Mock Draft
10/24/24
29 min read
2025 NFL Mock Draft: Latest 2 Round Predictions With Trades Before NFL Week 8
Week 7 of the NFL season is in the books, and it's time for my first 2025 NFL Mock of the season. This mock will include trades throughout the first round and cover the second round.
As teams start to falter and look ahead to April, it's a perfect time for us to begin digging deeper into the class of prospects who will hear their names called this Spring.
Two-Round 2025 NFL Mock Draft
— James Foster (@JamesFosterNFL) October 22, 2024
1. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS 
Selection: CB/WR Travis Hunter - Colorado
I’d love to take a franchise tackle with this pick and begin the rebuild of New England’s offensive line, but I don't think there's a tackle of that caliber in this class. Travis Hunter is the only blue-chip prospect, so the New England Patriots take a "best-player-available" approach and select him first overall.
Hunter is a complete zone corner with rare play recognition, instincts, anticipation, and short-area explosiveness. He has significantly improved his technique and patience in press-man this year and fits any scheme, but allowing him to play with eyes on the quarterback will maximize his impact-play potential.
Ideally, he’s a full-time cornerback who contributes as a wide receiver in certain packages. His route running is a bit unpolished, but he’s a dynamic athlete with excellent ball skills.
— James Foster (@JamesFosterNFL) October 22, 2024
2. CAROLINA PANTHERS
Selection: EDGE Abdul Carter - Penn State
The Carolina Panthers have the lowest pressure rate in the NFL (23.7%) through Week 7, so taking the best pass rusher in the draft is an easy choice.
In his first season as a full-time edge rusher, Abdul Carter has shown no signs of inexperience. As you would expect for a Penn State defender, Carter has elite quickness, explosiveness, and bend, but his pass-rushing skillset is surprisingly polished.
This year, he’s won with a cross-chop, double swipe, and bull rush, along with a lethal package of inside counters.
3. CLEVELAND BROWNS
Selection: QB Shedeur Sanders - Colorado
Sunday probably marked the end of the Deshaun Watson era in Cleveland, and it’s time for them to take a swing on a franchise quarterback. In most classes, I think Sanders is taken somewhere in the late teens, but this year, he’s worth considering in the top five.
Sanders is surgical from a clean pocket, accurate at every level of the field, and throws with anticipation between the hashes. His tendency to bail/drift into pressure, combined with below-average mobility, causes him to take a lot of unnecessary sacks, but he has played behind brutal pass protection at Colorado, and his toughness is undeniable.
— James Foster (@JamesFosterNFL) October 22, 2024
4. TENNESSEE TITANS
Selection: EDGE Mykel Williams - Georgia
The Tennessee Titans have the second-lowest pressure rate in the NFL (25.5%), and the potential of Mykel Williams is too good to pass up.
Williams is the alien of the 2024 class, with arms that appear well north of 35 inches and rare juice at 265 pounds. If he had more production, this pick wouldn’t need much justification, but his placement in the top five is definitely a projection.
Williams is a raw player who has been injured for most of 2024, and his pass-rushing resume is unimpressive at this point. Like most Georgia defenders, he’s a physical and technically sound run defender with an under-developed pass-rushing skill set.
But the flashes he showed against Texas and Mississippi State signal real development, and I’m betting on his upward trajectory. Staying healthy and building on the Texas performance during the second half of the year will be critical for his draft stock.
— James Foster (@JamesFosterNFL) October 22, 2024
5. NEW YORK JETS
Selection: DL Mason Graham - Michigan
New York’s defensive interior has been a massive disappointment this season, but Mason Graham would solve most of their issues.
Graham is densely built, with outstanding core strength and top-tier lateral quickness. Despite his average length, his violent hands and low center of gravity make him an elite block shedder. He’s also taken steps forward as a pass rusher this year, frequently winning with a club-swim and hesitation bull rush.
