2025 NFL Mock Draft: Jaguars take best player in the draft while Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders go top five
The NFL Draft is now just five months away as the college football season for 2024 is winding down. The final week of the regular season has already begun and teams are fighting for their playoff lives. We don't know a ton about how the first round will shape up yet, but mock drafts are […]
The NFL Draft is now just five months away as the college football season for 2024 is winding down. The final week of the regular season has already begun and teams are fighting for their playoff lives.
We don't know a ton about how the first round will shape up yet, but mock drafts are really nice to look at throughout the process. It exposes you to different names and talented players who could eventually end up going to your team come April.
1. Jacksonville Jaguars: Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado
The Jaguars are one of the few teams that already have a bonafide franchise quarterback when holding the first overall pick and it allows them to truly take the best player on the board. Hunter is an incredibly rare prospect but should probably stay at cornerback while sprinkling in some wide receiver, similar to his mentor Deion Sanders.
2. New York Giants: Cam Ward, QB, Miami FL
The Giants waived Daniel Jones which allowed him to sign with the Minnesota Vikings. They need a quarterback and if Brian Daboll is still the head coach, getting him a player with tools should be the priority.
Ward has an excellent set of tools to work with and the fact that Daboll had so much success with Josh Allen should translate into helping Ward hone his craft.
3. Las Vegas Raiders: Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
It's no secret that the Raiders need a quarterback. It's been their biggest issue so far this year. Sanders is an excellent facilitator who stays collected in the pocket while being able to create when things break down. He is a great player for the Raiders to build around.
4. New England Patriots: Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State
The Patriots have bigger needs on their roster than edge rusher but it's really hard to pass on a talent like Carter. He not only wore 11 like Micah Parsons, but has the same versatility and similar explosiveness. This is an easy pick for Jerod Mayo to make.
5. Carolina Panthers: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
Bryce Young is playing significantly better football now than he was earlier in the season but their group of weapons still needs work fortifying. They took Xavier Legette in the first round last year and Jalen Coker was a nice find as an undrafted free agent, but Tetairoa McMillan can be a difference-maker.
He stands at 6-5" and uses his frame very well to box out defenders and catch the ball away from his body. Continuing to build around Young should be a priority for the Panthers.
6. Tennessee Titans: Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas
For the third consecutive season, the Titans need offensive line help. They just can't figure it out despite using top 15 picks on Peter Skoronski and JC Latham in back-to-back seasons.
Banks would give them a starter at left tackle from day one which would allow them to move Latham back to the right side where he arguably is more comfortable. This is a huge step in fixing a gaping hole.
7. New York Jets: Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
The Jets have a few needs and more question marks with Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams potentially moving on after the season. As things currently sit, take the best player and let the rest fall.
Johnson has been viewed as the best player in the class by multiple people and would be an excellent player to have with Sauce Gardner, especially if they stay in a man coverage heavy defense.
8. Cleveland Browns: Will Campbell, OT, LSU
The Browns are likely to move off of Deshaun Watson this offseason, but there isn't a great prospect to take at this spot with Sanders and Ward off the board. Whoever plays quarterback next season will need some extra help on the offensive line.
Campbell might not have long enough arms to play tackle in the NFL, but he projects like a stud guard on the inside in that case. The Browns could certainly use him next year on the interior or at left tackle.
9. New Orleans Saints: Nic Scourton, EDGE, Texas A&M
The Saints have a history of taking big, athletic edge rushers (Marcus Davenport, Payton Turner, etc) in the first round and Scourton fits the exact prototype. He needs to refine his technique but there is a lot of exciting tools to work with and the Saints could use a successor to Cam Jordan.
10. Cincinnati Bengals: Mason Graham, DT, Michigan
The Bengals look to be in need of a soft rebuild and they need to fix the worst area o their roster: defensive tackle.
Graham likely won't make it this far when April comes around, but he's a twitchy, explosive pass rusher who will give the Bengals something they haven't had since Geno Atkins.
11. Dallas Cowboys: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
Jeanty is the best running back and arguably the best offensive weapon in the class and the Cowboys need a running back. This is exactly what Jerry Jones has done in the past and Jeanty is well worth a top 15 pick.
12. Chicago Bears: Aireontae Ersery, OT, Minnesota
The Bears' offensive line needs help in a dire way either on the inside or at left tackle. Ersery can play both inside and out and will help you find your best five.
13. Indianapolis Colts: Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
The Colts have a very inconsistent group of weapons and tight end is their biggest weak spot on offense. With Anthony Richardson still growing and developing, the Colts need to do whatever it takes to help him.
Warren is an excellent athlete who is still developing at the position he played quarterback in high school. He's such a good player that Penn State uses him as a Wildcat quarterback, and it's extremely effective.
14. Miami Dolphins: Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State
The Dolphins have done a good job in building up their premium positions on both sides of the ball, but left tackle is a major question mark with Terron Armstead potentially retiring.
Simmons injured his knee against Oregon and hasn't played since, but his play was first round caliber. He could step in right away at left tackle or potentially kick inside for a year if Armstead returns.
