2025 NFL Mock Draft: Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders Go First and Second

We're officially two weeks away from the draft, so now feels like a good time to update my 2025 NFL mock draft.

For all previous 19 versions, check out my Fantasy Life author page as well as our Fantasy Life NFL Draft Hub.

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2025 Mock Draft

Here's my "we're two weeks away" mock, followed by notes.

2025 Mock Draft Methodology

Here's an outline of my general mock process.

1. Identify the 32 players most likely to go in Round 1.
2. Match teams with positions of need.
3. Order players correctly within their position groups.
4. Attempt to mock players within their likely draft ranges.

Accuracy, more than precision, is the priority.

"Must Include" Prospects in Round 1

Right now, there are 28 players I think have around an 80% chance (or better) to go in Round 1 (unless something drastically changes in their evaluation between now and the draft).

• QB: Cam Ward (Miami), Shedeur Sanders (Colorado)
• RB: Ashton Jeanty (Boise State), Omarion Hampton (North Carolina)
• WR: Travis Hunter (Colorado), Tetairoa McMillan (Arizona), Matthew Golden (Texas)
• TE: Tyler Warren (Penn State), Colston Loveland (Michigan)
• OT: Armand Membou (Missouri), Will Campbell (LSU), Kelvin Banks (Texas), Grey Zabel (North Dakota State), Josh Simmons (Ohio State)
• EDGE: Abdul Carter (Penn State), Jalon Walker (Georgia), Mykel Williams (Georgia), Mike Green (Marshall), Shemar Stewart (Texas A&M), James Pearce (Tennessee)
• DT: Mason Graham (Michigan), Kenneth Grant (Michigan), Derrick Harmon (Oregon) 
• LB: Jihaad Campbell (Alabama)
• CB: Will Johnson (LSU), Jahdae Barron (Texas)
• S: Nick Emmanwori (South Carolina), Malaki Starks (Georgia)

All of these guys I'm including in this mock.

"Want to Include" Prospects in Round 1

After the "must include" players, I have another four players with at least a 60% chance of getting in Round 1.

• OG: Tyler Booker (Alabama)
• DT: Walter Nolen (Mississippi)
• CB: Maxwell Hairston (Kentucky)
• EDGE: Donovan Ezeiruaku (Boston College)

I'm including all of them in the mock.

Borderline Prospects in Round 1

And then I have six more guys right on the borderline of Rounds 1-2.

• QB: Jaxson Dart (Mississippi), Jalen Milroe (Alabama)
• WR: Emeka Egbuka (Ohio State), Luther Burden (Missouri)
• OT: Josh Conerly (Oregon)
• OG: Donovan Jackson (Ohio State)

Of this sextet, Dart, Milroe, and Egbuka came the closest to inclusion.

Pick-By-Pick Analysis for My Round 1 NFL Mock Draft

1.01: Titans - QB Cam Ward (Miami)

Here are Ward's odds to go No. 1 at various sportsbooks.

• Caesars: -5000
• DraftKings: -10000
• BetMGM: -10000
• FanDuel: -20000

It would be a true upset if he didn't go No. 1 to the Titans, who need a QB and attended Ward's pro day en masse.

Last year, Ward won the Davey O'Brien Award as the nation's best QB with 4,313 yards and 39 TDs passing to just seven INTs with 60-204-4 rushing (including sacks).

I expect him to be a Week 1 starter in the NFL.

Thor's Prospect Profile: Cam Ward

1.02: Browns - QB Shedeur Sanders (Colorado)

For at least one more mock, I'm sticking with Sanders at No. 2.

To be overly simplistic about this:

• QB is the most important position in the NFL.
• The Browns need a QB.
• They have the chance to take one at No. 2 in Sanders.
• HC Kevin Stefanski has been highly and publicly complimentary of Sanders.

The Browns have just subjected their fan base to an agonizing three-year stretch of the Deshaun Watson experience. They need to get the position right.

WR/CB Travis Hunter is the betting favorite to go No. 2 (-300, DraftKings) … but can the Browns really afford to say that they like Sanders and then pass on him at No. 2 with the plan to trade for veteran QB Kirk Cousins later, move back up into Round 1 for Sanders, or take a QB on Day 2?

No, no, no.

That doesn't make sense.

And then there's the fact that EDGE Myles Garrett, to whom the Browns just gave a four-year, $160M extension with $123.5M guaranteed, has indicated that he knows what the team's plans are at QB and that he's excited.

Cousins isn't exciting. A Day 2 QB isn't exciting. But a QB at No. 2 is.

