NFL Analysis
4/29/24
11 min read
Way-Too-Early 2025 NFL Mock Draft: Who Is Next Year's Top QB?
The 2024 NFL Draft has officially wrapped up, but that doesn’t mean we can’t look ahead to next year. Here is our way-too-early 2025 NFL Mock Draft with 32 players to watch during the upcoming college football season:
2025 NFL Mock Draft
1. New England Patriots — James Pearce Jr., EDGE, Tennessee
James Pearce Jr. had a monster sophomore season, racking up 14.5 tackles for a loss and 10 sacks. He has a really good chance to be the first defensive player off the board next April. In a relatively weak quarterback class, seeing a pass rusher picked at No. 1 wouldn't be a surprise.
2. New York Giants — Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
Shedeur Sanders was excellent in his first season at Colorado, with a 27-3 TD-interception ratio and 3,230 yards. He has a lot of the tools needed to be a top pick at the quarterback position. It would help his draft stock if he used his legs more frequently, but he is a hyper-accurate passer (69.3 percent in 2023) who plays with confidence.
3. Carolina Panthers — Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri
Luther Burden III was one of the most productive receivers in the SEC last season, totaling 1,243 yards from scrimmage and scoring nine touchdowns. He can make plays all over the field and is incredibly dynamic after the catch. He should be the first wide receiver off the board come next April.
4. Denver Broncos — Nic Scourton, EDGE, Texas A&M
This is one of the deeper classes when it comes to pass rushers, and Nic Scourton has the chance to be the best of the group. Scourton led the Big Ten in sacks (10) as a junior and recorded a whopping 15 tackles for a loss. He is also 280 pounds, which gives him some inside-outside flexibility.
5. Tennessee Titans — Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado
Travis Hunter is one of the most exciting players in the country and has the chance to be the league’s first full-time two-way player since his college coach, Deion Sanders. Hunter is likely to spend most of his NFL career at cornerback, but he is such a dynamic weapon on offense that he should see 5-7 touches on that side of the ball every week.
6. Washington Commanders — Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
The Washington Commanders addressed their quarterback need during the 2024 NFL Draft, but the 2025 draft likely will address the No. 32 ranked defense. Will Johnson is a press cornerback without outstanding size (6-foot-2, 202 pounds) and athleticism (4.44-second 40-yard dash). He could be one of the top cornerbacks off the board next year.
7. Las Vegas Raiders — Carson Beck, QB, Georgia
Carson Beck got hot down the stretch for Georgia, and everything points to him being one of the top quarterbacks in the 2025 NFL Draft. In his first full season as a starter, he completed more than 72 percent of his passes and averaged 9.5 yards per attempt. It’ll be fascinating to see how he develops during the 2024 season.
8. Arizona Cardinals — Harold Perkins, EDGE, LSU
Harold Perkins is a very undersized pass rusher (6-foot-1, 220 pounds), but he has been productive multiple years in the SEC and will be one of the youngest players in the class. He has 26 tackles for a loss over the last two seasons and was No. 1 in the SEC in forced fumbles during the 2023 season. He is a difficult projection, but should still be a top-10 pick.
9. Los Angeles Chargers — Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
If Burden isn’t the first receiver off the board, the expectation is that Emeka Egbuka will be the next man up. Egbuka saw his production fall by more than half in 2023 due to injuries, but he decided to return for his senior season and improve his draft stock. As long as he can stay healthy, he should be a lock for a top-15 pick next year.
10. New Orleans Saints — Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas
Kelvin Banks Jr. is viewed as the top offensive tackle in this class and allowed only a handful of pressures last year. Banks has fantastic size and excels as a pass blocker. If he can improve his power in the run game, he could end up being a top-six selection in next year's draft.
11. Minnesota Vikings — J.T. Tuimoloau, EDGE, Ohio State
J.T. Tuimoloau has been a multiple-year starter at Ohio State, racking up 17.5 tackles for a loss over and 8.5 sacks during the last two seasons. He's got great size and could reduce inside in nickel situations. He should be in for a massive season in Year 4.
12. Seattle Seahawks — Mason Graham, iDL, Michigan
Michigan has a long history of putting defensive linemen into the NFL, and the next off the line is Mason Graham. Graham has outstanding size and power, but his production is less-than-stellar. That’s not surprising from a Michigan defensive lineman, but he’ll have a chance to fix that in 2024.
13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama
If there is a quarterback in this class who has a chance to have a Jayden Daniels-like rise, it's Jalen Milroe. In his first full season as a starter, he averaged a whopping 10.0 yards per attempt and ran for 531 yards. He still needs a lot of work, but the potential is there to be drafted in the top 10.
14. Indianapolis Colts — Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
This is another loaded wide receiver class, and Tetairoa McMillan is one of the most productive players in the class. During his junior season, McMillian caught 90 passes for 1,402 yards and 10 touchdowns. He has incredible size at 6-foot-5 and should only be more productive in 2025.
15. Cleveland Browns — Quinn Ewers, QB, Texas
There is a lot of hype around Quinn Ewers, but the tape just isn’t there yet. There were a lot of missed throws last year, but he clearly has the talent to be a starting quarterback in the NFL. Can he take the next step in 2024? We shall see.
16. Jacksonville Jaguars — Will Campbell, OT, LSU
If Kelvin Banks isn’t the first offensive tackle off the board, that’s likely because Will Campbell jumped him. Campbell is massive (6-foot-6, 325 pounds) and might be the best run blocker in the class. He played left tackle at LSU but could play either tackle spot in the NFL.
