New 2025 first-round mock draft lands Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward in solid situations to win early in their NFL careers

We are over halfway through the 2024 season, and as each week goes by, more and more teams are losing hope to turn their seasons around. 

Those fan bases' focus is already starting to shift towards the 2025 NFL Draft, which is full of talented players anxiously waiting to begin their professional football careers. 

If you are a fan of one of those teams, don't worry. You don't have to wait till the offseason to read about your favorite draft prospects. Below is my first 2025 first-round mock draft of the year, where I select a player for all 32 teams via their current projected draft slot. 

1. New England Patriots 
Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colarado

If the Patriots land the top pick, I fully expect them to trade it to a quarterback-needy team. But this mock draft didn't involve trades, so I had them take the electric Travis Hunter. I think they would mainly play him at wide receiver, but I wouldn't be shocked at all if the Patriots were one of the few teams that would allow him to continue playing both sides of the ball (to an extent). 

2. Jacksonville Jaguars
Mason Graham, DT, Michigan

Similar to the Patriots, if the Jaguars land a pick this high, I think they would look to flip it for a large package of picks to a team desperate to draft a QB. With them staying put, I have them taking Michigan's Mason Graham, the best defensive prospect in the draft. They need to add someone on the interior of their defensive line this offseason, and Graham would be an incredible day-one contributor. 

3. New Orleans Saints
Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona 

I really contemplated going QB for the Saints here, but Derek Carr's contract has a dead cap of $50,132,000 for next season and $28,674,000 the year after. So whether the Saints like it or not, he will likely be their quarterback for at least one more year, so they might as well grab a great compliment from Chris Olave at WR to help Carr out. I have them landing 6'5" WR Tetairoa McMillan out of Arizona. He would add some needed size in the Saints' WR room, and I think he would help take some of the incredible pressure Olave has had to bear in their offense. 

4. Carolina Panthers
Abdul Carter, Edge, Penn State

The Panthers need to improve their pass rush ahead of next season. After trading Brian Burns to the Giants, the team lacks a true difference-maker off the edge of its defensive line. Penn State's Abdul Carter's play this season has catapulted him atop the edge rusher rankings in this year's class, and I think by the time this season ends, he will be considered possibly the best overall player in this class. 

5. Cleveland Browns
Cameron Ward, QB, Miami

Earlier, I didn't take a QB for the Saints due to the dead cap situation with their current starter. So I'm sure I sound like a hypocrite for taking Cameron Ward out of Miami for the Browns, with the notable contract remaining for Deshaun Watson. But eventually, when things get as bad as they have for Watson in Cleveland, a change has to be made. So I have them taking their QB of the future in Ward, and if this is the path they chose to take, I wouldn't be shocked to see the team start him over Watson early in his career, if not on day one. 

6. Las Vegas Raiders
Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colarao 

After no QBs were taken with the first four picks, I have them come off the board in back-to-back selections. Shedeur Sanders is an interesting prospect because it's pretty much already on record that he and his team will have a list of teams he doesn't want to play for. The Raiders are having a tough season, but with a potential new head coach in the fold next year and the Las Vegas market, I think the Raiders will undoubtedly be a team that interests Sanders as he looks to begin his pro career. 

7. New York Giants
Will Campbell, OT, LSU

The Giants could go many different directions with this pick, but ultimately, I went with my top offensive lineman in the class, Will Campbell, out of LSU. I'm sure they will be a team to watch for that could trade a large package for one of the top two QBs in this class, but with them off the board, I had to pivot. I highly doubt Daniel Jones will be their starting quarterback next season, no matter what. So drafting Campbell here would give a better day one starting tackle for a new veteran or even maybe a day two draft pick starting under center. 

8. Miami Dolphins
Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas

Back-to-back offensive linemen, are you not entertained? The Dolphins season has been a massive disappointment, but the talent on this roster does not look like your typical team drafting in the top ten. QB Tua Tagovailoa's health is this team's number one priority. Who has shown themselves to be a contender when he's on the field, so landing a talent like Kelvin Banks Jr. out of Texas would be a great way to use their higher than expected draft slot. 

9. Tennessee Titans
James Pearce Jr., Edge, Tennessee 

The Titans took an aggressive approach to the offseason, but it hasn't led to much success on the field. They have a few glaring needs, one of which is another impact player off the edge to pair with Harold Landry III in their future plans on defense. And there just so happens to be a top prospect who already has ties to the Tennessee fan base in James Pearce Jr. of the Tennessee Volunteers. 

10. New York Jets
Malaki Starks, S, Georiga 

The Jets have one of the top CB rooms in all of the NFL, but finding an upgrade at safety could take their secondary to the next level. Drafting a safety in the top ten may seem too high, but Malaki Starks out of Georiga is a dynamic player who warrants this high of a selection. 

11. Dallas Cowboys
Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State

The Cowboys have had a year to forget so far in 2024. And it's likely only going to get worse with the recent injury to QB Dak Prescott. As they begin to shift their focus to 2025, a big priority for them has to be improving their run game. Boise State's Ashton Jeanty has been on a tear all season long and finds himself as one of the top candidates for the Heisman trophy. Some will bash an RB going this high, but the Cowboys desperately need a player like Jeanty leading their backfield. 

