Free agency week is here! The legal tampering period starts on Monday, so I figured it was time to get one more mock out before teams start filling some needs in free agency. It will be a fun exercise to compare this mock to the one I do after the bulk of free agency is done and needs have completely changed.
Plus the Combine has come and gone and the dust has settled on the workouts. With athletic profiles complete for most of this year's class, we can acknowledge some risers and fallers as we go.
This is a reminder of how I evaluate players: I use a numeric scoring system that produces a score for each prospect on a 0-100 scale. That score calculates four weighted buckets: film/traits, production/data, athleticism, and intangibles. With the Combine, we were able to check some benchmark boxes in the athleticism bucket, which completes most of the scores for me.
For this mock, I am blending how I think teams will draft with a little influence from my board. If I am unsure of a pick, I rely a bit on my evaluations and take the opportunity to plant a flag. But, for all intents and purposes, consider this mostly predictive.
To make these selections, I have carefully considered each team's needs, evaluated the positional value of available prospects, and weighed each player's talent against the specific fit for each team.
2025 NFL Mock Draft 3.0
1) New York Giants: Cam Ward, QB, Miami (Big Board: N/A)
Trade Alert!
Giants get: 2025 1st-round pick (#1)
Titans get: 2025 1st-round pick (#3), 2026 1st-round pick, 2025 3rd-round pick (#65)
Cam Ward isn’t my QB1 in the class, but he is the high-ceiling, toolsy type of prospect we have seen the league gravitate towards for a while now. He also has a little Josh Allen in him, which seems to be Brian Daboll’s preferred play style at quarterback. Hopefully, things go well enough for both Ward and Daboll to warrant a Daboll extension after the season.
2) Cleveland Browns: Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
I can’t shake the feeling that the Browns go QB here and Shedeur seems like a Kevin Stefanski guy. I know the Browns won only three games in 2024, but I really think their roster is better than that and they are solid QB play away from flirting with 10 wins, especially after mending their relationship with Myles Garrett. Sanders, while also not my QB1, is a very high floor prospect. He brings high level accuracy, decision making, and toughness to the table.
3) Tennessee Titans: Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State
Trade Alert!
Titans get: 2025 1st-round pick (#3), 2026 1st-round pick, 2025 3rd-round pick (#65)
Giants get: 2025 1st-round pick (#1)
The likelihood of this trade back hinges on how much the Titans like this QB class and whether or not they prefer to go the veteran route. Maybe this is an Aaron Rodgers spot?
In this scenario, I have them going the vet route and then landing arguably the best overall player in the draft in Carter — a pure pass-rusher with S-tier explosiveness and a highly developed move set.
4) New England Patriots: Armand Membou, OT, Missouri
Membou has always been my OT1 of the class and the rest of the world is catching up. I feel confident making a massive investment into what was arguably the worst OL in the league last year. But if they miss out on a significant upgrade at WR during free agency, I could see this pick being a pass catcher in either Tetairoa McMillan or Tyler Warren. Either way, this off-season’s sole focus has to be improving the ecosystem around Drake Maye.
5) Jacksonville Jaguars: Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado
I still firmly believe Hunter’s best value in the NFL is as a full-time cornerback, but his insistence on playing both positions has me willing to not rule out him playing WR in a part-time role. He is a special kid and if anyone can do it, it's him. The Jags add some big-time star power to start the Liam Cohen/James Gladstone Era.
6) Las Vegas Raiders: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
Prospect fatigue is a real thing. McMillan is still head and shoulders better than any other WR in this class and without any games being played, everyone has lost sight of that. For me he scores as a Drake London caliber prospect, and London was a top-10 pick. Something else to consider: the lack of high-end talent at WR in both FA and in the draft could push McMillan up even further or entice a team to come and get him.
For the Raiders, McMillan instantly elevates a horrific WR room. His presence alone would give Jakobi Myers and Brock Bowers more favorable looks and give new QB Geno Smith a nice trio of pass-catchers to work with. Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty would definitely be in play in this scenario as well.
7) New York Jets: Jaxson Dart, QB, Ole Miss
New mock, same pick. My take from Mock 2.0 – “All three of the top QBs scored very similarly for me, but in a vacuum, Dart would be my preference as QB1. When it comes to all the QB-centric traits, Dart is best-in-class. He also is the most competent in attacking the deep and intermediate parts of the field. As the cherry on top, he is a good to great athlete. Dart can extend with his legs and keep the chains moving as a runner.”
Also, I really want to highlight here the athleticism part of Dart’s game is being understated by just about everyone. Over the past two seasons, Dart racked up 50 explosive runs and 70 first downs or TDs on the ground.
8) Carolina Panthers: Mason Graham, IDL, Michigan
For my money, Graham has the best tape of any player in the entire class. Unfortunately, he weighed in at a kind of weird size at the Combine at 296 pounds, which casts a little doubt on the overall profile. We were sold on him being a very large 310-315 pounder. It is definitely not a deal-breaker, but perhaps with that information, 8th overall is more likely than the top-5 selection I was initially projecting.
