The Senior Bowl has come and gone. The Combine has come and gone. And lastly, free agency is all but wrapped up. Guess what the means? It’s 2025 NFL Draft Month.
This provides a great opportunity to knock out a new mock and see how my thought process has changed since some of these offseason transactions have happened.
This is a reminder of how I evaluate players in my 2025 NFL Prospect Guide: 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 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.
Let's get after it!
2025 NFL Mock Draft 4.0
1) Tennessee Titans: Cam Ward, QB, Miami (Big Board: 13)
It seems evident at this point that Ward will be the 1st overall pick. While he isn’t my top quarterback in the Draft, that race is tight, and I would have no qualms with Ward coming off the board here. Ward brings an enormously high ceiling with his arm talent and ability to improvise off script.
2) Cleveland Browns: Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado (Big Board: 12)
It is officially lying season, and no matter what has been said about the Browns' pick at 2nd overall, I can’t come to any conclusion other than Sanders. When Myles Garrett signed his contract extension, he said he was “excited” about the team's plan at QB. There is no possible way that plan had anything to do with Kenny Pickett or Deshaun Watson. The team desperately needs a QB of the future, and Shedeur would be perfect for Kevin Stefanski’s offense – a deadly accurate thrower who isn’t scared to take shots downfield.
3) Las Vegas Raiders (via New York Giants): Travis Hunter, CB, Colorado (Big Board: 1)
Trade Alert!
Raiders get: 2025 1st-round pick (#3), 2025 4th-round pick (#105)
Giants get: 2025 1st-round pick (#6), 2025 2nd-round pick (#37)
The Raiders are bold in securing the top prospect in the class. Hunter would be both their top CB on the roster and their top WR. I envision a role for him as a full-time CB who moonlights at WR for 10-15 plays a game. Hunter has incredible ball skills and playmaking ability that translate to both defense and offense.
4) New England Patriots: Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State (Big Board: 2)
Adding the best edge rusher in the class in Carter to new acquisitions Milton Williams and Harold Landry would be a great way to kickstart an anemic pass rush in Mike Vrabel’s first year at the helm. Ideally, the Patriots would continue investing in the ecosystem around Drake Maye, but I have a really hard time seeing them pass on Carter here.
5) Jacksonville Jaguars: Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State (Big Board: 14)
After trading away Christian Kirk and Evan Engram, the Jaguars need another high-end pass catcher. Warren is a big play machine that also offers a kick in the run game, which we know new coach Liam Coen will prioritize.
6) New York Giants (via Las Vegas Raiders): Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State (Big Board: 21)
Trade Alert!
Giants get: 2025 1st-round pick (#6), 2025 2nd-round pick (#37)
Raiders get: 2025 1st-round pick (#3), 2025 4th-round pick (#105)
After the way things transpired with Saquon Barkley’s departure last off-season, I can’t help but think ownership might force their hand here. Also, with Russell Wilson at the helm, the best way to maximize what little he has left is with a robust and explosive run game. This is likely a make-it-or-break-it year for the front office and coaching staff.
7) New York Jets: Armand Membou, OT, Missouri (Big Board: 7)
The Jets hit the easy button and grab the best offensive tackle available in Membou, whose natural right tackle spot is the open spot along the Jets' offensive line. Membou brings athleticism and power to the table. He will also help ignite what was a horrific run game a year ago.
8) San Francisco 49ers (via Carolina Panthers): Will Campbell, OT, LSU (Big Board: 8)
Trade Alert!
49ers get: 2025 1st-round pick (#8)
Panthers get: 2025 1st-round pick (#11), 2025 3rd-round pick (#75), 2026 4th-round pick
The 49ers get aggressive after the Membou domino falls. A lot has been said about Campbell’s arm length and whether or not his sub 33” arms are a disqualifying feature for his prospects at offensive tackle. Whether folks in the community want to admit it or not, the NFL has shied away from this profile at tackle in the recent past – most notably, Peter Skoronski was a top-10 pick who was immediately moved to guard despite being the most technically proficient offensive tackle in his class. I see Campbell in a similar light, but regardless of my feelings, the dude can ball and has a high football IQ. The 49ers happen to need a long-term solution at basically every spot on their offensive line besides RG, so whether or not he plays tackle is irrelevant to me. Their abundance of draft capital gives them the flexibility to be aggressive here as well.
