The 2025 NFL Draft is still months away, but with most of the order set, mock draft season is already in full bloom. Picks 1-30 are locked, with the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles putting a bow on the season at Super Bowl LIX on Feb. 9.
Now, with a new league year on the horizon, Browns star Myles Garrett sent shockwaves around the NFL by requesting a trade from the only franchise he’s ever known — the Cleveland Browns.
A Garrett blockbuster would have league-wide ramifications, as not only will a team acquire an All-Pro defender, but the Browns would also land a haul of draft picks to kickstart their retooling of the roster.
However, the franchise quickly shot down the request, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. Likewise, Browns GM Andrew Berry emphatically told a reporter last week that Garrett is not available for trade.
But where is the fun in that? Let’s add a fresh take on this 2025 NFL Mock Draft by sending Garrett to a new organization and allowing Cleveland to immediately bolster the rest of its roster.
NFL Mock Draft — Browns Trade Myles Garrett, Begin Rebuilding Roster
TRADE!
Cleveland Sends:
•Myles Garrett
Washington Sends:
•No. 29 Overall (2025)
•No. 95 Overall (2025)
•First-Round Pick (2026)
No. 1: Tennessee Titans — Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State
Titans GM Mike Borgonzi already said he won’t force the quarterback position. At No. 1 overall in this mock draft, the new shot caller stays true to that statement, opting to take the supremely talented pass rusher, Abdul Carter.
No. 2: Cleveland Browns — Shemar Stewart, DL, Texas A&M
The Browns traded Myles Garrett earlier in the mock draft, and that leaves a massive hole on the end of the defensive line. Insert Texas A&M’s freakish star — Shemar Stewart.
While Stewart is currently projected as a middle Day 1 prospect, he will vault up draft boards come April. He already proved to be the best player at the 2025 Senior Bowl, exhibiting an otherworldly blend of size, speed, and power.
An impressive Scouting Combine could pave the way to a top-five selection. It’s best to get ahead of the curve now and move Stewart up the board — a Travon Walker-type rise is imminent.
No. 3: New York Giants — Cam Ward, QB, Miami
Head coach Brian Daboll has been hamstrung by the quarterback position since joining the Giants organization. Now, Cam Ward, a dual-threat signal-caller with immense arm talent gives Daboll a fresh start on offense.
No. 4: New England Patriots — Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado
Travis Hunter, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, hears his name next as the Patriots implement a “best player available” strategy. Hunter should pair with Christian Gonzalez to form a fearsome duo, and the Colorado star can also improve a bottom-of-the-league receiver unit.
No. 5: Jacksonville Jaguars — Will Campbell, OL, LSU
Liam Coen loves to run the football, and in order to do so, the offensive line must be a strong point. Will Campbell is the best lineman in the 2025 NFL Draft and profiles as an All-Pro at guard or tackle.
No. 6: Las Vegas Raiders — Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
It’s no secret that Tom Brady has sway in the Raiders organization, so adding protege Shedeur Sanders to a roster lacking a difference-making quarterback is a no-brainer for Vegas.
No. 7: New York Jets — Mason Graham, DT, Michigan
Quinnen Williams is amongst the most dominant defenders in the NFL, but he needs more help up front. That’s where Mason Graham, a gap-stuffing, pass-rushing interior lineman who would excel next to Williams comes in.
No. 8: Carolina Panthers — Tet McMillan, WR, Arizona
Bryce Young showed flashes of his No. 1 overall pick potential down the stretch, so head coach Dave Canales will want to continue the momentum by landing a prototype WR1 in Tet McMillan. He adds an explosive element to the receiver room.
No. 9: New Orleans Saints — Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
Will Johnson is a top-five player in the 2025 NFL Draft, but as is the case in many mock draft exercises, he slipped down the board, giving the New Orleans Saints a steal at No. 9 overall. Johnson steps in as CB1 on the roster instantly.
No. 10: Chicago Bears — Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State
The Bears reeled in Ben Johnson to right the ship in Chicago. His first order of business must be beefing up the offensive line. Josh Simmons is the top pure left tackle in this class and would have no problem protecting Caleb Williams’ blindside for the next decade.
No. 11: San Francisco 49ers — Kelvin Banks Jr., OL, Texas
Depending on who you ask, Kelvin Banks is either a top-five pick or a late first-rounder. In this mock draft, Banks comes off the board between the two extremes, netting the Niners a potential long-term replacement for Trent Williams at left tackle.
No. 12: Dallas Cowboys — Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
Sometimes the mock draft community zeroes in on a prospect-team pairing and it’s just too perfect to argue. Ashton Jeanty fits everything Jerry Jones looks for in a franchise player. It is rich to take a running back at No. 12 overall, but if anyone is worth it, Jeanty is.
No. 13: Miami Dolphins — Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
The Dolphins could go many different ways in round one, but the wisest move is to simply take the best player on the board. In this scenario, it is Penn State’s Tyler Warren, who would be a jack-of-all-trades in the Mike McDaniel scheme.
No. 14: Indianapolis Colts — Malaki Starks, DB, Georgia
For a second year in a row, the Colts narrowly miss out on the top tight end prospect. No problem, Indy can pivot to Malaki Starks, as the defense, under Lou Anarumo, desperately needs a building block at safety.
No. 15: Atlanta Falcons — James Pearce Jr., EDGE, Tennessee
A consistent issue over the past few seasons for Atlanta has been its inability to rush the passer. James Pearce Jr. and his 22.7% pass-rush win rate go a long way toward remedying the lack of production.
