A few pieces of the puzzle are starting to fall into place following the NFL Combine, but there's still a lot up in the air with how the 2025 NFL Draft will shake out. Some of these draft picks will inevitably change, some drastically so, as more news and rumors surface. But for now, here's version 1.0 of my 2025 NFL Mock Draft. For more NFL Draft insight, check out our other Footballguys mock drafts from Dave Kluge, Matt Bitonti, and Jeff Bell.
2025 NFL Mock Draft 1.0
Maybe it's a fool's errand to try to predict trades, but an NFL mock draft without any trades will inevitably be inaccurate, so this mock draft includes a few projected first-round trades. Plus, I did successfully predict the Eagles trading up for Jordan Davis in the 2022 NFL Draft, so never say never.
1. Tennessee Titans - Cam Ward (QB, Miami)
Cam Ward is currently -5000 to go first overall at most sportsbooks as of this writing, and sportsbooks aren't in the business of losing money. It's rare to find any NFL mock draft that doesn't have Ward as the first overall pick, whether it's Tennessee or another team, and for good reason. Perhaps the Titans will get an offer they can't refuse, but assuming they keep the pick, it makes sense for them to take their shot on a long-term solution at quarterback. After all, they hired Brian Callahan based on what he was able to accomplish with Joe Burrow in Cincinnati, and Tennessee simply can't stomach another year of Will Levis under center.
2. Cleveland Browns - Abdul Carter (EDGE, Penn St.)
The Browns need help at quarterback, but they smartly grab the best player on the board here in Abdul Carter and (spoiler alert) trade back into the first round to address quarterback later. Make sure you read until the end to see that pick. For now, though, Carter bookends a scary defensive line with Myles Garrett on the other side. An already-fearsome Cleveland pass rush gets supercharged with the addition of Carter, who's a perfect pairing with Garrett for Jim Schwartz's 3-4 defense.
3. New York Giants - Shedeur Sanders (QB, Colorado)
There are reports coming out that Shedeur Sanders could fall in the draft, so New York's pick could change in a later version of this NFL mock draft. But for now, I'll believe it when I see it. The current NFL landscape is split between the haves and have-nots at the quarterback position, and the Giants are firmly in the "have-nots" camp. Yes, they already signed Jameis Winston and Russell Wilson in free agency. Still, neither is a long-term answer, and New York could easily release Winston during training camp with minimal salary cap implications. Plus, it was only a year ago that we saw Atlanta give Kirk Cousins a four-year, $180 million deal and then draft Penix eighth overall just a month later.
4. New England Patriots - Travis Hunter (CB/WR, Colorado)
Drafting Travis Hunter would kill two birds with one stone for New England. It's uncertain which position he'll primarily play at the next level, but luckily for the Patriots, they could use help at both of the positions Hunter plays. It would make sense for the Patriots to primarily put Hunter opposite Christian Gonzalez to shore up their other cornerback position, but Hunter could still contribute on a handful of offensive plays each week. Although New England signed Stefon Diggs to a three-year, $69 million deal this offseason, they still need more explosive plays out of their ancillary wide receivers, and Hunter could add just that.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars - Mason Graham (DI, Michigan)
Jacksonville has a number of needs on defense, but Mason Graham is widely regarded as the best defensive player once Carter and Hunter are off the board. It's possible that the Jaguars could trade out of this pick, but this NFL mock draft didn't find any trade partners that made a ton of sense. Although new head coach Liam Coen is an offensive mind, it never hurts for any NFL team to bolster their pass rush. Graham could be a perfect anchor over the middle with Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen on either side.
6. Las Vegas Raiders --> New Orleans Saints - Jaxson Dart (QB, Ole Miss)
The Raiders probably should be interested in a long-term answer at quarterback as well, but Pete Carroll may be happy rolling with Geno Smith for the time being. Las Vegas also may want to address quarterback but not be sold on the remaining options at sixth overall. Many expect the Saints to draft a quarterback at ninth overall, but that could be too late if the Jets are also interested in Jaxson Dart. It makes sense for New Orleans to pull the trigger here and let Dart sit behind Derek Carr for one year.
