The first month-and-a-half of the 2024 NFL season have gone by in a flash, and even though there’s a lot of football left to be played, there are plenty of fan bases out there who are “on to the 2025 NFL Draft”. And we’re happy to oblige with yet another 2025 NFL mock draft prediction.
The 2025 NFL Draft hasn’t been lauded for its quarterback class for most of this year, but as we’re seeing the 2024 college football season play out, more and more names are starting to emerge and intrigue as potential first-round options. And we’re going to be exploring some of those options in this scenario with a handful of quarterbacks going in the top five of our predictions, including a number of players and teams that we haven’t put together before.
Where do players like Travis Hunter, Shedeur Sanders, and possible QB1 Jalen Milroe land in our latest 2025 NFL mock draft? Where does Heisman front-runner Ashton Jeanty fit into the first round?
2025 NFL mock draft: Jalen Milroe, Shedeur Sanders both go top 5
1. New England Patriots: Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado
The New England Patriots have a roster that is not completely devoid of talent, but they certainly don’t have anything like Travis Hunter – on either side of the ball.
The Patriots are going to be breaking in Drake Maye for his first regular season start in Week 6 against the Houston Texans and although sweeping judgments are sure to be made about that start regardless of the results, this rebuilding project for the Patriots is a long-term ordeal.
A player like Travis Hunter can help accelerate a rebuild. He’s a special talent when it comes to attacking the football in the air – both offensively and defensively – and I think a creative head coach in the NFL is going to be able to allow his skills and gifts to shine on both sides of the ball, even if he’s not playing 100 percent of the snaps on both sides.
2. Cincinnati Bengals: Mason Graham, DL, Michigan
I have probably said this a time or two before, but I really don’t expect the Cincinnati Bengals to be in this position when it comes to the NFL Draft in six months. If the Bengals are picking this high in 2025, it will be one of the more shocking stories of the entire 2024 football season.
Obviously, assuming they don’t trade up to get here…
Let’s say the Bengals did jump up to this point in the NFL Draft, however, they would have some intriguing options. We’ve seen Lou Anarumo’s defense take a surprising step back this season. There are a number of areas the Bengals could address on that side of the ball but Mason Graham might be the biggest difference-maker on the defensive front in this class.
He might not come into the NFL and put up Aaron Donald-like numbers, but he’s going to have a tremendous impact wherever he goes as a consistent disruptor on the interior who plays with great technique and leverage.
3. Los Angeles Rams: Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama
The Los Angeles Rams haven’t been this “bad” in 2024 even though you are, as they say, what your record says you are. The Rams have just been one of the most injury-riddled teams in the entire NFL so far this season and if it keeps up, they could be heading toward a reset at the quarterback position in the 2025 offseason.
There were some rumors in the 2024 NFL Draft that the Rams might be interested in moving up for the right quarterback, but if they have the chance to get the top guy on their board in 2025, they might not be able to pass up on the opportunity.
Even if someone comes in and learns under Matthew Stafford for a year, the Rams would be in a great position here because they have tremendous talent at the skill positions and they are building something nice defensively as well. Jalen Milroe is so talented and we’re seeing him blossom into a QB1 before our very eyes week after week.
4. Cleveland Browns: Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
There is absolutely no question that the Cleveland Browns are one of the most disappointing teams in the NFL so far this season. And barring a shocking turnaround, I don’t think anything is going to change. At what point do the Browns realize that the investment they made in Deshaun Watson was a bad one? At what point do they bench Watson in favor of Jameis Winston?
I don’t think we’re far off.
And the Browns could very well be headed toward an even bigger quarterback change in the 2025 offseason.
Shedeur Sanders compares pretty favorably right now to what we’ve seen from Geno Smith in Seattle, and I mean that in the best possible way. I know that Geno has his flaws as well but I think Shedeur can step into the NFL and bring that level of play rather quickly. The Browns may need to do even more rebuilding offensively around a new quarterback but if they are picking this high, a quarterback should absolutely be on the table.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars: Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
The Jacksonville Jaguars finally got their first win of the 2024 season after starting off 0-4, and I think when you look at this team, what’s really holding them back right now is the offensive side of the ball. But with the long-term investment that’s been made in Trevor Lawrence, the Jaguars aren’t going to be making wholesale changes offensively. They need to figure out how to make that clock tick.
