Although the NFL Draft is about six months away, what's a better time to get to know some players who'll make up the top end of this upcoming class? If you're a fan of a team that needs help in the offensive/defensive trenches and secondary, or just like guys from Alabama, Georgia, or Ohio State, you are in luck because there's some legit talent either at those positions or coming out of those schools. Now, I doubt the final draft order you're about to see is the one that's going to happen come next April, but here's how I'd see the 2025 NFL Draft going after four weeks of NFL Football.
2025 NFL Mock Draft (Round 1 Only)
Pick 1) Jacksonville Jaguars - Will Campbell, OT (LSU)
If you told me the Jaguars would've started the year 1-3 (less so 0-4), I wouldn't have been surprised, but how lifeless and cohesive they looked in the Buffalo game and how they lost that Jaguars game tells me everything I need to know. Wholesale regime change is coming sooner than later. Regarding the draft, there are two paths: The first is to get yourself a new franchise tackle for Trevor Lawrence or bring in a game-changer in the secondary to pair with Tyson Campbell.
Ultimately, I have a hard time envisioning a new regime wanting to give Cam Robinson another big contract and opt to bring in some fresh blood. LSU's Will Campbell is one of the top two consensus tackles. At 6'6" and over 320 lbs, he has looked top-notch against SEC competition. Looking to get back-to-back First-Team All-SEC selections before going pro next spring, Campbell has elite physical traits that should translate on day one. Just try to burn the South Carolina game from your memory.
Pick 2) Miami Dolphins - Mason Graham, IDL (Michigan)
Based on this four-week sample size, your guess is as good as mine as to where the Dolphins go this off-season. Tua's health continues to be a significant concern. They have some big-money guys they can cut bait with this offseason (Bradley Chubb, most notably). They need to pay cornerstone safety Javon Holland, and I wouldn't be shocked if they sell off at the deadline at the rate they're going.
Chris Grier could do a lot here, but adding an interior game wrecker like Mason Graham to a defensive front that already features Jaelan Phillips (unfortunately done for the year again) is quite the move. The Michigan product is an every-down nightmare with multi-tech versatility and elite hand usage.
Pick 3) New England Patriots - Kelvin Banks Jr., OT (Texas)
The offensive line woes in New England are the chief problem for a team dealing with a severe lack of pass rush juice outside of Keion White (and the medically unavailable Christian Barmore) and their middle-third defenders being brutal defending the pass. Left tackle is still their top priority, and adding a guy like Kelvin Banks would be a godsend for a team looking to keep soon-to-be franchise QB Drake Maye upright.
Will Campbell is undoubtedly my top tackle at this juncture, but Banks has been playing lights out for the Longhorns as Arch Manning's (and Quinn Ewers', for that matter) blindside blocker. His blend of power and speed is elite. He has over 30 starts at left tackle and counting and still has room to grow, which is a scary thought—an instant plug-and-play starter for a team that desperately needs it.
Pick 4) Cincinnati Bengals - Travis Hunter, CB/WR (Colorado)
If Graham were here, he'd be the pick for a Bengals team that's been less than stellar defensively to start 2024. Going with someone like edge rusher James Pearce or interior defender Deone Walker would be worthwhile here, but guys like Travis Hunter don't come by often, if ever.
As of now, I believe that Hunter can be a great NFL wide receiver but a potential Hall of Fame-caliber cornerback. His blend of size, movement skills, ball skills, football IQ,/instincts, and durability are out-of-this-world good, and bigger corners are in demand. The full-time two-way player stuff will likely stop after this year, but teams could throw him out on offense in spot situations if he becomes a full-time defender. His receiver mixtape from this year alone is excellent.
Pick 5) Cleveland Browns - Jalen Milroe, QB (Alabama)
If the Cleveland Browns willingly start [THE NASTY MAN] in 2025, they are not committed to winning NFL football games, full stop. How can you watch them to this point and say he's not been a net negative to the highest degree? They can't cut or trade him without eating over 100 million in dead cap charges for 2025, but this can't continue, and it's time to add another poor soul to the factory of sadness.