12. Indianapolis Colts
Will Johnson, CB, Michigan 

Corner was a position mocked to the Colts a ton ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft. But they elected to go with edge rusher Laiatu Latu instead. So far this season, they have been using their 2023 7th-round pick Jaylon Jones and waiver wire addition Samuel Womack III as their starting boundary corners. Both have exceeded expectations, but for the future outlook of this defense and team, they need to find a true number-one guy at the position. And the clear best fit in this class to fill that role is Michigan CB Will Johnson. 

13. Cincinnati Bengals
Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri 

The Bengals have multiple positions they could target with this pick, especially if they land this high in the draft. But the writing on the wall seems to point toward Tee Higgins being elsewhere in 2025. So, finding a new partner in the WR room for Ja'Marr Chase and a new weapon for Joe Burrow is going to be near the top of their offseason to-do list. With two WRs already off the board, I have the Bengals selecting Missouri WR Luther Burden III. Burden was seen as many as the top WR in this class a year ago, but Missouri's offense regressing this season has hurt his production and his draft ranking as a result. He is a dynamic talent, though, and his skill set would be a perfect addition to the Bengals' offense if they do, in fact, lose Higgins. 

14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Nic Scourton, Edge, Texas A&M

The Buccaneers are a scrappy team in the NFC that have made life tough for even some of best teams in the NFL so far in 2024. A few tough losses find them currently holding the 14th pick in the draft but seem just a few plays away from having one of the best records in the league. If they do end up drafting this high, I like the odds of them targeting an edge rusher to add to their hard-nosed defense. A player I think I'm higher on that the consensus is Nic Scourton out of Texas A&M, whose game I think is a better fit for the pros than college. 

15. Seattle Seahawks
Jalon Walker, LB/Edge, Georiga 

With Mike Macdonald in charge, I think defense has to be highly considered for their first-round pick. They recently traded for Ernest Jones IV, and if he has success down the stretch, he will be a hot commodity in free agency. Georgia LB Jalon Walker could fill that role or even play alongside him to create a dynamic pass-rushing duo at LB in clear pass-down situations. 

16. Los Angeles Rams
Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama

Now, this pick might cause some uproar, but hear me out. Matthew Stafford is still awesome, and I think he certainly should be the starting QB for the Rams in 2025. But the Rams often don't have their top draft selections, with Les Snead has been known to trade picks for players who can contribute right away. And if you give a creative offensive mind like Sean McVay a dynamic athlete QB like Jalen Milroe, the possibilities could be endless. 

17. San Francisco 49ers
Mykel Williams, Edge, Georiga 

The 49ers are a hard team to predict in the draft, and with injuries piling up during the 2024 season, it gets even trickier. But a player who I think would fit their defensive line well is Georgia's Mykel Williams. A long-frame and has position versatility to line up all over the defensive line and, therefore, would be a candidate to battle for whatever starting job the 49ers would deem best for them after making other offseason moves. 

18. Chicago Bears
Tyler Booker, OG, Alabama

The Bears 2024 season has had some incredible highs and some awful lows. Heading into 2025, there could be a lot of changes to their coaching staff and maybe even in the front office. But no matter who is making the decisions for this team, they need to improve their offensive line an keep their franchise QB Caleb Williams healthy. They really need better play out of the interior of their line, and Alabama's Tyler Booker could come in and compete for either starting guard job day one. 

19. Denver Broncos
Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State

The Broncos have been a great story to watch in 2024. One of the best defenses in the NFL and a young offense that has been able to show flashes through the first nine weeks of the season. An area they need to improve at, though, is WR. Ohio State's Emeka Egbuaka was projected to go in the first round in 2024, but he elected to stay in school. And I think his season to date should cement him hearing his name in the middle range of the first round. 

20. Arizona Cardinals 
Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame

The Cardinals have to improve their secondary in the offseason. Notre Dame's Benjamin Morrison was beginning to get top ten love as a prospect before his season-ending injury. He is expected to be fully recovered by training camp next year, and I think the Cardinals would be wise to use his injury to their benefit here to land one of the best defensive prospects in this year's draft.

21. Los Angeles Chargers
Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan 

Colston Loveland hasn't had the season many were hoping for, but Michigan's struggles have been a big reason why. Jim Harbaugh saw just how special of a player Loveland can be as his head coach in 2022 and 2023. So I could definitely see Harbaugh pushing for the Chargers to draft his former player and give Justin Herbert a dynamic talent at TE.

22. Atlanta Falcons
Princely Umanmielen, Edge, Ole Miss

The Falcons are one of few teams in the NFL where their top roster need is very apparent. They must add more talent off the edge ahead of next season. I honestly think they could use a high draft pick as well as a veteran payer. I have them taking Princely Umanielen out of Ole Miss. Some don't have him ranked as a first-round pick, but his production level in the SEC is going to earn him a lot of fans in NFL front offices.