Round 1 of the College Football Playoff has concluded, and Thor Nystrom has recently published an NFL draft stock watch on the CFB Playoff risers. Check it out.

With Round 2 kicking off in about a week, now feels like a good time to update my 2025 NFL mock draft.

Here are previous versions, in case you're curious.

Over the past six years (since I started submitting mocks in competitions), I’m the No. 2 mocker for accuracy, and I'm a lifetime 484-424 (+102.6 units) betting on the draft.

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In 2024 I was a terrible 38-49 (-10.4 units) thanks largely to a heavy fade of QB Michael Penix, but I was at least the No. 5 mocker.

I plan to do more draft content moving forward, so be sure regularly to check out our Fantasy Life NFL Draft Hub, where you can see my NFL prospect big board, Thor's first mock of the season, and his early thoughts on the top of the draft board at each skill position.

Updated 2025 NFL Mock Draft

The 2025 NFL draft order is starting to crystalize, but for now—with two weeks remaining in the regular season—I've determined draft order by projecting wins for each team.

Every week, you can access my team projections in our Fantasy Life Game Models (accessible with a FantasyLife+ subscription).

Here's my pre-Round 2 CFB Playoff mock, followed by a few general notes. Once the postseason starts and the order is set for all the non-playoff teams, then I'll provide notes on a pick-by-pick basis.

PickTeamPlayerSchoolPosition
1NYGShedeur SandersColoradoQB
2CLECameron WardMiamiQB
3NETravis HunterColoradoWR
4JAXWill JohnsonMichiganCB
5LVJalen MilroeAlabamaQB
6TENTetairoa McMillanArizonaWR
7CARLuther BurdenMissouriWR
8CHIWill CampbellLSUOT
9NYJMason GrahamMichiganDT
10NOAbdul CarterPenn StateEDGE
11SFKelvin BanksTexasOT
12DALAshton JeantyBoise StateRB
13ARIMykel WilliamsGeorgiaEDGE
14CINJalon WalkerGeorgiaEDGE
15MIAAireontae ErseryMinnesotaOT
16INDMalaki StarksGeorgiaS
17SEACameron WilliamsTexasOT
18ATLJames PearceTennesseeEDGE
19TBNic ScourtonTexas A&MEDGE
20DENTyler WarrenPenn StateTE
21HOUKenneth GrantMichiganDT
22LARShavon RevelEast CarolinaCB
23LACColston LovelandMichiganTE
24PITEmeka EgbukaOhio StateWR
25WASIsaiah BondTexasWR
26BALShemar StewartTexas A&MEDGE
27GBBenjamin MorrisonNotre DameCB
28PHILandon JacksonArkansasEDGE
29BUFDerrick HarmonOregonDT
30MINWalter NolenMississippiDT
31DETMike GreenMarshallEDGE
32KCJosh SimmonsOhio StateOT

 

Borderline Round 1 Prospects In My NFL Mock Draft

These are the players I currently view as residing on the borderline of Rounds 1-2.

  • QB Quinn Ewers (Texas)
  • OTs Jonah Savaiinaea (Arizona) & Wyatt Milum (West Virginia)
  • OG Tyler Booker (Alabama)
  • EDGEs J.T. Tuimoloau (Ohio State), Jack Sawyer (Ohio State), Lebbeus "LT" Overton (Alabama) & Harold Perkins (LSU)
  • DTs Tyleik Williams (Ohio State), Deone Walker (Kentucky) & Omarr Norman-Lott (Tennessee)
  • LB Jihaad Campbell (Alabama)
  • CBs Jahdae Barron (Texas) & Trey Amos (Mississippi)
  • S Nick Emmanwori (South Carolina)

The Perfect 2025 NFL Mock Draft

Of all the seven mocks I've done so far, this one is my favorite.

Here's what I like about it.

  • Three QBs: Most mocks vacillate between 2-3 QBs. I want three because I like Jalen Milroe (Alabama) and believe the league has a need at the position.
     
  • Five WRs: I usually struggle to get all five Round 1 WRs in the top 32. In this mock, I "forced" a WR to the Panthers at No. 7—which could easily happen—and that allowed me the space I needed.
     
  • Two TEs: Most mocks still have just one TE. I think we see two in Round 1.
     
  • CB Will Johnson in Top 10: Previously I had him in the second half of Round 1, just out of necessity and circumstance—but he belongs in the top 10, and I got him there by pivoting from WR to CB with the Jaguars at No. 4.   

Overall, there's a lot to like about this iteration.

And yet …

Still Not the Perfect NFL Mock Draft

There's always room for improvement. Here are some items that have my attention for future versions.

  • RB Ashton Jeanty: He might be the best overall player in the draft, and I can imagine a team in the top 10 taking him. He slots in so easily to the Cowboys at No. 12—but I'd still like to get him higher in my mock.
     
  • WR Luther Burden: I want five WRs in the top 32, but three in the top 10 is probably too much. Burden is more of a mid-Round 1 guy … but it's hard for me to get five WRs in the mock if I don't cram three into the top 10. Conundrum.
     
  • S Malaki Starks: I feel like Starks is a fringe top-10 talent, and I can't seem to get him any higher than the Colts at No. 16. Maybe he's just one of those guys who slides down the board.
     
  • TEs Colston Loveland & Tyler Warren: I go back and forth on which guy goes first. I want them both in Round 1, but I see them as neck-and-neck prospects. I'd like to get more clarity on them, but it might come down to the team that decides to draft the No. 1 TE and what it specifically wants at the position.
     
  • OG Tyler Booker: I think he's a borderline Round 1 guy who probably belongs in the top 32. Even so, it's hard to know where to slot him. The Texans are reasonable candidates at No. 21—but I prefer how my draft looks if I give them a DT … and after the Texans, it's a shot in the dark as to which team might go OG.

These issues aren't major—but I'll continue to keep them in mind as I update the mock.

For more 2025 NFL Draft coverage, head to our Draft Hub below!

More NFL Draft Analysis