The best possible thing they can do is keep surrounding Lawrence with talent, and supporting him with a stellar defense. Supporting him with a stellar defense is easier said than done, but it gets a little bit easier to do with a player like Will Johnson out there at the cornerback position. Johnson is an NFL-caliber corner who is still lingering at the collegiate level right now due to the NFL’s eligibility rules, and we’ve seen his dominance on display early this season.
He’d be an instant impact starter for any NFL team in 2025.
6. Carolina Panthers: Cam Ward, QB, Miami
One of the fastest-rising prospects in all of college football is the polarizing Cam Ward. There are some people out there who just absolutely love Cam Ward and everything he does, and there are other folks who criticize him for putting Miami in bad situations before pulling out his heroics.
Whatever your thoughts are regarding Ward, I think we can all agree that the perception of him in NFL circles is becoming more and more favorable by the week. Ward has ascended to a possible QB1-caliber prospect in the eyes of NFL Draft analysts and the Carolina Panthers would have a strange decision to make here.
Dave Canales is the head coach of this team, and he should have the final say on who his quarterback is. There’s no more important on-field relationship in the league. If Canales says he doesn’t want to work with Bryce Young, then the Panthers need to trade him to the highest bidder and move on as quickly as possible.
7. Tennessee Titans: Carson Beck, QB, Georgia
Last year we had six quarterbacks off the board within the first 12 overall picks, and we’re well on our way again here in this 2025 NFL mock draft, aren’t we?
The NFL is never going to lack for demand at the quarterback position, that’s for sure…
The Tennessee Titans are still early on in the year as far as the evaluation process on Will Levis, and he could very well come out the rest of this season and prove himself worthy of another look next season. With that said, he’s been far too reckless with the football early on this season to be considered a no-brainer option going forward. And just like what I said with Dave Canales and the Panthers, Brian Callahan should be able to pick his quarterback with the Titans.
That QB-head coach relationship is just too important. You see if you can make it work with Levis, but move on if it’s not working.
Carson Beck put on a show in the second half of that matchup against Alabama, and his stock has held relatively steady throughout the course of this season. He’d be a nice pick for the Titans.
8. Miami Dolphins: Will Campbell, OT, LSU
We’ve been picking quarterbacks for the Miami Dolphins but there’s been no official indication at this point that Tua Tagovailoa is going to be hanging up the cleats after his latest terrifying concussion. Perhaps more likely than the Dolphins going after a 1st-round quarterback next offseason is the option of going after a veteran quarterback with a higher floor behind Tua in case the backup is needed extensively.
The Dolphins also have to make sure they are protecting the quarterback better and they’d have a chance – if the draft falls this way – to take the top offensive lineman on their board. Will Campbell’s stock has been up and down all year long but he’s a tremendous pass-protecting offensive tackle prospect who could come in and make an impact right away in that high-octane Dolphins offense.
9. New York Jets: Quinn Ewers, QB, Texas
Is Aaron Rodgers cooked? This is the latest overreaction to the New York Jets after they fired head coach Robert Saleh and could be headed towards another major overhaul of the roster in the coming months. As we know, a new head coach usually equals a revamped roster, and I don’t know how much longer Jets GM Joe Douglas is going to have his job there, either.
The Jets could be smashing the reset button in the near future and a new head coach is likely going to mean a new quarterback at some point soon. I don’t hate the idea of the Jets going with a first-round QB if they continue to lose games and are picking relatively high next year, especially with someone like Quinn Ewers.
Ewers is a gamer and someone who has shown consistent improvement over the course of his years at Texas. I know everyone is very excited about Arch Manning coming out in 2026, but don’t sleep on Ewers at the NFL level. He’s got all of the tools and traits to be a high-level starter.
