Anderson's Takeaways from the 2025 NFL Draft

This past draft day was one of the most bizarre in NFL history. It saw a quarterback who was thought to be a particular day-one pick who didn't have his name called until day three. Going to a team that drafted not one but two quarterbacks. This draft might make scouts and analysts reevaluate what quarterbacks need to become successful in the NFL. The kind of draft day that proves that nothing is specific except that money will be spent, and dying is inevitable. Here is what I must say about what happened last weekend outside of Lambeau Field.

Brian Callahan has His Guy

The Tennessee Titans' offense has many veteran playmakers, with some left in the tank. Guys like Bernard Pollard, Calvin Ridley, and Tyler Lockett, with a refined offensive line, are expected to improve the Titans' offense hugely. All that is missing is consistent, error-free quarterback play. Many games last season were lost due to turnovers, mostly terrible interceptions from Willi Levis and Mason Rudolph.

When the Titans hired Brian Callahan from the Bengals, they expected him to bring the mojo he conducted as offensive coordinator for Cincinnati. Coordinating one of the NFL's most dangerous offenses for the past few seasons. The Titans hoped for him to groom Will Levis into an elite signal caller the same way he groomed Joe Burrow. But it turned out that Will Levis just wasn't cut out for Callahan's system.

In Cam Ward, some tangibles and intangibles make him the dynamic playmaker that Brian Callahan demands. The type of pocket awareness he showed off last season with the Miami Hurricanes, where he eluded rushers from every angle and released the football smoothly and quickly, makes him the prototype passer. A wise, confident playmaker who knows when to scramble, where to throw the ball, and when to tuck it and run. A quarterback who takes few risks and doesn't take many hits.

The Browns Drafted the Gem of the Draft

It is not who you think it is when you read the subtitle above. He might not play much this season. But if he does, he will show you how the first round is sometimes overrated and how all seven rounds matter. He was a two-time first-team All-Mid-American Conference tight end for the Bowling Green Falcons. That would be none other than Harold Fannin Jr., drafted in the third round at 67th overall.

Players like Harold Fannin don't come around so often. He is a combination of speed, agility, and the ability to stretch the field, making him fit the mold of the modern-day tight end. It makes him comparable to George Kittle, Travis Kelce, Kyle Pitts, Brock Bowers, and even his teammate David Njoku. Speaking of Njoku, he fell off after his breakout season of 2023 due to injuries and is heading into the final year of his contract with the Browns.

In situations like this, the NFL suddenly stands for Not-For-Long for players like David Njoku and marks the beginning for backups like Harold Fannin to blast off like a NASA rocket. Fannin, with his stature and natural abilities, reminds us of what Antonio Gates did when he was playing in this league after bizarre beginnings. If a college basketball player could make it to the NFL and dominate it for a long time, then an unheralded draft pick from a MAC school could be destined to do the same thing.

Identity Established for the Los Angeles Chargers

Starting with drafting running back Omarion Hampton from North Carolina after signing Najee Harris from the Pittsburgh Steelers a few months ago, the Chargers are making it clear to the rest of the league that they are trying to be the Detroit Lions of the AFC—a team that can run the football as well, throw the football as well, and defend against opposing offenses so much better than the Lions can.

Along with other underrated draft picks, the Chargers made like Tre Harris from Ole Miss, Kyle Kennard from South Carolina, Oronde Gadsden II from Syracuse, and Branson Taylor from Pittsburgh, giving them depth and additional toughness. They added toughness that can sustain their identity as a smash-mouth football team on both sides of the line of scrimmage. Helping the Chargers continue to match the intensity that their head coach, Jim Harbaugh, brings every game day.

From Brock Bowers to Tyler Warren

Just like Brock Bowers coming to the Las Vegas Raiders to become the go-to-guy as a rookie generational talent. Tyler Warren could be in a similar scenario with the Indianapolis Colts—another team searching for an efficient passing game. With talented but inconsistent wide receivers like Michael Pittman Jr., Alec Pierce, and Adonia Mitchell. The dynamic Tyler Warren should be able to open up the passing game for the Colts and make things easier for Anthony Richardson.

Knowledge of the Colts' history of tight ends from John Mackey to Raymond Chester to Dallas Clark to Eric Ebron. With his unmatched versatility, Tyler Warren is expected to thrive in Indianapolis as the number one target for opposing defenses to keep their eyes on. He will undoubtedly make the Chicago Bears regret picking Colston Loveland from Michigan over him as the first tight end picked in the draft.

History Could Repeat Itself with the New York Giants

The Giants drafted a quarterback in the first round from Ole Miss, just like in 2004. The guy who broke some of Eli Manning's school records at Ole Miss. Perhaps the best long-ball passer in this draft class. Jaxson Dart is expected to sit behind or compete for the starting job with a future Hall of Fame quarterback in Russell Wilson, just like what Eli Manning had to do when Kurt Warner signed with the Giants in 2004.

Dart could sit on the bench for the first couple of games of the season. But as he does so, he will take the time to learn from not one. But two veteran signal callers who know what it takes to succeed in this league. Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston will be there to guide the young Mississippi gunslinger. The merging talents of wide receiver Malik Nabers and running back Tyron Tracy Jr. are also there for support. Coach Brian Daboll has proven before that he knows how to groom talented young quarterbacks. Just look back at what he did with Josh Allen during his time as offensive coordinator in Buffalo.

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