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Tacario Davis, CB, Arizona
The Buccaneers love to play man coverage on defense and Davis is one of the best press-man corners in this class. There is speculation that Davis might be entering the transfer portal instead of the NFL Draft, but Davis is worthy of this selection if he stays.
16. Los Angeles Rams: Malaki Starks, S, Georgia
Do the Rams need a safety? Not really, as they have Kam Kinchens and Kam Curl. However, they do like to use players in unique ways on the defensive side of the football. Starks is the best player on the board and sometimes, you have to take the best player on the board and that is Starks.
17. San Francisco 49ers: Jonah Savaiinaea, OT, Arizona
The 49ers have needs across the offensive line with Aaron Banks and Colton McKivitz set to hit free agency and both Jake Brendel and Trent Williams getting older. Take Savaiinaea and just put him on the field and wreck defenders.
18. Arizona Cardinals: Jalon Walker, EDGE/LB, Georgia
The Cardinals desperately need pass rushers added to their roster. Walker's ability to play both on and off the ball is something that head coach Jonathan Gannon and defensive coordinator Nick Rallis can use really well.
19. Atlanta Falcons: Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia
Much like the Cardinals, the Falcons are desperate for edge help. Williams could be a huge riser in the predraft process. His athletic ability and length could be a huge issue for blockers at the next level.
20. Seattle Seahawks: Tyler Booker, OG, Alabama
This one is simple. Booker is a certified ass kicker on the interior and the Seahawks are desperate for one of those. They drafted Christian Haynes in the third round last year but he's struggled this year. Adding Booker could be an immediate boom for the Seahawks.
21. Washington Commanders: LT Overton, EDGE, Alabama
The Commanders are the third team in a row that needs help on the edge and they get both a talented player and scheme fit with Overton. A bigger player for hte edge, Overton is raw and powerful and extremely young.
22. Houston Texans: Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan
The Texans have one of the best pass rushes in the league but they lack a stud on the interior. Grant has the size and athleticism to be great in all phases and it won't hurt to play with Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter.
23. Denver Broncos: Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri
Bo Nix is playing better football as the year goes on and getting him help on the outside should be a priority. Burden isn't just a complete receiver, he thrives in yards after the catch situations, which is perfect for both Nix and how Sean Payton likes to call his offenses.
24. Baltimore Ravens: Wyatt Milum, OT, West Virginia
The Ravens have solidified their offensive line issues for now, but Ronnie Stanley might be on the way out after the season and that creates a hole at left tackle. Milum is a powerful player who might have to kick inside due to length, but he's got the skills to play outside.
25. Los Angeles Chargers: Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
The Chargers need a tight end and Loveland is both from Michigan and one of the best in the class. Need I say more?
26. Pittsburgh Steelers: Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
The Steelers have a downfield threat in George Pickens but they need a solid Z who can get open in the intermediate levels of the field. Egbuka is that guy and could have been a first round pick last year but wanted to return to school with the receiver class being a stacked one.
27. Green Bay Packers: Shemar Stewart, EDGE, Texas A&M
Stewart is big, powerful and freaky athletic. That sounds like a Packers edge rusher to me. It's disappointing that the Packers are in this spot again after picking Lukas Van Ness two years ago but his lack of development paired with the regression of Rashawn Gary makes this a more pressing need.
28. Minnesota Vikings: Shavon Revel Jr., CB, East Carolina
This is one that might sting for Vikings fans since Revel is coming off a torn ACL, but he can flat out play. With elite size and length plus high-end athleticism, Revel likely only makes it this far because of the injury.
I’m a fan of Shavon Revel Jr. The length and ball skills are very impressive
— Tyler Forness (@therealforno.bsky.social) November 16, 2024 at 2:36 PM
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29. Philadelphia Eagles: James Pearce Jr., EDGE, Tennessee
The Eagles are somewhat easy to predict when it comes to the first round of the NFL Draft. More often than not, they take a trench player. Pearce is an athletic specimen on the outside who was considered a top contender to go first overall this summer. He may not be from Georgia, but fits the Eagles' trends nonetheless.
30. Buffalo Bills: Tyleik Williams, DT, Ohio State
The Bills have played some excellent football this season but they really lack an interior presence in the run game next to Ed Oliver. Williams is a perfect match with Oliver's explosive pass-rush acumen and could provide a lethal pair for the next few years.
31. Kansas City Chiefs: Charles Grant, OT, William & Mary
The one real surprise is Grant slipping into the first round. With offensive tackle play at a premium, the Chiefs take a high-upside player from FCS's William & Mary with hopes he can win one of their tackle spots in 2026. They have three players ahead of him who will compete for the starting spots next season but Grant could be a force with some seasoning.
32. Detroit Lions: Landon Jackson, EDGE, Arkansas
The Lions don't have many needs but one of them is at edge rusher. Aidan Hutchinson is coming off a broken leg and even when he was healthy, they didn't have any help for him. Jackson has the athletic profile to thrive at edge with the size to kick inside on occasion.
