You can almost feel football in the air again. Teams are away after the conclusion of mandatory minicamps around the NFL, but the anticipation for the 2024 college football and NFL seasons will be ramping up over the next couple of weeks which means talk about the 2025 NFL Draft is going to continue to ramp up. The ink may still be drying on the 2024 NFL Draft, but it’s never too early to get a pulse on the next wave of potential NFL stars, and our latest 2025 NFL mock draft is here to do exactly that.
For the order of this 2025 NFL mock draft, we used our recent 2024 NFL Power Rankings and overall record predictions for the season. Don't get too offended or hung up on that because it's going to change significantly over the course of the year.
2025 NFL Mock Draft: Raiders land new franchise quarterback
1. Las Vegas Raiders: Carson Beck, QB, Georgia
Raiders fans are going to come after me for this, but someone’s got to be projected in the 1st overall slot of next year’s draft. The Raiders have arguably the worst quarterback situation in the league (as much as we love Gardner Minshew) and they hired last year’s interim head coach Antonio Pierce in a full-time role.
Those two factors don’t necessarily mean the Raiders are going to be bad this year. The team did quite well with Antonio Pierce and Gardner Minshew was on a Colts team that won nine games and narrowly missed the playoffs last year. But are the Raiders going to have the same wind in their sails this year that we saw last year after Josh McDaniels was fired?
2. Washington Commanders: James Pearce Jr., EDGE, Tennessee
The Washington Commanders had the second overall pick in this year’s draft as well and they landed Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels to finally put a possible star in place as the franchise quarterback. There’s certainly a lot of “new” going on this year with Dan Quinn taking over as Washington’s head coach, Kliff Kingsbury coaching the offense, a new quarterback, etc. It’s a transitional year and I wouldn’t be shocked if Washington was picking 1st or 2nd next year at all.
Here, they land arguably the top defensive player in a loaded defensive draft class. James Pearce Jr. can be a game wrecker off the edge for Dan Quinn and give the Commanders a legitimate pair of franchise cornerstones on either side of the ball. Right now, the Commanders have a bunch of rotational guys coming off the edge.
3. Tennessee Titans: Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
It feels like the Titans keep on ending up with Shedeur Sanders in these 2025 NFL mock draft scenarios, but if they are picking in the top three, it makes a lot of sense. The Titans have Will Levis right now and they have done their part to surround him with the kind of talent that will allow him to succeed.
They hired an offensive-minded head coach in Brian Callahan. They signed Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd to pair with DeAndre Hopkins at receiver. They added Tony Pollard in NFL free agency. They used their first-round pick on offensive tackle JC Latham. There’s no doubt that Levis needs to perform well this year or he’ll be replaced.
Sanders has been a highly debated NFL prospect but he was good in his first year at Colorado. If he and the Buffs have more team success this year, he could be a lock for the top 3 of next year’s draft.
4. Carolina Panthers: Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado
When’s the last time we saw multiple Colorado players going in the early portion of the NFL Draft? This would be a fun rarity, not only to see two CU players going in the top five picks of the NFL Draft but to see one of the country’s best QB-WR duos going in back-to-back picks of the top five.
Travis Hunter has been compared to Champ Bailey for his outstanding ball skills, versatility, and athletic traits. There’s no doubt that the Carolina Panthers would be getting a superstar in the making as Hunter could legitimately project as a top-three player at both receiver and corner in this draft class.
He may not be the best player at either position, but that playmaking ability will have his stock soaring all year long. As long as he stays healthy, I would say he’s a lock for the top 10 picks in next year’s class and a team like Carolina might favor him on the defensive side of the ball. I would be shocked if he doesn’t do a little bit of both WR and CB at the NFL level, though.
5. New York Giants: Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
There’s no team in the NFL that needs a quarterback more desperately than the New York Giants. Daniel Jones is not the answer. Drew Lock is not the answer. At least, neither of those players feels likely to be the answer. The Giants are in such a weird spot because they invested financially in Daniel Jones despite him only having one marginally solid season, a year in which he didn’t even average a touchdown throw per game.
What is the long-term plan for general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll? How many chances are they going to get from Giants ownership? This team made the playoffs two years ago, and while I absolutely loathe when people say teams got “lucky” in the NFL, the Giants might be a rare exception where it’s true. The stars aligned for one season. This team regressed to the mean in 2023 and is seemingly in denial over its quarterback situation.
