While we may have shut the door on the 2024 NFL Draft, and NFL Mock Draft season, that doesn’t mean NFL Draft talk will stop. We now open the door to next year’s event, the 2025 NFL Draft. Let’s dive into my way-too-early 2025 NFL Mock Draft picks and predictions.

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2025 NFL Mock Draft

Here are first-round picks and predictions from my initial 2025 NFL Mock Draft.

(Pick order is based on Super Bowl 59 odds)

1. Carolina Panthers: James Pearce Jr. (EDGE – Tennessee)

Without predicting any trades, the Panthers are projected to have the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. After they moved defensive end Brian Burns to the New York Giants, it opened a serious need off the edge for the Panthers.

James Pearce Jr. is projected to be the top defensive player in the draft. Most of his production comes from his explosiveness. He had 8.5 sacks and 14.5 TFLs last season and should be able to put together another dominant season in the SEC.

2. New England Patriots: Will Campbell (OT – LSU)

Even though I like the Patriots’ 2024 class, they still have an incomplete roster, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see them select early in the 2025 NFL Draft. Protecting and building around quarterback Drake Maye will be a goal for the organization moving forward. There may not be a cleaner prospect than LSU’s Will Campbell right now. Everything he does looks effortlessly easy at left tackle.

3. Denver Broncos: Luther Burden III (WR – Missouri)

We’ll see if Box Nix starts for the Broncos this upcoming season. My guess is that he will, but only time will tell. Regardless, this offense needs an elite pass-catcher, and there may not be a better one in the country than Luther Burden from Missouri. He had 725 yards after the catch last season and is just a game-changing wide receiver.

4. Tennessee Titans: Travis Hunter Jr. (CB, WR – Colorado)

As of now, I’d have to lean towards saying Travis Hunter Jr. is a defensive prospect rather than a wide receiver. His length and ball skills on the defensive side of the football seem far superior to what he provides offensively. If he opts to enter the NFL as a cornerback, I think there’s potential for him to be a top-five pick. While the Titans added L’Jarious Sneed, I think adding a playmaker such as Hunter only helps solidify their defense.

5. New York Giants: Carson Beck (QB – Georgia)

Depending on how the season goes, the Giants could end up with the first overall pick. Regardless, I think they’ll do whatever it takes to get in position to grab a quarterback in the first round. Right now, I could see Georgia’s Carson Beck being my top-ranked quarterback and a top-five player on my board if the draft were today. He stands tall in the pocket and can drop the ball into a bucket. His accuracy really stands out, as he completed 76.1% of his passes last season.

6. Washington Commanders: Abdul Carter (EDGE – Penn State)

Thinking of Commanders head coach Dan Quinn, it’s hard not to imagine him loving a player like Abdul Carter. Having a similar role in the Penn State defense as Micah Parsons, there could be some serious intrigue with Carter. Playing in the middle of the defense, Carter has shown that he can scrape over the top and even has some hook/curl ability as a defender. However, he looks at his best running downhill and making plays on the quarterback.

7. Arizona Cardinals: Will Johnson (CB – Michigan)

Depending on how you classify Hunter as a player, you could make a case that Will Johnson is the best cornerback in the country. He has great ball skills, plus the size and speed needed to match all wide receivers. Johnson has the makeup to be one of the top defenders in the 2025 NFL Draft.

8. Minnesota Vikings: Malaki Starks (S – Georgia)

Malaki Starks is a versatile defender who would fit perfectly in Brian Flores’s defense. With Starks, you get a player who can play as a deep safety or is just as efficient playing in the box against the run. He’s a great tackler – with only three missed tackles last season – but his ball skills are also tough to ignore. Over the last two seasons, he’s compiled 14 pass deflections and five interceptions.

9. Las Vegas Raiders: Shedeur Sanders (QB – Colorado)

There’s potential makeup for Shedeur Sanders to be the first overall pick in the draft next year. For now, I’ll place him here with the Raiders, as I think they’ll need a new quarterback next offseason. With Sanders, he can operate off-script and extend plays consistently, but I love how he plays with quick feet and can reset his base in the pocket despite facing pressure.

10. Seattle Seahawks: Deone Walker (DL – Kentucky)

Plenty of eyes will be on Deone Walker this fall. He’s listed at 6-foot-6 and 348 pounds, with good lateral movement skills for a player of his size. His length presents mismatches on the interior as he can split double teams and win in one-on-one matchups. Last season, he had 51 pressures, leading all interior defensive linemen. He could do that and a whole lot more this season.

11. New Orleans Saints: Tetairoa McMillan (WR – Arizona)

Catching the ball away from his frame consistently, Tetairoa McMillan enters the first-round conversation as a big-bodied pass catcher. At 6-foot-5 and 200 pounds, there’s much to be desired with how McMillan can win on 50/50 balls downfield but also run deep overs and pluck the ball away from defenders. The former volleyball and basketball player should be a player who builds off his team-leading 1402 receiving yards for the Wildcats.

