Mock Draft
9/16/24
16 min read
2025 NFL Mock Draft: Latest First-Round Predictions Entering Week 3
First impressions are often everything, but they can be prone to lie to you when it comes to football season.
Both the NFL and college slates are off and running — which performances are the real deal? And which ones should you expect to see fade back to the pack in the weeks ahead? We take a look at individual prospect performances and the early-season wins and losses across the NFL in this week's 2025 NFL Mock Draft.
>> READ MORE: Latest NFL Draft Stock Report
Remainder of season predictions for the rest of the 2024 season determined the draft order.
2025 NFL Mock Draft
1. New York Giants 
Selection: Cam Ward, QB, Miami Hurricanes
No quarterback in the country is playing ball like Ward during the first three weeks of the college football season. With a dynamic arm and loads of confidence, Ward is seeing the field well and helping the Hurricanes to some record-setting numbers.
For the New York Giants, this feels like the antithesis of Daniel Jones, who was perceived as a "high floor" passer without the added playmaking ability that Ward affords.
2. Carolina Panthers
Selection: Carson Beck, QB, Georgia
Speaking of overcorrections at the quarterback position, Beck feels the opposite of what the Carolina Panthers swung for in Bryce Young.
If the Panthers are indeed this bad for another season, it is hard to imagine the team staying committed to Young going into another year. Beck is not off to the hottest start this season. Still, he is a prototypical passer with a strong track record working the middle of the field — a perfect place to focus with Carolina's anticipated run-heavy approach with Dave Canales.
3. New England Patriots
Selection: Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas
It's been a full calendar year (and change) since Kelvin Bank Jr.'s last credited sack. The New England Patriots showed a promising ability to run the ball in their season debut.
However, the long-term outlook of this offensive line, particularly on the left side, is still absolutely in question. Banks Jr. is a good fit as the blindside protector to Drake Maye as the Patriots look to build their passing attack into the future.
4. Washington Commanders
Selection: Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
Dan Quinn's defense faces an install year in 2024. The team made many investments into the defense in free agency and the draft — but who are the long-term answers at cornerback? Is it Emmanuel Forbes, a first-round holdover from a different scheme? Is it free agent signing Michael Davis and former first-round pick Noah Igbinoghene?
If it were Benjamin St. Juste, wouldn't a breakout have already happened? With Will Johnson, the Washington Commanders secure an elite cornerback prospect to man the perimeter.
5. Denver Broncos
Selection: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
McMillan's body of work this season includes vertical shots down the sideline and a high volume of underneath passes that set up run-after-catch opportunities.
For Sean Payton, I imagine adding both elements as an alpha receiver would be a welcomed development to his offense. The Denver Broncos need some long-term staples among their skill group — McMillan can do it all and, as such, makes a ton of sense amid the firepower in the AFC West.
6. Las Vegas Raiders
Selection: Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
I am a fan of this fit for Sanders as a talent. He's a quarterback with an edge to him — you get the sense already he isn't for everyone. But he'd get along great with a fiery player's coach like Antonio Pierce.
Add in a physical running game that can help set up so many of the shot plays Sanders hits at Colorado, and you've got one of the better overall matches for Shedeur among the quarterback-hungry teams.
7. Tennessee Titans
Selection: Will Campbell, OT, LSU
Given the construction of the Tennessee Titans' roster and their aggressive defensive build this offseason, going back to the offensive line well again makes sense.
There's some consideration for a young pass catcher, but the Titans have backs who can catch the football and paid a premium to add Calvin Ridley to their ranks. Drafting Campbell would give Tennessee a powerful combo of tackles and allow them to move JC Latham back to the right side — where he played at Alabama.
8. Arizona Cardinals
Selection: Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado
Wide receiver or cornerback, there's room for Travis Hunter on the Arizona Cardinals' depth chart either way.
Monti Ossenfort has been pooling high-end talent throughout his first two drafts as the lead man in Arizona. I'd love to see Hunter land here as Arizona's next crown jewel and get some run on both sides of the ball.
9. Minnesota Vikings
Selection: Mason Graham, IDL, Michigan
Harrison Phillips just earned a contract extension with the Minnesota Vikings, but the rest of the defensive interior is littered with questions. If this defense is going to have the teeth to hang in the trenches with the likes of Detroit in the NFC North, more depth and point-of-attack play will go a long way in helping that happen.
Graham's passing down upside is still a bit of a hole in his resume, but I have no doubt he can be an impact player on all three downs.
10. Cleveland Browns
Selection: Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri
Amari Cooper and Elijah Moore are expiring contracts for the Cleveland Browns. As much as you'd like to think that Cleveland would consider a quarterback to set up their transition away from QB Deshaun Watson's contract, I believe the guarantees make that at least another year away.
Instead, why not add another talented young weapon to ensure the rest of this roster is filled with winning talent — be it for Watson or otherwise?
11. Indianapolis Colts
Selection: Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame
Cornerback was a concern for the Indianapolis Colts before young corner JuJu Brents was sidelined for the season. With Morrison, the Colts can add a technically refined corner who may lack the prototypical length many of Indy's corners have but boasts high-level instincts in coverage.
