NFL Mock Draft 2025: Shedeur Sanders to Giants; Cam Ward in top 10; Quinn Ewers lands later
With NFL wild-card weekend nearly in the rearview mirror, six more teams are seeing their 2024 season come to an end after losses early in 2025. That means the first-round draft order for the NFL Draft on April 24 is getting set from No. 1 to No. 24 overall, or two-thirds of the total 32 selections.
While the newly eliminated teams need to start figuring out their needs for the offseason, there are some changes to the non-playoff team projections in Sporting News’ latest mock, which also comes a week ahead of the College Football Playoff national championship game.
Let’s take a look at our latest first-round mock draft.
(Will be updated after Vikings-Rams result on Monday night)
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NFL Mock Draft 20251. Tennessee Titans 3-14
Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado (6-1, 185 pounds)The Titans will find it difficult to go in a different direction because of Hunter’s immense rare talent on both sides of the ball. He can play impact cover man in their defense and also provide some extra punch in the passing game when needed.
2025 NFL DRAFT BIG BOARD: Travis Hunter tops best 100 prospects for 2025
2. Cleveland Browns 3-14
Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona (6-5, 210 pounds)
The Browns also will think about quarterback options in the wake of learning Deshaun Watson has had another setback with a ruptured Achilles, but they also can bridge with another veteran or wait to tap into the position later. Whoever’s at QB would love to throw to McMillan as their immediate, Mike Evans-like No. 1.
3. New York Giants 3-14
Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado (6-2, 215 pounds)The Giants can take advantage of the Titans and Browns not being ideal preferences for Deion Sanders’ son. Shedeur can give them clutch, accurate downfield passing to fit well with Brian Daboll while working with young playmakers such as Malik Nabers, Wan’Dale Robinson, Tyrone Tracy Jr., and Theo Johnson.
4. New England Patriots 4-13
Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State (6-3, 250 pounds)The Patriots had the fewest sacks in the NFL under former defensive-minded coach Jerod Mayo. Carter was unstoppable wrecking plays with pass rush and run diagnosis in the CFP and would be a great first pick for the Mike Vrabel era.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars 4-13
Will Campbell, OT, LSU (6-6, 323 pounds)The Jaguars need to land the best pass protector in the draft with Cam Robinson gone. Campbell would be a reliable long-term presence in front of Trevor Lawrence.
6. Las Vegas Raiders 4-13
Cam Ward, QB, Miami (6-2, 223 pounds)The Raiders would not mind this scenario playing out. Ward, a strong-armed pocket passer with dynamic running skills when needed, would work well as their franchise QB after missing out on Sanders.
7. New York Jets 5-12
Mason Graham, DT, Michigan (6-3, 318 pounds)The Jets will put quarterback on their radar as they see what happens with Aaron Rodgers, but if he stays put, getting someone to help Quinnen Williams would be smart. Graham is can’t-miss with his power, energy, and explosiveness.
8. Carolina Panthers 5-12
Will Johnson, CB, Michigan (6-2, 202 pounds)
The Panthers have a ton of defensive needs after not being able to stop much in 2024. Johnson would help them clean up the back end with a potential shutdown bookend.
9. New Orleans Saints 5-12
Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama (6-2, 225 pounds)The Saints need to think about their quarterback future beyond Derek Carr, and Milroe would be a good addition as they get a fresh coaching start and think more about offense. Milroe’s dual-threat ability can help them catch up quickly at the position with the rest of the division.
10. Chicago Bears 5-12
Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas (6-4, 324 pounds)Â The Bears cannot ignore the ridiculous sack rate of Caleb Williams in his rookie season and should focus on coming away with either Campbell or Banks to shore up their pass protection.
11. San Francisco 49ers 6-11
Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan (6-3, 339 pounds)
The 49ers should want to tap into the Wolverines for another ferocious interior force to help them add more of an inside pass rush element.
