Happy Draft Day!
There’s still plenty of uncertainty (outside of the first three picks), but some things have come into better focus.
There’s no time to lose. Let’s get right into it.
MOCK PREAMBLE
According to The Huddle Report, I was the third-most accurate NFL draft prognosticator in print last season. I’m tied for fifth overall (out of 172) over the past five years.
Considering the NFL doesn’t have an offseason, the draft has become the Super Bowl of the league’s second season, and a mock version of said draft is meant to educate, perhaps even entertain. At very least, it helps you the time.
Follow me on X (formerly known as Twitter) @UTEddieBrown so we can continue the conversation.
Here’s the final version of my 2025 NFL Mock Draft:
FIRST ROUND
1. Tennessee (3-14) — Cam Ward, QB, Miami, Sr.
Nothing’s official until the commissioner says the name, but the draft really begins with the second overall pick. Ward means 19 of the last 26 top picks are QBs, including nine of the last 11. Top needs: QB, WR, T
2. Cleveland (3-14) — Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado, Jr.
This pick has been trending towards the Heisman Trophy winner since the Buffaloes’ pro day at the beginning of the month. Top needs: QB, Edge, T
3. N.Y. Giants (3-14) — Abdul Carter, Edge, Penn St., Jr.
The pick is whomever the Browns don’t select between Carter and Hunter. This makes former first-rounder Kayvon Thibodeaux expendable, and possibly available in a trade if GM Joe Schoen decides to jump back into the first round for a quarterback. Top needs: QB, CB, WR
4. New England (4-13) — Will Campbell, T, LSU, Jr.
Coach Mike Vrabel doesn’t have a problem with Campbell’s arm length. Top needs: WR, T, DT
5. Jacksonville (4-13) — Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise St., Jr.
Before you poo-poo the idea of drafting a running back this early or in the first round at all, check this out: Since 1966, there have been 19 running backs drafted who ended up in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Of those 19, a whopping 16 were drafted in the first round. The only three who weren’t was Thurman Thomas (Bills, 1988) in the second round (40th overall), Curtis Martin (Patriots, 1995) in the third round (74th overall) and Terrell Davis (Broncos, 1995) in sixth round (196th overall). Top needs: DB, IOL, WR
6. Las Vegas (4-13) — Mason Graham, DT, Michigan, Jr.
Raiders defensive tackle Christian Wilkins missed most of his first year in Vegas after g a four-year, $110 million deal, suffering a Jones fracture in his foot. There’s a chance he isn’t ready for next season and may not be 100% for a while. There’s also the Ann Arbor connection between Graham, GM John Spytek, and minority owner Tom Brady. Top needs: QB, WR, CB
7. N.Y. Jets (5-12) — Armand Membou, T, Missouri, Jr.
Membou would bookend last year’s first-rounder Olu Fashanu at tackle. Top needs: QB, T, DT
8. Carolina (5-12) — Jalon Walker, LB, Georgia, Jr.
GM Dan Morgan loves both Georgia edge rushers, Walker and Mykel Williams. Top needs: Edge, DT, DB
9. New Orleans (5-12) — Mykel Williams, Edge, Georgia, Jr.
Williams makes sense if GM Mickey Loomis focuses on All-Pro Cam Jordan’s heir apparent. Top needs: WR, Edge, DB
10. Chicago (5-12) — Kelvin Banks Jr., T, Texas, Jr.
GM Ryan Poles would consider any of top three tackles (Campbell, Membou or Banks) or an edge rusher (likely Williams), but Banks is the last man standing. Top needs: Edge, WR, C
11. San Francisco (6-11) — Shemar Stewart, Edge, Texas A&M, Jr.
If defensive line coach Kris Kocurek believes he can unlock Stewart’s potential, then I’m not going to argue with him. Top needs: CB, DL, OL
12. Dallas (7-10) — Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona, Jr.
McMillan is a better fit than Matthew Golden, but they both make sense. Top needs: WR, RB, DL
13. Miami (8-9) — Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas, Sr.
Either of the top 2 corners, Barron or Will Johnson, or safety Malaki Starks make sense with Jalen Ramsey on the trade block and Jevon Holland leaving in free agency. Top needs: G, DB, DT
