Below is my second first-round 2025 NFL Mock Draft. You can read the first one here, which I published after Week 18 of the regular season concluded.

With the College Football season officially behind us and only four teams remaining in the NFL playoffs, I've updated the draft order to reflect the locked-in order outside of the final four picks (29-32). For full NFL Draft coverage, be sure to stay on top of our NFL Draft Hub.

First Round 2025 NFL Mock Draft - The Top 28

1. Tennessee Titans (3-14) – Shedeur Sanders | QB | Colorado

Last week, the Titans hired former Kansas City Chiefs assistant GM Mike Borgonzi as their new general manager, replacing Ran Carthon. Borgonzi’s tenure with the Titans will be determined by one of his first decisions: Shedeur Sanders or Cam Ward?

Until we have more information, I’m keeping Sanders, my QB1 in the class, in this slot. Titans offensive assistant Payton McCollum has been named a QB coach for the West Team at the Shrine Bowl later this month. McCollum will coach Sanders at the event, giving the organization early boots-on-the-ground intel.

Sanders was a clearly superior player to Ward prior to this past season. As for 2024, Sanders’ metrics compare favorably to Ward’s. Sanders had an exceptional 4.3 big-time throw-to-turnover-worthy play rate; Ward’s was 1.8.

Ward’s turnover-worthy play rate of 3.1 was nearly three times higher than Sanders’ (1.2). Meanwhile, the ultra-accurate Sanders finished more than five points ahead of Ward in adjusted accuracy percentage (81.6% to 76.3%).

2. New York Giants (3-14) – Cam Ward | QB | Miami

*TRADE: Giants acquire the No. 2 overall pick from Browns for No. 3, No. 34 (Round 2), and No. 104 (Round 4) picks

The above trade is a value fit on the trade charts. The Giants’ motivations would be clear—this would guarantee the quarterback of the future that New York desperately needs. New York will have plenty of competition— if the Browns want to trade at all; they could also take QB2 for themselves—for the pick, but they have a built-in advantage sitting one slot below.

Ward’s game took a huge leap forward in 2024. Had he gone through with declaring for the NFL last process as he previously intended, he would have been a Day 3 pick. His work inside the pocket this year—the manipulation of it, the nonchalant comfort going through his progressions—turned him into a legitimate top-three overall prospect.

Ward slashed his pressure-to-sack ratio from 24.9 to 16.4 this season. Meanwhile, between 2023 and 2024, Ward saw his aDOT and YPA improve from 7.7 and 7.7, respectively, to 9.8 and 9.5.

3. Cleveland Browns (3-14) – Travis Hunter | WR/CB | Colorado

*TRADE: Browns acquire No. 3, No. 34 (Round 2), and No. 104 (Round 4) picks from Giants for No. 2 pick.

Currently sitting in the No. 2 slot in a two-QB draft, the Browns have a ton of leverage. Three factors contribute to our projection of this trade in a second-straight mock:

  1. Cleveland’s current administration is on the hottest of seats and must win next year—not the ideal circumstance for a rookie quarterback.
     
  2. Browns HC Kevin Stefanski’s previous relationship with to-be-released Falcons QB Kirk Cousins with the Vikings might put Cleveland in pole position to sign Cousins to a one-year, minimum-salaried contract post-June 1 (ala the Steelers’ signing of Russell Wilson last year).
     
  3. Deshaun Watson recently underwent a second Achilles injury. This is being framed as a re-injury that occurred outside the team facility. If that can be proven, it would potentially open the door for Cleveland to void Watson’s contract due to a non-football injury.

Even if Watson’s deal is not ultimately voided, the Browns could recoup $44.3 million *next* offseason in rolled-over cap relief from the insured portion of Watson’s base 2025 salary were Watson to be ruled out for 2025 due to the re-injury. That could potentially open the door for Cleveland to get involved with Sam Darnold via a back-loaded contract.

With all these balls up in the air—and multiple paths to solving the QB1 hole with a veteran—Cleveland’s administration may lean towards trading the 1.02 pick for additional draft equity, while using that additional draft equity on non-QB roster holes.

In this scenario, the Browns only move one spot down the board with the Giants. This trade would give Cleveland three top-34 picks, and seven inside the top-105

Though Cleveland has bigger needs, Travis Hunter would be a no-brainer pick. The draft’s best overall player, Hunter profiles as a CB1 who’ll moonlight part-time as an electric go-to WR for however many offensive snaps he can additionally handle. When Hunter is on the field, Jerry Jeudy would slide into the WR2 role he’s more suited for.