Oh yeah, Will Johnson. So, the Giants take Will Johnson in this 2025 NFL mock draft scenario because he’s the best player on the board, an elite playmaker at the cornerback position, and plays a premium position. The Giants pair him up with Deonte Banks to have an enviable young duo at the position.
6. New England Patriots: Will Campbell, OT, LSU
The New England Patriots are at least a year or two away from really being competitive in the AFC East again, unless Drake Maye takes a CJ Stroud-like leap forward in his overall play. The Patriots landed Maye with the third overall pick in this year’s draft despite some talk that he could end up being the 1st overall player taken. Ultimately, Maye could need a little more seasoning than anticipated.
The Patriots weren’t able to attack every single hole on the roster in this year’s draft – obviously – and are still in need of a legit left tackle as a result. It sounds like Chukwuma Okorafor is going to be playing that position this year, if that gives you any real indication. The Pats desperately need someone like Will Campbell, who would come in and start for them immediately at a crucial position, protecting the blind side of Drake Maye and helping them get more physical in the trenches offensively.
7. Minnesota Vikings: Mason Graham, DL, Michigan
The Minnesota Vikings went with a Michigan Wolverine with their top selection in the 2024 NFL Draft (QB JJ McCarthy). Maybe they’ll go after one of his buddies with their first-round pick in 2025. The Vikings revamped their defensive front a little bit in 2024 by adding free agent Jonathan Greenard and 1st-round pick Dallas Turner off the edge. Here, they get one of the best interior defensive linemen in all of college football.
Pro Football Focus graded Michigan’s Mason Graham as the top overall interior defensive lineman in college this coming season:
"The rising junior has a relentless motor to combine with ridiculous agility that makes him nearly unblockable. Even if an offensive lineman gets a clean shot on him, he has great power at 6-foot-3, 318 pounds to shed the block and find the ball carrier. Graham’s a nearly complete defensive tackle who’ll continue terrorizing Big Ten offenses on his way to likely becoming a high selection in the 2025 NFL Draft. If he was eligible for the 2024 draft, he’d likely be the first defensive tackle off the board."Pro Football Focus
8. Seattle Seahawks: Harold Perkins, LB, LSU
Will the Seattle Seahawks be bad enough to be picking this high in the 2025 NFL Draft? That remains to be seen, of course. That’s one of a large number of teams that’s pretty tough to project right now based on the quarterback situation and a new head coach being in place.
Mike Macdonald is coming over from the Baltimore Ravens and will do his best to replace legendary Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll. And there’s work to be done. This Seahawks team felt like it was consistently elevated by Carroll. Not that Macdonald can’t come in and do a good job, but Carroll’s coaching and culture seemed to raise the floor of the organization substantially.
Here, the Seahawks attack one of the positions that has historically been incredibly important to the Ravens – off-ball linebacker. Although Harold Perkins is a bit of a tweener, he’s got outstanding traits and range and could be a high-impact player from day one.
9. New Orleans Saints: Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame
The New Orleans Saints could be an underrated team looking to rebuild next offseason. They were way too strong last year (especially defensively) for me to project a complete bottoming out, but there are warning signs of this team possibly taking a turn for the worst in 2024.
The most notable being the offensive line. Even after adding Taliese Fuaga out of Oregon State in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, the Saints still have major question marks up front. Is Trevor Penning a bust? How are they replacing Andrus Peat? Will Ryan Ramczyk ever play again?
Beyond the offensive line, the Saints were 31st in the NFL last year in rushing yards per attempt. They lacked balance offensively and you can’t help but wonder how much of their record last year was a result of beating up on really bad teams down the stretch.
There could be some resetting going on next year for New Orleans is all I’m saying. And here they get a big playmaker at corner in Benjamin Morrison who is a legit contender to be the top cornerback off the board next year.
10. Indianapolis Colts: Nic Scourton, DL, Texas A&M
Based on my overall record predictions, I’ve got the Colts picking 10th overall. It feels like I’m having to force this one because I really don’t know that the Colts are going to be that bad. It all depends on whether or not Anthony Richardson can hit the ground running in his second NFL season like he did as a rookie.
Coming off of an injury, that’s anything but a certainty. Not to mention, growth and progression in the NFL are not always linear.
It’s fair to expect the Colts to go after a big-time athlete, no matter where they are picking. Nic Scourton is a fascinating prospect and Purdue transfer who can play all over the defensive front and make an impact. He’s a bully on the defensive line with length, tenacity, and explosiveness. He’s one of the most effective defensive linemen in this class both as a pass rusher and run defender.
11. Arizona Cardinals: Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State
There are a few defensive coaches around the league I think you can trust when it comes to guys who might be a little on the “positionless” side, especially defensively. Jonathan Gannon is one of them. The Arizona Cardinals played extremely well for Gannon last year despite the team not finishing with a great record. It’s clear the foundation is in place for this franchise to make bigger strides in 2024 and Gannon is a big reason why.
And he would be a great coach for someone like Abdul Carter, an off-ball linebacker transitioning to the EDGE thanks to his outstanding athletic traits and overall projection at one of the game’s most important positions. Perhaps a little inspiration here from Micah Parsons, and rightfully so. There’s a lot more money to be made off the edge in the NFL than at off-ball linebacker.
12. Pittsburgh Steelers: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
The Pittsburgh Steelers have popped up this offseason as a team that could end up being interested in a blockbuster trade for someone like Brandon Aiyuk, and while trading for Aiyuk and drafting a receiver in the 1st round of the 2025 NFL Draft aren’t exactly the same, it wouldn’t be shocking if the Steelers took the first receiver off the board next Spring.
Pittsburgh is in a transitional state at quarterback. None of us knows how Russell Wilson is going to work out for that team in 2024, but the Steelers have to continue building around the QB regardless if the guy they build around is on the roster.
Right now, it feels like it’s a toss-up between Tetairoa McMillan and Luther Burden for WR1 status in the 2025 NFL Draft and someone else could always emerge along the way. But the Steelers get a big-play receiver here to hopefully pair up with George Pickens and Roman Wilson.
13. Atlanta Falcons: Mykel Williams, DL, Georgia
The Atlanta Falcons invested so heavily in their offense throughout the 2024 offseason. If those investments end up paying dividends (and maybe even if they don’t), general manager Terry Fontenot needs to shift his attention and focus squarely on the defense in 2025. There’s a lot of talent on this roster, but it’s way more loaded offensively than defensively and that could catch up to the Falcons over the course of the 2024 season.
Here, they land another tremendous talent from the Georgia Bulldogs program and perhaps the latest star to come along from that defensive front that has been cranking out stud NFL prospects. Mykel Williams is making the switch to the EDGE position in 2024 and could be one of the bigger breakout player candidates in all of college football this season.
14. Los Angeles Chargers: Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
We saw Jim Harbaugh and the Chargers stealing a bunch of guys from the Baltimore Ravens this offseason thanks to the connections Harbaugh has there with his brother as head coach. It was a little surprising that we didn’t see more Michigan guys go to Los Angeles, and I think Harbaugh is going to “correct course” there in 2025 when he has opportunities.
The Chargers moved on from a lot of offensive weapons in 2024: Austin Ekeler, Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Gerald Everett. It’s a new era for this team and the tight end position is crucial for Harbaugh’s offense, which utilizes a ton of 12 personnel and gets the tight end involved in the passing game.
Who better to fill that role for the long-term than a guy who was Harbaugh’s TE1 at Michigan for a National Championship run? Colston Loveland can do it all.
15. Denver Broncos: Kelvin Banks, OT, Texas
The Denver Broncos will be an interesting team to monitor after moving on from veteran quarterback Russell Wilson – among a number of other key players – in 2024. Sean Payton has put his stamp on this team, which won eight games last year. The Broncos are banking on Bo Nix being a perfect fit in Sean Payton’s offense, but where do they build from here?
Garett Bolles has been the team’s starting left tackle since he was drafted in 2017. Shockingly, he’s also the last offensive tackle the Denver Broncos have drafted.
No, seriously.
The Broncos haven’t drafted a tackle in any round since they took Bolles in 2017. That will have to change soon as Bolles is slated to hit free agency in 2025.
16. Chicago Bears: Deone Walker, DL, Kentucky
Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles now has the quarterback and all the weapons. His focus needs to continue to shift to building in the trenches on both sides of the ball. The Bears have done a good job of at least taking shots on offensive line talent under Poles, both through the draft and free agency. For their first-round pick in 2025, the Bears need to go after another big man.
Here, they land one of the absolute biggest in this class, Kentucky’s Deone Walker. Walker is 6-foot-6, 348 pounds, and he’s ultra-athletic. He plays all over the defensive line and is a consistent disruptor. Adding him could take Chicago’s defensive front to the next level.
17. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Luther Burden, WR, Missouri
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers made a clear decision on the direction of their franchise in the 2024 offseason. They are banking on the continued progression and development of former #1 overall pick Baker Mayfield, who had a great bounce-back year for them in 2023. Mayfield was cast off by the Cleveland Browns and Carolina Panthers before getting a shot in Los Angeles under Sean McVay, and he parlayed that late-season stint into a $100 million contract here in 2024.
