With the 2025 NFL Draft set to kick off Thursday night in Green Bay, Wisconsin, I wanted to offer up one final projection of how Round 1 will play out.
Obviously, I'm expecting trades to be a factor when the event gets underway, but just like in all my other mocks, I'm keeping teams in their current draft slots for this exercise.
The Titans thought they had their QB1 for the future in Will Levis, but it hasn’t worked out the way they hoped. They begin again with this mobile, big-armed QB who's eager for the challenge.
Quarterback will be a strong consideration here, but the Browns opt for the Heisman Trophy winner. Hunter is the best player in the draft. Cleveland will begin by using him mainly on offense as the team’s WR1 -- and yes, he will play some defense, too.
Could this be the spot for Shedeur Sanders? After weighing their options, the Giants take an elite edge rusher to pump up the defense.
This could be a pick where the crowd in Green Bay lets out a roar of surprise if New England takes RB Ashton Jeanty. The Patriots might think about it, but ultimately, they pick a polished offensive lineman who will be the starting left tackle from the moment Commissioner Roger Goodell announces the selection.
OK, this is where we hear the surprised roar. New head coach Liam Coen gets an elite weapon to help him unlock all of QB Trevor Lawrence's potential.
Former first-round edge rusher Tyree Wilson has not panned out yet, so first-year GM John Spytek selects a new running mate for perennial Pro Bowler Maxx Crosby.
The Jets had a chance to draft TE Brock Bowers last year but passed on him before he landed with the Raiders and ultimately earned first-team All-Pro honors as a rookie. New York’s new brain trust doesn't miss the opportunity to land a potential star tight end this time around, and new QB1 Justin Fields is thrilled.
The Panthers are desperate to get their defense back on track after a dismal 2024 season. The All-American from Michigan fits nicely next to Pro Bowl DT Derrick Brown, who is on his way back after missing all but one game last season due to injury.
This could easily be where QB Shedeur Sanders goes. I’ve already said I would be pounding the table for him in the draft room. Instead, though, the Saints tap Membou to take over at right tackle.
Size, speed, explosiveness -- Williams has the traits teams are looking for in an edge rusher. The Bears' Montez Sweat welcomes the help.
There has been a lot of talk this offseason about the 49ers’ need for pass-rush help opposite Nick Bosa. In this projection, San Francisco takes a chance on a player with great talent but very limited production (4.5 sacks in three years at Texas A&M) to show for it.
With great size and strength, not to mention good hands, McMillan is the perfect complement to all-star WR1 CeeDee Lamb.
The news that the Dolphins and CB Jalen Ramsey have mutually agreed to explore a trade hastens this selection. Johnson's dimensions are different from Ramsey's, but his aggressive nature attacking the ball is much like the veteran's.
There will be heavy consideration for Michigan TE Colston Loveland here, but new DC Lou Anarumo will be psyched when GM Chris Ballard calls this choice in. Expect Emmanwori to make an early impact.
Falcons fans annually clamor for a top edge rusher to be selected, but with longtime defensive tackle Grady Jarrett off to Chicago, Harmon brings his youthful energy to Georgia's capital city.
Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon and defensive coordinator Nick Rallis will immediately implement schemes that allow Campbell to find the ball quickly. He will pursue the QB in obvious passing situations, too.
When the Bengals were playing their best on defense in recent years, they were strong down the middle. Starks is a sideline-to-sideline playmaker from center field.
This do-it-all defensive back will fit perfectly in head coach Mike Macdonald's schemes. Barron will allow big-play DB Devon Witherspoon to attack offenses with even more gusto.
The Bucs are all about disrupting the opposing QB, and the 2024 Ted Hendricks Award winner (best DE in the country) has a full arsenal of moves that make things bumpy for passers.
Sometimes the fit is just right. Denver craves a lead RB, and Hampton is available.
Pittsburgh is another potential landing spot for Shedeur Sanders or one of the draft's other QB prospects. But in this case, the defensive front is prioritized by the Steelers, who select All-Pro DT Cam Heyward's eventual replacement.
Chargers GM Joe Hortiz and head coach Jim Harbaugh covet great players, and it doesn’t hurt that Harbaugh already knows Loveland quite well from their time together at Michigan. Another Wolverine heads west and helps QB Justin Herbert move to a higher echelon.
The Packers add another interior pass rusher for DC Jeff Hafley as he seeks to cause a lot of turbulence for the opposition.
Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah continues to remake the offensive line. Zabel was a standout at NDSU and at the Senior Bowl. I think he's a plug-and-play starter at guard.
Here’s a big decision for GM Nick Caserio. Does he help rising QB C.J. Stroud with a receiver or an offensive lineman? In this scenario, Golden’s speed and big-play ability make him the choice, but he could certainly be picked earlier in Round 1.
A tremendous route runner and pass catcher, Egbuka is also up for the challenge of blocking in the run game, which is a must for receivers under head coach Sean McVay.
Simmons has the potential to be a top-tier left tackle, but with Ronnie Stanley returning, the Ohio State/San Diego State product might begin his NFL career at guard, something Hall of Famer Jonathan Ogden did in his rookie season with Baltimore.
The Lions continue to make the offensive line a priority. Booker steps in at guard to replace the departed Kevin Zeitler. Sonic and Knuckles will like this pick.
It would not be a surprise to see Washington select a cornerback here -- Notre Dame’s Benjamin Morrison is my favorite CB in the draft -- but in this case, the Commanders fortify the offensive line with Banks, who can compete for the starting job at right tackle as a rookie.
The Bills always field a top defense, and they might want to be more aggressive in man coverage in 2025. If that's the case, the selection of "Mad Max" would be ideal for head coach Sean McDermott and defensive coordinator Bobby Babich.
Super Bowl LIX aside, Kansas City’s defense has been an absolute force in recent seasons. GM Brett Veach continues to give DC Steve Spagnuolo great resources.
GM Howie Roseman does a tremendous job of drafting players and getting them experience before they are needed as starters. Taylor, a smooth pass catcher, could be next in line.