9) New Orleans Saints: Shemar Stewart, EDGE, Texas A&M
“I believe Stewart will be the biggest artificial “riser” of the combine” — My Mock Draft 2.0.
We know Saints GM Mickey Loomis loves chasing unicorns on the EDGE (Payton Turner, Marcus Davenport, Cam Jordan). With that said, this is the right spot for a mutant-like player, Stewart.
10) Chicago Bears: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
The Bears have already addressed the interior offensive line situation with some fury, trading for both Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson. The next logical step for Ben Johnson to recreate some of the magic he had in Detroit is with a backfield game-changer like Jahmyr Gibbs. Jeanty fits the bill.
11) San Francisco 49ers: Donovan Ezeiruaku, EDGE, Boston College
The 49ers need to get back to having a deadly pass rush and getting some help on the other side of Nick Bosa. Sorting out how these EDGE defenders come off the board is a tough task, but for my money, Ezeiruaku has the best tape after Carter. He is long, explosive, and can bend, and the Combine allowed him to check a ton of boxes. The offensive line should also be in play here.
12) Dallas Cowboys: Kelvin Banks Jr., OL, Texas
Zack Martin rides off into the sunset as one of the greatest to ever wear a Cowboys uniform. Therefore the Cowboys need to have a look at replacing him. Banks likely comes in as a guard. But between Tyler Guyton, Tyler Smith, Cooper Beebe, and Banks, the Cowboys likely have 4/5ths of their starting OL figured out for the foreseeable future. Banks could handle one of the tackle spots as well if they ever move on from Terence Steele.
13) Miami Dolphins: Will Campbell, OC, LSU
The perceived length issues with Campbell that manifest on his tape were confirmed to be very real at the Combine as he measured in with just 32.5” arms. For him to be a successful NFL tackle he would be an extreme outlier. This has caused a little bit of a slide here. I personally think his best position will be at center, where he can fully lean into his incredible football IQ and athleticism. Meanwhile, the Dolphins need to bolster the trenches on both sides of the ball. The idea of Campbell in this Mike McDaniel run scheme gets me all sorts of excited. He would be fantastic for them at either guard spot or at center.
14) Indianapolis Colts: Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
Sometimes, slotting players at non-premium positions can be difficult. Warren is a special case, though, as he adds as much to the run game as a blocker as he does in the pass game. The Colts get a tone-setting, every-down player in Warren, which will be a nice change from their committee approach the last half-decade. The icing on the cake is that he is a YAC machine and should give Anthony Richardson some easy production.
15) Atlanta Falcons: Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas
The Falcons need pass-rush help also, but Barron is a Raheem Morris kind of CB through and through. Barron’s tape is excellent. He has a deadly combo of instincts and explosiveness that makes him a fit in most defenses — but especially this one. He’s an instant upgrade on the boundary or inside at nickel for the Falcons.
16) Arizona Cardinals: Jalon Walker, EDGE, Georgia
There isn’t a closer Haason Reddick clone in the class, and we all saw what Jonathan Gannon got out of Reddick in Philly. Walker is a versatile, explosive defender and the leader type that Gannon needs in the locker room to continue building the culture.
17) Cincinnati Bengals: Kenneth Grant, IDL, Michigan
The Bengals let DJ Reader walk last offseason, and Grant is the freaky kind of defender they could use to replace him. Obviously, a trade of Trey Hendrickson would make DL even more of a need.
18) Seattle Seahawks: Matthew Golden, WR, Texas
The Seahawks just released Tyler Lockett and traded DK Metcalf. This opens an obvious need at WR. Golden is the exact WR type that GM John Schneider has had success finding at all levels of the draft. Think of Golden Tate, Doug Baldwin, Tyler Lockett, and now Jaxon Smith-Njigba. They all fall into the smallish frame profile, with either vertical speed, quickness, or both. With his outstanding Combine performance, Golden is definitely a candidate to be overdrafted a bit.
20) Los Angeles Rams: Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
Trade Alert!
Rams get: 2025 1st-round pick (#19).
Buccaneers get: 2025 1st-round pick (#26), 2023 3rd-round pick (100), 2026 5th-round pick
The Rams have not been shy in the past about going all-in to win, and this is an all-in move. They took care of LT by re-signing Alaric Jackson and their QB, Matthew Stafford, who happens to be 37 years old. They already fortified themselves at WR by re-signing Tutu Atwell and bringing in Davante Adams. Now, they add yet another dynamic weapon in the pass game in Loveland, and they snipe the Broncos to do so.
20) Denver Broncos: Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
I am not sure if Egbuka qualifies as a “joker” or not for Sean Payton, but I do know he is a young quarterback's best friend, and the Broncos need a serious talent injection at WR. Simply put, Egbuka is the easy button for quarterbacks. He dominates zone coverage and is a monster after the catch. While he is a bit smaller than guys like Marques Colston and Michael Thomas, he could be deployed similarly.
21) Pittsburgh Steelers: Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina
The Steelers have a young and upcoming offensive line. They have a good WR trio in DK Metcalf, George Pickens, and Calvin Austin. Here, they add Hampton to make their run game much more explosive and way less predictable. Now all they need is a quarterback.
