Each April, I build a complete seven-round NFL mock draft that attempts to find homes for former college prospects based on their value, as well as the roster needs and schemes of all 32 pro teams.
We're bringing back the mock draft concept to re-imagine the NFL landscape for a fourth straight year, with teams building balanced rosters -- including veteran and young talent on both sides of the ball -- designed to WIN NOW.
This sort of mass redistribution of talent would obviously never happen in real life. But with training camps still a few weeks away, let's have a little fun with another seven-round mock ahead of the 2025 NFL season.
This mock draft is simply one version of countless possible projections given players' expected on-field performance in 2025 (assuming they are all on one-year contracts) and each team's current coaching staff and front office.
Before we get started, a few important notes:
- Teams are listed based on the first-round order from the 2025 NFL Draft, restoring traded or forfeited picks to the original holders.
- The subsequent rounds are "snaked" to distribute talent evenly among the 32 franchises -- that is, the order of Round 1 is reversed in Round 2, which is reversed in Round 3, and so on. The order does account for tiebreakers from round to round, though, so it's not a straight snake throughout.
- No trades or compensatory selections were included.
- Free-agent receivers Keenan Allen and Amari Cooper, cornerback Stephon Gilmore, and edge rushers Matt Judon and Za'Darius Smith are not included. Raiders defensive tackle Christian Wilkins (recovering from injury) was also left out.
The Titans take Allen first overall, hoping the reigning league MVP can be their answer at quarterback.
Mahomes is the sort of playmaker the team has long been seeking under center.
Giants fans would love to see their quarterback throw for 41 touchdowns and run for 915 yards, as last season's MVP runner-up did for the Ravens in 2024.
Burrow set career highs with 4,918 passing yards and 43 scores last season; he could be an MVP candidate if Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel can build a strong supporting cast around the star quarterback.
Jacksonville would undoubtedly love to have the efficient and strong-armed Herbert in town. I know he passed for less than 4,000 yards in 2024, but he also threw just three interceptions.
Hurts' two-way offensive skills should endear him to Raiders head coach Pete Carroll.
The Jets take Daniels with the hope he can build on the explosive talent he showed as the Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2024.
Steady and able to connect with receivers in all parts of the field, Goff has what it takes to lead the Panthers to their first playoff win in a decade.
The Saints take Mayfield off the board on the heels of his back-to-back Pro Bowl seasons.
The Bears add a solid -- and now highly paid -- competitor in Purdy as they pursue their first playoff victory since 2010.
Prescott could be selected earlier, but his struggle to stay healthy in recent years might make him available outside of the top 10 picks.
Stafford's strong arm and veteran presence could entice Jerry Jones to nab the Super Bowl-winning quarterback.
Head coach Mike McDaniel should love working with Green Bay's current starter, whose game should reach its potential in 2025.
Garrett is the top defender off the board because he's consistently getting after quarterbacks and can hold his ground against the run.
The Falcons take Murray in a pivotal year for the diminutive playmaker.
Lawrence has not yet met the lofty expectations that followed him into the league, but the Cardinals take a chance in case he plays to his potential in 2025.
Stroud took a step back statistically in 2024, but he still possesses the pocket presence to be a very good starter for the Bengals.
The Seahawks select a high-impact defender in Parsons, who has 52.5 sacks in 63 career games.
Tom Brady won a Super Bowl in Tampa Bay -- could another future Hall of Famer do the same thing?
Head coach Sean Payton wanted Nix in the 2024 draft, and he doesn't pass up the promising second-year player in this exercise.
Barkley moves across the Keystone State to star for the Steelers after rushing for a ridiculous 2,005 yards last season in Philadelphia.
The 2024 campaign saw Jefferson catch more than 100 passes for the third time and at least 10 touchdowns for the second time in his five-year career, proving he's worthy of being the top receiver selected here.
Chase isn't far behind Justin Jefferson in terms of ability, and the Packers grab a receiver in the first round in this exercise, just as they did in the when selecting Texas' Matthew Golden in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Despite Watt's sack total declining from 19 in 2023 to 11.5 last season, Minnesota grabs a perennial Pro Bowler to wreak havoc off the edge.
A former NFL front-seven defender, Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans should appreciate Jones' ability to blow up run plays and disrupt the pocket on a regular basis.
Brown is a force when healthy, scoring seven or more times in five of his six years in the league.
Smith's career-high 4,320 passing yards in 2024 earn him a late first-round spot in this exercise. Cutting down on his interceptions from last year (15) would make his 2025 season his best yet.
Crosby's fiery attitude and power would be a great fit with Lions head coach Dan Campbell.
Washington could have selected Tagovailoa instead of Chase Young with the No. 2 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. It would be interesting to see the former Alabama star play in Kliff Kingsbury's scheme.
Seven seasons into his NFL career, Warner has already made a case to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer. His mere presence in the middle of the defense affects a lot of what offenses want to accomplish.
Kansas City lands Hendrickson, who's trying for a third straight season with 17.5 sacks, a number that led the league in 2024.
After running their way to a Super Bowl title in February, the Eagles grab Henry to power through defenses in 2025, just as he helped the Ravens do last season with nearly 2,000 yards and a league-high 16 touchdowns on the ground.