As far as quarterback options go in this draft, I was a Carson Beck fan until this last Saturday; Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward are legit options in their own rights, but Jalen Milroe out of Alabama would be my top option as of October. To see where he was last year, which admittedly wasn't bad by any means, and to see some of the plays he's made this year, specifically against Wisconsin and Georgia, was incredible to watch. That game last weekend, in that spot, vs. that specific opponent was as much of a statement performance as I've ever seen, and he showcased everything he's capable of.
Milroe's deep ball is lethal; he reads the field very well, can hit anticipation throws like the wheel route TD he had, and is an elite scrambler while being able to protect himself as a runner. Never mind that he's mentally tough as nails and has legitimate leadership qualities. He keeps this up, and QB1 is not even a debate by Feburary for me.
Pick 6) Tennessee Titans - Shedeur Sanders, QB (Colorado)
It's not hard to look ahead and say that Will Levis' days as the No. 1 in Tennessee are numbered. His decision-making woes from Kentucky have arguably gotten worse, and the only team Tennessee has beaten as a result is the snakebitten Dolphins. Adding someone like Shedeur Sanders to kick off a soft reboot in a Brian Callahan offense would do a world of good. The son of "Prime Time" has some better arm talent than I remember/would've given him credit for last year and can make plays in and outside the pocket with plus mobility. His decision-making as a passer could be better, but there's certainly a lot to like outside of that.
Regarding the maturity concerns, he wouldn't be the first guy to go first round with those (looking at you, Johnny Manziel). Additionally, Sanders suffered a back fracture at the tail end of 2023. Something to monitor as the year goes along.
Pick 7) Carolina Panthers - James Pearce Jr., EDGE (Tennessee)
Without knowing the long-term plan for Bryce Young after his benching, I'd like to see the Panthers start their next draft by continuing to overhaul their defense, which is in shambles after losing Derrick Brown for the season right off the bat. James Pearce has been a blue-chip prospect for months but came into the year hurt and is still ramping his way up to 100%. Granted, he's still an impact player, even if it's not coming in the form of sacks. I've heard some of the PFF boys compare him to Dallas Turner, and that's pretty close stylistically. He can legitimately drop off the edge and give you good coverage snaps, and he's as explosive as it gets for a pass rusher.
Pick 8) Los Angeles Rams - Will Johnson, CB (Michigan)
My gut instinct looking at the Rams is to go corner, and there might not be a better corner in the country right now than Will Johnson, who's been an eraser in Ann Arbor for quite some time now, with a physical profile almost identical to that of Christian Gonzalez coming out of Oregon. He takes some more gambles in coverage than the current Patriot did/does, but that has led to nine picks since 2022 and an All-Time Michigan Wolverine record of three Pick-6s. Johnson would be a tough guy to pass on inside the top 10, especially for a team starting Tre'Davious White on the boundary right now.
Pick 9) Arizona Cardinals - Mykel Williams, EDGE (Georgia)
Johnathan Gannon's defense currently ranks second to last in pressure percentage and dead last in outright pressures through four games, not touting a ton of pass rush juice in light of Darius Robinson going down in the preseason. A guy like Mykel Williams can add a ton of that on day one, plus the ability to set a mean edge in the run game. He's listed at 6'5" and 265 lbs, and from the early looks I've had, he certainly plays like it. Williams also only turns 21 years old next June, so do with that what you will.
Pick 10) New York Giants - Cam Ward, QB (The U)
With the games counting down until the Giants can get out of Daniel Jones' deal, all eyes are on who the next quarterback of the New York Football Giants will be. How about Cam Ward? Spending time at Incarnate Wood and Washington State, he's made Miami his new home for the year and is comfortably in Heisman contention as The U settles into ACC play. Ward has somewhat similar arm talent as Sanders, but the one big notch for him is that he has several highly impressive tight window throws from this year. He can create from anywhere on the field as a passer or runner and is nearly impossible to bring down. He has some areas to clean up, but he's played like a rockstar.
