The first round of the 2025 NFL draft took place on Thursday night. By non surprise, college football’s two power conferences led the headlines.
The SEC and Big Ten combined for 26 of the 32 selections, the 16-team SEC with 15 and the 18-team Big Ten with 11. Otherwise, the Big 12 and ACC each saw two players picked, while the Mountain West and Missouri Valley Conference (Football Championship Subdivision) each had one.
Notable Big Ten names near the top of the draft include Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter to the New York Giants at No. 3 overall, Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham to the Cleveland Browns at No. 5, Michigan tight end Colston Loveland to the Chicago Bears at No. 10, Michigan defensive tackle Kenneth Grant to the Miami Dolphins at No. 13 and Penn State tight end Tyler Warren to the Indianapolis Colts at No. 14.
The Big Ten Champion Oregon Ducks saw two players selected: defensive tackle Derrick Harmon (No. 21 to the Pittsburgh Steelers) and offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr. (No. 29 to the Washington Commanders). The national champion Ohio State Buckeyes, meanwhile, saw four selections: wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (No. 19 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers), guard Donovan Jackson (No. 24 to the Minnesota Vikings), defensive tackle Tyleik Williams (No. 29 to the Detroit Lions) and offensive tackle Josh Simmons (No. 32 to the Kansas City Chiefs).
While the SEC again was the conference with the most first-round talent, and will likely send the most overall players to the draft, the Big Ten did well in backing up its postseason crown.
Wisconsin did not have a player selected in the first round on Thursday. That has been the case in every draft since 2017, when T.J. Watt went No. 30 overall to the Steelers and Ryan Ramczyk No. 32 to the New Orleans Saints.
Stay tuned throughout the weekend as former Badgers, including Jack Nelson and Hunter Wohler, hope to hear their names called. Those players will join the Big Ten’s overall tally of draft picks. If the first round is any indication, that total could threaten the SEC’s.
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