Mock Draft
9/2/24
7 min read
2025 NFL Mock Draft: Latest First-Round Predictions Entering Week 1
College football roared back into action this weekend, and the 2024 NFL season is in tow this week. With it comes a new opportunity for players to re-declare their resumes for a long-term outlook in the pros. But the current snapshot gives us one last chance to swing at a way-too-early 2025 NFL Mock Draft before players begin to reshape their perception at both the pro and college levels in the coming months.
We've begun playing for keeps — congratulations, football fans!
My predictions for the upcoming season determined the draft order.
>> READ MORE: NFL Draft Stock Report from CFB Week 1
2025 NFL Mock Draft
1. New York Giants 
Selection: Carson Beck, QB, Georgia Bulldogs
The New York Giants' experience this offseason was highlighted courtesy of HBO's Hard Knocks, and the team's interest in addressing their quarterback situation was not necessarily subtle. With the Giants choosing not to restructure the contract of QB Daniel Jones this offseason, the team is entering into a viable exit window starting in 2025.
Assuming New York lands with the No. 1 overall pick, the bigger question will be which members of the football operations are still in-house to make this selection.
Beck has the prototypical build and arm that most coaches will point to as a solid starting point. But it's the command of the game that Beck draws wide praise for, and that should move the needle the most for quarterback-hungry teams like the Giants.
2. New England Patriots
Selection: Will Campbell, OT, LSU Tigers
The New England Patriots did the hard part this past offseason: drafting the quarterback. New England stood pat in the draft to secure former UNC passer Drake Maye, who will start this season on the bench as the team looks to take the proper steps to groom him for success.
The next step in that journey is figuring out what has been a troublesome offensive line situation lately. New England has invested plenty into its offensive line in the past two drafts, but most of that talent is better suited to play on the interior. Do they have a long-term answer at left tackle on the roster?
It could be rookie OT Caedan Wallace, but I am a firm believer that good prospects don't prevent you from drafting great prospects. LSU's Campbell can be the latter.
3. New Orleans Saints
Selection: Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas Longhorns
Is this the year the New Orleans Saints' year-to-year effort to stay in the hunt comes crashing to a halt? It feels like it, doesn't it?
OT Ryan Ramczyk's loss is a big one. There's a ton of pressure riding on a pair of young tackles in rookie Taliese Fuaga and third-year player Trevor Penning. Add in concerns in several spots and an underwhelming debut season for Derek Carr, and I just don't know what to make of the Saints.
They could lean into the best player available if they end up in this spot. Alternatively, they could slam the door shut on these offensive line questions by giving themselves another young standout in Banks Jr.
If things don't turn a corner with Penning in 2024, I'd love to see them take another talented player up front and give themselves flexibility in finding the best combination of five players up front.
4. Minnesota Vikings
Selection: Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado Buffaloes
How do you not sprint this card to the podium if you're the Minnesota Vikings in this scenario?
We all know Travis Hunter is capable of just about anything, and be it as a star cornerback or a standout wide receiver, the Vikings will have plenty of options to get Hunter into the fray and make an impact. Guys like this don't grow on trees, after all.
With a 2-way player like this, you hope teams don't try to do too much with him too soon. The presence of recent first-round draft choice Jordan Addison and superstar WR Justin Jefferson can help temper that temptation early on.
5. Los Angeles Chargers
Selection: Mason Graham, IDL, Michigan Wolverines
I'm sorry; I had to do it. Former Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh and former Michigan defensive coordinator Jesse Minter have teamed up in Los Angeles to tackle the same respective jobs with the Chargers. In this scenario, they can charge defensive tackle Mason Graham for doing the same.
Graham is one of the cleanest projections to the NFL level as things currently stand. He's a better pass rusher than he's often given credit for due to his sack numbers, and he's an excellent point-of-attack defender, too. The 2024 Los Angeles Chargers need both in the middle of their roster in a big way.
This is a match made in heaven.
6. Arizona Cardinals
Selection: Will Johnson, CB, Michigan Wolverines
Consider this selection the defensive version of this year's Marvin Harrison Jr. selection.
