Yes, the 2025 NFL Draft is nearly a year away, but that won't stop us from putting a mock draft together with some trading involved. Does mock draft season ever stop? It doesn't seem like it. The 2024 NFL Draft rookies haven't even played in a regular season game before, yet here we go with the 2025 mock drafts.
The 2025 NFL Draft class does not seem to be nearly as strong at the QB position as the 2024 class, but the offensive side of the ball could still dominate the first round. It does seem somewhat clear which teams could end up picking quite high in the 2025 NFL Draft. Let's try to put together a first-round mock draft for 2025 with some trading involved.
2025 NFL mock draft: Full first round mock with outrageous trades
1. Carolina Panthers - Carson Beck, QB, Georgia
If the Carolina Panthers are indeed picking first overall in the 2025 NFL Draft, you have to figure that second-year QB Bryce Young does not develop, and seeing as the previous regime in Carolina drafted Young, there is nothing to stop them from moving on after just two seasons. Young has serious size concerns and even though last year was not his fault, he still wasn't good.
2. Tennessee Titans - Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
The Tennessee Titans loaded up on offense this offseason, so the unit is just about ready for a new rookie quarterback if Will Levis doesn't pan out, and I do not think they would hesitate to draft a new QB at two if they had the chance. Shedeur Sanders could end up being the best QB in the 2025 NFL Draft.
3. New England Patriots - Luther Burden, WR, Missouri
It would not surprise me to see Drake Maye, the Patriots 2024 rookie QB, sit for the entire 2024 season. If that is the case, or if Maye simply does not play a lot, the Patriots would not take a QB again, but instead should target a WR like Luther Burden, who is going to be the best WR in the 2025 class.
4. Indianapolis Colts (via DEN) - Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
The Indianapolis Colts trade up from the teens with the Denver Broncos and take the best CB expected to be in the 2025 NFL Draft class. The Colts have built quite the team, and if they are originally picking in the teens, second-year QB Anthony Richardson probably showed more than enough to be excited about 2025.
5. Pittsburgh Steelers (via LVR) - Deone Walker, DT, Kentucky
Another trade up to the top five, the Pittsburgh Steelers continue to rebuild their defensive interior. You'd think that the team would go with a quarterback here, but with the 2025 QB class appears to be quite weak, the Steelers hope to address the position in another way.
6. New York Giants - Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama
Here we go! The New York Giants passing on a QB in the 2024 NFL Draft was flat-out inexcusable, so the Giants try to make up for it with Jalen Milroe with the sixth overall pick. Daniel Jones and Drew Lock are going to stink it up for the team in 2024, and perhaps then GM Joe Schoen will realize the mistake he just recently made in passing on a QB.
7. Arizona Cardinals - Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State
The Arizona Cardinals still need one more strong offseason to get their roster in a good spot. They'll win a lot more in 2024 than they did in 2023, but I'd expect them to continue to add the best possible talent they can find, and you can never go wrong with pass-rushers.
8. Washington Commanders - Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
The Washington Commanders pass up on an offensive tackle for the chance to draft Tetairoa McMillian from Arizona, who had 1,402 yards and 90 receptions in 2023 for the Wildcats, which is ridiculous production.
9. New Orleans Saints - James Pearce Jr, EDGE, Tennessee
The New Orleans Saints should finally embrace a rebuilding process, but it doesn't seem like GM Mickey Loomis is wanting to do that right now. They could use some long-term help with their pass rush, and James Pearce Jr might be the best in the 2025 NFL Draft.
10. Minnesota Vikings - Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss
The Minnesota Vikings could be a problem in 2025 if rookie QB JJ McCarthy pans out, so they could end up with a window opening. Winning games in the trences is the name of the game in the NFL, and with them having lost Danielle Hunter this past offseason, it wouldn't hurt to simply add a first-round body to the defensive front.
11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers traded CB Carlton Davis to the Detroit Lions this past offseason. They definitely have a need at CB, and if Todd Bowles is again the head coach in 2025, he may continue to advocate for help at defense.
12. Seattle Seahawks - Princely Umanmielen, EDGE, Ole Miss
The Seattle Seahawks may have to get serious with their quarterback situation next offseason, but with the 2025 QB class not projected to be great, head coach Mike Macdonald gets a shiny new pass rusher in Princely Umanmielen.
13. Denver Broncos (via IND) - Will Campbell, OT, LSU
The Denver Broncos trade down from their original slot and manage to land one of the best offensive tackles in the 2024 NFL Draft. Garett Bolles is set to be a free agent in 2025, and I am not sure they are planning to keep RT Mike McGlinchey around for a ton longer.
14. Las Vegas Raiders (via PIT) - Harold Perkins, LB, LSU
Trading down into the teens, the Las Vegas Raiders make another odd move and take an inside linebacker with their first-round pick. The Raiders have an urgent need at quarterback and could use more offensive line help, but I don't think anything is off the table with GM Tom Telesco.
15. Jacksonville Jaguars - Earnest Greene III, OT, Georgia
The Jacksonville Jaguars are always working with their offensive line, but man, it's never seemed to be a strong unit. Their interior features Ezra Cleveland, Mitch Morse, and Brandon Scherff, but both of their tackle situations are a but murky. Can they finally get consistent tackle play from Earnest Greene III?