10. Las Vegas Raiders: Tatairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
The Raiders have got to be the most unlucky team I have ever encountered when it comes to putting together 2025 NFL mock draft predictions. Every time I put together a mock draft, unless the Raiders are picking 1st overall, they have just missed out on the top quarterback prospects based on which prospects are climbing up the rankings (or not).
The Raiders just benched Gardner Minshew after their loss to the Denver Broncos (actually, he was benched during the game) and they are going to get another extended look at Aidan O’Connell. And soon, O’Connell won’t have Davante Adams on the roster at all to throw the ball to.
The Raiders got Brock Bowers in the 2024 NFL Draft and he looks like he’s going to be an absolute stud. If the Raiders can figure out a solution at the quarterback position, then getting players like Bowers and Tetairoa McMillan will make their lives a lot easier. McMillan has been an absolute star for the Wildcats this year, dominating with his combination of catch radius and after-the-catch abilities.
11. Arizona Cardinals: Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame
I don’t have an official stat being kept of this right now, but I would guess that one of the most common picks in my 2025 NFL mock draft predictions is Benjamin Morrison to the Arizona Cardinals. It just feels right for a number of reasons.
First of all, the Cardinals need some playmakers at cornerback, especially on the outside. Second, Jonathan Gannon is a defensive backs guy at heart. Third, the value of someone like Morrison typically is perfect wherever the Cardinals are picking in these mock drafts.
It just works.
Morrison has the type of size and ball skills that NFL teams covet to go along with his athletic traits. He’d be a really solid pick for them in the 1st round of the 2025 Draft.
12. New Orleans Saints: Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas
The New Orleans Saints are going to get a glimpse at life beyond Derek Carr here in the next couple of weeks as Carr went down with an injury in Week 5. They are replacing Carr with rookie Spencer Rattler, who had a very intriguing preseason for the Saints and has some starter traits.
Regardless of what happens with Rattler, the offensive line will be an area of focus for the Saints again next offseason as we closely monitor how well Trevor Penning plays the rest of this season and what the future holds for Ryan Ramczyk, who has had some complications on his road to recovery.
Kelvin Banks has nearly pitched a shutout this season in pass protection and he’s got all of the traits that you look for at left tackle in terms of his quick feet and great length. The Saints could plug him in right away at that left tackle spot.
13. Indianapolis Colts: Malaki Starks, S, Georgia
It’s way too early to be making sweeping judgments based on stat category rankings, but in the early goings of the 2024 season, the Indianapolis Colts are 30th in the NFL in passing yards allowed per attempt in 29th in total passing yards allowed this season. This Colts secondary should be getting a bit of a revamp and it could start with a new defensive scheme entirely.
Can a new defensive coordinator potentially replace Gus Bradley and rejuvenate this unit in 2025? Absolutely, but regardless of who the defensive coordinator is, they are going to need some more dawgs on the back end of that defense, and that’s exactly what Malaki Starks is. He’s got 25 total tackles and an interception so far this season and is making plays all over the field.
14. New York Giants: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
There might not be another player in college football as dominant as Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty, who hit 1,000 rushing yards on the season before he even hit 100 total carries. He’s averaging an astonishing 10.9 yards per carry for the Broncos this year and even though it’s not en vogue for NFL teams to go after 1st-round running backs these days, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Jeanty go off the board even higher than this.
He’s been spectacular.
The New York Giants lost Saquon Barkley in the 2024 offseason and their ownership was clearly not pleased with that if you watched them on Hard Knocks this offseason. The fact that Barkley has been great for the division-rival Eagles is salt in the wound. The Giants getting Jeanty would be a nice consolation prize and he could be one of the top two or three favorites for Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2025.
15. Seattle Seahawks: Emery Jones Jr., OT, LSU
If there’s one thing we gleaned from the early goings of this 2024 season for the Seattle Seahawks, it’s that the offensive line needs some attention in 2025. The Seahawks have allowed Geno Smith to be sacked 19 times in the first six games of the season, and they rank 27th in the NFL so far in rushing offense.
This is an explosive offensive attack in terms of the playmakers the Seahawks have, but they have to be better in the trenches on both sides of the ball going forward.
