Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
Green Bay, Wisconsin has less than 110,000 residents. The NFL’s smallest market will more than double in size as the city hosts the 2025 NFL Draft beginning Thursday (Round 1) and continuing Friday (Rounds 2 and 3) and into Saturday (Rounds 4, 5, 6, and 7).
The weather forecast for this week’s NFL Draft in Green Bay is, well, very much like you might expect in late April. Fans braving the elements will find very chilly temperatures (low 40’s) with cold rain expected both Thursday night and much of the day on Friday.
That would be ideal weather for ducks, but the NFL still expects upwards of 250,000 fans to attend this three-day event in Green Bay.
The primary stage for the NFL draft will be located just outside of Green Bay’s famous Lambeau Field football stadium.
Green Bay Packers fans call themselves “Cheeseheads” to honor Wisconsin’s dairy industry.
Despite the dreary weather forecast for this week’s NFL Draft, plentiful adult beverages plus numerous polka bands, cheese carving demonstrations, and more Wisconsin fun await the brave fans attending this year’s NFL Draft beginning Thursday evening.
The city of Green Bay expects more than $100 million in economic benefits to be realized from this weekend’s football extravaganza.
I expect umbrella, poncho, and hot chocolate vendors to exceed their original sales forecasts.
NFL Draft – a brief history
The annual NFL player draft began 89 years ago!
NFL owners established a nine round draft back in 1936. The previous year’s worst teams were given the highest pick of former college football players in each round of the draft.
Heisman Trophy winning halfback Jay Berwanger from the University of Chicago was the first NFL draft selection by the Philadelphia Eagles in February, 1936.
The number of draft rounds has bounced around over the years. The NFL draft grew to ten rounds in 1937 and then ballooned to 20 in 1939.
By 1970, Louisiana Tech quarterback Terry Bradshaw was taken by the Pittsburgh Steelers with the #1 overall pick in a draft which still had 17 rounds.
The NFL draft has been reduced to just seven rounds in recent years. That increases the amount of undrafted players who are now able to negotiate a free agent contract with any team for a possible training camp roster spot.
Your favorite NFL team’s biggest chance of making a first round draft blunder comes when selecting a defensive lineman, running back, or wide receiver. Just 58% of those first round picks become starters for more than half of their future NFL careers.
The greatest first round draft success comes when selecting offensive linemen (83%), linebackers (70%) and tight ends (68%).
In case you were wondering, first round quarterbacks have a 63% chance of starting for more than half of their NFL careers.
Speaking of quarterbacks…
The 2025 NFL draft will not see a large number of quarterbacks selected in the first round. Last year’s first round saw a record-tying six QB’s taken by desperate NFL teams.
Confidence is low that any of this year’s crop of college quarterbacks will end-up in the NFL Hall of Fame once their careers end.
Thursday night’s first quarterback expected to be drafted is Cam Ward from the University of Miami (Fl). A true professional at utilizing the NCAA’s transfer portal, Ward played for three different universities (Incarnate Word, Washington State, and the University of Miami) during his four years in college.
Shedeur Sanders of Colorado and Jaxson Dart of Ole Miss are hoping to hear their names called in the first round Thursday night. Sanders hasn’t fared well in the interview room before the draft and may fall down the draft board to either the quarterback-needy New Orleans Saints (at #9) or Pittsburgh Steelers (#21).
Neither Sanders nor Dart are considered “can’t miss” prospect by most football analysts.
Other quarterbacks expected to be selected (most likely on Friday in Rounds 2 and 3) include Alabama’s Jalen Milroe, Quinn Ewers of Texas, Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel and Ohio State starter Will Howard.
Will there be three running backs taken in the first round this year?
Recent years have seen most of the top running backs fall into the second and third rounds of the NFL draft. Being overused in high school and college can wear down the knees and legs of many elite running backs.
At least two running backs are expected to have their names called in Thursday night’s first round of the NFL draft.
Ashton Jeanty of Boise State was the Heisman Trophy runner-up last season. He led the Boise State Broncos into the initial 12-team College Football Playoffs after the team posted a 12-1 record.
