Author: Alex Schubert

It’s NFL Draft time once again, so narratives and speculation will finally settle; that is, until it’s all said and done and Aaron Rodgers makes international headlines for Steelers related reasons that make Ben Roethlisberger seem palatable by comparison. The 2025 NFL Draft features several future NFL stars and so much uncertainty, this mock draft will likely end up in a paper shredder once it’s all said and done.

Where will each team go? What will each team decide? Will anyone trade up? (I’m too lazy to propose those). Time to give it our best shot. 

1. Tennessee Titans – Cam Ward, QB, Miami (Florida)

Like mixing mayonnaise into coffee, the Titans drafting Will Levis was an experiment that failed miserably. The Titans have now found themselves right back at square one, as they are perhaps the most desolate team of any on this list.

Their offense is putrid. Their o-line disappointed last year. The defense was fine, but it couldn’t overcome the deficiencies of the offense. Cam Ward isn’t surrounded by a great foundation just yet, but he at least offers a fresh new beginning for a Titans team that has been a shell of itself since Derrick Henry walked away to Baltimore.

Ward isn’t the typical generational talent that comes with selecting a quarterback first overall. However, he has all the size and tools to become a perfectly above average starter in the NFL. The Titans badly need a reset, and Ward provides exactly that.

2. Cleveland Browns – Travis Hunter, WR/DB, Colorado

As badly as they need a franchise quarterback, they have the same problem the Titans do: the team does not have a good foundation to support a quarterback. They are almost as desolate, but they have a few star pieces to offset the rest of the roster.

They had to pay Myles Garrett $160 million and offer to let him pork Jimmy Haslam’s wife whenever he wants just so he’d stay in Cleveland. They also have Denzel Ward, who has been awesome, and Jerry Jeudy, who had a breakout 2024.

They need star power, and they need it badly. All signs point to them selecting Hunter to provide a spark to the passing game, whether it be on offense or on defense. They very much could select Abdul Carter, but bolstering a strength instead of a need is more fun for Twitter fan fiction than reality. Travis’ ability as an NFL player is about as up in the air as any player in this draft, especially since he has a borderline sexual desire to play receiver and cornerback, but he has a really strong ability to be a top tier player. Will he play both positions? It’s hard to say. I’m not gonna predict. I’m just a guy.

3. New York Giants – Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State

Let the Shedeur Sanders free fall BEGIN!

Abdul Carter is one of four players who could realistically go first overall, but it likely will not happen with the Titans in desperate need of a fresh start at quarterback. They could take Shedeur Sanders, but there are enough quarterbacks who will be available in Round Two that taking the best player available in round one would be a better move. They also signed Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston, so their need for a quarterback isn’t immediate.

Carter is a monster pass rusher in a draft full of incredible defensive linemen that would immediately provide a weapon on the d-line for a team that has historically had plenty of them. He has the ability to be an edge rusher or an outside linebacker, and he would be an immediate impact starter in either spot.

4. New England Patriots – Will Campbell, OT, LSU

The Patriots spent money like crazy in free agency, but the one spot they didn’t address was perhaps their weakest position (and no, we aren’t referring to the boyfriends of their former cheerleaders).

Their offensive line, per PFF, was the second worst in the NFL in terms of pass protection and the worst in the NFL in terms of run blocking. Will Campbell is the best offensive line prospect in the draft even though his arms are two millimeters shorter than ideal, which is a death sentence for an NFL prospect. He has the ability to play anywhere on the line and has All-Pro potential if he lives up to it.

5. Jacksonville Jaguars – Mason Graham, DT, Michigan

Jacksonville’s defense spent all of 2024 running wind sprints trying to catch up with opposing offenses, and winning on defense starts in the trenches. Travon Walker has been good, but he hasn’t been Aidan Hutchinson-level good, and Josh Allen is now a veteran in the league. To maintain at least a little bit of longevity and integrity, they can address their secondary later on in the draft and draft Graham, the betting favorite to be the top interior lineman in the draft.