— James Foster (@JamesFosterNFL) October 22, 2024
6. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
Selection: OL Will Campbell - LSU
The New Orleans Saints need help at tackle and guard, so they’re a perfect fit for Will Campbell, a tackle that might need to move to guard.
Campbell has started all three seasons at LSU and hasn’t allowed a sack since Week 10 of his freshman year. He plays with relentlessly consistent technique and hand placement in pass protection and unbreakable grip strength to end reps early.
His range is adequate to play tackle, but 32 7/8-inch arms are below the threshold for most teams. This lack of length shows up in certain matchups, limiting his margin for error and surrendering the corner to speed rushers.
Trade Alert!
Eagles Trade: No. 18, 50, 82
Jaguars Trade: No. 7
— James Foster (@JamesFosterNFL) October 22, 2024
7. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (VIA TRADE)
Selection: EDGE James Pearce Jr. - Tennessee
The Philadelphia Eagles trades up with Jacksonville to secure the final tier-one edge rusher.
After a quiet start to the season, James Pearce Jr. has come alive in SEC play, leading FBS defenders with a 23.3 percent pressure rate. Pearce Jr. has a rapid first step to threaten upfield and flexible hips to bend at the top of the arc.
He wins primarily with a one-hand swipe or inside counter and would benefit from diversifying his pass-rushing moveset. He still needs to fill out his frame, but he’s a high-motor run defender, and his bull rush is fairly effective.
— James Foster (@JamesFosterNFL) October 22, 2024
8. LAS VEGAS RAIDERS
Selection: QB Cam Ward - Miami
The top 10 might be too rich for Cam Ward, but the Las Vegas Raiders can’t go another offseason without investing at quarterback.
Ward is an electric playmaker with an exciting blend of arm talent and mobility. He has the drive velocity and flexible release to attack any area of the field from any platform and can layer throws between multiple levels of coverage. He’s the best play extender in this class and has rare creativity out of structure.
However, as a fifth-year senior, he still needs to significantly improve his timing and processing from the pocket, sack avoidance, ball security, and intermediate accuracy.
— James Foster (@JamesFosterNFL) October 22, 2024
9. NEW YORK GIANTS
Selection: QB Drew Allar - Penn State
Drew Allar has not yet solidified himself as a first-round pick, and he might end up returning to school, but ignoring quarterback for another year would be an acceptance of mediocrity in 2025.
At 6-foot-4, Allar has ideal size and field-stretching arm strength. He’s highly effective working the middle of the field and throwing with anticipation into zone coverage, and frequently progresses to his second or third read on time.
He has the third-lowest interception rate in the FBS since 2022 and a career pressure-to-sack rate of 11.4 percent. Heading into the year, Allar’s accuracy was a major limitation, but this has significantly improved in 2024. If he builds on his impressive start to the season, he should be in consideration for QB1.
— James Foster (@JamesFosterNFL) October 22, 2024
10. MIAMI DOLPHINS
Selection: DL Walter Nolen - Ole Miss
The Miami Dolphins select Walter Nolen with this pick, filling the void left by Christian Wilkins and giving Zach Sieler a dynamic running mate.
After transferring from Texas A&M to Ole Miss, Nolen has emerged as a potential game-wrecking 3-technique. His suddenness, burst, and raw power make it obvious why he was the No. 2 recruit in the 2022 class (behind Travis Hunter). He has outrageous strike power to violently deconstruct blocks, and his initial punch can uproot a blocker off of his base.
While his strength is overwhelming, he’s also a technically advanced pass rusher, using a cross-chop and one-hand swipe to win the edge. His anchor has improved from last season but is still insufficient, and he ends up on the ground too often as a run defender.
— James Foster (@JamesFosterNFL) October 22, 2024
11. LOS ANGELES RAMS
Selection: CB Will Johnson - Michigan
The Los Angeles Rams haven’t taken a cornerback in the first three rounds since 2019 and desperately need to inject some talent into their secondary.