Seattle isn’t in a position here to get one of the top two guys on the board (Will Campbell, Kelvin Banks) but they are in striking range for Emery Jones Jr., who could come in and start as the bookend at right tackle across from Charles Cross right away.
16. Philadelphia Eagles: Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State
It’s been a really strange year for the Philadelphia Eagles when it comes to their edge rusher position group. Haason Reddick was traded to the New York Jets, which paved the way for Nolan Smith to come in and potentially start. The Eagles signed Bryce Huff from the Jets to come in and provide that big-time pass rush impact that we have seen from him the last couple of years.
Now we have seen fans calling for those guys to be benched or lose snaps to other players. That’s not going to sit right with GM Howie Roseman, who knows that his best teams in Philly have been great at getting consistent pressure on the QB. Abdul Carter is a local prospect with elite athletic traits who could come in and give them that pop off the edge as a rookie.
17. Chicago Bears: James Pearce, EDGE, Tennessee
It feels like we’ve brought this up about a million times, but one of the biggest giveaways we have about the Bears’ 2025 offseason priorities was this team’s pursuit of Matthew Judon in a trade with the Patriots earlier this year. The Bears didn’t end up closing the deal there, but we know that GM Ryan Poles is going to be after top-tier EDGE players to pair up with Montez Sweat in Chicago based on that.
The Bears’ defense is going to continue to be a strength of this team as Caleb Williams continues to improve. I think we’re going to see Chicago go after as many veteran players for the offensive line in free agency as they possibly can while focusing on this year’s draft class off the edge.
Getting a player like James Pearce, who has routinely popped up in the top 10 of our 2025 NFL mock draft predictions, would be an insane value.
18. Green Bay Packers: Luther Burden, WR, Missouri
The Green Bay Packers are always a fun team to watch when it comes to the NFL Draft, because the hit rate for GM Brian Gutekunst these days has been astronomically high. The Packers have one of the best and most talented rosters in the league right now, and it just so happens to also be the youngest in the league.
Although Green Bay has big-time playmakers at receiver like Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks, it seems like there’s a chance this team could move on from one of or both Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs in 2025. That’s not a foregone conclusion, but the idea of getting a playmaker like Luther Burden to add to the mix in Green Bay would allow them to move on from those guys without really even thinking twice.
Burden would be the biggest steal of the draft if he falls this far. He’s an absolute demon in space with the ball in his hands.
19. San Francisco 49ers: Nic Scourton, EDGE, Texas A&M
While the San Francisco 49ers are one of the most well-built teams in the NFL right now, they have not had the highest hit rate in the NFL Draft these days defensively. They have their established stars on that side of the ball, of course, but there’s been a lot of roster turnover there and obviously a number of top-tier coordinators moving on to take head coaching gigs elsewhere.
That may have messed a little too much with player development. More than the 49ers would have liked. This team needs to get some more home-grown studs off the edge to pair up with Nick Bosa, and I think Nic Scourton would be an ideal pickup for them with his versatility to play different spots along the defensive front.
He’s been disruptive all year for Texas A&M and has been one of the best transfer players in the country.
20. Los Angeles Chargers: Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
We’re going to keep just copying and pasting this mock draft selection until it doesn’t make as much sense. But when will it not make sense? If the Chargers are on the clock in round one and Colston Loveland is on the board, how does that not make sense for them?
The Chargers moved on from so many of their offensive skill players with Jim Harbaugh taking over this offseason as the team’s head coach. They started revamping the receiver position with Ladd McConkey in round two and then the development of second-year player Quinton Johnston, but the Chargers need more in that department.
Colston Loveland was recruited by Jim Harbaugh once before. He knows what Harbaugh is asking for at that position, and he brings it every snap. This would be such a no-brainer pick for the Chargers.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Deone Walker, DL, Kentucky
What everyone is going to be watching closely in the 2025 offseason for the Pittsburgh Steelers is obviously the quarterback position. As of right now, it looks and sounds like Justin Fields is in the driver’s seat to remain the Steelers’ starting QB over Russell Wilson for the remainder of this season, but neither Fields nor Wilson is under contract for 2025.