On top of that, Garrett has recently said—while answering a question about the team's potential plans with the No. 2 pick and the QB position in general—that “any team that's going to go far needs a QB, and one that's young.”

The franchise player is saying that—after having conversations with the team's decision makers.

If the market and mocks continue to move against me, I'll probably pivot out of sheer cowardice masquerading as humility.

But as of now, I still like Sanders to the Browns at No. 2. It's one of my favorite draft props.

For all my NFL draft props, see our free Fantasy Life bet tracker, which I update regularly.

And I can see Sanders as a pocket passer doing well with Stefanski, a two-time COY winner (2020, 2023).

As a true freshman at Jackson State, he passed for 3,231 yards and 30 TDs to eight INTs, and then as a sophomore, he improved upon those numbers with 3,752 yards and 40 TDs to six INTs.

As a junior, he passed for 3,230 yards and 27 TDs to just three INTs in his first year at Colorado, and then as a senior he had a nation-best 74.0% completion rate while slinging it for 4,134 yards and 37 TDs to 10 INTs and winning the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award as the nation's top upperclassman QB.

Sanders might not be a true difference-making QB in the NFL, but he might be, and he's likely to be an improvement on what the Browns had last year.

Thor's Prospect Profile: Shedeur Sanders

1.03: Giants - WR/CB Travis Hunter (Colorado)

Now that the Giants have QBs Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston on the roster, they are less desperate to draft a passer in Round 1—and Ward and Sanders are off the board anyway.

So now it's between Hunter and EDGE Abdul Carter (Penn State).

I believe the Giants, in this instance, would go with Hunter, who helps them fortify two positions of need, whereas Carter merely adds to a position of relative strength, as the Giants already have EDGEs Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux.

In terms of all-around skill set, Hunter's the most talented prospect in this class, given that last season he won the Fred Biletnikoff Award as the most outstanding receiver in college football with 96-1,258-15 receiving and also won the Chuck Bednarik Award as the defensive player of the year.

If any guy can step into the NFL and right away play significant snaps on both offense and defense, it's Hunter—and the Giants need help at WR and CB, so he's an ideal option at No. 3. 

Thor's Prospect Profile: Travis Hunter

1.04: Patriots - EDGE Abdul Carter (Penn State)

Carter didn't work out at the combine because of a stress reaction in his right foot.

And then he didn't work out at his pro day because he's still rehabbing his shoulder from an injury suffered during the season.

Carter might be able to work out for teams in April … but his injury status is starting to feel like a red flag, so I think it's fine for him to drop to No. 4, where I expect the Patriots and new defensive HC Mike Vrabel would be happy to get him: Carter's young (21 years old), pedigreed (unanimous All-American), and productive (12 sacks and nation-leading 24 tackles for loss as a junior).

The No. 4 pick feels like Carter's absolute floor … unless his injury status becomes an even bigger issue.

Gene's Prospect Profile: Abdul Carter

1.05: Jaguars - DT Mason Graham (Michigan)

The Jags need help all over the defense, and Graham is a unanimous All-American who has the power to anchor against the run and the athleticism to rush the passer.

Putting Graham on a line with EDGEs Josh Hines-Allen, Travon Walker, and Arik Armstead feels like a no-brainer move.

1.06: Raiders - RB Ashton Jeanty (Boise State)

Jeanty is -150 to be selected by the Raiders and -5000 to be the No. 1 RB taken (DraftKings).

Last year, Jeanty put up 2,739 yards and 30 TDs in 14 games, earned unanimous first-team All-American recognition, and won the Maxwell and Doak Walker Awards as the best all-around player and top RB in the nation.

With the Seahawks, first-year HC Pete Carroll, for years, had an offense built around the backfield. With Jeanty, he will have that once again.

Thor's Prospect Profile: Ashton Jeanty

1.07: Jets - OT Armand Membou (Missouri)

LT Tyron Smith and RT Morgan Moses are no longer with the team, and although the Jets have OT Olu Fashanu tapped to step in for Smith, they could still use a replacement for Moses.

That could easily be Membo, whose draft stock has skyrocketed after his memorable combine testing.

• Size: 6-4, 332 lbs.
• 40-Yard Dash: 4.91 seconds

A natural RT, Membou could start for the Jets in Week 1.

1.08: Panthers - EDGE Jalon Walker (Georgia)

For months, I've said that the Panthers can't go into the season with WR Adam Thielen as their top pass catcher if they want to give QB Bryce Young every chance of succeeding.

And that's why I've regularly mocked them with WR Tetairoa McMillan (Arizona).

But I can't ignore how common it is to see the Panthers go with an EDGE in mocks, and I've started to move WRs down the board in general, so I don't feel (at least right now) that McMillan is the best option at No. 8.