Johnson would be long gone by now in most classes. For Johnson to be sitting on the board at No. 6 overall, even amid the Arizona Cardinals' selections of Max Melton and Elijah Jones in this year's top-100 picks, makes this an obvious choice. He's rare!
Johnson brings size, length, and ball skills to the Cardinals' defense — currently amid a massive overhaul after allowing a franchise-record 455 points in 2023. The year before, in 2022, the Cardinals allowed 449 points. They need all the help they can get.
Monti Ossenfort has done a tremendous job collecting picks and infusing youth into this roster. A pick like Johnson can go a long way in helping ramp up the Cardinals' competitiveness moving forward.
7. Seattle Seahawks
Selection: Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado Buffaloes
I see the vision; now, walk with me.
The incumbent starter in Seattle, Geno Smith, will enter into a contract year in 2025 and will turn 34 in October. It would be wise to brace for the future in advance.
I love this fit for Sanders. Projecting Shedeur into an offense with three prolific wide receiver options courtesy of DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba gives this hypothetical passing game a lot of juice. Throw in offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb's vision from college, where the Washington Huskies pushed the ball vertically down the field to three-star receivers.
Sanders has a big arm and is fearless when facing pressure in the pocket. I can't think of a better QB-needy fit for Sanders from an X's & O's standpoint.
8. Washington Commanders
Selection: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona Wildcats
McMillan is an absolute monster of a wide receiver. Hands? Check. Ball skills? Check. Contested catch ability? Check. He'll win at the catch point.
But his dynamic abilities and physical play make him a massive headache for defenders. He's got excellent body control and above-average fluidity for his 6-foot-5 frame. McMillan looks more like a Create-A-Player prototype than a real-life prospect.
In 2023, McMillan received more than 10 percent of his targets for the season while running go's, outs, hitches, and screens. The overlap isn't perfect, but it shares some volume consistency with one of Jayden Daniels' favorite college targets, Brian Thomas Jr. (23 percent target share on go's, 42.5 percent target share on hitches).
9. Denver Broncos
Selection: Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri Tigers
If McMillan offers shades of Brian Thomas Jr., then Luther Burden III offers echoes of Malik Nabers. I'm not saying they are a 1-for-1 by any means. But Burden III is explosive with the ball in his hands, can fly in the open fields, creates heaping yards after the catch, and offers explosive numbers against man and zone coverage.
It took him only a short time to create in his season debut for Missouri this past weekend, too.
For the Denver Broncos, they've managed to secure a long-term option at quarterback via 2024 first-round draft choice Bo Nix — now it is a matter of putting winning weapons around him. Denver's wide receiver room is undergoing an overhaul, and it needs a centerpiece target.
I think Burden III can be it and offer plenty of explosiveness to Denver's air attack.
10. Carolina Panthers
Selection: Abdul Carter, LB, Penn State Nittany Lions
Stop me if you've heard this before — a linebacker wearing No. 11 in blue and white terrorizing opposing quarterbacks in Happy Valley. The best-case outcome for Carter is that he ultimately ends up in the same stratosphere as his predecessor, Micah Parsons. But there are a lot of alternative outcomes that would still yield a high-impact defender for whatever team drafts Carter.
Boasting explosive twitch, Carter can trigger from depth and has a knack for slipping protections. His 25.7 percent pressure rate dwarfs his actual sack numbers and is a far better indicator of the kind of high-stress player profiles as when afforded the chance to rush the passer with consistency. Carter should see more of those opportunities in 2024.
The Carolina Panthers could use a player of this caliber after finally trading Brian Burns in the offseason.
11. Indianapolis Colts
Selection: Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame Fighting Irish
The Indianapolis Colts have a "type" at cornerback — they love their big, long, and physical athletes. And they've got many young ones at their disposal, too. Between now and the end of the year, this group will have the chance to change the narrative on who the Colts have in the room, particularly former second-round pick JuJu Brents.
But right now, this feels like a spot where the Colts could use more.
