The 2025 NFL Draft is just weeks away. While teams are bringing prospects in for private meetings and workouts, media members are putting together their own mock drafts to predict what may actually happen between April 24-26.
Mock drafts are a thought exercise in trying to match a prospective player that fits a team’s need at their draft spot. Using an online simulator, I created my own mock draft based on where I think each player might go this April. This one will only focus on the first round, although there are seven rounds in the real draft with up to 260 players selected.
1. Tennessee Titans - Cam Ward (Quarterback, Miami)
Second-year head coach Brian Callahan gets his own quarterback after inheriting Will Levis last season. In a down quarterback draft, Ward offers the best combination of size, athleticism, processing and arm talent in this class. Previously at Incarnate Word and Washington State, Ward finished his college career at Miami, leading the nation with 39 passing touchdowns and second in passing yards.
2. Cleveland Browns - Shedeur Sanders (Quarterback, Colorado)
The Browns are desperate to find a solution at quarterback after punting on Baker Mayfield for Deshaun Watson. With Watson suffering an Achilles tear (and being one of the worst QBs in the league when healthy), Cleveland turns to Deion Sanders’ son for an answer. While not as physically gifted as his father, Shedeur led the country with a 74% completion rate and finished second behind Ward with 37 passing touchdowns.
3. New York Giants - Travis Hunter (Wide Receiver/Cornerback, Colorado)
The Giants are also in need of a QB, but with both top guys off the board, they go with Travis Hunter. Hunter won the Biletnikoff Award for best receiver and the Bednarik Award for best defensive player in college. Oh, and the Heisman. He has the potential to be a Pro Bowler at either position.
4. New England Patriots - Abdul Carter (Defensive End, Penn State)
The Pats need to protect second year Drake Maye, but with a prospect as good as Abdul Carter on the board, they have to take him. When Carter switched to edge rusher full time at Penn State in 2024, he racked up 12 sacks and two forced fumbles. He’s one of the best prospects in this class, and certainly the best pass rusher.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars - Mason Graham (Defensive Tackle, Michigan)
In a loaded defensive line class, Mason Graham stands above the rest. His elite play against both the run and pass will complete Jacksonville’s defensive line with Travon Walker, Josh Hines-Allen, and Arik Armstead.
6. Las Vegas Raiders - Will Johnson (Cornerback, Michigan)
Running back Ashton Jeanty is a popular pick here, but the Raiders are desperate for anybody to play corner. Enter Will Johnson, who was a consensus top-five pick after the 2023 season. Johnson began 2024 with two pick-sixes before suffering a turf toe injury that cut his season short.
7. New York Jets - Armand Membou (Offensive Tackle, Missouri)
New Jets head coach Aaron Glenn was the defensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions. He witnessed first-hand how a dominant offensive line raises the floor for an offense. The Jets could use a franchise right tackle as they rebuild yet again, and Membou provides the right mix of talent and overwhelming athleticism for his size.
8. Carolina Panthers - Tetairoa McMillan (Wide Receiver, Arizona)
The Cincinnati Bengals annoyed the entire NFL when they re-signed receiver Tee Higgins to a four-year deal. The Panthers would have been in on the Higgins sweepstakes if he hit free agency. As a consolation, they get Tetairoa McMillan, a Higgins-esque receiver with a big frame and even bigger catch radius.
9. New Orleans Saints - Will Campbell (Offensive Tackle, LSU)
After pushing hard for a Super Bowl at the end of the Drew Brees era, the Saints have to take a step back and rebuild the roster. They keep offensive lineman Will Campbell in Louisiana to bolster their line. Some concerns about Campbell’s arm length could push him inside to guard.
10. Chicago Bears - Ashton Jeanty (Running Back, Boise State)
Former Lions’ offensive coordinator and new head coach Ben Johnson made sure the Bears beefed up their offensive line before free agency started. Now, they have the flexibility to draft Ashton Jeanty, one of the best running back prospects in the draft since Saquon Barkley. Jeanty came close to Barry Sanders’ rushing yards record with 2,601 and 29 touchdowns. He’s also an option in the passing game, as he posted 569 yards and five receiving touchdowns in 2023.