At 6-foot-2, 202 lbs, Will Johnson has a “built-in-a-lab” frame for an outside cornerback and rare lateral movement skills for a player of his size. According to Bruce Feldman’s Freaks List, Johnson has a 6.57 3-cone and 4.05 shuttle, which would be 97th and 87th percentile for cornerbacks, respectively. His burst and play recognition make him a weapon in underneath zone coverage, and he’s already recorded two pick-sixes this year.
Outside of those two plays, his 2024 tape has been fairly disappointing. He was picked on by Fresno State in Week 1 and struggles to turn and run with vertical routes, a problem that was also evident last year. He needs to curb his aggression against double moves, as he lacks the speed to recover when he gets out of position.
Johnson is best suited for a zone/match-heavy scheme and would be a perfect fit in LA’s secondary.
— James Foster (@JamesFosterNFL) October 22, 2024
12. CINCINNATI BENGALS
Selection: DL Kenneth Grant - Michigan
Except for Trey Hendrickson, the Cincinnati Bengals have struggled to defend the run and generate pressure, so I expect them to invest in the interior defensive line.
Kenneth Grant has a rare blend of size and athleticism. At 339 pounds, he moves like an undersized gap shooter and has an unreal pursuit range
Grant rapidly transitions from hesitation/stutter steps into his bull rush and has the agility to win with cross-face moves. His pass-rushing production comes more in sporadic bursts, and he hasn’t yet developed a coordinated, deliberate plan, but his upside is undeniable. Inconsistent footwork causes his anchor to lapse more often than you’d expect for someone of his size, so he’s very much a developmental player in both phases.
13. ARIZONA CARDINALS
Selection: OL Kelvin Banks - Texas
Aside from Paris Johnson Jr. and Hjalte Froholdt, Arizona doesn’t have a solidified future starter on the offensive line, so they take Texas LT Kelvin Banks, who could play guard or right tackle.
Banks is the most technically polished offensive lineman in this class and has produced nearly flawless pass protection tape in 2024. He’s mastered the “flash-bait” technique to protect his outside hand and is essentially immune to cross-chops. He has good range as a run blocker to execute pulls and zone climbs and finishes second-level blocks at a high rate.
His lack of elite length or movement skills keeps him out of the top five. He occasionally loses the corner or struggles to mirror inside counters from more athletic pass rushers. He also has a bad habit of lunging into blocks and frequently loses balance in the run game.
— James Foster (@JamesFosterNFL) October 22, 2024
14. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
Selection: CB Azareye’h Thomas - Florida State
San Francisco’s defense has regressed this season, partially due to a dropoff in cornerback play. Charvarius Ward has struggled after an All-Pro season in 2023, and Renardo Green has just worked his way into the starting lineup.
The San Francisco 49ers return to Florida State's secondary and select CB Azareye’h Thomas, a player they’re familiar with, having scouted Green last year.
Thomas is probably the biggest sleeper in the 2025 class; he’s rarely discussed and never mocked in the first round, but he’s a top 10 player on my board. At 6-foot-2, 198 pounds, Thomas is the best man coverage cornerback in this class.
His mirror skills in single coverage are rare for a player of his size. He rarely allows separation, much less a completion, and despite playing most of his snaps on an island, he’s one of the least-targeted cornerbacks in college football. He has elite hip fluidity to stay glued to the hip pocket and route recognition to synchronize with breaks and releases.
His length allows him to attack the ball at the catch-point and smother receivers in press coverage without leaning or over-extending. He hasn’t yet turned 21, but he’s already played more than 1200 career snaps.
15. LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
Selection: WR Isaiah Bond - Texas
Joe Alt might have been the responsible pick in 2024, but I wouldn’t blame Los Angeles Chargers fans who have FOMO watching Malik Nabers excel in New York while LA’s offense struggles to move the ball through the air. So, with this pick, the Chargers address their lack of receiving talent, adding Texas WR Isaiah Bond.
It’s an unpopular opinion, but I view Isaiah Bond as the best receiver in the 2025 class. His speed and acceleration are on par with premiere NFL deep threats, but his change of direction is just as valuable. Bond is a fluid and efficient intermediate route runner, capable of sudden breaks at sharp angles.
