First Look 2025 NFL Mock Draft v1.1: Post-Divisional Round

How’s it going Shelfies!!!

We are back with another update to our 2025 Mock Draft, bringing you version 1.1, better than ever. A couple shakeups for the previous draft order based on some late breaking NFL news, and a few more picks added since there have been a few more teams eliminated from the NFL Playoffs.

Enough preamble though… let’s get into it!

1.01: Tennessee Titans – Cam Ward, QB, Miami

The Titans don’t seem to be committed to staying in the Will Levis business beyond this year. They didn’t spend huge draft capital to acquire him, have benched him repeatedly for Mason Rudolph, and overall just don’t seem to believe he is the future of their team at QB. Being our first early mock, we’re doing this one without any trade backs, and I think if the Titans do end up picking at 1.01 they will try to acquire a QB they think can lead their franchise back to the playoffs, and that is Cam Ward. While this isn’t a particularly strong QB draft, Ward is likely the most pro-ready prospect, capable of using his athleticism to get himself out of trouble while still operating on time. He’s guilty of hero play every now and again, which may cause some concern for Titans fans after seeing Will Levis get himself into some trouble trying to do the same, but the caliber of these two quarterbacks isn’t quite equal. One more fun fact on this pick, this will be the first time in NFL History that the first overall picks in back to back drafts will have the same initials. I don’t know if that’s actually true, but seems pretty unique, right?

1.02: Cleveland Browns – Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado

In the prior iteration of this mock draft I told you I couldn’t see the Browns going QB because of Deshaun’s huge immovable contract…. well all that might be changing with the news that he has re-torn the same Achilles he ruptured months back, and did so while not wearing his team mandated walking boot. This blunder/disregard for his own wellbeing may be the out that Cleveland needs to get rid of his awful contract, and move onto a new QB this offseason. And while there are some serviceable vets who will be available in Free Agency, I think it’s more likely that the Browns use the 1.02 pick to secure the services of Shedeur Sanders, someone who could feasibly “game manage” this team to a great season in his rookie year. The Browns have boasted a great defense for many years, and have just been a QB away from being true contenders many times. We saw how good they could be when Jameis Winston was in there playing well, it was just his gunslinger mentality that deterred their success. So if Sanders can come in and use the plethora of weapons at his disposal and actually take care of the ball, this could be a solid match. I know this means they’d have to pass on Travis Hunter, but I think it’s the right move for what they need most.

1.03: New York Giants – Travis Hunter, WR, Colorado

If Travis Hunter is still on the board at 1.03, it’s tough to pass on him, even if it’s not your most important positional need. The Giants would also likely be a candidate to move up to one of the top 2 picks if they decide they really love Ward or Sanders, but if not, and they decide to go for a veteran bridge QB, Hunter will certainly be a welcome addition to a WR room that lacks depth after top dawg Malik Nabers. As we’ve seen in the NFL, most of the top tier teams have 2 legit WR options, so pairing Nabers with Hunter makes a lot of sense, and also eases the burden on a new QB to have to play the role of hero on every snap. Finally, for all the people who want to see Hunter play both ways in the NFL (I am not one of these, but I digress), the Giants would give him a legitimate shot at doing so, given their lack of elite CBs on the roster presently.

1.04: New England Patriots – Will Campbell, OT, LSU

After fumbling away the 1.01 pick with an inexplicable Week 18 win, the Patriots have already made sweeping changes, sacking Jerod Mayo and Alex Van Pelt, ushering in a new era of coaches in Foxboro. This team is in desperate need at a number of positions, and free agency might dictate what their true draft needs are more than a lot of other teams, but with the top 3 talents in this draft off the board here, it gets a lot tougher for New England. If they do pick at 1.04, I think they have to shift their focus to the OL, and Will Campbell is the best OL in this draft. While some rumors have surfaced that NFL teams may prefer him to play inside, he was a stud for LSU for 3 years at the Tackle position, and the Patriots should at least try him there first. If it doesn’t work out, well guess what, we need interior OL as well, and he can slide right on in. He has prototypical size for an NFL OT at 6’6″, but the 324lbs he’s currently sporting is a bit short, so if he can get his pro-weight up to about 350lbs and maintain his agility, he should have every chance to succeed. Additionally, this locks up one of the league’s most important positions for years to come, and hopefully protects Drake Maye’s blindside as he continues to flourish into a top tier NFL QB.

