It is 2025 NFL mock draft season! The Senior and Super Bowls have passed and the Combine is just about here. Draft season is my favorite season (well.. Christmas tops the list, but this is up there!) and I am excited to share my first official mock draft with the IDP+ community!
I put a lot of work into mocks, but they are a fickle beast, especially this early. This early, my mocks will follow more what I would do as GM than anything else. With that said, there will be some points where I follow trends or what seem like potential fits (including my TE2 going before my TE1 and WR1). My scouting is not yet complete, so there will be changes in future versions. For now, here is my first round mock draft, hope you enjoy!! There will be no trades in this mock, just because that is impossible to determine before the combine!
1.01: Tennessee Titans – Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado (Jackson State)
There are not any true “purple chip” – used to designate players who truly live up to the oft-used “generational” billing – prospects, but there is one who is beyond unique. Hunter is a legitimate prospect on both sides of the ball, giving immense value. Deploying him as a full-time corner and getting designed touches on offense would be an ideal usage for Hunter.
1.02: Cleveland Browns – Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State
Carter is seen as the top prospect in the class by many and is expected to be a top-2 pick. He is a dominant edge threat, despite only having one full-time season at the position. If the Browns keep Myles Garrett, they compliment him with a freak athlete. If they trade Garrett, then Carter is as strong of a replacement as you could hope to draft.
1.03: New York Giants – Cam Ward, QB, Miami (Washington State, Incarnate Word)
QB1 goes at 3! Ward is a good prospect, and the QB tax pushes him into the top-5. He is the only QB in the class with true difference-maker potential, which pushes him further. The Giants badly need a QB upgrade, as the staff looks to keep their jobs. Ward is mistake-prone but has a dynamic skillset to pull big plays out of broken ones.
1.04: New England Patriots – Will Campbell, OT, LSU
The Patriots need to go all-in on QB Drake Maye. A WR move would be sexy, but as we saw in the Super Bowl, trench play is how you help a QB most. This class has good WRs in the 2nd and 3rd rounds, but a chance to get a top-tier LT is not one to pass up. Campbell – a 3 year starter at LT in the SEC – also has tools to move inside, if LT does not work out.
1.05: Jacksonville Jaguars – Mason Graham, DT, Michigan
The Jags go BPA here and get a game-wrecker on the defensive interior. They bolster a bottom-3 defense and give more support for their dynamic EDGE duo. He may not have an elite build, but the consistency and tenacity more than make up for it. Graham came into the season as my 2nd overall player and remains there now.
1.06: Las Vegas Raiders – Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
This is where the exercise gets weird, basing more off my big board than projections (which are beyond fickle 3 months out). The Raiders will be run first, with Pete Carrol and Chip Kelly in charge. I expect them to address QB in free agency, and the OL is solid enough to allow them to go BPA and fortify their run game. The Raiders’ draft strategy will be determined by Free Agency more than most.
1.07: New York Jets – Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
Warren is not the top pass-catcher – or even tight end – on my board, but the fit here is perfect. Warren and Garrett Wilson match each other’s skillsets well. Despite not being a great blocker, Warren’s presence will immediately improve the run game, which struggled massively last season. The Jets, like most other top-7 teams, need a QB, but there is not one worthy of the selection here.
1.08: Carolina Panthers – James Pearce Jr, EDGE, Tennessee
So many ways that this pick could go, but the defense feels more dire at this moment. Grabbing support for Bryce Young would be great, but there is enough talent in the WR room to instead attack the worst defense in the league. Pearce is a pass-rush animal that will help replace Brian Burns.
1.09: New Orleans Saints – Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
Chris Olave has WR1 potential, but has been oft-injured and had a majority of the passing offense put on him. T-Mac would come in and make a true 1a-1b pairing that will allow Kellen Moore (new HC) to diversify alignments and make a more multiple offense to feature both receivers. He is a pure X receiver, but is more than that, with great maneuverability and YAC ability (2nd most missed tackles forced amongst all WRs in 2024).
1.10: Chicago Bears – Armand Membou, OL, Mizzou
The Bears need to bolster their OL, and take a swing for the fences here. Membou is young and does not have ideal height, but his talent and technique are strong. He plays with balance and quickness as well, giving him versatility for guard or tackle (like my comp for him, former USC tackle Alijah Vera-Tucker). Ben Johnson and the Lions built their teams through the trenches, which is starting again here in Chicago. RT is the most solidified spot for the Bears, but Membou projects the ability to play at any of the 5 spots up front. He can solidify the right side at Guard or push Braxton Jones to guard while taking over the blindside.
1.11: San Francisco 49ers – Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
The San Francisco 49ers odds to win the 2025 NFC West division got longer with the departure of Deebo Samuel. If the team can somehow luck their way into a potential superstar outside of the top 10 such odds will get shorter. Johnson was a potential 1.01 pick before an injury-plagued 2024, but still has shutdown ability. The biggest question is his long speed, but if Johnson can quiet those worries, he will be long gone by this slot.
