Several significant roster developments have taken place since we published our first post-Super Bowl mock draft. A lot has changed with the new league year inching closer, so let’s dive into a brand-new 2025 NFL first-round mock draft.
Tennessee Titans, you’re on the clock!
Who are the top 32 prospects in the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft?
1. Tennessee Titans: Cam Ward
It’s a coin flip between Ward and Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter here. But the Titans have several cornerstone players on defense and will find it awfully hard to pass up on a dazzling dual-threat QB who would quickly breathe new life into the franchise.
Unless the Titans acquire a big-named QB via trade or free agency, they should pair the Miami signal-caller with head coach Brian Callahan. Hey, you miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take…
2. Cleveland Browns: Abdul Carter
Myles Garrett’s trade request would make this an easy pick for the Browns. Get significant draft capital for the franchise star, then take a can’t-miss pass-rushing NFL talent to replace him anyway. Win-win.
Carter has drawn comparisons to Dallas Cowboys All-Pro linebacker Micah Parsons. Suddenly, a defense with Carter, Denzel Ward, and Martin Emerson looks really dangerous again.
3. New York Giants: Travis Hunter
Our early guess here is the Giants will land a quarterback before the NFL draft, which would erase the temptation to reach for Shedeur Sanders here.
Instead, the Giants take Shedeur’s Colorado teammate, who’s arguably the best prospect in this class. Hunter would either form an unstoppable receiving tandem with Malik Nabers or become the new five-star shutdown corner this team hasn’t had in years. Or both.
4. Las Vegas Raiders (From New England Patriots): Shedeur Sanders
Projected trade alert! The Raiders acquired the No. 4 pick from the Patriots in exchange for the No. 6 and No. 73 selections.
With that pick, the Raiders complete their dream scenario of landing Shedeur Sanders. Fittingly, it’s Tom Brady’s old team that happily does business with the Raiders to make this move possible.
Brady is a minority owner. Pete Carroll is in charge as head coach. Sanders at QB. That’ll sell tickets. It’s showtime in Sin City, baby.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars: Mason Graham
With plenty of roster needs, this could be take-the-best-player-available for rookie GM James Gladstone at the NFL draft. Well, James would be very GLAD if Michigan’s Mason Graham fell into the Jaguars’ laps here.
The Jaguars allowed a whopping 132.6 rushing yards per game, and only four teams mustered fewer sacks. Graham can single-handedly take over games as a ferocious run-stopper, and he’d form a scary-good tandem alongside veteran star Josh-Hines Allen.
6. New England Patriots (From Las Vegas Raiders): Will Campbell
New Pats head coach Mike Vrabel was all about building in the trenches during his tenure with the Tennessee Titans. The Pats’ o-line was a mess a year ago, so it’s hard to envision Vrabel and company passing on this can’t-miss LSU offensive tackle if he’s available when it’s their turn to pick.
7. New York Jets: Will Johnson
Jets fans probably want an offensive player here, but this would be a rare win for Gang Green if the prized Michigan corner was still on the board.
Johnson might be the best cornerback prospect since…Sauce Gardner…who’s only the best shutdown guy in the league. A Johnson-Gardner tandem would be nightmare fuel for the rest of the NFL — perhaps even better than the Darrelle Revis-Antonio Cromartie tandem the Jets enjoyed in the Rex Ryan years.
8. Carolina Panthers: Tyler Warren
Carolina has plenty of needs here at the NFL draft, but it’s long overdue to bring in an established Pro Bowl-caliber weapon for Bryce Young.
Some are comparing the Penn State tight end to the legendary Rob Gronkowski. Even if Warren was only 60 to 70 percent of what Gronk brought to the table, that’s a real game-changer for Carolina’s passing game.
9. New Orleans Saints: Tetairoa McMillan
One can argue that no team has more weaknesses right now than New Orleans. But the hiring of head coach Kellen Moore means they’ll probably try to upgrade the offense for him.
Pairing McMillan with the explosive albeit oft-injured Chris Olave would be a nice start. Throw in Alvin Kamara, and the 2025 outlook for New Orleans’ offense suddenly looks pretty good.
10. Chicago Bears: Kelvin Banks Jr.
2023 first-round pick Darnell Wright took a big step forward in year one of the Caleb Williams era. Add Texas Longhorns offensive tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. to the mix, and Chicago could be set up at the bookends for Williams’ prime years.
11. San Francisco 49ers: Josh Simmons
When healthy, the 49ers have a Super Bowl-contending roster with no clear-cut weaknesses. So, don’t be surprised if GM John Lynch thinks long-term instead of finding a guy who can start right away at the NFL draft.