And that puts me on Walker, whom I view as a top-10 talent: He's young (21 years old) and pedigreed (2024 Butkus Award as the nation's top LB).

While I expect Walker to play primarily on the edge in the NFL, I do think he has the athleticism a la Micah Parsons to line up off the ball as well, and that added versatility could make him attractive to the Panthers.

1.09: Saints - CB Will Johnson (Michigan)

Johnson is a tough player to place, and I could see him falling all the way to the Packers at No. 23.

But over the past year, the Saints have traded away No. 1 CB Marshon Lattimore and watched No. 2 CB Paulson Adebo leave via free agency. They need help in the secondary, and I still think Johnson is justifiable in this range.

Blessed with good size (6-2, 194 lbs.) and pedigree (five recruitment stars), Johnson is a worthy No. 1 CB in this class.

1.10: Bears - OT Will Campbell (LSU)

The Bears have been active this offseason in rebuilding their OL by trading for LG Joe Thuney and RG Jonah Jackson and signing C Drew Dalman.

But they could look to protect franchise QB Caleb Williams and bolster the OL even more by adding Campbell, who has the upside of youth (21 years old) and pedigree (five-star recruit, first-team All-American).

Immediately, Campbell could challenge LT Braxton Jones on the perimeter or Jackson on the interior for a starting role.

1.11: 49ers - OT Kelvin Banks (Texas)

The 49ers are a pivot point in the draft: They have needs at so many positions.

But OL stands out. In free agency, the 49ers lost LG Aaron Banks as well as swing OT Jaylon Moore. LT Trent Williams turns 37 years old in August. RT Colton McKivitz is in the final year of his contract.

Enter Banks, who is young (21 years old), decorated (unanimous first-team all-American, Outland Trophy winner), and experienced (three years starting in college). 

Immediately, Banks could push McKivitz for a starting role, and there would also be the possibility of him kicking inside early in his career as the replacement for Aaron Banks.

1.12: Cowboys - WR Tetairoa McMillan (Arizona)

I almost went with WR Matthew Golden (Texas), but McMillan is still the betting favorite to be the No. 1 WR in the class after Hunter (-185, DraftKings), so I'm sticking with him for now.

The Cowboys desperately need a No. 2 WR to play alongside CeeDee Lamb, and McMillan feels like he could be a great supplementary option in the offense.

With 90-1,402-10 receiving as a sophomore and 84-1,319-8 as a junior, McMillan might end up being better than Hunter as an NFL pass catcher.

Thor's Prospect Profile: Tetairoa McMillan

1.13: Dolphins - S Nick Emmanwori (South Carolina)

Emmanowori is young (21 years old), productive (four INTs, 88 combined tackles last year), and athletic (4.38-second 40-yard dash at 6-3, 220 lbs.).

The Dolphins have given small one-year deals to Ifeatu Melifonwu ($4M) and Ashtyn Davis ($2.5M) to try to address the SS position, but they're not good enough to prevent the Dolphins from drafting a guy who might be Kyle Hamilton 2.0.

1.14: Colts - TE Tyler Warren (Penn State)

Right now, the Colts have five TEs on their roster, and as the old saying goes, “If you have five TEs, you don't have a TE.”

Whether they go with Anthony Richardson or Daniel Jones as the starting QB, the Colts need to give him another pass-catching option, and Warren makes sense.

Honestly, the Colts are lucky to get him here at No. 14: He could go in the top 10 with his skill set.

Although Warren did little his first few seasons in college, as a redshirt junior he was No. 2 on the Nittany Lions with 34-422-7 receiving, and then last year—in a John Mackey Award-winning campaign as the most outstanding TE in college football—he served as the driving force of the Penn State offense with a team-best 104-1,233-8 receiving, to which he added 26-218-4 rushing.

I resisted it for a little, but now Warren is my No. 1 TE. 

Thor's Prospect Profile: Tyler Warren

1.15: Falcons - EDGE Mykel Williams (Georgia)

EDGEs Matthew Judon and Lorenzo Carter departed this offseason, and the Falcons have needed to upgrade the position for years anyway, so I can see GM Terry Fontenot and defensive HC Raheem Morris wanting to get an EDGE in Round 1.

Williams is young (turns 21 years old in June) and was a key contributor to Georgia's defense over the past three seasons. As a freshman, he actually led the championship-winning Bulldogs in sacks (4.5).

1.16: Cardinals - EDGE Mike Green (Marshall)

Green led the nation with 17 sacks last year, and he flashed his NFL potential when competing against top-tier talent in the season (Ohio State) and at the Senior Bowl (OT Josh Conerly).

