2025 NFL Mock Draft 1.0 (Picks One Through Eight): Cam Ward Selected First Overall

It’s mock draft season! Even though the complexion of the league will undoubtedly change before the NFL Draft is held in Green Bay, Wisconsin this coming April, that won’t stop people from speculating wildly about who will be drafted when.

The NFL Scouting Combine is still a couple of weeks away, so these projections will probably look different by the time March rolls around. Regardless, we still have a good idea of who will be some of the top players selected in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.

Let’s take a look at picks one through eight and determine which prospects will be going where.

1. Tennessee Titans – QB, Cam Ward. Miami

Penn State defensive lineman Abdul Carter has been rocketing up people’s draft boards after his stellar performance in the College Football Playoff. Colorado Heisman winner Travis Hunter is another player being projected to go at this spot. At the end of the day though, the NFL is a quarterback-driven league, and the Titans DESPERATELY need a QB.

Tennessee, who started two quarterbacks during the 2024-25 campaign, was 26th in passing yards per game (195.1) and second in interceptions thrown (21). Since transferring to Washington State University in 2022, Ward has only thrown 23 interceptions. He will be much better than Mason Rudolph or Will Levis when it comes to protecting the ball.

The passing touchdown numbers are what also stands out to me. In five years at the collegiate level, Ward threw 158 passing touchdowns (31.6 TDs per year). That is a huge improvement for the Titans, who only threw 22 touchdowns as a team this past season.

2. Cleveland Browns – WR/CB, Travis Hunter. Colorado

Though Shedeur Sanders is available, and Cleveland needs a quarterback, I think the Browns pass on Sanders for two-way star Travis Hunter. I can’t prove it, but I feel like Cleveland is one of the teams that Shedeur’s father and Colorado head coach Deion Sanders “won’t allow him to play for.”

By adding Hunter, Cleveland will be getting a guy who will play both offense and defense. At least, that’s what Deion Sanders said was the plan for the 2024 AP College Football Player of the Year.

Hunter could thrive playing opposite of wideout Jerry Jeudy, who was named to the 2025 Pro Bowl. With Jeudy demanding a lot of attention, Hunter will have the opportunity to make an instant impact as Cleveland’s number-two receiver. That’ll be incredibly helpful for a Browns team that had the second-lowest yards per reception average during the 2024-25 season (9.8).

Hunter will also be a welcomed addition to Cleveland’s defense. They already have a four-time Pro Bowler in Denzel Ward, but they still allowed the sixth-highest quarterback rating in the NFL last season. Pairing Ward with Hunter will create a no-fly zone in Cleveland.

3. New York Giants – QB, Shedeur Sanders. Colorado

While I believe Shedeur Sanders is the most talented quarterback in this draft, I am anxious about his maturity and the baggage he comes with. I mean, Sanders did throw his offensive line under the bus this past season following a 28-10 loss to Nebraska.

If we ignore all the outside noise and just look at the tape, Sanders is one of the best players in this draft. In two years at Colorado, he scored 72 total touchdowns while throwing just 13 interceptions. He also completed 74% of his passes last season, the highest completion rate of any quarterback who attempted at least 200 passes during the 2024-25 campaign. Like I said, the talent is there. He just needs to grow up a little bit, and I think getting away from a college atmosphere and his father could aid that cause.

The thought of an immature player being given the keys to the castle of a New York sports franchise is worrisome, but the Giants HAVE to draft Sanders if he’s still available at the three-spot. Over the last two years, they have started five different quarterbacks and only have nine wins to show for it. They need consistency and talent at the QB position. Sanders will provide that from the jump.

Let’s just hope he can mature a little before landing in the Big Apple.

4. New England Patriots – EDGE, Abdul Carter. Penn State

The Pats could add a wide receiver or an offensive lineman here, but I think new head coach Mike Vrabel will go for a game-wrecking defensive end.

Carter had a fantastic season, finishing the year with the seventh-most sacks in college football. He really upped his game in the College Football Playoff though, recording 14 total tackles, ten solo tackles, two sacks, and one pass defended in three games. Keep in mind, he was doing this while being double-teamed almost every play. On top of that, a workout video of Carter was recently shared that has people comparing him to Myles Garrett, TJ Watt, and Micah Parsons. If you ask any general manager in the NFL, they would take any one of those guys on their team in a heartbeat.