Pick 11) Indianapolis Colts - Malaki Starks, SAF (Georgia)
Secondary talent jumps out as an immediate long-term need in Indy, and Georgia's Malakai Starks is on a short list of my outright favorite players in this class. He's a Swiss army knife who can line up at every spot in the secondary, has elite ball skills, fights like hell at the catch point, and is a plus-tackler. He took some lumps against Alabama and 17-year-old phenom WR Ryan Williams, but Starks won't be the last guy he has an elite game against. In any event, I'm still very high on the Georgia Bulldog until further notice, primarily because he can do stuff like this:
Pick 12) Los Angeles Chargers - Deone Walker, IDL (Kentucky)
Even at .500, the Chargers have been one of the more pleasant surprises of this NFL season, restoring the essence of our great sport by running the ball out of 12 and 13 personnel exclusively (don't bother looking up the actual numbers). I'm sure Jim Harbaugh would've loved to have gotten Graham, but as far as interior defenders go, Walker is the next best thing. The absolute largest man, he stands at a listed 6'6" and 345 lbs and somehow moves like a guy who's north of 40 lbs lighter. He lit it up against Ole Miss with Lane Kiffin calling him unblockable, and if he can be more consistent on a down-to-down basis, he's probably going a few spots higher than this. Seriously, Walker is not a real person.
Pick 13) New Orleans Saints - Emery Jones Jr. OT (LSU)
TLDR: The Saints are committing malpractice if Trevor Penning is a starter on their offensive line next year, and as far as the near future, I fully expect to see Kansas City iso Chris Jones on him on passing downs on Monday like Spags did with Roger Rosengarten on opening night. That said, bringing in a natural right tackle like Emery Jones would set the Saints up beautifully with him and Taliese Fuaga on the bookends of the line. I had the chance to see a lot of Jones' 2023 tape when I scouted Jayden Daniels, and I liked what I saw; he had a ton of good reps against Dallas Turner and Chris Braswell in the Bama game from my vantage point.
Pick 14) Dallas Cowboys - Benjamin Morrison, CB (Notre Dame)
As hilariously bad as the Cowboys' run defense is and likely will continue to be, I get physically ill from their cornerback situation so much that I'd much rather see them wait to address the interior defensive line. Trevon Diggs has been mostly fine this season (however, despite what he'd tell you, he indeed does not travel with the opposition best all game), but having two gamblers who aren't sticky in coverage as your best corners in he and DaRon Bland (who's yet to play this year), in addition to rookie Caelan Carson, is simply asking for trouble. Bring in someone like Benjamin Morrison, who has elite ball skills but would be the best pure cover guy on that team the moment he walks in the door. Go out of your way to watch him against Ohio State last year if you have the chance; he was spectacular against an NFL-caliber receiver room.
Pick 15) Chicago Bears - Aireonte Ersery, OT (Minnesota)
Yeah, I think it's fair to say the Bears didn't do enough to upgrade their offensive line last offseason. I liked their third-round draft pick of Kiran Amegadjie out of Yale, but he's still an in-progress player. However, he might get a reserved start at right tackle this week. Regardless, they have a bottom-five pass-protecting OLine four weeks in; I haven't been a fan of Braxton Jones at left tackle for them in the past, and certainly aren't now. Ersery is a mammoth at 6'6" and 330 lbs and is in the process of another great season as a pass blocker out in the Big10, also serving as a run game finisher with his big frame. I also considered Arizona swingman Jonah Savaiinaea here, seeing as he'd give the Bears multiple options on where to put him, but Ersery is a better run blocker in the short sample size I've gotten to see of both.