1.05: Jacksonville Jaguars – Mason Graham, DT/DL, Michigan

The Doug Pederson firing came as a bit of a shock to me, felt like he sort of got a raw deal in JAX given the injuries sustained by his top QB, but nonetheless this Jaguar team found it hard to get out of first gear all season long. I think they have the talent on the offensive side of the ball, so it becomes a question of how to shore up this defense moving forward. For that, I’d be looking at two Michigan men, a DT and a CB. While Will Johnson is a very intriguing CB prospect and one the Jags could surely use, I think they instead do what the Jags have done in the past consistently, and focus first on the DL. Mason Graham is an elite interior DL/DT and can clog up holes in the run game as well as get after the passer. He’s been compared to Christian Wilkins and Quinnen Williams, two absolute game changers on the defensive side of the ball. Pairing him with Josh Hines-Allen and former first overall pick Travon Walker would make for a mighty combo up front.

1.06: Las Vegas Raiders – Will Johnson, CB, Michigan

The Raiders are in a tough spot. They definitely need more than just one piece to be a contender. But a guy like Will Johnson can help you on both sides of the ball. Not like Travis Hunter by possibly actually PLAYING on both sides, but by helping to take away another team’s top WR and getting your own defense off the field and the offense back out there, something the Raiders struggled mightily to do this year. Solidifying the back end of the defense could be the first step on the way back to success for this team. Especially at this point in the draft, when the top QBs are off the board, it makes a lot of sense that the organization would go after a shutdown corner like Johnson. They spent money in FA last year to bring in Christian Wilkins and retain Maxx Crosby, so they likely want to find some help on the back end to match what they are building up front. There are more exciting offensive prospects on the board no doubt, but for practicality and what I think the Raiders might actually do if drafting here, I think Will Johnson is the answer.

1.07: New York Jets – Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona

With the top QBs already off the board, Davante Adams likely not returning to NYJ in 2025, Garrett Wilson already asking to be moved to another destination, and Aaron Rodgers openly considering retirement, the Jets need to do something to attempt to have a competent offense in 2025. Their OL started to seem like it was gelling towards the end of the year, they have 2 rock solid RBs on the roster already, and maybe they can find their next QB in Free Agency… so let’s assume they’re heavily eyeballing the WR of the future in New York, and that’s Tet McMillan. At 6’5″ and 212lbs, you’d think speed would be a concern, but with how often he lines up in the slot, you know it isn’t. He’s got the ability to run all the routes, has the speed to separate on deep shots, can use his size to haul in 50/50 balls, and hasn’t shied away from contact in his collegiate career. One scout recently called him “Drake London, but a better athlete”. If that’s the case, the Jets should be thrilled if they land him.

1.08: Carolina Panthers – Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State 

The Panthers could go a number of ways here, and with the team still in need of a good amount of help, a lot of different approaches make sense. However, I think they need to add some pressure off the edge, as they were one of the least effective teams at rushing the passer in 2024, and when they did, a lot of those pressures came from Jadaveon Clowney, who, while still effective, likely isn’t considered a long term solution off the edge in Carolina. Insert Abdul Carter, a player drawing comps to Micah Parsons, in both stature, ability, and alma mater. He’s still a bit raw, but a year learning under a guy like Clowney could do him a world of good. Look for him to be an impact player in year one if he lands in Carolina.

1.09: New Orleans Saints – Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia

Just missing out on Abdul Carter will be immediately eased as the Saints see Mykel Williams still on the board. Wait until you see what this kid is going to do at the combine. At 6’5″ 265lbs and a projected 4.65 (or faster) 40 time… Williams will look to continue the tradition of impact players coming out of Georgia and dominating at the NFL level. The Saints are also well known for building their pass rush first and building out from there, so this pick falls right in line with what we’re used to seeing out of them.