Morrison had the chance to lock horns with several NFL talents in 2023, including Marvin Harrison Jr., Brendan Rice, and Jamari Thrash — plus future NFL wide receivers Elic Ayomanor (Stanford) and Emeka Egbuka (Ohio State). That experience, paired with some elite ball skills and desirable length, would give the Colts a welcomed new face to a young group moving forward.
12. Tennessee Titans
Selection: Emery Jones Jr., OT, LSU Tigers
Find a team more committed to dramatically overhauling their roster in 2024 than the Tennessee Titans. From aggressive free agent signings to player trades and everything in between, Ran Carthon is going for it.
And if the team wants to put a complete supporting cast around QB Will Levis to work with into the future, the team should find a bookend to go with 2024 top draft choice JC Latham.
One of the most appealing additions Tennessee made this offseason wasn't to the depth chart but instead to the coaching staff. Renowned OL coach Bill Callahan is being charged with working his magic on this offensive line. While some could think three consecutive first-round draft choices spent on the line is too many, I would argue that it is just right.
Latham, 2023 1st-round pick Peter Skoronski and Jones Jr. would pair with free agent addition Lloyd Cushenberry to give Tennessee one of the most high-potential fronts in the league.
13. Cleveland browns
Selection: Tyleik Williams, IDL, Ohio State Buckeyes
The Cleveland Browns' roster is one of the more robust ones in football. Thanks to an aggressive cash-to-cap ratio over the past several seasons, GM Andrew Berry and company have assembled a lot of top-end talent and positioned the Browns to compete in the crowded AFC. However, the team would be wise to continue attacking succession plans for some of the older, more expensive talent on the roster.
This process started on the defensive line last year, with Ohio State IDL Michael Hall Jr. being their first draft choice in the second round. Hall is listed on the commissioner's exempt list after egregious accusations stemming from a domestic violence incident arose earlier this summer. As a result, it is difficult to ascertain his short- and long-term outlook.
Regardless of Hall Jr.'s availability, Cleveland has several short-term answers at the position and could welcome more talent into the room. The Browns have aging veterans Dalvin Tomlinson and Shelby Harris at the top of the depth chart, and veteran backups Quinton Jefferson and Maurice Hurst are on one-year deals that expire after 2024.
Williams has the athletic potential to take significant leaps despite several productive seasons as a freakish athlete in the heart of the Buckeyes' defense.
14. Chicago Bears
Selection: Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia Bulldogs
The biggest question for Williams is whether his game will take another leap in 2024.
He was a delight as a true freshman but didn't see the kind of growth into 2023 that his potential would indicate he could have. The tools are there, evidenced by his viral pre-game clip against Clemson this weekend.
For the Chicago Bears, a running mate to go with Montez Sweat has been on the "to-do" list since Sweat arrived via a trade-deadline trade last season.
The team attempted to trade for Matthew Judon this summer but lost out on that opportunity to the Atlanta Falcons. Chicago would settle for sending a late-round pick to Seattle for edge rusher Darrell Taylor. It's a worthwhile venture, but there's no sure thing to alleviate the need for certain.
Williams and 2024 rookie Austin Booker would add some long-term intrigue to the room.
15. Jacksonville Jaguars
Selection: Tacario Davis, CB, Arizona Wildcats
If there's one thing we know about Jacksonville Jaguars GM Trent Baalke, it is that he's a sucker for freakish athletes. His first draft in Jacksonville offered two prototype defensive backs: CB Tyson Campbell and safety Andre Cisco. Campbell was awarded a contract extension this offseason, and Cisco could be next in line after posting seven interceptions and an additional 15 passes defended during his last two seasons.
Why not go back to the well? Jacksonville's outlook opposite Campbell features veteran Ronald Darby, fifth-round rookie De'Antre Prince (Ole Miss), and Montaric Brown.
Meanwhile, Tacario Davis enters this season after an impressive debut as a starter in 2023 for a suddenly talented Wildcats team. At 6-foot-4, he's got the stature that will, I believe, catch Baalke's eye.
Based on other recent trends with Jacksonville's drafting, the team would not shy away from his potential as a ball of clay to be molded moving forward.