7. New York Jets - Armand Membou (OT, Missouri)
New York's offensive line struggled mightily last season, and they need even more help with right tackle Morgan Moses departing for New England in free agency. Quarterback is also a need after the failed Aaron Rodgers experiment, but with the Saints having traded up to snag Dart in this NFL mock draft, the Jets still get a good addition in Armand Membou, who can slide right in at right tackle to replace Moses.
8. Carolina Panthers --> Chicago Bears - Ashton Jeanty (RB, Boise St.)
With Ashton Jeanty having just visited the Raiders this week, Chicago may be willing to pay a slight premium to jump Las Vegas and get their guy. Although Carolina's current GM wasn't the architect of the trade for the No. 1 overall pick back in 2023, he was the assistant GM at that time and has a relationship with the Bears' management team. Offensive line help in the form of Will Campbell could also make sense here, but Jeanty is too explosive to pass up. With Jeanty, new head coach Ben Johnson can add a foundational piece to run behind Chicago's newly upgraded offensive line while also easing the pressure on Caleb Williams to be the sole engine of this offense.
9. New Orleans Saints --> Las Vegas Raiders - Will Johnson (CB, Michigan)
Las Vegas just released cornerback Jack Jones earlier this week, and it would make almost too much sense to quickly plug in Will Johnson to replace him. Pete Carroll's Legion of Boom led the Seahawks to a Super Bowl title during his tenure there, and the Eagles just won a title by stopping Patrick Mahomes II with a similarly stout defense. A Super Bowl would be getting ahead of themselves, but the first step in that direction for the Raiders would still involve dethroning the Chiefs in the AFC West.
10. Chicago Bears --> Carolina Panthers - Jahdae Barron (CB, Texas)
The Panthers could be eyeing help at the cornerback position, so if they don't have a strong preference between the top options, a Day 3 pick from the Bears could be enough for them to move back a couple of picks in this NFL mock draft. With Carolina having locked Jaycee Horn into a four-year, $100 million contract, Jahdae Barron could be a cheap but effective partner on the other side of the secondary or as their slot corner.
11. San Francisco 49ers - Will Campbell (OT, LSU)
It may be time for the 49ers to prepare for life after Trent Williams, as the All-Pro left tackle will turn 37 in July and had been considering retirement earlier this offseason. Though Williams ultimately decided to return for the 2025 season, Will Campbell could be an upgrade at left guard for one year while simultaneously learning from Williams and developing into his eventual replacement for the 2026 season and beyond.
12. Dallas Cowboys - Tetairoa McMillan (WR, Arizona)
Rumors abound that Jerry Jones is intrigued by Tetairoa McMillan, which makes sense. With shades of Dez Bryant to his game, McMillan would be a welcome addition to a Cowboys offense that seemed to run solely through CeeDee Lamb at times last year. Plus, it would allow Lamb to remain in his dangerous slot role with McMillan on the outside, not unlike the duo of Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams in Detroit.
13. Miami Dolphins - Matthew Golden (WR, Texas)
If there's one thing Mike McDaniel loves, it's speed. The Dolphins have Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle already, but Hill's continued posts with the peace out emoji have everyone guessing whether he'll be traded during the NFL Draft. Considering that Hill carries a $28 million cap hit this season, that seems somewhat unlikely, so he stays put in this NFL mock draft. However, Miami could move on from him next offseason, and drafting Matthew Golden could be a preemptive fix. Golden has similar big-play ability with his 4.29 40-yard dash speed, and who better to learn from as a rookie than Hill, the most-feared speedster in the league right now?
14. Indianapolis Colts - Tyler Warren (TE, Penn St.)
Where there's smoke, there's fire, and Tyler Warren has been linked to the Colts since January. Indianapolis needs help at the position, and Warren is the top prospect and could be a much-needed target to help with Anthony Richardson's development. There's speculation that Warren could be gone in the top 10 picks, but even Brock Bowers fell to the 13th overall pick last year, and Warren isn't quite on Bowers' level.