1.10: Chicago Bears – Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas

If you watched one minute of sports talk this year, you heard someone mention the Bears and their ineffective OL failing to protect Caleb Williams. Which is abundantly obvious to all the Bears fans and their front office, as they canned Matt Eberflus midseason. The next coach will be pleading with Bears GM Ryan Poles to get their franchise QB some protection so we can all begin to fairly evaluate the young QB. Until he doesn’t spend the whole game running for his life, it’s going to be near impossible to say if his struggles are on him or the rest of the line. Kelvin Banks is a guy who can immediately provide protection at the NFL level. He is a a little small for Tackle at 6’4″ 320lbs, but he’ll have some time to bulk up before preseason, and what he lacks in size, he more than makes up for with technique and agility. He is noticeably strong for his size, plays with excellent balance, and has the footwork of a seasoned vet. I think if he can develop his run blocking ability to match his pass protection skill he could end up being the best OL to come out of this draft. Some even have him first off their boards, ahead of Will Campbell, but I think Campbell goes first given his more pro-ready/well-rounded status right now. That being said, the Bears will be thrilled if Banks falls to them here.

1.11: San Francisco 49ers – Nic Scourton, EDGE, Texas A&M

The Niners are a bit of an anomaly here. A team with a ton of talent, who suffered a ton of injuries, and find themselves with an unusually high pick in the draft. As such, they’re sort of spoiled for choice and could go a number of directions here. A lot of what they do will be dictated by who they can retain going into 2025, and the status of some of their stars health as we hit the new season, as well as if they bring back Brock Purdy or not. But all this notwithstanding… I think they do what they do best, and draft absolute studs off the edge. We’ve seen them bring guys in year after year who continue to be deployed in packages where they find success, and this is likely another move in that long tradition. Nic Scourton out of Texas A&M will be thanking his lucky stars he gets to go to San Fran, where Nick Bosa will draw the majority of the opposing OL’s attention, and maybe he can finally get a one on one matchup, unlike most of his time at A&M and Purdue before that. He has a full bag of tricks, highlighted by a spin move that will remind you of a prime Dwight Freeney, but also the ability to bullrush opposing tackles when needed. A truly impressive prospect who will be right at home in the Niners scheme. Assuming the Niners bounce back to form in 2025, this will be another case of the rich getting richer.

1.12: Dallas Cowboys – Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State

This might be a reach, and this might just be me wanting to see it happen and willing it into existence, however, it makes a ton of sense! Ashton Jeanty going this high would put him on par with Jahmyr Gibbs when he was drafted at 12th overall by the Lions, and after the season Jeanty just posted, I think that’s fair. And while Gibbs may have come out of the more prestigious SEC, it’s tough to knock Jeanty’s season, as so few have ever done anything like it, regardless of competition. If there is one guy who won’t let any of the outside noise get to him and who will always do what he wants with HIS team… it’s Jerry Jones. I think this lines up with what Jerry wants to do, what the Cowboys need, and what the fans want to see… so let’s make it happen!

1.13: Miami Dolphins – Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State

I could definitely see the Dolphins going WR here because of the recent Tyreek Hill news that he wants out of Miami, but let’s assume they can find a way to reconcile and Reek stays in town. If that’s the case, I think it is of the utmost importance that the Dolphins protect Tua and prevent him from taking unnecessary hits. While Terron Armstead is an elite LT, he has struggled to stay healthy over the years and is also 33 years old. Meanwhile, whether it’s Austin Jackson or Jackson Carman at RT, both have been a bit lackluster, with extremely disappointing PFF grades for both guys (I’m talking scores sub-60 and sub-40, respectively). Josh Simmons, despite some injuries, is arguably the best OT in this draft and could play on either end of the line if asked. He would immediately offer a long term solution at tackle, and would simultaneously aid in keeping your franchise QB healthy and in games, something that can’t and should not be overlooked.