Pick 16) Green Bay Packers - Abdul Carter, EDGE (Penn State)
I've seen Packers fan's concerns over the pass rush these last few weeks and believe they are 100 percent justified. 14 sacks through four games, but a whopping eight of those came against the Tennessee Titans, who are neck and neck with the Patriots for the worst pass-blocking offensive line in the league, in addition to 27 of their 51 total pressures. They have a lot of money tied to Rashan Gary, Preston Smith, and Kenny Clark, and the bottom line is that they need to do better. No one in Green Bay displays the raw athleticism or explosiveness Abdul Carter does, and he's likely going to light up the athletic testing numbers, much to the Packers' liking; he is a logical fit with that in mind.
Pick 17) San Francisco 49ers - Shavon Revel Jr., CB (East Carolina)
I fully expect the 49ers to pick upwards of 10 picks after this, but they're about to have an interesting offseason. Dre Greenlaw, Talanoa Hufanga, Charvarius Ward, Deommodore Lenoir, and Jon Feliciano are all on expiring contracts, and it'll be time to get Brock Purdy's extension done in a year where they'll have five players with cap hits north of 20 million. I think that secondary looks a bit different next year, and while this pick would be a gamble, given that he just tore his ACL, I think that Shavon Revel has all the tools to succeed at the next level. Having a sticky and aggressive corner who's 6-foot-3 on the boundary would be a massive addition to a 49ers secondary that only has a little of that outside of really Issac Yiadom and Ward, who could be elsewhere next year.
Pick 18) Baltimore Ravens - Tetairoa McMillan, WR (Arizona)
Bringing honor and prestige back to bully ball, the Ravens, as has been the case the last decade, could certainly use some pass-catching help on the boundary. Rashod Bateman has been fine for the most part but is once again in a contract year and thus a potential flight risk, which would give the Ravens a chance to create a three-headed monster in the passing game with Isaiah Likely, Zay Flowers, and, for the purposes of this mock draft, Tetairoa McMillan. The Arizona product is a freak of nature at 6'5" and is downright lethal after the catch. New Mexico can let you know all about that.
The biggest thing I would like to see him improve upon is being more secure with the ball after the catch. However, his insane skill set and build will make him a dynamic X receiver on day one in the NFL. The only reason he's on the board this late is team-need-related. He's well on his way to being a top-ten talent in this class.
Pick 19) Philadelphia Eagles - Harold Perkins, LB (LSU)
The Eagles' investments in their exterior pass rush have yet to pay off this year. Nolan Smith and Bryce Huff have been nonexistent so far, and the only player with multiple sacks, Zach Baun, has zero in the last three games and just two pressures. It's still early, but another edge rusher is on the table if things don't improve. For now, trying to retool the linebacker room with a guy like Harold Perkins, a true triple-threat linebacker, would go a long way in shoring up a pretty iffy Eagles defense. An ACL tear has knocked him out for the year, so it wouldn't stun me if he stays at LSU one more year, but he already has a ton of high-quality tape out there. Also, take this for whatever it's worth: he wears No. 7 at LSU, which is quite a badge of honor if you're not a big college football person.
Pick 20) New York Jets - Kevin Winston Jr., SAF (Penn State)
The Jets have a ton of legitimate options here, from receiver help to potentially a DJ Reed replacement should he walk, or even help at tight end, offensive line, or safety. The one thing that would make me think that a wideout might be out of the question is how little Malachi Corley has been involved since Aaron Rodgers historically would rather perish than have a rookie be a key cog in his offense. It's not a sexy pick here, and just like with Revel and Perkins, there's a risk given his season-ending injury, but putting Winston in a secondary that already touts the best corner trio in the league would be a fantastic add. The Penn State product has elite instincts and would add another layer of physicality to a Jets defense that touts a lot of it as is, and game planning around a team with him and Quincy Williams in the box would be a tough ask for any OC. It feels like I'm higher on him than consensus, but you can't teach Winston's instincts.
Pick 21) Las Vegas Raiders - Luther Burden II, WR (Mizzou)
It feels like when and not if Davante Adams is no longer a Raider, and I'd bet on the Raiders not wasting a ton of time finding a more long-term replacement this offseason. Luther Burden is a guy I've liked for a while, and I compared him to Ja'Marr Chase with Deebo Samuel-type usage. BC Head Coach Bill O'Brien's comments from last month won't slow down the first half of that anytime soon. He's an electric factory after the catch with his speed and contact balance, is tough as nails, and, in theory, would be an excellent fit for what Antonio Pierce wants as a Raider. The battle between Burden and T-Mac for the top wideout honors should be a blast all fall and into the winter, and I think he ends up going higher than this, much like McMillan.
