Mock Draft: Titans and Giants get QBs of the future, Browns and Patriots land elite defensive talent
What better way to celebrate the National Championship than with a mock draft?
We have just one College Football game left, so what better way to celebrate the National Championship than with another 2025 NFL Draft mock draft simulation?
As Ohio State and Notre Dame get set to square off for all of the marbles, there are plenty of NFL Draft prospects with something to prove. Guys like EDGE rusher Jack Sawyer and offensive lineman Donovan Jackson have improved their draft stock for the Buckeyes, while safety Xavier Watts has reminded everyone of why he is one of the best safeties in the class for the Fighting Irish.
Do any of these names make an appearance in this full first round mock draft? Let’s find out!
1. Tennessee Titans: QB Cam Ward, Miami
Teams aren’t sold on these quarterbacks and the Titans might not be either. But needing to hit on a quarterback or it might be the last of Brian Callahan, the Titans take the one with the bigger arm in Cam Ward. It’s not what I’d do here, but just trying to project a bit.
2. Cleveland Browns: WR/CB Travis Hunter, Colorado
Do the Browns even want one of these quarterbacks? Would Shedeur Sanders be open to coming to Cleveland? Let’s take the best player on the board here. Congrats, Browns. You get the Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter.
3. New York Giants: QB Shedeur Sanders, Colorado
He’s been lobbying to go to New York for a while now, hanging out with Malik Nabers and wearing Giants cleats in the bowl game warm-ups. Shedeur Sanders gets his wish here.
4. New England Patriots: EDGE Abdul Carter, Penn State
After losing Matthew Judon last offseason, the Patriots draft his replacement here. Abdul Carter is the No. 2 player on my board and a violent player who constantly seeks out pain. Mike Vrabel gets one of his own breeds here.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars: CB Will Johnson Jr., Michigan
The Jaguars need a cornerback and one of the best players left on the board here is a cornerback. Not a ton of thinking needs to go into this pick.
6. Las Vegas Raiders: WR Luther Burden III, Missouri
The Raiders have a ton of needs, including a head coach. However, if it is Ben Johnson as many seem to indicate, imagine the fun he could have with Missouri wide receiver Luther Burden III. One of the best through contact and after the catch in the class, Burden and Brock Bowers would be a ton to gameplan for in space.
7. New York Jets: DT Mason Graham, Michigan
A windfall for the Jets here, they land the best player left on the board as teams draft quarterbacks and defensive backs early. Pairing Quinnen Williams with Mason Graham is too good to pass up.
8. Carolina Panthers: EDGE Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M
The Jadeveon Clowney experience may be short-lived in Carolina, so why not draft a guy with the same body type with perhaps the most explosiveness in the class? Texas A&M’s Shemar Stewart will be a fast riser this 2025 NFL Draft cycle.
9. New Orleans Saints: WR Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona
The future of Chris Olave is up in the air and beyond him, the wide receiver room in New Orleans is in shambles. The Saints have a lot of needs heading into 2025, but they solve one here with Tetairoa McMillan.
10. Chicago Bears: OT Josh Simmons, Ohio State
It may be a surprise here that Will Campbell isn’t the first offensive lineman off the board here. However, many analysts view Campbell as a guard (myself included) and the Bears may want a true left tackle. In this case, they draft one in Ohio State’s Josh Simmons.
11. San Francisco 49ers: OL Will Campbell, LSU
Campbell doesn’t have to wait long to come off the board though. The Niners are likely letting Aaron Banks walk and need a guard. Trent Williams is getting up there in age too and Campbell can start at tackle in a pinch too. San Francisco gets the best overall offensive lineman in the draft here.
12. Dallas Cowboys: RB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State
Jerry Jones pompously paraded around like the Cowboys had drafted Jonothan Brooks a year ago. Except they didn’t. That doesn't happen this year as the Cowboys take the running back right away in the Heisman Trophy runner-up Ashton Jeanty here.
13. Miami Dolphins: S Malaki Starks, Georgia
Jevon Holland is a free agent and Jordan Poyer is over the hill. Some teams view Malaki Starks as a cornerback as well, another spot the Miami Dolphins need a cornerback. Georgia’s Malaki Starks can wear whatever hat they want him to.
14. Indianapolis Colts: TE Tyler Warren, Penn State
This continues to be one of the most obvious pairings in the 2025 NFL Draft class. Chris Ballard loves himself a good athlete.
15. Atlanta Falcons: EDGE Mykel Williams, Georgia
The Falcons, despite a trade for Matthew Judon, could not get to the quarterback off the edge. As they have done many times before, the Falcons take another shot at an edge rusher in this mock draft. Georgia’s Mykel Williams might be raw, but he has alien traits off the edge to mold. Atlanta takes that shot.
16. Arizona Cardinals: WR Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State
Ohio State wide receivers in back-to-back seasons? Let’s do it. Marvin Harrison Jr. had a solid season out wide, but the Cardinals lack a consistent threat who can eat up the middle of the field between Greg Dortch and Michael Wilson. Emeka Egbuka solves that.
