2025 NFL Mock Draft: Shedeur Sanders goes top-5, Ashton Jeanty to Raiders, Will Campbell falls
We are less than a month away from the NFL Draft and things are coming into focus. The top of the draft feels set in stone for the Tennessee Titans but after that is where the real fun begins. How will things end up transpiring over the first round? Will we see more than one […]
We are less than a month away from the NFL Draft and things are coming into focus. The top of the draft feels set in stone for the Tennessee Titans but after that is where the real fun begins.
How will things end up transpiring over the first round? Will we see more than one quarterback go in the first round? Could we see three or four? How many trench players will get drafted? My latest first round projections go a multitude of different directions.
1. Tennessee Titans: Cam Ward, QB, Miami
This has been a foregone conclusion for a while. How the Titans have maneuvered in free agency has been to set themselves up for a rookie quarterback. General Manager Mike Borgonzi has seen what an explosive, athletic quarterback can bring to the franchise and they take their shot with Ward.
2. Cleveland Browns: Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
The opinions have been split on Sanders across the board. Some believe he's worthy of a top-five selection, while others don't think he should go in the first round. Sanders is one of the most accurate quarterback prospects we've seen in some time. Whatever style of offense Keven Stefanski wants to run, Sanders can do just that.
3. New York Giants: Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado
The signing of Russell Wilson sent a signal that the Giants don't think they can get Sanders at this spot. They can still get a developmental quarterback later on (hello Jalen Milroe in round two) but they arguably get the best player in the draft in Hunter. It doesn't matter what position you draft him for, Hunter is worthy of the selection.
4. New England Patriots: Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State
The Patriots are where the draft feels like it starts for me. They have been very active in stating their desire to find a number one receiver for Drake Maye. After signing Stefon Diggs, that need is a little lessened, so they take the unicorn edge rusher in Carter, who profiles very similarly to Micah Parsons.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars: Mason Graham, DT, Michigan
The Jaguars have done a really good job in fortifying their roster. Essentially, they have raised their floor, which they certainly could use. This draft will also be a big one, as they have multiple third and fourth round picks to bolster the roster. Graham gives them something they don't currently have: a penetrating interior pass rusher.
6. Las Vegas Raiders: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
Pete Carroll coming to the Raiders along with the trade for Geno Smith sends a signal that the Raiders are trying to win now. Jeanty would give Carroll his new version of Marshawn Lynch, solidifying a running game that desperately needs it.
7. New York Jets: Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
The Jets are one of those teams that can go a lot of different ways. They could end up going quarterback if Sanders falls this far, but that doesn't happen. They take a unicorn here in Warren who can be a weapon in multiple facets.
8. Carolina Panthers: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
The Panthers have done a really good job building the roster around Bryce Young, but they still need a little more help on the outside. McMillan is a very unique weapon on the outside, as he's really good after the catch for a player who is 6'-5.
9. New Orleans Saints: Shemar Stewart, EDGE, Texas A&M
There isn't a big, hyper-athletic pass rusher in the world that Mickey Loomis will say no to. Stewart is similar to Travon Walker to where his projection is much more than what he did in college. Stewart is one of my top prospects in this class and he will be a force in the NFL.
10. Chicago Bears: Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia
Dennis Allen is seething in the draft room with Stewart off the board, so now they get the next best thing in Williams. he's a similar archetype to Jadeveon Clowney in that he's not a speed rusher, but has a lot of power and can kick inside. Allen loves to work with players like that.
11. San Francisco 49ers: Will Campbell, OT, LSU
Campbell falling this far feels weird, but how the cards fall here tells a different story. This is a huge win for the 49ers, as Campbell can kick inside to guard next to Trent Williams and can replace him when he chooses to retire.
12. Dallas Cowboys: Matthew Golden, WR, Texas
The Cowboys are an enigma but they need to fortify their group of weapons around Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb. Golden has been a fast riser this year due to his playoff performance and 4.29 40-yard dash. Golden would fit in at Z with Lamb moving between the slot and the outside.
13. Miami Dolphins: Armand Membou, OT, Missouri
The Dolphins have had issues on the offensive line for years and it's not because they haven't tried. They have spent a lot of resources to fortify it and it hasn't worked. Membou's college tape was arguably the best of any offensive linemen in this class
14. Indianapolis Colts: Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama
Campbell is one of my favorite prospects in this draft. He is a do-it-all linebacker that thrives in both the run game and in coverage, where he can run the pole in Tampa-2 with consistency. Campbell would fit in very well with a Colts team that needs to win now to ensure Shane Steichen and Chris Ballard keep their jobs.
15. Atlanta Falcons: Mike Green, EDGE, Marshall
The Falcons are desperate to get their pass rush in order, as it was a massive struggle last season. Green has some off-the-field stuff that could hinder his draft status, but he's got the juice to attack the edge and pressure the quarterback.
