NFL Draft
4/22/25
10 min read
2025 NFL Draft: Buy or Sell Latest Mock Draft Rumors
Everywhere you look, there is a new mock draft being posted nearly every minute as we inch toward the draft. But this is also peak “lying season,” and it’s hard to trust any of the latest rumblings coming out about the draft.
Today, we are looking at some of the latest mock draft rumors and trying to decipher whether you should believe them or not. So, without further ado, let’s get into all of the latest mock draft trends with just a few days left.
Buy or Sell Latest Mock Draft Rumors
5. Jacksonville Jaguars – Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
This has been a fairly new pairing, but Dane Brugler of The Athletic was one of the first to mention the possibility of Jeanty being picked by the Jaguars at No. 5. Jacksonville has been a tough team to figure out in mock drafts, but most have them going with Mason Graham, the star defensive tackle from Michigan.
The Jaguars could go in a number of directions with this pick, but Jeanty would be a surprise. Jacksonville already has another former first-round pick at running back on the roster in Travis Etienne, and he’ll play the 2025 season under the fifth-year option.
They also have another very capable running back in Tank Bigsby, who averaged 4.6 yards per rush on 168 carries in 2025. Bigsby is only 23 and is primed for a bigger role in 2025.
Jeanty will likely be the best player available when the Jaguars are on the clock on Thursday night. But it’s hard to envision them taking another running back early, especially given their needs on defense. Don’t be surprised if the Jaguars make a “surprising” pick by going with someone like Jalon Walker or Mykel Williams, but picking Jeanty would be a pretty big shock.
Verdict: Sell
No. 9 New Orleans Saints – Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
Figuring out where to slot Shedeur Sanders is one of the draft’s biggest mysteries. Most people believe that the Saints could be a realistic floor for Sanders if he were to fall past the Giants at No. 3. And with the most recent news that Derek Carr could miss all of the 2025 season with a shoulder injury, it makes sense why the Saints could be interested.
However, don’t believe the mock drafts that have Sanders paired together in Round 1…or at all. In the most recent episode of The McShay Show with Todd McShay, he confirmed that the Saints won’t select Sanders at No. 9. In fact, he even went as far as to say they wouldn’t select him in Round 2 either.
The Saints are expected to draft a quarterback at some point this year, but don’t expect that to be at No. 9. Instead, look for them to consider drafting a quarterback in Round 2, with possible names including Tyler Shough, Jalen Milroe, and Jaxson Dart in that range.
Kellen Moore has always had highly athletic quarterbacks with above-average traits, and neither of those descriptions fits Sanders.
While there is no doubt that he is a good prospect, Sanders isn’t the type of quarterback prospect that Moore likely wants in New Orleans. Expect Sanders to fall to the late teens or even 20s if he gets past the top-six picks on Thursday.
Verdict: Sell
12. Dallas Cowboys – Matthew Golden, WR, Texas
The Dallas Cowboys are searching for a dynamic No. 2 wide receiver to complement CeeDee Lamb and the expectation around the league is that they will select one at No. 12. The Cowboys lost Brandin Cooks in the offseason to free agency and the unit of Jalen Tolbert, Jonathan Mingo, and KaVontae Turpin leaves a lot to be desired.
Tetairoa McMillan could very well be the target at No. 12, but he might not make it there as teams like the Jaguars, Panthers, and Saints are all possible destinations. But even if McMillan were to be available at No.12, it’s not a given that he would be the pick.
The Cowboys appear to be big fans of Matthew Golden, who ran a 4.29 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. While he doesn’t play to that speed, there is no question that he has more speed than McMillan. Dallas currently has one of the slowest offenses in the league, and the idea of adding a dynamic playmaker like Golden is appealing.
Golden is nowhere near as productive as McMillan, and it would seem like a big reach to select him at No. 12. However, there is clearly interest, and the fit in the Cowboys’ offense might favor Golden over McMillan. Look for the Cowboys to select a wide receiver at No. 12 and for Golden to be the selection, especially if McMillan is already off the board.