1.14: Indianapolis Colts – Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State

While ARich has certainly struggled, I don’t think the Colts are ready to pull the ripcord on the experiment quite yet. I think instead, they look into getting him some help a little closer to the line of scrimmage, instead of making him chuck it downfield to Pittman/Pierce/Downs on such a regular basis. A guy like Tyler Warren, cut from the cloth of the new era TEs, would be a match made in heaven for Colts fans. 6’6″ 260lbs and 666 yards after catch in 2024, while en route to setting records in receptions (117) and yards (1555) for FBS TEs is exactly what ARich could use to his benefit next season. I like this pick for so many reasons, now we have to see if the Colts agree .

1.15: Atlanta Falcons – Jalon Walker, EDGE, Georgia

Walker is an intriguing prospect, but I love the way he would fit in Atlanta. I was shouting for the Falcons to take an edge rusher last year, and thought they would have taken Jared Verse (the potential DROY in 2024), but you can’t knock them too hard with how solid Penix looked after taking over for Cousins. That being said, this year they NEED to go get a guy who can get some pressure on opposing QBs, because they are sorely lacking in that area. Walker is a little undersized for a traditional edge, but with his high motor and insane athleticism, he has always found a way to get it done. He is also a skilled off-ball linebacker, and a team like the Falcons could find a variety of ways to deploy him within their defensive scheme. He is almost just as talented in coverage as he is as a rusher, so his versatility is surely a big positive and a reason teams will be be fighting over him come draft time.

1.16: Arizona Cardinals – Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama

The Cardinals defense is weak, no two ways about it. They need to start limiting points scored against them so Kyler and the offense don’t find themselves in a track meet every single week. He’s 6’3″ 244lbs and allegedly runs a 4.52 40yd dash. Add in the fact that he won’t turn 21 years old until February 2025, and you’ve got a real unicorn on your hands. Arizona needs helps at the DL and LB levels, and Campbell can contribute at both effectively. He can play offball in coverage, he can play on the line, and he can tackle like a son of a gun. He is drawing comparisons to Roquan Smith already, which while quite bold, it’s hard to say he’s not entirely deserving of the comparison when you watch him play.

1.17: Cincinnati Bengals – Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State

The Bengals have one of the more undecided futures of the teams on this list. The return or departure of Tee Higgins is probably the most concerning piece of offseason news, and will likely be the deciding factor in how the Bengals approach this draft. The Jermaine Burton experiment hasn’t gone as planned, and they may be looking for the next man up to operate opposite Ja’Marr Chase. If they are looking at WRs here, I would have to bet Emeka Egbuka is the guy they’d want. Not only is he a stud in his own right, he is accustomed to playing with other elite WRs throughout his time at Ohio State, so he will likely find it easier than most to coexist with a supreme talent like Chase. At 6’1″ 205lbs, he is prototypical NFL WR size, and though he may not be the fastest guy in the league, he makes up for it with hard running and a desire to create contact and break tackles. He reminds me of an Amon-Ra St. Brown type, or if you want a more vintage comp, a Hines Ward or Steve Smith. Yeah… I’m giving him that much praise before he even sees an NFL snap. If he can land in Cincy with Joe Burrow, he should be money from day one, seamlessly filling the void left by Tee Higgins.

1.18: Seattle Seahawks – Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan

This is one of the harder picks for me in the draft, but I think Noah Fant may have finally worn out his welcome and the Seahawks may be ready for a change at the TE position. I’d argue the Seahawks are good at WR, set at RB, happy with Geno at QB, their OL was creating some big holes for both RBs all season, and their CBs and DL are solid. So the question becomes is it a TE, a LB, or a Safety. A guy like Malachi Starks at the Safety position is definitely a great value at 18… but I think the Seahawks are actually happy with their safeties, although Starks could be a real game changer. There aren’t any more LBs I would want at this point, so I find myself leaning towards the TE position, and Colston Loveland is a stud. 6’5″ 237lbs and as quick as they come, Loveland should translate his game to the NFL level pretty well. He’s a real “vertical threat” type of TE, and can actually run a lot of routes, but where he needs improvement is as a blocker, though he started to show improvement this year at Michigan. If he can continue to grow this part of his game, he could end up being an elite NFL TE, but he will need to improve here if he wants to be on the field enough to make this level of an impact. All that being said, he would be a great addition to the Seattle offense, as Noah Fant hasn’t been fantastic by any means, and Lockett has seen better days and could even be considering retirement. If that’s the case, Geno Smith would surely welcome another talented pass catcher.