16. Arizona Cardinals: Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss
Jonathan Gannon and Nick Rallis come from the Mike Zimmer tree and the engine of pass rush is a penetrating 3T. Nolen, who was the number one recruit in the 2022 recruiting class, is just that. He will need a little bit of coaching to maximize his ability, but there is a lot to like.
17. Cincinnati Bengals: Kelvin Banks, OT, Texas
With the Bengals paying both Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, they need to hit on their draft picks to build up a potential Super Bowl champion. The key to that will be protecting Joe Burrow. Banks is a LT by trade but can kick inside to guard next to Orlando Brown to fortify the unit as a whole.
18. Seattle Seahawks: Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
The Seahawks are caught between a rock and a hard place with their future, but they have five picks in the top 100 to maximize their "soft rebuild." Egbuka isn't the same kind of wide receiver that DK Metcalf is, but there is a lot to like with his game. He can play inside and outside while doing all the dirty work like his teammate in this scenario Cooper Kupp.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jalon Walker, EDGE/LB, Georgia
Todd Bowles loves speed on the edge and that's what Walker provides. Even so, if they want him to play more off the ball, they can have him do that next to Lavonte David, as linebacker was a disastrous position for them last season.
20. Denver Broncos: Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
Sean Payton has talked ad nauseam about wanting to have a joker on the offensive side of the ball. Loveland can be that guy for the Broncos. He can be a mismatch tight end, kick out and be a power slot like both Michael Thomas and Marques Colston were back in the day, and find ways to get him matched up on defenders who can't keep up.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas
The Steelers need to make this pick count with their second-round pick going to the Seahawks for Metcalf. Barron can do a little bit of everything, including play outside cornerback. He would fit in really nicely opposite of Joey Porter Jr.
22. Los Angeles Chargers: Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan
A Michigan player in round one for Jim Harbaugh, and it fits a position of need? Yeah, this makes way too much sense.
23. Green Bay Packers: Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
If you would have had Will Johnson this far down the board in September, you would have been laughed at. However, with a down season that was also filled with injuries, Johnson falls down here and give the Packers a true CB1.
24. Minnesota Vikings: Malaki Starks, S, Georgia
The Vikings can do just about anything here after their moves in free agency, but there are still real needs on this roster. One of them is depth at safety. Starks is a true center fielder who can do a little bit of everything. He needs to get a little better with his reaction time, but there is a lot to love with Starks.
25. Houston Texans: Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State
What are the Texans doing with their offensive line? They traded Laremy Tunsil and have brought in a lot of players who weren't very good last year. Luckily, they get Simmons who can play inside and outside for the Texans as they try to build their best five.
26. Los Angeles Rams: Shavon Revel Jr., CB, East Carolina
The Rams are in an interesting spot. Could they end up taking a future quarterback here? I don't think there is one worthy of being taken here, so they take a cornerback to fortify a position that's been relatively weak since trading Jalen Ramsey.
27. Baltimore Ravens: Tyler Booker, OG, Alabama
The Ravens lost Patrick Mekari in free agency and need to solidify the interior of the offensive line. Booker isn't a fit for every team, but he's perfect with how the Ravens like to play. Booker is a destroyer on the interior as long as you keep him in a phone booth, which the Ravens will.
28. Detroit Lions: Nic Scourton, EDGE, Texas A&M
The Lions need to find an edge rusher opposite of Aidan Hutchinson and there will be some players at the end of the first round who fit the bill. Scourton will be the perfect complement to Hutchinson on the other side with his ability to win with speed and technique.
29. Washington Commanders: Donovan Ezeiruaku, EDGE, Boston College
The Commanders need to fortify the pass rush and Ezeiruaku can bring the juice and then some. He can bend the arc and attack offensive tackles in multiple ways, something that Dan Quinn will maximize.
30. Buffalo Bills: James Pearce Jr., EDGE, Tennessee
The Bills have some talent on the interior, but they could use some speed on the edge to pair with Gregory Rousseau. Pearce has his issues in the running game and there have been some interesting character accusations surrounding him, but he can get after the quarterback, something that Pearce can do in droves.
31. Kansas City Chiefs: Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon
The discussion surrounding the Chiefs is focused on the offensive line. While it's an issue, the defense is why they have been so successful over the last few years. Getting Chris Jones some help should be a priority. Harmon can step in and play with Jones while being an asset on all three downs.
32. Philadelphia Eagles: Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri
Would the Eagles take a wide receiver here? It feels a little off, but it's certainly a possibility. One of the reasons why this makes sense is the lack of trench players that are worth a selection here for what the Eagles need. Burden provides the Eagles with depth at a position that's difficult to find great players and he gives the Eagles an element they don't have in a YAC guy.
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