Every NFL Team's Worst Pick of the 2025 NFL Draft

Every NFL Team's worst pick of the 2025 NFL Draft. Read the worst picks of the 2025 NFL Draft.

Every NFL Team's Worst Pick of the 2025 NFL Draft

With the 2025 NFL Draft in the books, let’s look back at the worst picks of this year’s draft. To determine these picks, we will look at each team’s current needs based on where they selected a given player. Did a team spend too much on an unproven prospect? Or did they waste a premium pick on a position that did not need further strengthening? Let’s dive in!

Arizona Cardinals

Jordan Burch, DE

While Jordan Burch was not a terrible selection, the Arizona Cardinals already spent their first two picks on the defensive side of the ball and could have used another top prospect on offense. In the first round, they selected lineman Walter Nolan and added Will Johnson in the second round, which was one of the best value picks in the class. Burch tallied just 16 career sacks across 58 collegiate games.

Atlanta Falcons

James Pearce Jr., LB

The Atlanta Falcons moved up in the first round to select linebacker James Pearce Jr. out of Tennessee. After selecting Jalon Walker earlier in the round, the Falcons traded their 2026 first-round pick and two 2025 picks to re-enter the first round to select Pearce. While he is flashed high upside at times (leading the SEC in sacks in 2023), he carried a hefty price tag to acquire.

Baltimore Ravens

 LaJohntay Wester, WR

The Baltimore Ravens had a fantastic draft that was focused heavily on improving their defense, including adding Georgia safety Malaki Starks and Marshall edge rusher Mike Greene. In the sixth round, they looked to add an offensive weapon in LaJohntay Wester. Wester has only surpassed 1,000 yards in one collegiate season and will have trouble making an impact in a pass-catching room that has Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, and two viable tight ends.

Buffalo Bills

Deone Walker, DT

After the Bills selected T.J. Sanders out of Clemson in the second round, they selected another defensive tackle relatively earlier in the draft in the fourth round of the draft with Deone Walker. Walker had a modest collegiate career in Kentucky as he tallied just 10 career sacks with 53 solo tackles. While Walker will help strengthen their interior line, this pick could have been spent better addressing another position of need.

Carolina Panthers

Trevor Etienne, RB

After extending Chuba Hubbard to a four-year contract and signing Rico Dowdle in free agency, this was a surprising pick in the fourth round of the NFL Draft. Etienne began his career in Florida before transferring to Georgia for his final season. For the Bulldogs, Etienne ran for just 609 yards and found the back of the end zone nine times. He will have a hard time finding consistent opportunities playing behind Hubbard and Dowdle.

Chicago Bears

Colston Loveland, TE

After taking Rome Odunze in the opening round of last year’s NFL Draft, the Bears opted to add another top pass catcher for Caleb Williams. However, in the following round, the Bears added wide receiver Luther Burden to their crowded room. As a result, using the 10th overall pick on Colston Loveland could have been an overpay. While there is no doubt about his talent, Loveland may not see consistent targets in a crowded room that would warrant a high draft selection.

Cincinnati Bengals

Shemar Stewart, DE

The Bengals had one of the worst defenses in football last season. They attempted to address this by drafting Shemar Stewart with the 17th pick in the NFL Draft. However, while Stewart is credited for having elite raw talent, he has yet to put it together. In addition, the Bengals should have instead drafted a top defensive back product such as Jahdae Barron, who went a few picks later to the Broncos.

Cleveland Browns

Dillon Gabriel, QB

This pick would not have been on this list if the Browns had not drafted another quarterback later in the draft. After taking Dillon Gabriel out of Oregon in the third round, the Browns added another option to the depth chart in Shedeur Sanders in the fifth round. Gabriel will now join a crowded room featuring Sanders, Kenny Pickett, Joe Flacco, and the injured Deshaun Watson.

Dallas Cowboys

Tyler Booker, OG

Boosting your offensive line is never a bad idea, especially on a team that lost its quarterback to a season-ending injury. However, if the Cowboys still hope to return to the postseason with this roster, they should have opted to spend this top pick on a running back like Omarion Hampton, who went later in the opening round to the Los Angeles Chargers. Hampton would have provided a significant improvement to an offense that lost Rico Dowdle in free agency.

Denver Broncos

Pat Bryant, WR

The Broncos started their draft off quite well, selecting Jahdae Barron and RJ Harvey with their first two picks in the draft. In the third round, they opted to add another wide receiver in Pat Bryant. While the Broncos have a need at that position, Bryant did not enjoy consistent production at the collegiate level. He only eclipsed 600 yards in one season and only found the back of the end zone nine times during his first three seasons.