With Green placed in a rotation featuring EDGEs Josh Sweat, Baron Browning, Zaven Collins, and BJ Ojulari, third-year HC Jonathan Gannon might finally have the pass-rushing dynamism that powered his unit to success when he was the 2021-22 Eagles DC.

1.17: Bengals - EDGE Shemar Stewart (Texas A&M)

EDGE Trey Hendrickson had an NFL-high 17.5 sacks last season in an impressive first-team All-Pro campaign, but he turns 31 years old in December, he wants either to be traded or paid more money, and the team has little positional depth after him.

Stewart had just 1.5 sacks last year, but he has elite freaky athleticism. With Stewart alongside Hendrickson, the Bengals could have some real pass-rushing power.

1.18: Seahawks - WR Matthew Golden (Texas)

With slot-centric WRs Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Cooper Kupp, the Seahawks could use a perimeter-capable pass catcher with speed (other than veteran journeyman Marquez Valdes-Scantling).

That's Golden, who blazed a 4.29-second 40-yard dash at the combine (at 5-11, 191 lbs.) and was the No. 1 WR at Texas last year in his first season with the team (58-987-9 receiving).

With his strong athletic testing and sufficient production, Golden is now ahead of Egbuka and Burden in my WR rankings. I was happy to get him as an upside depth option in a recent superflex fantasy football mock draft.

Thor's Prospect Profile: Matthew Golden

1.19: Buccaneers - LB Jihaad Campbell (Alabama)

Campbell entered college as a five-star recruit. As a junior at Alabama, he racked up 117 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, and five sacks. At the combine, he exhibited elite athleticism (4.52-second 40-yard dash at 6-3, 235 lbs.). While he's probably best used off the ball, he still has the ability to line up on the edge as a traditional pass rusher. And he'll be 21 years old for the entirety of his rookie campaign.

The only drawback with Campbell is his post-combine shoulder surgery, which could prevent him from practicing in training camp and limit his availability in his first season.

Even so, that's a short-term concern, and it's easy to imagine GM Jason Licht and defensive HC Todd Bowles looking at Campbell and viewing him as a worthy long-term successor to 35-year-old LB Lavonte David.

1.20: Broncos - RB Omarion Hampton (North Carolina)

The Broncos let RB Javonte Williams leave in free agency. In Hampton, they get a marked upgrade and something of a steal, as he could go as high as No. 12 to the Cowboys. 

In fact, some teams might legitimately have him as their No. 1 RB ahead of Jeanty: Hampton has elite athleticism (9.67 RAS), and he was productive in college (2,033 yards, 17 TDs in 12 games last season).

What Marshawn Lynch (No. 12) was to Adrian Peterson (No. 7) in 2007 or Jahmyr Gibbs (No. 12) was to Bijan Robinson (No. 8) in 2023—that's what Hampton could be to Jeanty this year.

Thor's Prospect Profile: Omarion Hampton

1.21: Steelers - DT Kenneth Grant (Michigan)

The Steelers have the financial components of a deal in place with QB Aaron Rodgers—but he's yet to decide if he actually wants to accept it. 

Still, Rodgers has had a throwing session with new Steelers WR D.K. Metcalf. He has spent hours meeting with HC Mike Tomlin. And no other NFL team is in the running for his services.

Let's assume that Rodgers will be the QB for the Steelers this season.

In that case, they could still take a QB at No. 21 … but I'm starting to get major 2022 vibes from this class.

In 2022, Kenny Pickett, Malik Willis, Desmond Ridder, and Matt Corral all got some Round 1 hype, but in the end, only Pickett went on Day 1—to the Steelers—while the other three fell to Round 3.

This year, QBs Jaxson Dart and Jalen Milroe are considered Round 1 candidates … but I think they're probably Day 2 guys.

And in light of that, I'm pivoting from QB to DT with this pick.

DT Cameron Heyward is a first-team All-Pro, but he'll be 36 years old this season, and the Steelers could use some more muscle next to him. 

With his size (6-4, 331 lbs.), Grant has the potential to anchor against the run in the NFL, and with his sack production (6.5 over the past two seasons), he might be able to rush the passer as a professional.

1.22: Chargers - TE Colston Loveland (Michigan)

I've previously speculated that the Chargers will trade up for Colston—but in this mock, they're able to stick with their original pick and get their guy.

This past year, Loveland was the No. 1 pass catcher for the Wolverines with 56-582-5 receiving (in just 10 games), and the season prior, he was the No. 2 option on a championship team with 45-649-4 receiving.

