The 2025 NFL Draft is right around the corner, and NFL fans will soon find out what rookies are joining their teams.
As is usually the case, the quarterback position will get a lot of attention once draft night begins. Miami’s Cam Ward and Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders are considered to be the top passers in the class, while some analysts have Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart sneaking into the first round as well.
Free agency answered several of our questions and could make it easier to get an idea of how the first round will play out. For example, the Titans didn’t add a quarterback in free agency, so most analysts expect the team to select Ward with the top pick.
Today, we’re going to do a full first-round mock that includes a couple of trades. Let’s get to it!
1. Tennessee Titans- Cam Ward, QB, Miami
This pick just makes too much sense to not happen. The Titans recently cancelled pre-draft workouts with Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders, all but guaranteeing that Ward is the pick here. The Titans land a franchise quarterback.
2. Cleveland Browns- Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado
I considered a trade down here, but I ultimately believe the allure of Travis Hunter will be too much to pass up. The Browns stay put and get a difference-maker on both sides of the ball.
*TRADE* 3. New Orleans Saints (from New York Giants)- Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
It recently came out that veteran quarterback Derek Carr may not be ready for the 2025 season. In this scenario, the Saints decide to make a bold play and move up for their passer of the future.
The Giants are okay with moving down since Ward and Hunter are off the board and Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux are on the team, making Abdul Carter not a necessity.
4. New England Patriots- Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State
The first three picks make the fourth pick an easy decision for the Patriots. The Patriots desperately need an elite-level edge-rusher, and Carter is probably the best in the class.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars- Mason Graham, DT, Michigan
This is a very common mock draft pick and it’s easy to see why. Mason Graham is a disruptive force on the interior that the Jaguars desperately need after not addressing the position in free agency.
6. Las Vegas Raiders- Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
Perhaps no team in the league needs a quarterback more than the Raiders, and the team makes a bold play probably the best option in the class. Ashton Jeanty is a true do-it-all back who could immediately be a star in the league. Jeanty is the pick here and Pete Carroll gets his running back.
7. New York Jets- Armand Membou, OT, Missouri
The Jets consider making a bold move up for a quarterback, but decide to stay put and reap the rewards. Armand Membou would give the team an elite option at right tackle, replacing veteran Morgan Moses who left in free agency.
8. Carolina Panthers- Shemar Stewart, EDGE, Texas A&M
The Carolina Panthers need an edge-rusher and they take a physical beast in Shemar Stewart with the eighth pick. Stewart didn’t have the best production in college, but he tested well and would give the Panthers a high-upside, high-energy pass-rusher.
*TRADE* 9. New York Giants (from New Orleans Saints)- Will Campbell, OL, LSU
The Giants move back, adding additional draft capital and still adding one of the best offensive line prospects in the class in Will Campbell. There are concerns about Campbell’s ability to stick at tackle, but the LSU product could be a solid starting guard at the very least, which the Giants need.
10. Chicago Bears- Jalon Walker, LB, Georgia
The Bears did a great job of adding to their weaknesses in free agency, and now the team can select possibly the best available player at No. 10 in Jalon Walker. Walker is a three-down linebacker who can play off-ball or as an edge-rusher. The Bears get a true difference-maker on defense in the first round.
11. San Francisco 49ers- Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
In this scenario, the 49ers may break a record for fastest selection announcement in draft history. The 49ers need a corner after losing Charvarius Ward in free agency, and Will Johnson is in the running to be the best corner in this class. Injuries afftected Johnson’s 2024 season, but the Niners won’t be deterred due to the corner’s elite traits.
12. Dallas Cowboys- Kelvin Banks Jr., OL, Texas
Kelvin Banks Jr. stays in-state in this scenario and ends up in Dallas. The Cowboys need a guard after Zack Martin retired, and Banks could begin his career there, allowing the Cowboys to have a line of massive, talented blockers. Banks could eventually switch to right tackle and replace Terence Steele.
*TRADE* 13. Denver Broncos (from Miami Dolphins)- Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
In this scenario, the Broncos get antsy with Tyler Warren still on the board and decide to move ahead of the Indianapolis Colts. Sean Payton gets his “Joker” for the offense and the Broncos are ecstatic to get the top tight end in this class.
14. Indianapolis Colts- Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama
With Warren off the board, the Colts are disappointed but quickly pivot to Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell. Campbell immediately could step into the field general role for the Colts’ defense next to Zaire Franklin.
15. Atlanta Falcons- Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia
The Atlanta Falcons have refused to draft defenders in the first round of late. However, I believe that trend ends this year as the team desperately needs to finally address the pass-rush. Williams stays in Georgia and gives the Falcons an elite defender to build around.
16. Arizona Cardinals- Mike Green, EDGE, Marshall
Like the Falcons before them, the Cardinals are unable to resist this talented edge-rusher class. Mike Green from Marshall is the pick here and will join Baron Browning and Josh Sweat on the edge in Arizona, giving the team a fearsome pass-rush.
