Mock Draft
3/6/25
15 min read
2025 NFL Mock Draft: Predicting This Year's Entire First Round
The NFL Combine is one of the league’s best events, but one of its more useful parts is the rumors and news that come from the week.
There has been some major movement for a few players and a few picks that feel like locks. So, without further ado, here is our 2025 mock draft coming out of Indianapolis:
2025 NFL Mock Draft
1. New York Giants (via Titans)
Selection: Cam Ward, QB, Miami (FL)
The buzz coming out of Indianapolis is that the Giants want to complete a trade that would give them the No. 1 pick to select Cam Ward.
They need a franchise quarterback and he is the top option in this draft. How much will it cost the Giants to go from No. 3 to No. 1? Probably a few second-round picks in the next few years, but that is nothing when it comes to securing a franchise quarterback.
2. Cleveland Browns
Selection: Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State
The Cleveland Browns would likely select Cam Ward if he were available at No. 2, but Abdul Carter isn’t a bad consolation prize. We’ll see what happens with Myles Garrett, but the idea of pairing them together for the next several years would be a sight to see.
3. Tennessee Titans
Selection: Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado
The best player in the draft falls to No. 3, and the Tennessee Titans have to feel fantastic about picking him up here. They add some multiple Day 2 picks and get Travis Hunter, who would likely start at cornerback and play some receiver right away.
4. New England Patriots
Selection: Armand Membou, OT, Missouri
This will be a very popular pick in mock drafts over the next month as Armand Membou dominated the NFL Combine. He’s only 20 years old and needs some refinement, but he is a rare athlete at 332 pounds.
Membou will need some development, but this pick is all about keeping Drake Maye upright and healthy.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars
Selection: Will Campbell, OT, LSU
The Jacksonville Jaguars have needs all across their offensive line, and Will Campbell can play just about any position. He doesn’t have great length, but he does have fantastic size and has multiple years of high-end production in the SEC.
This isn't the sexiest pick for Jacksonville, but it's one it needs.
6. Las Vegas Raiders
Selection: Sheudar Sanders, QB, Colorado
Plenty of mock drafts this week have Shedeur Sanders falling outside the top 20 or even out of the first round. But we are sticking with Sanders to the Raiders.
Las Vegas has a massive quarterback need, and his playstyle would fit well with Pete Carroll. There is a real chance Sanders could slide, but it’s hard to imagine the Raiders passing on him.
7. New York Jets
Selection: Mason Graham, DT, Michigan
The New York Jets are a real wild card in Round 1, as they could go in a variety of ways. However, adding Mason Graham to the defensive line and pairing him with Quinnen Williams would allow this defense to be elite again.
The Jets still have a lot of work to do on offense, but the addition of Graham gives them another dominating defensive tackle who can be disruptive right away.
8. Carolina Panthers
Selection: Jalon Walker, EDGE, Georgia
The Carolina Panthers are expected to use this draft to improve their pass rush, and Jalon Walker is the best rusher on the board.
He isn’t a traditional EDGE rusher, but he can be moved all over the formation and has rare speed and instincts.
9. New Orleans Saints
Selection: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
The New Orleans Saints really need another receiver, considering Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed missed most of the season with injuries. Tetairoa McMillan gives Derek Carr a big-bodied receiver that can win outside and be a chain-mover for the offense.
10. Chicago Bears
Selection: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
The ideal selection here for the Chicago Bears is either Membou or Campbell, but both were taken high in this mock. Rather than reaching on an offensive lineman, they just take the best player on the board, Ashton Jeanty.
Chicago has a need at running back and Jeanty is the best in the class. It’s hard to be too upset about this value, as he might be the third-best player in the entire draft.
11. San Francisco 49ers
Selection: Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri
Some recent mocks have had Luther Burden falling to the end of Round 1, but we aren’t buying it. He is an explosive playmaker who ran a 4.41 40-yard dash at 206 pounds.
He is electric with the ball in his hands and would be a perfect Deebo Samuel replacement in San Francisco. But he is already a more natural receiver and would be a good long-term fit with Brock Purdy.
12. Dallas Cowboys
Selection: Shemar Stewart, EDGE, Texas A&M
It seems like a near-lock that the Dallas Cowboys will address their defensive line in Round 1, so they take a chance on Shemar Stewart after an incredible combine performance.
He’s not a polished pass rusher, but his size, length, and athleticism are a perfect fit opposite of Micah Parsons in Big D.
13. Miami Dolphins
Selection: Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan
Miami has to get bigger on the interior defensive line, and Kenneth Grant will allow them to do that.
While he didn’t work out at the NFL Combine, Grant is a freak athlete and an ascending player. He’s far from a polished pass rusher, but he has special traits to become a dominant nose tackle in the NFL.
14. Indianapolis Colts
Selection: Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
The Indianapolis Colts have been searching for a dynamic tight end like this for years, and one finally fell into their lap. Tyler Warren is a throwback player who is fantastic at creating big plays.
His size and speed are phenomenal, and he would be a fantastic fit in Shane Steichen’s offense.
15. Atlanta Falcons
Selection: Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama
Jihaad Campbell is one of the best football players in this class, but he isn’t just a linebacker.
He can blitz, cover, and run from sideline to sideline. Don’t be surprised if Campbell isn’t even on the board when the Atlanta Falcons are on the clock at No. 15.
16. Arizona Cardinals
Selection: Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia
The Arizona Cardinals might have the worst pass rush in the NFL, but they are working to improve it. Darius Robinson was a long, athletic rusher who could move around the defensive line, and they'll add another similar player this year in Mykel Williams.