4. New England Patriots (4-13) – Kelvin Banks Jr. | OT | Texas

With numerous roster holes, the Patriots are a tough team to peg. Arizona WR Tetairoa McMillan would be a perfect WR1 for Drake Maye. Michigan CB Will Johnson would give New England one of the league’s most enviable young cornerback rooms, lining across from Christian Gonzalez.

But new HC Mike Vrabel is a strong believer in trench play. And we see him using this pick much as Chargers HC Jim Harbaugh’s new team used the first pick of the Harbaugh tenure on OT Joe Alt last process.

New England’s porous offensive line has finished dead-last in the NFL in pass-block win rate the past two years running. Banks would slide right into that gaping hole at left tackle as Drake Maye’s blindside protector.

In 2024, Banks was clearly better than the guy he’s battling with for OT1 honors, LSU’s Campbell. Banks had an 86.0 overall PFF grade and a 79.9 true pass set pass-pro grade against Campbell’s 74.3 and 71.7 showings, respectively, in the same categories.

5. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-13) – Will Johnson | CB | Michigan

The Jaguars’ defense is a mess, allowing the most yards per play in the NFL this season. The biggest needs are along the defensive line and a boundary cornerback to line up across from Tyson Campbell. This choice could come down to Michigan CB Will Johnson against his collegiate teammate, iDL Mason Graham.

In Mock 2.0, the Jaguars went with Graham. This time, we’re flipping to Johnson. We’ve heard that the Jaguars are bullish on the pair of LSU iDLs they drafted last spring (Maason Smith and Jordan Jefferson). Jacksonville also is comfortable with DaVon Hamilton at NG, and has the additional flexibility of shifting Arik Armstead, signed for two more years, inside.

Johnson is the true shutdown CB1 that Jacksonville has been searching for. Over the last two years, Johnson picked off six balls while allowing zero TDs. During Michigan’s 2023 title run, Johnson allowed a microscopic 30.9 QB rating against on-targets. Coming off an injury-mired final season on campus, there’s a possibility that Johnson falls out of the top five. But he’s a top-five talent who would solve a huge issue for Jacksonville.

6. Las Vegas Raiders (4-13) – Tetairoa McMillan | WR | Arizona

At this point, picking for the Raiders is a total guess. The Raiders fired HC Antonio Pierce and GM Tom Telesco earlier this month, and they still haven’t filled either vacancy.

Last time, we gave Las Vegas Alabama QB Jalen Milroe in this slot. This time, with a nod to that uncertainty, we’ll pick for the Raiders as though they have addressed their quarterback need with a guy like Sam Darnold in free agency.

Whatever the Raiders do at QB, they’ll need to acquire another impact pass-catcher to pair with stud TE Brock Bowers. T-Mac fits that bill. A made-in-a-factory NFL alpha WR1, McMillan is a 6-foot-5/210-pound pterodactyl with a bloated catch radius and ludicrous ball skills.

7. New York Jets (5-12) –  Mason Graham | DL | Michigan

At the moment, we have to make a lot of situational assumptions with the Jets’ thought process. New York will have a new administration, a new coaching staff, and (probably?) a new quarterback in 2025. Will that new administration blow things up and start from scratch? Or try to retool on the fly?

One thing we’re pretty sure of is that the Jets will look to address iDL at some point in the draft. And if Javon Kinlaw—who signed a one-year contract with the team last March—has indeed left for a new home in free agency before late April, there’s a decent chance that New York will check that need off first.

Graham is a two-way bully of a three-technique who gets after the quarterback and anchors against the run. He has violent hands and rock-em-sock-em shock-absorbing core strength.

8. Carolina Panthers (5-12) – Abdul Carter | EDGE | Penn State

Carolina had a historically bad defense in 2024. The Panthers allowed the most points ever in a season, and the third-most rushing yards. Carolina has huge needs along the defensive front and in the secondary.

With Derrick Brown returning from injury—he got hurt in the opener—help is on the way. More is needed. Carolina has decisions to make on both EDGEs Jadeveon Clowney and D.J. Wonnum, who each signed two-year deals last offseason.

If the Panthers were also able to add a freak edge rusher like Carter, what was a debilitating weakness in 2024 could turn into a big strength in 2025. Carter’s stock exploded following his move from off-ball LB to the EDGE prior to the 2024 season. Carter led the FBS with 22 TFL.

9. New Orleans Saints (5-12) - Jalen Milroe | QB | Alabama

The Saints have needs all over the roster. And they have the worst cap situation in the NFL. New Orleans has -$52.3 million in cap space heading into the offseason, the lowest in the NFL by more than $20 million.

This is going to make it impossible for New Orleans to compete next season, and probably the next few. So why not shoot the moon on Milroe’s immense upside?

You can think of Milroe as the Anthony Richardson of this class—the big-armed, freakish athlete. Milroe is more polished as a passer, but comes in a slightly smaller package (6’2/225 against Richardson’s 6’4/245).

Milroe is more experienced coming out of the SEC than Richardson was (663 collegiate attempts to 393). He’s also more accurate (64.3% to 54.7%), more productive, and less mistake-prone (45/20 career TD/INT rate to 24/15). Milroe is analogous as a runner—he averaged 55.8 rushing YPG this season against Richardson’s 54.5 his last season at Florida.

Milroe was the closest approximation we had to Jayden Daniels’ savage blend of athleticism and deep-ball dimes in college football this season. Milroe’s game could have used another year in school. But he declared because quarterback prospects with his physical ability rarely get out of the top 10.

10. Chicago Bears (5-12) - Mykel Williams | EDGE | Georgia

Following Chicago’s hire of former Detroit OC Ben Johnson on Monday, I did consider slotting Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty here. Johnson’s former employer shocked the NFL by taking Jahmyr Gibbs No. 12 overall two years ago. But with D’Andre Swift back next year and Roschon Johnson still around, we have the Bears shopping for a bigger need with this pick.

Williams is next in line of Georgia’s made-in-a-factory EDGE rushers with length and athleticism. Like Travon Walker before him, Williams has shown to be a well-rounded collegiate defender who stops the run in addition to getting after the quarterback. And just like Walker, Williams’ stock has begun to rise at the right time.

Williams was actually better at Georgia than Walker was. But Williams is going to face some of the same counting-stat questions that Walker did – a heavily-used rotation player all three years on campus, Williams never played 50-plus snaps in a game until the regular season finale against Georgia Tech. He did so again in the SEC title game against Texas and then played 46 against Notre Dame in the CFP.

11. San Francisco 49ers (6-11) - Will Campbell | OT | LSU

San Francisco’s biggest needs are along the OL, both at tackle and along the interior. Campbell was LSU’s starting LT for the past three seasons.

If OG Aaron Banks leaves in free agency, San Francisco could start Campbell at OG as a rookie with an eye on kicking him back outside to tackle the year or two after that, when Colton McKivitz‘s contract is up and/or Trent Williams retires.

12. Dallas Cowboys (7-10) - Ashton Jeanty | RB | Boise State

It’s a cliche pick because it just makes too much sense. I do believe that the organization that took Ezekiel Elliott fourth overall in the 2016 NFL draft would take a running back in this range.

In my opinion, Jeanty is a better prospect than Bijan Robinson, who went No. 8 overall to the Falcons a few cycles ago. There is nothing Jeanty can’t do. He has the contact balance of a spinning top, he breaks tackles at a prolific rate, and he’s an exceptional receiver.

Jeanty’s 2,601 rushing yards in 2024 rank No. 2 all-time behind Barry Sanders’ 2,628 (1988) on the FBS’ single-season record list.

13. Miami Dolphins (8-9) - Malaki Starks | S | Georgia

The Dolphins need help at cornerback and safety (where Jevon Holland and Jordan Poyer are both impending free agents). This makes Starks an exceptionally good fit. You can literally play him anywhere.

This season, Starks has logged 400 snaps as a deep safety, 271 as the nickel defender, 215 as an in-the-box off-ball linebacker, 10 off the edge, and 10 as a boundary corner.  Starks is a high-IQ, high-impact, highly-versatile defensive move-piece.

14. Indianapolis Colts (8-9) - Tyler Warren | TE | Penn State

Let’s get Anthony Richardson more help. The 6-foot-6, 260-pounder is a do-everything tight end. He’s a matchup nightmare in the slot, and he’s a decent blocker when deployed inline. Warren has 98 catches and only three drops this season.

Specialized usage is indicative of smart offensive staffs working overtime to scheme touches for special playmakers. During Brock Bowers’ three-year career at Georgia, he had 193 rushing yards and five TDs on 10.3 YPC. This season, Warren has 197 rushing yards and four TDs on 8.3 YPC. Earlier this fall, Warren even caught a TD pass on a trick play where he began as the center (with everyone else on the line aligned to his right).

15. Atlanta Falcons (8-9) - James Pearce Jr. | EDGE | Tennessee

The Falcons finished second-to-last in the NFL in sacks. Atlanta simply must—at long last—address this long-term issue in a serious way this offseason.

Tennessee’s Pearce isn’t for everyone, in that he’s a light edge defender at 6’5/243. Some believe he’ll be a situational pass-rusher at the next level. I see the next Brian Burns. Pearce is extremely disruptive.

16. Arizona Cardinals (8-9) -  Luther Burden III | WR | Missouri

Burden is coming off a disappointing season, in part due to quarterback injuries at Mizzou this season. But the former five-star recruit is a dynamic playmaker who has a strong catalog of film going back to 2022.

Burden would provide the Cardinals with a perfect stylistic complementary piece to the pass-catching corps of Trey McBride, Marvin Harrison, and Michael Wilson. A lightning-fast slot receiver, Burden could take advantage of all the intermediate spacing provided by Harrison and McBride.

17. Cincinnati Bengals (9-8) - Nic Scourton | EDGE | Texas A&M

In our last mock draft, we had the Bengals taking ECU CB Shavon Revel Jr. here. But while cornerback remains a primary need for Cincinnati this offseason, the Bengals’ young CB room could probably use a veteran leader via free agency as opposed to another toolsy, inexperienced rookie.

EDGE Trey Hendrickson, coming off a huge season, has one year left on his deal. The Bengals are going to be put to some tough financial decisions this offseason—Hendrickson’s name has been bandied-about in trade rumors because of that. EDGE is a need area for Cincinnati either way—Sam Hubbard is also a free agent after next year, and the Bengals have precious little depth behind those two.

Scourton has some Hendrickson to his game. He is a massive (6’4/285), powerful EDGE with long arms. Scourton is a bully-ball type defensive end, setting a hard edge against the run and using speed-to-power to win as a pass-rusher.

18. Seattle Seahawks (10-7) - Josh Conerly Jr. | OT | Oregon

Seattle could use multiple new starters on the offensive line. The tackles and the interior both need upgrades. Perhaps Seattle can address the interior in free agency while prioritizing tackle early in the draft.

Conerly would make a ton of sense, as he fits the high-end athletic profile that Seattle fetishizes in offensive tackles. A former five-star recruit, Connerly actually began his high school career as a running back. Play strength is a question, but Conerly is an extremely gifted pass-protector. Over 1,091 career pass-pro reps—nearly all of them at left tackle—he allowed only two sacks.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-7) - Benjamin Morrison | CB | Notre Dame

Tampa Bay’s defense, an injury-riddled mess in 2024, needs help at multiple places. With this pick, the Bucs get a discounted price on Morrison, a surefire top-15 pick were it not for the hip injury that ended his season in September. 

That injury, of course, will need to be signed off by the team’s medical staff. The son of former NFL safety Darryl Morrison, Benjamin had six interceptions as a true freshman in 2022 and was a semifinalist for the Thorpe Award in 2023.

20. Denver Broncos (10-7) - Colston Loveland | TE | Michigan

Thanks to the extension to LT Garett Bolles, the Broncos have crossed OT off the needs list. The offseason priority will boil down to adding more weapons for Bo Nix. With Loveland, the Broncos add the most natural pass-catching tight end in the draft. Loveland has some Zach Ertz to his game. He is what Denver fans thought Greg Dulcich would be.

21. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7) - Shavon Revel Jr. | CB | East Carolina

Pittsburgh needs to find a long-term starter to play across from Joey Porter. Revel would give Pittsburgh another long press-corner on the boundary.

Revel tore his ACL in practice in September. His draft evaluation will obviously hinge on his medicals. If he’s fully cleared, he has a real shot at the top 20. The former track star is a 6-foot-3, long-levered boundary corner with speed to burn.

22. Los Angeles Chargers (11-6) - Kenneth Grant | DL | Michigan

According to The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman, Grant ran a sub-5.0 40-yard dash at 350 pounds coming out of high school. His college coach, Jim Harbaugh. called Grant “just an absolute, absolute gift from the football gods” during Grant’s first offseason in Ann Arbor.

In the time since, Grant has developed into a clear Round 1 talent, while Harbaugh has made a home with the Chargers. Los Angeles’ biggest need this offseason is a war-daddy interior defensive lineman.

23. Green Bay Packers (11-6) - Josh Simmons | OT | Ohio State

Green Bay needs help along both trenches. It has a propensity to use premium picks on those positions anyway. C Josh Myers and OT Andre Dillard are both impending free agents.

Simmons, a first-round talent coming off a season-ending knee injury, would immediately upgrade the team’s pass protection. Some believe Simmons could have been OT1 were it not for the injury.

In 601 pass-blocking reps going back to last season, Simmons allowed only one sack. He’s a smooth-mover with really good feet.

