I wrote a mock draft (I fucking hate writing mock drafts)

Begrudgingly, here is a new mock draft for your consumption

The 2025 NFL Draft is getting closer by the day, so mock drafts are going to become more prevalent. I guess that means I should probably write one (we did one on the podcast as well) even if I fucking hate doing them.

It is not news to anyone, but this draft class is not extraordinarily top-heavy. We are going to see very few first round grades handed out around the NFL this year; some scouts believe that number may hover around 10 in total. That, however, could open up the board for some chaos at positions like running back, tight end, and more to slip into the first round in larger numbers than usual.

How will the board play out here in this mock draft?

As we hit the middle of October, here is a new mock draft using the draft order from the current NFL standings. New England, you are now on the clock:

1. New England Patriots: OT Cameron Williams, Texas

Boy, this class lacks a true top pick in the draft. This feels like the 2022 NFL Draft all over again where the Jacksonville Jaguars took Trevon Walker first overall with no takers to come up and get a quarterback. The Patriots desperately need an offensive tackle though, and there is only one with legit OT1 tools in the class.

He might be more raw than his own teammate Kelvin Banks Jr., but many see Banks as a guard (as with the likes of Will Campbell and Emery Jones Jr.). The Patriots take a big swing here and go with the massive and agile 6-foot-5 and 335-pound Cameron Williams, who just keeps getting better every game as a first-year starter in Austin.

2. Cleveland Browns: QB Shedeur Sanders, Colorado

The Browns owe their current quarterback (who sucks) $46 million annually. They need one on a rookie contract (who doesn’t suck), so they go out and get the only quarterback I think is truly worthy of being taken in the first round in this class in Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders.

Head coach Kevin Stefanski finally has a quarterback who can stand in the pocket like an adult, throw with precision, and hit a backside dig in the face of pressure.

3. Jacksonville Jaguars: WR/CB Travis Hunter, Colorado

The Jaguars need help. Beyond a total regime change, they have an owner who is desperate for a face of the franchise. Trevor Lawrence has not become that yet as he is stacking together about 12 weeks of consistent struggles now. So go get Travis Hunter.

The Jaguars desperately need a cornerback. Hunter is perhaps the best in the class. The Jaguars also need a spark offensively, and Hunter will demand about 10 touches on the offensive side of the ball as well.

He won’t be a true two-way player in the NFL, but he’s the closest thing we’ve gotten to one since his current head coach was in the NFL.

4. Carolina Panthers: EDGE Nic Scourton, Texas A&M

The Carolina Panthers may look to immediately replace Bryce Young. They invested a ton of money into their offensive line this offseason, have a decent set of wide receivers, and are getting Jonathon Brooks back at running back. This is not a bad situation for a rookie quarterback.

However, with Sanders already off the board, what quarterback warrants a top-five pick? Instead, they look to upgrade their pass rush, and they do it with the lethal 6-foot-4 and 280-pound Nic Scourton. Fluid and explosive at that size, Scourton is a threat to get after quarterbacks on every snap.

5. Los Angeles Rams: CB Will Johnson Jr., Michigan

The Los Angeles Rams find themselves in unfamiliar territory: too many holes to count. So they might as well start with a premium position in a defense-heavy class with Michigan cornerback Will Johnson Jr.

Seen as the best prospect in the entire draft by some, Johnson Jr. just has it. It’s incredibly difficult to poke a hole in his game, and his body type is exactly what you look for in a lockdown cornerback as well. They might need a quarterback or offensive tackle, but going with the ultra-important defensive back here is the move.

6. Tennessee Titans: WR Luther Burden III, Missouri

The Tennessee Titans are definitely done with Will Levis. However, are we sure they will not bridge with Mason Rudolph in 2025 and shoot for a bigger prize in 2026? After all, half of their roster qualifies for AARP. Instead, they get a playmaker who impacts the game with the ball in his hands in a multitude of ways.

