With free agency right around the corner, let's get into our latest first-round 2025 NFL Mock Draft. One of the best times of the NFL year is right around the corner. The free agency and NFL Draft time is filled with a ton of roster movement and major stories.
With the legal tampering period just about open, teams will begin negotiating with free agents to try and get them on their own team. Free agency should really be for teams filling holes that they whiffed on in the NFL Draft, but we have seen teams take a more aggressive approach to free agency.
Ahead of FA in the 2025 NFL Offseason, let's dive into our latest first-round NFL Mock Draft.
2025 NFL Mock Draft: Latest first-round mock draft approaching free agency
1. Tennessee Titans - Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State
The first few picks of this 2025 NFL Mock Draft won't be all that shocking. The Tennessee Titans kick things off with Abdul Carter from Penn State. He is the best prospect in the entire class, so the Titans make the move.
2. Cleveland Browns - Cam Ward, QB, Miami (FL)
The quickest way for the Cleveland Browns to undo the Deshaun Watson era his to hit on a rookie QB. The Browns take Cam Ward at pick two and will have probably signed a veteran QB in this scenario.
3. New York Giants - Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
Shedeur Sanders to the New York Giants does feel like a matter of time. They don't do anything fancy and just remain at pick three to take who they hope is their guy.
4. New England Patriots - Armand Membou, OT, Missouri
Someone who could be a franchise right tackle or even kick inside to guard, Armand Membou is a very good prospect and is the Patriots selection here with the fourth overall pick.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars - Will Campbell, OT, LSU
The Patriots taking Membou did bump Will Campbell down to the Jacksonville Jaguars at pick five. The Jags will happily take the best left tackle prospect in the class. Campbell seems to be a Pro Bowl-caliber guard but someone who can be a steady left tackle for years to come.
6. Las Vegas Raiders - Mason Graham, DT, Michigan
Mason Graham heads to the Las Vegas Raiders with the sixth pick in this NFL Mock Draft.
7. New York Jets - Travis Hunter, CB, Colorado
Travis Hunter does fill a huge position of need for the New York Jets. Darren Mougey, the team's new GM, uses his first ever Jets draft pick on the Heisman Trophy winner from the 2024 college football season.
8. Carolina Panthers - Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
The Carolina Panthers do need to bolster their pass rush, but they spring on the opportunity to take Will Johnson, the talented CB from Michigan.
Picks 9-16
9. New Orleans Saints - Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
The New Orleans Saints just need more young, talented players to eventually get out from under this cap space deficit they have faced for years now. They take Arizona WR Tetairoa McMillan at pick nine in this NFL Mock Draft.
10. Chicago Bears - Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
With the Chicago Bears swinging two trades for guards recently, that does give them a ton of flexibility in the 2025 NFL Draft, so it should be no surprise that we see them taking RB Ashton Jeanty in this mock. I do think this is where the momentum is heading.
11. San Francisco 49ers - Shemar Stewart, EDGE, Texas A&M
Building from the trenches is what the San Francisco 49ers have to do. They take Shemar Stewart and could also be in play for newly-released Joey Bosa, who likely wants to play with his brother Nick Bosa.
12. Dallas Cowboys - Tyler Booker, OG, Alabama
Tyler Booker is going to be a very good NFL guard. He's a prototypical franchise player along the interior offensive line and is going to make life a lot easier for Dak Prescott.
13. Miami Dolphins - Kelvin Banks Jr, OT, Texas
Pick 13 sees the Miami Dolphins beefing up their own trenches and taking Kelvin Banks Jr from Texas. They have to figure out how to win a playoff game in 2025 or big changes could be on the horizon.
14. Indianapolis Colts - Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
Tyler Warren heading to the Colts does give Indianapolis a ton of viable weapons on offense, but do they have the QB who can get the ball to them at a consistent level? That isn't certain right now.
15. Atlanta Falcons - Malaki Starks, S, Georgia
The Atlanta Falcons will definitely improve their defense in the 2025 NFL Draft, so here they take Malaki Starks from Georgia in a 'need' selection.
