Ricky Dimon
With the 2025 NFL Draft starting on Thursday night, it’s time to produce our final mock draft. As usual, there is a ton of intrigue at the top of the board. We are all but certain of the direction in which Tennessee is taking with the #1 overall pick, but things could get interesting immediately thereafter. The big question, of course, is: when and where will Shedeur Sanders go? That will pretty shape the entire of the first round. Trades are expected to be fast and furious, too, so fasten your seatbelts for what could be a wild ride on Thursday in Green Bay.
Let’s try to make sense of the potential madness by projecting picks 1 through 32.
1) Tennessee Titans: Cam Ward, QB, Miami
The Titans are perennially bad and once again need a complete reset following the disaster that was the Will Levis experiment. Ward may not be the best overall prospect in this clay, but he obviously plays the most important position. Tennessee needs a new face of the franchise.
2) Cleveland Browns: Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado
Hunter is probably the best and certainly the most dynamic player on this 2025 draft. He can play both ways at wide receiver and cornerback, which is what he has every intention of doing at the next level. Abdul Carter is a possibility, but the Browns simply can’t pass up Hunter’s immense potential.
3) New York Giants: Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
Most experts expect the Giants to go with whoever the Browns don’t take between Hunter and Carter. Both of those guys would be good picks, but the bottom line is that they don’t play quarterback. Like Tennessee, New York also requires a total overhaul following its own QB doldrums (ahem, Daniel Jones).
4) New England Patriots: Abdul Carter, DE, Penn State
If Carter falls to #4, New England won’t have to think twice and can simply turn in its card immediately with the best available player. Carter made 23 sacks in 3 years at Penn State, including 12 in 2024. The Patriots got their QB of the future last year in Drake Maye, so now they can go with defense.
5) Jacksonville Jaguars: Will Campbell, OT, LSU
This pick will depend on what the Giants do at #3. If Carter is gone instead of Sanders, the Patriots will likely snag Campbell at #4. If Carter is still there for New England, Campbell will still be there for Jacksonville. That would be good news for the Jags, who need to protect Trevor Lawrence in the worst way.
6) Las Vegas Raiders: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
The Raiders’ offensive reboot began last year, when they selected TE Brock Bowers in round 1. Bowers was outstanding even without a real quarterback, and now he has Geno Smith throwing him the football. A legitimate RB1 in the record-setting Jeanty could really kick things into high gear in Las Vegas.
7) New York Jets: Armand Membou, OT, Missouri
Again, what happens with Sanders also impacts the #7 spot. If Campbell goes to Jacksonville, Membou should be available for the Jets. If Campbell is gone at #5, the Jaguars will likely roll with Membou. In that case, could the Jets pick up Sanders in this spot?
8) Carolina Panthers: Mason Graham, DT, Michigan
Graham and Jalon Walker seem like the 2 guys in the realistic discussion for Carolina at #9. The Panthers need help everywhere, but defense is the biggest concern since Bryce Young seems to be figuring things out under center. Graham may not be the next Aidan Hutchinson, but the Michigan man is the real deal.
9) New Orleans Saints: Jalon Walker, LB, Georgia
If Sanders gets past the 2 New York teams, he will probably be in play for New Orleans at #9. If not, the Saints would do well to address their defensive issues – of which there are many. They need substantial help in the pass-rush department and the secondary. Walker is yet another star out of Georgia.
10) Chicago Bears: Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
As we saw in 2024, there is no shame in picking a tight end in the first half of the first round. Bowers has paid off bigtime for Las Vegas, and Warren could do the same in Chicago. Yes, Cole Kmet is there. But who cares? Caleb Williams needs all the weapons he can get, and Ben Johnson can work his magic with a 2-TE set.
- San Francisco 49ers: Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas
- Dallas Cowboys: Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
- Miami Dolphins: Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas
- Indianapolis Colts: Coleston Loveland, TE, Michigan
- Atlanta Falcons: Mike Green, DE, Marshall
- Arizona Cardinals: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
- Cincinnati Bengals: Mykel Williams, DE, Georgia
- Seattle Seahawks: Grey Zabel, G, North Dakota State
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama
- Denver Broncos: Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina
- Pittsburgh Steelers: Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan
- Los Angeles Chargers: Matthew Golden, WR, Texas
- Green Bay Packers: Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon
- Minnesota Vikings: Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina
- Houston Texans: Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
- Los Angeles Rams: Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky
- Baltimore Ravens: Malaki Starks, S, Georgia
- Detroit Lions: James Pearce Jr., DE, Tennessee
- Washington Commanders: Shemar Stewart, DE, Texas A&M
- Buffalo Bills: Trey Amos, CB, Ole Miss
- Kansas City Chiefs: Josh Conerly Jr., OT, Oregon
- Philadelphia Eagles: Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss
