It's Week 14 of the NFL regular season, and this week—in the world of college football—we have a slew of conference championship games.
Check out our Fantasy Life CFB Bet Tracker for our favorite picks this week.
Given that we're almost at the end of the college regular season, now feels like a good time to update my 2025 NFL mock draft.
Here are previous versions, in case you're curious.
- Version 1: Way-too-early version (May 2024)
- Version 2: Midseason version (Nov. 2024)
- Version 3: Two-thirds-through-the-season version (Nov. 2024)
I plan to do more mocks and draft content moving forward, so be sure regularly to check out our Fantasy Life NFL Draft Hub.
Specifically, I recommend perusing Thor Nystrom's early thoughts on the top of the draft board at each skill position.
- Top-five QBs for the 2025 NFL Draft
- Top-five RBs for the 2025 NFL Draft
- Top-five WR for the 2025 NFL Draft
- Top-five TEs for the 2025 NFL Draft
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.
Subscribe to our free Betting Life Newsletter for daily guidance, best bets, and more.
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.
Updated 2025 NFL Mock Draft
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).
Once we have an official draft order and we get closer to the event, I'll provide notes for each pick.
Right now, though, I'll provide notes only for the top five and then the various positions.
Here's my "college conference championships" mock.
| Pick | Team | Player | School | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NYG | Shedeur Sanders | Colorado | QB |
| 2 | NE | Travis Hunter | Colorado | WR |
| 3 | LV | Cameron Ward | Miami | QB |
| 4 | CLE | Jalen Milroe | Alabama | QB |
| 5 | JAX | Tetairoa McMillan | Arizona | WR |
| 6 | CAR | Abdul Carter | Penn State | EDGE |
| 7 | TEN | Nic Scourton | Texas A&M | EDGE |
| 8 | NYJ | Will Johnson | Michigan | CB |
| 9 | CHI | Will Campbell | LSU | OT |
| 10 | NO | James Pearce | Tennessee | EDGE |
| 11 | DAL | Ashton Jeanty | Boise State | RB |
| 12 | CIN | Mykel Williams | Georgia | EDGE |
| 13 | SF | Kelvin Banks | Texas | OT |
| 14 | MIA | Aireontae Ersery | Minnesota | OT |
| 15 | IND | Malaki Starks | Georgia | S |
| 16 | LAR | Benjamin Morrison | Notre Dame | CB |
| 17 | ATL | Jalon Walker | Georgia | EDGE |
| 18 | ARI | Shemar Stewart | Texas A&M | EDGE |
| 19 | TB | Luther Burden | Missouri | WR |
| 20 | SEA | Jonah Savaiinaea | Arizona | OT |
| 21 | HOU | Mason Graham | Michigan | DT |
| 22 | DEN | Colston Loveland | Michigan | TE |
| 23 | WAS | Emeka Egbuka | Ohio State | WR |
| 24 | LAC | Kenneth Grant | Michigan | DT |
| 25 | BAL | J.T. Tuimoloau | Ohio State | EDGE |
| 26 | PIT | Isaiah Bond | Texas | WR |
| 27 | GB | Walter Nolen | Mississippi | DT |
| 28 | MIN | Shavon Revel | East Carolina | CB |
| 29 | BUF | Derrick Harmon | Oregon | DT |
| 30 | PHI | Lebbeus Overton | Alabama | EDGE |
| 31 | KC | Cameron Williams | Texas | OT |
| 32 | DET | Tyleik Williams | Ohio State | DT |
Borderline Prospects For The 2025 NFL Draft
These are the players I currently view as residing on the borderline of Rounds 1-2.
- QB Quinn Ewers (Texas)
- TE Tyler Warren (Penn State)
- OTs Josh Simmons (Ohio State), Wyatt Milum (West Virginia)
- OGs Tyler Booker (Alabama), Donovan Jackson (Ohio State)
- EDGEs Landon Jackson (Arkansas), Mike Green (LSU), Princely Umanmielen (Mississippi), Harold Perkins (LSU), Jack Sawyer (Ohio State),
- DTs Deone Walker (Kentucky), Jordan Burch (Oregon), Omarr Norman-Lott (Tennessee)
- CBs Tacario Davis (Arizona), Jahdae Barron (Texas), Trey Amos (Mississippi)
- S Nick Emmanwori (South Carolina)
2025 NFL Mock Draft - Pick by Pick Breakdown
1.01: Giants - QB Shedeur Sanders (Colorado)
In previous versions of the mock, I've had Cameron Ward ahead of Sanders, but I've finally capitulated.
A couple of weeks ago, Sanders was a +200 favorite to be the No. 1 pick. Now he's -125 (FanDuel). He's also the No. 1 QB in Thor's Fantasy Life QB rankings.
In this scenario, I have the Giants—in consultation with new HC Deion Sanders—drafting his son No. 1 overall.
Sometimes reality is stranger than fiction. There's a non-zero chance this happens.
1.02: Patriots - WR/CB Travis Hunter (Colorado)
Hunter is -6000 (FanDuel) to win the Heisman Trophy. He's not the best WR or CB in this class, but he's probably the best all-around player.
I imagine that he will play primarily as a WR in the NFL and mix in as a situational CB. The Patriots could use help at both positions.
Most importantly, in drafting Hunter the Patriots will get a bonafide pass catcher for rookie QB Drake Maye, who needs an improved supporting cast in the worst way.
1.03: Raiders - QB Cameron Ward (Miami)
After the experience of this season, the Raiders can't go into next season with QBs Gardner Minshew, Aidan O'Connell, and Desmond Ridder as the top three guys at the position.
Ward is No. 1 in the nation in TDs passing (36), No. 2 in yards passing (4,123), and No. 3 in AY/A (10.4).
In Ward, the Raiders get a potential franchise-changing player.
1.04: Browns - QB Jalen Milroe (Alabama)
Seeing the success of QBs Joe Flacco and Jameis Winston in consecutive seasons, the Browns can't in good conscience go back to starter Deshaun Watson for a third year.
Right???
With Milroe and Quinn Ewers both on the board, the Browns have a chance to reload at the position.
I have them going with Milroe instead of Ewers because of his dual-threat ability (9.7 AY/A for career, 120-608-17 rushing year).
1.05: Jaguars - WR Tetairoa McMillan (Arizona)
In adding McMillan—and hopefully an upgraded offensive playcaller this offseason—the Jags will give franchise QB Trevor Lawrence as much help as they reasonably can in order for him to succeed.
With an FBS-high 1,319 yards receiving this year, McMillan could pair with rookie WR Brian Thomas to form an elite pass-catching duo.
Positional Notes For My 2025 NFL Mock Draft
Running Backs
In over half of mock drafts, Ashton Jeanty goes to the Cowboys. This peak feels so telegraphed a la Najee Harris-to-Steelers in 2021.
Wide Receivers
The WR position is important enough—and enough teams need one—that I think we'll see five go off the board in the top 32.
Tight Ends
Last mock, I had Colston Loveland going to the Chiefs, but I also mentioned that I could see the Broncos addressing the position.
In this mock, I've made the switch. The Broncos have a host of rotational WRs for rookie QB Bo Nix—but they have almost nothing at TE.
Offensive Linemen
I thought about having the Texans or Lions go with an OG … but both teams have bigger needs.
Overall, this is a modest OL cohort.
Defensive Linemen
This is the strength of the class.
I now have 13 DLs in Round 1 and another eight on the borderline.
We could have 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
Three CBs and one S. Typical.