Deone Walker isn’t going to come in and play the quarterback position, but if the Steelers decide to give Fields another year, they just need to go after the best player on the board here. There are so many different avenues they could go down but we know how this team loves to build in the trenches early on and go after the skill positions on Day 2.
Walker is a unique talent with his overall size and athletic traits but his production hasn’t matched what we saw last year. He’s still making an impact with his ridiculous athleticism and length on the interior defensive line.
22. Denver Broncos: Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
It’s become abundantly clear early on this season that the Denver Broncos don’t have a top-tier wide receiver on their roster. They are looking for some young players like Troy Franklin to develop, but it’s going to be a process. This team needs someone on the roster who can get open quickly and be that go-to threat for 8-10 targets per game.
Emeka Egbuka can work well out of the slot and be that target to get open quickly for quarterback Bo Nix and head coach Sean Payton. Nobody coaches up the wide receiver position like Brian Hartline at Ohio State and Egbuka will come into the NFL ready to contribute from day one.
If the Broncos can get a stud at receiver early on in next year’s draft, it will be a huge boost to that offense.
23. Dallas Cowboys: Isaiah Bond, WR, Texas
The Dallas Cowboys are getting a nice breakout so far this season from young receiver Jalen Tolbert, but the unfortunate thing is that his breakout is happening with just one more year left on his rookie year beyond this year. The Cowboys just re-signed CeeDee Lamb to a massive contract so they are going to need some cost-effective players at receiver.
Brandin Cooks won’t likely be in Dallas beyond this year, and the Cowboys have to have that field-stretcher at the receiver position. Isaiah Bond can be that and more.
The former Alabama transfer has been proving himself effective as an all-around offensive weapon this year with the Texas Longhorns and he’d be able to stay in the state of Texas here to go from the Longhorns to the Cowboys. He’s averaging nearly 19 yards per touch with four total scores this season.
24. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia
The Buccaneers have been struggling a bit to start this season in terms of getting consistent pressure off the edge. They are just outside of the bottom 10 in the entire NFL when it comes to sack percentage this season and obviously they’re going to need to get that number up to help their defensive backfield out.
We know head coach Todd Bowles is going to scheme up pressure for this defense any way he can but the Bucs need guys who can just win their matchups.
Mykel Williams has received a lot of buzz this year but the buzz has died down significantly as he has 0 sacks and just three total tackles in three games this year. He needs to have a big second half of the 2024 season as well as a strong offseason circuit to get his stock back up, but he’s a steal this late for the Bucs.
25. Buffalo Bills: Shavon Revel, CB, East Carolina
It looked like the Buffalo Bills were on their way to being one of the most dominant teams in the NFL at the start of this season, but they’ve run over a couple of speed bumps here in the last two weeks. While losing can cause you to overreact to areas of weakness, it can also just expose things that were ignored while you were winning.
The Bills revamped their defense pretty significantly in the 2024 offseason and that unit is probably still “under construction” a little bit. Taking a player like East Carolina cornerback Shavon Revel is a bit of a risk given the fact he went down this season with a knee injury but it’s also perhaps one of the best risk/reward propositions in round one for any team.
Reven could be a legit CB1 in the NFL and if the Bills can get him this late, he could be the steal of the draft.
26. Baltimore Ravens: Aireontae Ersery, OT, Minnesota
The Baltimore Ravens have to know better than anyone that the offensive line needs some attention in the 2025 offseason. The Ravens need a new starting right tackle and Minnesota’s Aireontae Ersery could not be a more perfect fit for this team on paper.
Ersery is known more for his run blocking at this stage and we know the Ravens are a team that loves to run the ball and wear defenses down in that way. Ersery’s athletic traits and physicality will endear him to this Baltimore staff and I think he could be one of the best overall fits for this team late in the 1st round, assuming that’s where his NFL Draft stock holds in the coming months.
27. Atlanta Falcons: Jack Sawyer, EDGE, Ohio State
The Atlanta Falcons have quickly become one of the most interesting teams in the NFL so far this season. While it was definitely justified to question this team’s offseason methods of going after Kirk Cousins and then drafting Michael Penix Jr., you can’t really argue with the results and the Falcons are one of the most exciting teams in the league.