Speaking of defenses running wind sprints trying to catch up to opposing offenses…

6. Las Vegas Raiders – Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State

Ashton Jeanty was an outstanding running back at Boise State who could’ve very much won the Heisman trophy had Travis Hunter not been pretty good at playing two positions. The Raiders are in desperate need of an offensive spark, and a running back who necessitates a sixth overall pick is much more of a slam dunk than a quarterback in that same draft slot (look at the draft six years ago if you don’t believe me).

The Raiders’ running back depth chart is about as threatening as the montage of dogs in any given Sarah McLachlan commercial. Going from Alexander Mattison, everyone’s favorite RB2 from three years ago, to Ashton Jeanty would be a monstrous upgrade.

7. New York Jets – Armand Membou, OT, Missouri

The reset button has been hit once again by the Jets in terms of quarterbacks, as Justin Fields has been acquired to become the starter. I look forward to finding out who the starter will be in 2027. Ooh, maybe it will be Arch Manning! Daniel Jones? Christian Hackenberg Jr.? It can’t be me; I’m 5’9”, I have accuracy issues, and my left quad is currently made of fruit snacks.

By selecting the right tackle from Mizzou, he would spend the next decade plus providing ample protection for the Jets’ next six starting quarterbacks.

8. Carolina Panthers – Jalon Walker, LB, Georgia

Just get any defensive player you can, Carolina.

Their defense struggled badly in 2024, and Georgia defenders are usually (we said *usually*, Lewis Cine) a very, very safe bet to succeed at the next level. While Walker didn’t play one singular position in college, the Panthers have an opportunity to figure out where a player like Walker could fit best. He’s a versatile defender who is good in coverage, and the Panthers need help anywhere they can get.

9. New Orleans Saints – Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas

I do not envy the Saints in this current moment. They are stuck in quarterback purgatory with Derek Carr, salary cap purgatory with their aging stars. They don’t have a dire need at receiver with Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed returning from injury, Alvin Kamara still has some juice left in the tank at running back, and their offensive line is improving.

Their defense, on the other hand, absolutely needs help. After losing Marshon Lattimore at the trade deadline, they need a new player to make angry faces at Mike Evans. Barron is arguably the best cornerback in the draft and has very few weaknesses to his game. He could be a cornerstone player in New Orleans for years to come.

10. Chicago Bears – Will Johnson, CB, Michigan

The Bears already made one big acquisition of a guy named Johnson, so why not go after another? Will Johnson is your typical do-everything cornerback. He’s got a good frame and can go toe to toe with some of the best wide receivers in the game. Chicago has invested heavily in their offensive and defensive trenches in the offseason, so getting a player like Johnson would give them a standout defensive back for years to come.

11. San Francisco 49ers – Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama

The 49ers lost an unreal amount of talent in free agency, particularly on defense. Perhaps the most underrated of those players was Dre Greenlaw, who followed Talanoa Hufanga to the Broncos. They need to replace him as much as possible, and Campbell is an apt fit at 11th overall.

12. Dallas Cowboys – Matthew Golden, WR, Texas

Is it possible that Tetairoa McMillan is the first receiver taken in the draft? Of course it is. However, Matthew Golden’s fast 40 yard dash time makes him a prime candidate to not only be taken above McMillan, but be taken by the in-state squad. He could be a perfect complement to the do-everything player in CeeDee Lamb, and Dak Prescott would have his next longtime weapon.

13. Miami Dolphins – Kelvin Banks, OT, Texas

Terron Armstead retired.

14. Indianapolis Colts – Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State

Penn State is second fiddle to Iowa in terms of being the NFL’s Tight End University. The Colts desperately need a weapon for Anthony Richardson, as he’s the kind of quarterback that the Colts forgot to convert to tight end. Their current starter is Kevin Ogletree, who is, and no disrespect, not the impact player the Colts need at the position. A selection of Warren, or any other of the top tight end prospects that may be available in round one, would be an instant upgrade.