16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Selection: Harold Perkins Jr., LB, LSU Tigers
There may not be a more frustrating player in college football right now than Harold Perkins Jr.
After a stunning 2022 debut featuring a 26.5 percent pressure rate (41 pressures on 155 pass rush snaps), Perkins Jr. saw his pass rush opportunities dwindle in 2023. Perkins' raw number of rushes was nearly equal, but LSU charged him with playing a 50 percent increase in snaps this past season.
If there's a coaching staff in football I trust to get the most run out of an undersized hybrid linebacker type, Todd Bowles and his group are pretty high on my list. Between the timelessness of Lavonte David playing off the ball and the willingness to go draft Calijah Kancey in the first-round of the 2023 draft, Tampa has a recent history of appetite and proof of concept with players that don't check physical boxes.
That will be a significant hurdle to clear for Perkins Jr. and his draft profile. But Bowles' aggressive pressure schemes are a great way to turn him loose and get the most out of his apparent ability.
17. las vegas raiders
Selection: Quinn Ewers, QB, Texas Longhorns
The Las Vegas Raiders have found some "big move courage" in the past few seasons — think about the trade for Davante Adams for first- and second-round draft choices or signing DT Christian Wilkins to top-five defensive player money. All the big moves in the world aren't helping the Raiders chase down the Chiefs annually until we're looking at a different quarterback, though.
Ewers has been involved in chasing down "big bad wolves" at the college level as part of the Longhorns program's resurgence. This weekend, he offered a promising 2024 debut as Texas romped over Colorado State 52-0.
18. Pittsburgh Steelers
Selection: Cam Ward, QB, Miami Hurricanes
There may not be a more fascinating storyline in football than the Pittsburgh Steelers' quarterback situation. The Steelers, in a crowded and competitive AFC North, moved on from a first-round pick in Kenny Pickett after just two seasons this spring. Their answer was buying low on Justin Fields and taking advantage of the disaster pairing that was Sean Payton and Russell Wilson.
Wilson has won the job, for now. Will he keep it? How well will he execute offensive coordinator Arthur Smith's offense? If it doesn't go well, how long will his leash be before the team turns to Fields? What could Fields show in a contract year to earn a renewed commitment from the Steelers beyond 2024?
This was a playoff team in 2023. The Steelers are always in it at the end. But sustaining that status with a better quarterback answer feels like asking less of Mike Tomlin and the Steelers' defense.
Ward is the country's most creative passer. If he reduces self-inflicted errors this season with the Hurricanes, I can see him rising the ranks. His massive performance against the Gators in Gainesville indicates that he could be well on his way to doing that.
19. Dallas Cowboys
Selection: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State Broncos
The Dallas Cowboys' draft philosophy, as of late, has undoubtedly leaned into drafting for needs on the roster. Tyler Smith, Mazi Smith, and Tyler Guyton were all apparent needs for the Cowboys at the time of their respective first-round selections.
Is there a more giant hole on Dallas' roster than their running back situation?
Suppose you believe in Dalvin Cook and Ezekiel Elliott in 2024 — more power to you. I just don't see a happy ending there. While top-of-the-draft running back draft value has taken a hit recently, Dallas was willing to draft Elliott in the top-five overall picks. That makes Jeanty's selection at No. 19 much easier to digest and appreciate as an excellent skill fit.
20. Los Angeles Rams
Selection: James Pearce Jr., EDGE, Tennessee Volunteers
The defensive youth movement in Los Angeles should be fun to watch. Byron Young showed flashes of promise in 2023 as a rookie, and the team added two more top draft choices via Jared Verse and Braden Fiske this spring.
Pearce Jr. helps ensure the Los Angeles Rams' identity up front in the same way that the team's recent interior offensive line investments have on the other side of the ball. He is explosive and flashed dominant pressure ability on third downs last year (27.1 percent pressure rate).
21. new york jets
Selection: Deone Walker, NT, Kentucky Wildcats
The superbly talented New York Jets defense is banking on getting better returns from IDL Javon Kinlaw than the former first-round pick ever realized in San Francisco. High expectations for Kinlaw seem optimistic and then consider that the Jets saw multiple undrafted free-agent defensive linemen make the 53-man roster.
