Mock Draft
1/20/25
16 min read
2025 NFL Mock Draft: Latest First Round Predictions Entering Conference Championships
The NFL season has reached the midnight hour, with just three games remaining on the schedule. And as the football world braces for next weekend's final four, it also prepares for the start of the college All-Star circuits. The East/West Shrine and Senior Bowls mark the full-on arrival of draft season and serve as a perfect bridge from high-stakes football in the snow to offseason transactions.
With all but the final four teams in the NFL Draft order set and the NFL Draft cycle set to kick into overdrive, it's worth another glimpse through the current first round order to explore how things could play out at the end of April.
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2025 NFL Mock Draft: Round 1
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 223 lbs
Class: Senior
Fit: Newly hired Titans GM Mike Borgonzi has experienced first-hand the value of a high-tools quarterback versus a low-tools quarterback thanks to his time in Kansas City. And with his first major decision as a general manager, he must now again decide between the two. Colorado's Shedeur Sanders is a polished rhythm player — but he lacks the dynamic arm that Miami's Cam Ward boasts as a passer. With a pick at the top of the order, it would surprise at all to see the Titans bet on the traits.
Abdul Carter, LB, Penn State
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 259 lbs.
Class: Junior
Fit: Cleveland's quarterback outlook is obviously the central theme of their offseason. But if the team chooses in a high-pressure season to go with a veteran, be that Kirk Cousins or otherwise, this decision could pivot dramatically. If that's the reality we experience in April, Penn State pass rusher Abdul Carter feels like the right ingredient to place alongside Myles Garrett and create an absolutely terrifying pass rush duo. The addition of Carter could take some of the pressure off of Garrett and create a unit that can be among the best in the league.
Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 215 lbs.
Class: Senior
Fit: The New York Giants would gladly reap the rewards of Cleveland securing the best player available selection. New York's quarterback situation may be the most dire of any of the quarterback-hungry teams — most certainly of the ones in the top 10. Sanders will be charged with saving the Giants. The good news? He'll have an offensive line that's been invested in recent years and a top-tier young wide receiver to develop chemistry within Malik Nabers.
Mason Graham, DL, Michigan
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 320 lbs.
Class: Junior
Fit: New England is the first team to strike with a head coaching hire, landing alumni Mike Vrabel to try to return to the standard of the last two decades. With Abdul Carter off the board, the Patriots must decide between drafting an offensive weapon to help Drake Maye, an offensive lineman to fortify the trenches or to simply go with a "culture fit" in the name of "The Patriot Way". Mason Graham feels like a Mike Vrabel kind of talent, and this selection can help New England replicate some of what Tennessee was able to do with Vrabel and a stout defensive interior.
Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 185 lbs.
Class: Junior
Fit: Jacksonville is a team that has some talent, certainly more than you'd expect to find with a team picking in the Top-5. Temperature changers and impact players seem to be the missing piece of the puzzle. Few players qualify for such titles better than Hunter, who has the ability to change the game on either side of the football. Jacksonville currently projects to have a starting cornerback position wide open; and the long-term can afford him the offensive reps that helped him win the Heisman in 2024.
Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 202 lbs.
Class: Junior
Fit: This board is a bit of a bummer for the Raiders; they fail to see either a quarterback or the best player available fall into their lap here at No. 6 overall. What they do get, however, is a prototype cornerback to add to their secondary courtesy of Will Johnson. In a division with names like Mahomes, Reid, Payton, Herbert, and Harbaugh awaiting Las Vegas annually, there's plenty of motivation for Las Vegas to load up with coverage talent.
Malaki Starks, S, Georgia
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 205 lbs.
Class: Junior
Fit: As tough as the board breaks for the Raiders at No. 6, the Jets at No. 7 have it equally tough. This team has undergone as thorough of a head coach and general manager search as any team in recent memory — a process that doesn't feel much closer to being resolved as compared to when it started. That sets the stage for a selection that's rooted in not necessarily need but moreso in talent. We don't know what the team's decision at quarterback will be. Or what the scheme looks like. Or if the aggressive defensive ideals will be maintained after Jeff Ulbrich claimed the Falcons defensive coordinator gig. What do we know? The Jets need some safety help and Malaki Starks is one of the best available talents on the board.
Height: 6'5"
Weight: 213 lbs.
Class: Junior
Fit: Carolina's decision at No. 8 will be largely dependent on what kind of talent they can acquire to help one of the worst defenses we've seen in recent years. 534 points allowed isn't something that can be allowed to fly, ever. If they can secure defensive upgrades in free agency, then this team can shift their focus to their other primary objective — helping Bryce Young realize his potential. Tetairoa McMillan boasts some of the same sizes Carolina has gone after at wide receiver but compliments that stature with good run-after-catch ability when targeted underneath.
Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia
Height: 6'5"
Weight: 265 lbs.
Class: Junior
Fit: New Orleans is still searching for their own next head coach — although Detroit's Aaron Glenn appears to be a buzzy name. Whether it's the Lions' defensive coordinator or someone else, Mickey Loomis remains the man in charge, and that leaves us with some more certainty that the Saints could be keen on targeting some elite traits and power along the defensive line. If they can get a similar development result for Williams as they've gotten from Bryan Bresee on the interior, the Saints' defensive front will be well set for the future with this selection.
10. Chicago Bears
Will Campbell, OL, LSU
Height: 6'6"
Weight: 323 lbs.
Class: Junior
Fit: The question for Chicago's mock draft selection is less about what they pick and, more about which offensive lineman they should pick. Here's what it comes down to for the Bears: they need talent, period. Chicago needs talent at left tackle and they need talent on the interior. That makes the sales pitch pretty easy — take the best offensive line talent regardless of where they may play. Campbell may lack some offensive tackle traits, but the consensus is that he's the best on the board, particularly if he's asked to play inside at guard.
Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas
Height: 6'4"
Weight: 320 lbs.
Class: Junior
Fit: San Francisco is a fascinating team to mock for, given the injuries this roster took, the potential departures in free agency, and some of the aging veterans on the roster. The 49ers could opt to go with a defensive lineman or perhaps a defensive back — but the selection of Kelvin Banks feels like a great opportunity for San Francisco to get out in front of the looming need of Trent Williams's final NFL chapter. Williams will be 37 this summer and played in just 10 games this season, the fewest in a season since 2017. Banks' athleticism and movement skills in the run game have the makings of a great fit in a zone scheme.
12. Dallas Cowboys
Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
Height: 5'9"
Weight: 215 lbs.
Class: Junior
Fit: The Cowboys found life in the run game down the stretch in 2024 despite playing without Dak Prescott. Rico Dowdle finished the season with over 1,000 rushing yards and justified his status as an NFL back, too. But Jeanty is an elite player who falls outside the top-10 overall picks in this scenario. And while Dowdle did indeed prove he can play, Jeanty is an upgrade in essentially every way.
13. Miami Dolphins
Armand Membou, OL, Missouri
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 314 lbs.
Class: Junior
Fit: Miami's offensive line unit has, rightfully, drawn a lot of ire after their performance last season. The team appears to have some promising pieces of the puzzle between RT Austin Jackson, C Aaron Brewer and second-year LT Patrick Paul — and it isn't a guarantee the team doesn't have veteran Terron Armstead back, too. But Miami needs depth, they need starters at guard, and they need more competition to bring this unit back from the brink — and Missouri's Armand Membou achieves that. He's a popular projection to guard after playing right tackle at Missouri. and he could feasibly enter the lineup as a starter at either right guard or right tackle, which would hypothetically push Jackson inside.
Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
Height: 6'6"
Weight: 257 lbs.
Class: Senior
Fit: The Colts have invested plenty of resources in recent years to the tight end position, but I feel like they just haven't quite been able to get it right. It is hard to imagine Tyler Warren not changing that. Warren is a powerful receiving target with prototypical stature. And he offers the appeal of a traditional in-line blocker — which is a nightmare to consider when you factor in the likes of Jonathan Taylor and Anthony Richardson & the QB run game.
15. Atlanta Falcons 
Jalon Walker, LB, Georgia
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 245 lbs.
Class: Junior
Fit: Atlanta's defense should continue to come into focus in Year 2 under Raheem Morris. But the hiring of Jeff Ulbrich at defensive coordinator further underscores the needs of this group moving forward. Namely, they'll need a lot of pass rushers. More than you probably think. That was the calling card in New York with the Jets — a high-volume rotation of capable and explosive pass rushers. That's what the Falcons get with Walker, who can step in and rush off the edge but also potentially find some other roles within Morris' defense as he matures.
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 195 lbs.
Class: Junior
Fit: Matthew Golden is a name that has emerged this season to help bolster the top of the wide receiver class. He's a potent route runner with experience as both a run-after-catch threat and a vertical weapon. His explosiveness would be a welcomed addition to a Cardinals passing offense that featured one of the best tight ends in football and a talented rookie, but not much else that can help dictate matchups. Arizona's passing offense was middle of the road in all the major categories this season — adding a piece like Golden could help further diversity the passing game.
Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State
Height: 6'5"
Weight: 310 lbs.
Class: Senior
Fit: The Bengals saw their late-season push come up empty in Week 18, but they should nonetheless be encouraged by Ja'Marr Chase's affirmation of dominance and Joe Burrow's play in returning from a wrist injury. But Burrow took a beating in 2024 amid some regression from the offensive line — their franchise QB's preferred style of play puts a greater emphasis on getting marquee pass protectors in-house across the board. SImmons can be that and, if not for a knee injury mid-season, would likely not be available this late in the queue.
18. Seattle SEahawks
Josh Conerly, OL, Oregon
Height: 6'4"
Weight: 315 lbs.
Class: Junior
Fit: Conerly is a player the Seahawks should know as well as anyone, given that he's playing in the Pacific Northwest. There's no doubt he's got the explosiveness and movement skills to be an asset as both a run blocker and a pass protector, which should open doors for him to play at either guard or tackle in the short term. Seattle's offensive line should be priority No. 1 this offseason after the unit's 2024 performance—Conerly gives them valuable flexibility.
Nic Scourton, DL, Texas A&M
Height: 6'4"
Weight: 285 lbs.
Class: Junior
Fit: The Buccaneers are a team looking to keep up with the NFC arms race. Things are much more open on their side of the bracket each year — but Tampa needs more juice and firepower for a breakthrough. Getting a powerful and diverse pass rusher could go a long way in keeping Tampa in the running every year, and Nic Scourton has the kind of versatility that could pair quite well with some of Tampa's quick-twitch interior defenders.
20. Denver Broncos
Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 205 lbs.
Class: Senior
Fit: Denver's magical 2024 season came to a close in Buffalo in the Wild Card Round — a game that revealed the missing pieces of what the Broncos' rebuild has provided thus far. The Bills defense had little issue containing Denver's weapons and Sean Payton will need more playmakers in order to take the next step. Enter Egbuka, who is a well-built route runner who has been consistently productive amid several quarterbacks and running mates in the WR room at Ohio State. He's a shifty separator who would pair well with the size of Courtland Sutton.
Luther Burden, WR, Missouri
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 208 lbs.
Class: Junior
Fit: The Steelers' lone quarterback under contract for the 2025 season right now is Skylar Thompson. One has to imagine Pittsburgh will need to get creative again to try to solve the riddle of who is behind center after the wheels fell off the Russell Wilson experience. Whoever is at quarterback will need a continuously improving supporting cast if the Steelers are going to have a postseason breakthrough. And no one finds wide receivers quite like the Steelers. Luther Burden is an explosive run-after-catch weapon that would pair very well with the Steelers' tight end room and big-play threat George Pickens.
Kenneth Grant, DL, Michigan
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 339 lbs.
Class: Junior
Fit: You just absolutely know that Jim Harbaugh and Jesse Minter are doing backflips to turn this card in with the name "Kenneth Grant" on it. Grant's ties with the Chargers coaches obviously go back to their joint days at Michigan — where Grant has developed into a hulking mountain of a man in the middle. There's pass rush upside to work with, too, which makes the addition of Grant to Minter's defense all that much more enticing. But Grant's immediate value lies in boosting a run defense that conceded 4.7 yards per carry last season.
Shemar Stewart, DL, Texas A&M
Height: 6'6"
Weight: 290 lbs.
Class: Junior
Fit: The Packers are in need of some more dangerous pass rush threats to pair with Rashan Gary in the front. They, in this scenario, find themselves in a dream scenario to see Texas A&M's Shemar Stewart on the board into the early 20s. This is a freakish talent with rare traits; he also comes ready-made as an NFL run defender thanks to his elite length and potent hands. Stewart may not be a player who touches his potential right away but there's more than enough ability to justify a selection early as he works towards it.
Shavon Revel, CB, East Carolina
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 193 lbs.
Class: Senior
Fit: The Vikings are looking at some major personnel shifts in the secondary of Brian Flores' pressure-oriented defense. The threat of Flores taking a head coaching job also looms — so this offseason will be a fascinating one for the Vikings. But no matter what, Minnesota is in line to add talent in the secondary and Revel oozes physical ability. He's built like the NFL's new prototype at corner and plays with excellent physicality and tackling to go with his rare blend of physicality and explosiveness.
25. Houston Texans
Tyler Booker, OG, Alabama
Height: 6'5"
Weight: 325 lbs.