Pick 22) Denver Broncos - Josh Simmons, OT (Ohio State)
Remember when Sean Payton made it sound like he checkmated the Vikings into not taking Bo Nix just for him to have arguably the worst start of any starter in the NFL through four weeks??? There's a reason why the Saints "wasted" Drew Brees' final five years, folks. Back on topic, I cannot imagine that Garrett Bolles is getting another contract from the Broncos, and it'll be time to replace him sooner or later. Someone like Josh Simmons, who has starting tackle experience at San Diego State and Ohio State, has some great physical tools and aggressiveness at his disposal but needs to reign it in at the next level, as penalties are a big part of the equation with him.
Pick 23) Atlanta Falcons - Nic Scourton, EDGE (Texas A&M)
Even after getting Matt Judon from the Patriots, the Falcons' ability to rush the passer isn't near good enough if they want to compete for a Super Bowl. They had their pick of the litter last year, but getting someone like Scourton in the back half of round one would be great value. He is a freak athlete with great power in his hands, and he explodes off the snap. There's a 4th&1 play last year when he played vs. Indiana (w/Purdue; Scourton transferred earlier this year), where he's literally off the LOS a clean half second before the QB gets the ball and blows things up immediately. If he can replicate a double-digit sack campaign from a year ago, he'll be a name to keep an eye on for the top 10.
Pick 24) Detroit Lions - Tyler Booker, IOL (Alabama)
Kevin Zeitler isn't a long-term fix at right guard for the Lions, and a more sustainable solution, in this case, Alabama's Tyler Booker, would be a good pan excellento turn to after this season. Currently serving as the Crimson Tide's starting left guard, he possesses a great frame for an interior lineman, and I like his movement skills, both in pass pro and when he's out as a pull blocker in the run and screen game. Also, here's a quick fun fact: Booker was on the IMG Academy team that played against Bishop Sycamore.
Pick 25) Washington Commanders - Tacario Davis, CB (Arizona)
Continuing with the trend of tall, lengthy, and athletic corners, the Commanders, who need a ton of help in the secondary, (hypothetically) land a giant of a corner in Tacario Davis, who stands in the 6'3-6'4 range with elite press skills. He's another one of these guys who I believe is a riser based on the unbelievable physical profile, but I'd love his fit in a Dan Quinn defense. It would certainly give that corner room some edge.
Pick 26) Buffalo Bills - Isaiah Bond, WR (Texas)
Much to my surprise, Keon Coleman on the boundary has gotten off to a good start so far, and while the run defense is Buffalo's biggest weakness, I'd still like to see them add another pass catcher to that offense. I don't know if Isaiah Bond, an Alabama transfer, has the speed that Xavier Worthy did coming out of Texas, but he can't be far off (Reel Analytics tracked him at 22 mph on a bubble screen TD this year). In short, Bond would give the Bills an option to take the top off opposing defenses they don't have right now. Also, his James Bond peak around the corner celebration is Top 1% and should be allowed at the next level.
Pick 27) Seattle Seahawks - Danny Stutsman, LB (Oklahoma)
The Seahawks have both starting linebackers on expiring deals, but Mike Macdonald has these guys out in Seattle locked in defensively and even managed to keep Detroit honest on Monday with their entire starting DLine on the shelf. Bringing in a guy like Danny Stutsman right after drafting a certified game wrecker in Byron Murphy would elevate an already elite front seven to even greater heights. Stutsman has a great chance to #RestoreTheFeeling what it means to be an "oversized" linebacker in the NFL. He moves insanely well for someone who's 6'4" and 240 lbs and is an overall great athlete with the explosiveness and motor to match. Also, he wears a neck roll (or was against Auburn), so my hopes couldn't be higher in October.
