NFL Mock Draft: Predicting Every First Round Pick in the 2025 Draft

The 2025 NFL Draft is almost here! With seven rounds of selections to be made, there is a ton of talent available. We analyze the first round and project every single pick for Thursday’s draft.

NFL Mock Draft

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#1 Tennessee Titans – QB Cameron Ward (Miami)

The consensus is that the Titans will select QB Cameron Ward with the 1st-overall pick in this year’s draft. Ward has shown tremendous growth over his college career, taking major steps of improvement each year at FCS Incarnate World and Washington State before showcasing his ability at Miami. The most exciting part about Ward is that he’s still getting better. Tennessee needs to be more patient with him than they were with their last two young quarterbacks.

#2 Cleveland Browns – DE Abdul Carter (Penn State)

The Browns are still figuring out how to best deal with the disaster than is Deshaun Watson’s contract. Once considered to take a QB here, it seems unlikely the Browns will do so unless Ward is somehow on the board. Abdul Carter and Travis Hunter are the top talents available for Cleveland here. With Myles Garrett set to turn 30 years old this upcoming NFL season, Abdul Carter makes a lot of sense for them. They will form a dangerous duo for the next few years.

#3 New York Giants – CB/WR Travis Hunter (Colorado)

It’s no question that the Giants need a solution at QB, but it may not come in this year’s draft. Whether or not they select one later is still up the air, but New York seems primed to pass on Shedeur Sanders at #3 with Russell Wilson being brought in to bridge the gap. A potential Arch Manning selection next year is already being discussed, but for now, Sanders’ teammate and Heisman winner Travis Hunter can improve two major positions at once for the Giants.

#4 New England Patriots – OT Will Campbell (LSU)

Many expect Ward, Carter, and Hunter to be off the board by New England’s selection, which is when the draft really opens up. They are no stranger to stacking the defense, but have also taken looks at RB Ashton Jeanty and WR Tet McMillan. Ultimately, the Patriots will opt to protect their young QB Drake Maye. Will Campbell fits their mold perfectly as a dominant tackle that can play either side. It’s hard to imagine New England passing Campbell up at #4.

#5 Jacksonville Jaguars – DL Mason Graham (Michigan)

Rumblings are starting to emerge that the Jaguars may select RB Ashton Jeanty here, but I think it’s all smoke and mirrors. Jacksonville has more pressing needs than RB, even as they look to trade 26-year-old Travis Etienne Jr. The defense is a need that needs to be addressed, especially the pass rush. The Jaguars ranked 27th on defense last season and new coordinator Anthony Campanile will be looking for an impact-maker like Mason Graham to turn it around.

#6 Las Vegas Raiders – LB Jalon Walker (Georgia)

Once again, Ashton Jeanty is widely considered to be an option at #6, but I ultimately see him sliding out of the top-10 due to the dying value of the RB position. Instead, the Raiders opt to address their 26th-ranked defense with Jalon Walker. Georgia has become a mill for creating elite defenders and Walker has experience in that system combined with the size and speed to create havoc all over the field. The defense needs to be able to support Geno’s Smith’s offense.

#7 New York Jets – QB Shedeur Sanders (Colorado)

The Jets are no stranger to head-scratching decisions lately, so it feels right to have them do something unexpected here. Ultimately, taking Sanders here could be a huge win for a Jets team that had been saddled with an aging Aaron Rodgers. Justin Fields has flashed some potential, but Sanders would give the Jets real upside again. The NFL media world would eat up any drama between Deion Sanders and the Jets, which makes this selection look destined.

#8 Carolina Panthers – CB Will Johnson (Michigan)

The Panthers are another team in need of help across the board. Despite finishing 25th in the overall standings at 5-12, Carolina ranked dead-last with a -193 point differential, making them arguably the worst team in the league. While Bryce Young continued to struggle, the offense took a few steps forward. However, their defense was historically bad, setting a franchise record for points allowed. Their secondary is a total disaster, making Will Johnson a can’t-miss pick.

#9 New Orleans Saints – OT Kelvin Banks (Texas)

The Saints haven’t been dangerous on offense since Drew Brees retired, leading many to believe they may select Shedeur Sanders or Jaxson Dart with this pick. I wouldn’t rule Dart out with how early Nix and Penix went last year, but I also don’t really see it happening. The Saints need to fix their line for any QB to have a chance at doing well. Addressing that is more crucial than replacing Carr. Banks has a higher floor than Membou, making him the safer pick here.

#10 Chicago Bears – WR Tet McMillan (Arizona)

Chicago could go a number of directions with this pick, but none make more sense than helping last year’s top-overall pick Caleb Williams. Building out the line would be a good start, but the Bears may not want to take the risk with veteran options available. Instead, they can grab the top WR in the draft at #10. Not only would it soften the blow of Keenan Allen leaving, but the Bears would have a bonafide WR trio with Rome Odunze, DJ Moore, and Tet McMillan.