Now that the Bucs have their guy at the quarterback position, they’ve got to do whatever they possibly can to make life better/easier for him. How about getting arguably the best receiver in the class in Luther Burden out of Missouri? Thanks to his unique size (5-11, 208 pounds), tackle-breaking ability, and YAC ability, I wonder if Burden will eventually draw some comparisons to Brandon Aiyuk in the way that he plays.
18. Jacksonville Jaguars: Denzel Burke, CB, Ohio State
The Jacksonville Jaguars just spent $275 million on Trevor Lawrence, and have made a number of other substantial investments on the offensive side of the ball over the last couple of years. Even though the defense hasn’t exactly been “neglected” by Jacksonville, it’s starting to feel a little one-sided. One of the top areas of this roster that the Jaguars need to upgrade is the cornerback position. Part of the reason for that is that the Jaguars didn’t get anything out of former first-round pick CJ Henderson.
They’re still recovering from that whole situation, and Ohio State’s Denzel Burke is someone who could help them do exactly that. Burke has 26 passes broken up in three seasons at Ohio State. Although he only has two interceptions in three seasons, Burke has been dominant in single coverage and is outstanding in attacking the line of scrimmage when asked to do so.
19. Cleveland Browns: JT Tuimoloau, EDGE, Ohio State
It’s probably a safe bet that the Cleveland Browns will go with an Ohio State player at some point in next year’s draft. Why not in the first round? The Buckeyes boast some of the top talent all throughout the 2025 NFL Draft and could set a record for players that end up getting drafted from one school in the same class.
One of the top players among their large crop for next year is pass rusher JT Tuimoloau, a pass rusher who was once one of the biggest prize recruits in the country. Tuimoloau has great talent and has put it on display over his first three seasons at Ohio State, but everyone is still waiting for that true breakthrough season from him. That could come this year.
A team like the Browns prioritizes bringing waves of pass rush and they need guys to continually take pressure off of Myles Garrett on the other side by taking advantage of favorable matchups. Tuimoloau could be a fun fit.
20. New York Jets: Malaki Starks, S, Georgia
The New York Jets are going to be must-see TV every single week this coming season. There’s no doubt that they have one of the most talented rosters in the NFL, but is it all going to come together the way they think/hope this year? Is Aaron Rodgers really going to be able to come back from an Achilles injury at the age of 40 and play at the level the Jets and their fan base are all expecting?
This team could be in a very sticky spot a year from now. Is Rodgers even going to be playing? What would be the Jets’ next step at quarterback?
That question isn’t likely going to be answered with this pick, but the Jets can continue loading up on defense with the best safety in the country – Georgia’s Malaki Starks. Starks has 14 passes broken up and five interceptions in his first two seasons as a Bulldog.
21. Miami Dolphins: Tacario Davis, CB, Arizona
The Miami Dolphins suffered a couple of big losses during the 2023 season defensively that ultimately contributed heavily toward this team’s early demise in the playoffs. Pass rushers Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips both went down with season-ending injuries, and the Dolphins were forced to make due. They added depth off the edge in the 2024 NFL Draft by taking Chop Robinson in the 1st round, and now they are going to need to start thinking about adding more pieces to the secondary.
Longtime starter Xavien Howard was let go in 2024 and Jalen Ramsey has a massive cap hit over $26 million next year at the age of 31. The Dolphins are going to need to get younger at cornerback and Tacario Davis obviously accomplishes that. The 6-foot-4 corner out of Arizona has smooth movement skills and is able to get his hands on the ball easily in contested coverage because of his length.
22. Dallas Cowboys: Quinshon Judkins, RB, Ohio State
It’s been a long time, but we’ve finally got a running back in the first round of an NFL mock draft again. This 2025 NFL mock draft features Ohio State running back Quinshon Judkins, an Ole Miss transfer who will be working in tandem with TreVeyon Henderson at Ohio State this coming season. Hopefully, working in a tandem backfield will help keep Judkins fresh and also still maximize his overall skill set, which is as a featured three-down player.
The Dallas Cowboys have a lot of big fish to fry right now with quarterback Dak Prescott in the final year of his contract as well as CeeDee Lamb likely to reset the non-QB market at some point. The running back position is going to need to be addressed next year for Dallas and picking in this range of the first round, you could pretty easily justify an offensive weapon like this. Especially if you get Prescott’s situation figured out.