With his production and youth (21 years old), Loveland should absolutely go in Round 1.

HC Jim Harbaugh would probably love to reunite with Loveland, whom he recruited to and coached at Michigan, and the Chargers need to upgrade the TE position.

Perfect fit.

Thor's Prospect Profile: Colston Loveland

1.23: Packers - DT Derrick Harmon (Oregon)

The Packers defense improved last year—the first under DC Jeff Hafley—but they added no meaningful front-seven players in free agency, so they'll look to fortify the trenches here.

Harmon has the size (6-5, 313 lbs.) and athleticism (4.95-second 40-yard dash) to contribute as an NFL run stopper and pass rusher.

1.24: Vikings - S Malaki Starks (Georgia)

Starks is a five-star three-year SEC starter who won a National Championship in 2022 and earned first-team All-American honors in 2023.

He regressed marginally in 2024 (just one INT, three passes defended) and displayed modest athleticism at the combine (4.5-second 40-yard dash at 6-1, 197 lbs.), but he's a better football player than athlete.

He makes an excellent complement for the Vikings alongside veteran FS Harrison Smith.

1.25: Texans - OT Grey Zabel (North Dakota State)

The Texans need to revamp their OL, and this offseason, they parted ways with LT Laremy Tunsil and RG Shaq Mason. 

Zabel's a small-school prospect, but he is at least a first-team All-American and national champion in the FCS, and he has the positional flexibility to play inside or outside as a replacement for either Tunsil or Mason.

1.26: Rams - CB Jahdae Barron (Texas)

Barron doesn't have great size (5-11, 194 lbs.), but he has good speed (4.39-second 40-yard dash) and production (2024 first-team All-American and Jim Thorpe Award winner as the top DB in college).

The Rams have made zero upgrades to their secondary this offseason, and CBs Ahkello Witherspoon and Quentin Lake are both slated for free agency in 2026.

1.27: Ravens - G Tyler Booker (Alabama)

Booker is unathletic (5.38-second 40-yard dash, 7.96-second three-cone drill).

But he's great at football (two-time All-SEC), he's a run-game force because of his size (6-5, 321 lbs.), he's respected (team captain at Alabama), and he's young (doesn't turn 21 until shortly before the draft).

All of that makes him sound like someone the Ravens would want—and they lost LG Patrick Mekari in free agency.

1.28: Lions - EDGE Donovan Ezeiruaku (Boston College)

The Lions need another EDGE to rotate in with Aidan Hutchinson, Marcus Davenport, and Josh Paschal.

Ezeiruaku last year finished No. 2 in the FBS with 16.5 sacks and was a first-team All-American and the Ted Hendricks Award winner as the best DE in college football.

1.29: Commanders - EDGE James Pearce (Tennessee)

Pearce was moderately productive over his final two college seasons with 17.5 sacks and 28 tackles for loss, but it's his combine performance (4.47-second 40-yard dash at 6-5, 245 lbs.) that makes him likely to go on Day 1.

Defensive HC Dan Quinn will likely relish the opportunity to add Pearce to his DL, which has been almost entirely turned over since last offseason. With Pearce, Quinn will have another foundational building block for his defense.

1.30: Bills - CB Maxwell Hairston (Kentucky)

Hairston had a class-best 4.28-second 40-yard dash at the combine, and in his final two college campaigns, he snagged six INTs (and returned three for TDs) in 20 games.

Since the 2023 season, the Bills have lost CBs Tre'Davious White and Rasul Douglas, SS Jordan Poyer, and FS Micah Hyde. They need to replenish the secondary.

1.31: Chiefs - OT Josh Simmons (Ohio State)

The Chiefs signed OT Jaylon Moore this offseason, and last year they drafted OT Kingsley Suamataia … but Moore has been a career-long backup, and Suamataia looks likely to kick inside as the replacement to traded first-team All-Pro LG Joe Thuney.

So the Chiefs could still be in the market for a blindside protector for QB Patrick Mahomes.

With Simmons, who has started on both sides of the OL, the Chiefs get a prospect who can compete for a starting job with Moore, as well as RT Jawaan Taylor, who has a position-high 28 penalties over the past two years.

Despite missing the final 10 games of his career to injury, Simmons impressed enough with the national champion Buckeyes in six 2024 starts (as well as 13 in 2023) to warrant Round 1 investment.

1.32: Eagles - DT Walter Nolen (Mississippi)

Nolen might have the highest ceiling in the entire draft. 

That sounds like the kind of player GM Howie Roseman would gladly scoop up at the end of Round 1.   

Insert here Jesse Pinkman "He can't keep getting away with it" meme.