11. San Francisco 49ers - Shemar Stewart (Defensive End, Texas A&M)
San Francisco lost a lot of their team in free agency, and with Brock Purdy due for a big extension, the Niners need to restock the cupboard. While Stewart didn’t produce a ton at Texas A&M (4.5 sacks in three years), his NFL Combine performance was one of the best in history. NFL teams value traits more than production, and Stewart has all the traits of a dominant pass rusher.
12. Dallas Cowboys - Matthew Golden (Wide Receiver, Texas)
Dallas doesn’t have anyone else outside of CeeDee Lamb who can catch the ball. Matthew Golden, who ran a 4.29 40-yard dash, provides a speedy and reliable solution.
13. Miami Dolphins - Kelvin Banks Jr. (Offensive Tackle, Texas)
At some point, the Dolphins have to get serious about protecting Tua Tagovailoa. To do that, they select Kelvin Banks, a versatile player who can either play guard or tackle at a high level.
14. Indianapolis Colts - Tyler Warren (Tight End, Penn State)
Anthony Richardson, the fourth overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, is on the hot seat. He needs to show results soon, or else people will get fired. In Tyler Warren, the Colts provide Richardson with another pass-catcher who can hopefully elevate the offense. Warren did everything at Penn State; he played in-line tight end, split out wide with the receivers, lined up in the backfield, and even took some snaps under center.
15. Atlanta Falcons - Mike Green (Defensive End, Marshall)
Atlanta has been lacking in pass rush production for years. They hope to remedy that with Mike Green and his FBS-leading 17 sacks.
16. Arizona Cardinals - Kenneth Grant (Defensive Tackle, Michigan)
Arizona continues to build through the trenches, opting with the 340-pound defensive tackle Kenneth Grant to plug the run.
17. Cincinnati Bengals - Walter Nolen (Defensive Tackle, Ole Miss)
The Bengals need help everywhere on defense. Walter Nolen provides the most upside as the former No. 1 recruit in the nation. His 6.5 sacks from the defensive tackle position present an interior pass rushing force that Cincy needs to take the load off of edge rusher Trey Hendrickson.
18. Seattle Seahawks - Grey Zabel (Offensive Guard, North Dakota State)
Seattle’s decision to swap Geno Smith for Sam Darnold was a confusing one, especially since Darnold doesn’t do well with pressure. The Seahawks’ offensive line has been disappointing for a while, so they take a swing on North Dakota State lineman Grey Zabel. Zabel can stick at guard or move inside to center.
19. *Los Angeles Rams - Colston Loveland (Tight End, Michigan)
Last year, the Rams tried to trade up to select tight end Brock Bowers, who had one of the best rookie tight end seasons ever for the Raiders. Loveland isn’t quite that level of prospect, but giving Matt Stafford the choice of Loveland, Puka Nacua, and Davante Adams almost isn’t fair.
20. Denver Broncos - Omarion Hampton (Running Back, North Carolina)
From Reggie Bush to Mark Ingram to Alvin Kamara, head coach Sean Payton loves his versatile running backs. He gets another one here in Omarion Hampton, the consensus second best running back in the class. Hampton finished third in rushing yards this season and added 373 receiving yards.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers - Jaxson Dart (Quarterback, Ole Miss)
Pittsburgh can only nickel-and-dime the quarterback position for so long, even if they sign Aaron Rodgers. Dart is being pushed up draft boards because of the immense need for quarterback and a lack of quality supply in this draft. He’ll need some time to sit behind a veteran before getting on the field.
22. Los Angeles Chargers - Luther Burden III (Wide Receiver, Missouri)
The Chargers need someone else to catch the ball other than Ladd McConkey. Burden provides a field-stretching slot option. His production in 2024 waned, but in 2023 he hauled in 86 catches for 1,212 yards and nine touchdowns.
