The 2024 NFL preseason is underway, everyone is logging their hours on College Football 25, and football is officially back. It's been a grind this offseason, but it feels like it went by fast with everything going on around the entire football landscape. Maybe the Summer went by so fast because we kept on filling our time over here by cranking out 2025 NFL mock draft scenarios.
It's never too early for a mock draft, even though the ink is still drying on the 2024 NFL Draft. Once the college football season gets going, everyone is going to be wondering about the next wave of prospects coming into the league and it's going to be fun to look back at some of these way-too-early mock draft scenarios to see which players were projected way too high and which ones come out of nowhere to become top prospects.
Using the NFL Mock Draft Database simulator, let's take a look at a brand-new full two-round mock draft with all 32 teams making first-round picks, a rarity in today's NFL.
2025 NFL Mock Draft: Full First-Round Predictions
1. Carolina Panthers: Carson Beck, QB, Georgia
The Carolina Panthers are undoubtedly holding out hope that Bryce Young can still figure it out and become their franchise quarterback in 2024. But if this team is picking 1st overall again in the 2025 NFL Draft, we’re likely looking at a change at quarterback and Young probably getting traded to another team as a reclamation project.
We’ve been going back and forth on Carson Beck and Shedeur Sanders in the #1 overall slot at the quarterback position this offseason, which almost undoubtedly means it’s going to be someone completely out of left field, right?
2. New England Patriots: James Pearce Jr., EDGE, Tennessee
The New England Patriots are a work in progress after the departure of Bill Belichick, but this roster has more meat on the bones than people realize. If Jacoby Brissett can be even slightly below the league average this season, the Patriots have a good enough defense to actually make a little noise in the AFC East.
They might not win 9 or 10 games, but 6 or 7 is not out of the realm of possibility.
Adding James Pearce Jr. to the defensive front would give the Patriots an absolute star off the edge. We’ve seen some drama between the Pats and Matthew Judon this offseason, and adding Pearce would give them a dynamic rusher to build around.
3. Denver Broncos: Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri
The Denver Broncos took Bo Nix with their first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, and head coach Sean Payton seems to think his young, revamped roster is slated to surprise a lot of people this year. Unfortunately for Payton, the general consensus seems to be that his team will be bad in 2024, and if the Broncos are this bad, he's at least going to get a good prospect out of it.
The Broncos could be at a crossroads after this year with Courtland Sutton and his contract situation. Tim Patrick is a free agent in 2025. The Broncos have a good group of receivers this year but Luther Burden III would be a player they could feature in the passing game with his YAC abilities.
4. Washington Commanders: Kelvin Banks, OT, Texas
The Washington Commanders got their franchise quarterback in the 2024 NFL Draft with Heisman winner Jayden Daniels, and I think it’s safe to say they’re going to use this pick here to supplement that selection.
Commanders GM Jason Peters knows how crucial a stud left tackle can be to a team’s success. He has witnessed it firsthand with the addition of Trent Williams to the San Francisco 49ers a handful of years ago. Kelvin Banks is a former five-star prospect who has the ability to come in and be an impact starter right away at left tackle.
5. New York Giants: Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
The New York Giants are probably going to find out in 2024 that they’re a year too late as it relates to getting a new starting quarterback in the building. This team’s decision to invest heavily in Daniel Jones never really made sense, even though people use the 2022 season as a valid reason for his contract all the time.
The fact of the matter is, the majority of Jones’s career hasn’t been indicative that he was worthy of a massive pay day, and the Giants are really finding out the hard way.
Being able to get Shedeur Sanders or Carson Beck (or whoever the top QB prospect ends up being) from the 2025 NFL Draft class would be huge for a team that seemingly has the right pieces almost everywhere else right now.
6. Tennessee Titans: Mykel Williams, DL, Georgia
If the Titans are picking this high next year, it’s going to be fascinating to see what they do at the quarterback position. This doesn’t seem like a team that’s going to reset with another young option at quarterback if Will Levis doesn’t work out. They feel very much like a team that would get aggressive for a veteran after they made moves for players like L’Jarius Sneed, Tony Pollard, Calvin Ridley, and others in 2024.