12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Benjamin Morrison (CB – Notre Dame)

Credit to Notre Dame defensive backs coach Mike Mickens for how he coaches and teaches his cornerbacks. Last year, we saw good overall technique and patience from cornerback Cam Hart. However, his teammate Benjamin Morrison looks even cleaner with his technique, and he may have some of the best ball skills of any cornerback this fall. Over two seasons with the Fighting Irish, he has produced nine interceptions and 14 pass deflections.

13. Indianapolis Colts: Kelvin Banks Jr. (OT – Texas)

Adding protection in front of Anthony Richardson will always be a wise investment for the Colts. Kelvin Banks Jr. could end up being a top-10 pick when we get to next year. He’s started 27 straight games at left tackle. He earned an 86.8 pass-blocking grade from PFF and had strong performances against multiple great pass-rushers last season. At 6-foot-4 and 318 pounds, he’s an intriguing offensive tackle prospect who looks athletic enough to play on the left or right side.

14. Pittsburgh Steelers: Mason Graham (DL – Michigan)

Mason Graham is an absolute spark plug to the Wolverines’ defensive line. At 6-foot-3 and 315 pounds, he consistently creates mismatches on the interior, and his motor is always running hot. There’s a chance he ends up going much sooner than this spot, but we’ll wait to see if he continues to build off his Rose Bowl Defensive MVP performance from last season.

15. Los Angeles Rams: Quinn Ewers (QB – Texas)

Sure, Matthew Stafford could play another three or four more years, but it does feel like he’s entering the final chapter of his career. With that, I think the Rams could look to find another quarterback to sit behind him.

Even though I love Quinn Ewers’s quick release and ability to extend plays out of the pocket, he could still use some refinement. Maybe that refinement happens in the coming months. But, for now, I think he’d be a great fit with Sean McVay and the Rams’ offense.

16. Jacksonville Jaguars: Denzel Burke (CB – Ohio State)

It feels like Denzel Burke has done all of the right things over the last year or so and is still being slept on as a prospect. He had nine pass deflections and an interception in 11 games last season but dominated in man coverage. Per PFF, he only allowed a catch on 19.1% of targets in single coverage. That was the eighth-best rate in the FBS last season. Burke looks fluid on tape and is always competing at the catch point. Look for him to be a steady name in the first round of all 2025 mock drafts.

17. Cleveland Browns: Patrick Payton (EDGE – Florida State)

We’ll see what happens with Patrick Payton now that he’s the No. 1 pass rusher for the Seminoles’ defense. However, I love what I’ve seen from him up to this point. He’s gotten better every single season, and it shows with the 14.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks that he posted in 2023. More impressively, Payton had 10 pass deflections last season. He consistently uses his length to long-arm offensive linemen or read the quarterback’s eyes and knock passes down consistently. Pairing him with Myles Garrett would be an absolute blast to watch in 2025 for the Browns.

18. Los Angeles Chargers: Jack Sawyer (EDGE – Ohio State)

Somehow, the Chargers brought back Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa, but it sure feels like both players are entering the final stages of being with the team. With that, I think we could see some intrigue for them to add a pass rusher next year. While Jack Sawyer still needs to get faster with his hands as a pass rusher, he does a good job stopping the run and has shown that he can drop into coverage when covering the flats.

19. Chicago Bears: Tre Harris (WR – Ole Miss)

The more I watch of Tre Harris, the more I think of his play style being comparable to JuJu Smith-Schuster. Harris is listed at 6-foot-2 and aligns in the slot or condensed to the formations to help set up blocks in the run game. Harris had 54 receptions for 985 yards in his first season at Ole Miss. If healthy, he can put up a 1,000-yard-plus season with the ability to run after the catch and make tough catches downfield.

20. Houston Texans: Harold Perkins (LB – LSU)

Harold Perkins is fluid and flexible as a pass rusher, which shows with 13 career sacks. Additionally, he can do just about anything asked of him, from stopping the run to dropping into coverage. Over the last two seasons, he compiled over 140 tackles. In 2023, he earned an 81.1 coverage grade from PFF. Putting Perkins on a defensive front that already features Will Anderson Jr. could make the Texans more dangerous than they already are.

21. New York Jets: Colston Loveland (TE – Michigan)

We’ll see what happens with Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets’ offense. For now, it’s still fun to project another weapon being added to a group that features Garrett Wilson. This season, Colston Loveland will be the top-listed tight end to just about everyone. At 6-foot-5 and 245 pounds, he just finds ways to get open. He provides plenty of run-after-the-catch ability and would be a perfect asset up the seam or in the middle of the field for New York’s offense.

22. Atlanta Falcons: Nic Scourton (EDGE – Texas A&M)

If Nic Scourton was still at Purdue, he may already be off the board. For now, we’ll wait and see what he does with the Aggies. With that, he’s a powerful pass rusher that disrupts the backfield in a hurry. Per PFF, he earned a 91.0 pass-rush grade in 2023, which was the third-best in the country. At 6-foot-4 and 280 pounds, there’s much to be desired with the talented edge rusher who will only turn 20 years old in August.