He has advanced footwork at the top of routes to manipulate leverage and set up his breaks. He’s undersized and has a limited catch radius, but he rarely drops passes and has excellent ball-tracking skills on deep targets. While his production doesn’t quite stack up, I see flashes of Jaylen Waddle on Bond’s tape.
— James Foster (@JamesFosterNFL) October 22, 2024
16. DALLAS COWBOYS
Selection: HB Ashton Jeanty - Boise State
Dallas is averaging an NFL-low 3.5 yards per rush attempt, and its explosive rush rate (3.8%) and yards after contact per attempt (2.48) rank 31st. Rushing success is heavily dependent on blocking, but Ezekiel Elliott would not start for another NFL team, and upgrading at running back is crucial this offseason.
Ashton Jeanty is close to the perfect running back prospect. He’s on pace for a historically productive season in 2024, averaging 9.90 yards per attempt and 7.25 yards after contact. His vision, patience, and processing are as good as I’ve seen from a college running back.
He runs with optimal tempo to set up his blocks, immediately processes gap alignment, and rarely misses a read. He’s capable of sudden lateral movements to evade backfield penetration, weave through second-level traffic, or make third-level defenders miss. He has elite contact balance to brush off arm tackles and can truck, juke, hurdle, or spin around defenders in the open field.
Jeanty hasn’t been used as much in the passing game this year, but he led FBS running backs with 578 receiving yards in 2023 and didn’t have a single drop. He’s also an excellent pass blocker with quick blitz diagnosis and physicality to square up with a free rusher.
Ball security was the one blemish on his scouting report this summer, as he fumbled five times in 2023, but he hasn’t fumbled once this year. Some will point to his competition level as the reason for his success, but he had 353 all-purpose yards, five touchdowns, and 6.74 yards per attempt against Washington and Oregon.
17. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
Selection: EDGE Donovan Ezeiruaku - Boston College
Yaya Diaby has taken a significant jump in his second year, but Joe Tryon-Shoyinka is a pending free agent, and Tampa Bay should look to replace and hopefully upgrade his production.
Donovan Ezeiruaku has been one of the most productive edge rushers in college football, with 30 pressures and six sacks through the first eight weeks. He has elite bend, verified 34 5/8 inch arms, and a fully-developed pass-rushing skill set. His cross-chop is nearly unblockable, and his club-swim is an equally effective inside counter.
He’s also added an inside spin to his repertoire during the last few weeks. While he’s listed at 241 pounds, he’s an excellent run defender who uses his length to shed blocks and racks up chase-down tackles from the backside. I’d like to see him add more of a power element to his pass-rushing profile, as his bull rush has been largely ineffective against FBS competition.
— James Foster (@JamesFosterNFL) October 22, 2024
18. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (VIA TRADE)
Selection: CB Shavon Revel - East Carolina
The Jacksonville Jaguars have played man coverage on 38.7 percent of defensive snaps through Week 7, the second-highest rate in the NFL, but they don’t have the personnel to survive in that scheme. After trading back and acquiring Day 2 capital, Ryan Nielsen can still secure a high-caliber man corner in Shavon Revel.
Revel has a dream blend of size, length, and speed for a press-heavy defensive scheme. He’s a roadblock at the line of scrimmage, using a suffocating two-hand punch to stall releases. According to Bruce Feldman’s Freaks List, Revel ran a 4.40 in high school and now runs “a 4.4/4.3 40,” and that speed is evident on tape. Even more impressive than his raw physical traits is his ability to turn and locate the ball down the sideline while maintaining his top speed.
He’s occasionally too passive in press and allows speed releases past his outside hip, but his footwork and balance at the line of scrimmage is a strength overall.
The most concerning aspect of Revel’s profile is the level of competition. He was rarely challenged by NFL-caliber athletes and was good but not dominant at the Group of Five level. He suffered a season-ending injury in Week 3, but the NFL won’t be overly concerned with a September ACL tear.