23. Los Angeles Rams: Drew Allar, QB, Penn State
We had to make at least one off-the-wall selection in this 2025 NFL mock draft. The Los Angeles Rams were trying to move up in the 2024 NFL Draft for Georgia tight end Brock Bowers, but there were also rumors that they were interested in moving up for Auburn quarterback Bo Nix. Rams GM Les Snead was teammates once upon a time with Nix’s father at Auburn, so there’s a longtime connection there.
Although Drew Allar isn’t related in the same way, I think the more important detail is that the Rams might have been looking to move up for a QB of the future. How much longer does Matthew Stafford have? How much longer does he even want to play? The Rams could go QB in the 1st round next year, maybe even moving up to do so. One player who could emerge as a possible 1st-round player is Penn State’s Drew Allar. Allar has all of the physical tools to play at the next level and a big season in 2024 could draw the attention of a team like the Rams (or many others).
Some feel like this kid has 1st overall abilities. Some don’t even see him as a 1st-rounder at all. We’ll see what the season brings.
24. Green Bay Packers: Jabbar Muhammad, CB, Oregon
There’s no question that Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst and head coach Matt LaFleur have assembled one of the best all-around rosters in the NFL heading into 2024. They’ve found their quarterback of the future in Jordan Love, who shockingly finished 2nd in the NFL last year in passing touchdowns. One area of the roster that was unfortunately neglected this offseason despite having 11 picks in the 2024 NFL Draft was the cornerback position.
The Packers were jumped in the 1st round by the Lions for Terrion Arnold. They were jumped in the 2nd round by the Eagles for Cooper DeJean. They aren’t going to be denied here with Oregon Ducks corner Jabbar Muhammad falling to them at pick #24 overall. Muhammad was a stud at Washington and has a chance to solidify 1st-round status this coming season. The biggest issue here for the Packers might be size. Muhammad is listed at 5-10, 175 pounds, which wouldn’t meet some of their minimum thresholds.
25. Buffalo Bills: Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
Even though the Buffalo Bills used their top pick in the 2024 NFL Draft on wide receiver Keon Coleman (after trading down), they could end up going with receivers atop their draft class in back-to-back years. Given the fact that the 2024 offseason was really a reset year for the Bills in terms of gutting some of the previous core pieces of the roster, the rebuilding project is far from over.
The Bills know they have to do whatever it takes to surround Josh Allen with talent, and getting cost-effective players at receiver with the rising cost of that position is essential. They’ve got the big body option in Keon Coleman now, but how about adding another dynamic all-around option in Emeka Egbuka? He’d be an awesome value at this stage of the draft and would give the Bills another weapon as they attempt to replace Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis for the long haul.
26. Houston Texans: Emery Jones Jr., OT, LSU
It’s pretty incredible how different the conversation is surrounding the Houston Texans now compared to just a couple of years ago. The Texans’ situation with Deshaun Watson was looking grim, but general manager Nick Caserio navigated it all expertly. In last year’s draft, he completely shifted the course of the franchise by getting CJ Stroud and Will Anderson Jr. with back-to-back picks.
That’s not a model every team can follow, but Houston has been putting pieces in place for a few years and those two guys really set this franchise back on the right course. Now, it’s a matter of sticking with what makes great teams great, and the Texans undoubtedly need to add to the trenches if they are given the chance to do so. Emery Jones has tackle/guard versatility and could give Houston a starting option at either spot early on. Build a wall for CJ Stroud to sit behind and let him do his thing.
27. Philadelphia Eagles: Tyler Booker, OL, Alabama
We saw the Philadelphia Eagles make a borderline unprecedented move in the 2024 NFL Draft by going after cornerback Quinyon Mitchell in the 1st round. They hadn’t taken a cornerback in the first round of the NFL Draft since Lito Sheppard all the way back in the 2002 Draft. I expect Howie Roseman will get back to doing what he typically does in the early rounds of the NFL Draft again in 2025, which is invest in the trenches.
The Eagles have added a lot of talented players through the first round of the NFL Draft on the defensive side of the line of scrimmage in recent years. They’ve got three recent first-round picks over there in Jordan Davis, Jalen Carter, and Nolan Smith. Not to mention other players they’ve invested in. On the offensive line, it wouldn’t be shocking to see the Eagles go after someone with tackle/guard versatility here in the 2025 NFL Draft and Alabama’s Tyler Booker fits with what they usually prioritize.
