2025 NFL Mock Draft: Shedeur Sanders and Cameron Ward continue fight for top spot, Patriots make surprise selection, and a run on OL and pass rushers
Every week another NFL team seemingly eliminates itself from playoff contention, and then the conversation flips to what their slot will be to select in the 2025 NFL Draft class. The college football season is nearing the end, and declarations are already being announced. We are slowly developing a more defined understanding of the draft […]
Every week another NFL team seemingly eliminates itself from playoff contention, and then the conversation flips to what their slot will be to select in the 2025 NFL Draft class. The college football season is nearing the end, and declarations are already being announced. We are slowly developing a more defined understanding of the draft landscape.
With that landscape coming into focus, it feels like the perfect time for a mock draft. As always, let’s set the ground rules. I did not project the draft order, and simply went to the most recent order courtesy of Tankathon. Contrary to popular belief, I do not hate your favorite team.
This also isn’t the time of year for predictive mock drafts. The draft order is going to continue to change, free agency will happen, and schemes will change for a variety of reasons. Nobody knows what’s going to happen, especially this far out from April.
Mock drafts during the season are supposed to develop a deeper understanding for the team needs, and the talented players in the 2025 class that could help to fill them. Here is a first round projection for April, and some prospects that should be on your radar for your favorite team. It’s going to be a wild draft season, so buckle up and enjoy.
1. New York Giants: Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
The big debate right now is between Sanders and Miami quarterback Cameron Ward. The Giants opt for the more consistent, and accurate passer in this scenario. Sanders isn’t flashy but his floor is considerably higher.
2. New England Patriots: Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State
There are several ways the Patriots could go, but adding a blue chip pass rusher can never hurt. If Carter is developed properly, there’s a reality where he becomes the best overall player in this class. The combination of tools, versatility, and upside is bananas.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars: Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado
At this point, the Jaguars need to add some dynamic ability on offense around quarterback Trevor Lawrence. They also could use someone opposite of Tyson Campbell at quarterback. Hunter has the rare talent to make any coaching staff right.
4. Tennessee Titans: Cameron Ward, QB, Miami
Ward is a bit of a boom or bust prospect, but the upside may be too much to pass up on. He will have one of the more gifted arms in the NFL the minute he is drafted. It’s going to be about supporting that talent, and getting the most out of him.
5. Cleveland Browns: Mason Graham, DT, Michigan
This is a tough scenario who would love a young quarterback. They also could use a left tackle, but this just isn’t the class to need one top five overall. In reality, this is a hopeful trade back scenario, but they opt for the dominant run defender and game wrecker that is Graham.
6. Las Vegas Raiders: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
The Raiders are in a similar situation as the Browns, but finding a quarterback in a different way is probably for the best. It’s a simple initiative for the Raiders, your roster isn’t very good, so taking the best player available is probably for the best. Despite playing the running back position, Jeanty has the rare three-down upside that makes him an elite prospect.
7. Chicago Bears: Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas
Protecting quarterback Caleb Williams at all costs is the top priority. There are some questions about whether Banks fits best at offensive tackle or inside at guard, but regardless, he could be an upgrade for the Bears.
8. Carolina Panthers: James Pearce Jr., EDGE, Tennessee
After trading Brian Burns to the Giants last offseason, the Panthers are in desperate need of pass rush. Pearce brings massive upside in that department. He is long, explosive, and has rare bend working around the track.
9. New York Jets: Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
It feels like the Jets have had a need at tight end forever. Some may think this is a little early for Warren, but his overall athleticism, size (6-6, 260 pounds), and improved run blocking presents Pro Bowl upside. Warren is a plug and play pass catcher with a ton of mismatch upside.
10. New Orleans Saints: Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
This is a pretty easy one. The Saints have a major need at cornerback, and Will Johnson brings a very high floor to the table. His ball skills, movement skills, and football IQ are outstanding in his 6-2 frame.
11. San Francisco 49ers: Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia
Williams just feels like a 49er. He technically is nowhere near where he needs to be, but his talent is impressive. Learning from someone like Nick Bosa could do wonders.
12. Miami Dolphins: Will Campbell, OT, LSU
The Dolphins offensive line is an issue, and it has been for several years. Campbell is an outlier at offensive tackle, but could still provide an upgrade to this team. If not, he has sky high potential inside.
13. Indianapolis Colts: Malaki Starks, S, Georgia
This feels like one of the more seamless fits in the class. Safety is a big need for the Colts, and Starks is one of the top overall prospects. It’s tremendous value at this point in the class.
14. Cincinnati Bengals: Nic Scourton, EDGE, Texas A&M
Pick your defensive position, and it would probably be a good selection for the Bengals. Adding a talented pass rusher is never a bad proposition either. Scourton is a massive EDGE at 6-4 and 285 pounds, and should provide all around upside.