12. Dallas Cowboys 7-10
Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State (5-9, 215 pounds)
The Cowboys have cut ties with Ezekiel Elliott (again), and despite flashes from Rico Dowdle, they should want to land a potential superstar workhorse in the first round for the first time since taking Elliott No. 4 overall in 2016.
13. Miami Dolphins 8-9
Malaki Starks, S, Georgia (6-1, 205 pounds)The Dolphins may decide to let Jevon Holland walk in free agency and need more secondary playmakers to support Jalen Ramsey. Starks makes a ton of plays, capable of smoothly going from extra run-stopping linebacker to savvy inside cover man.
14. Indianapolis Colts 8-9
Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan (6-5, 245 pounds)The Colts are missing a dynamic tight end as a key element in the passing game. Shane Steichen can see his next Dallas Goedert with Loveland’s athletic frame and downfield receiving skills.
15. Atlanta Falcons 8-9
Nic Scourton, EDGE, Texas A&M (6-4, 285 pounds)
The Falcons need to boost their outside pass rush for Raheem Morris’ second season with a change in defensive coordinator. Scourton can be their sack leader right away.
16. Arizona Cardinals 8-9
Mykel Williams, DT, Georgia (6-5, 265 pounds)The Cardinals need to consider defensive tackle for Jonathan Gannon, and with Graham and Grant off the board, Williams would make a lot of sense with his all-around inside punch.
17. Cincinnati Bengals 9-8
Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri (5-11, 208 pounds)
The Bengals may want to try to keep Tee Higgins along with extending Ja’Marr Chase with a lucrative contract, but Higgins might end up being too expensive. Burden can be a strong cheap contingency to play well off Chase as an immediate impact No. 2.
18. Seattle Seahawks 10-7
Jalon Walker, LB, Georgia (6-2, 245 pounds)The Seahawks need a more reliable do-everything linebacker with some pass-rushing pop in their second season under defensive-minded coach Mike Macdonald.
Brett Davis-Imagn Images
19. Denver Broncos 10-7
Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State (6-6, 260 pounds)The Broncos also haven’t had a big-time receiving tight end in a while, and Warren can take over games receiving with size, strength, and athleticism, which also are key assets in run blocking and wrinkle plays.
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 10-7
James Pearce Jr., EDGE, Tennessee (6-5, 243 pounds) The Buccaneers need to get YaYa Diaby and Calijah Kency some pass-rush support with pending free-agent issues at outside linebacker in their 3-4 scheme. Pearce needs more polish, but his borderline freakish upside makes him a good fit in the scheme.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers 10-7
Quinn Ewers, QB, Texas (6-2, 204 pounds) The Steelers need to dive back into a first-round QB three years removed from the Kenny Pickett pick given they’ve capped their offensive and overall team success with various makeshift solutions the past two seasons. Ewers can be ideal with his downfield passing and untapped athleticism.
22. Los Angeles Rams 10-7
Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame (6-0, 190 pounds)Â The Rams, should they get eliminated by the favored Vikings on Monday night, need to get some back-end defensive help after rebuilding their front seven quickly in the transition from Aaron Donald. Morrison has missed Notre Dame’s season and CFP run with a hip injury, but he should get healthy soon as a sound cover man and fearless playmaker.
23. Los Angeles Chargers 11-6
Jack Sawyer, EDGE, Ohio State (6-5, 260 pounds) The Chargers have Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack, but the latter is a 33-year-old pending free agent and they have some rotational depth concerns. Sawyer can help them reload as a rising, relentless pass-rusher and overall playmaker.
24. Green Bay Packers 11-6
Isaiah Bond, WR, Texas (5-11, 190 pounds)Â
The Packers need to invest in their first first-round receiver in 23 drafts to help Jordan Love after not doing so once in the Aaron Rodgers era. They need a reliable target, as there are plenty of concerns about injuries and inconsistency among the current corps. Bond, an Alabama transfer, is more than a speedy vertical threat and can develop quickly into their well-rounded No. 1.