14. Indianapolis (8-9) — Tyler Warren, TE, Penn St., Sr.
The Colts have gotten next to nothing from their tight ends since Jack Doyle retired following the 2021 season. The hardest decision GM Chris Ballard may have this week will come if both Warren and Colston Loveland are both on the board. Top needs: TE, G, S
15. Atlanta (8-9) — Mike Green, Edge, Marshall, So.
Both Green and James Pearce Jr. are in play here despite perceived character concerns. Top needs: C, DB, DL
16. Arizona (8-9) — Josh Simmons, T, Ohio St., Jr.
The knee sounds like it’s healing fine, and Simmons has a natural connection to the Cardinals. His offensive line coach with the Buckeyes was Justin Frye, who is now the offensive line coach in Arizona. Top needs: WR, DL, CB
17. Cincinnati (9-8) — Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama, Jr.
With Edges Stewart and Green off the board, I’m going with Campbell, who has always been my dark horse here. Top needs: WR, DB, T
18. Seattle (10-7) — Matthew Golden, WR, Texas, Jr.
The Seahawks revamped ing offense has two big threats across the middle of the field, but needs a true field-stretcher to create space for Jaxon Smith-Nijigba and Cooper Kupp to operate. Top needs: G, LB, DL
19. Tampa Bay (10-7) — Will Johnson, CB, Michigan, Jr.
GM Jason Licht stops Johnson’s slide and adds some playmaking ability to the backend of Todd Bowles’ defense. Top needs: G, LB, Edge
20. Denver (10-7) — TreVeyon Henderson, RB, Ohio St., Sr.
Coach Sean Payton targeting Henderson for his “joker” role wouldn’t surprise me, especially if they can’t trade up for Jeanty. Top needs: LB, S, TE
21. Pittsburgh (10-7) — Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss, Jr.
The Steelers’ deliberation begins with whether Nolen, Derrick Harmon or Kenneth Grant are available. Here they have the pick of the litter. This isn’t the year for them to draft a QB in the first round. Maybe they trade George Pickens for a second-rounder and select Jalen Milroe on day two to develop. Top needs: QB, WR, CB
22. L.A. Chargers (11-6) — Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan, Jr.
Loveland, and receivers McMillan, Golden and Emeka Egbuka would all be upgrades. Coach Jim Harbaugh takes another Michigan man. Top needs: C, DT, WR
23. Green Bay (11-6) — Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon, Jr.
Harmon is in play, considering the Packers was one of two teams who sent a small army of front office personnel to the Ducks’ pro day. The 49ers was the other team. Top needs: CB, Edge, C
24. Minnesota (14-3) — Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan, Jr.
It would be hard for GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah to on a talent like Grant, even with a dearth of picks. Top needs: DB, RB, G
25. Houston (10-7) — Grey Zabel, G, North Dakota St., Sr.
The front office and coaches have emphasized changing the culture of this group. That screams Tyler Booker and Donovan Jackson, but they’re also trying to trade up. That says Zabel. Top needs: S, OL, WR
26. L.A. Rams (10-7) — Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky, Jr.
Both corners Hairston and Azareye’h Thomas provide good value here, and fill a big need, but Hairston is the more dynamic of the two. Top needs: WR, CB, LB
27. Baltimore (12-5) — Tyler Booker, G, Alabama, Jr.
Everything about Booker screams Ravens. The Crimson Tide pedigree. The size, brute strength and enough functional athleticism to dominate in the run game. Top needs: OL, WR, CB
28. Detroit (15-2) — Donovan Jackson, G, Ohio St., Sr.
Pro Bowl tackle Taylor Decker will be 32 years old in August and swing tackle Dan Skipper will be 31 in September, but Jackson will likely get first crack at replacing Kevin Zeitler, who left during free agency. Top needs: G, Edge, CB
29. Washington (12-5) — Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina, Jr.
It feels like the Commanders haven’t said one positive thing about their running backs this offseason. Top needs: WR, T, Edge
30. Buffalo (13-4) — Malaki Starks, S, Georgia, Jr.
Bills cornerbacks coach Jahmile Addae recruited Starks, helping land him with the Bulldogs. Top needs: WR, LB, Edge
31. Kansas City (15-2) — Josh Conerly Jr., T, Oregon, Jr.
As Patrick Mahomes goes, so goes the Chiefs, as we just witnessed in their Super Bowl shellacking. Top needs: WR, DT, OL
32. Philadelphia (14-3) — Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio St., Sr.
The Eagles are not picking up Jahan Dotson’s fifth-year option, and GM Howie Roseman does his best to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to his roster. Top needs: LB, WR, Edge