9) New Orleans Saints: Shemar Stewart, EDGE,Texas A&M (Big Board: 20)
I am steadfast in my thinking that the Saints will once again be unicorn-hunting in this draft. They desperately need some juice on the defensive line, and Stewart might just be the most physically gifted player in the draft.
10) Chicago Bears: Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan (Big Board: 15)
Not one, but two TEs in the top 10? Yep. These guys are worth it, though. The Bears' offensive line is in really good shape after overhauling their interior, and now Ben Johnson starts creating the offense in his image. Loveland profiles similarly to Sam LaPorta, so the matchmaking here makes a ton of sense.
11) Carolina Panthers (via San Francisco 49ers): Mason Graham, DT, Michigan (Big Board: 3)
Trade Alert!
Panthers get: 2025 1st-round pick (#11), 2025 3rd-round pick (#75), 2026 4th-round pick
49ers get: 2025 1st-round pick (#8)
It is hard to imagine a better scenario playing out for the Panthers if things actually went down like this. The Panthers still have needs all over the place, so gaining extra draft capital while landing a top-3 player in the class is picture perfect. Graham is as close to a “blue-chip” prospect as you can get and reminds me a ton of Chris Jones.
12) Dallas Cowboys: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona (Big Board: 5)
McMillan is a top-5 player in the class for me, but I am starting to concede to the idea that teams are a little lower on him. Here, he falls into the lap of the Cowboys, who are desperate for another wideout to go with superstar CeeDee Lamb. The complementary skill sets between McMillan and Lamb make this an easy yes.
13) Miami Dolphins: Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas (Big Board: 18)
The Dolphins are easily one of the most challenging teams to mock. They have a few glaring needs that all perfectly align with the best available players. I could easily see Kenneth Grant or Jahdae Barron here as well.
14) Indianapolis Colts: Will Johnson, CB, Michigan (Big Board: 9)
Long, athletic cornerbacks with Johnson’s ball skills are hard to come by. He has top-tier instincts to thrive in off-coverage situations and the clean footwork to play tight man/match coverages. He is the perfect final piece for this revamped Colts' secondary under DB guru and defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo.
15) Atlanta Falcons: Donovan Ezeiruaku, EDGE, Boston College (Big Board: 11)
Atlanta needs a massive injection of talent on the DL at any spot. For my money, Ezeiruaku is the second-best edge defender in the class and should be an instant difference maker. He brings S-tier athleticism to the table, as well as a refined, technically sound skill set.
16) Arizona Cardinals: Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama (Big Board: 30)
For me to love an off-ball linebacker, he has to profile as a guy who can have a massive impact on passing downs. Campbell does. He has an elite pass-rush skill set from off-ball alignments and can even moonlight as a sub-package edge rusher. He gives Jonathan Gannon a fun Swiss-army-knife defender. We saw his success with Haason Reddick, who had some similar qualities to his game.
17) Pittsburgh Steelers (via Cincinnati Bengals): Jaxson Dart, QB, Mississippi (Big Board: 10)
Trade Alert!
Steelers get: 2025 1st-round pick (#17)
Bengals get: 2025 1st-round pick (#21), 2026 2nd-round pick
As I am writing this, Mason Rudolph is the only viable QB on the Steelers roster, and I use the word “viable” very loosely. They really have no choice but to make something happen and draft a QB. Here they leapfrog a Seattle team that could very sneakily be in the QB market here. I am sure you know by now, but Dart is my QB1 in the class, so this feels like great value. Dart is an uber-athletic, rhythmic thrower who can attack all three levels of the field with accuracy and also rack up explosive plays as a runner. Even if the Steelers sign Aaron Rodgers, it’s still a long-term need.
18) Seattle Seahawks: Donovan Jackson, OG, Ohio State (Big Board: 26)
The Seahawks currently have a glaring hole at LG. Jackson is the best true interior offensive lineman in the class and slides in perfectly here.
19) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas (Big Board: 6)
Barron has athleticism in droves to go with alignment versatility and ball skills. He is a willing tackler and has some of the cleanest transitions in the class. He isn’t the 6’2” type of corner that Todd Bowles has traditionally gravitated towards, but his stickiness and versatility make him a great fit in such a blitz-heavy scheme.