1.12: Dallas Cowboys – Luther Burden III, WR, Mizzou
The Cowboys need another weapon badly and find it in the class’ WR2. Burden had a poor statistical season while dealing with injuries to himself and at QB. Looking back a year, Burden looked like a potential top-5 pick in 2023. He is great with the ball in his hands, forcing 30 missed tackles in 2024 (1 more than second-place T-Mac, despite seeing FIFTY fewer targets). The D.J. Moore and Deebo Samuel comparisons are not one-to-one but do give a good idea of what Burden can be.
1.13: Miami Dolphins – Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State (San Diego State)
The Dolphins have been “cute” in team-building for the past few years, building on speed above all else. Now is the time to eat their vegetables and bolster the offensive line. Ohio State’s Simmons was well on his way to competing for OT1 status before an injury mid-season. Adding another injury risk is not ideal, but Simmons has LT and RT versatility, which will help the lefty QB.
1.14: Indianapolis Colts – Malaki Starks, SAF, Georgia
This would revitalize me, as a Colts’ fan. Starks is falling down draft boards currently, for no plausible reason aside from his position. He is not Kyle Hamilton, but can play a similar role for Big Lou Anarumo’s defense. Safeties never go early (see Hamilton falling to this exact slot), and he did fall here too, though not as egregiously. Starks can play over the top, in the slot, and/or cause car crashes coming downhill. The versatility and athleticism would pair with IDP breakout Nick Cross to increase versatility and freakiness.
1.15: Atlanta Falcons – Mike Green, EDGE, Marshall (Virginia)
FINALLY. The Falcons get their EDGE of the now and future. The Falcons have been searching for a pass rush since the Cold War (hyperbolic, but only slightly!) and find the lead-man in Green. He is seen as close to James Pearce Jr (higher on many expert boards), and has similar metrics with a 20+% pass rush win rate paired with a 90+ run defense grade (per PFF). Despite playing at a G5 school, Green is absolutely legit and has double-digit sack potential in the NFL.
1.16: Arizona Cardinals – Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss (Texas A&M)
What a journey we have seen from Nolen. From being a top-level 5-star prospect to underwhelming at TAMU, to transferring to Ole Miss and having the dominant season we all thought possible. Nolen went from a probable returnee/3rd rounder to being a top-12 prospect (with the potential to move into the top-8) on my board. He is an elite penetrator, with quickness and force to break blocks with ease against the run or pass. He and Darius Robinson are an odd pair, but one that will be matchup nightmares for opposing offensive lines.
1.17: Cincinnati Bengals – Kelvin Banks Jr, iOL, Texas
Defense is absolutely a bigger issue for the Bengals than offense, but they have a chance to plug a big hole in front of Joe Burrow. Banks started at LT for 3 years for the Longhorns but projects best on the interior. Banks turns a former weakness into a strength for the Bengals.
1.18: Seattle Seahawks – Tyler Booker, OG, Alabama
OL (especially the interior) has plagued the Seahawks throughout Geno Smith’s run. The team has addressed the issue often, though to little avail. They now bring in Booker, called the “Will Anderson of offense”, to bring stability and nastiness to the interior. He may not have an All-Pro ceiling, but his intangibles are elite. The Seahawks need a double along the OL and square one up in this exercise.
1.19: Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas
Barron was my early bet at being my day-2 slot corner who I fell in love with (ala former Kentucky CB Dru Phillips). Barron had other ideas, though, as he moved outside for the Longhorns and absolutely broke out. He still can dominate in the slot but has true CB1 ability in the outside for a zone scheme, which will be perfect for Tampa Bay.
1.20: Denver Broncos – Coleston Loveland, TE, Michigan
The penultimate of my 15 “true first round” grades goes to Denver, in a perfect landing spot. Loveland will be a great seam-splitter for Sean Payton and can be a (the?) go-to target for Bo Nix. Loveland had a down year, but that was mostly due to some of the worst QB play imaginable at Michigan. He actually remains my TE1 (and top-10 prospect), but fell due to lack of easy fits. Loveland is a passable blocker for a slot-Y, giving him full-time potential.
1.21: Pittsburgh Steelers – Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado (Jackson State)
Sanders is one of the most polarizing players of this class; with his name, position, personality, play style, etc… You either hear that he is the truth or that he is garbage. The truth, of course, lies in the middle. Sanders is a solid QB prospect, with a day-2 grade (50-75 range, which the QB tax pushes here). He is accurate with solid arm strength but trusts his arm and athleticism too much. Sanders is not the best fit in Arthur Smith’s offense, but he can absolutely be the distributor the Steelers have been searching for since Big Ben. Sanders has always gotten the best out of his teammates, which is all Mike Tomlin can ask for on offense.
1.22: Los Angeles Chargers – Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina
Jim Harbaugh and Greg Roman have a superstar under center but still will want to beat teams into submission. Omarion Hampton is the type of RB who can help them fulfill this dream, while also supporting and opening the game up for their top-5 QB. Hampton – my final true first-rounder – is a maniacal runner with bruising power, great speed, and strong blocking. The gap between him in Ashton Jeanty is far smaller than many believe, and he would have been the clear RB1 in 2023.
