2025 NFL mock draft: Final projections before Round 1
We made it.
The 2025 NFL Draft begins Thursday night. And with little consensus beyond the first few picks, this year's event figures to be among the most unpredictable in recent memory.
Let's read some tea leaves, make some wild guesses, and take one last look at how the first round could shake out.
Cam Ward, QB, Miami
The quarterback class as a whole is extremely underwhelming, but Ward's worth taking at the top spot. He's got the arm talent, athleticism, and creativity to provide a high ceiling at the most important position on the field.
Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado
Hunter is the class' best player. The Browns appear to view him as a receiver, first and foremost, but you can bet they'll take advantage of his cornerback skills, too.
Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State
The Giants can't pass on Carter here, even if they do have more pressing needs. Take the clear top-two talent to pair with Brian Burns and figure the rest out later. That could include trading away Kayvon Thibodeaux at some point this weekend.
Will Campbell, OL, LSU
A foundation piece on defense shouldn't be ruled out, but the smart money's on the Patriots improving the offensive line in this spot. Campbell could be a long-term left tackle despite concerns about his arm length.
🚨 MOCK TRADE: Bears move up from No. 10 in deal with Jaguars
Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
Jeanty's absolutely the kind of running back worthy of a top-five selection. While dealing multiple picks to move up and make that happen hurts the value quite a bit, the Bears have shown a willingness to be aggressive with trades. Adding this kind of talent behind a reworked offensive line could produce fireworks for head coach Ben Johnson's run game.
Mason Graham, DL, Michigan
Nobody seems to know whether the Raiders would actually take Jeanty in this spot, but with the Bears trading up, it doesn't matter. Defense may be equally likely, anyway. Graham joining Maxx Crosby and Christian Wilkins would make this pass rush a force.
Kelvin Banks, OL, Texas
Rounding out the offensive line may be the most logical move for this new Jets regime. Banks is an impressive athlete who could be the long-term starter at right tackle opposite 2024 first-rounder Olu Fashanu.
Jalon Walker, EDGE, Georgia
Carolina's long seemed like Walker's most logical landing spot. The Panthers desperately need pass-rush help, and their defensive scheme is creative enough to take advantage of the Georgia standout's versatility.
Armand Membou, OL, Missouri
No quarterback for the Saints ... yet. Membou could be an elite right tackle, helping lay the foundation for their next signal-caller. More on that later.
MOCK TRADE: Jaguars move down from No. 5 in Bears deal
Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
Mason Graham was the chalk pick at No. 5. Recent reports have been almost unanimous: the Jaguars are looking to upgrade the offense for Liam Coen instead. Successfully baiting the Bears into trading up to No. 5 and then taking the top receiver in the draft would be a strong start for this new staff.
Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia
The 49ers don't have much on the defensive line aside from Nick Bosa. Williams is already an outstanding run defender and could be primed to take off as a pass-rusher at the next level.
Matthew Golden, WR, Texas
The Cowboys have to go with a playmaker here, right? Golden's speed on the boundary could be an excellent complement to CeeDee Lamb. Find a running back on Day 2 and this offense is cooking.
Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas
The Dolphins agreeing to explore Jalen Ramsey trades leaves the defense with a glaring need at corner. Barron could be the most logical fit, with Will Johnson potentially in for a slide.
Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
Tight end is the Colts' most obvious need and there happen to be two elite talents at the position this year. Either Warren or Colston Loveland would be slam-dunk picks for Indy.
Mike Green, EDGE, Marshall
The Falcons have surprised us before, but can this pick really be anything other than an edge defender? Green would immediately upgrade one of the league's worst pass-rush groups.
Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama
The Cardinals can look elsewhere after addressing the defensive front in free agency, and Campbell has Pro Bowl potential at linebacker.
Walter Nolen, DL, Ole Miss
The Bengals should spend at least their first few picks loading up defensively. Nolen has as much upside as any interior pass-rusher in the class.
Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
Loveland may be too good to pass up, regardless of Seattle's situation on the offensive line. Adding a dynamic tight end alongside Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Cooper Kupp would give Sam Darnold all the weapons he needs.
Donovan Ezeiruaku, EDGE, Boston College
The Bucs have to get better on defense, and those efforts should start on the edge, where Ezeiruaku can provide a major boost opposite free-agent addition Haason Reddick.
TreVeyon Henderson, RB, Ohio State
Henderson as the second running back off the board may seem like a surprise, but the Ohio State standout is the perfect fit for Sean Payton's offense. The Broncos head coach has to love his three-down skill set.
Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
Sanders' slide ends here. The Steelers may yet get something done with Aaron Rodgers, but can they truly count on it at this point? And even if Rodgers does sign, it's entirely possible he retires after one year. Capitalizing on this unexpected opportunity with Sanders could finally keep Pittsburgh out of QB purgatory.
Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
Johnson ends up going later than expected due to injury concerns and questions about his long speed. Jim Harbaugh could have a hard time passing up the playmaking skills he saw at Michigan.
Shemar Stewart, EDGE, Texas A&M
The Packers love pass-rushers with high-end athletic traits, no matter how raw they are. Stewart fits that description as well as anyone.
🚨 MOCK TRADE: Saints move up from No. 40 (second round) in deal with Vikings
Jaxson Dart, QB, Ole Miss
The Saints make their splash at quarterback with a lottery ticket in Dart. It won't be cheap to move up 16 spots from No. 40, but news that Derek Carr could miss the entire season means they probably can't afford to sit back. The Vikings are a logical candidate to move back and stockpile picks, as they enter the draft with a league-low four selections.
Grey Zabel, OL, North Dakota State
Houston was busy turning over the offensive line in free agency. Those efforts should continue early in the draft. Zabel is athletic, physical, and could play any position up front.
Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky
The Rams seamlessly transitioned from the "F them picks" era and are now one of the league's best drafting teams. Hairston's an outstanding athlete with elite speed and the playmaking skills to help build on that reputation.
Malaki Starks, S, Georgia
An early run on edge rushers forces the Ravens to look elsewhere. Adding Starks alongside superstar safety Kyle Hamilton is a strong pivot.
Tyler Booker, OL, Alabama
Pass rush and cornerback are areas of focus, but the Lions need to solidify the interior offensive line's future, too. Booker's a powerhouse guard who could help do that.
Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina
The Commanders have plenty of other needs, particularly on defense, but this offense could reach new heights with a star running back.
Kenneth Grant, DL, Michigan
Grant's a massive nose tackle who provides an immediate upgrade in run defense. He's also incredibly athletic for his size, allowing for some sneaky upside as a pass-rusher.
Josh Simmons, OL, Ohio State
Positive news on Simmons' recovery from last year's torn patellar tendon could mean the Chiefs have to trade up to get this done. He's this draft's best pass-protector when healthy.
Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
While the Eagles could absolutely look to the trenches here, another pass-catcher may make sense, too, especially with Dallas Goedert seemingly on the trade block. Egbuka could be the latest example of 31 other teams bizarrely allowing a star talent to fall to Howie Roseman.
Teams trading out
Trey Amos, CB, Ole Miss
The Vikings receiving a collection of picks from the Saints to move back to No. 8 in the second round feels like a no-brainer. The talent available at this spot will be every bit as intriguing as at the end of the first round. Getting a talented cover man and a Day 1 starter in Amos is a great example of potential value.
Dan Wilkins is theScore's senior NFL writer.