The NFL season is over halfway finished, and some teams are already looking to 2025 and beyond. This 2025 NFL Mock Draft is focused on what a team is expected to do, not necessarily what the author thinks they should do. No one has told Jerry Jones that it’s not 1990 anymore.
2025 NFL First Round Mock Draft: Names to Know Now
#1 New England Patriots – Tetairoa McMillan, WR Arizona
Tet McMillan is the best wide receiver prospect in this draft. Some folks have been excited about him for months, and in a class weaker on quarterbacks it’s unlikely someone wants to vault to number one. Drake Maye gets some help.
#2 Jacksonville Jaguars – Travis Hunter, CB/WR Colorado
The Jaguars don’t need a ton of help at receiver, but their defense is atrocious. Hunter could play full-time on defense, but be a reliable target for Trevor Lawrence in certain packages on offense.
#3 New Orleans Saints – Mason Graham, DI Michigan
The Saints are in purgatory until further notice, but they’re at least set at receiver and stuck with their quarterback. Graham is a game-wrecking presence on the inside and can take the time to grow in his role while the team looks to the future.
#4 Carolina Panthers – Cam Ward, QB Miami
The Bryce Young experiment was fun for a little bit, but Ward has more prototypical size and arm strength. He’s also prone to bailing out of clean pockets and trying to create magic, but the Panthers are hungry at the most important position in football and take the most fun prospect here.
#5 Cleveland Browns – Jalen Milroe, QB Alabama
Another super athletic quarterback, Milroe has been a rollercoaster through the air in 2024. The highs look like Jalen Hurts at his best, but the lows are Malik Willis-esque. Whatever Milroe turns into, he’s a better option than Deshaun Watson returning from an Achilles tear.
#6 Las Vegas Raiders – Shedeur Sanders, QB Colorado
The last name comes with the prospect, but the Raiders need a solution at quarterback. They have plenty of cap space to add playmakers and linemen mercenaries. If they can add a competent option here, they’ll at least have a watchable offense in 2025 and beyond.
#7 New York Giants – Will Johnson, CB Michigan
Johnson has struggled with injuries in the 2024 season, but when he’s on the field he’s a shutdown corner. The Giants would have loved a quarterback swing here, but need upgrades almost all over their roster. Johnson is a good start.
#8 Miami Dolphins – Will Campbell, OT LSU
Campbell was a three-year starter at LSU and played like it. This tackle class has three or four difference-makers, but the Dolphins need to grab one to try and keep Tua upright.
#9 Tennessee Titans – Isaiah Bond, WR Texas
Also missing out on the quarterback lottery, they’ll move into 2025 with either a free agent target or another year of the Levis experience. The team has lacked difference-making speed at receiver since A.J. Brown left, and Bond has that in spades.
#10 New York Jets – Kenneth Grant, DT Michigan
The defense took a step back for the Jets in 2024, and adding some interior pressure should do the trick. He’s number seven on PFF’s way too early big board, and his presence on defense could help Rodgers make one last run.
#11 Dallas Cowboys – Ashton Jeanty, RB Boise State
Jerry Jones wants his new Ezekiel Elliot (not this version of Zeke). Running backs might not be a great first round investment, but if one is worth it, it’s Jeanty.
#12 Indianapolis Colts – Malaki Starks, S Georgia
Starks was originally a linebacker and number one on the “freaks list” of recruits coming out of High School. If we know anything about the Colts draft tendencies, it’s how much they value athleticism over anything else.
#13 Cincinnati Bengals – Emeka Egbuka, WR Ohio State
Tee Higgins is unlikely to be with the team in 2025. Instead, they keep the OSU product local-ish, and give Burrow another weapon to work with.
#14 Seattle Seahawks – Kelvin Banks Jr, OT Texas
Honestly, they could roll with the other Texas tackle here as Banks is more familiar with LT, and they need a George Fant upgrade more than anything. Banks ability as a pass protector is up there with the best in the class.
#15 Los Angeles Rams – Cameron Williams, OT Texas
Where Banks is a polished pass protector with great footwork, Cameron Williams is a mystery box. The size, athleticism, and mauling mentality will entice GMs. The Rams can get him up to speed quickly and try to protect Stafford for one or two more years.