With that in mind, I view the Titans as wide open with this pick slot and there are people out there who believe that Mykel Williams could ultimately emerge as the top overall player in the 2025 NFL Draft class. He certainly has the explosiveness off the snap and pass rush ability to ascend into the top three overall players.
7. Las Vegas Raiders: Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
Eventually, we might get to a mock draft scenario in which the Raiders actually have a shot at a top-tier quarterback. And who knows? They might take one here in this spot anyway. We’ve projected other quarterbacks in the first round of previous mock drafts and it wouldn’t be shocking if someone like Quinn Ewers of Texas or Jalen Milroe of Alabama ascended into this pick slot.
For now, the Raiders take Michigan cornerback Will Johnson, who is considered one of the top five players overall in the class. Johnson has been compared to Pat Surtain II coming out of Alabama for his size, athletic traits, and pro-readiness.
8. Arizona Cardinals: Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State
Jonathan Gannon is going to want to bring pass rush in waves (who doesn’t) but he needs the personnel to do it the same way (or even similar) to what he was able to do in Philadelphia. The Cardinals just lost 2023 second-round pick BJ Ojulari to a season-ending knee injury, a significant blow to a position group that already had question marks going into the season.
It feels like the Penn State program is just cranking these top-tier NFL pass rush prospects out with relative ease these days. Abdul Carter could be the latest to come from James Franklin’s program and make a substantial impact off the edge at the NFL level. Pro Football Focus credited him with a 24.8 percent pass rush win rate last season.
9. Minnesota Vikings: Travis Hunter, CB, Colorado
I can’t wait to see what an NFL team decides to do with Travis Hunter at the next level. It’s already such a joy to watch him play – and play exceptionally well – at both wide receiver and cornerback at the next level. Although an NFL team is probably going to want him to settle on a spot, I could see him helping teams both offensively and defensively even if he doesn’t play every snap both ways.
There’s no reason why you can’t throw him in your offensive gameplan if he’s a full-time corner, or vice versa. Playing for the Vikings, I think we’d see Hunter as a full-time cornerback for Brian Flores’s defense, but can you imagine the 3WR sets with Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and Travis Hunter?
JJ McCarthy would have to try to screw it up.
10. New Orleans Saints: Will Campbell, OT, LSU
The New Orleans Saints could be revamping their offensive line more significantly than anyone really expected going into this offseason.
Of course, we’ve already seen them snatch up Taliese Fuaga, one of the meanest players in the 2024 NFL Draft class, but the looming questions over Ryan Ramczyk’s future are a dark cloud over this unit. That, along with the question of whether or not Trevor Penning is a first-round bust, could end up leading to the Saints being in the market for another 1st-round tackle in 2025.
And if he’s still sitting on the board, Will Campbell might be the best player available anyway.
11. Seattle Seahawks: Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama
For the first time this offseason, we’ve actually got the Seattle Seahawks taking a 1st-round quarterback in a 2025 NFL mock draft scenario. The Seahawks could pretty easily get out of Geno Smith’s contract after this season and they have Sam Howell under team control for another year. You’ve got a built-in bridge starter in case you want your young QB to sit for a year.
Jalen Milroe is getting a lot of new eyes on his game this year. Caleb DeBoer and his staff are now at Alabama after transforming Michael Penix Jr. into a top-10 draft pick at the quarterback position. Milroe certainly doesn’t lack talent, and if he can show progression this season, he could easily be a top-12 pick or better in 2025.
12. Indianapolis Colts: Deone Walker, DL, Kentucky
No team values RAS (Relative Athletic Score) in their draft picks more than the Indianapolis Colts, and I have a hunch that Kentucky’s Deone Walker could land somewhere on the Jordan Davis scale when it comes to his athletic traits.
For a man this large, you don’t see too many guys filling up the stat sheet with plays behind the line of scrimmage. Typically, the 350-pound players are taking up space and creating opportunities for others, but Deone Walker is a playmaker. His rare combination of size and athletic traits are top-5 worthy, but you have to determine if he’s going to play more than 50 percent of the snaps to take him that high.