20) Denver Broncos: TreVeyon Henderson, HB, Ohio State (Big Board: 67)
Sean Payton wants a Joker, so why not go with the running back with the highest ceiling as a pass-catcher in the class? Henderson is an explosive playmaker with the chops, while untapped, to be a nasty mismatch weapon in the pass game.
21) Cincinnati Bengals (via Pittsburgh Steelers): Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan (Big Board: 4)
Trade Alert!
Bengals get: 2025 1st-round pick (#21), 2026 2nd-round pick
Steelers get: 2025 1st-round pick (#17)
This is just massive value: s top-10 player in the class down here at 21 after a trade back. The Bengals missed the mark with Sheldon Rankins last year and really need to shore up their front on defense. I love the idea of pairing Grant with his college teammate Kris Jenkins as the Bengals move into the future.
22) Los Angeles Chargers: Jalon Walker, EDGE, Georgia (Big Board: 16)
Coincidentally, Walker is Khalil Mack Lite. This feels way too late for him to go, but Jim Harbaugh is happy to oblige. The Chargers get some extra pass-rush juice this year while also solidifying Mack’s replacement after the 2025 season.
23) Green Bay Packers: Matthew Golden, WR, Texas (Big Board: 42)
The Packers need a true WR1, and while I don’t think Golden is that at this point, he would fit this offense like a glove. His skills mesh well with those of Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, and Dontayvion Wicks. Golden would offer the route-running prowess and ability to beat man-coverage that has been missing since Jordan Love’s emergence.
24) Minnesota Vikings: Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky (Big Board: 60)
Live by the blitz, die by the blitz. That’s Brian Flores’ M.O. Well, being exceedingly fast with crispy footwork and good length is a good starting point for any cornerback being tasked with playing in this system. Hairston probably shouldn’t be a first-rounder, but his 40 time, as silly as that may be, will likely get him in.
25) Houston Texans: Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State (Big Board: 57)
This one is simple. The Texans need a WR. Badly. CJ Stroud just happens to know Egbuka and might have some significant pull here.
26) Los Angeles Rams: Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State (Big Board: 17)
The Rams did lock up Alaric Jackson to an extension but still have question marks at RT. Here they are the beneficiaries of Simmons being injured. He was on a top-10 track before the ACL injury and is arguably the best pure LT in the class.
27) Baltimore Ravens: Malaki Starks, S, Georgia (Big Board: 31)
This is the most Ravens pick ever. Starks is a ridiculously skilled and versatile defensive back who can play various positions. He could play deep, in the box, or take a huge chunk of snaps over the slot. The trio of Starks, Kyle Hamilton, and Marlon Humphrey would be one of the most versatile units I can remember.
28) Detroit Lions: Nic Scourton, EDGE, Texas A&M (Big Board: 23)
The Lions' roster and depth chart is in a really nice spot — there isn’t a clear pathway for any player drafted here to be a Year-1 starter. Scourton provides a cost-effective running mate to Aidan Hutchinson, who is due a massive extension. The Lions love big, powerful EDGE defenders with alignment versatility. Scourton checks all those boxes.
29) Washington Commanders: Omarion Hampton, HB, North Carolina (Big Board: 43)
The idea of Hampton in this read-option, inside-zone, and duo-heavy scheme is frightening. The ways the Commanders can force favorable box counts mixed with Hampton’s ability to get downhill and talk with his pads would give an already good run game a little extra oomph.
30) Buffalo Bills: Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon (Big Board: 22)
The Bills could go a number of directions here but ultimately opt for the best player available in Harmon. The duo of Ed Oliver and Harmon would be one of the best in the NFL.
31) Kansas City Chiefs: Mike Green, EDGE, Marshall (Big Board: 28)
If there is a team that is definitely willing to look the other way on potential off-field issues, it’s going to be the Chiefs. While they do have OL needs across the board, the EDGE cupboard, especially true pass-rushers, is a bit bare.
32) Philadelphia Eagles: Tyler Booker, OG, Alabama (Big Board: 54)
I don't know if this qualifies as a Howie special or not, but it should. Booker was once a consensus top-20 player but has fallen out of favor because of some poor testing. The one question mark along their OL is at RG, where Booker could have a Mehki Becton-like effect in Year 1.
