National Football League college draft

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The 2025 National Football League draft of college players produced its share of high and low moments.

This over-hyped media event may interest many football fans, but not all. The reason is crystal clear in my mind: The overwhelming majority of the 257 players drafted during the three-day, seven-round made-for-television extravaganza will be a distant memory just a few short years from now. The few that will ascend to stardom, wealth and fame will do so by paying a heavy physical and mental price to play one of the most demanding sports.

But let us start with the carnival atmosphere of the draft itself. It’s hard to take any event too seriously when it begins with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell opening the proceedings by riding onto the stage on a bicycle. After avoiding peddling off the stage and into the crowd, Commissioner Goodell spent the rest of the draft’s opening round with the weakest display of hugging draftees in recent memory. It was easy to tell that the man was uncomfortable in the setting.

The draft itself went as expected, with University of Miami quarterback Cam Ward selected by the Tennessee Titans with the No. 1 overall pick.

Jared Wilson won a National Championship at Georgia. PHOTO: GEORGIA ATHLETICS

Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter of the University of Colorado was the No. 2 pick, going to the Jacksonville Jaguars by way of a major trade.

Edge rusher Abdul Carter of Penn State went to the N.Y. Giants at No. 3, with the Patriots selecting offensive tackle Will Campbell from Louisiana State University at No. 4. Expectations are running high for Campbell, whose primary job will be to protect the blind side of franchise quarterback Drake Maye.

Questions were raised regarding the length of Campbell’s arms, possibly being a shortcoming. This stuff comes from so-called educated people who are paid to evaluate players’ strengths and weaknesses. Campbell’s play against SEC competition, the best in college football, was good enough to convince the Patriots to spend their top draft pick on him, beating out the New Orleans Saints, who made numerous attempts to trade up in the draft to get the Louisiana native.

OSU running back TreVeyon Henderson cuts through the Iowa Line. PHOTO: OHIO STATE ATHLETICS

The Pats raised some eyebrows with the selection of Ohio State running back TreVeyon Henderson in the second round. The Buckeye standout finished his career in Columbus with 4,614 total yards, 48 touchdowns, and no lost fumbles. Some critics felt the team should have drafted another offensive lineman with the pick, but maybe this was putting Pats running back Rhamondre Stevenson on notice.

The team went for speed in the third round, taking wide receiver Kyle Williams from Washington State and center Jared Wilson from Georgia with their two picks. Williams possesses the speed to be a legitimate downfield threat. In his first press conference after being drafted, the wideout said, “Being able to extend plays is something I wanted to work into my game. I want to turn anything into a touchdown.” 

Offensive lineman Wilson comes to the Patriots with a winning pedigree attached to his resume.  He anchored an offensive line at Georgia that helped produce national championships and a record-setting 42-game SEC winning streak for the Bulldogs under Kirby Smart, who calls Wilson “one of the best he’s coached.” 

With two picks in the fourth round, the Pats selected safety Craig Woodson of University of California Berkeley and defensive tackle Joshua Farmer of Florida State. Woodson is known as a major hitter who should add strength to an already solid Patriots defensive backfield. Farmer was among the few bright spots on a Florida State defensive line who played well in a down season. He is labeled a legitimate tough interior defensive lineman who can stop the run and bring pressure on passing downs.

The Patriots are considered one of the winners in this year’s collegiate draft. Time will tell.

The most compelling story of this draft was the selection of All-American Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders in the fifth round by the Cleveland Browns. Much has been made of Sanders’ dramatic drop down the draft board. There are many stories about why the son of Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, who coached his son at Jackson State and Colorado, ended up in this situation. All matters of an NFL owners’ conspiracy, not out of the realm of belief for some, continue to flow in the media. Still, the fact is the younger Sanders will have the opportunity to play quarterback in the National Football League.

However, one should expect a comment from his father shortly regarding how this situation played out. Deion Sanders has never been one to hold his tongue, and you can believe that he will let his views on the treatment of his talented son be known.

Another point is that Shadeur has already made millions of dollars through N.I.L. (name, image, and likeness) while at The University of Colorado at Boulder. The bottom line is the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year comes into the National Football League from a privileged background and will constantly hear advice from his Hall of Fame father, who knows the ways of the National Football League. And if he can play, he’ll get his money and plenty of it.

So don’t feel sorry for Shedeur Sanders; feel sorry for the state of affairs in the National Football League, which many say still operates under a system that cannot be changed, because as former Houston Texans owner Bob McNair stated, “We can’t have the inmates running the prison.”

The former Colorado Buffaloes quarterback has received the cold-water reality check from the NFL owners, who own and run the show. 

Also, this weekend, the Boston Celtics are one win away from eliminating the Orlando Magic from playoff competition following their 107-98 victory in game four of the best-of-seven opening-round series. Jason Tatum, who had 37 points, 14 rebounds and three steals, and Jaylen Brown, who had 21 points, 11 rebounds and two steals, led the Celts.