— James Foster (@JamesFosterNFL) October 22, 2024
19. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
Selection: G Tyler Booker - Alabama
Fortifying the offensive line should be Seattle’s top priority this offseason, and adding Tyler Booker would address one of the guard spots.
Booker is the most physically dominant offensive lineman in this class. At 348 pounds, Booker is densely built, with tree trunks for legs and good arm length. His anchor is impenetrable due to his overwhelming raw power and consistent technique. He has a jarring but precise punch to erase defenders' momentum on impact and elite grip strength to latch and torque rushers off their feet.
While his size limits his range and fluidity, this mostly shows up in the run game. In pass protection, he hasn’t struggled to mirror cross-face moves or protect his edges this season, and he appears more agile than he did on last year’s tape. He can reach his landmarks as a puller but frequently loses balance when he reaches his target, and his zone-blocking range is below average.
— James Foster (@JamesFosterNFL) October 22, 2024
20. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
Selection: S Malaki Starks - Georgia
The Indianapolis Colts need to invest early draft capital in rebuilding their secondary, and Georgia safety Malaki Starks is the best defensive back on the board.
Starks has been on my radar since Week 1 of 2022. His interception in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game caused me, and many others, to frantically Google “24 Georgia,” only to find that he was a freshman making his first career start. But that play was an accurate foreshadowing of Starks’ career, as he’s been an anchor of Georgia’s secondary for three years and should be a first-round pick in April.
Starks has the build of a throwback box safety and the range and fluidity of a center-fielder. He quickly diagnoses route distributions and has good anticipation to break into throwing lanes over the middle. He’s been asked to play a lot of press man on wide receivers, especially this year, and he’s performed admirably for a safety.
He’s disruptive in press, physical down the stem, and quick enough to stick with tight ends or slower receivers through the break. But in certain assignments, he’s clearly outmatched and doesn’t have the versatility to play nickel in the NFL.
He’s a complete run defender with outstanding play recognition, closing burst, block shedding, and tackling physicality. He had an uncharacteristically bad performance in run support against Alabama this year, but that’s a lone outlier up to this point.
21. DENVER BRONCOS
Selection: WR Luther Burden III - Missouri
Troy Franklin had some flashes in Week 7, but the Denver Broncos still need to upgrade their wide receivers.
Luther Burden is a well-rounded receiver prospect with few glaring weaknesses. He’s only 5-foot-10 but is listed at 208 pounds, and his speed, agility, and play strength are firmly above average.
Burden is one of the best receivers in college football with the ball in his hands and has the second most yards after catch (987) in the FBS since 2023. He has a special ability to track the ball over his shoulder - a slot fade to Luther Burden is as automatic as a 7-yard hitch to most receivers.
He has the change of direction skills to separate against man coverage, but he’s more of a glider than a snappy route runner. He’ll need to tighten up his footwork and add more nuance at the top of routes to win consistently in the NFL. He also does most of his work from the slot and is unproven against press coverage.
Trade Alert!
Steelers Trade: No. 27, 91, 162
Falcons Trade: No. 22, 123
22. PITTSBURGH STEELERS (VIA TRADE)
Selection: WR Tetairoa McMillan - Arizona
Pittsburgh’s WR2 is one of the biggest roster holes across the entire league, so they trade up with Atlanta and select Arizona WR Tetairoa McMillan.
McMillan is listed at 6-foot-5 and has the best ball skills I’ve ever seen for a wide receiver prospect. He has magnetic hands, unreal focus in tight windows, and routinely comes down with high-difficulty contested/acrobatic catches.
He’s noticeably improved as in intermediate route runner from 2023 to 2024. Last year, his routes were rounded and predictable, but this year, he’s using his steps purposefully to set up his breaks. His refined technique and fluid lateral movement skills make him a consistent separator against off-man. He's also emerged as a quality YAC threat after little production with the ball in his hands in 2023. He anticipates tacklers with his back to the defense and can sink, plant his foot, and redirect immediately after the catch.