13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame
We’ve had the Tampa Bay Buccaneers picking a receiver in their first-round slot for most of our 2025 NFL mock draft predictions, but the playmaking cornerback out of Notre Dame was way too good to pass on here.
The Buccaneers are extremely well constructed right now, thanks to GM Jason Licht. They’ve been able to add a lot of quality talent despite picking low in the NFL Draft and Licht has done a tremendous job of keeping players around on second (or third) contracts.
Adding another stud at the cornerback position could take Todd Bowles’s defense to another level in 2025. I’d be shocked if the Bucs were picking this low but there is a level of volatility with Baker Mayfield that makes it possible.
14. Pittsburgh Steelers: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
So, are we going to see the Pittsburgh Steelers make a move for Brandon Aiyuk or what? The 2024 offseason has been an interesting one for Pittsburgh as they moved on from former first-round pick Kenny Pickett and brought in Justin Fields and Russell Wilson. They also traded Diontae Johnson to the Panthers, sort of making life a little more difficult for the new quarterbacks.
The need is there for the Steelers at wide receiver. We typically see this team find some gems on day two of the NFL Draft at the skill positions but Tatairoa McMillan and his playmaking ability could be too tempting to pass on here. The guy is a big play just about every time he touches the football.
If the Steelers can’t pull off a trade for Brandon Aiyuk, getting one of the top two or three guys in the 2025 NFL Draft class could be a great alternative.
15. Los Angeles Chargers: Mason Graham, DL, Michigan
How can we come away from a 2025 NFL mock draft in which the Chargers and Jim Harbaugh don’t land a Michigan player?
You’ve got to think Harbaugh is going to be all over the idea of taking Wolverines in the draft wherever possible, and it makes a lot of sense. A lot of times in the NFL Draft, you’re taking risks on players you have no background with and you’re gambling on their personality fitting with the culture of your organization.
Mason Graham is not only a top-tier defensive line prospect in his own right, but he would be an ideal fit for Jim Harbaugh’s culture in Los Angeles since he was already in it at Ann Arbor.
16. Jacksonville Jaguars: Malaki Starks, S, Georgia
In his lone year as defensive coordinator of the Falcons, we saw just how important the safety position is to defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen with how he utilized Jessie Bates III. Bates was already outstanding, but he took his game to the next level in Nielsen's scheme.
The Jaguars need a playmaker like that on the back end of their defense, and Malaki Starks could be the best playmaking safety in the entire 2025 NFL Draft class. The All-American is coming off of a year in which he had seven passes broken up, three interceptions, and 52 total tackles as a leader on that stellar Georgia Bulldogs defense.
17. Cleveland Browns: Emery Jones Jr., OT, LSU
The Cleveland Browns will be at a crossroads this offseason with former first-round offensive tackle Jedrick Wills. Wills looked like he was going to be a mainstay at the left tackle position back in his rookie season, but he’s struggled with injuries the last couple of seasons and hasn’t been the same player when on the field for the Browns.
Cleveland is already dealing with Jack Conklin coming off of a season-ending injury. While Dawand Jones looks like he’ll be a starting option for the future at the right tackle position, the Browns might be in need of a new starting left tackle, and with all the other investments they’ve made elsewhere, getting someone on a rookie deal might be the move.
18. Los Angeles Rams: Jonah Savaiinaea, OL, Arizona
The Los Angeles Rams are going to be a team to watch in the 2025 offseason after already losing Aaron Donald to retirement in 2024. The idea of Matthew Stafford retiring after this season probably has some legit legs, and how close the Rams get to competing for a Super Bowl this season might determine whether or not he actually comes back.
In this instance, they would just be missing out on the playoffs or getting bounced early, at best. If that happens, I think Stafford is going to be satisfied with his ring and call it a career. In that case, the Rams become contenders for a quarterback via trade, free agency, or moving up in the draft.
Here, we get them another offensive line stud to build around. Jonah Savaiinaea is looking like the heir apparent to Jordan Morgan for Arizona at left tackle and might project better to tackle at the NFL level than Morgan, who is projected to move inside to guard for the Packers.