No. 16: Arizona Cardinals — Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia
Once considered a potential No. 1 overall pick, Mykel Williams fell to the middle of this NFL mock draft. It’s less about Williams, who is as gifted as any pass rusher in the class, and more about other guys fitting schemes better.
The Cardinals gladly take advantage of the slip, landing the Georgia star to serve as a pillar in the pass-rushing room.
No. 17: Cincinnati Bengals — Jalon Walker, EDGE, Georgia
Another Georgia player goes off the board as the Bengals look to get more pressure on the quarterback in 2025. Jalon Walker is a special athlete and has the agility to rush the pocket while also roaming the middle of the field for tackles.
No. 18: Seattle Seahawks — Tyler Booker, OL, Alabama
The 2024 Seahawks featured some of the worst guard play in franchise history. Tyler Booker immediately becomes the best interior lineman on the roster thanks to his teach-tape technique, both in the run game and as an anchored down pass protector.
No. 19: Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Shavon Revel Jr., CB, East Carolina
Shavon Revel was trending toward being a top-ten pick before suffering an ACL injury midseason. He boasts the fluid hips, long speed, ball skills, and competitiveness at the catch point to be a lockdown cornerback — something Tampa Bay sorely needs.
No. 20: Denver Broncos — Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri
Finally, another wide receiver is selected, as the shifty Luther Burden III takes his talents to Mile High. Bo Nix’s skillset meshes perfectly with Burden; expect triple-digit targets in year one for the easy separator from Missouri.
No. 21: Pittsburgh Steelers — Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
The Steelers plan to bring back Russell Wilson or Justin Fields at quarterback, making a wide receiver addition a top priority. Emeka Egbuka is as steady as they come, providing a safe floor with his reliable hands and savvy route running. A nice partner in crime for George Pickens.
No. 22: Los Angeles Chargers — Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina
Ashton Jeanty shouldn’t be the only running back taken on Day 1. With a run at wide receiver taking place, the Chargers still add an explosive weapon for Justin Herbert. Omarion Hampton is an every-down back with breakaway speed, incredible vision, and untapped potential as a pass catcher.
No. 23: Green Bay Packers — Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas
Jahdae Barron is smaller than Green Bay typically targets at cornerback, but he is the best remaining prospect and he plays much bigger than his size would indicate. Barron has the moxie to go toe-to-toe with NFL wideouts downfield.
No. 24: Minnesota Vikings — Nick Emmanwori, DB, South Carolina
Minnesota adds one of the biggest sleepers in the 2025 NFL Draft by selecting Nick Emmanwori. The South Carolina standout is only 20 years old and looks like he was built in a lab. Expect Emmanwori to climb boards after a spectacular showing at the Scouting Combine, with rumors of a 4.3 40-yard dash circulating.
No. 25: Houston Texans — Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
Colston Loveland gets lost in the shuffle behind Tyler Warren, but make no mistake, the Michigan tight end is a legitimate first-round prospect. With Houston, Loveland can eat up the middle of the field as a pass catcher and dominate in the run game if he cleans up his technique.
No. 26: Los Angeles Rams — Josh Conerly Jr., OT, Oregon
The Rams place a premium on positions like edge rusher and offensive tackle. It was Jared Verse last year; now, it’s time to add a big body on the other end of the trenches. Josh Conerly Jr. must refine his hand usage, but he provides Sean McVay with a promising option at left tackle.
No. 27: Baltimore Ravens — Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan
Kenneth Grant is a top-20 player overall, but his position will likely allow a team to get great value on Day 1. As is often the case, it’s the Baltimore Ravens who benefit this time — Grant isn’t a great pass rusher (yet) but he will terrorize running backs as a rookie.
No. 28: Detroit Lions — Walter Nolan, DL, Ole Miss
A fast riser in mock draft exercises, Walter Nolan heads to Detroit at No. 28 overall. On tape, Nolan epitomizes the “knee-cap eating” philosophy of Dan Campbell, making for a seamless transition to the NFL.
No. 29: Cleveland Browns — Matthew Golden, WR, Texas
The temptation to reach on quarterbacks like Jalen Milroe or Jaxson Dart may be strong for fans, but it appears Cleveland is not interested in taking a passer just for the sake of doing so.
Instead, the Browns choose an exciting wideout from Texas, Matthew Golden. The Longhorn alum boasts track star speed, strong hands, and the type of route running that makes the quarterback’s job easier — whomever that is for the Browns in 2025.
No. 30: Buffalo Bills — Nic Scourton, EDGE, Texas A&M
Nic Scourton is a mixed bag, as his physical profile screams first-round pick but the actual on-field product doesn’t match. Still, at the end of this mock draft, it’s worth a flier for the Bills, as NFL coaching could be the missing piece to Scourton’s puzzle.
No. 31: Philadelphia Eagles — Mike Green, EDGE, Marshall
If not for murmurs of off-the-field concerns, Mike Green’s tape looks like that of a top-20 pick. He’s explosive and nearly unblockable, possessing a bend that most of his peers can’t match. The Eagles aren’t shy to bet on their culture; Howie Roseman should do it again with Green.
No. 32: Kansas City Chiefs — Trey Amos, CB, Ole Miss
Another benefactor of a great Senior Bowl week is cornerback Trey Amos. Although he left Mobile early with an injury, he was on the fast track to earning round-one honors.
The Chiefs, needing another lengthy defender on the boundary, secure Amos. Don’t be surprised if he becomes the best cornerback in the 2025 NFL Draft under Steve Spagnuolo.
Main Image: Matthew O’Haren-Imagn Images