15. Dallas Cowboys: Luther Burden, WR, Missouri
CeeDee Lamb is great but Lamb and Burden is even better. The Missouri standout is a dynamic space player, who makes a ton of plays after the catch. He has had a down year, but that has much more to do with the quarterback issues than Burden’s deficiencies.
16. Arizona Cardinals: Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan
The Cardinals need multiple upgrades on the defensive line, and Grant provides an immediate one on the interior. For a bigger body at 6-3 and 339 pounds, he moves very well. There is upside as a starting nose tackle with penetration upside.
17. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Shavon Revel Jr., CB, ECU
Tampa Bay has needs at both pass rush and at cornerback. In this scenario, Revel is the top talent available and an impressive cover man. He’s long, twitched up, and can run like the wind.
18. Seattle Seahawks: Aireontae Ersery, OT, Minnesota
Whether it’s at right tackle or guard, Ersery could be a plug and play option for the Seahawks up front. His power, and imposing size (6062v, 338v) allows him to be a huge asset in the run game. Pass protection will never be pretty, but it should be good enough to last outside in the right scheme.
19. Atlanta Falcons: Princely Umanmielen, EDGE, Ole Miss
There is no bigger need on the Falcons roster than improving the pass rush. After an up and down career with the Florida Gators, Umanmielen took his game to a completely different level for Ole Miss. He is one of the more natural talents at the position overall.
20. Houston Texans: Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State
The Texans have a massive hole at right tackle, and Simmons could fill it as soon as he’s fully healthy. An impressive athlete at the position, Simmons would be an outstanding bookend with left tackle Laremy Tunsil.
21. Los Angeles Chargers: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
Quentin Johnston has not been the impact size at receiver that the Chargers hoped. McMillan isn’t the cleanest separator, but he has an incredible catch radius and great hands. He should be a really good pairing with Ladd McConkey.
22. Denver Broncos: Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
There are a host of teams that need tight end help, and the Broncos are one of them. Getting quarterback Bo Nix a consistent target in the middle of the field would be huge. Loveland is not only an inviting target, but is also a really clean separator at the position.
23. Los Angeles Rams: Jalon Walker, LB, Georgia
The Rams need linebacker upgrades, and Walker brings an intriguing combination as an attack style player on the second level. In theory, he could play linebacker on base downs and help to rush the passer from various alignments as well. The versatility he possesses is extremely intriguing.
24. Washington Commanders: Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
Terry McLaurin is a very good wide receiver, but the Commanders need more help around quarterback Jayden Daniels. Ebuka is one of the more sure bets in this class, bringing tremendous understanding of spacing, consistency, and YAC ability.
25. Pittsburgh Steelers: Shemar Stewart, DL, Texas A&M
Cameron Heyward is nearing the end of his fantastic career, and there doesn’t feel like a more natural replacement than Stewart. At 6-6 and 290 pounds, he has an impressive skill set to play on the edge at times, but be a cheat code used up and down the line of scrimmage.
26. Baltimore Ravens: Jonah Savaiinaea, IOL, Arizona
Whether it is Ozzie Newsome or Eric DeCosta as the general manager, the Ravens have had a great track record or letting good football players fall to them. Savaiinaea could be an easy fit inside, and also could potentially play offensive tackle long term as well. The athletic upside is tremendous.
27. Green Bay Packers: Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas
The Packers do like cornerbacks who can play a little bit of outside and in, and that is Barron summarized perfectly. While he might not be the biggest cornerback, Barron is just a darn good football player. His physicality, ball skills, and intelligence is something to watch.
28. Philadelphia Eagles: Tyler Booker, IOL, Alabama
Mekhi Becton has been good at right guard for the Eagles, but he is set to be a free agent this offseason. Booker is the type of player you plug into that spot and let him do his things for the next five plus years. He is an imposing presence at 6-4 and 340 pounds.
29. Buffalo Bills: Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina
The days of Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer are long gone. Finding the next bookends on the back end is important for this Bills team. Emmanwori is a freak athlete at 6-3 and nearly 230 pounds, with a ton of versatility he can provide all over the field.
30. Minnesota Vikings: Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky
It feels like the Vikings have needed cornerback upgrades for a long time, and there are a couple talented options still on the board. Hairston missed part of the season due to injury, but he is one of the more gifted cover players in the class.
31. Detroit Lions: Armand Membou, IOL, Missouri
Pass rusher could be on the table, but the board just didn’t fall well for the Lions. Kevin Zeitler is set to hit free agency, and Graham Glasgow is injured and also hasn’t been playing very well. Membou could be an immediate upgrade inside at guard.
32. Kansas City Chiefs: Josh Conerly Jr., OT, Oregon
The Chiefs were hoping that Kingsley Suamataia would be the answer at left tackle, but he hasn’t been yet. Things have gotten so dire that they are trotting out DJ Humphries when he’s healthy. Conerly has a lot of development in front of him, but has baseline traits to get excited about.
Texas CB Jahdae Barron 2025 NFL Draft Profile
Scouting report for Texas CB Jahdae Barron