19. New York Jets: Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
Are the New York Jets going to get another year out of Aaron Rodgers beyond the 2024 season?
If Rodgers is able to get the Jets to the playoffs but is bounced early, I think he will come back for one more year. If the Jets miss the playoffs and Rodgers struggles with injuries again, I think he’s going to be done. There are a lot of potential players on next year’s QB market that could complicate things for other teams that don’t have one yet.
If Rodgers is back for 2025, which I’m assuming is the case as of right now, then I like the idea of filling out the playmaker department offensively with a stud tight end like Colston Loveland, who can be Robert Saleh’s version of George Kittle in New York.
20. Chicago Bears: Nic Scourton, EDGE/DL, Texas A&M
There are a number of ways you can really support a young quarterback, and having an elite pass rush defensively is one of them.
Although Caleb Williams doesn’t directly benefit from adding a pass rusher in terms of he’s not throwing them passes and they’re not protecting him on the offensive line, but having a great pass rush is going to give your quarterback more opportunities over the course of a game and certainly a season with the football in his hands.
Better pass rush = more possessions.
Nic Scourton is one of the top pass rushers in this year’s upcoming class and you see it from a number of alignments up front.
21. Atlanta Falcons: Jack Sawyer, EDGE, Ohio State
Pro Football Focus seems to really like Ohio State pass rusher Jack Sawyer ahead of the 2024 season. The former five-star prospect could be a great fit for the Falcons late in the first round, especially when this is clearly one of the biggest areas of need on their roster.
Ohio State’s Jack Sawyer might just be the “safest” edge rusher prospect in the draft. That’s not to say he doesn’t have a decently high ceiling, but his floor is so elevated and reliable, and a big reason for that is his consistent hand usage.
Whether it’s a long arm, a bull rush or just holding the line in run defense, Sawyer is rarely out of position and rarely caught with bad technique. He earned an 86.0 pass-rush grade and an 86.6 run-defense grade in 2023, highlighting how well-rounded his game is.
- Pro Football Focus
For a team that has invested so much in the offense the last few years, getting a guy like this could be huge for Raheem Morris's defense.
22. Miami Dolphins: Tyleik Williams, DL, Ohio State
The Miami Dolphins had a tough pill to swallow in the 2024 offseason when they lost Christian Wilkins in free agency to the Las Vegas Raiders. The loss of Wilkins was bigger than just losing a starting defensive lineman as he was also one of the key leaders on the team.
Not that Tyleik Williams is going to come in and immediately replace all of those qualities, but the Dolphins land a big-time player here on the defensive line who could benefit tremendously from the attention players like Jaelan Phillips, Bradley Chubb, and Chop Robinson off the edge.
23. Green Bay Packers: Jabbar Muhammad, CB, Oregon
The Green Bay Packers have one of the best and most well-constructed all-around rosters in the league right now. They just re-signed Jordan Love to a massive extension worth $55 million in average annual value, and having him locked in is the greatest peace of mind GM Brian Gutekunst could ask for.
The one area of this team that might need some substantial tweaking after the 2024 season is at cornerback. The Packers are content right now with the combination of guys like Eric Stokes, Jaire Alexander, and Carrington Valentine. The issue is, Stokes isn’t under contract beyond this season and the team will be at a crossroads with Jaire Alexander.
Getting a physical playmaker at corner like Jabbar Muhammad would be outstanding for this Packers team, which revamped the safety position in 2024.
24. Houston Texans: Emeka Egbuka, CB, Ohio State
If CJ Stroud has another big year for the Texans in 2024, you can’t help but wonder if he’s going to have any clout in the front office when it comes time for the NFL Draft.
Of course, the Texans are going to be building around Stroud no matter what, but if Stroud has any say in things, he might pound the table for his former Ohio State teammate to join the fray in Houston offensively.
The Texans acquired Stefon Diggs this offseason, but that was a one-year rental and a “we’ll see” situation after 2024. They have Nico Collins and Tank Dell as well, but Egbuka as a third option could keep this passing game lethal in Houston.