#11 San Francisco 49ers – OT Armand Membou (Missouri)

The 49ers regressed last season, due largely to injuries and an aging offensive line. With Trent Williams now 36 years old, it makes a ton of sense for San Francisco to start building up his eventual replacement. Falling into their laps in this mock is Armand Membou, who has top-5 potential. Membou is not fully polished yet, but has major upside. The ability to learn next to Trent Williams and ease into a starting role could set him up for a very successful 49ers career.

#12 Dallas Cowboys – RB Ashton Jeanty (Boise State)

Ashton Jeanty is a super interesting prospect to mock. He was one of the greatest rushers in college football history, putting on an especially exceptional season in 2024. 10 years ago, a Heisman finalist at RB would have been a lock for the top-5, but it’s a bit trickier now. Jeanty isn’t particularly gifted at blocking or pass-catching, so he may go later than thought. Whoever grabs him, in this case the Cowboys, is going to quickly benefit from his game-breaking ability.

#13 Miami Dolphins – OT Josh Simmons (Ohio State)

Miami holds a 40-24 (.625) record in the Tua Tagovailoa era when he is healthy and available. Meanwhile they are 7-13 (.350) when he is out. After suffering brutal concussions, protecting Tua has to be Miami’s top priority. If he has time and protection, he’ll find Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle for big gains. Josh Simmons went up against some of college football’s top teams and remained very consistent. He can become a Day 1 starter for the Dolphins to improve their line.

#14 Indianapolis Colts – TE Tyler Warren (Penn State)

There may not be a Brock Bowers-level TE prospect this year, but Tyler Warren is about as close as you can get. While Warren is not quite as explosive as Bowers, he is massive and has sure-fire hands. Coupled with his ability to assist with blocking, and many have Warren pegged as a top-10 selection. In this mock, the TE-needy Colts find Warren falling into their laps. His ability to provide a massive redzone target for Richardson as well as block for Taylor will be enormous.

#15 Atlanta Falcons – DE Mykal Williams (Georgia)

The Falcons took a step forward last season, particularly on offense. They are a few defensive improvements away from being the favorite to win the NFC South division. One of their main needs is to address the pass rush. Fortunately, they have the chance to take a local that helps fix that very issue. Mykal Williams was born in Georgia and attended the University of Georgia, allowing him to gain experience in the SEC. He’ll fit Atlanta’s defense well as a Day 1 starter.

#16 Arizona Cardinals – DE Mike Green (Marshall)

Mike Green is one of the more exciting prospects in this draft. His upside is massive, causing many to project him as a top-10 pick. On the other hand, there are concerns about the level of competition he faced at Marshall and the leap to the NFL level. Even so, Green led all of college football with 17 sacks in 2024 and is still rapidly improving his game. He would fit very well in Arizona, where the Cardinals need defensive help across the board, especially in the pass rush.

#17 Cincinnati Bengals – DE Shemar Stewart (Texas A&M)

The run of defensive ends continues with the Bengals up next. They have heavily invested in the offensive line in recent years, allowing the offense a bit more room to breath. Meanwhile, the defense has regressed to ranking 25th. With Williams and Green off the board, Cincinnati won’t hesitate to take Shemar Stewart. As a top recruit entering college, Stewart leaned on his size to overpower other teams. He needs to work on his elusiveness to keep up at the NFL level.

#18 Seattle Seahawks – OL Grey Zabel (South Dakota State)

Grey Zabel is another very intriguing prospect. The jump from the FCS to the NFL is massive, which raises concerns that he could be overwhelmed by the size and speed of NFL defenses. On the other hand, Zabel is a stupendously sound lineman that checks all the boxes. His size, footwork, and ability to block with dominance regardless of pass or rush are hard to overlook. Seattle may opt for another young QB here, but Zabel would fit perfectly and help far more.

#19 Tampa Bay Buccaneers – LB Jihaad Campbell (Alabama)

Tampa Bay continues to win the NFC South and make the postseason, despite being stuck in an endless transition from their aging 2021 Super Bowl roster. The remnants of that team and a refreshed Baker Mayfield kept the Bucs in contention, but they need to take another step to return to title contender level. They mostly did it with defense in 2021, which makes Jihaad Campbell a strong pick here. He has the skill and experience to make an immediate impact.

#20 Denver Broncos – RB Omarion Hampton (North Carolina)

The second RB off the board will be Omarion Hampton, who is a perfect fit for the Broncos. He is a smooth, gifted runner that can take the pressure off of Bo Nix by providing a real weapon on the ground. If Jeanty goes top-10, Hampton may not make it to this pick, but if he does you can bet on Denver taking him. Their current RB1 is the formerly undrafted Jaleel McLaughlin, who is undersized at 5’7″. Hampton will help to bring a new layer of skill to Denver’s offense.

#21 Pittsburgh Steelers – QB Jaxson Dart (Ole Miss)

After last season’s QB bonanza, it seems almost unlikely for the 3rd QB off the board to go this late. Yet, this year’s QB class is considerably less stacked. This will be an interesting decision for the Steelers. This is about where they took Kenny Pickett in 2022, who was an obvious overdraft at the time. It panned out as well as everyone expected, perhaps causing Pittsburgh to be more wary this time around. Even so, they really need a QB after losing both Fields and Wilson.

