There’s a lot on the table for this year’s NFL Draft, and it’s a pretty unique class (although aren’t they all). This is a draft where drafting top-10 is less of an advantage than in most years. Often, we think about draft classes in terms of rankings, with the top-100 from 2023 being relatively equal to the top-100 of 2024 and 2025. Instead, a more valuable approach is by tiers. 2024 was a draft class with many Tier-1 players. Jayden Daniels, Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers, Brock Bowers, Jared Verse, Bo Nix, and even Brian Thomas were among players that stepped into their new NFL homes and not only made an impact, but immediately showed that they were among the top players at their positions in the league, to varying degrees.

The look of 2025 is that there are fewer truly elite talents who will be superstars. Fewer true tier-1 prospects are coming into the draft. Instead, it’s a draft with much more depth in tiers 2-4, players that will step into starting roles across the league and fill holes, provide solid contributions, and (perhaps more quietly) help lead their teams to winning seasons and Lombardi trophies.

For those reasons, drafting in the top 10 won’t look as appealing to some teams, and we may see several big shake-ups and trades early on. But, for the purpose of this mock, we’re not going to be projecting trades (although I will add a note where I think a trade-back or trade-up may make sense), and we’ll get into it.

1. Tennessee Titans: Cam Ward, QB, Miami

He’s not a Caleb Williams or Trevor Lawrence-level prospect. But looking at where Jacksonville and Chicago are sitting, that actually might be okay for the Titans. Ward had a breakout season in Miami this past year, and brings his elite arm and fluid game to the NFL with Brian Callahan’s Titans. The biggest surprise with this pick is where Will Levis might get traded once it happens. If they do decide not to take a QB, Abdul Carter would be the pick here.

2. Cleveland Browns: Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado

Travis Hunter is truly a unicorn. He is genuinely an elite prospect at two positions, and what Cleveland decides to do with him will be a unique challenge. Not only is this the highest drafted Cornerback of all time (sorry Jeff Okudah, for losing that title), it’s also the highest a WR has gone since Calvin Johnson. Cleveland has other holes, and having Abdul Carter across from Myles Garrett would be a nightmare for OCs, but Hunter is the best player in this draft. 

3. New York Giants: Abdul Carter, Edge, Penn State

There is a very real chance this is where the draft goes sideways. Head coach Brian Daboll is an offensive coach on the hot seat. The Giants have Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston in their QB room. Abdul Carter should be the pick here. He’s an elite edge rusher with bend, strength, and speed. He’s going to immediately make an impact wherever he lands, and could become a cornerstone for a defense well into a second contract. BUT it’s possible the front office picks in Daboll’s best interest, rather than the Giants’. If that’s the case, Will Campbell, Ashton Jeanty, or even Shedeur Sanders could be heading to the Meadowlands.

4. New England Patriots: Will Campbell, OT, LSU

Man, the Patriots hope the Giants send this draft sideways, so they can get Carter. This is the first real tier break of prospects, and it puts the Patriots in a strange spot. Their biggest need is on the offensive line, followed by any offensive weapon. The new Mike Vrabel regime needs to draft everything they can to keep Drake Maye on his feet, in the pocket, and with open targets. Vrabel is a trenches coach, so Campbell or Membou will be the pick here. But is Campbell that much better than Armand Membou? Kelvin Banks Jr.? Josh Conerly Jr.? Josh Simmons? Not necessarily, and New England likely does everything they can to trade back out of the 4 spot.

5. Jacksonville Jaguars: Mason Graham, DT, Michigan

This is what all the mocks are leaning, which means it won’t happen. That’s showbiz, baby. However, the fit makes too much sense. Graham is the best DT, a player a cut above the other DTs in a strong class. And what’s this? It’s also one of the Jaguars’ biggest needs to shore up the IDL. Sometimes we don’t need to overthink, and the Jags do the right thing here. If Graham goes at 4, the Jags could pivot to Tetairoa McMillan or one of the OTs.