7. Cincinnati Bengals: EDGE Abdul Carter, Penn State

The Cincinnati Bengals do not need a ton of help at premium positions. They have their quarterback, they have no choice but to pay their duo of wide receivers, they just drafted a stud offensive tackle. The defensive side of the ball, however, will have some concessions.

The Bengals already let D.J. Reader walk, will likely let Trey Hendrickson walk, and may have to move on from a player like Sam Hubbard. Abdul Carter is your typical Penn State freak athlete, who is finally putting it all on display as the Nittany Lions stay undefeated in Big 10 play.

8. New Orleans Saints: DT Mason Graham, Michigan

The New Orleans Saints could go in a variety of directions with this pick. However, the interior of their defensive line is a massive void. The heavy-handed Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham will help with that.

A lethal pass rusher, Graham is racking up the pressures along the Wolverines’ defensive line. He has started and produced in a ton of big-time games at the college level, and he’ll be a Day 1 starter for the Saints here.

9. Arizona Cardinals: S Malaki Starks, Georgia

Budda Baker has been a mainstay in the desert for the Arizona Cardinals, but that era looks to be coming to a close. So why not go out and get perhaps the best player in the draft class who just so happens to play a position that gets knocked down the board?

Malaki Starks has been dominant since the very first time he stepped on the football field as a true freshman against Bo Nix and the Oregon Ducks in 2022. Now draft-eligible, it has been more of the same. Elite range, elite ball skills, and even the ability to play in the slot or at outside cornerback, the Cardinals get a defensive weapon.

10. Las Vegas Raiders: QB Jalen Milroe, Alabama

I hate this pick. Sanders is the only quarterback I’d take in the first round, but they run the world as the most important position in professional sports. And the Raiders are desperate after already benching Gardner Minshew multiple times for Aidan O’Connell (also replaceable).

Jalen Milroe has developed greatly as a pocket passer whose eyes are becoming adept at picking up post-snap looks quickly. His floor is automatically raised as well given he runs a 4.3 40. He heads to Vegas here.

11. New York Giants: RB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State

Their owner was torn up on Hard Knocks about losing Saquon Barkley in free agency. And with two quarterbacks already off the board, the New York Giants replace him with the 11th overall pick instead of reaching on a guy like Cam Ward.

Go get the Heisman front-runner who averages over 10 yards per carry. Ashton Jeanty, welcome to the Big Apple.

12. Miami Dolphins: OL Will Campbell, LSU

While Will Campbell may be the best offensive lineman in the class, the NFL views him as a guard. That may just stop him from being the first one off the board. He isn’t here, but he is the second as the Miami Dolphins look to upgrade their current tin-man situation along the interior of their offensive line.

Campbell is a high-floor, but moderately low-ceiling player. What you see is what you are going to get out of his capped-out frame and athletic profile. However, the player that Campbell is is a pretty damn good one.

13. New York Jets: EDGE James Pearce Jr., Tennessee

The New York Jets are going to trade Haason Reddick without getting a single snap out of him after acquiring him from the Philadelphia Eagles this offseason. Jermaine Johnson enters a contract year after suffering a torn ACL (the Jets could still pick up his fifth-year option), and a need at EDGE still exists.

Despite a slow start, the talented James Pearce Jr. has elevated his play over the last few weeks since entering SEC play. He has two sacks, 3.5 tackles for loss, 16 total pressures, and a forced fumble over the last three weeks for the Volunteers.

He lands in the Big Apple here.

14. Seattle Seahawks: OL Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas

Pretty much copy/paste the description from Will Campbell to the Dolphins, except sprinkle in a tad more athletic upside and lower the floor by a few inches.

15. Denver Broncos: WR Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona

The wide receiver room in Denver is in rough shape. Fourth round rookie Troy Franklin has struggled to see the field, 2023 third rounder Marvin Mims is experiencing about the same, and the only established guy in the room has been rumored in trade talks.

Some see Tetairoa McMillan as the top receiver in the class and a top-10 pick. I question his overall explosiveness and ability to play through contact. He’s still a good player and worthy of being a first round pick, but mid-first round is a bit more appropriate. Denver is a great landing spot.