22) Los Angeles Chargers: Elic Ayomanor, WR, Stanford
I could be way off on this assessment, but the scarcity of WR in the class (and FA) could drive the top WRs up boards while the depth at RB could drive the RBs down. I could see Quinshon Judkins here, but I am going to take the shot on a WR while I can. The late 2nd round might be too late in this class. In Ayomanor, the Chargers would get the perfect complimentary skill set to Ladd McConkey – a physical, X-type WR with alignment versatility with refined route running chops and elite body control. He is also a tone-setter in the run game and lives by the mantra “no block, no rock” – something that will surely endear him to head coach Jim Harbaugh.
23) Green Bay Packers: Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
If the Packers trade Jaire Alexander this offseason as they are rumored to be discussing, they don’t have a single outside CB under contract for 2025 whom I feel comfortable playing on the outside for 60 snaps a game. It just so happens here that a top-15 talent at CB falls right into their lap. Johnson checks all the boxes with size, physicality and instincts. He reminds me a ton of Joey Porter Jr. — even the questions around his long-speed are similar.
24) Minnesota Vikings: Derrick Harmon, IDL, Oregon
The Vikings defensive line is one interior difference maker away from being a serious problem. Harmon had one of the best 2023 to 2024 jumps in both tape and body. His body composition change over the past year is remarkable – adding a ton of muscle while cutting a serious amount of fat and still weighing in at 315 pounds.
25) Houston Texans: Tyler Booker, IOL, Alabama
The Texans should be looking to add to the offense early in this draft. The trade for Christian Kirk fortifies their pass-catcher unit enough to lean into fixing that OL. Booker doesn’t have a 1st round grade for me, but at this point in the round, that isn’t a huge concern. He is a big mauler with a high floor in pass pro, and the recent success of O’Cyrus Torrence in Buffalo could limit the post-Combine athleticism concerns with him.
26) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama
Trade Alert!
Buccaneers get: 2025 1st-round pick (#26), 2025 3rd-round pick (#100), 2026 5th-round pick
Rams get: 2025 2nd-round pick (#19)
Lavonte David is returning on yet another one-year deal, but getting the jump on replacing him with a player as good as Campbell is a huge win. Campbell is also an excellent pass-rusher and fits in perfectly with Todd Bowles’ blitz-centric defense. In terms of instincts, Campbell is a little rough around the edges, so getting to work with a pro’s pro in David as a mentor also makes this a special fit.
27) Baltimore Ravens: James Pearce Jr., EDGE, Tennessee
I absolutely love Pearce’s game, but I have conceded that maybe the NFL is a little lower on him. So, to punish the league for its sins, the Ravens yet again land the perfect scheme player at the end of R1. Pearce’s explosiveness off the edge is mouth-watering, as is his alignment versatility. He fits exactly what the Ravens like to do with their pass-rushers and might be the most explosive one yet.
28) Detroit Lions: Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia
Any way I slice the pie, Williams feels like the EDGE who is most likely to fall. I wrote this in Mock Draft 2.0.:
“The Lions have a major need to add a legitimate long-term solution opposite Aidan Hutchinson. We also know they like size and heavy hands in their edge defenders, and Williams will surely bring that to the table. Williams is unrefined, as the production (or lack thereof) highlights. While many will think this is absurdly low for him, he is a strong candidate to see his consensus standing in the community fall a bit after the Combine — for no other reason than guys like Stewart, Pierce, Green, and Walker will all test like mutants.”
29) Washington Commanders: Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State
The next few months should be all about improving the environment around Jayden Daniels. The trade for Deebo Samuel is a low-risk, high-reward start. Retaining Zach Ertz is also a big win. Now, with this pick, the Commanders land Simmons, who falls a bit because of his torn ACL.
30) Buffalo Bills: Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina
Bills head coach Sean McDermott has always valued the safety position in his defense. While they could use an explosive playmaker on the EDGE like Mike Green, the character concerns for Green would be enough to look the other way and go with the uber dynamic Emmanwori, with the positional versatility McDermott covets. On top of being arguably the best athlete in the Draft, Emmanwori can play deep in both single and two-high looks, he can line up over the slot as a big nickel, play in the box as a safety/overhang player or straight up play dime LB on passing downs. He is a stud through and through.
31) Kansas City Chiefs: Josh Conerly, OT, Oregon
I have legit concerns about Conerly in the run game. That doesn’t matter too much if you play for a team that just doesn’t care about running the football. The pass-pro ceiling and athleticism Conerly brings to the table is just what the doctor ordered for this Chiefs OL.
32) New England Patriots: Jaylin Noel, WR, Iowa State
Trade Alert!
Patriots get: 2025 1st-round pick (#32), 2025 5th-round pick (169)
Eagles get: 2025 2nd-round pick (#38), 2025 4th-round pick (105), 2025 5th-round pick (#145)
Positional scarcity strikes as the Patriots come up to grab my WR3 in the class, leapfrogging other potential WR landing spots in the Browns, Giants, Titans, and Jaguars. The Patriots coming away from the first round with Membou and Noel would be an absolute slam dunk for the franchise.
