2025 NFL Mock Draft: Cam Ward Goes 1st, Ashton Jeanty to Dallas, and More
It's Week 11 of the NFL regular season, which means we're officially more than halfway through.
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.
Here's my way-too-early 2025 NFL mock draft (published in May), in case you want to check it out.
2025 Mock Draft Methodology
I've determined draft order by projecting out the rest of the season and assigning picks based on expected win totals for each team. Each week, you can access my team projections in our Fantasy Life Game Models (accessible with a FantasyLife+ subscription).
With this mock, I'm trying to accomplish four main tasks.
- Maintain my spreadsheets and models for the 2025 draft.
- Work through my thoughts on potential team needs.
- Review hierarchies within position groups.
- Identify players with a chance of going in Round 1.
I will be wrong on almost everything in this mock, which is essentially an exercise in exercise. Because of that, I provide only brief notes at the end.
2025 Mock Draft
Here's my "we're midway through the NFL season" mock draft:
Pick | Team | Player | School | Position |
1 | CAR | Cameron Ward | Miami | QB |
2 | NE | Travis Hunter | Colorado | WR |
3 | TEN | Shedeur Sanders | Colorado | QB |
4 | NO | Quinn Ewers | Texas | QB |
5 | CLE | Jalen Milroe | Alabama | QB |
6 | LV | Carson Beck | Georgia | QB |
7 | NYG | Garrett Nussmeier | LSU | QB |
8 | JAX | Will Campbell | LSU | OT |
9 | MIA | Kelvin Banks | Texas | OT |
10 | NYJ | Malaki Starks | Georgia | S |
11 | CHI | Jonah Savaiinaea | Arizona | OT |
12 | SEA | Abdul Carter | Penn State | EDGE |
13 | DAL | Ashton Jeanty | Boise State | RB |
14 | CIN | Nic Scourton | Texas A&M | EDGE |
15 | DEN | Tetairoa McMillan | Arizona | WR |
16 | LAR | Will Johnson | Michigan | CB |
17 | TB | Mykel Williams | Georgia | EDGE |
18 | IND | Benjamin Morrison | Notre Dame | CB |
19 | SF | Mason Graham | Michigan | DT |
20 | ARI | James Pearce | Tennessee | EDGE |
21 | HOU | Kenneth Grant | Michigan | DT |
22 | LAC | Deone Walker | Kentucky | DT |
23 | GB | Tyleik Williams | Ohio State | DT |
24 | MIN | Shavon Revel | East Carolina | CB |
25 | PIT | Luther Burden | Missouri | WR |
26 | ATL | Harold Perkins | LSU | EDGE |
27 | PHI | Jalon Walker | Georgia | EDGE |
28 | WAS | Aireontae Ersery | Minnesota | OT |
29 | BAL | Emery Jones | LSU | OT |
30 | BUF | Emeka Egbuka | Ohio State | WR |
31 | DET | Jack Sawyer | Ohio State | EDGE |
32 | KC | Denzel Burke | Ohio State | CB |
Borderline Prospects
These are the players I currently view as residing on the borderline of Rounds 1-2.
- WR Isaiah Bond (Texas)
- TE Colston Loveland (Michigan)
- OT Cameron Williams (Texas)
- OGs Tyler Booker (Alabama) & Donovan Jackson (Ohio State)
- EDGEs Princely Umanmielen (Mississippi), Lebbeus "LT" Overton (Alabama) & J.T. Tuimoloau (Ohio State)
- DT Walter Nolen (Mississippi)
- CB Tacario Davis (Arizona)
Quarterbacks
Six QBs in the first seven picks? Yes. Why not?
If I had told you at this time last year that we would get six in the top 12, you would've said I was ridiculous.
Many teams at the top of the board need QBs, and this class has enough of them who could entice.
Right now, Shedeur Sanders is +300 (DraftKings) to go No. 1, but I marginally prefer Cameron Ward (+500), given that he has friendlier odds and goes ahead of Sanders in most of the mocks I've perused.
Running Backs
I have just one RB going in Round 1: The electric Ashton Jeanty.
It will be so hilarious when the Cowboys see him go off the board one pick ahead of them after GM Jerry Jones mentions casually in an interview the day before the draft that they intend to take him in Round 1.
Wide Receivers
Travis Hunter, Tetairoa McMillan, and Luther Burden currently feel like Round 1 locks.
I wanted to get Isaiah Bond into the mock but couldn't find a great landing spot. Ultimately, I think he's likely to go in the top 32.
Tight Ends
Colston Loveland is no Brock Bowers, but he has a good chance to go on Day 1. I was very tempted to give him to the Chiefs at No. 32.
Offensive Linemen
Last year's OL class was loaded. This year's, not so much.
Defensive Linemen
Oh, baby. Here be dragons.
I have 11 DLs in Round 1 and another four on the borderline.
In 2024, we saw a record eight OTs go in Round 1. In 2025, we could see an all-time number of DLs in the top 32.
Linebackers
No offball LBs went in Round 1 in 2024. I project the same for 2025.
Secondary
Four CBs and one S. Typical.
Kickers
Nah, bro.