Jeanty’s ability to avoid being tackled by the first defender has earned the praise of NFL scouts. He is expected to be selected in the first five picks of Round #1 Thursday.
North Carolina running back Omarion Hampton combines size and athletic ability to become a likely mid-first round selection Thursday night. The Dallas Cowboys could use this running back who excels at catching the ball out of the backfield and eluding tacklers.
Ohio State’s TreVeyon Henderson is a potential third running back who may selected late in the first round. Henderson is more of a straightforward style of runner who also has done well at catching the football as he circles out of the backfield.
What will Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys do?
The Dallas Cowboys fell back to a 7-10 record in 2024 as the team’s quarterback (Dak Prescott) and other key players suffered serious injuries.
Owner Jerry Jones is talking to the media again (uh-oh) and vowing to make some major deals very soon. What does that mean, though?
One source indicated that Pittsburgh Steelers’ moody wide receiver George Pickens may be coming to Dallas soon.
Last year, the 81-year old Dallas Cowboys owner promised the media that he was going “All in”. Cowboys fans remember how well that worked out for the team in 2024.
The Cowboys could use a starting running back plus another top level wide receiver to add a little “giddy-up” to the team’s offense.
Dallas fans have learned to temper their expectations when Jerry Jones pulls the strings.
Should the New Orleans Saints select a first round quarterback or address their other needs?
To say that highly paid ($40 million/year) quarterback Derek Carr has been a bust in New Orleans is being kind.
Following future Hall-of-Famer Drew Brees wasn’t expected to be easy. Derek Carr’s lackluster performance has made some Saints fans wish that the now 46-year old Brees might consider a return.
Carr is entering his 12th NFL season and has still only played (and lost) in one playoff game during his career.
Saints fans recently learned that Derek Carr has a mysterious shoulder injury which might keep him sidelined for the entire 2025 NFL season.
What if Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders and Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart are both available when the Saints select at #9 in the first round of Thursday’s NFL draft?
The Saints are coming off a pitiful 5-12 season and have a myriad of needs. The team was likely focusing on selecting a wide receiver or getting help for the aging defensive line prior to learning that their veteran quarterback might miss the entire season.
The Saints may not be sold on either Shedeur Sanders or Jaxson Dart as the team’s future quarterback.
If they still desire one of those two quarterbacks, the Saints should try to trade down a few notches and, hopefully, add another mid-round selection to address other needs.
Better yet, a “value” quarterback should be available in Rounds 3 or 4 for the Saints to bring into training camp to compete for the starting job this fall.
Stick with your original game plan for this year’s NFL draft, Saints!
Houston Texans’ wish list includes a running back and some offensive linemen
The AFC South’s Houston Texans are coming off another playoff season at 10-7.
Adding a quality starting running back, a top-level tight end, and upgrading the offensive line will be the Texans’ focus in this week’s NFL draft.
Houston scored less than 22 points per game in 2024 (good for 19th out of 32 NFL teams). Even the Pittsburgh Steelers averaged more points last fall than the Houston Texans.
This team has a lot of momentum heading into 2025 and will again benefit from playing in one of the weakest divisions in the league. Houston’s AFC South competition includes Tennessee (3-14 last year), Jacksonville (4-13 in 2024) and the Indianapolis Colts (8-9 last season).
The Texans have rapidly improved after making the very smart move of trading former starting quarterback Deshaun Watson to the Cleveland Browns. They have utilized the draft choices from Cleveland wisely to quickly rebuild this team.
Third year head coach DeMeco Ryans (a former Texans linebacker) has done a fabulous job in transforming Houston into a legitimate AFC title contender.
Final draft thoughts…
ESPN wants fans to be tense entering Thursday night’s 7PM CDT first round of the NFL draft. It’s good for their ratings!
Football fans get to pretend to be their favorite NFL team’s owner or General Manager for three days.
We will cheer or boo many selections.
Just don’t become too upset when your team makes a boneheaded pick.
Most of the players being selected this week are unlikely to have an immediate impact on the fortunes of your favorite team this fall.
Get your popcorn ready and have a rollicking good time!