#16 Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Nic Scourton, EDGE Texas A&M
Scourton led the BIG10 in sacks at Purdue and then transferred to the SEC to improve his draft stock. It certainly worked, and he’s the top edge rusher on many folks’ boards.
#17 San Francisco 49ers – Aireontae Ersery, OT Minnesota
Trent Williams isn’t a spring chicken, and despite the 49ers success they always need OL upgrades. Ersery has prototypical size and a nasty streak in the run game.
#18 Chicago Bears – Emery Jones Jr, OT LSU
The Bears need to hit OL multiple times in the draft as Caleb Williams is running for his life back there. Jones Jr is the fifth of six tackles in this 2025 NFL mock draft.
#19 Denver Broncos – Luther Burden III, WR Missouri
Bo Nix has impressed early and needs a playmaker to hit the next level. Burden was a common selection in the top five before the season started, but has disappointed so far in 2024. Get him the ball in space and watch some magic happen.
#20 Arizona Cardinals – Josh Simmons, OT Ohio State
With Paris Johnson locking down one side, Simmons could be the long-term solution on the other. The Cardinals are a few pieces away from being contenders, and with the Rams and 49ers on the downswing 2025 could be their year.
#21 Los Angeles Chargers – Elic Ayomanor, WR Stanford
As the front runner for the Dads for Ladd campaign, it’s sacrilegious to recommend a WR here. But Herbert needs a big-bodied receiver who can make contested catches and contribute on every down. Ayomanor isn’t a big name yet, but by April everyone will have him on their radars.
#22 Atlanta Falcons – LT Overton, EDGE Alabama
The Falcons are last in the league rushing the passer this season. Not to helmet scout, but an Alabama edge rusher is normally a good solution for that problem.
#23 Green Bay Packers – Benjamen Morrison, CB Notre Dame
Green Bay didn’t add much to their cornerback room in the 2024 draft, and it speaks volumes to the confidence they had in the squad. Now they’re looking for a lockdown two alongside Alexander, and Morrison could be just that.
#24 Baltimore Ravens – Abdul Carter, EDGE Penn State
Their title window is wide open, and playing in the AFC they have to get after passers like Burrow, Mahomes, and Allen. The Ravens add an explosive rusher in this 2025 NFL mock draft.
#25 Houston Texans – Tyler Booker, OG Alabama
The best way to get after an elite passer? Interior pressure. The best way to defend against that? A 6’5″ 350-pound meat eater in the interior of the line.
#26 Philadelphia Eagles – Jack Sawyer, EDGE Ohio State
Sawyer was the fourth-ranked player in his recruiting class, and the next in a long line of great Ohio State pass rushers. The Eagles can’t keep getting away with this, but they’ll take the best defender left on the board and make other fans grumpy again.
#27 Pittsburgh Steelers – Danny Stutsman, LB Oklahoma
The Steelers will probably take a swing on a day-two wide receiver, and choose instead to bolster an already elite defense. Stutsman is a rangy, athletic prospect who still needs some work against the run.
#28 Minnesota Vikings – Quinshon Judkins, RB Ohio State
Aaron Jones isn’t the long-term answer in the backfield, and adding a prospect like Judkins makes the offense even more explosive. He can take any run to the house, and having some time to split work with Jones will be good for both of them.
#29 Washington Commanders – Mykal Williams, EDGE Georgia
After having a defensive line full of former first-rounders, the Commanders defense is their weak link. They need a difference-maker to give the ball back to Jayden Daniels with better field position.
#30 Buffalo Bills – Jihaad Campbell, LB Alabama
As Drake Maye continues to improve, the Bills are going to need athletic linebackers to chase both him and his receivers over the middle of the field. Campbell brings a little more juice to their linebacker corps.
#31 Detroit Lions – James Pearce Jr, EDGE Tennessee
Hutchinson needs a partner in crime. A Bonnie to his Clyde, a Robin to his Batman, a Luke to his Lorelai. Pearce can be just that and strengthens an already impressive defense.
#32 Kansas City Chiefs, Colston Loveland, TE Michigan
There aren’t many exciting receivers left on the board, but Andy Reid and Brett Veach aren’t picky. They add an understudy to Travis Kelce who can operate as a slot receiver or almost anywhere in Reid’s creative offense.
Main Photo Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