25. Philadelphia Eagles: Barrett Carter, LB, Clemson
The Philadelphia Eagles hired Vic Fangio as their defensive coordinator in 2024, and one of the position groups they’ve overhauled for his unit is the linebacker position. That was a serious problem area for the Eagles in 2023 along with their defensive backfield, and they had to shuffle through a number of players as well as add Shaquille Leonard in the middle of the season to try and provide a jolt.
Barrett Carter is an extremely productive three-down player who has lived behind the line of scrimmage for Clemson. He would give the Eagles a viable long-term starting option as they take shots on free agents like Devin White and Zack Baun in 2024.
26. Dallas Cowboys: Evan Stewart, WR, Oregon
The Dallas Cowboys obviously need to figure out the contract situation with CeeDee Lamb sooner rather than later, but they also need to find playmakers at receiver that can help take the attention off of Lamb.
There aren’t many receivers who are going to absolutely obliterate single coverage quite like Evan Stewart in this draft class. Stewart runs good routes, he gets open quickly, and he’s much tougher at the catch point than his size might indicate.
After a couple of years of struggling with poor quarterback play at Texas A&M, Stewart should be in line for his best season yet at the college level after transferring to Oregon where he’s almost certain to be a favorite target of new quarterback Dillon Gabriel.
27. Buffalo Bills: Xavier Nwankpa, S, Iowa
The Buffalo Bills said goodbye to a lot of players in the 2024 offseason, and on defense, perhaps none were more notable than the safety duo of Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer.
What’s even more brutal? Poyer ended up signing with the Miami Dolphins…
The Bills revamped the safety position through the 2024 NFL Draft with second-round pick Cole Bishop, one of my favorite players in this year’s rookie class. Bishop has outstanding range and playmaking ability. Pairing him up with Iowa’s Xavier Nwankpa would give the Bills a young safety tandem that would have people forgetting about losing two key veterans in a hurry.
Nwankpa proved last year in his first year as a full-time starter for the Hawkeyes that he’s an impact player on the back end of the defense with 42 tackles, an interception, two tackles for loss, and a sack.
28. Cincinnati Bengals: Quinshon Judkins, RB, Ohio State
If you base it on the College Football 25 video game, there’s probably not a better pick in this 2025 NFL mock draft than Quinshon Judkins. The guy simply cannot be stopped.
One of the top transfers in all of college football this coming season, Judkins is elusiveness personified. He’s so good at avoiding tacklers and we should see him absolutely dominate at Ohio State in tandem with TreVeyon Henderson, another outstanding NFL prospect.
The Bengals sent Joe Mixon away in a trade this offseason, and they’ve now lost Mixon and Samaje Perine in consecutive offseasons. The running back position has to be addressed and the Bengals have the bodies on the offensive line to justify this kind of investment.
29. Detroit Lions: Kenneth Grant, DL, Michigan
The Detroit Lions don’t have many holes on their roster at the moment and one thing this team can continue to do is build up the trenches defensively. The Lions already have arguably the toughest offensive line in the NFL but their defense has still been gashed a few too many times.
That’s why they prioritized DJ Reader in 2024 NFL free agency, but they could keep adding to the defensive front in the 2025 NFL Draft. Especially if a local product like Kenneth Grant falls to their pick late in round one. Grant was really disruptive last year for the Wolverines, racking up five tackles for loss and five passes batted along with an interception and 3.5 sacks.
30. Baltimore Ravens: Harold Perkins, LB, LSU
Out goes one former LSU star linebacker, in comes another.
The Baltimore Ravens lost Patrick Queen in 2024 free agency to their division rivals in Pittsburgh, and we’ll see if 2023 third-round pick Trenton Simpson can step in and seize that starting role next to Roquan Smith.
The Ravens currently have Kyle Van Noy on the roster and if they want to maybe upgrade to a newer model, they might consider Harold Perkins, who can play both off the ball and as a pass rusher. Perkins is an absolute menace with 26 tackles for loss and 13 total sacks in his first two years at LSU.
31. San Francisco 49ers: Patrick Payton, EDGE, Florida State
Trying to make a mock draft selection for teams like the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs is like trying to buy a Christmas or birthday gift for a millionaire. How do you buy something for someone who probably just already has everything they want?