17. Chicago Bears — Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame
Benjamin Morrison is a four-star cornerback with elite speed (4.39 expected 40-yard dash). Morrison has been a two-year starter at Notre Dame, and his game has only improved with more experience. He might not have the size (6-foot) of some of the other top cornerbacks in the draft, but his athleticism is off the charts.
18. Atlanta Falcons — Deone Walker, DL, Kentucky
The Atlanta Falcons need to continue to upgrade their interior defensive line, and Deone Walker is the best pure nose tackle in the class. At 348 pounds, Walker recorded an incredible 12.5 tackles for a loss and 7.5 sacks. Productive nose tackles don’t last very long in the draft, nor will Walker.
19. Pittsburgh Steelers — Drew Allar, QB, Penn State
Drew Allar had a lot of success in his first full year as a starter at Penn State, throwing 25 touchdowns to just two interceptions. But the Nittany Lions need him to deliver more in big games. If he can do that in 2024, he should be a lock first-round pick.
20. Baltimore Ravens — Xavier Watts, S, Notre Dame
The Baltimore Ravens had a ton of success drafting another Notre Dame safety in Round 1 in 2022 with Kyle Hamilton, so why not go back to the well? Xavier Watts is a smaller safety (5-foot-11, 199 pounds), but he is a ballhawk who recorded seven interceptions last year. He needs to add some more bulk, but he could be the perfect long-term pairing with Hamilton.
21. Los Angeles Rams — Jack Sawyer, EDGE, Ohio State
Jack Sawyer has improved each season at Ohio State, and he finished the 2023 season with 10 tackles for a loss and 6.5 sacks. If he can continue to improve on those numbers and add even more muscle to his 6-foot-4, 240-pound frame, he should be a lock for top-25 selection.
22. Miami Dolphins — Abdul Carter, LB/EDGE, Penn State
The Miami Dolphins selected Chop Robinson from Penn State in the 2024 NFL Draft, and they grab his teammate the following year. Abdul Carter plays linebacker and EDGE in Penn State’s defense, but he should rush the passer even more this year. Expect to see plenty of Micah Parsons comps over the next 12 months.
23. Houston Texans — Denzel Burke, CB, Ohio State
Denzel Burke is an outside cornerback with tremendous length and ball skills. Through three seasons at Ohio State, he has 26 pass deflections and led the Big Ten in PDs with 12 in 2021. He needs to improve as a tackler, but this is good value at pick No. 23.
24. Dallas Cowboys — Isaiah Bond, WR, Alabama
Isaiah Bond has elite speed, and receivers with 4.2 speed don’t last very long in the draft. He had a nice sophomore season, catching 48 passes for 668 yards. Look for him to be an even bigger part of the offense this year for the Crimson Tide.
25. New York Jets — Malaki Starks, S, Georgia
The New York Jets used almost all of their 2024 draft capital on offense, which is understandable considering how poor that unit was last season. However, expect that to change in 2025. Malaki Starks is one of the top safeties in the class and has multiple years of production in the SEC.
26. Green Bay Packers — Tacario Davis, CB, Arizona
Cornerback could be a future need for the Green Bay Packers, especially considering Jaire Alexander’s age and injury history. Tacario Davis has incredible size (6-foot-4, 195 pounds), and he knows how to use it. His lack of long speed is the reason he falls to No. 26, but he is a fantastic player who could upgrade Green Bay's defense.
27. Cincinnati Bengals – Evan Stewart, WR, Oregon
Tee Higgins is expected to leave in free agency in 2025, so the Cincinnati Bengals will need to draft their No. 2 receiver in the first round next year. Evan Stewart has blazing speed and is one of the best deep threats in the class. He isn't the most dynamic receiver after the catch, but his speed is precisely what the Bengals have been lacking over the last few years.
28. Philadelphia Eagles — Jonah Savaiinaea, OT, Arizona
The Philadelphia Eagles need to find a future replacement for Lane Johnson, who will turn 34 in May. One option could be Jonah Savaiinaea, the starting right tackle for Arizona last season. He has experience playing guard, and his size (6-foot-5, 330 pounds) suggests that might be his best spot in the NFL. But he should be an early-round selection next year with his strong hands and powerful base.
29. Detroit Lions — Ashton Gillotte, EDGE, Louisville
The Detroit Lions are still searching for a long-term bookend to pair with Aidan Hutchinson, and they could get one here with Ashton Gillotte from Louisville. Leading the ACC in sacks with 11, Gillotte was a force during the 2023 season. During the past two seasons, he’s recorded 22.5 tackles for a loss and 18 sacks. Another strong season should firmly plant him in the first round.
30. Buffalo Bills — Ollie Gordon, RB, Oklahoma State
James Cook will enter the final year of his contract in 2025, and the Buffalo Bills want to stay balanced on offense. We usually don't see Round 1 running backs, but Ollie Gordon could be the exception. He rushed for more than 1,700 yards in 2023 and was named a first-team All-American. With another strong season, he could end up being a Round 1 selection.
31. Kansas City Chiefs — Howard Cross, DT, Notre Dame
Chris Jones is in his 30s, and the Kansas City Chiefs could use some more interior defensive line help. Howard Cross is a much different type of defensive tackle than Jones. He has a smaller frame and is only 280 pounds. However, he's been productive for several years at Notre Dame and could push himself into the later stages of Round 1 with a solid senior season.
32. San Francisco 49ers — Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
George Kittle will turn 31 during the 2024 season, and he's missed a lot of time during the past few seasons. Colston Loveland would give the San Francisco 49ers another tight end who could play with Kittle for the next few years before taking over for him.