15. Atlanta Falcons - Jihaad Campbell (LB, Alabama)
Atlanta's offense is in pretty good shape heading into the 2025 season. They have a top-10 offensive line, a sophomore quarterback who showed promise in his late-season starts, and a fair amount of surrounding talent for Michael Penix Jr. The Falcons have more pressing needs on defense, most notably at linebacker and cornerback. With both top cornerback prospects Johnson and Barron gone, Jihaad Campbell makes sense in this NFL mock draft.
16. Arizona Cardinals - Mike Green (EDGE, Marshall)
The off-field concerns make Mike Green a wild card in the 2025 NFL Draft, but the Cardinals' pass rush desperately needs help. Plus, the Eagles were rewarded with a Super Bowl title after taking a chance on Jalen Carter two years ago, so other NFL teams may now be more inclined to take risks in the first round. If Arizona decides to roll the dice, Green could be the steal of the draft as a physical pass-rusher who could single-handedly turn the Cardinals' defense around.
17. Cincinnati Bengals - Emeka Egbuka (WR, Ohio St.)
At first glance, it might not make sense for the Bengals to select Emeka Egbuka in an NFL mock draft, considering that they just gave Tee Higgins a new contract. However, the way the deal is structured, Cincinnati has an out after two years. So, while the Bengals were willing to keep the band together this offseason, they could reevaluate down the line with so much money already tied up in Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase. Plus, Egbuka is primarily a slot receiver anyway. Although Andrei Iosivas performed admirably out of the slot last season, Egbuka would supercharge this Bengals offense alongside Chase and Higgins.
18. Seattle Seahawks - Kelvin Banks Jr. (OT, Texas)
The Seahawks' offensive line was a major issue last season, and Kelvin Banks could provide some much-needed reinforcements. Though he played left tackle at Texas, Banks could slide in at left guard next to Charles Cross and also provide insurance for Seattle's oft-injured right tackle, Abraham Lucas. Banks has room to improve as a pass-blocker, but he can make an immediate impact as a run-blocker in new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak's zone scheme.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - James Pearce Jr. (EDGE, Tennessee)
After some buzz about James Pearce Jr. potentially being the No. 1 overall pick early last season, a disappointing senior year and character concerns have dropped his draft stock considerably. Still, the talent is there, as evidenced by his 10-sack junior season at Tennessee. The Buccaneers could hope that Pearce matures alongside seasoned veterans like Lavonte David and Vita Vea and potentially get a steal in the middle of the first round.
20. Denver Broncos - Omarion Hampton (RB, UNC)
There are a lot of different directions the Broncos could go with this pick in this NFL mock draft, including bolstering an already strong defense. However, Omarion Hampton is a pounder reminiscent of Deuce McAllister and could be a target for Sean Payton after Javonte Williams was continually stopped on red-zone rushes last season. Bo Nix showed promise as a rookie, and a competent run game would open up Denver's offense even more with opposing defenses already needing to account for Nix's rushing ability.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers - Kenneth Grant (DI, Michigan)
There are many questions about who will be under center in Pittsburgh come Week 1, but one thing seems fairly certain: the answer won't be at pick no. 21 in the NFL Draft. Instead, Kenneth Grant could be a throwback to the Steel Curtain days. At 6-4 and 331 lbs., Grant is a massive interior rusher who can play multiple spots. Although he was somewhat inconsistent at Michigan, he's an athletic freak who can impact those gritty, low-scoring games the Steelers always seem to find themselves in.
22. Los Angeles Chargers - Colston Loveland (TE, Michigan)
It's only natural that many have picked Colston Loveland to Los Angeles in an NFL mock draft, given his connection to Jim Harbaugh from their Michigan days. Beyond the Michigan connection, though, Loveland would give Justin Herbert another high-percentage outlet alongside Ladd McConkey. Quentin Johnston isn't it, and welcoming Mike Williams home on a one-year, $6 million deal is just a band-aid on the issue of a concerning lack of reliable pass-catchers. Loveland can become Herbert's go-to receiver over the middle and an imposing red zone threat in key situations as a big upgrade (literally) for the Chargers offense.