Verdict: Buy
17. Cincinnati Bengals – Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss
Derrick Harmon has been the most frequently mocked player to the Cincinnati Bengals at No. 17, and he is certainly among the favorites at that spot. If he is available at that spot, expect the Bengals to seriously consider the star defensive tackle from Oregon.
Cincinnati has been lacking an interior pass rusher, and Harmon hits every threshold the Bengals have for a first-round pick.
However, Walter Nolen could be the defensive tackle the Bengals select instead. While he isn’t as clean of a prospect, Nolen is a highly explosive defensive tackle with top-five talent. While he hasn’t always played to that talent level, he is disruptive and highly athletic.
Harmon has the higher floor, but Nolen’s ceiling as a pass rusher is much higher. Don’t be surprised to see Duke Tobin and the rest of the front office for the Bengals swing for the fences with this pick and take Nolen at No. 17.
Verdict: Buy
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama
It’s pretty rare to find a consensus pick outside of the top 10, but we certainly have one at No. 19 and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In nearly every expert mock draft, we see Jihaad Campbell, the linebacker from Alabama, matched with the Buccaneers in Round 1.
Lavonte David will return for his 14th season, but he just turned 35, and it’s clear that he is slowing down. Tampa Bay has played multiple linebackers next to him over the last few seasons, and it’s been one of their biggest weaknesses on defense.
Campbell has the size to be a middle linebacker in the NFL, but he’s also athletic enough to rush the passer, if needed. Todd Bowles doesn’t blitz very often, but Campbell is excellent coming downhill and would give the Buccaneers another weapon in their front-seven.
Campbell is the top linebacker in this class, and the Buccaneers have a massive need at that position. It would be a minor shock if the Buccaneers passed on him if he were available at No. 19.
Verdict: Buy
22. Los Angeles Chargers – Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
It’s not hard to understand the connection between Colston Loveland and the Los Angeles Chargers. Jim Harbaugh coached Loveland during the 2022 and 2023 college football seasons, and he finished second in receiving yards (649) on the National Championship-winning squad.
The Chargers desperately need a pass-catching tight end, and Loveland is a perfect fit with Justin Herbert. The only question is if he will fall to No. 22. Loveland is No. 11 on The Athletic’s consensus board, but an offseason shoulder surgery could push him down the boards.
If Loveland were to be available at pick No. 22, it’s hard to see the Chargers going in a different direction. We know they value the trenches, and that will likely be the way they go if Loveland isn’t on the board. But he fills a massive nee,d and there is a great chance he’ll be the best player available when the Chargers are on the clock.
Because of positional value and health-related reasons, don’t be surprised if this pick happens on Thursday night. And that would be an A+ pick for the Chargers if they can pull it off.
Verdict: Buy
27. Baltimore Ravens – Kelvin Banks Jr, OT, Texas
One of the hardest players to pin down in mock drafts is Kelvin Banks Jr, the left tackle from Texas. Banks started 42 games at left tackle while at Texas, and his 33 ½” arms certainly hit the threshold teams want for a starting offensive tackle. We’ve now seen multiple mock drafts with the Ravens selecting Banks at No. 27, including one from Dane Brugler of The Athletic. But that doesn’t feel right for a few reasons.
The first being that he likely won’t be available at No. 27. Banks sits at No. 17 on the consensus board and we know that offensive tackles go early. Last year alone, we saw six offensive tackles go inside the top-20 selections. Banks is widely viewed as the third-best tackle in this class behind Will Campbell and Armand Membou, and will likely come off the board somewhere in the mid-teens.
But even if Banks were to make it to the Ravens at No. 27, there isn’t a clear spot for him to start outside of left guard. Baltimore just paid Ronnie Stanley ahead of free agency, and Roger Rosengarten had a really strong rookie season at right tackle. It seems unlikely the Ravens would use the No. 27 pick on a left guard, especially with some of their needs on defense.
Banks is a really good player, but don’t expect the Ravens to be the team who ultimately selects him on Thursday night. Instead, look for them to pick a defensive lineman as they try to improve their pass rush.
Verdict: Sell
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