24. Minnesota Vikings (14-3) - Jahdae Barron | CB | Texas

Minnesota might need multiple new starters at both interior defensive line and cornerback. The Vikings also desperately need a new starting RG, but my situational assumption is that Minnesota will address that concern in free agency.

In this exercise, the Vikings go with cornerback. Barron has extensive experience at boundary corner, in the slot, and as a box safety. That’s the kind of versatility that DC Brian Flores fetishizes. Barron picked off five balls this year, allowing only 272 yards on 65 targets with no touchdowns.

25. Houston Texans (10-7) - Walter Nolen | DL | Ole Miss

Nolen, a former five-star recruit coming off a fabulous three-year career in the SEC, would immediately enter the interior rotational fray. Nolen is quick and country-strong.

26. Los Angeles Rams (10-7) - Aireontae Ersery | OT | Minnesota

The Rams, who haven’t drafted an offensive lineman in Round 1 in more than a decade, are in need of an offensive tackle. LT Alaric Jackson is a free agent, and RT Rob Havenstein has one non-guaranteed year left on his deal.

Ersery manned LT at Minnesota for the last three years. He only allowed one sack over 419 pass-pro reps this fall.

27. Baltimore Ravens (12-5) - Emeka Egbuka | WR | Ohio State

Egbuka doesn’t profile as a flashy alpha WR1 at the next level, but instead as an ultra-reliable secondary option out of the slot. In that way, you can think of him as similar to Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State’s old ultra-productive slot.

Egbuka is one of the best in the nation at immediately denoting zone coverage and finding the open area. In Baltimore, he would unseat Nelson Agholor as the slot receiver in three-wide sets, and undoubtedly cut into Rashod Bateman’s timeshare on the boundary in 12-personnel looks while buying Baltimore extra insurance at the position.

28. Detroit Lions (15-2) - Landon Jackson | EDGE | Arkansas

Marcus Davenport is going to leave in free agency, Aidan Hutchinson is coming off a season-ending knee injury, and​​ Za'Darius Smith is a potential cut (Smith has a convoluted contract that would result in cap hits of $5 million-plus in both 2025 and 2026 if the Lions keep him next season due to a bonus-heavy structure and void years tacked at the end).

Long story short: Detroit needs more EDGE help.

Jackson is a towering 6-foot-7, 280-pound presence with a powerful game. He’s a gifted run defender who sets a hard edge. Jackson isn’t an athletic freak, but he’s turned into a solid pass-rusher because of his length, active hands, variety of pass-rushing moves, and a William Wallace die-on-the-sword motor. The NFL will like that he posted as many hurries in 362 pass-rush reps this year as he did in the 526 over his first two years combined.

Remaining Playoff Teams

***Order below determined by playoff results***

29. Washington Commanders (12-5) - Derrick Harmon | DL | Oregon

Harmon made the Round 1 leap this fall. He comfortably leads all FBS DL in hurries with 39. He would give the Commanders a disruptive interior presence.

30. Buffalo Bills (13-4) - Jalon Walker  | EDGE/LB | Georgia

Walker is a very interesting prospect. He has LB size at 6’2/245 lbs, but has shown an exceptional prowess for getting after quarterbacks off the edge. He’s also proven to be an extremely effective quarterback spy, making dual-threat quarterbacks think twice before breaking containment.

This year, Georgia has maximized his versatility. The Bills, who have needs at both edge-rusher and off-ball linebacker, could be attracted to Walker’s skillset. 

31. Philadelphia Eagles (14-3) - J.T. Tuimoloau | EDGE | Ohio State

With Josh Sweat an impending free agent and Brandon Graham retiring at season’s end, EDGE is at the top of Philadelphia’s offseason shopping list. Tuimoloau ranks in the top 10 of the FBS in both sacks and hits. He’s also shown substantial improvement against the run, with a strong 85.5 PFF grade.

32. Kansas City Chiefs (15-2) - Jonah Savaiinaea | OL | Arizona

Offensive line is likely to top Kansas City’s offseason shopping list. OG Trey Smith is going to get a mega-deal in free agency—will the Chiefs be able to retain him? If they do, can they still pay OG Joe Thuney? Outside of that, some sort of OT insurance is needed in lieu of the uneven play of Kingsley Suamataia and Wanya Morris.

Savaiinaea could be of interest. This past season, he split snaps almost evenly between LT and RT. He started at RG in 2022, and RT in 2023. The 6-foot-5, 335-pounder could step into Kansas City’s lineup immediately at guard, while giving the Chiefs additional tackle insurance.