2025 NFL Draft: Best player-team fits from the first round

By Jack Brentnall

Success in the NFL Draft often hinges on the alignment between a prospect’s skillset and a team’s established or evolving identity. The first round of the 2025 NFL Draft was no exception, showcasing several pairings that went beyond filling immediate needs and instead represented a great blend of player and organizational philosophy. Here are my thoughts on some of the most compelling player-team fits from day one.

Travis Hunter to the Jaguars (Pick #2)

You can’t talk about ideal first round fits without immediately mentioning Travis Hunter landing with the Jaguars. While his dynamic playmaking ability likely would have earned him a spot on this list regardless of landing spot, the fact he ends up in Jacksonville makes this pairing particularly exciting.

 

Hunter was announced as a two-way player and I fully expect him to see action on both sides of the ball for the Jaguars. He will immediately address an acute need at cornerback, a position where Jacksonville struggled mightily last season, ranking 32nd in the NFL in EPA allowed per dropback.

However, his fit on offense is even more intriguing. His fluid movement skills and creativity after the catch make him the perfect complement to Brian Thomas Jr.’s prototypical X-receiver style. Thomas’s physicality and speed will challenge defenses vertically, opening up space for Hunter to exploit the short areas of the field and excel after the catch.

The prospect of watching him in Liam Coen’s offense with Trevor Lawrence under center represents perhaps the most exciting landing spot we could reasonably have hoped for in that range of the draft.

Colston Loveland to the Bears (Pick #10)

I had a feeling that Loveland would be the pick at No. 10 and he was my pick for the Bears in my final mock draft. With Ben Johnson taking over as head coach and aiming to revitalise the offense, the move feels particularly smart.

Throughout the draft process, my player comparison for Loveland has been Sam LaPorta, a player Johnson got the most out of during his time in Detroit. Loveland can fill the same role for Chicago and is a perfect complement to a player like Cole Kmet.

In 2024, the Lions deployed 12 personnel at the third highest rate in the NFL. While Loveland is undoubtedly a very gifted pass catcher, he also possesses more developed inline blocking skills than some have suggested. This pick gives Johnson the ability to successfully operate out of 12 personnel and get all of the run game benefits that brings, without compromising their passing game efficiency.

Tyler Booker to the Cowboys (Pick #12)

The next few days will no doubt be filled with discussions about the value of selecting a guard at No. 12 overall. While that’s a fair question to consider, the quality of the fit between Booker and the Cowboys, in my opinion, is undeniable.

With Zack Martin’s retirement, there is a clear need along the interior of Dallas’ offensive line. Booker fills that need. Furthermore, as one of the premier run blockers in this draft class, he should lift the floor of Dallas’ rushing attack, independent of how they decide to address the running back position.

Beyond filling an immediate need, Booker is also a perfect fit in the Cowboys’ new scheme. New offensive coordinator Klayton Adams comes over from Arizona, where the offense was centered around a gap scheme-based rushing attack. That is precisely where Booker thrives – a quick look at his performance against LSU last season will immediately confirm this.

Omarion Hampton to the Chargers (Pick #22)

Similar to the discussions surrounding Tyler Booker, the value of selecting a running back in the first round will undoubtedly be a hot topic in the coming days. While I was lower on Hampton than consensus, I genuinely couldn’t envision a more ideal landing spot for him in the NFL.

It is abundantly clear that under Jim Harbaugh, the Chargers want to establish an aggressive and physical identity. With Greg Roman as offensive coordinator they have a coach who wants to lean heavily on the ground game and take the fight to opposing defenses with lots of downhill runs.

This perfectly aligns with Hampton’s strengths. Go back and watch his tape at North Carolina and you will see a player whose best work comes when asked to get downhill and lower his shoulder, using his combination of explosiveness and bowling ball frame to punish opponents. He thrived on concepts like counter, power, and duo – all foundational elements of Greg Roman’s running game.

Throughout his college career, Hampton demonstrated the ability to be the focal point of an offense, and he has the potential to fulfill that role for the Chargers right away as a rookie.

Malaki Starks to the Ravens (Pick #27)

The Ravens continue their tradition of getting great players at the back end of the first round with the selection of Starks. In my view, this was the most exciting defensive selection of the first round outside of Travis Hunter.

The fit here is evident and gives Baltimore an exceptionally talented young safety tandem of Starks and Kyle Hamilton. This defensive coaching staff has built its identity around a player like Hamilton, whose positional versatility allows them to create advantageous matchups and sow confusion amongst opposing offenses.

While Starks may not possess the same rare physical skill set of a player like Hamilton, he furnishes the Ravens with another versatile piece that can be deployed in numerous spots. Crucially, his comfort in a range of alignments will afford them the flexibility to be creative with Kyle Hamilton without putting themselves at a disadvantage elsewhere on the field.

During his time at Georgia, Starks demonstrated proficiency at free safety, whether operating as a single-high defender or in a split-field role. He is also very comfortable kicking down to the slot, where he has the fluidity to match up with slot receivers. I’m excited to see what Zach Orr and that staff cook up.

Emeka Egbuka to the Buccaneers (Pick #19)

This was one of the more surprising picks of the first round and, judging by initial reactions, appears to be one of the more polarising. However, I think it is quietly one of the best fits of the first round.

While wide receiver isn’t an immediate need for the Buccaneers, Mike Evans will soon turn 32. Chris Godwin is also approaching 30 and is recovering from a broken ankle, so you can see how this could quite quickly become an issue for them if they don’t invest in the position in the short term.

In Egbuka, they might not be getting a player with an elite ceiling, but he projects as an incredibly high floor prospect. He is the most refined route runner in this year’s class and pairs that technical refinement with fluidity and short area quickness.

His willingness to handle the less glamorous aspects of the receiver position will also likely contribute to seeing the field early in his NFL career. He is a very capable blocker, which is crucial in a scheme that frequently employs condensed formations and aims to attack opponents with a strong running game. This is a role that Chris Godwin has excelled in during his time in Tampa Bay and you can clearly see how a player like Egbuka provides a great long-term succession plan.

JACK BRENTNALL

HEAD OF NFL DRAFT CONTENT

Previously the founder of The Jet Sweep, Jack joined The Touchdown as head of Draft Content in 2024. A Scouting Academy alumnus, Jack has been Covering the NFL Draft since 2020. Follow him on Twitter @Jack_Brentnall.

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