McMillan struggles to separate against press man and will likely need to be utilized as a big-slot in the NFL. His top speed is adequate when he has a clear runway to build momentum, but his burst off the line of scrimmage is poor, and he poses no vertical threat to corners on the outside.
Because of this, he frequently gets walled off to the sideline and rarely stacks press man within the first few steps. When defenders are in phase, McMillan’s freedom of movement is easily restricted, and his breaks are significantly less efficient. McMillan’s upside is enticing, but he needs an organization that’s conscious of his strengths and weaknesses.
— James Foster (@JamesFosterNFL) October 22, 2024
23. CHICAGO BEARS
Selection: EDGE Jalon Walker - Georgia
Chicago is still a one-man army at edge rusher, so they take Georgia’s Jalon Walker at 23.
Walker is a hybrid defender who plays mostly off-ball linebacker for Georgia’s defense but projects as a stand-up edge rusher in the NFL. He’s a dynamic pass rusher with an explosive first step, violent hands, and flexible hips. His go-to move is the club swim, but he also sequences his long arm with a stab-chop and ghost rip. These three moves are a highly effective combination, as they all look the same initially.
Walker’s frame and below-average length could limit his draft value, but he’s established himself as a late first-round pick.
24. BALTIMORE RAVENS
Selection: OL Aireontae Ersery - Minnesota
The Baltimore Ravens select Minnesota LT Aireontae Ersery, who can be the long-term replacement for Ronnie Stanley or the short-term replacement for Daniel Faalele.
At 6-foot-6, 337 pounds, Ersery has 34 1/8-inch arms and impressive straight-line explosiveness. According to Bruce Feldman’s Freaks List, he runs a 1.52 10-yard split and 4.61 shuttle, which are 100th and 75th percentile for offensive tackles, respectively. Ersery’s movement skills are easy to spot on tape, as he executes difficult backside cutoffs and effortlessly reaches and eliminates targets as a puller.
Ersery is skilled but somewhat inconsistent with his hands in pass protection. He has a varied punch strategy, using a two-hand punch, outside-hand punch, circle punch, and snatch-trap technique, but he will sometimes lose the corner when he undersets and is too aggressive with his outside hand.
Similarly, his anchor is mostly good, but he occasionally leaves his frame exposed with a late punch and gets walked back into the pocket. Ersery projects as a starting-caliber offensive lineman with guard/tackle versatility and above-average upside.
— James Foster (@JamesFosterNFL) October 22, 2024
25. BUFFALO BILLS
Selection: EDGE LT Overton - Alabama
Adding a difference-making edge defender is the clearest path for the Buffalo Bills to get over the hump, given how the rest of the board has played out. Greg Rousseau is a good pass rusher but is best suited as a No. 2. A.J. Epenesa has exciting moments but can’t be relied on for consistent production.
LT Overton is a former 5-star recruit and member of Texas A&M’s historic 2022 class, but he’s broken out after transferring to Alabama. At 6-foot-5, 283 pounds, Overton blurs the line between edge rusher and interior defensive lineman.
His bull rush and anchor are unsurprisingly elite, but his flexibility is the reason he’s getting first-round consideration. Overton’s ability to bend around the corner is rare for such a massive player, and it offsets his average first-step explosiveness.
He’s inexperienced but already has fairly advanced hand usage, winning with a cross-chop, club-swim, and one-hand swipe. As a true junior, it is possible he will return to school, but if he builds on his promising start to the season, he’ll likely be a top-50 pick.
26. WASHINGTON COMMANDERS
Selection: CB Tacario Davis - Arizona
Washington’s offense has been the biggest pleasant surprise in the NFL, but its defense is tough to watch. The Washington Commanders could justify taking any defensive position, but Arizona CB Tacario Davis is the best value at 26.