Between the receivers in Houston and the new-look blend of pass catchers in Tennessee and Jacksonville, the Colts must have confidence that they can match coverage. Morrison would go a long way in doing that.
12. Atlanta Falcons
Selection: James Pearce Jr., EDGE, Tennessee
While the Atlanta Falcons have to be excited about their addition of Matthew Judon for 2024, they have yet to agree on a contract extension. And the rest of their pass rushers are a group that we're still waiting to see if they can make the leap as young talent.
All of that makes James Pearce Jr. an intriguing option. He'd be a great running mate for a veteran rusher like Judon, but he also has premiere pass-rush potential.
13. Los Angeles Chargers
Selection: Kenneth Grant, IDL, Michigan
The Los Angeles Chargers are showing that Jim Harbaugh's "pound the rock" mentality is firmly taking hold on offense. Defensively, the team needs a little more punch in the trenches.
The Chargers can find that in Kenneth Grant, who Harbaugh and Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter are familiar with because of their time together in Michigan.
14. Seattle Seahawks
Selection: Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State
New Seattle Seahawks coach Mike MacDonald is looking to get his defensive unit rocking and rolling this year in Seattle. If things are going to click fully, more pass-rush weapons feel like a necessary evolution of the personnel.
Abdul Carter is a tremendous physical talent. He's playing full-time on the edge for the first time this season in Happy Valley, but his experience as someone playing on the second level and in space would be an entertaining toy to give to MacDonald moving forward.
15. Miami Dolphins
Selection: Garrett Nussmeier, QB, LSU
The Miami Dolphins are facing some difficult circumstances after the latest injury to QB Tua Tagovailoa. Whether Tagovailoa commits to continuing to play, Miami did slip an exit hatch into its four-year contract extension after the 2024 season that would constitute digestible dead cap hits for 2025 and 2026.
If this latest injury rattles Miami's confidence in the current direction of the position, Miami would need to decide on his contract by March 14 before his 2026 salary becomes fully guaranteed. There are a lot of unknown developments between now and then.
Tagovailoa must prioritize his health before deciding about his future. Still, there are many ways this pairing can end on the heels of Tagovailoa's latest head injury — via Tua or the Dolphins. Would Miami take the opportunity to draft another quarterback amid some potential added losses in his absence? This team has suddenly become the wildcard team of the early-season mock draft landscape.
16. Chicago Bears
Selection: Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia
Mykel Williams may be facing some time away as he recovers from an early season injury, but he still profiles as the long and rangy pass rusher teams will fall in love with throughout the pre-draft process.
The Chicago Bears were interested in several veteran options to add to their pass rush room before the start of the season, so if they don't find a running mate for Montez Sweat before then, look for them to follow through on one next spring.
17. New Orleans Saints
Selection: Emery Jones Jr., OT, LSU
The "other" offensive tackle in Baton Rouge wouldn't have to go far if his name was called to New Orleans.
The New Orleans Saints are red hot to start the season, including yesterday's defeat of the Dallas Cowboys. However, their offensive line is facing some long-term questions thanks to Ryan Ramczyk's health and Trevor Penning's uncertainty. Jones Jr. has experience at guard and tackle, which is a bonus for the Saints, giving them an ideal blend of talented players up front.
18. Jacksonville Jaguars
Selection: Shavon Revel Jr., CB, East Carolina
Shavon Revel showed up this weekend with a 51-yard pick-six against App State on Saturday. He's got elite length and explosiveness, which is apparent when you watch East Carolina play.
Those qualities would go a long way in solidifying a promising secondary for the Jacksonville Jaguars— albeit one already being tested with depth due to an injured reserve stint for standout CB Tyson Campbell.
19. Los Angeles Rams
Selection: Tacario Davis, CB, Arizona
The Los Angeles Rams got smoked on Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals — with the youth on defense showing up in several ways. The Rams are a banged-up bunch right now, but you can at least look at the injured talent on offense and feel better about the team's pathway to improvement there.
Defensively? The Rams are young but could certainly use some more dynamic talent. Davis is a prototype corner who would help match some of the physical wide receivers in the NFC West.
20. Dallas Cowboys
Selection: Tyleik Williams, IDL, Ohio State
One week after the Dallas Cowboys dominated on defense, the Saints exposed a few cracks in the Cowboys' defense with a dominating performance. One of the most significant looming holes for the upcoming offseason is at defensive tackle — where Osa Odighizuwa is entering into a contract year, and Mazi Smith looks to find his footing as a former first-round pick.
The depth behind those two is questionable at best, and the offensive line arms race in the NFC East doesn't appear to be letting up any time soon, thanks to Philadelphia's elite talent and many new faces in Washington and New York.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers
Selection: Isaiah Bond, WR, Texas
Could the Pittsburgh Steelers have found some lightning in a bottle via Justin Fields? Doing so would be a massive steal for the Steelers, and it would open the team up to adding potentially dangerous talent elsewhere with this pick — like Texas wide receiver Isaiah Bond.
With blinding speed and agility, Bond would be a terrific foil to the physical play of George Pickens and TE Pat Freiermuth.
22. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Selection: Nic Scourton, DL, Texas A&M
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers don't exactly hide their affinity for talented, versatile defensive linemen. And landing in Tampa Bay feels like an exciting match for a talent like Scourton, who can line up in a slew of places and attack.
Between him, Calijah Kancey, and Logan Hall, Tampa Bay would have the power and pass rush ability to form many different fronts that can create many favorable matchups.
23. Cincinnati Bengals
Selection: Aireontae Ersery, OT, Minnesota
The Cincinnati Bengals already drafted an offensive tackle, Amarius Mims, in the 2024 NFL Draft's first round. However, with Cincinnati facing a realistic out on Orlando Brown Jr.'s contract and needing to pay Ja'Marr Chase next offseason, the juggling could continue with another one added to the mix.
Ersery is another imposing and athletic tackle, which would change Cincinnati from Brown Jr. and Trent Brown.
24. New York Jets
Selection: Malaki Starks, SAF, Georgia
When you look at the New York Jets' defensive depth chart, you see talent up and down the roster except for the safety position. While the Jets may like Tony Adams, Chuck Clark, and Ashtyn Davis, the opportunity to add a star like Starks is just too good to pass up.
Starks prowling the secondary between DJ Reed and Sauce Gardner is a horrifying proposition for opposing offenses, which is why it's the perfect pick for the Jets.
>> READ MORE: Can Starks Defeat NFL Trends?
25. Philadelphia Eagles
Selection: Kevin Winston Jr., SAF, Penn State
The Philadelphia Eagles have some intriguing options at safety. Reed Blankenship is an intelligent, hard-nosed player. Sydney Brown is super athletic, and I'm hopeful he will make the leap when he returns from the PUP List.
However, Kevin Winston Jr. is a little different animal than both. He's long, rangy, and a superb tackler all in one. Vic Fangio's two-high, vanilla presentation would put him in many positions to interrupt throwing windows and make plays fitting the run.
26. Houston Texans
Selection: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
Did you know that the Houston Texans could move on from Joe Mixon this offseason if they wanted to and save significant cap space with a Post-June 1 designation? I'm not saying the Texans should.
Still, based on how the board fell for the Texans and how good I think Jeanty can be in an offense with C.J. Stroud and his wide receiver pack — I wouldn't bat an eye to make this pick. Jeanty is a top-20 overall eligible talent for the class. I think the value is worth it for an offense that can create many matchup issues.
27. Buffalo Bills
Selection: Jack Sawyer, EDGE, Ohio State
Sawyer is having himself one heck of a start to the 2024 season — offering a whopping 34 percent pressure rate through the Buckeyes' first two games.
Granted, life will get more challenging for Sawyer than playing against Akron and Western Michigan, but he feels like a good fit on the edge for Brandon Beane and company. Von Miller's contract will become more digestible to move on from starting in 2025 when he enters his age-36 season.
28. Green Bay Packers
Selection: Denzel Burke, CB, Ohio State
Denzel Burke is another Buckeye with a solid start to the 2024 campaign. As for the Green Bay Packers?
Their young defense has seen a lot of infusion of new talent — but not at corner. This feels like a missing link addition amid Eric Stokes' expiring deal after this season.
29. San Francisco 49ers
Selection: Harold Perkins, LB, LSU
The LSU Tigers have been having a bit of a hard time finding a consistent pass rusher role for Harold Perkins. That wouldn't be so much of an issue for the San Francisco 49ers, who need edge depth in a big way and would likely love to have Perkins' acceleration and bend off the edge in obvious passing situations.
He may not be an every-down player early on, but he wouldn't need to be in San Francisco to justify the pick.
30. Baltimore Ravens
Selection: Jonah Savaiinaea, OT, Arizona
The Baltimore Ravens' offensive line has been disastrous early on in 2024 amid three new starters up front. The Daniel Faalele experience is not going well, and second-round rookie Roger Rosengarten was baptized by Chris Jones and George Karlaftis in Week 1.
Second-year pro Andrew Vorhees has been better at left guard but has also left you wanting more. Savaiinaea can play guard or tackle and help the Ravens stabilize their offensive line after all of the renovations of this offseason.
31. Detroit Lions
Selection: Tyler Baron, EDGE, Miami Hurricanes
Baron terrorized opposing quarterbacks for the Hurricanes in September. He has great physical tools and would be a splendid fit opposite Aidan Hutchinson in Detroit.
The Detroit Lions' pass rush depth on the edge is one of the thinner areas of this roster, and Baron's stock feels like it is only just getting started. If he's here, he's a bet I'd be willing to make.
32. Kansas City Chiefs
Selection: Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
The Kansas City Chiefs appear to be facing the end of days with Travis Kelce — meaning the target distribution in Kansas City could be in for a significant mixup moving forward.
That should, in theory, open things up for more wide receivers to get in on the action. Egbuka is a talented pass catcher who is best in a chain-mover role. Between Rashee Rice as a big-bodied target and Xavier Worthy's field-stretching ability, Egbuka is a perfect mix for when Kansas City wants 11 personnel.