#22 Los Angeles Chargers – WR Matthew Golden (Texas)

The Chargers passed up Malik Nabers in last year’s draft to shore up the line with Joe Alt. Still, they managed to find a stellar WR in the 2nd round in Ladd McConkey. After an 82-reception, 1,149-yard, 7-TD rookie season, McConkey and 2023 1st-round pick Quentin Johnston just need one more elite WR to help stretch the field. Enter speedster Matthew Golden. Golden’s blazing speed is the perfect foil to McConkey’s smooth route running and Johnston’s tremendous size.

#23 Green Bay Packers – CB Jahdae Barron (Texas)

The Packers continue to excel under QB Jordan Love, despite some moving parts on offense. They do have things to address after only scoring 10 points against the Eagles in the playoffs, but they have even larger pressing concerns on defense. Jaire Alexander’s career in Green Bay may be coming to a close soon, creating a major hole in an already depleted secondary. Jahdae Barron has potential to be the best CB in the class. He will fit very well in Green Bay.

#24 Minnesota Vikings – S Malaki Starks (Georgia)

Malaki Starks should be the first safety off the board. The Vikings would be thrilled to snag him without having to move up, addressing their most pressing need with the top player available. Minnesota has other defensive needs, such as pass rush, that they could address if Starks is off the board. Overall, their defense has gotten much better over the past couple of seasons and is likely just one step away from being as dangerous as their offense. Starks is the move for them.

#25 Houston Texans – WR Emeka Egbuka (Ohio State)

What better way to get Stroud another weapon than to reunite him with a former teammate. Stroud connected with Emeka Egbuka 74 times for 1,151 yards and 10 TDs in 2022. Houston’s receiving corps is a little underdeveloped so picking a WR here seems likely. They may opt for the upside of Missouri’s Luther Burden, but Egbuka’s familiarity with Stroud truly cannot be overlooked. The Texans should jump right on the opportunity to reunite the two Buckeyes.

#26 Los Angeles Rams – TE Colston Loveland (Michigan)

The Rams are known for getting a lot of value out of big slot receivers and could benefit to add another as Copper Kupp approaches 32 years old. Colston Loveland might be a tight end, but he’s basically an oversized version of Kupp. The concern with Loveland is a shoulder injury that caused him to miss the NFL Combine. Loveland could slide this far as a result of that injury, but I would be surprised if he gets past the Rams at #26. They’ll snatch him up if given the chance.

#27 Baltimore Ravens – DL Derrick Harmon (Oregon)

As the Ravens continue to rebuild their defense in hopes of ending their Super Bowl drought, they have the chance to select a dynamic athlete in Derrick Harmon. Harmon has the talent and potential to go in the first ten picks of this draft. Unfortunately, some medical concerns have caused his stock to slide. Baltimore was the beneficiary of Kyle Hamilton’s slide a couple years ago, and they could wind up with another major steal in this draft with Derrick Harmon.

#28 Detroit Lions – DL Kenneth Grant (Michigan)

The Lions have a defense problem, that much was clear after giving up 45 points to Washington in their disappointing playoff exit. They have holes all over the field on that side of the ball, but they’ll likely prioritize the best fit here. Aidan Hutchinson is their defensive leader out of Michigan, so it makes sense to add another Wolverine to their pass rush. Kenneth Grant is huge and overpowering and will help to create big holes for Hutchinson to burst through.

#29 Washington Commanders – CB Nick Emmanwori (South Carolina)

Washington took a major step forward thanks to rookie QB Jayden Daniels, making it all the way to the NFC Championship Game. Next up, they need to improve their defense, which begins with fixing the holes in their secondary. With only a couple of CBs coming off the board by this point, it would be surprising to see Washington go in a different direction. Nick Emmanwori flew under the radar at South Carolina but he should make an immediate impact.

#30 Buffalo Bills – DL Walter Nolen (Ole Miss)

The Bills have many needs to address if they want to surpass the Chiefs. A WR could be in play here, but Buffalo seems more keen to make due with what they have. It seems more likely that they will try to rebuild the dominant defense that helped them in the past. That may be what Josh Allen needs to defeat Patrick Mahomes. Reigniting the pass rush would go a long way, and Walter Nolen has the talent to make a huge impact, despite some off-the-field concerns.

#31 Kansas City Chiefs – WR Luther Burden III (Missouri)

The Chiefs added a star in Xavier Worthy last year, but still need a few more pieces to rebuild Patrick Mahomes’ weaponry. What better way to do that than to add a Missouri local. Burden may not fall this far, but if he does he would be an excellent add for the Chiefs. They should be wary of his decline in 2024, though Burden had some factors out of his control that affected his production. The Chiefs will need to find the right role for him to fully capitalize on his talent.

#32 Philadelphia Eagles – CB Maxwell Hairston (Kentucky)

Rounding out the first round is the defending champion Eagles. Their main priority should be maintaining their roster without going financially bust. The best way to achieve this is by acquiring rookies in high-paying positions. CB is one of those positions, and one that the Eagles have also experienced a lot of veteran turnover at. They did take two CBs early in the draft last year, but adding more talent to the pool would be ideal. Hairston has a lot of upside.