16. Cleveland Browns - Kelvin Banks Jr, OT, Texas
The Cleveland Browns may quietly need a new tackle. This team wins games from the trenches, featuring two of the best offensive and defensive lines in football. It makes sense for GM Andrew Berry to continue keeping a unit of strength just that. Kelvin Banks Jr could be the first OT drafted next year.
17. Los Angeles Rams - Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
The Los Angeles Rams will have to address their QB position at some point. Matthew Stafford is set to play in his age-36 season, and he's always been banged up. I don't think the Rams are going to take a first-round QB in 2025, but them continuing to add at WR makes sense, as Cooper Kupp is getting old.
18. Los Angeles Chargers - Mason Graham, DT, Michigan
The Los Angeles Chargers will continue to fill the roster with Michigan Wolverines, and it makes sense. This time, they bolster their defensive line with Mason Graham, who played for Jim Harbaugh in 2022 and 2023.
19. Chicago Bears - Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan
Two straight picks, not only from Michigan, but along the defensive line? Yeah, why not, The Chicago Bears are likely going to get a franchise QB in Caleb Williams, so they should then work to fill out the rest of the most important positions on the roster, like reinforcing the trenches.
20. Cincinnati Bengals (via ATL) - Nic Scourton, EDGE, Texas A&M
Trading up to the 20th overall pick with the Atlanta Falcons, the Cincinnati Bengals target EDGE rusher Nic Scourton from Texas A&M, who had 15 tackles for loss an 12 sacks in 2023 for Purdue, but he's now at Texas A&M.
21. Miami Dolphins - Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
The Miami Dolphins are missing a viable receiving threat at tight end to truly complete this offense. Even with them having plenty of wide receivers and pass-catchers on the roster, it won't hurt to draft Colston Loveland, the best tight end projected to be in the 2025 draft class.
22. Green Bay Packers - Denzel Burke, CB, Ohio State
The situation with Jaire Alexander is interesting, and it's just unclear what his long-term status is with the Green Bay Packers. With the Packers now in a bit of a Super Bowl window, they should look to hit on their needs in the 2025 NFL Draft.
23. New York Jets - Tyler Onyedim, DT, Iowa State
You have to give credit to New York Jets GM Joe Douglas for the roster he's built. The Jets do have one of the most talented rosters in the NFL, and that's especially true on defense.
24. Houston Texans - Tyleik Williams, DT, Ohio State
The Houston Texans are going to keep adding to their defensive line. The unit saw the entrance of Danielle Hunter and Denico Autry this offseason, but both players are aging, so it's not like the unit has a good status for the long-term.
25. Dallas Cowboys - Quinshon Judkins, RB, Ohio State
The Dallas Cowboys are never going to learn, are they? While Quinshon Judkins is the best RB in the 2025 class, this would end up being a horrible pick. I mean, why are running backs still getting talent in the first round? It's not a good roster-building strategy, but Jerry Jones seemingly does not care.
26. Philadelphia Eagles - Dani Dennis-Sutton, EDGE, Penn State
Howie Roseman is up to his old tricks again taking a player along the defensive front in the first round. He simply cannot help it. I do think the Philadelphia Eagles may have an issue on their hands if QB Jalen Hurts doesn't improve from his pretty shaky 2023 season.
27. Atlanta Falcons (via CIN) - Malaki Starks, S, Georgia
The Atlanta Falcons made an odd decision this offseason to not only sign Kirk Cousins to a $180 million deal, and then proceeded to draft QB Michael Penix Jr with the eighth pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. They should target the defense in the 2025 NFL Draft, right? Will GM Terry Fontenot finally make a logical decision?
28. Buffalo Bills - Evan Stewart, WR, Oregon
The Buffalo Bills using their first pick on a wide receiver yet again? Maybe. The Bills did lose both Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis this offseason, so the unit is quite depleted. Their top pick in the 2024 NFL Draft was used to take WR Keon Coleman.
29. Detroit Lions - Nic Anderson, WR, Oklahoma
Why not keeping adding to a unit of strength? It might be likely that their current OC, Ben Johnson, departs for a head coaching job next cycle, so in that case, the Detroit Lions may want to bolster the offense to try and cancel out the regression from losing Johnson.
30. Baltimore Ravens - Barrett Carter, LB, Clemson
A defensive culture will continue to prioritize the defensive side of the ball, so this pick makes sense. It'll be interesting to see how the Baltimore Ravens defense performs without their stud defensive coordinator, Mike Macdonald.
31. San Francisco 49ers - Derrick Moore, EDGE, Michigan
The San Francisco 49ers just know how an NFL roster is built. These are the types of positions that teams need to be targeting in the first round. Derrick Moore is yet another first-round pick from Michigan in this 2025 mock draft.
32. Kansas City Chiefs - Andrew Mukuba, S, Texas
Would the Kansas City Chiefs really use a first-round pick on a safety? They've had a ton of luck in devleoping mid and late-round defensive backs, but perhaps Andrew Mukuba is simply too good for them to pass up.
Could this 2025 NFL mock draft end up being the real deal a year from now? You may think it's ridiculous, but I bet teams are already beginning prep for the 2025 NFL Draft. It's all about staying ahead in the NFL.