Kirk Cousins threw for over 500 yards on Matt Ryan night. The Falcons have explosive playmakers all over the offense. The one area of this team that feels neglected is the defense, and for good reason. The Falcons have basically used their best NFL Draft assets building the offensive side of the ball in recent years.
It’s time for the pendulum to swing back to the defensive side of the ball, and the best player on the board here could very well be Ohio State’s Jack Sawyer, who can bring consistent disruption off the edge.
28. Detroit Lions: Jonah Savaiinaea, OL, Arizona
We know the Detroit Lions are going to want to be a physical team on both sides of the ball. They have so many weapons offensively but they might need to reload on the interior offensive line after the 2024 season.
It’s been nice for this team to have Graham Glasgow back after his failed stint with the Denver Broncos as a big-money free agent, but with Jonah Jackson heading off to the Rams in 2024, it’s possible that we could see the Lions look into upgrading the interior offensive line early on in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Not to mention, Frank Ragnow has been dealing with some injuries.
Jonah Savaiinaea could follow in Jordan Morgan’s footsteps as a star on the Arizona offensive line to go late in the first round to an NFC North powerhouse.
29. Washington Commanders: Denzel Burke, CB, Ohio State
The Washington Commanders have been one of the most pleasant surprises in the 2024 season so far. I was certain that this team would be taking on way too much change to be overly relevant this season, but they have looked like one of the best teams in the NFL so far.
Now, we’ll see how things go as the year progresses, but we’ve been given no reason to doubt this team.
The Commanders have played so well offensively but Dan Quinn needs some more studs for his defense. He’s going to want to build that side of the ball with “his guys” through the draft and Adam Peters is going to do his part to get Quinn some dawgs in the secondary. Denzel Burke already has a pair of interceptions this season for Ohio State and looks like he’s going to be a day one starter at the NFL level.
The Commanders get themselves another ballhawk for DQ’s defense here late in round one.
30. Houston Texans: Kenneth Grant, DL, Michigan
The Houston Texans have not been nearly as stingy defensively as many had anticipated going into the 2024 season. Houston has allowed 4.8 yards per carry so far this season and that defensive front could definitely get some attention when we get around to the 2025 NFL Draft.
Kenneth Grant is a player who has popped up on the athletic freaks lists and we’ve seen some nice things from him this season with a couple of sacks and four batted passes. He’s got the type of athletic traits and length to come in and contribute to an NFL defense right away, and we know DeMeco Ryans and the Texans would bring him along at the proper speed.
When you see these types of athletes on the defensive line, you just know that NFL teams are going to be salivating and they don’t often escape the first round of the NFL Draft
31. Kansas City Chiefs: Tyleik Williams, DL, Ohio State
It’s hard to peg exactly what this Kansas City Chiefs team “needs” in terms of the long-term outlook of the roster. We’re seeing a lot of temporary weaknesses pop up for them as a result of guys being injured right now, so it’s not exactly fair to say the Chiefs need to go after another 1st-round receiver or something like that.
At this juncture of the draft, you want to go after premium position groups and take shots on guys you believe can be long-term contributors, even if they don’t have the highest ceilings. Tyleik Williams might not come into Kansas City and immediately start selling jerseys but he could add some valuable depth for this team on the defensive line right away.
The Chiefs have a superstar in Chris Jones, but he’s getting older every year and they need some additional complementary pieces anyway.
32. Minnesota Vikings: Tacario Davis, CB, Arizona
The Minnesota Vikings love to blitz under defensive coordinator Brian Flores, and assuming he sticks around beyond this season and doesn’t get more head coach looks, you have to have dawgs in the secondary to take advantage of the pass rush that’s being provided.
The Vikings traded away former second-round pick Andrew Booth this offseason and they could very well be in the market for big-money free agent corners as well as whoever ends up being the top guy on their board at this juncture.
Tacario Davis only has one interception at the college level but he’s got 20 passes broken up between the 2023 and 2024 seasons, and with his outstanding length (Davis is a rare 6-foot-4 cornerback prospect), he could feast as the Vikings put the pressure on up front.