I think drafting a wide receiver at this spot would be a reach for the Pats. But if Carter falls into their lap, they would be foolish not to take ESPN’s top-ranked draft prospect. After all, the Patriots ranked dead-last in quarterback sacks this past season (28). If Abdul Carter is drafted by New England, that trend will not continue into 2025-26.

5. Jacksonville Jaguars – DB, Will Johnson. Michigan

Improving the offensive line should be a top priority for the Jags, but I could see them making those types of moves during free agency. After they fix the line, the Jags should dedicate the rest of their open cap space and draft capital to making the defense better.

With weaknesses in the secondary and along the defensive front, they could select Johnson’s teammate Mason Graham with the fifth-overall pick. However, I think they go with Johnson here because this is a deep class for defensive tackles. Just ask NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah, who said that there are twice as many DTs with starter grades in this year’s draft compared to last year’s.

The Jaguars will have another chance to address their defensive line later. In the meantime, snagging arguably the best cornerback in the draft is a no-brainer decision.

Last season, the Jags allowed the most passing yards in the NFL. That won’t be the case next year if they land two-time All-American Will Johnson.

6. Las Vegas Raiders – RB, Ashton Jeanty. Boise State

With the top two quarterbacks in this draft off the board, I think Vegas will add a skill position player with the sixth overall pick. That could change depending on the results of the Scouting Combine, but for now, I have them selecting Jeanty.

Ashton Jeanty is the definition of a bell-cow-back (750 rushing attempts in his three years at Boise State). The Raiders really missed having a true number-one running back after finishing last in rushing yards per game (79.8) and rushing yards per attempt (3.57). An easy way to correct that is by adding a guy who just ran for the second-most yards ever in a single season (2,601).

This could all be a moot point if they end up trading away star edge rusher Maxx Crosby. Should Vegas make that trade, then I think they choose a defensive lineman at this spot. Michigan’s Mason Graham or Georgia’s Mykel Williams won’t be able to step in and replace Crosby’s production right away, but either one of those guys would be a step in the right direction.

7. New York Jets – TE, Tyler Warren. Penn State

Another quarterback-needy team must settle for a skill position player. With Aaron Rodgers likely gone, I believe Gang Green will sign a bridge quarterback this off-season that they feel can help the team compete. Russell Wilson, Jacoby Brissett, and Jameis Winston could all be temporary answers at the quarterback position for New York.

Whoever the Jets go with, they’ll need a safety blanket at tight end. Tyler Conklin and Jeremy Ruckert won’t do the trick, so New York will select Penn State’s Tyler Warren to be the franchise’s tight end.

I don’t know if he will be a record-breaking player like Brock Bowers was for the Raiders, but he has a chance to come in and make a positive impact on the offense from day one. He will be a good distraction in the middle of the field, freeing up Garrett Wilson to make more plays outside the numbers. He can also be a good blocker in the run game.

Warren’s numbers during the 2024-25 season were outlandish. He caught 104 passes (tied for second-most in the country) for 1,233 yards (seventh-most in the country). For comparison, Travis Hunter caught 96 passes for 1,258 yards last season.

Warren will immediately be the best tight end the New York Jets have had over the last ten years. He’ll also be an excellent target for the quarterback they draft in 2026.

8. Carolina Panthers – DL, Mason Graham. Michigan

With quarterback Bryce Young finally living up to the expectations that come with being the number-one overall pick in the NFL Draft, Carolina can start to focus on other areas of need. After the defense gave up 6,877 yards last season (most in the NFL), it’s clear that they need to use this pick to shore up the defensive line.

They’ll be getting back defensive end Derrick Brown, who only played in one game last year before suffering a season-ending knee injury against the New Orleans Saints in Week One. Lining the 2023 Pro Bowler up next to ESPN’s second-ranked draft prospect is a slam-dunk decision for Carolina’s front office. It not only takes some pressure off of Brown as he returns from injury, but it also solidifies the Panthers’ defensive line for the next five to ten years.

Graham will make a huge difference in the run game too, an area where Carolina struggled tremendously (179.8 rushing yards allowed per game). Over the last two years, the Michigan Wolverines have only allowed opponents to average 90.3 rushing yards per game thanks in part to the contributions of Mason Graham, Michigan’s best player.