1.23: Green Bay Packers – Shemar Stewart, EDGE, Texas A&M
The Packers have taken many swings on the DL over the years, but have not hit in the way they like. They go with a project-y type at EDGE in Stewart, one of the more unique prospects in the class. Stewart has DT size but has the athletic ability of a pure EDGE. His rush metrics have been strong, but production has not followed. The tools are tantalizing, but can a staff get everything out of him? OL was strongly considered here, but OC/OL coach Adam Stenavich has a long history of turning mid-rounders into good/great players.
1.24: Minnesota Vikings – Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan
Brian Flores makes magic out of nothing, but the Vikings need some difference-makers to make life (especially post-Flores, when he inevitably gets an HC gig) easier. Grant is a beefy nose tackle who can rush the passer and halt the run game in its tracks. The combination of size and quickness will help fix an atrocious defense and has the potential to be a steal at this time. He is not fully refined but is a force of nature.
1.25: Houston Texans – Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
Offensive line is the biggest need for the Texans, however a secondary receiver with steady hands is right up there as well. The offense completely fell apart when Nico Collins went down with an injury, which they mitigate with an old friend of C.J. Stroud. Egbuka is a nails receiver, with great hands and tenacity as a blocker (no block, no rock!) He will lend stability to a room that is losing Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell, while fitting well with the superstar on the outside.
1.26: Los Angeles Rams – Matthew Golden, WR, Texas (Houston)
With Cooper Kupp expected to be moved this offseason, WR becomes a massive hole for the Rams, especially with Puka Nacua’s vast injury history. Golden is becoming a draft-community favorite with great ball-tracking skills and alignment versatility, which is music to Sean McVay’s ears. LB and DB are still bigger areas of need, but the Rams have refused to give high capital to those positions in the past.
1.27: Baltimore Ravens – Josh Conerly Jr, OT, Oregon
Death, Taxes, and the Ravens getting steals in the draft. Conerly is not a polished prospect, but the talent is immeasurable. The Ravens’ longtime blindside protector – Ronnie Stanley – may leave in free agency, leaving a massive gap up front. Conerly needs work, but reps with the ultimate pressure-negator in Lamar Jackson will allow him to learn on the fly. If Conerly hits, he has the potential to be the best player in the class.
1.28: Detroit Lions – Jalon Walker, EDGE/LB, Georgia
Walker almost certainly will not be at 28 in May, but he falls there here. I am not sold on the hybrid prospect as of now (we are still early in the process), but the talent and burst are undeniable. He has such a limited workload at EDGE (like Abdul Carter last year), despite it being his best position. His projection is difficult, with no rush plan, but will that come with time? Can he hold up against the run? The Lions would love to bet on this ball of clay!
1.29: Washington Commanders – Nic Scourton, EDGE, Texas A&M (Purdue)
The Commanders will want to build around Jayden Daniels, but the defense is beyond atrocious at this point. They need help everywhere and have a pre-season top-10 pick fall to them. Scourton was dominant at Purdue, but struggled in his one year at A&M. 4 sacks were uninspiring, and he was often overshadowed by earlier pick Shermar Stewart. However, Scourton is almost just as freaky as his teammate and is still just 20 years old. His rush metrics were solid and he is strong against the run. I am willing to say the struggles were due mostly to a new scheme and will bet on insane film from 2023 paired with the flashes in 2024.
1.30: Buffalo Bills – Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon (Michigan State)
Pass rush is one of the biggest needs for the Bills, and they find a breakout star to pair with Ed Oliver. Harmon’s metrics were insane, being top-5 in pretty much every metric. He is also strong against the run, with a PFF run grade of 80.5+ in each of the last two years. He adds some alignment versatility up front while adding juice against the run and pass. Harmon, Oliver, and Rousseau are a great basis upfront.
1.31: Kansas City Chiefs – Jihaad Campbell, LB/EDGE, Alabama
Despite being well within a dynastic run, the Chiefs have many needs. On defense, they have needs at LB (with Nick Bolton a free agent) and as a rusher. Conveniently, there is one specific player who can help at both. Campbell is raw, instinctually, but is one of the most explosive players in the class. He has sideline-to-sideline range while having a great ability to drive down and hit Quarterbacks and/or Running backs.
1.32: Philadelphia Eagles – T.J. Sanders, DT, South Carolina
The Eagles bolster the trenches again with Sanders. My comparison for him is none other than rightful Super Bowl MVP Milton Willliams, who is expected to depart in Free Agency. Sanders is newer to football and is a freak athlete. Despite the inexperience, he has a great array of rush moves, leading to great pass rush metrics and solid production. Sanders plugs right back in to keep the Eagle pass rush as a dominant force.
Thank you all for taking the time to read my first 2025 NFL Mock Draft. A lot will change through the Combine, Free Agency, Pro-Days, and of course the Draft itself! Feel free to reach out to chat with me about this (or anything else!) in discord, BlueSky, or on X (for now), where you can find me @JoeLow63. Please also check out my podcast, Ride or Dynasty (@RideorDynasty on X) with myself, Jameson Hutchison (@Jamesonrulez) and host JJ Wenner (@JJWenner); which will be returning soon! See more articles at IDP+!
