing trade that shakes the league to their core. Odds are that won’t be the case during this weekend’s draft, but don’t rule it out. There are several teams that could trade down and load up on picks for next year’s draft. There are also some teams that may trade up if players like Sanders are still up on the board. We saw it last year when the Chiefs jumped up in the first round last year to get Xavier Worthy (possibly to keep him from the division rival Chargers). So, my advice is temper your expectations on a big draft trade that makes your jaw drop, but brace for the possibility anyway. The NFL Draft can get crazy, and the unexpected seems to happen every year like clockwork.
WHAT ABOUT THE LOCAL TEAMS?
What many people in the Hollywood area would love to know is what do the Chargers and Rams do with their picks. Well, let’s be honest about one thing: the Chargers’ offense is a mess. They can’t afford to waste Justin Herbert, who is entering his prime, by giving him the most inconsistent offenses in the league. I am not sold on Ladd McConkey in the number one receiver role and the rest of the WR corps leave a lot to be desired. A certain NFL analyst says he sees them going with a guard for their first round pick: no…just…no. Of course, the Chargers may have no choice as they sit all the way back at the No. 22 pick. If they can’t get a receiver, at least a running back or tight end that can catch is very much appreciated.
As for the Rams, they need help on the other side of the ball. Their pass defense ranked 26th in the NFL this past season, and there’s no way they can go toe-to-toe with teams like the Lions and Eagles with a sloppy defense again. Fortunately, there are a LOT of prospects to fill these needs. There is also another way the Rams could go. I don’t agree with one “expert’s” opinion that the Rams should trade down, but I am intrigued by another’s opinion that they could get a quarterback. I don’t think it should be in the first round, but getting a decent quarterback prospect to sit on the bench and learn from star Matthew Stafford would certainly secure the Rams’ future.
Whatever the Rams and Chargers decide, the pressure is on to be really successful, especially with the Dodgers chasing another World Series and the Lakers making a playoff push to secure another championship. The people of Los Angeles are looking to the local sports teams to make the city into “the City of Champions”, and it’s up to teams like the Rams and the Chargers to respond appropriately to those demands.
WNBA DRAFT FOLLOW UP
As I mentioned earlier, we just had the WNBA Draft last week. With interest and attendance going up for the WNBA, I threw in my two cents worth last week. My overall impression is that the Dallas Wings obviously won because they drafted rising star and Rookie of the Year favorite Paige Bueckers. I’d argue though that the Washington Mystics made out like a bandit, picking three incredible players with the No. 3, 4, and 6 pick.
I am disappointed no one took an interest in Sedona Prince. Yes, she has some baggage in how some past teammates and coaches have felt about her. Yes, people are already judging her for the sexual assault accusations leveled against her, even though no charges or investigations are active against her (and there are quite a few male members in the NFL who are still playing in spite of sexual assault accusations against them). Now if people are judging her for her age and injury history…well now that is a reason to not take a chance on her. She is 25 with a problematic injury history. I wouldn’t be surprised if she goes overseas and plays there for a year before landing with a WNBA team.
As for the hometown Sparks, how did they do? I’d argue…they kinda blew it. They used their draft pick mostly on forwards, and their first round pick was someone who wasn’t too high on anyone’s board. The forwards were the thing that got me scratching my head. Yes, we don’t know when Cameron Brink will be back, but if the goal was to add depth until she returns…my question is why? Not counting the drafted players and counting Brink, the Sparks had 7 forwards on their squad…so why add 2 more? Did you know there is only one player on the Sparks roster that is officially listed as a center? If not take Prince, why not draft another center? I hope the Sparks know what they’re doing, and hopefully reuniting Dearica Hamby with Kelsey Plum will bring their winning ways from the Las Vegas Aces to Los Angeles. Hope always springs eternal, and Sparks fans are certainly hopeful…so who am I to rain on their hopes (after all, I’m a hopeful person…because I’m still under the hopeful belief that if I mention Stevie Nicks in enough articles, I’ll get to interview or meet her).
The 2025 NFL Draft is scheduled for April 24-26, 2025. It starts on Thursday with the first round and goes through Saturday. The first round of the NFL Draft on Thursday, April 24 is scheduled to begin at 4 P.M. local time. Coverage on April 25 will start at 3 P.M. and April 26 coverage is set for 8 A.M. (both local time). ABC and ESPN will broadcast the 2025 NFL Draft, as will the NFL Network. It can also be streamed on sites that carry those stations.