16. Dallas Cowboys: WR Isaiah Bond, Texas

The Dallas Cowboys need another wide receiver to complement CeeDee Lamb. Brandin Cooks is aging and it’s showing, and it’s a barren wasteland after that. With Lamb winning a lot from the slot as well, someone who can win off the line of scrimmage and on the vertical plane from X would be a bonus.

Texas speedster Isaiah Bond come on down! Whether deep down the field, on manufactured touches, or running any route on the route tree, Bond is a well-rounded prospect who would complement what Lamb can do in Dallas.

17. Philadelphia Eagles: EDGE Mykel Williams, Georgia

Howie is never beating the Georgia to Philadelphia pipeline allegations.

18. Chicago Bears: OL Jonah Savaiinaea, Arizona

Caleb Williams is getting better every week, but still lacks protection along the interior of his offensive line. Left tackle Braxton Jones is also questionable at best. Here, they draft a guy with starting experience at right guard, right tackle, and left tackle for the Arizona Wildcats who can wear whatever hat the Bears need him to wear in Jonah Savaiinaea.

Electric foot speed, a heavy punch, and a mean mentality, Savaiinaea has some of the most fun tape in the entire class. He heads to the Windy City here.

19. Indianapolis Colts: CB Shavon Revel, East Carolina

As mentioned in last week’s Scouting Notebook, the NFL does not view a September ACL tear as an issue to the draft stock of Shavon Revel. They love the kid. He may not be able to test in Indianapolis, and may not be able to perform on a Pro Day, but ACL repairs are so routine by now that he’ll be ready for training camp.

This is excellent news for the Indianapolis Colts who are starting UDFAs and late Day 3 picks in their secondary right now.

20. San Francisco 49ers: OL Emery Jones Jr., LSU

Right tackle is a massive hole for the San Francisco 49ers. Colton McKivitz is just not cutting it. Emery Jones Jr. becomes the second LSU offensive tackle off the board here, heading to the Bay Area.

While Jones Jr. has elite core strength, a heavy punch, good grip strength, and more in his portfolio, he has not made the leap I’d hoped for entering the season. Still, a talented prospect, Jones Jr. does not hear his name called until pick No. 20 here.

21. Buffalo Bills: DT Deone Walker, Kentucky

The Buffalo Bills need more meat along their defensive line. The massive Kentucky defensive tackle Deone Walker will help with that. Even if his lower half is a bit slimmer than you’d expect from someone his size, he is a dynamic pass rusher who has a knack for getting after opposing quarterbacks.

Over the last two weeks, Walker has racked up eight total pressures, two sacks, and three stop tackles against Ole Miss and Vanderbilt. Now he teams up with Ed Oliver with the Bills.

22. Los Angeles Chargers: TE Gunnar Helm, Texas

Name a better duo than Jim Harbaugh and a tight end who loves to block. Don’t sell Texas tight end Gunnar Helm short though, he’s a smooth operator with the football in his hands.

He’s hurdled multiple defenders, shows route running prowess and alignment versatility, and pillow soft hands. While many love Colston Loveland as the top tight end in this class (and a former player of Harbaugh’s), Helm is a tremendous fit for the Chargers here.

23. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: CB Tacario Davis, Arizona

Todd Bowles has a body type in his cornerbacks. Look at the size of Jamel Dean, look at how big Carlton Davis is (now with the Detroit Lions). Bowles wants cornerbacks who can beat up on receivers at the line of scrimmage and who can thrive one-on-one.

There might now be a cornerback in this class who matches that description more than Arizona’s Tacario Davis.

24. Green Bay Packers: LT Overton, Alabama

The Green Bay Packers lack the ability to get pressure upfront right now. With Preston Smith set for free agency and Kenny Clark getting up and age, the Packers must prioritize their front.

Alabama’s LT Overton is a threat from both the interior and off the edge at a legit 6-foot-4 and 280 pounds. A Texas A&M transfer, Overton is coming off of a game against South Carolina where he racked up a massive nine pressures, a stop tackle, and three total tackles. On the year, he has a total of 25 pressures and has played all over the defensive line for the Crimson Tide.