As great as Trent Williams has been on the West Coast, he’s turning 37 and hasn’t played a full season since…gulp…2013. Drafting and developing Josh Simmons to eventually succeed Williams is the ideal long-term play.
12. Arizona Cardinals (From Dallas Cowboys): Jalon Walker
Projected trade alert part two! The Cardinals acquired the 12th overall pick from the Cowboys in exchange for the No. 16 and No. 144 selections.
With that selection, the Cardinals’ front office jumps for joy with the selection of Georgia Bulldogs edge rusher Jalon Walker. Finally, for the first time since JJ Watt’s retirement, Arizona has a game-changer on the defensive line.
13. Miami Dolphins: Kenneth Grant
If the Dolphins end up trading Tyreek Hill before the NFL draft, don’t be surprised if they target a wide receiver here. For now, we’re operating on the assumption that Hill stays in South Beach.
With Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips both missing significant time over the last two years because of injuries, Miami should prioritize the d-line in theNFL draft. Michigan defensive tackle Kenneth Grant is a menace in the trenches who would solidify an already stout Miami run defense while improving their inconsistent pass rush.
14. Indianapolis Colts: Malaki Starks
We just keep coming back to Starks with the Colts. He’s a unicorn who excels in coverage and run defense and has the ability to rush the passer as well.
The Colts finished 26th against the pass in 2024 and feature zero game-changers in their secondary. Starks can change that on his own and give Indy a franchise cornerstone player for years to come.
15. Atlanta Falcons: Mykel Williams
The Falcons might not know this, but they have needed explosive pass-rushers for a while now. Did you know they haven’t had a player reach double-digit sacks in a season since Vic Beasley way-back-when in 2016?
Taking Georgia edge rusher Mykel Williams at the NFL draft would provide Atlanta with instant help. A Williams-Grady Jarrett tandem could take the defense to another level and help the Falcons end an eight-year playoff drought.
16. Dallas Cowboys (From Arizona Cardinals): Ashton Jeanty
We know Rico Dowdle rushed for over 1,000 yards, but Jeanty is a different form of running back. If anything else, new head coach Brian Schottenheimer could feature a heavy two-back system like what the Detroit Lions use with Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery.
Prime Ezekiel Elliott was fun in Big D, but Jeanty would be even better. This just feels like the perfect fit that every Cowboys fan could get behind.
17. Cincinnati Bengals: Mike Green
Trey Hendrickson led the NFL with 17.5 sacks in 2024, and the Bengals defense still sucked. What does that tell you? In two words: HELP WANTED.
Hendrickson is a beast, but the Bengals’ defense could re-emerge as a top-10 group if they added a pass-rushing talent like Green at the NFL draft. A player like him could be the difference in a playoff game against Patrick Mahomes or Lamar Jackson, after all.
18. Pittsburgh Steelers (From Seattle Seahawks): Luther Burden III
Projected trade alert number three! The Steelers acquire the No. 18 pick from the Seahawks in exchange for the No. 21 and No. 122 picks.
And with that pick, the Steelers get their new No. 1 wide receiver in Luther Burden III.
George Pickens is entering a contract year, has been the subject of trade rumors, and isn’t a No. 1 receiver anyway. Whoever Pittsburgh’s QB is in 2025, they have to get better pass-catchers, and trading up for Burden fills that void.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Nic Scourton
Death, taxes, and the Buccaneers using a first-round pick on a player in the trenches.
The Bucs will always be a blitz-heavy team with Todd Bowles calling the shots, but they don’t exactly have game-changers after Vita Vea. That changes with the hulking 6-foot-4, 285-pound Texas A&M standout who mustered 15 total sacks over his last two years.
20. Denver Broncos: Colston Loveland
We don’t think there’s a better and more realistic target for Denver in the 2025 NFL draft than the Michigan tight end. The Broncos have to get another pass-catcher for Bo Nix and Courtland Sutton, and Sean Payton loves his tight ends.
Loveland’s championship pedigree and big-game experience could help the up-and-coming Broncos further close the gap with top AFC dogs like the Chiefs and Bills. If he comes to Denver, Loveland is an immediate front-runner for Offensive Rookie of the Year.
21. Seattle Seahawks (From Pittsburgh Steelers): Jahdae Barron
Cornerback isn’t a need with Devon Witherspoon there, but Mike Macdonald and John Lynch would have a golden opportunity here to build the new Legion of Boom in Seattle.
Julian Love has developed into a stud at safety. Witherspoon is arguably a top-five corner in the game. Barro is a can’t-miss defensive back in this class. It’s just a match made in Heaven.
22. Los Angeles Chargers: James Pearce Jr.
Khalil Mack seems poised to hit free agency, and cutting or trading Joey Bosa feels like a safe bet with a giant $36.471 million cap hit for 2025.
