NFL Mock Draft 2025

The NFL Draft is fast approaching, so it’s time to update bring out our first mock draft.

We’ve considered team needs, player fits, and more as we try to project the top 10 of the first round of this year’s draft.

So without further ado, let’s dive into my 2025 NFL Mock Draft.

NFL Mock Draft Round 1 2025

NFL Mock Draft Round 1: Picks 1-10

1. Tennessee Titans: Cam Ward, QB, Miami (FL)

The Titans get their quarterback of the future by selecting Cam Ward of the Miami Hurricanes.

Ward completed over 67% of his passes for 4,313 yards with 39 touchdowns and seven interceptions this season.

This is a passer with a stout frame at 6-foot-2, 223 pounds, boasting one of the strongest arms in this class.

Taking Ward would form a nice pairing with Calvin Ridley in Tennessee.

2. Cleveland Browns: Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado

The Browns decide to pass on a quarterback by going with dual-threat cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter.

This year’s Heisman winner projects to be more of a corner than wideout, but this is a unicorn talent who can make a major impact at the next level.

You can make a legit argument that Hunter is the best player in this year’s draft, but the Titans desperately need a quarterback.

The Browns go with “best player available" over “positional need" here.

3. New York Giants: Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado

Shedeur Sanders falls right into the Giants’ lap as their new potential franchise quarterback.

What’s great about this landing spot is that Sanders gets to play with stud wideout Malik Nabers, which should help his transition to the next level.

Sanders is an accurate thrower of the football with a terrific deep ball, giving head coach Brian Daboll a chance at a resurgence after a couple of poor seasons.

The former Colorado standout would be my pick for Offensive Rookie of the Year with the Giants.

4. New England Patriots: Will Campbell, OT, LSU

Will Campbell is a perfect fit for the Patriots given their major issues on the offensive line.

You can bet that new head coach Mike Vrabel will make it a priority to address pass protection concerns to put Drake Maye in a better position to succeed.

• If you’re interested in wagering on props, check out my NFL Draft odds and best bets.

Campbell is a plug-and-play starter at left tackle who can emerge as a franchise building block.

The former LSU three-year starter could be protecting Maye’s blindside for years to come.

5. Jacksonville Jaguars: Kelvin Banks, OT, Texas

The top priority for the Jaguars this offseason should be to get Trevor Lawrence back on track.

Taking an offensive tackle like Kelvin Banks is a step in the right direction. This team needs to build up their offensive line.

The former Longhorn standout could replace Anton Harrison (64.2 PFF Grade) on the right side, or push Walker Little (72.8 PFF Grade) to right tackle.

It will be interesting to see who the Jaguars hire as their new head coach, but hopefully it’s an offensive-minded one.

6. Las Vegas Raiders: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona

With Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders off the board, the Raiders opt to add another weapon in Tetairoa McMillan to go along with Brock Bowers and Jakobi Meyers.

With rumors of Lions’ offensive coordinator as the top target for the Raiders’ new head coach, it makes sense that he’d want to stack the offense to create a soft landing spot for a quarterback down the road.

Johnson also has the ability to get more out of a quarterback through one of the best schemes in the NFL, so perhaps they’ll add a veteran like Kirk Cousins instead.

McMillan is a big-bodied wideout (6-foot-5, 212 pounds) who his great after the catch and can win contested catches at a high rate.

7. New York Jets: Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State

The once-vaunted Jets’ defense looked vulnerable in 2024, so it makes sense to take the best player available in edge rusher Abdul Carter here.

The former Penn State star has terrific burst off the line and can form a nice duo with Will McDonald IV.

This is a team in flux with lots of questions, such as what they’ll do with Aaron Rodgers. They need to just beef up the roster at any position, making Carter a perfect fit.

Drafting Carter would put the Jets on the right track to rebounding on the defensive side of the ball.

8. Carolina Panthers: Mason Graham, DT, Michigan

The Panthers desperately need a wide receiver, making that a popular choice in mock drafts right now.

But let’s not forget about a defense that was continuously gashed on the ground this season.

Taking a defensive tackle Mason Graham to form a terrific interior duo with Derrick Brown would help address the Panthers’ issues.

Carolina could add a wideout through free agency — perhaps making a splash like Tee Higgins.

9. New Orleans Saints: Will Johnson, CB, Michigan

The Saints look like a potential candidate for the first overall pick next year, so the move here is to just take the best player available at a position of need.

After trading Marshon Lattimore to the Commanders, it makes sense to bring in another corner like Will Johnson.

The former Michigan corner has great size at 6-foot-2, 202 pounds, with the ability to develop into one of the best at his position.

Drafting Johnson would be a terrific start for the new Saints’ regime.

10. Chicago Bears: Josh Conerly Jr, OT, Oregon

The Bears were one of the biggest disappointments in the NFL this year. The priority has to be to protect Caleb Williams, so drafting Oregon standout Josh Conerly Jr. makes a lot of sense.

Conerly can slot in at left tackle, forming a strong book-end duo with former first-round pick Darnell Wright.

Hopefully, the Bears add a stud offensive coach because pairing a strong scheme with improved pass protection could help their former first-overall quarterback start to live up to his potential.

I’ve seen some mocks put stud running back Ashton Jeanty here, but offensive tackle is a much more pressing need.

How to Create an NFL Mock Draft

Creating an NFL mock draft because not only is it fun to predict the landing spots of each rookie, but the preparation involved in this process helps expand your knowledge of the player pool.

Below you’ll read about some key points in my NFL Mock Draft prep.

Consider team needs

You want to make sure that you have a complete understanding of each team’s needs on their rosters.

It’s also important to prioritize positions that are more important, such as offensive line over running back.

Think about what each team has done in free agency as well because there’s a chance that they’ve already addressed certain needs.

Look at draft capital

It’s fun to predict trades in your NFL mock drafts. The best way to do this is to be mindful of each team’s draft capital.

For example, the Broncos had holes throughout their roster last year, but with only three picks in the top 121, it was difficult for them to make enough meaningful improvements.

In that case, it may have made sense for the Broncos to trade down to compile more assets. This is why thinking about each team’s draft capital can help you as you try to project the draft.

Don’t put too much stock in your prospect evaluation

While it’s always fun to look at each player’s game film and prospect profiles, the most important factor when creating mock drafts is a team’s motive.

You’re predicting what you think a team will do, not what you believe that they should do.

So put away any personal preferences on certain prospects and think about how each player fits on a team.

Consider if there are any coaching connections

We often see NFL teams take or sign players just because their coach has a connection to them. This could be an important factor when making a mock draft.

For example, Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh recently held the same position at the University of Michigan. Last year, we saw Los Angeles draft former Wolverines Junior Colson and Cornelius Johnson.

Given his strong ties to the program, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Chargers target a few more Michigan players in the 2025 Draft.