6. Las Vegas Raiders: Armand Membou, OT, Missouri

But Pete Carroll wants a running back! Yes, he does. But more than that, he wants to establish the run and win in the trenches. Ashton Jeanty will tempt Pete here, but in such a deep running back class, I’m not convinced they take Ashton this high, and instead do the sane thing and start to build physicality back into their offense, where the Eagles showed it should start. Membou is a powerful tackle with elite athleticism, and with Missouri, he faced elite competition perhaps more than anyone else in the class. It will make Geno Smith’s landing in Vegas that much smoother.

7. New York Jets: Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State

Of course Shedeur Sanders could fit here. The Jets could slide from one media circus QB to another. Instead, they finally eat some vegetables and take Simmons. Assuming Simmons clears his medicals coming off his season-ending injury, he could be back by the fall in time to slide in as an immediate upgrade for Justin Fields and this revamped offense. With a new Defensive HC in Aaron Glenn, they could also take Jalon Walker or Will Johnson to invest in his preferred side of the ball.

8. Carolina Panthers: Jalon Walker, LB/Edge, Georgia

The Panthers need defensive help BADLY. Bryce Young finally started to look like a quarterback last year, and they could always invest more in him with Ashton Jeanty or Tetairoa McMillan, but what’s wrong with the Panthers? It’s the defensive unit that ranked 32nd in Points allowed, yards allowed, and rushing yards allowed. The only reason they should look away from Walker is if they want more strength in the run game with a Mykel Williams or one of the DT prospects. Ultimately, though, they grab the best defender available in Walker.

9. New Orleans Saints: Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado

With Derek Carr missing significant time, (and let’s be real, he’s not really the answer even when healthy) Shedeur finds his home in the Big Easy. Is this the right pick for New Orleans? Maybe, maybe not. Shedeur is far from a perfect prospect. He can struggle in space and isn’t an elite pocket presence, either. If he hadn’t played under Coach Daddy Prime the last two seasons, he wouldn’t be a top-10 pick. Fortunately for him, he did. He played well, and he improved a lot. For the Saints’ sake, they’re hoping it’s not smoke and mirrors. If they don’t grab Shedeur here, Will Johnson would make lots of sense.

10. Chicago Bears: Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan

This could also be Ashton Jeanty, Tyler Warren,  or another offensive lineman, but the theme of  Ben Johnson’s Bears has been “how do we make Caleb Williams good?” and Loveland is the latest way to do it. Loveland as TE1 may be a bit of a surprise, but he’s the more versatile receiving threat over Warren, and Chicago will value that. Ben Johnson likes moving pieces around, and he likes having guys who can move around. Loveland will fit in great.

11. San Francisco 49ers: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State

Ah, crap. This really isn’t the best pick for the 49ers, since it’s time for them to reinvest in the trenches again and fix the defense, but Jeanty will be too tempting for Shanahan to pass up. The CMC / Jeanty backfield will let them monitor CMC’s workload, use him more flexibly, and have just the grossest two-headed backfield in recent history. Shanahan has proven before that he can’t have “too many” weapons, regardless of where they line up. If they weren’t so tempted, they could go after Will Johnson, Mykel Williams, Shemar Stewart, Mike Green, or whoever their favorite flavor of edge is.

12. Dallas Cowboys: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona

Jeanty would have been a fun pick, and it’s possible Dallas tries to move up to get him. Instead, they’ll happily accept McMillan falling into their lap. Dallas can’t run their entire offense through CeeDee Lamb, and whether that ends up with McMillan, Warren, Loveland, Jeanty, or Matthew Golden, this first pick will likely be a fun one.

13. Miami Dolphins: Kelvin Banks, Jr., OT, Texas

Mike McDaniel is doing everything he can to run Miami all the way to a playoff win, and bulking up the o-line is the right way to do it. Tyreek likely doesn’t make it to opening day in Miami, so taking another receiving option would also fit here, but Banks is the best fit.