Detroit Lions

Isaac TeSlaa, WR

After adding a defensive tackle and an offensive line with their first two picks, the Lions added another skill position player in Isaac TeSlaa in the third round. This was a surprising selection as the Lions have several high-end pass-catchers, such as Amon-Ra St. Brown, Sam LaPorta, and Jameson Williams. TeSlaa only caught 62 passes during his career at Arkansas.

Green Bay Packers

Savion Williams, WR

For the first time since 2002, the Green Bay Packers selected a wide receiver in the opening round of the NFL Draft by taking Matthew Golden out of Texas. While wide receiver was a need on their roster, the Packers decided to address this position again in the third round by selecting Savion Williams. Williams only eclipsed 575 yards once in his college career and will likely have trouble moving up the depth chart over Golden, Romeo Doubs, and Dontayvion Wicks.

Houston Texans

Jaylin Noel, WR

Similar to Green Bay, the Houston Texans selected Jayden Higgins in the second round of the NFL Draft, which was one of the best picks in the entire draft. However, in the following round, the Texans decided to add another option to C.J. Stroud’s wide receiver room in Jaylin Noel. Noel will likely compete for time in the slot alongside Christian Kirk, whom they signed in free agency. Given their need for a strong offensive line, this draft pick could have been used to bolster another position on their offense.

Indianapolis Colts

Justin Walley, DB

The Indianapolis Colts spent most of their free agent budget on improving the secondary by signing Charvarius Ward and Camryn Bynum to $60 million contracts, respectively. However, in the third round, the Colts selected defensive back Justin Walley out of Minnesota to further boost this position. Walley spent his entire career at Minnesota and tallied just 27 pass deflections and seven interceptions. Walley will likely not see the field too often as a rookie.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Caleb Ransaw, CB

The Jaguars made a big splash in the first round by moving up to the No. 2 spot to select WR/DB Travis Hunter. As a result, their next pick was not until the third round, where they selected Caleb Ransaw out of Tulane. In free agency, the Jaguars also focused on improving their secondary by signing Jourdan Lewis to a three-year contract. However, this third-round selection could have been used to bolster their defensive line, which tallied the fifth-fewest sacks last season.

Kansas City Chiefs

Omarr Norman-Lott, DE

In the second round of the NFL Draft, the Kansas City Chiefs selected Omarr Norman-Lott with the 63rd pick in the NFL Draft. Through his 44 career games, Norman-Lott tallied just 47 solo tackles with 13.5 career sacks. However, in the following round, the Chiefs selected Ashton Gillotte, who showed much higher upside during his collegiate career and who will likely see more opportunities in 2025.

Las Vegas Raiders

Jack Bech, WR

The Raiders selected Jack Bech in the second round of the NFL Draft. While wide receiver was a position of need, was Jack Bech the correct pick? During his first three seasons in college, Bech was not productive as he tallied just over 800 total yards. However, during his senior season, Bech took a significant step forward as he tallied over 1,000 yards. Bech will likely open the 2025 season operating as the No. 3/No. 4 option in the offense, which is a hefty price tag for a second-round pick.

Los Angeles Chargers

KeAndre Lambert-Smith, WR

The Chargers selected two offensive weapons with their first two picks, running back Omarion Hampton and wide receiver Tre Harris. However, in the fifth round, the Chargers added another pass catcher, KeAndre Lambert-Smith, from Auburn. This was not a necessary selection as Lambert-Smith will compete alongside Quentin Johnston for the No.3/No. 4 role in the passing offense.

Los Angeles Rams

Jarquez Hunter, RB

Even though Kyren Williams has shown fumble concerns at times, the Rams drafted a running back last season (Blake Corum) but opted to bolster this position again in the 2025 draft. In college, Hunter only ran for over 1,000 yards once and found the back of the ned zone just 25 times. While Hunter could eventually take over the backfield, this was not a position of immediate need for a competing team.

Miami Dolphins

Kenneth Grant, DT

Many expected the Miami Dolphins to target an offensive lineman with their first-round selection in this year’s draft, especially given the injury concerns regarding their franchise quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa. Instead, the Dolphins opted to boost their defensive line by selecting Kenneth Grant. Grant tallied just 36 combined tackles with 6.5 sacks across 41 games at Michigan.

Minnesota Vikings

Tai Felton, WR

Similar to several teams on this list, like the Houston Texans, the Minnesota Vikings decided to strengthen a position that did not need attention with a relatively early pick in the draft. In the third round of the draft, the Vikings selected Tai Felton out of Maryland. However, Felton will likely be in a reserve role for the foreseeable future with Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and T.J. Hockenson dominating the passing work.

