With a week until the 2025 NFL draft kicks off Thursday night in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Ravens beat writer Brian Wacker predicts all 32 picks in the first round.

1. Tennessee Titans: Cam Ward, QB, Miami

After misfiring on Will Levis in the second round two years ago, the new regime of general manager and ex-Kansas City Chiefs assistant general manager Mike Borgonzi and coach and former Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan get their face of the franchise. Ward’s skills have drawn at least some comparison with Patrick Mahomes.

2. Cleveland Browns: Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado

The signing of Joe Flacco and trade for former Pittsburgh Steelers first-round draft pick Kenny Pickett to join an injured Deshaun Watson means the Browns will wait until next year, perhaps for Arch Manning. In the meantime, they get the Heisman Trophy winner, a potential two-way star and who many consider the best overall player in the draft.

3. New York Giants: Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State

Like the Browns, the Giants will wait for their next franchise quarterback after signing Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston. Edge rusher isn’t New York’s most pressing need, but Carter (12 sacks, 24 tackles for loss in 2024) is too good to pass on.

4. New England Patriots: Will Campbell, OT, LSU

After the Ravens re-signed left tackle Ronnie Stanley just before the start of free agency, the Patriots were forced to look elsewhere to find Drake Maye’s blindside protector. They spent in free agency and get the best tackle in the class to sign up on the left side opposite veteran and former Ravens starter Morgan Moses on the right side.

5. Jacksonville Jaguars: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State

The Jaguars have other needs, including at cornerback and defensive tackle, but Jeanty, who finished second in Heisman Trophy voting, gives an offense that ranked 25th in total yards and 26th in rushing yards an instant jolt. Jeanty led the nation in rushing last year with 2,601 yards and 29 touchdowns.

6. Las Vegas Raiders: Mason Graham, DL, Michigan

With the Jaguars snagging Jeanty, the Raiders and new general manager John Spytek turn to improving a defense that ranked 25th in points per game and 22nd in sack percentage last season. Graham is an interior game wrecker who also comes from minority owner Tom Brady’s alma mater.

7. New York Jets: Armand Membou, OT, Missouri

Penn State tight end Tyler Warren is a possibility here given the need for a weapon for quarterback Justin Fields. But after taking Olu Fashanu 11th overall last year and with the departure of Moses in free agency, the Jets get bookend tackles to actually protect a quarterback who has been sacked plenty.

8. Carolina Panthers: Jalon Walker, EDGE/LB, Georgia

Only two teams had fewer sacks last season than the Panthers’ 32. In Walker, they get a versatile 6-foot-1, 243-pound pass rusher who can be deployed in several different ways.

9. New Orleans Saints: Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State

With quarterback Derek Carr dealing with a shoulder injury, there’s been speculation that the Saints could need a quarterback. Or that could simply be subterfuge and they’ll go with a playmaking tight end who has size (6-6, 256), a big catch radius and could be a difference maker.

10. Chicago Bears: Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan

The Bears have a variety of needs, including at edge rusher and left tackle, but new coach Ben Johnson likes two-tight end sets. If Warren is already off the board, Loveland, who some think might be the best tight end in the draft, could be the answer to pair with Cole Kmet.

11. San Francisco 49ers: Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas

The offensive line is San Francisco’s biggest need. With Banks, they can plug him in immediately at right tackle with a long-term plan of moving him to left tackle to eventually replace the aging Trent Williams.

12. Dallas Cowboys: Matthew Golden, WR, Texas

This one checks the box of biggest need and best option available at the position with the 5-11, 191-pound Golden a nice complement to the bigger CeeDee Lamb. Other possibilities include Ohio State’s Emeka Egbuka and Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan.

13. Miami Dolphins: Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina

Interior offensive line is probably a bigger need among the many Miami has, so Booker or North Dakota State’s Grey Zabel could be options. But the offensive line class is deeper than it is at safety, and Emmanwori has been flying up the board given his freakish athletic ability and football IQ.

14. Indianapolis Colts: Grey Zabel, OL, North Dakota State

Perhaps the Colts trade up for Warren or Loveland. If not, Zabel might be the most versatile lineman in the draft with talent and experience at tackle and guard that can help protect injury-prone quarterback Anthony Richardson or free-agent acquisition Daniel Jones.

15. Atlanta Falcons: Mike Green, EDGE, Marshall

The Falcons’ 31 sacks last season were the fewest in the league, and they were last when it came to sacks on third down, too. Enter Green, who led the FBS with 17 1/2 sacks and was tops in tackles among defensive linemen last year.

16. Arizona Cardinals: Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia

There are needs on both the offensive and defensive lines. But with a dismal ranking of 28th in pass rush win rate (33.3%) last season, per ESPN analytics, the 6-5, 267-pound Williams could provide an immediate spark with his length, bend and power alongside free agent signing Josh Sweat.