He’s going to test off the charts as well.

25. Washington Commanders: CB Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky

The Washington Commanders have accelerated their rebuild under a new owner, new regime, and new quarterback this season. However, their cornerback room is among the worst in the NFL still.

They missed on Emmanuel Forbes. It’s time to eat it and move on. Here, they draft another first round cornerback to correct the mistake, landing Kentucky’s Maxwell Hairston. While he may not play again in 2024, Hairston has elite ball production with six interceptions in his last 17 games.

He’s twitched up and explosive, and should be healthy at the combine to prove it.

26. Pittsburgh Steelers: WR Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State

It sure feels like the George Pickens experience is sunsetting in Pittsburgh. Outside of him, no receiver on their roster can command targets after the failed attempt to land Brandon Aiyuk over the summer.

Ohio State’s Emeka Egbuka, while he does not have a dominant physical trait that separates him from the pack, has one of the highest floors in the class. You will not miss on a guy like Egbuka. He’s smooth, refined, and does all of the little things well.

27. Baltimore Ravens: OG Tyler Booker, Alabama

Through seven games, Booker has allowed just five total pressures, giving up no sacks in the process. Combined against two formative fronts in Georgia and South Carolina, Booker gave up just two total hurries. No quarterback hits, and no negative plays.

It’s rare to see a guard go in the first round, but Tyler Booker's step forward this year with his body development and on-field performance has been tremendous at Alabama. As the Baltimore Ravens look to get younger along their offensive line, Booker is a plug-and-play piece upfront.

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

Finding Aidan Hutchinson a running mate is one of the very few weaknesses on this Detriot Lions’ roster. Given the body types of the players who typically play opposite of Hutchinson, the Lions are more than likely looking for a big-end type player.

Texas A&M’s Shemar Stewart is an athletic freak and he’s listed at 6-foot-6 and 290 pounds. Even if the production has not quite matched the talent yet, he is just 20 years old and is a literal giant ball of clay. He lands in Detroit here.

29. Atlanta Falcons: EDGE Landon Jackson, Arkansas

It’s rare to see a player listed at 6-foot-6 with the flexibility and bend that Landon Jackson has put on display. His body of work against the run still needs work, but Jackson has elite physical tools, and he is starting to pair that with actual pass rush technique. He has taken a massive leap in 2024.

He capped that off with a massive seven pressures in an upset win over Tennessee. The Falcons need another pass rusher, even if he needs to only play on passing downs early in his career. They could re-sign Matthew Judon, but they still wouldn’t be getting younger at the position. They add that young player here.

30. Houston Texans: TE Tyler Warren, Penn State

Some team is going to fall in love with a 6-foot-6 and 260-pound tight end who can move the way that Penn State’s Tyler Warren can. While the converted quarterback can grow into a better blocker, he is a smooth athlete who wins both with the ball in his hands after the catch and vertically down the field in contested situations.

Earning a helmet sticker with a massive 224 yards against the USC Trojans (145 of which came after the catch), Warren is putting himself on the map. The Houston Texans have the ability to take a bit of a luxury pick and do that just here, upgrading from Dalton Schultz to Warren.

31. Kansas City Chiefs: TE Colston Loveland, Michigan

Travis Kelce has finally started to produce over the last two weeks, but in a contract year, it is obvious his career is dwindling. Here, the Chiefs get the best receiving tight end in the class who can win in similar ways and alignments as Kelce as his heir apparent for Patrick Mahomes, who hates all of his wide receivers (with cause).

32. Minnesota Vikings: DT Tyleik Williams, Ohio State

The Minnesota Vikings are on a heater right now, and they are doing it with a middling interior to their defensive line. Here, they get defensive coordinator Brian Flores yet another toy to deploy in Ohio State’s Tyleik Williams.

While Williams started the season injured, there is no doubting his talent as both a pass rusher and run stuffer for the Buckeyes. It has been more of the same for him in four games this season to round out Flores’ defense in Minnesota after racking up nine stop tackles already.