17. Cincinnati Bengals- Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon
The Bengals missed the playoffs in 2024 because of a porous defense. The team looks to address that in the first round here, selecting space-eating defensive tackle Derrick Harmon. Harmon would immediately start next to B.J. Hill in Cincinnati.
18. Seattle Seahawks- Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
The Seahawks end Tetairoa McMillan’s slide at No. 18. The team traded away D.K. Metcalf this offseason, so a big-bodied receiver with star potential would be a welcomed addition. McMillan joins a revamped receiver core that features Cooper Kupp and Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Malaki Starks, S, Georgia
Malaki Starks had a down year by his standards in 2024, but the defender is clearly still a top safety in this class. The Bucs get a quality safety to pair with Antoine Winfield Jr., giving the team one of the best young safety duos in the league.
*TRADE* 20. Miami Dolphins (from Denver Broncos)- Tyler Booker, OL, Alabama
The Dolphins trade down with the Broncos and still get a player they might have considered with their original pick. The Dolphins badly need to upgrade the offensive line, and Tyler Booker does just that. The Alabama product is a strong run-blocker and pass protector who raises the floor of the team’s line immediately.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers- Jaxson Dart, QB, Ole Miss
The Steelers wanted to trade up for Shedeur Sanders, but the Saints outbid them and the Steelers pivot to Jaxson Dart. Dart is a prospect who has flown up draft boards due to his leadership and strong performance at the Senior Bowl. Even if the Steelers sign Aaron Rodgers, Dart gives the team a young talent to slowly bring along.
22. Los Angeles Chargers- Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
This pick just makes too much sense to not happen. Colston Loveland played under Jim Harbaugh at Michigan, making this a match made in heaven. The Chargers need a talented tight end like Loveland who can creat space and catches everything.
23. Green Bay Packers- Jahdae Barron, DB, Texas
The Packers already lost Eric Stokes in free agency and could potentially lose Jaire Alexander as well. This makes Jahdae Barron a perfect fit, as the Texas product is capable of playing safety or nickel corner.
*TRADE* 24. Buffalo Bills (from Minnesota Vikings)- Matthew Golden, WR, Texas
The Bills see Matthew Golden slipping and decide to jump ahead of the Houston Texans and others who could be interested. Golden is a speedy receiver with sure hands who gives the Bills a potentially elite pass-catcher to bolster Josh Allen’s supporting cast.
25. Houston Texans- Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
With the Texans getting leapfrogged for Matthew Golden, the team pivots to Emeka Egbuka. Egbuka played with C.J. Stroud at Ohio State, so the duo likely have some chemistry already. The Texans need another receiver to pair with Nico Collins, making this a perfect fit.
26. Los Angeles Rams- Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina
With the 26th pick, the Rams decide to bolster their offense by adding the best available running back. Omarion Hampton filled up the stat sheet at North Carolina in 2024, and has the burst and strength to be a star in a Sean McVay offense.
27. Baltimore Ravens- Grey Zabel, OL, North Dakota State
The Ravens usually stand pat and let good players fall in their lap and that’s exactly what happens here. Grey Zabel is a versatile blocker who excelled at left tackle in college and could be an elite guard in the NFL.
28. Detroit Lions- Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri
The Lions would’ve loved to land Matthew Golden or Emeka Egbuka, but Luther Burden III isn’t a bad consolation prize. The Missouri product’s production went down in 2024, but that was more a product of an inconsistent offense. Burden has the tools to be an elite receiver in the NFL, especially next to a guy like Amon-Ra St. Brown.
29. Washington Commanders- Nic Scourton, EDGE, Texas A&M
The Commanders were the surprise of the NFL in 2024 and the team will look to build on that in 2025. Adding a toolsy edge-rusher like Nic Scourton could help that, as the team desperately needs a more consistent pass-rush.
*TRADE* 30. Minnesota Vikings (from Buffalo Bills)- Shavon Revel, CB, East Carolina
The Vikings have very few picks to work with, so a trade down feels inevitable. In this scenario, the team moves down and lands Shavon Revel, who’s capable of immediately starting in the team’s secondary. Revel dealt with injury in 2024, but if healthy, Revel is a potential star.
31. Kansas City Chiefs- James Pearce Jr., EDGE, Tennessee
The Kansas City Chiefs don’t have many needs, but the pass rush is one of them. In James Pearce Jr., the Chiefs would get an edge-rusher who produced at an elite level in the SEC and may only get better with an NFL training regimen.
32. Philadelphia Eagles- Walter Nolen, DL, Ole Miss
The Eagles love to stand pat and build depth in the trenches, and that’s exactly what they do here. Walter Nolen is a former top prospect who the physical traits to be a dominant force on the defensive interior.
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