16. Arizona Cardinals - Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia
The Arizona Cardinals need more pass rush juice in the worst way, so they use their first-round pick in this NFL Mock Draft on Mykel Williams from Georgia.
Picks 17-24
17. Cincinnati Bengals - Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon
The Cincinnati Bengals have some big fish to fry this coming offseason with potential extensions for Trey Hendrickson, Tee Higgins, and Ja'Marr Chase, and I guarantee you that the Bengals are going to mess around here and not be able to get all three done. It would be wise for them to target a defensive prospect in the 2025 NFL Draft.
18. Seattle Seahawks - James Pearce Jr, EDGE, Tennessee
The Seattle Seahawks have already made some moves along the defensive line, notably cutting Dre'Mont Jones. They could look to the 2025 NFL Draft to snag James Pearce Jr, the athletic pass rusher from Tennessee.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Jalon Walker, LB/EDGE, Georgia
Someone who is a bit of a LB/EDGE hybrid, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive front would benefit from having someone like Jalon Walker in it. The Bucs could target a wide receiver with their first round pick as well, as Chris Godwin is a free agent.
20. Denver Broncos - Matthew Golden, WR, Texas
The wide receiver position might not be a first-round need for the Denver Broncos depending on how you view their other needs, so this could be a bit of a shock, but Matthew Golden is a very complete WR prospect and is going to give Bo Nix an immediate and reliable weapon.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers - Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas
Jahdae Barron is similar to Brian Branch in that both can play all over the secondary, so this is a home-run selection by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
22. Los Angeles Chargers - Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
Emeka Egbuka is a safe and reliable NFL prospect who would likely form an instant connection with QB Justin Herbert. This would be a slam-dunk selection, as Herbert gets another weapon.
23. Green Bay Packers - Shavon Revel, CB, East Carolina
The Green Bay Packers will likely move on from Jaire Alexander at some point, so cornerback would be a huge need for them. They take Shavon Revel from East Carolina.
24. Minnesota Vikings - Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina
A team that could totally revamp their secondary in 2025, the Minnesota Vikings take the physical Nick Emmanwori at pick 24 in this mock draft.
Picks 25-32
25. Houston Texans - Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama
Getting a stud linebacker for the middle of their defense, DeMeco Ryans and the Houston Texans get Jihaad Campbell atp ick 25 in this NFL Mock Draft. Houston could also very easily take someone along the interior offensive line here.
26. Los Angeles Rams - Josh Simmons, OT, OSU
Josh Simmons is a first-round prospect and could go a lot higher in the real 2025 NFL Draft. The Los Angeles Rams did re-sign Alaric Jackson, but perhaps Simmons could end up being their long-term player at right tackle.
27. Baltimore Ravens - Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
Colston Loveland on the Baltimore Ravens feels like cheating. There has been some indications that the team could move on from Mark Andrews this coming offseason, so Loveland could be a long-term replacement.
28. Detroit Lions - Nic Scourton, EDGE, Texas A&M
The Detroit Lions endured some brutal injuries on the defensive side of the ball, so it would make sense for them to bolster their DL here. Aidan Hutchinson should be returning from injury and is also going to be due for a long-term extension, so they could use some rookie contracts here.
29. Washington Commanders - Tyleik Williams, DT, Ohio State
After being able to trade for Deebo Samuel, the Washington Commanders bolster their DL and try to move on from Jonathan Allen by selecting Tyleik Williams from Ohio State.
30. Buffalo Bills - Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri
Luther Burden is the second high pick at wide receiver in two years for the Buffalo Bills. It's clear that they are wanting to give Josh Allen even more help on offense after his MVP season in 2024.
31. Kansas City Chiefs - Cameron Williams, OT, Texas
Getting a young offensive tackle in the 2025 NFL Draft is huge for the Kansas City Chiefs. They grab Cameron Williams from Texas in our latest NFL Mock Draft.
32. Philadelphia Eagles - Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss
With the Philadelphia Eagles re-signing Zack Baun, both Josh Sweat and Milton Williams could end up leaving in free agency. It would make sense for the Super Bowl champions to take someone like Walter Nolen at pick 32.
There you have it, our latest 2025 NFL Mock Draft. Where do we go wrong?