23. Green Bay Packers - Luther Burden III (WR, Missouri)
Matt LaFleur said last preseason that the Packers have "a bunch" of No. 1 receivers, which also meant they didn't have a true No. 1 receiver. Luther Burden could be that. Christian Watson will start the season on IR rehabbing a torn ACL. While Green Bay's other wide receivers each have contributed well at times in LaFleur's offense, the addition of a dynamic yards-after-the-catch playmaker like Burden could really maximize Jordan Love's potential in a division that could be the most competitive in the NFL.
24. Minnesota Vikings - Walter Nolen (DI, Ole Miss)
The Vikings need help on both the offensive and defensive lines, but the defense could win out if Walter Nolen is still on the board. He's a strong pass-rusher and run-stopper up the middle who can be a great fit in Brian Flores' 3-4 defense.
25. Houston Texans - Grey Zabel (OT, NDSU)
Grey Zabel was a standout at the Senior Bowl, showcasing his versatility to play multiple positions along the offensive line. After having traded Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunstil to Washington, Houston should look to rebuild their offensive line in this NFL mock draft to help get C.J. Stroud back on track in Year 3.
26. Los Angeles Rams - Jalon Walker (LB, Georgia)
The Rams hit on Jared Verse in last year's draft, and Jalon Walker could be the versatile defender to pair with the 2024 Defensive Rookie of the Year. Walker could fill the hybrid edge/linebacker role Los Angeles had in Leonard Floyd a few seasons ago.
27. Baltimore Ravens - Donovan Ezeiruaku (EDGE, Boston College)
Ravens GM Eric DeCosta has proven adept at making draft picks with foresight, and Donovan Ezeiruaku would be yet another. Baltimore boasted a fearsome pass rush last year, but Kyle Van Noy is 34, and 2025 is a contract year for Odafe Oweh. Ezeiruaku would provide depth along the defensive line this season and lessen the impact of potentially losing Oweh to free agency next offseason.
28. Detroit Lions - Mykel Williams (EDGE, Georgia)
Aidan Hutchinson's season-ending leg fracture devastated an already-thin Lions defense last season. Mykel Williams could be a stopgap measure until Hutchinson returns, and he'd be an explosive pass-rusher opposite Hutchinson after that.
29. Washington Commanders --> Cleveland Browns - Jalen Milroe (QB, Alabama)
Cleveland's contract for Deshaun Watson could go down as one of the worst in NFL history. After having passed on quarterback at No. 2 overall in this NFL mock draft, the Browns can probably trade up a few spots from 33rd overall for relatively cheap, and Jalen Milroe reportedly had an impressive private workout with the Browns. Maybe the athletic marvel will struggle like Anthony Richardson has thus far, but the good news is that Cleveland doesn't need to take a chance on Milroe as a top-five overall pick. Trading back into the late first gives the Browns a fifth-year option on a potential franchise quarterback with relatively low risk but high potential reward.
30. Buffalo Bills - Shemar Stewart (EDGE, Texas A&M)
The Bills recently extended Greg Rousseau on a four-year, $80 million deal but also released 36-year-old Von Miller. Shemar Stewart could step right in and fill the departed Miller's shoes as an explosive pass-rusher to pair with Rousseau for the foreseeable future.
31. Kansas City Chiefs - Josh Simmons (OT, Ohio St.)
The injury is a concern, but it also gives the Chiefs a rare opportunity to draft a stellar left tackle in this NFL mock draft who otherwise may have gone top-10 overall. Josh Simmons is reportedly ahead of schedule in his rehab and return from a torn patellar tendon, and Kansas City just jettisoned Joe Thuney to Chicago this offseason. Thuney had been a serviceable fill-in at left tackle late last year, but the Chiefs need a long-term solution to protect Patrick Mahomes II. Assuming they don't have concerns about Simmons' injury, he could develop into an athletic franchise left tackle who's also versatile enough to play right tackle if needed.
32. Philadelphia Eagles - Malaki Starks (S, Georgia)
With C.J. Gardner-Johnson now in Houston, Malaki Starks could be the perfect complement to Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell to cement the reigning Super Bowl champions' young secondary for years to come. Like DeJean, Starks has the size/speed combo to cover deep and be an enforcer over the middle of the field.
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