15. Atlanta Falcons – Mike Green, EDGE, Marshall

The Falcons needed a pass rusher in last year’s draft, and ended up going with their potential franchise quarterback in Michael Penix Jr. instead, which caused my cell phone to put a dent in my friend’s couch, because that’s how hard I threw it. With the litany of defensive linemen available in round one, they take Green, who comes with some character concerns, but led the nation in sacks in 2024.

16. Arizona Cardinals – James Pearce Jr., EDGE, Tennessee

There are also whispers of character concerns with James Pearce Jr., but his talent speaks for itself. He’s a two time first team All SEC member, and totaled 43 hurries, which was tied for third in the nation in 2024. The Cardinals desperately need to upgrade their pass rush to compete in the NFC South, and if he can overcome his red flags, Pearce could be the best edge defender in the draft not named Abdul Carter.

17. Cincinnati Bengals – Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss

The Bengals have a bunch of defensive tackles who can stop the run, but pressuring the quarterback? That’s a totally different issue. The Bengals have a Trey Hendrickson problem right now, and he accounted for nearly 50% of the Bengals’ sack production in 2024. With Sheldon Rankins turning out to be a major sa-wing and a miss signing last year, the Bengals desperately need a game-changing defensive tackle who excels in both defending the run and rushing the passer. 

18. Seattle Seahawks – Tyler Booker, OG, Alabama

Sam Darnold was signed to Seattle and they did almost nothing to address their offensive line in the process. They have to address exactly that if they want to ensure Darnold doesn’t have another Jets-esque tenure. JSN and Cooper Kupp will team up to be solid receivers for Darnold, but to guarantee that he has more than one second to deliver a pass, they must address their offensive line. Booker is the best guard prospect in this draft, and he may very well be a part of Seattle’s draft plans.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia

Aside from a roof for Tropicana Field, Tampa doesn’t have a whole lot of pressing needs. Their pass rush was perfectly fine in 2024, but injuries caused Tampa’s defense to struggle at times. Mykel Williams is a decent BPA selection and would be a good fit in Todd Bowles’ defense.

20. Denver Broncos – Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona

Denver’s biggest need, without question, is a major group of skill players. Omarion Hampton is not a bad choice for here by any means, especially with lack of depth currently at running back for the Broncos, but the 2025 NFL Draft is a good time to have a need for a running back, as it’s a particularly deep class. They need receivers outside of Courtland Sutton and an ascending Marvin Mims, and Tet McMillan could go anywhere from the top ten to later in the first round, but given his potential and big body, McMillan would be a solid choice to be a weapon for Bo Nix.

21. Pittsburgh Steelers – Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado

Shedeur Sanders has the most varied draft position of any player in this draft. He could go in the top three, but he could also slide out of the first round entirely. The Steelers have an immediate need at quarterback, regardless of whether or not they sign Aaron Rodgers. Sanders has the skill set to be an above average quarterback in the NFL, and he will be surrounded with good weapons in DK Metcalf and George Pickens. He has an accurate arm and a good loft on his deep ball, and Pittsburgh will give him an opportunity to prove to the general populace that he is not a system quarterback, with the system being his dad.

22. Los Angeles Chargers – Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan

The Chargers’ current TE depth chart (Will Dissly, Tyler Conklin, Tucker Fisk, McCallan Castles) looks more like a group of catchers than starting caliber tight ends. Colston Loveland has experience being coached by Jim Harbaugh at Michigan (you knew that one was coming) and would be both a weapon for Justin Herbert and a blocker that Jim Harbaugh can’t get enough of.

23. Green Bay Packers – Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri

The Packers walked away from the “Get A WR1 For Your Roster” sweepstakes empty handed in free agency, especially since the majority of teams retained their stars. Luther Burden, whose name sounds like J. Edgar Hoover’s nickname for MLK, is a big play threat who would be an immediate upgrade for Jordan Love. He can catch passes at all levels of the field and is a massive threat with the ball in his hands in the open field. 