Enter Walker — a hulking defensive lineman with some eye-popping pass rush and penetration ability. Walker playing next to Quinnen Williams and Jermaine Johnson on the edge would add a new challenge when playing the Jets.
22. Houston Texans
Selection: Kenneth Grant, IDL, Michigan Wolverines
The Houston Texans boast a loaded roster on many fronts — but the defensive interior feels like a place where they could get more dynamic.
Their 53-man grouping of Folly Fatukasi, Mario Edwards Jr., Tim Settle, and Khalil Davis should serve them fine. But what if we saw them add a freakish 330-pound athlete? That's Grant, the "other" starring man in the middle of Michigan's dominant unit from last year.
23. Cincinnati Bengals
Selection: Aireontae Ersery, OL, Minnesota Golden Gophers
The Cincinnati Bengals are facing a big contract commitment with star WR Ja'Marr Chase, which means the team could want to get a little cheaper elsewhere to accommodate a $30M+ deal.
Incumbent LT Orlando Brown Jr. is a player Cincinnati could move on from next offseason with a Post June 1 designation and save $7.5 million against the cap. Sprinkle in the team's desire to get more athletic on the offensive front (case in point: Amarius Mims), and Ersery feels like the right kind of successor for Joe Burrow's blind side.
24. Philadelphia Eagles
Selection: Nic Scourton, DL, Texas A&M Aggies
Death, taxes, and Howie drafting defensive linemen at the top of the draft. Since Roseman entered the fray as the general manager in 2010, the Philadelphia Eagles have spent seven of their 15 first-round draft choices on edge defenders and defensive tackles.
So why not make it a clean 50 percent split and draft one of the more intriguing defensive line talents in this year's class at No. 24?
Scourton came to the Aggies by way of Purdue and offers a ton of versatility as a pass rusher despite being listed in the 280s.
He can play from wide alignments via a 2-point stance or reduce into tight alignments, giving him many ways to see the field. On my initial 2025 rankings, you'll find Scourton higher than No. 24 overall, but then again, I also had Quinyon Mitchell a lot higher than the No. 22 placement the Eagles got him with last year.
25. Atlanta Falcons
Selection: Isaiah Bond, WR, Texas Longhorns
The Atlanta Falcons were hammered by some for bypassing a weapon in the passing game with their top-10 selection in the 2024 draft, instead opting to secure a potential quarterback of the future in Michael Penix Jr.
The Falcons' effort to build out their wide receiver room took some hits before the season started — newly acquired WR Rondale Moore suffered a non-contact injury in joint practices against the Dolphins in August.
Isaiah Bond did his part to show what he can do to bolster wide receiver rooms with his season debut. He posted five receptions for 61 yards and a filthy-looking touchdown. His speed and wiggle mesh well with the vision that Atlanta pursued with both Moore and fellow new addition Darnell Mooney.
26. Miami Dolphins
Selection: Malaki Starks, SAF, Georgia Bulldogs
One of the best defensive plays of the weekend belonged to Georgia safety Malaki Starks.
He posted an incredible high-point interception against Clemson that has some eerie similarities to an interception from his first career game in 2022 against the Oregon Ducks.
Starks is generally considered one of the country's top defensive prospects — so why is he on the board late? Positional value for this position appears to be on an unforgiving trend in recent years.
Names like Brian Branch, Antoine Winfield Jr., Xavier McKinney, and Jevon Holland fell out of the first round despite elite college film and quickly finding impact in the NFL. Will Starks suffer a similar fate?
I hope not. But I could see him going later than he probably should as a result. With Miami currently facing three expiring contracts for its top three safeties on the depth chart, this feels like an excellent place to stop the slide.
27. Buffalo Bills
Selection: JT Tuimoloau, EDGE, Ohio State Buckeyes
The top trio of edge rushers for 2024 looks solid. Gregory Rousseau is looking like a potential breakout star this season, 2020 top draft choice AJ Epenesa is back on a new deal, and veteran Von Miller is looking to be fully healthy.