That means the Bolts will need to bring in new faces on the defensive line at the NFL draft. Tennessee’s James Pearce Jr. has the boom-or-bust label, but the Chargers can trust a top-tier head coach like Jim Harbaugh to get the most out of a player with 17 sacks over his final two college seasons.
23. Green Bay Packers: Emeka Egbuka
The Packers haven’t used a first-round pick on a wide receiver since Javon Walker in 2002. They haven’t had a 1,000-yard receiver since trading Davnte Adams three years ago. Running back Josh Jacobs has called for the team to bring in a No. 1 receiver.
No more excuses for GM Brian Gutekunst. Relying on a bunch of C+ level pass-catchers hasn’t gotten these guys anywhere. Put Egbuka on this offense and move Jayden Reed to a better-suited WR2 role.
24. Minnesota Vikings: Tyler Booker
The Vikings have arguably the league’s best bookend tandem in Brian O’Neill and Christian Darrisaw. However, the interior o-line was exposed by top opponents like the Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Rams, so getting Alabama’s Tyler Booker would be a coup for Minny.
We know JJ McCarthy would be spoiled with a Booker-Darrisaw-O’Neill trio blocking for him in front!
25. Houston Texans: Armand Membou
Houston was looking like a legitimate Super Bowl contender until the pass protection catered in front of CJ Stroud over the second half. If Houston’ doesn’t go o-line in round one, it’s because they’ll have addressed the unit in free agency.
Membou can play guard or tackle. The Texans have needs at both, so DeMeco Ryans would have options on how to best utilize him. Oh, and his run-blocking skills would be embraced by Joe Mixon and the ground game as well.
26. Los Angeles Rams: Benjamin Morrison
The Rams are still searching for an elite shutdown corner since trading Jalen Ramsey to Miami two years ago.
The LA defense has several young stud pass-rushers in place, led by Jared Verse and Kobie Turner, but adding a bonafide lockdown corner like Morrison at the NFL draft could push this defense into top-five territory.
27. Baltimore Ravens: Walter Nolen
The Ravens’ last three playoff losses — against the Bengals, Chiefs, and Bills — had one thing in common: An inability to provide pressure on Joe Burrow, Patrick Mahomes, and Josh Allen.
Ole Miss standout Walter Nolen has the combination of size and speed to generate constant pressure up the middle and open up holes for his rushers off the edge.
28. Kansas City Chiefs (From Detroit Lions): Matthew Golden
Another projected trade! The Chiefs acquire the No. 28 selection from the Detroit Lions in exchange for the No. 31 pick and a 2026 fourth-round pick.
The Chiefs have four notable pending free agent wideouts in DeAndre Hopkins, Marquise Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and Mecole Hardman.
Rashee Rice looks like a No. 1 receiver, and 2024 NFL first-round draft pick Xavier Worthy has the potential to be a superstar as well. But with Travis Kelce nearing retirement, this feels like a good time for KC to add another big-time playmaker weapon that can stretch the field for Patrick Mahomes.
29. Washington Commanders: Jihaad Campbell
As fun as Washington’s trip to the NFC title game was, the blowout loss to Philadelphia showed just how much help this defense needs if they’re to ever reach the big game.
Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell is a dynamic off-ball linebacker who had five sacks, an interception, and two pass breakups in 2024. Dan Quinn, who’s had the honors of coaching stud linebackers like Bobby Wagner and Micah Parsons, will absolutely love Campbell’s game and swagger.
30. Buffalo Bills: Derrick Harmon
The Bills will likely cut Von Millerin a cap-saving move, but that also just opens up another void on an already-weak defensive line.
Oregon’s Derrick Harmon can play in the interior or off the edge. If it’s the former, imagine he and Ed Oliver as a defensive tackle tandem. Another step forward in reducing the gap with the playoff Kryptonite that is Kansas City…
31. Detroit Lions (From Kansas City Chiefs): Shemar Stewart
Aidan Hutchinson has cemented himself as one of the game’s best pass-rushers. But as we saw when he went down with a season-ending leg injury, the Lions lack difference-makers after him.
That can change here with the Shemar Stewart selection. And if Hutchinson gets back to full health, the Lions would have the firepower to field the league’s best defensive line. Just saying!
32. Philadelphia Eagles: Josh Conerly Jr.
The defending champions have zero clear-cut weaknesses. But veteran offensive tackle Lane Johnson has hinted at retirement in the not-so-distant future, so how about grooming his successor here?
Conerly Jr. would benefit from learning behind Johnson and Jordan Mailata for a year or two before taking over. The Eagles did this with Cam Jurgens and Jason Kelce, and it looks like that worked out.