24. Minnesota Vikings – Malaki Starks, S, Georgia

The Vikings’ biggest need is in the secondary, and it will be an even bigger need once Harrison Smith retires. While Vikings fans may have Cine enough of safeties from Georgia, Starks is consistently ranked high on draft boards and has been compared to Jessie Bates, who is one of the best safeties in the NFL. He’s outstanding in coverage, an excellent run defender, and has very few weaknesses to his game. He may not fall this far, but if he does, the Vikings would be getting a home run of a player.

25. Houston Texans – Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State

The Stefon Diggs experiment did not last long at all. Now that it’s over, the Texans have to replace him. They very much could take an offensive tackle here, but with their acquisition of Cam Robinson, wide receiver may be their most immediate need. Egbuka is not the fastest, strongest, or most physically gifted receiver in this year’s draft, but he’s a very smart football player who has familiarity with CJ Stroud.

26. Los Angeles Rams – Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State

There’s a very possible scenario that the Rams trade down from this spot, but assuming they don’t, they could use this spot on a player who fills the BPA spot, as they don’t have a ton of needs. Simmons was a powerful blocker at Ohio State and has very few weaknesses to his game. Giving Matthew Stafford protection would give the Rams an opportunity to address their defense on day two of the draft, where there are plenty of cornerbacks and linebackers.

27. Baltimore Ravens – Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan

To win in the AFC North, you have to be able to win in the trenches. After signing Nnamdi Madubuike to a big contract, continuing to bolster their defensive line with a player like Grant, would be an excellent move for the Ravens. While their biggest need is a lawyer for Justin Tucker, they could also use this pick on a player in the trenches. Grant is the kind of player who could go in the middle of the first round, but if he falls, the Ravens’ defense would be even stronger than it already is.

28. Detroit Lions – Shemar Stewart, EDGE, Texas A&M

Aidan Hutchinson is coming off of a major injury, and his replacement, Za’Darius Smith, is no longer with the team, as he entered free agency. Getting a hugely impactful player like Shemar Stewart, who absolutely dazzled at the NFL Combine, would give the Lions a stout pass rushing duo that would hugely bolster its Super Bowl chances.

29. Washington Commanders – Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina

The Commanders are such a fun team to watch, and getting Jayden Daniels a star player in the backfield would be a major addition. Omarion Hampton is the second best running back in this draft class behind Ashton Jeanty, and he’s a powerful running back who can be a true three down player if need be. They could absolutely address their defense here, but passing up a rock solid player like Hampton would be no easy task for Dan Quinn.

30. Buffalo Bills – Donovan Ezeiruaku, EDGE, Boston College

The Bills did not have a true impact pass rusher in 2024, and now their need for one is even bigger with Von Miller on the free agent market. Ezeiruaku is a lighter prospect, but he still had a very good 2024 season in terms of sack production. Putting him opposite Greg Rousseau, who himself just got a massive payday, would help a Buffalo defense that was solid, but occasionally had major struggles last season.

31. Kansas City Chiefs – Grey Zabel, OT, North Dakota State

The Chiefs’ offensive line was so depleted in the stretch run of 2024, it was referenced by none other than John Oliver. Now that Joe Thuney has departed for Chicago, they need to ensure that Patrick Mahomes isn’t running for his life from defenders and/or Rashee Rice’s car. Grey Zabel is a smaller prospect, but he’s agile and has a fluid technique. He has the ability to play anywhere on the o-line, and the Chiefs could use all the help they can get.

32. Philadelphia Eagles – Nic Scourton, EDGE, Texas A&M

Losing Josh Sweat is no easy thing to recover from, but luckily this draft is rich with defensive linemen who could help the move-on process go quickly. Scourton regressed from 2023 to 2024, but he still has the potential to be a solid starter in the NFL, and the Eagles need to recover after losing both Sweat and Milton Williams in free agency. Scourton would be a wise choice to round out the first round.