New England Patriots

TreVeyon Henderson, RB

There is no doubt that TreVeyon Henderson is one of the most talented skill position players in this year’s class, but was this the smartest pick for the Patriots? After signing Rhamondre Stevenson to a four-year extension, the Patriots decided to spend early-second-round draft capital on a top running back prospect. While Henderson will likely take over the backfield, this will leave the Patriots spending a high percentage of their cap space on a No. 2 running back in Stevenson.

New Orleans Saints

Tyler Shough, QB

Quarterback was a position of need for the New Orleans Saints, but Tyler Shough will likely not be the long-term answer at the position. The Saints spent a hefty price tag on Shough, selecting him with the 40th pick in the draft. However, Shough only threw for over 3,000 yards once in his collegiate career and holds a career 2.4 percent INT rate. If the Saints struggle in 2025, expect them to take another quarterback next season.

New York Giants

Jaxson Dart, QB

The New York Giants traded up to re-enter the first round to select their next franchise quarterback, Jaxson Dart. The Giants traded their second and third-round selections to move up in the draft. However, given how many quarterback prospects fell in this class (especially Shedeur Sanders), the Giants may have taken Dart too high. Dart enjoyed an impressive senior season and will need to be the team’s franchise quarterback to make this trade worth the price.

New York Jets

Armand Membou, OT

Like the Cowboys, adding an offensive lineman is never a bad idea, but given how much the Jets offense struggled in 2024, a top skill position player like Tyler Warren or Tetairoa McMillan. Last season, outside of Garrett Wilson and Davante Adams (who is now in Los Angeles), the Jets did not enjoy much consistency. Membou will help protect Justin Fields, but with Breece Hall potentially on the trade block, the Jets offense could take another step back in 2025.

Philadelphia Eagles

Kyle McCord, QB

The reigning champions had a great draft, selecting Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell and Texas safety Andrew Mukuba with their first two picks. However, in the sixth round, the Eagles surprisingly took Syracuse quarterback Kyle McCord, who is often viewed as one of the top prospects at the position in the class. With Jalen Hurts under center, McCord will likely open the season on the practice squad.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Derrick Harmon, DE

With a glaring need at quarterback, the Pittsburgh Steelers opted to bolster their defensive line by taking Derrick Harmon with the 21st pick in the draft out of Oregon. Harmon will add more depth to one of the best defensive lines in the sport. During his final season at Oregon, Harmon tallied five sacks with 27 combined tackles.

San Francisco 49ers

Jordan Watkins, WR

In the fourth round of the draft, the 49ers added a wide receiver, Jordan Watkins, out of Ole Miss. However, this was not a position of need for the 49ers, who hope to return to the postseason after a disappointing 2024 campaign. Watkins will likely open the season in a reserve role, as Brandon Aiyuk, Jauan Jennings, and Ricky Pearsall will lead the WR room. Watkins only tallied over 900 yards in one season at Ole Miss.

Seattle Seahawks

Jalen Milroe, QB

After signing Sam Darnold to a massive contract in free agency, drafting Jalen Milroe out of Alabama in the third round of the draft was a strange choice. Milroe was a polarizing prospect in this year’s class. While he possesses elite raw talent, he has struggled with his accuracy. Last season at Alabama, Milroe tallied 36 combined TDs but held a high 3.4 INT rate. Milroe will likely not see the field at all during the 2025 campaign.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Emeka Egbuka, WR

While this pick may look great in a few seasons, for a team that is attempting to compete in the NFL this season, Emeka Egbuka does not push them over the edge. In fact, Egbuka will likely open the season as the No. 3/No. 4 option in the offense as Mike Evans and Chris Godwin are the clear top options. In addition, Egbuka could take a backseat early in the season to sophomore wideout Jalen McMillan, who flashed potential during the stretch run.

Tennessee Titans

Gunnar Helm, TE

Tight end was not a position of need for Tennessee heading into the draft. However, in the fourth round, they opted to select Gunnar Helm out of Texas. Helm was only deployed as a true starter in Texas during one season (2024). In his senior campaign, Helm caught 60 passes for 786 yards. He will likely open the season as the No. 2 option behind Chigoziem Okonkwo.

Washington Commanders

Josh Conerly Jr., OT

In the first round, the Washington Commanders opted to bolster their offensive line by taking Josh Conerly Jr out of Oregon. While this was not a bad selection, the Commanders could have used this pick to select a top running back prospect. Last season, Brian Robinson Jr. struggled to find consistency, and Austin Ekeler battled injuries. Both running backs from Ohio State were available at this spot and would have added another weapon to this budding offense.