Davis is a 6-foot-3 press corner with a rare blend of size and length. His imposing physical profile comes with some drawbacks, but he has relatively fluid hips and light feet for a player of his size. Davis has excellent zone coverage awareness, along with the length and coordination to play the ball in the air.
He’s at his best playing physical press coverage and denying his opponent a clean release. When receivers can accelerate off the line of scrimmage unobstructed, they sometimes have difficulties gearing up and matching their top speed. His mirror ability in man coverage is below average. Stop routes are essentially automatic against Davis, as he struggles to sink his hips and decelerate with the receiver’s break.
— James Foster (@JamesFosterNFL) October 22, 2024
27. ATLANTA FALCONS (VIA TRADE)
Selection: EDGE Shemar Stewart - Texas A&M
Atlanta needs pass-rushing help across the defensive line, so it takes Shemar Stewart, a versatile defensive end who can play multiple positions.
Stewart is just scratching the surface of his potential as a pass rusher, but his physical upside is enticing. He’s 290 pounds with a long frame and fluid movement skills. In his best moments, he looks like a first-round pick. However, his production (five career sacks) hasn’t matched his potential, and at this point, he’s still just a moldable bundle of traits.
He flashes an overwhelming bull rush but doesn’t always land his punch accurately to maximize his power output. He attempts to win with a cross-chop but doesn’t synchronize his movements or disguise his intentions consistently enough to have much success. He’s an elite run defender who sets a firm edge and annihilates single blocks and is worth betting on at the end of the first round.
Trade Alert!
Patriots Trade: No. 33, 102
Packers Trade: No. 28
— James Foster (@JamesFosterNFL) October 22, 2024
28. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (VIA TRADE)
Selection: OT Josh Conerly Jr. - Oregon
After neglecting offensive tackle with the top pick, New England trades back into the first round and selects Oregon OT Josh Conerly Jr.
Conerly Jr. is a graceful mover with good pocket range and mirror ability. With aggressive jump sets and crafty hand usage, he can neutralize pass rushers’ momentum before they attempt a move. He has the recovery athleticism to succeed with this strategy but needs to continue to develop his footwork to ensure he’s always protecting the corner.
Although he has light feet to slide and redirect, his recognition of inside counters is poor, and most of his losses this year have come through the B-gap. At 305 pounds, his anchor is below average, and he struggles to neutralize bull rushes on initial contact.
Conrely Jr. is arguably the best puller in this class and can clear rushing lanes in the alley on screens and sweeps. Despite his lack of size, he has decent drive power and does a great job widening the edge on outside zone.
— James Foster (@JamesFosterNFL) October 22, 2024
29. HOUSTON TEXANS
Selection: OL Wyatt Milum - West Virginia
The Houston Texans have a need at guard, so they take West Virginia OT Wyatt Milum, whose 32-inch arms will likely force him to move inside at the next level.
Milum is one of the most experienced and accomplished players in this class, and through Week 8, he’s been the best offensive lineman in college football. In four years at West Virginia, he’s played more than 2,600 snaps and has started 31 consecutive games without allowing a sack.
Milum plays with a mean streak, finishing blocks in both phases at an incredibly high rate. He’s an elite zone blocker, with the hip fluidity to effortlessly secure difficult backside cutoffs. He also has good drive power at the point of attack and generates consistent displacement on gap runs.
His lack of length would limit his pocket range if he played tackle in the NFL, but his awareness, hand usage, and mirror ability will be valuable at guard. His high-cut build is my primary concern when projecting a move inside, but aside from that, he’s an incredibly clean prospect.
30. MINNESOTA VIKINGS
Selection: G Tate Ratledge – Georgia
The end of the first round is a good spot to address the Minnesota Vikings’ perpetual need at guard.
Tate Ratledge was looking like a potential lottery pick in limited action this year but suffered a sprained MCL and ankle in Week 3. He’ll need a much larger sample size of tape to get selected this early, but assuming he returns and maintains his level of dominance, he’s worth taking in the first round.