17. Cincinnati Bengals: DT Tyleik Williams, Ohio State
The Bengals are looking at an overhaul defensively, including at defensive coordinator. However, it has to start up front with its interior. They add the best pure run defender in the class in Tyleik Williams, who only has to make a short trip down I-71 South to get to them.
18. Seattle Seahawks: OL Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas
Needing a right tackle and interior offensive linemen, Texas’ Kelvin Banks Jr. falls into that transition-to-guard category in this class. The Seahawks make the pick and don’t look back.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: CB Shavon Revel Jr., East Carolina
The Buccaneers desperately need help at cornerback and they get a bargain on one of the class’ best who happened to suffer a season-ending ACL injury in September. East Carolina’s Shavon Revel Jr. fits what the Bucs typically look for in cornerbacks, addressing a massive need in Tampa.
20. Denver Broncos: TE Colston Loveland, Michigan
Sean Payton finds his new Jimmy Graham.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers: CB Azareye’h Thomas, Florida State
A press-man savant, Florida State’s Azareye’h Thomas screams a Mike Tomlin cornerback and the Steelers need an upgrade to their secondary in the worst way. Look for him to rise at the Reese’s Senior Bowl in two weeks.
22. Los Angeles Chargers: OL Donovan Jackson, Ohio State
There has not been a better player in the College Football Playoffs than Donovan Jackson. While he deserves the right to play offensive tackle at the NFL level given his play, he is also a three-year starter at guard. Looking to upgrade their protection around Justin Herbert, which will work for the Chargers.
23. Green Bay Packers: EDGE Nic Scourton, Texas A&M
While he put on some bad weight in 2024 and saw his stock dip after transferring from Purdue, there is no doubting the sky-high ceiling, fluidity, and pass rush prowess of Nic Scourton. Oh yeah, and he’s just 20 years old.
24. Minnesota Vikings: S Nick Emmanwori, South Carolina
Nick Emmanwori is a top-10 player in this draft class, but safeties always tend to get pushed down the board. This is to the advantage of Brian Flores and the Minnesota Vikings who look to plan for life after Harrison Smith. Enjoy him.
25. Houston Texans: OG Tyler Booker, Alabama
C.J. Stroud got pulverized this year, mainly due to the failures along the interior of his offensive line. The Texans look to correct that here by taking Alabama’s veteran starter Tyler Booker off the board.
26. Los Angeles Rams: OT Josh Conerly Jr., Oregon
Oregon's Josh Conerly is one of the highest risers of the 2025 NFL Draft class. And now he’s firmly in first round conversations. Needing to add youth to the tackle position, the Rams take the Oregon stalwart left tackle in this mock draft.
27. Baltimore Ravens: LB/EDGE Jalon Walker, Georgia
The Ravens always seem to find success with hybrid linebackers. From Matthew Judon to Kyle Van Noy, and more, they always seem to get the most bang for their buck. Add Jalon Walker to the list as he becomes the second Georgia pass rusher off the board here.
28. Detroit Lions: DT Derrick Harmon, Oregon
D.J. Reader has been great when healthy, but that has been rare. The Lions need to do more upfront to get after the quarterback defensively, and they do just that here with Derrick Harmon from Oregon as the first round comes to a close.
29. Washington Commanders: OT Armand Membou, Missouri
Thanks to Jayden Daniels' revelation, the Washington Commanders are now in the NFC Championship game. They have to protect that asset and draft an offensive lineman early. Missouri’s Armand Membou deserves to be a first round pick and can play a variety of spots in the nation’s capital.
30. Buffalo Bills: LB Jihaad Campbell, Alabama
The Bills can do better than Terrell Bernard at MIKE and with supreme athletic ability at 6-foot-3 and 230 pounds, Jihaad Campbell fits nicely as a luxury pick in Buffalo to give them a force in the middle of their defense.
31. Philadelphia Eagles: EDGE James Pearce Jr., Tennessee
The talent is undeniable for James Pearce Jr., but some other questions might cause him to drop. The Philadelphia Eagles have never been shy about taking players who have supreme talents despite questions elsewhere.
32. Kansas City Chiefs: RB Kaleb Johnson, Iowa
The ghost of Kareem Hunt is leading the Chiefs in rushing down the stretch of the season. While Isaih Pacheco has some fans, his health has been a question mark. Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson is a smooth runner with A+ vision to add another weapon to the Kansas City offense.
Is hunter the #1 DB or WR in this class ? I get he’s a great athlete but what is he in the pros ? I’m down for taking the best player in the draft but can he hold up playing both sides.
I see how much you love Hunter and I understand that.
But I think Carter has everything this office loves.
1. He's almost the youngest player in the draft.
2. He plays the most valuable position on defense.
3. He competed at the highest level.
I don't know why but I think Berry will pick Carter 10 out of 10.
If I'm wrong, tell me about it.