14. Indianapolis Colts: Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State

Is Anthony Richardson good at all? No one really knows, but even if Indy moves on in 12 months, Tyler Warren will help solidify the landing spot for the next guy. Golden, Shemar Stewart, or even Malaki Starks could be a good fit here, also.

15. Atlanta Falcons: Shemar Stewart, Edge, Texas A&M

If Stewart and his elite combine performance slide to 15, Atlanta will happily submit their card before taking any calls. Atlanta badly needs pass rushing support, and whether that’s Stewart, Mike Green, Mykel Williams, or whoever is available, they should be taking D-Line.

16. Arizona Cardinals: Mykel Williams, Edge, Georgia

I drafted Mykel Williams for the Cardinals in a Madden Franchise once, and he became a perennial All-Pro who averaged 10+ sacks and 10+ TFLs. That’s more than what the real Cardinals should be expecting from Mykel, but he’s a strong run defender who can push the pocket, and Jonathan Gannon will be happy to continue building his front-7 with him.

17. Cincinnati Bengals: Will Johnson, CB, Michigan

An Edge would absolutely fit in Cincy, but Will Johnson being available at 17? That’s too good to pass up. The Bengals will slot him in as an immediate starter on the outside, and it will help bolster what was an embarrassing unit last year, consistently losing games where they scored 30+.

18. Seattle Seahawks: Matthew Golden, WR, Texas

There are a couple of options here, and IOL is certainly the biggest need, and Mike McDonald will be tempted by an edge like Mike Green or a DT like Derrick Harmon. But without DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett? Picking Golden at 18 is the right choice for Seattle, and it builds a more hospitable environment for Sam Darnold to step into in Seattle.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Malaki Starks, S, Georgia

Similar to the Jacksonville pick at 5, this is the best available player at the biggest position of need, and we don’t need to overthink it.

20. Denver Broncos: Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina

Sean Payton will be a wild card. If Ashton Jeanty and Tetairoa McMillan are sliding like this, I think they may shock the NFL world and move up significantly to add one of them. However, if they are staying put, Hampton is a great fit. A strong back who can immediately improve the offense for Bo Nix. Emeka Egbuka, Luther Burden, or even Jaylin Noel could also be a good fit here.

21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Jaxson Dart, QB, Ole Miss

There’s just no way Mason Rudolph starts the season as their best QB, right? Aaron Rodgers seems uninterested, and he may even retire during the draft as one final stunt. Pittsburgh is a pretty strong offensive unit now with DK Metcalf, and there’s no way Tomlin lets the first year of the shiny new deal on the shiny new receiver be without a QB. Other strong picks could be an IOL like Booker or Grey Zabel, or even the trenches like a Walter Nolen, Derrick Harmon, or someone else.

22. Los Angeles Chargers: Grey Zabel, OL, North Dakota State

He’s one of the most versatile offensive lineman in the class, and could genuinely start at any of the five positions. Jim Harbaugh plays football the right way(™), and bulking up his trench unit is always something he’ll be interested in. With a prospect like Zabel? The Chargers are making the job of Justin Herbert that much easier.

23. Green Bay Packers: Mike Green, Edge, Marshall

This feels like a wonderful fit for the Packers. Mike Green is one of the most productive pass rushers in the class, coming off a season with 17 sacks and 23 TFLs, and he’ll be able to slot right into a rotation and contribute. He’s a tremendous speed rusher and will help this defense keep QBs off balance all season long.

24. Minnesota Vikings: Josh Conerly Jr., OT, Oregon

Some people think Conerly could be the best tackle in this class, and for stretches at Oregon, he felt like it. Minnesota is moving from Sam Darnold to JJ McCarthy this year, and they’ll want to make McCarthy’s first season in the NFL as easy as it can be. They added Will Fries in free agency to play OG; adding Conerly gives them another talented lineman who can slot in either across from Darrisaw or next to him. Either way, this pick solidifies the pocket.