23. Green Bay Packers - Jahdae Barron (Cornerback, Texas)
Green Bay could look at receiver, but corner Jahdae Barron is too good to pass up. Texas used Barron all over the field, allowing him to record 11 pass deflections and five interceptions. His smaller stature may keep him in the nickel position and away from the outside.
24. *New England Patriots - Josh Simmons (Offensive Tackle, Ohio State)
New England knows they need to protect Drake Maye, so they trade back up into the first round to get Ohio State tackle Josh Simmons. Simmons suffered a torn patellar injury during the season, but had he stayed healthy, he may have been the first offensive lineman selected.
25. Houston Texans - Emeka Egbuka (Wide Receiver, Ohio State)
While the Texans are retooling their offensive line, they also could use help at receiver with Tank Dell likely out for the year. They go with CJ Stroud’s college buddy Emeka Egbuka. With all the great receivers Ohio State has had, Egbuka leads them all with 205 career receptions.
26. *Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Donovan Ezeiruaku (Defensive End, Boston College)
Tampa Bay took a gamble trading down with the Rams, but it worked. They attempt to upgrade the pass rush with Donovan Ezeiruaku. Ezeiruaku recorded 16.5 sacks this season, just shy of Mike Green’s 17.
27. Baltimore Ravens - Malaki Starks (Safety, Georgia)
Baltimore goes with the best player available, safety Malaki Starks. Starks had somewhat of a down year in 2024, but he has All-Pro potential. Drafting Starks allows the Ravens to play more three safety looks with All-Pro Kyle Hamilton moving closer to the line of scrimmage.
28. Detroit Lions - James Pearce Jr. (Defensive End, Tennessee)
It felt like every defensive player suffered an injury last season for the Lions. They felt defensive end Aidan Hutchinson’s absence the most, and since they’ve been looking for his running mate, Detroit selects James Pearce Jr. His play in 2023 left many wondering if he could’ve been a top-five pick in this draft.
29. Washington Commanders - Jalon Walker (Outside Linebacker, Georgia)
Since Dante Fowler Jr. went back to Dallas, Washington is in the market for another pass rusher. While Walker played outside linebacker for Georgia, his best reps came as a pure rusher. The Commanders will have him play off the edge full time.
30. Buffalo Bills - Derrick Harmon (Defensive Tackle, Oregon)
The Eagles showed that the key to taking down Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs is to make him uncomfortable in the pocket. The Bills try out this method by taking the disruptive, pass rushing defensive tackle Derrick Harmon. Harmon led defensive tackles with 55 quarterback pressures, as well as five sacks.
31. Kansas City Chiefs - TreVeyon Henderson (Running Back, Ohio State)
Trading away offensive guard Joe Thuney creates a glaring need for the Chiefs. However, offensive linemen will be available in the second round, but a running back like TreVeyon Henderson likely won’t. Henderson has a degree of speed and agility the Chiefs’ haven’t had in the backfield in the Mahomes era. Henderson is also elite in the passing game, both as a receiver and as a blocker.
32. Philadelphia Eagles - Tyler Booker (Offensive Guard, Alabama)
Philadelphia’s foundation on both sides of the ball comes from the trenches. With Mekhi Becton leaving for the Chargers, the Eagles replace him with one of the most polished guards in the draft. Alabama called Booker the “Will Anderson” of their offensive line, referencing their star defensive end who just had 11 sacks for the Texans.
2nd Round
38. *Minnesota Vikings - Donovan Jackson (Offensive Guard, Ohio State)
Minnesota only has four picks in this draft after trading a bunch of them to move up last year. They recoup some picks by trading back with New England and opt to fortify the offensive line with Donovan Jackson. Jackson was the unsung hero for the Buckeyes on their way to the National Championship. When Simmons went out, Jackson kicked out to left tackle and didn’t miss a beat.