23. Miami Dolphins: Kenneth Grant (IDL – Michigan)

When talking with scouts during this year’s draft process, one name they mentioned to me multiple times for 2025 was Kenneth Grant from Michigan. One of the big plays he made in 2023 was when he chased down Penn State running back Nick Singleton, and I certainly think he can make more of those plays this season. At 6-foot-3 and 339 pounds, it’s rare to see players the size of Grant move so well, but he makes it happen. He’s powerful and quick, and he should have no issues replicating the five tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks he generated last season.

24. Green Bay Packers: Jason Marshall Jr. (CB – Florida)

It’s still very early, but one of my early favorites to watch this summer is Jason Marshall from Florida. He’s fluid with great length at 6-foot and 205 pounds. His fluidity helps him flip his hips to run with receivers, and he doesn’t look limited when competing at the catch point. Last season, Marshall had 10 pass deflections, and in his career, he’s had 21 pass deflections and two interceptions. According to PFF, he’s only allowed a 46.8% completion percentage in his career.

25. Dallas Cowboys: Evan Stewart (WR – Oregon)

One of the best route runners in the country, Evan Stewart, finds himself transferring from Texas A&M to Oregon. While his production has been mediocre, I’d expect him to see a substantial increase in targets and receptions with the Ducks. He’s versatile and should be able to play inside or outside. Most importantly, his route-running prowess will help him create separation consistently every week this season.

26. Philadelphia Eagles: Emery Jones (OT – LSU)

Every time you put on the LSU offense, Emery Jones pops. The Tigers’ starting right tackle is listed at 6-foot-6 and 322 pounds, and he uses his length and power every chance he gets. Over the last two seasons, he’s started 24 games for the Tigers at right tackle. For the Eagles to add Jones, it would give them a long-term plan at right tackle with Lane Johnson approaching the end of his career.

27. Cincinnati Bengals: Emeka Egbuka (WR – Ohio State)

It’s another draft cycle, and it feels like another year of talking about Emeka Egbuka as a prospect. He made the right decision to return to school, but all eyes will be on him at Ohio State this season. As a route runner, Egbuka finds openings against zone coverage, and his 86.1% open target rate (per PFF) justifies that. There are a lot of question marks with the Bengals surrounding Tee Higgins. While the team drafted Jermaine Burton, I think adding Egbuka would be perfect for Joe Burrow.

28. Buffalo Bills: Donovan Jackson (IOL – Ohio State)

If Donovan Jackson can return to where he was in 2022, this selection would feel like a no-brainer. For the Bills, they could need a starting left guard after this season. By adding Jackson, they’d get a 6-foot-4 and 320-pound guard who earned an 80.1 run-blocking grade in 2022, per PFF. He’s earned first-team All-Big Ten in consecutive seasons (2022 and 2023), and he could very well be the best offensive lineman the Buckeyes have this season.

29. Detroit Lions: Kaimon Rucker (EDGE – North Carolina)

While I considered JT Tuimoloau in this spot for the Lions, I could see Kaimon Rucker being an even better fit. Even though he’s only 6-foot-2 and 260 pounds, he’s got longer arms and is so consistent against the run. That’s exactly what the Lions value with their defensive lineman. Rucker had 42 run-stops (per PFF) in 2023, the second-most in the country. He has a great motor and the desired bend to get to the quarterback. Pairing him with Aidan Hutchinson would be fun for the Lions’ defense.

30. Baltimore Ravens: Tyler Booker (IOL – Alabama)

There was some thought that the Ravens would add a guard in the 2024 NFL Draft, but that didn’t happen. We’ll see if Ben Cleveland can stay healthy, but looking ahead, it appears the Ravens may be in need of adding a guard at some point next offseason.

Tyler Booker played as a true freshman, with 427 snaps between right and left guard in 2022. He then saw a significant increase and improvement as a full-time starter last season. Booker earned a 71.2 run block grade (per PFF) in 2023 and is one of the best finishers of any interior offensive lineman in the country. Look for him to be in the first-round conversation for much of the next draft cycle.

31. San Francisco 49ers: Blake Miller (OT – Clemson)

Every time I watched the Clemson offense, their starting right tackle, Blake Miller, flashed. He needs to become more consistent in pass protection, but at 6-foot-6 and 310 pounds, there’s a lot to work with when looking at his skill set, especially with how he drives defenders into the ground when run-blocking. Teams will love that he’s already played in over 1900-plus career snaps. Meanwhile, he’s a former wrestler and ran track in high school.

32. Kansas City Chiefs: Tacario Davis (CB – Arizona)

I’ve watched two games of Tacario Davis so far this summer, and he just looks like a Chiefs-type cornerback. He’s long at 6-foot-4 and reads the eyes of the quarterback very well. Comfortable in both man and zone coverage, he posted a 27.8% forced incompletion rate (per PFF) in 2023. He also had 16 pass deflections and an interception last season. Back in high school, he ran track, and his PR for the 100-meter dash was 11.11 seconds.

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