It’s the thought that counts, right?
No, what you do is you think with one eye on the future. The San Francisco 49ers have been trying really hard to find some players through the draft on the defensive front that they can build around but they have been quietly having to supplement a lot more through free agency and other means to add in that area.
Patrick Payton is coming off of a big year with 14 tackles for loss and 7 sacks at Florida State and could be poised for his biggest year yet off the edge. He’d be in line for a lot of favorable matchups opposite Nick Bosa in San Francisco.
32. Kansas City Chiefs: Tacario Davis, CB, Arizona
Nobody loves a big, athletic corner more than the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs lost L’Jarius Sneed in the 2024 offseason and it’s going to be fun to see how they try to replace him. Obviously, Trent McDuffie is going to take on the CB1 responsibilities and he’s more than ready for that, but the pressure is on a lot of other young guys to come through as the “next men up” after Sneed’s departure via trade to the Titans.
Tacario Davis is a 6-foot-4 cornerback prospect who forces a lot of incompletions thanks to his length. He could end up being a much higher pick than this if he can have even more ball production in the 2024 season.
2025 NFL Mock Draft: Full Second-Round Predictions
33. Chicago Bears: JT Tuimoloau, DL/EDGE, Ohio State
34, New England Patriots: Tyler Booker, OL, Alabama
35. Denver Broncos: Princely Umanmielen, DL, Ole Miss
36. Washington Commanders: Denzel Burke, CB, Ohio State
37. Tennessee Titans: Quinn Ewers, QB, Texas
38. New York Giants: Ollie Gordon II, RB, Oklahoma State
39. Las Vegas Raiders: Conner Weigman, QB, Texas A&M
40. Arizona Cardinals: Dani Dennis-Sutton, DL, Penn State
41. Houston Texans: Walter Nolen, DL, Ole Miss
42. New Orleans Saints: Ashton Gillotte, EDGE, Louisville
43. Seattle Seahawks: Jay Higgins, LB, Iowa
44. Indianapolis Colts: Kevin Winston Jr., S, Penn State
45. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Isaiah Bond, WR, Texas
46. Pittsburgh Steelers: Jordan Hancock, CB, Ohio State
47. Los Angeles Chargers: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
48. Jacksonville Jaguars: Earnest Greene, OL, Georgia
49. Cleveland Browns: TreVeyon Henderson, RB, Ohio State
50. Los Angeles Rams: Will Howard, QB, Ohio State
51. New York Jets: Landon Jackson, DL, Arkansas
52. Chicago Bears: Parker Brailsford, OL, Alabama
53. Atlanta Falcons: Rod Moore, DB, Michigan
54. Miami Dolphins: Luke Lachey, TE, Iowa
55. Green Bay Packers: Josh Conerly Jr., OT, Oregon
56. Houston Texans: Xavier Watts, DB, Notre Dame
57. Philadelphia Eagles: Nic Anderson, WR, Oklahoma
58. Dallas Cowboys: Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina
59. Buffalo Bills: Tre Harris, WR, Ole Miss
60. Cincinnati Bengals: Tory Horton, WR, Colorado State
61. Detroit Lions: Danny Stutsman, LB, Oklahoma
62. Baltimore Ravens: Blake Miller, OT, Clemson
63. San Francisco 49ers: Dontay Corleone, DL, Cincinnati
64. Kansas City Chiefs: Smael Mondon, LB, Georgia
Analysis of key picks
Even after getting Nic Scourton in the first round, the Bears double back on defensive line/edge players with JT Tuimoloau. The Bears are rolling with Jacob Martin off the edge opposite Montez Sweat as of right now so they need the upgrades.
The Tennessee Titans took Quinn Ewers in this scenario which is obviously oddly similar to Will Levis in 2023. It might not be the direction they would choose if Levis truly doesn’t work out, but Ewers is undeniably talented and could be an interesting player to add to the mix for the Titans if Levis is just okay or has some moments where he’s too low for the organization’s liking.
The Raiders and Rams also took some shots on the quarterback position in this mock draft and the Rams took Will Howard out of Ohio State, a player who has yet to appear in any of our predictions.