2025 NFL Mock Draft 1.0
My first mock draft exercise of this year's draft cycle! I've worked on this piece by piece over the last few weeks whenever I've had time to do so. When creating a mock draft, I keep a few things in mind: what we know now, my big board rankings, and the randomness/unpredictability we see on draft night. With that in mind, enjoy my 2025 NFL Mock Draft 1.0!
[My Big Board Rank: CB 1]
For whatever reason, two-way phenom Travis Hunter has been cast aside as an option for the #1 overall pick (or at least that is what I'm seeing in almost every new mock draft). However, is he really out of the equation here? Sure, Tennessee could use a quarterback, but we shouldn't rule out the possibility of a veteran being brought in, or perhaps Will Levis getting another chance. Is Abdul Carter really a lock for the first pick? Hunter is still the #1 overall prospect on my big board, and the Titans draft him first overall in this mock draft exercise. In this scenario, I'd expect Tennessee to utilize him primarily on offense while seeing around around 15 snaps on defense, most likely on key downs.
[My Big Board Rank: EDGE 1]
With superstar edge rusher Myles Garrett requesting a trade, the Browns draft his presumed replacement in Abdul Carter. "I know I'm the best" is what Carter recently said in an interview. Maybe there is a scenario where Garrett doesn't get traded, thus creating a terrifying pass rush duo off the edges in Cleveland.
[My Big Board Rank: QB 2]
I'm not entirely sure what to make of the quarterback situation in New York. For starters, they don't have a single one on their roster. Some reports say the Giants like Shedeur Sanders more than Cam Ward, while others say they are mulling over the idea of bringing in a veteran like Matthew Stafford. Sanders lands in the New York in this mock draft.
[My Big Board Rank: OT 1]
New England invests in their offensive line at #4 overall, drafting Will Campbell out of LSU. The common assumption is that Campbell will make a move to an interior position on the offensive line due to his shorter arms, but he can definitely play the tackle position. Regardless, he would be a welcomed addition to a unit that needs to protect Drake Maye.
[My Big Board Rank: OT 2]
I know, I know... surprise! For months I've seen Michigan DT Mason Graham mocked to Jacksonville over and over and over again. Has anyone stopped and thought about their offensive line? RG Brandon Scherff is about to hit free agency, C Mitch Morse is aging, and LG Ezra Cleveland is average at best. New head coach Liam Coen said recently in an interview that the offense would be funneling through Brian Thomas Jr., and new GM James Gladstone alluded to wanting to ensure that quarterback Trevor Lawrence can have time in the pocket. Well, if you want Lawrence to have time to get the ball to Thomas Jr., then he needs the protection to do so. Membou is extremely athletic, has great balance and footwork, and uses his hands efficiently. The argument that Membou is a top-10 prospect in this class is very plausible. Tackle, guard, center... he can do it all.
[My Big Board Rank: QB 1]
The Raiders look to turn a new leaf and draft who I think is the best quarterback prospect in this class in Cam Ward. Although I don't have a first-round grade on Ward or Sanders, the need for quarterback is prevalent in this year's first round for a cluster of teams, and Las Vegas doesn't let Ward slide past them.
New York adds the best interior defensive lineman in this class with this selection. Mason Graham would be an instant starter next to Quinnen Williams amidst a front unit that is set to lose Javon Kinlaw, Soloman Thomas, and Leki Fotu in free agency.
Tetairoa McMillan was available at #8 in this exercise, and the Carolina Panthers wasted no time to send this pick in. Quarterback Bryce Young showed immense promise after his benching in the early portion of this past season, and I wouldn't be surprised if the Panthers are keen on supplying him with even more weapons. McMillan is a massive target and long strider, measuring in at 6'5"-210 pounds.
Tyler Warren is the epitome of smash-mouth, hard-nosed football. He's a gamer, he's gritty, and is an animal at the tight end position. Warren projects as an in-line tight end with great receiving and blocking ability, and would be an instant contributor in the Saints offense that needs reliable options to create production outside of Chris Olave and Alvin Kamara.
[My Big Board Rank: EDGE 6]
The Bears could use an edge rusher opposite Montez Sweat, and they bring in a beast in Mykel Williams. Although he is my #6 overall edge rusher in this class, Williams is a powerful, high-motor prospect who was consistently disruptive on the defensive side of the ball for Georgia, even though his snap count wasn't necessarily high.
There is a fair argument that Josh Conerly Jr. is the most athletic tackle prospect in this class. I'm sure the 49ers know that Trent Williams will have to retire at some point, so they invest in the future with the 11th overall pick.
[My Big Board Rank: RB 1]
This is a pick where I've agreed completely with consensus. If you take a look at the Cowboys roster, it is glaringly obvious that the running back room needs work. Rico Dowdle and Deuce Vaughn are the only running backs currently on the roster. Dallas drafts Heisman runner-up Ashton Jeanty at #12 in this mock draft, who instantly becomes the workhorse starter in this backfield.
[My Big Board Rank: OT 5]
As a Dolphins fans myself, I am shouting from the rooftops for offensive line help. It has been the thorn in the side of Miami for years now. Kelvin Banks Jr. would be a perfect fit for this offense, as he is a smooth mover and athletic enough to thrive in an outside zone-heavy run scheme. Plus, Banks Jr. would give Miami some flexibility across the offensive line from a positioning and combination perspective. In this scenario, I'd imagine he would shift inside to left guard.
[My Big Board Rank: CB 2]
Will Johnson lands in Indianapolis at #14 overall. The Colts get a big, instinctual corner who will bring a boost to their secondary. Johnson needs to clean up his tackling, but he brings the prototypical size and coverage ability that is coveted at the position.