Ratledge is smart, physical, and experienced, with more than 1600 career snaps at right guard. He has a sturdy anchor, quick hands, and plays with an edge in the run game.
31. DETROIT LIONS
Selection: EDGE Nic Scourton – Texas A&M
The Detroit Lions always needed a second edge rusher to pair with Aidan Hutchinson, but his season-ending injury in Week 6 made that need even more pressing.
Nic Scourton is a powerful, 280-pound edge rusher with outstanding play strength and a refined pass-rushing skill set. He’s a brick-wall run defender with active hands and a relentless motor. After elite pass-rushing production at Purdue in 2023, Scourton transferred to Texas A&M, where he’s been significantly less efficient.
He seems to be playing at a heavier weight in 2024, which has reduced his suddenness and explosiveness and hasn’t improved his bull rush. He has a full bag of pass-rushing moves, including a cross-chop, inside/outside-spin, and club-rip, but his success rate as a finesse rusher has decreased this year.
There’s a good chance Scourton returns to school, as many NFL teams view him as a Day 2 pick, but he’s the top edge rusher available in this scenario.
32. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
Selection: TE Colston Loveland - Michigan
We’ve been mocking Kansas City a Travis Kelce replacement for years, but it needs to be addressed at some point, and Colston Loveland is an exciting fit. He isn’t my highest-graded tight end, but he would be if I was stacking a board specifically for the Chiefs.
Loveland has good speed, smooth change of direction skills, and is already a polished route runner. He’s efficient in and out of breaks and sets up defenders with deceptive footwork and pace change at the top of routes.
Through the first half of the season, he’s cleaned up the focus drops, which was a minor concern in 2023, but still needs to do a better job using his size and length to win contested catches. He’s more of a slot receiver than a tight end and won’t contribute much as an inline blocker.
Round 2 Selections
33. Green Bay Packers: CB Mansoor Delane – Virginia Tech
34. Chicago Bears: G Jonah Savaiinaea – Arizona
35. Cleveland Browns: WR Emeka Egbuka – Ohio State
36. Tennessee Titans: WR Jayden Higgins - Iowa State
37. New York Jets: TE Gunnar Helm – Texas
38. New Orleans Saints: DL Derrick Harmon – Oregon
39. Jacksonville Jaguars: G Donovan Jackson - Ohio State
40. Las Vegas Raiders: HB Nicholas Singleton - Penn State
41. New York Giants: OT Josh Simmons - Ohio State
42. Miami Dolphins: EDGE Princely Umanmielen - Ole Miss
43. Carolina Panthers: QB Carson Beck – Georgia
44. Cincinnati Bengals: EDGE Bradyn Swinson – LSU
45. Arizona Cardinals: DL Zane Durant - Penn State
46. San Francisco 49ers: OT Cameron Williams – Texas
47. Los Angeles Chargers: TE Harold Fannin Jr. - Bowling Green
48. Dallas Cowboys: DL Darius Alexander - Toledo
49. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: WR Tre Harris - Ole Miss
50. Jacksonville Jaguars: S Jaylen Reed - Penn State
51. Seattle Seahawks: LB Deontae Lawson - Alabama
52. Indianapolis Colts: CB Maxwell Hairston – Kentucky
53. Denver Broncos: WR Jalen Royals – Utah State
54. Atlanta Falcons: CB Quincy Riley – Louisville
55. Chicago Bears: DL Deone Walker – Kentucky
56. Baltimore Ravens: S Kamari Ramsey – USC
57. Buffalo Bills: WR Ricky White III - UNLV
58. Washington Commanders: EDGE Josaiah Stewart – Michigan
59. Pittsburgh Steelers: OL Armand Membou – Missouri
60. Green Bay Packers: OL Marcus Mbow - Purdue
61. Houston Texans: HB Omarion Hampton - North Carolina
62. Buffalo Bills: DL Aeneas Peebles - Virginia Tech
63. Detroit Lions: OT Charles Grant - William & Mary
64. Kansas City Chiefs: EDGE David Walker - Central Arkansas