28. Cincinnati Bengals: Jack Sawyer, EDGE, Ohio State
There could be some trouble in paradise between the Cincinnati Bengals and pass rusher Trey Hendrickson. Hendrickson is getting up there in age, and even though he’s still obviously a very effective player, the Bengals might start looking at getting younger off the edge. The Ohio State program is basically printing out future NFL starters to be available in the 2025 NFL Draft, and Jack Sawyer could be one of them available later in round one.
Here’s what PFF had to say about him:
"Sawyer was the most well-rounded edge defender in college football last season. He was the only FBS edge who posted 85-plus grades both as a pass-rusher and run-defender.PFF
The former top-five recruit is a stellar athlete as well. Sawyer placed above the 90th percentile in the past two seasons in PFF’s Game Athleticism Score. He’s a powerful edge at 265 pounds who will need to add some more pass-rushing moves to take his game to the next level."
If we see some of that progression as a pass rusher in 2024, Sawyer could ascend a lot higher than this.
29. Baltimore Ravens: Tyleik Williams, DL, Ohio State
Trying to assess the Baltimore Ravens roster and find clear areas to upgrade is like walking up to a castle or mansion and seeing where you can reasonably add value to the home. The Ravens are loaded, and any draft pick they make is going to feel like the rich getting richer. If I can nitpick one area of this roster right now, it is probably the overall depth on the defensive line.
The Ravens always have guys who play extremely well within what they’re asked to do, and occasionally you’ll see players put up insane numbers like we saw last year from Justin Madubuike. But there is room for improvement here overall, and Tyleik Williams could help. At 6-foot-3, 330 pounds, Williams racked up a shocking 10 tackles for loss and 5 batted passes last season for Ohio State.
He would be a tremendous addition this late in round one.
30. Detroit Lions: Jonah Saaviinaea, OL, Arizona
Over the last four years, the Detroit Lions have hit on pick after pick in the NFL Draft. General manager Brad Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell do such an amazing job at identifying talent to fit their program and culture, and the coaching on this team has done an exceptional job of maximizing all of that talent.
The Lions upgraded the secondary with their top two picks in the 2024 NFL Draft, moving up to get Alabama’s Terrion Arnold in the 1st round before somehow sniping Missouri’s Ennis Rakestraw in the 2nd round. The value the Lions got was crazy given where they were picking. The value at corner, however, pushed another area of need to 2025 – the interior offensive line. The Lions may have starting needs at a couple of interior spots in 2025 and Jonah Saaviinaea could end up being an instant starter for them at guard.
31. Kansas City Chiefs: Kenneth Grant, DL, Michigan
It almost feels wrong giving the Kansas City Chiefs any more good players to add to their roster. It’s one thing to have a generational type of player in Patrick Mahomes at quarterback, and it’s another entirely to build the team the way general manager Brett Veach has. The Chiefs legitimately have had one of the best offenses in the NFL and one of the best defenses in the NFL for a couple of seasons now, a testament to player development all around the roster.
Defensively, this team is bringing waves of pass rush with Chris Jones obviously leading the way, but a couple of former first-round picks off the edge in George Karlaftis and Felix Anudike-Uzomah, who could have a breakout year in 2024. The Chiefs have a chance here to add another impact player along the defensive front in Michigan’s Kenneth Grant, an ascending interior defender who had 5.0 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, and five batted passes last season for the Wolverines.
32. San Francisco 49ers: Walter Nolen, DL, Ole Miss
The San Francisco 49ers have had to reload on the defensive front a little bit over the last handful of years, the most notable recent move being the team’s decision to part ways with former first-round pick and veteran Arik Armstead (who signed with the Jaguars). The Niners still have talent on the defensive front, but they have moved on not just from Armstead but also 2020 first-round pick Javon Kinlaw and the guy he was supposed to replace – DeForest Buckner. That’s a lot of talent on the defensive front, and the 49ers have really supplemented by signing guys instead of hitting in the NFL Draft.
A player like Walter Nolen, an Ole Miss transfer in 2024, could end up being a significant impact player for this team. From Pro Football Focus:
"The former No. 1 overall recruit in the 2022 high school class, Nolen began to live up to that hype in his sophomore season for Texas A&M. His seven sacks this year were tied for third among SEC interior defensive linemen as were his eight tackles for loss/no-gain. He was also fourth among SEC defensive tackles with a 9.9% pass-rush win rate."PFF
Adding that pass rush win rate next to Nick Bosa on the defensive line could be lethal.