But how long will Miller stay healthy? Does Rousseau take the leap he appears capable of? And given Miller's age and Epenesa's contract running through the end of 2025, putting a new face into the mix after this season would likely be a wise move.
28. Detroit Lions
Selection: Landon Jackson, DL, Arkansas Razorbacks
I considered wide receiver for the Detroit Lions and drafting for need — I still have questions about the names that would have been in play here. I also considered offensive line help, as neither of Detroit's starting guards are particularly appealing long-term options.
Eventually, I settled on a developmental talent in Jackson, who has elite length and super heavy hands. The Lions invested in a player with these traits a few drafts back in Josh Paschal, who has averaged about 350 snaps per season through his first two years.
Can Paschal make a leap and help fill in the depth of the Lions' group on the edge this season? If not, they may go back to the well for another swing.
29. Baltimore Ravens
Selection: Jonah Savaiinaea, OL, Arizona Wildcats
Baltimore Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta spelled it out for everyone this past week.
"Across the board, we made the decision to start to build up the line with young players...there is a salary cap and there is free agency. And so you have to pay players, but you also have to understand you’ve got to draft and you’ve got to develop young players as well. And we have started to do that on the offensive line. . . . We may have some hiccups along the way, but we’ve started to build from the bottom up and I think a year from now we’ll be in a great place."
Baltimore Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta
Baltimore is in a transitional window up front spurred on by the cost restrictions of the salary cap. With so much new, there will inevitably be hits and misses.
How long can Ronnie Stanley continue on his trajectory at left tackle? Is Andrew Vorhees a viable starter? How good can Roger Rosengarten be — and how quickly? Even if Baltimore's moves come up aces this offseason, Stanley's long-term status is still questionable, which is why I love making a pick like Savaiinaea.
30. san francisco 49ers
Selection: Walter Nolen, IDL, Mississippi Rebels
This selection is just as much about needing more depth on the defensive line as it is about the financial challenges that await the San Francisco 49ers in the next 12-18 months.
The team agreed to terms with Brandon Aiyuk on a $30 million APY contract. QB Brock Purdy is eligible for a contract extension after the season. All-World LT Trent Williams has yet to report to the team amid a contract dispute. Three starters along the offensive line are expiring contracts. Standout LB Dre Greenlaw, young safety Talanoa Hufanga, and standout CB Charvarius Ward are also on expiring deals.
The 49ers have a lot to do!
Part of that process could involve stripping down salaries to lock in their cornerstone players. Walter Nolen has supreme physical gifts, and he could feasibly step in and develop into a long-term improvement over IDL Maliek Collins, who has no remaining guaranteed cash on his contract for 2025 ($10M savings).
31. Green Bay Packers
Selection: Denzel Burke, CB, Ohio State Buckeyes
Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst's track record as an executive offers a robust resume of drafting defensive talent at the top of the draft. Why should they stop now?
Green Bay overhauled its safety room this offseason, and I expect it will pay dividends this year under new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley. But at cornerback, Green Bay declined Eric Stokes' fifth-year option this spring, meaning he's in a contract year.
Burke got his season off to a bang with a high-level interception against Akron on Saturday as he looks to put the finishing touches on an impressive career. With a strong campaign, he could sneak into the first round.
32. Kansas City Chiefs
Selection: Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan Wolverines
The wide receiver position in Kansas City has undergone many renovations since the team traded Tyreek Hill to the Dolphins in 2022. And, to the Kansas City Chiefs' credit, all they've done since is win two Lombardi Trophies. Life with Patrick Mahomes is like that.
But the tight end position has remained a critical piece of the puzzle. And not just future first-ballot Hall Of Fame inductee Travis Kelce, either. The Chiefs have turned to 12 and 13 personnel at pivotal points in championship runs during the past two years, creating many mismatch challenges.
Do the Chiefs trust Noah Gray and rookie Jared Wiley to take that mantle long-term as Kelce reaches the final chapters of his career?
If the answer is no, Kansas City can add a dual-threat player in Loveland.