17. Cincinnati Bengals: Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon

The Bengals need a guard, but they’ll wait until Round 2 to address that given the depth of the position. In Harmon, they get an interior disruptor against the pass and run, something the defense desperately needs with Trey Hendrickson currently the only player able to get after the quarterback.

18. Seattle Seahawks: Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama

Offensive line, particularly on the interior, is the need here, but one that can wait a round with Zabel and others already off the board. Instead, coach Mike Macdonald gets a player with the kind of versatility he covets in Campbell, who has some medical concerns after surgery for a torn labrum following the scouting combine but led Alabama in tackles (117), tackles for loss (11 1/2), sacks (five) and forced fumbles (two) last season.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Donovan Ezeiruaku, EDGE, Boston College

Inside linebacker and cornerback are also needs for Tampa Bay. But Ezeiruaku, who is long and lean, racked up 16 1/2 sacks last season and has been climbing boards since the Senior Bowl.

20. Denver Broncos: Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina

Hampton has long been mentioned as a possibility for the running back-needy Broncos. Denver was in the bottom third of the league in yards per carry last season, so this pick makes total sense for a coach in Sean Payton who likes to run things through the tight end and backfield.

21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado

Maybe Aaron Rodgers will still sign with the Steelers. Either way, they get their quarterback of the future with no pressure to play Sanders immediately if they do bring Rodgers aboard.

22. Los Angeles Chargers: Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan

Grant is huge (6-4, 330) and was a dominant run stuffer with the athletic traits to develop into a more complete force in the middle of the Chargers’ defense. He also played for Jim Harbaugh before the Michigan coach took over the Chargers last season.

23. Green Bay Packers: Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas

Cornerback is the biggest need for a Packers team that lost a few players at the position and could trade or release Jaire Alexander. Last season, Barron had nine pass breakups, five interceptions, allowed just 279 yards and no touchdowns and is physical presence who can play outside or inside.

24. Minnesota Vikings: Walter Nolen, DT, Mississippi

With the top two cornerbacks off the board, the Vikings turn to their next biggest need. It’s possible Nolen is long gone by this spot, but if not, the 6-4, 300-pound interior lineman is the kind of game-wrecker Minnesota would be glad to have.

25. Houston Texans: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona

The needs are two-fold — offensive line and wide receiver — after trading Laremy Tunsil and with little depth behind Nico Collins and the injured Tank Dell. But with the 6-5 McMillan, who had 1,319 yards and eight touchdowns on 84 catches last season, falling into their lap, it’s a no-brainer.

26. Los Angeles Rams: Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky

Hairston was a scouting combine standout, running the 40-yard dash in 4.28 seconds and was just shy of 40 inches in his vertical jump at his pro day. The 6-foot, 183-pound two-year starter also led the Southeastern Conference in interceptions (five) in 2023, had three career interceptions that he returned for touchdowns and played a mix of zone and man coverage.

27. Ravens: Shemar Stewart, EDGE, Texas A&M

The Ravens’ biggest needs are at edge rusher, cornerback and safety. Subscribing to their best player available mantra, Stewart fits the bill. Even though he had just 4 1/2 career sacks for the Aggies, that only tells part of his story, as he stood out at the Senior Bowl and had a fantastic scouting combine.

28. Detroit Lions: Tyler Booker, G, Alabama

If one of the aforementioned edge rushers falls to the Lions, expect them to go that route to pair said player with Aidan Hutchinson. As for Booker, there are concerns over him after a rough showing at the scouting combine, but he was a standout during his college career and could be a plug-and-play guard for the Lions’ largely gap run scheme.

29. Washington Commanders: James Pearce, EDGE, Tennessee

Off the field, there are concerns about Pearce’s commitment and character. On it, he’s viewed as a player with a high ceiling after recording 19 1/2 career sacks, including 7 1/2 last season.

30. Buffalo Bills: Malaki Starks, S, Georgia

Grant could be an option given the suspension of recently signed defensive lineman Larry Ogunjobi. But the Bills can use safety help as well, and Starks is a versatile defensive back who has played nickel and safety, made plenty of big plays for the Bulldogs’ defense and has been praised for his football IQ.

31. Kansas City Chiefs: Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State

The rich get richer. Simmons would have been a much higher pick if not for a midseason knee injury, but he’s reportedly ahead of schedule in his rehabilitation and would give the Chiefs another talented offensive lineman, even after signing Jaylon Moore to two-year deal in the offseason.

32. Philadelphia Eagles: Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State

Speaking of the rich getting richer, Egbuka finished his Ohio State career as the school’s leader in receptions (205) and is a tough, skillful route runner who has been lauded for his intelligence at the position. He also gives quarterback Jalen Hurts another much-needed target for the reigning Super Bowl champs.

Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1.