1.19: Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Malaki Starks, S, Georgia

For years, the Tampa defense seems to have caught the injury bug in their secondary, and by the time the playoffs come around, they’re hurting at almost every position. To combat this, I’d like to see them go add a guy like Starks, who is not only an elite talent in his own right, but someone who can move around the defense and contribute from multiple spots on the field if asked. Additionally, pairing him with Antoine Winfield will shore up the back end of this defense for the long term, which is exactly what the Bucs need. If they can add another DB later in the draft or pick one up in Free Agency, I like their odds to be back in the playoffs again in 2025.

1.20: Denver Broncos – Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri

The Broncos seem to have struck gold with their selection of Bo Nix in the 2024 Draft, so now it’s time to get him some help. He managed to have a fantastic rookie season with a glaring lack of talent surrounding him at pretty much all the skill positions on offense. Lackluster RBs, TEs hardly showing up, and sporadic performances from his WRs (outside Courtland Sutton, who was relatively reliable). Going after a guy like Luther Burden could bring some immediate depth to the WR room, as well as add a competent WR who received elite PFF grades each of the last two seasons. He’s also averaging a stellar 2.4+ yards per route run, which puts him among the top WRs in this class.

1.21: Pittsburgh Steelers – James Pearce Jr., EDGE, Tennessee

Pittsburgh has a lot of holes to fill, and could potentially be looking at even more if they can’t get the George Pickens experiment back on track. That being said, I think you’ll see the Steelers do what they’ve done for years, and that’s spend higher draft capital on defense early and make sure that side of the ball is locked down, and then they’ll grab some diamond in the rough at WR that no one has ever heard of later in the draft, and they’ll end up being nasty. Seriously, the Steelers hit rate on WRs is insanely high, even if most of them turn out to be nutjobs. So here I have them taking James Pearce Jr. out of Tennessee, who gets a pressure on the QB about 25% percent of his snaps, which is outrageous. He is a little undersized for the position at the NFL level, but his motor should more than make up for it. At one time he was even rumored to be in contention for the first overall pick in the draft, though those rumors have cooled off significantly of late. As such, the Steelers get an incredible value at this later stage of the first round.

1.22: Los Angeles Chargers – Isaiah Bond, WR, Texas

It’s no secret what the Chargers need, and they need it fast. Ladd McConkey was a home run, but he can’t catch every ball in LA. And with the Quentin Johnston experiment looking to be a colossal failure, I’d expect the Chargers to spend up for a WR in this April’s draft. At 5’11” 180lbs, Bond might be a little on the smaller side, but we’ve seen some of these WRs come into the NFL and perform at a high level right out the gate, so I’m not losing sleep over it. In the right offense, he could contribute from day one, and the Texas WR (formerly a member of the Crimson Tide as well), should have no problems adjusting to the speed of the NFL game. I like this landing spot for him, but I like it even more if I’m a Justin Herbert owner.

1.23: Green Bay Packers – Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame

Not the greatest showing in the Natty, but Morrison is a prototypical NFL CB at 6’0″ 190lbs. With a sub 4.4 40yd dash, he should be looked at by a number of teams, and might end up rocketing up draft boards if he posts a solid combine. Jeremiah Smith made him look bad in the National Championship, but when Smith decides to come out of college in a couple years, he may be the unanimous 1.01 pick, so I’m not holding that against Morrison. In Green Bay, for years it’s been Jaire Alexander and no one else, and year after year Alexander ends up hurt, and the Green Bay defense suffers on the backend. I hope this is the year they listen and take a DB in the first round, but I’ve been guessing wrong on this one for years, so I’m sure they’ll just take another WR.