Class: Junior
Fit: Houston's pass protection proved faulty down the stretch as CJ Stroud took eight sacks in the Divisional Round loss to the Chiefs a few weeks after taking five sacks at the hand of the Baltimore Ravens. This unit needs reinformcements — which could also help Houston maintain some of their recent rushing success. Houston has a mix of youth and veterans along their offensive line, but finding a tone-setter like Booker could, in theory, fulfill the vision this team had for Kenyon Green, who has been a disastrous 1st round draft choice through two seasons.
26. Los Angeles Rams
Aireontae Ersery, OL, Minnesota
Height: 6'6"
Weight: 330 lbs.
Class: Senior
Fit: Los Angeles went toe toe-to-toe with the Eagles in the snow on Sunday afternoon — just missing out on their upset bid due to miscues and a late stand by the Eagle's defense. Los Angeles has invested heavily in the offensive interior, but securing a long-term left tackle would help keep this offense on schedule moving forward. Ersery is a powerful zone blocker who could be a sharp fit to play on the left side and add even more punch to the Rams' front.
27. Baltimore Ravens
Landon Jackson, EDGE, Arkansas
Height: 6'7"
Weight: 280 lbs.
Class: Senior
Fit: Baltimore is likely going to be feeling this one for a while. The Ravens had the Bills on the ropes on more than one occasion on Sunday night, only for miscues late by star TE Mark Andrews to undo their chances. Baltimore has to be excited about how Lamar Jackson played down the stretch, though — he continues to age like fine wine and get better and better with age. His continued development bodes well for the future. If the Ravens are going to continue to get back into this stratosphere of the draft, they'll need more pass-rush juice to help keep the Ravens offense in complimentary game scripts. An addition like Landon Jackson fits the Ravens' profile and can help keep the pipeline full of developing talent.
28. Detroit Lions
Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 200 lbs.
Class: Senior
Fit: The Lions will be licking their wounds from this one for quite some time. QB Jared Goff did not play well against the Commanders, but the defense has to be the primary focus. Even when subtracting the Pick-6, the Commanders went through the Lions like a hot knife through butter. They simply lost too many players. And the offseason threatens to interrupt some position rooms. Namely, the only cornerbacks under contract for Detroit in 2025 are Amik Robertson and 2024 rookies Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw. After giving out some monster contract extensions, keeping the talent cost controlled at one of the other premium positions for the next few seasons via rookie contracts would likely be wise for Detroit.
Mike Green, EDGE, Marshall
Height: 6'4"
Weight: 248 lbs.
Class: Sophomore
Fit: What a time to be alive, Washington fans! An NFC Championship Game appearance and a date with the Philadelphia Eagles looms next weekend. No matter the result, Washington feels like an obvious destination in the draft for some more "Dan Quinn talent" for his defense. Few pass rushers offer a bag of tricks quite like Marshall's Mike Green — who would be outstanding on passing downs while playing off of Daron Payne and Jonathan Allen.
30. Buffalo Bills
James Pearce Jr., EDGE, Tennessee
Height: 6'5"
Weight: 243 lbs.
Class: Junior
Fit: Pearce Jr. isn't necessarily the traditional "Buffalo" end. But neither was Von Miller — the team was looking for a closer as a pass-rush threat when they added him to the roster. Pearce Jr. is as freakish with his traits as anyone in this class. And Buffalo can afford him more opportunities to rush the passer late as anyone in the league. His first step, explosiveness, and end offer ample promise for a high ceiling. Pairing him with Sean McDermott feels like a good way to position him to reach it.
31. Philadelphia Eagles
Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 244 lbs.
Class: Junior
Fit: If the Eagles can get a long-term contract locked in for Zach Baun, this pick feels less likely. But the Eagles have big contracts everywhere, and Baun has played tremendous this year on his one-year contract. So well, as a matter of fact, that he may have played himself out of an offer from Philly. Time will tell. But if Baun leaves in free agency, Jihaad Campbell profiles favorably as a player who can do some of the same things — although Campbell does appear to be a bit more physical, too.
TJ Sanders, DL, South Carolina
Height: 6'4"
Weight: 290 lbs.
Class: Junior
Fit: Kansas City's road to a three-peat rolls on next week with a home date with the Buffalo Bills. If they get it done, Steve Spagnuolo's defense looks like it is going to have to play a heavy hand in turning back both the Bills and either the Eagles or Commanders. That defensive unit had the heat turned up on Houston in the Divisional Round — but has just one defensive tackle under contract for 2025 off the current roster: Chris Jones. TJ Sanders is a fluid, potent, and disruptive pass rusher who would be an excellent addition next to Jones on the passing downs.