Last year, I really liked the idea of Jared Verse landing in Atlanta in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. The Falcons had other plans, drafting Washington QB Michael Penix Jr. This year, I still see the need for a stand-up edge rusher. In this exercise, Atlanta drafts James Pearce Jr. out of Tennessee.
Arizona bolsters their pass rush with Shemar Stewart out of Texas A&M. Stewart measures in at 6'5"-281 pounds. He boasts great size and length which he leverages to be disruptive off the edge.
The Bengals could use some power and disruption on their defensive interior, and they get exactly that with Walter Nolen at #17.
Tyler Booker is a textbook, stalwart guard. Seattle could use some fortifications along their interior offensive line, and when Alabama personnel describe him as the Will Anderson Jr. of offensive linemen, then I'm pretty sure you want a guy like Booker.
Tampa Bay brings some juice to their pass rush with Mike Green at #19 in this mock draft. Green has shown to be an extremely productive edge rusher with great burst and traits galore.
Admittedly, I wasn't too sure about what to do with this pick for Denver. Then I realized Malaki Starks was still available. I know a lot of folks in the draft space like Colston Loveland (TE, Michigan) or Luther Burden III (WR, Missouri) here at #20, but I think the Broncos can't pass up a player like Starks who would be an instant starter at safety for them.
The rumor mill seems to pushing the idea that Pittsburgh is looking to bring back either Russell Wilson or Justin Fields to be the starting quarterback next season. Perhaps they bring back both. Either way, they need additional pass catchers, especially with the potential for George Pickens to not be re-signed after this upcoming final year of his rookie contract. Emeka Egbuka is an efficient and crisp route-runner with great intelligence, as he consistently finds the soft spots in zone coverage.
Receiver prospects fly off the draft board back-to-back here for picks #21 and #22, with Luther Burden III landing in Los Angeles at #22. Justin Herbert would benefit from the addition of another reliable pass catcher outside of Ladd McConkey, and Luther Burden III strangely seems to be flying under the radar. I get the feeling that people are forgetting about him and his ability as a receiver. The Chargers, in this exercise, would make other teams regret passing him up.
Finally, one of "My Guys" for the 2025 NFL Draft comes off the board. I've been banging on the table for Azareye'h Thomas for months, and have had him as my #3 overall cornerback since October. In my opinion, he is the best press-man corner in this class, and quite convincingly. He smothers receivers in large part due to his size (6'1"-190), and has long arms and big hands that he uses to be disruptive. Packers star CB Jaire Alexander's future seems to be up in the air, so an investment in Thomas would be brilliant. Green Bay could have a cornerstone piece on defense for the future, or perhaps a lockdown duo if Alexander sticks around.
Back-to-back corners for back-to-back NFC North teams. In this exercise at #24 overall, the Vikings select Jahdae Barron out of Texas. Barron is agile, dissects routes swiftly, and has the speed to stick to receivers like glue.
Houston could use a boost along their offensive line in my opinion. Pro Football Focus ranked the Texans offensive line 29th out of 32. Not that PFF is the end-all be-all deciding factor, but it could give you an idea as to how the offensive line fared last season. I believe Josh Simmons would be an instant starter along the interior for Houston.
[My Big Board Rank: OT 3]
I'm pretty high on Aireontae Ersery as a prospect. At 6'5"-339 pounds, he is am immense tower of a tackle. He moves with good quickness and agility, and uses his hands exceptionally well to control edge rushers. Rams LT Alaric Jackson is set to hit free agency, so LA replaces him with Ersery in this scenario.
The Ravens could use another edge rusher, and honestly there is nothing wrong with having a plethora of options to throw at opposing offensive lines. I really like Princely Umanmielen to go in Round 1 of this year's draft. He moves and bends very well, which makes him a threatening and disruptive pass rusher for his size (6'4"-264). I think Umanmielen has one of the higher ceilings amongst the other edge rushers in this class thanks to his traits.
Although he played tackle at North Dakota State, Grey Zabel is my #2 guard prospect who realistically can play at any spot along the offensive line. That type of versatility reminds me of Cody Mauch, another NDSU offensive lineman prospect drafted by the Buccaneers a few seasons ago. Zabel would be a great fit in Detroit among what is already a great offensive line. If Kevin Zeitler heads elsewhere in free agency, Zabel could plug in right away at right guard.
Out of the seven wide receivers who were rostered this past season by the Commanders, five are unrestricted free agents. This would leave just Terry McLaurin and Luke McCaffrey as the lone two rostered wide receivers. At #29 overall, Washington drafts Matthew Golden out of Texas to bring in reinforcements to their receiving corps and provide quarterback Jayden Daniels with another reliable and productive target.
Jalon Walker has become somewhat of a polarizing prospect. Is he a linebacker? Is he an edge rusher? That conversation can be thrown out of the window when he's available at #30. Walker is twitchy with athletic traits bursting from the seams, and he can thump downhill.
Kansas City lands Kenneth Grant, who would instantly become the starting nose tackle for the Chiefs and get plenty of reps at defensive tackle. Grant is super disruptive and is impressively light on his feet, and would become the heir apparent to Chris Jones in the middle of the Kansas City front.
[My Big Board Rank: CB 5]
I've been banging the drum for Maxwell "Mad Max" Hairston all season. He is another one of "My Guys" for this draft. He fills the mold of my favorite type of cornerback: sticky, obnoxious, and tenacious. At 6'1"-185, Hairston boasts impeccable lateral and straight-line speed. I see him primarily as a zone corner. Darius Slay is 34 years old, and Hairston would be a welcomed addition to a Philadelphia secondary that already boasts exceptional young talent in Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell. This would be another situation where the season comes around and everyone scratches their head, thinking "How did the Eagles get another stud?!".
-- Alex P
Comments
Post a Comment