1.24: Minnesota Vikings – Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan

The Vikings issues are two-fold, but they are both in the trenches, on both sides of the ball. They are not getting after QBs unless they’re blitzing extra guys, and when they do that, they leave their backend susceptible to the pass. They also have struggled mightily to protect their QBs over the years, so really I think you could argue either pick would work here, both OL and DL are equally likely. So I think with the remaining players on the board, it makes the most sense for them to go after Kenneth Grant out of Michigan. Grant can eat space while also getting after the QB when asked, and this is the sort of combo you need at the NFL level to succeed. Like I said, the Vikes need to find a way to get pressure while bringing only 3 or 4 guys, allowing them to play more conservative defense on the backend, keeping them away from needing to blitz all the time just to generate a pass rush.

1.25: Houston Texans – Darien Porter, CB, Iowa State

While there are a lot of ways I could see Houston using this pick, I think a CB to play opposite Derek Stingley makes the most sense. Kamari Lassiter looked solid this year, but he is more of a slot corner/nickelback, and Jalen Pitre/Myles Bryant saw too much time on the field given their dearth of talent. Bringing in a guy like Porter to play outside, allowing Lassiter to stay in the slot, is a huge step in the right direction, and could position your defense to have two shutdown corners, a very enviable position for most DCs around the league. When you pair two elite corners with the vicious HOU pass rush coming from Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter, you’re off to a hot start. At 6’4″ 201lbs with a 4.38 reported 40 time, you could be drafting the next version of Tariq Woolen, and we all saw how nasty he was as a rookie in Seattle.

1.26: Los Angeles Rams – Armand Membou, OG, Missouri

Armand Membou is an extremely interesting prospect in this draft, with some people mocking him in their top 15 picks, and others not pulling him off boards until the late 2nd round. I like his combination of size and agility, and given the needs of the Rams on their OL, I think he is a nice addition to the roster. The Rams need improvement at both Guard spots, and are also set to lose their starting LT to Free Agency. Membou is a 6’4″ 325lb Guard who has the potential to flex out to Tackle if needed. He has also improved year over year in college, this year grading as Elite by PFF for both pass and run blocking. Overall, I think he could be a home run of a pick for LA, who need to do something more to protect Matt Stafford and keep him upright.

1.27: Baltimore Ravens – Jack Sawyer, DE/EDGE, Ohio State

I originally had the Ravens taking Darien Porter here, but with him coming off the board earlier to the Texans, I needed to pivot. And without another elite DB on the board here (I think they could use another safety operating opposite Kyle Hamilton), I will go with what the Ravens typically do, and that’s take elite edge rushers who can also flex out and play LB if needed. At 6’5″ 260lbs, you wouldn’t expect it, but Sawyer actually has shown some ability in coverage, which is a massive boost for the NFL team that eventually lands him. He can set the edge, he can drop into a zone, and of course, he can get after the QB. So if the Ravens wants to continue to rotate Broderick Washington, Brent Urban, Kyle Van Noy, Odafe Oweh, and David Ojabo all through their edge rush position, I think Sawyer will fit right in and find it easy to contribute to such a loaded position group.

1.28: Detroit Lions – Shemar Stewart, EDGE, Texas A&M

When Aiden Hutchinson went down, you saw the Lions ability to pressure opposing QBs fall off a cliff. With Hutchinson getting hurt in Week 6, the fact he was still the Lions sack leader on the season is bananas. So I think they use this draft to grab some much needed defensive depth, starting with a guy like Shemar Stewart, who can get after the QB with the best of ’em. At 6’6″ 291lbs, he is the perfect size for a DE/EDGE rusher in the NFL , and his athleticism is off the charts. He was an especially effective run stopper at A&M, but he also has a full bag of tricks when it comes to beating opposing OL, so I like his potential to come in and be a disruptor early on for the Lions. Add in the fact that Hutchinson will be back in 2025 and drawing the majority of the focus of the offensive line, and you’ve got a wide open opportunity to make an impact out the gate if you’re Stewart. I think this pick is a match made in football heaven.

That’ll do it for yet another exciting mock draft, but if you want to keep reading below, you’ll find a table explaining the current team needs that helped to inform some of the picks in the above mock. As we move through the NFL Offseason and eventually through to Free Agency, these needs will be updated and the picks for each team may change. So check back often to stay up to date with all the latest!