Williams is a better athlete, and he is only 20, which means that his best football should be ahead of him.
17. Cincinnati Bengals
Selection: Tyler Booker, OG, Alabama
The Cincinnati Bengals could certainly use this pick to upgrade their defense, but instead, they look to build up the middle of their offensive line.
The Bengals have been trying to get bigger on their offensive line, and they’ve accomplished that with the signing of Orlando Brown Jr. and the selection of Amarius Mims. Tyler Booker would be a home-run fit as he is a dominating run blocker who has played some tackle at Alabama.
18. Seattle Seahawks
Selection: Mike Green, EDGE, Marshall
Seattle continues to improve the defense, specifically the pass rush, under Mike Macdonald with the selection of Mike Green. There are some off-field questions that need to be addressed, but Green is a talented pass rusher with tons of production and explosion.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Selection: Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
Will Johnson was once viewed as a lock top-10 pick in this year’s draft, but a midseason foot injury and less-than-stellar measurables have him falling mocks.
That’s the case here, but the Buccaneers scoop him up and immediately improve their pass defense with one of the best ballhawks in the class.
20. Denver Broncos
Selection: Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
The Denver Broncos are searching for a “Joker” playmaker this offseason, and Colston Loveland fits. He’s 6-foot-6, 250 pounds, but he moves like he’s 220 pounds.
He can be a dynamic option in the slot, but he can also win outside and from the backfield. He is a perfect fit with Bo Nix and could become the No. 1 option in the passing attack by 2026.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers
Selection: Matthew Golden, WR, Texas
Pittsburgh finally gets their receiver, and it’s a bit of a surprise that Matthew Golden is still available after running a 4.29 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine.
He doesn’t always play to that speed, but he can create separation and has no problem playing outside or in the slot.
22. Los Angeles Chargers
Selection: Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
There might not be a better Round 1 fit than Emeka Egbuka for the Los Angeles Chargers.
He can play all three receiver positions. He’s reliable, blocks, and gets open. That is the perfect Jim Harbaugh receiver, and he would fit in well with Justin Herbert and Ladd McConkey.
23. Green Bay Packers
Selection: Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon
The Green Bay Packers need a lot of help on the interior defensive line, but there aren’t many viable options in free agency. Instead, they go with Derrick Harmon, who looked fantastic in the on-field drills at the NFL Combine.
Harmon could be a Day 1 starter for Green Bay and would give them more explosiveness at defensive tackle.
24. Minnesota Vikings
Selection: Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas
Brian Flores loves defensive backs who can play multiple positions and create turnovers. And that’s where Jahdae Barron excels.
He falls in this mock due to some arm-length concerns, but his ability to play slot corner, safety, and linebacker makes him the ideal fit in Minnesota.
25. Houston Texans
Selection: Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss
The Houston Texans continue to build up the trenches by selecting Walter Nolen here at pick No. 25.
Nolen has top-10 talent, but he needs to play under control, and there are some questions off the field for them. But putting him between Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr. to start his career would be a pretty nice fit.
26. Cleveland Browns (via Rams)
Selection: Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State
The Los Angeles Rams trade out of Round 1 in this mock draft to stockpile more Day 2 picks. Cleveland jumps up ahead of Baltimore to grab Josh Simmons as its long-term answer at left tackle.
The Browns have had many problems at that spot, but they grabbed Simmons on a discount after a patella injury ended his season.
27. Baltimore Ravens
Selection: James Pearce Jr., EDGE, Tennessee
James Pearce Jr. should go much higher than this, but several off-field questions have been raised over the last two months.
However, the Ravens are desperate to add pass-rush help, and Pearce is one of the best in the country at getting to the quarterback.
28. Detroit Lions
Selection: Donovan Ezeiruaku, EDGE, Boston College
You can bet that the Detroit Lions will want to continue to add pass rushers to their defensive line after the way last season played out.
Donovan Ezeiruaku is an undersized rusher, but he has outstanding production and performed well at the NFL Combine. He would be a perfect fit opposite Aidan Hutchinson and could produce right away on the right team.
29. Washington Commanders
Selection: Kelvin Banks, OT, Texas
The Washington Commanders could use more offensive line help, especially with Sam Cosmi suffering a severe knee injury in the playoffs.
Kelvin Banks might be a guard in the NFL, but he does have plenty of tackle experience and would fit well in Kliff Kingsbury’s offense.
30. Buffalo Bills
Selection: Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina
The Buffalo Bills need more playmakers in their secondary and the duo of Taylor Rapp and Damar Hamlin just isn’t cutting it. Cole Bishop is expected to be a starter in 2025, but they need someone else who can come down and play in the box.
And that’s where Nick Emmanwori fits in. His legendary combine performance ensures he’ll be a first-round pick, and the Bills would be a fantastic landing spot.
31. Kansas City Chiefs
Selection: Donovan Jackson, OG, Ohio State
The Kansas City Chiefs need a left tackle option, but there just aren’t very many quality options at this stage of the draft.
However, Donovan Jackson is a really good player who stepped in at left tackle down the stretch for the Buckeyes and performed well. His best spot in the NFL is probably at guard, but his position flexibility could allow him to sneak into Round 1.
32. Philadelphia Eagles: Malaki Starks, S, Georgia
The Philadelphia Eagles usually don’t value safeties that highly, and that’s the only reason why this pick might not happen.
But Malaki Starks is a do-it-all safety who had three years of production in Georgia. And the fact that he played at Georgia will be a selling point for Howie Roseman.