Pick 28) Pittsburgh Steelers - Emeka Egbuka, WR (Ohio State)
Opting to stick at Ohio State an extra year, Emeka Egbuka has done nothing to make me think he isn't a first-round caliber prospect and would make sense for a Pittsburgh team needing at least one more reliable pass-catching target on the outside/in the slot. Something I saw this week from Dane Brugler on Egbuka feels worth sharing, so take a look at some of these blocks he was making against Michigan State. A+ effort doesn't even begin to describe this.
Pick 29) Houston Texans - Kenneth Grant, IDL (Michigan)
Likely wanting to get a bit younger inside the trenches, how would Texans fans feel about adding a guy in Kenneth Grant, who's listed at 6'3" and nearly 340 lbs and can move like this?
Yeah....Horrifying. Guys at his size shouldn't be this athletic. He does everything down to breaking up passes. No, seriously, Grant is tied for the Michigan team lead in PBUs through five games. Needless to say, this would be one hell of an add to a defensive front starring Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter, but the more I've seen him these last couple of weeks, the more I've become a fan. I doubt he'll be this late in the first round moving forward.
Pick 30) Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Maxwell Hairston, CB (Kentucky)
While I've become acclimated to some Bucs fans' disdain for Jamel Dean, I don't think he's going anywhere next year, but the Bucs could undoubtedly use another body in the cornerback room. Maxwell Hairston doesn't have the ideal frame I'd be looking for in a corner, but he plays above his weight class, which is an excellent start for me. He also possesses elite ball skills and agility that should translate to the league.
Pick 31) Minnesota Vikings - Ashton Jeanty, RB (Bosie State)
Corner is unequivocally the Viking's biggest need going into 2025, but as of now, they just missed out on the corner run this round (they did consider Texas' Jahdae Barron here but opted not). Instead, sitting in no man's land regarding secondary talent, the Vikings get their bell-cow of the future in who my Heisman pick would be as of now, Bosie State's Ashton Jeanty. You probably haven't seen much of his work this year, given how late some of BSU's games are, but he's as legit a runner as it gets. His contract balance is freakishly good, and he's been a home run threat every time he's touched the rock in 2024.
Also, any arguments about the level of competition become null and void when you find out Jeanty put up 192 on the road vs. Oregon and then just last week put up 259 and four scores against Washington St. I believe you have to be a certain level of running back to warrant a first-round selection, and Jeanty, at least on the surface, checks the necessary boxes.
Pick 32) Kansas City Chiefs - Colston Loveland, TE (Michigan)
The signs have been there for the last few years, in my opinion, but Travis Kelce's best days are behind him, and next spring is the time to find a long-term replacement. Michigan's Colston Loveland would give the Chiefs more than just a jumbo slot receiver option, as he's been able to make impact plays as a pass catcher and blocker for the Wolverines and is a very high floor player in this draft. I don't think as highly of him as I did Brock Bowers, but Loveland is undoubtedly better than his positioning here would indicate; very, very good player.
First 10 Picks of Round 2:
Pick 33) Jacksonville Jaguars - Denzel Burke, CB (Ohio State)
Pick 34) New England Patriots - Jalon Walker, LB (Georgia)
Pick 35) Cincinnati Bengals - J.T. Tuimoloau, EDGE (Ohio State)
Pick 36) Cleveland Browns - Earnest Greene, OT (Georgia)
Pick 37) Tennessee Titans - Princely Umanmielen, EDGE (Ole Miss)
Pick 38) Chicago Bears (via CAR) - Tate Ratlidge, IOL (Georgia)
Pick 39) Carolina Panthers (via LAR) - Tre Harris, WR (Ole Miss)
Pick 40) Arizona Cardinals - Mansoor Delane, CB (Virginia Tech)
Pick 41) New York Giants - Nick Emmanwori, SAF (South Carolina)
Pick 42) Miami Dolphins - Quinn Ewers, QB (Texas)
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