25. Houston Texans: Donovan Jackson, OG, Ohio State

Jackson played some OG and some OT with Ohio State, thanks to the Josh Simmons injury. Thanks to some offseason trades, Houston’s O-Line has gone from bad to worse this offseason, and Jackson will start to plug some holes for Stroud. Will it be enough? Doubtful, but it’s certainly a good start. If they don’t start picking O-Line at pick 25, it’s because they’ve traded up. They could also target Tyler Booker, Marcus Mbow, or anyone else who’s slid to them at 25.

26. Los Angeles Rams: Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama

The Rams struck gold a year ago with Jared Verse, and they’re hoping Campbell is another immediate impact player. He’s a former Edge recruit who played mostly at LB for Alabama. This is a strong pick at a position of need for LA. Although, the Rams are another serious contender to say eff them picks and trade up to get one of their favorite weapon targets. TE Tyler Warren would be a great fit in McVay’s offense. They also may grab Emeka Egbuka, Mason Taylor, or another target here to replace Cooper Kupp more directly than Davante Adams does.

27. Baltimore Ravens: Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon

Whatever seems unknown about the draft, one thing remains true. The Ravens will sit tight and watch a top-20 player slide into their lap. They’ll take him, slot him in wherever they want, and it will work out beautifully. Congrats to Derrick Harmon and John Harbaugh. It happens again here.

28. Detroit Lions: James Pearce, Jr., Edge, Tennessee

The Lions will be overreacting to their 2024. The defense truly wasn’t an issue until they were on their 4th layer of depth. But how do you make a good team even better? Simply add more talent to the trenches. James Pearce Jr will be another strong player sliding into a spot where they barely need him. If they’re asking pick 28 to fill a hole, it’s because of more injury woes. For Dan Campbell’s sake (and the city of Detroit), I hope Pearce barely plays in 2025.

29. Washington Commanders: Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas

Only the third CB off the board, Barron will be able to contribute immediately for the  Commanders. Washington is staring a dangerous regression right in the face, as their 4th down abilities and close game heroics seem weakly sustainable. Instead, they add to a position of concern with Barron, and they add a good player to it. Nick Emmanwori could fit here, and a RB would be a great addition, whether Kaleb Johnson or TreVeyon Henderson. That being said, it’s a very, very strong RB class, and adding one in the later rounds will still be impactful over Austin Ekeler and Brian Robinson.

30. Buffalo Bills: Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State

Egbuka is a luxury pick for a team that can afford it. Egbuka is a solid player through and through, great hands, good route-runner, strong athlete, and 6’0”, 202, so good size. He’s going to step in as a slot contributor immediately, and Josh Allen will find himself looking to Egbuka on 3rd downs early and often. Walter Nolen or Tyler Booker also could make sense.

31. Kansas City Chiefs: Tyler Booker, OG, Alabama

We all saw it happen before and after Kendrick’s halftime show. Patrick Mahomes needs offensive line help. It’s clear at this point that Kansas City is spending the next 9 months prepping for January, and adding a giant, strong mauler here? It’s the perfect fit for Kansas City. If they don’t want the perfect fit, some others could be Kenneth Grant, Donovan Ezeiruaku, Emmanwori, or Jonah Savaiinea.

32. Philadelphia Eagles: Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina

Emmanwori is a Kam Chancellor-built safety prospect. Fast, huge, strong. He’s not a perfect safety type, but the Eagles have no holes on their roster, and this is a chance for them to add a 1 of 1 athlete to the mix. Add Emmanwori, and then just figure out what you do with him later. The Eagles have had that mindset on players for years, and it just brought them a Lombardi Trophy. Why stop now?

So there you have it. 32 picks in the first round. A few surprises, and more than likely, about 4 accurate picks in the entire draft, and none after pick 12. Ah, well, that’s mock drafts for you. There will be a surprise trade early, and I expect Jeanty to go much higher than 11.