It’s draft day! Here’s how I see the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft playing out.
We have finally made it to the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Weeks of speculation are now over, and teams will make selections that could change the future of their franchise for better or for worse. The Denver Broncos currently own the 20th overall selection and are in the market for playmakers, including a running back, a wide receiver, and maybe even a tight end. Will they trade up to get their guy or trade back, add extra picks, and still get their playmaker?
Let’s find out! Tennessee, you’re on the clock.
1. Tennessee Titans: Miami QB Cam Ward
This pick has been known for awhile now and will become official later today. The Titans get the top quarterback in the draft and their hopeful franchise quarterback of the future.
2. Cleveland Browns: Colorado WR/CB Travis Hunter
Is he a wide receiver or a cornerback? Either way, he is the top player at both positions and argubly the top player in the entire draft. It sounds like the Browns plan to use him at wide receiver and will instantly become their top weapon on offense.
3. New York Giants: Penn State EDGE Abdul Carter
The Giants will pass on a quarterback at 3rd overall and take one of the top overall players in the draft, Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter. They have Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux but Carter is a top talent and too good for them to pass up here. Look for them to address a quarterback later in the first round or in the second round.
4. New England Patriots: LSU OT Will Campbell
The Patriots NEED to protect quarterback Drake Maye and will improve their OL here by selecting LSU OT Will Campbell. He has shorter arms than you would like from an OT, but the tape doesn’t lie, and he’ll help protect Maye’s blind side.
TRADE ALERT: Chicago Bears trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars
5. Chicago Bears via Jaguars: Boise State
The Bears, under new head coach Ben Johnson, get aggressive and move up to get the top running back in the draft. With the Lions, Johnson had a strong rushing attack and now will bring the same to the Bears, and make life easier for second-year quarterback Caleb Williams
6. Las Vegas Raiders: Texas Offensive Tackle Kelvin Banks Jr.
With Tom Brady in the fold, the Raiders address the trenches and get the talented and versatile Kelvin Banks Jr.. He can play inside or outside for the Raiders and help protect new quarterback Geno Smith.
7. New York Jets: Penn State Tight End Tyler Warren
The Jets give newly signed quarterback Justin Fields a big and athletic weapon in the middle of the field with tight end Tyler Warren. He is great after the catch and should help improve a Jets offense that struggled to score points last season.
8. Carolina Panthers: Ole Miss Defensive Tackle Walter Nolen
Walter Nolen has been a quick riser this week, and the latest buzz is that he is in play for the Panthers at 8th overall. The talent is undeniable, and he may have the quickest first step of any pass rusher in the draft. The Panthers need help all along their defense, and Nolen gives them a disruptor in the middle of their defense.
9. New Orleans Saints: Georgia EDGE Mykell Williams
Saints need a lot of things, but here I have them adding a pass rusher in Mykell Williams. He is a big, long, and powerful edge rusher who can be the heir to Cameron Jordan who is nearing the end of his career.
10. Jacksonville Jaguars via Bears: Arizona Wide Receiver Tetairoa McMillian
The Jaguars move back and get a player they were considering at 5th overall. They give quarterback Trevor Lawrence a big and athletic target in Tetairoa McMillian, who will pair with the explosive Brian Thomas Jr. and hopefully, get the Jaguars offense going in the right direction again.
11. San Francisco 49ers: Missouri Offensive Tackle Armand Membou
It always starts in the trenches for head coach Kyle Shanahan, and I have him adding the talented right tackle Armand Membou here in the first round. Trent Williams is nearing the end of his career, and Membou can be developed into his replacement down the road while starting at right tackle in the short term.
12. Dallas Cowboys: Texas Wide Receiver Matthew Golden
The Cowboys need something opposite of Ceedee Lamb and decide to pair him with speedy Texas wide receiver Matthew Golden. He is a crafty and smooth route runner who will give quarterback Dak Prescott another weapon in their passing game.
13. Miami Dolphins: Michigan Defensive Tackle Mason Graham
The Dolphins have one of the weaker interior defensive lines in the NFL, so they decided to add the falling Mason Graham. He has been mocked inside the top 5 all offseason but appears to be falling as we near draft day and lands in the laps of the Dolphins, who quickly turn in this selection.
14. Indianapolis Colts: Michigan Tight End Colston Loveland
The Colts have been rumored to be in the tight end market all offseason and have gotten their guy here in Colston Loveland. He is coming off a shoulder injury/surgery, but is one of the more talented players in the draft and would give them a big and athletic target in the middle of the field.
15. Atlanta Falcons: Georgia Linebacker/EDGE Jalon Walker
The Falcons finally address their defense and are overjoyed that Georgia linebacker/edge rusher Jalon Walker falls to them here. He can rush the passer off the edge and/or be a talented off-ball linebacker.
16. Arizona Cardinals: Texas Cornerback Jahdae Barron
The Cardinals need help everywhere, and here I have them addressing their secondary, which needs a lot of help. Barron is a little but undersized, but is a talented player who will instantly improve their secondary.
17. Cincinnati Bengals: Texas A&M EDGE Shemar Stewart
Trey Hendrickson and the Bengals are not on good terms, and he has asked for a trade. The two sides are still working on it, but they should draft a pass rusher regardless. Stewart is a highly athletic edge rusher who needs some refinement but has immense potential and upside.
18. Seattle Seahawks: North Dakota State Interior Offensive Lineman Grey Zabel
The Seahawks need help on the inside of their offensive line, and get one of the top interior offensive linemen in the draft here in Zabel. He can immediately start at either guard spot or center and help protect newly signed quarterback Sam Darnold.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Alabama Linebacker Jihaad Campbell
Campbell is recovering from an injury, but is a great fit for Todd Bowles defense. He has pass-rush upside while also being a damn good off the ball linebacker. With Lavonte David nearing the end of his career, Campbell makes a lot of sense here.
20. Denver Broncos: Ohio State Running Back TreVeyon Henderson
This pick could be Omarion Hampton, Emeka Egbuka, or a trade-up or back. It is hard to pinpoint what exactly the Broncos are planning to do in the first round of the draft. So, I decided to go with my gut and pick Ohio State running back TreVeyon Henderson here at 20th overall.
He is an explosive running back who can break off big gains whenever he touches the ball, he has pass-catching upside, and is a damn good pass blocker. He just checks a lot of boxes and makes a lot of sense for Sean Payton.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Colorado Quarterback Shedeur Sanders
Shedeur Sanders draft day slide stops here as here joins the Pittsburgh Steelers. Mason Rudolph is their starting quarterback right now, and they have flirted with Aaron Rodgers but decided to draft their quarterback of the future here in Sanders.
22: Los Angeles Chargers: Michigan Defensive Tackle Kenneth Grant
I hate this.
Kenneth Grant is a monster in the middle of the defense and reunites with his college coach, Jim Harbaugh, in Los Angeles with the Chargers
23. Green Bay Packers: Ole Miss Cornerback Trey Amos
The Packers need help in their secondary and select Ole Miss corner Trey Amos here. Jaire Alexander may be traded, so they add Amos here, who projects as a high-upside corner who has the potential to be a CB1 for them in the future.
24. Minnesota Vikings: South Carolina Safety Nick Emmanwori
The Vikings need safety help and pick the highly athletic and twitchy Nick Emmanwori here. He has great size and was a workout warrior at the Combine. He is more of a box safety who has a nose for the ball and the end zone when he gets the ball in his hands.
25. Houston Texans: Alabama Guard Tyler Booker
C.J. Stroud had little to no protection last season, and the Texans are revamping their offensive line this offseason. They will continue adding to it here in the first round by adding Alabama guard Tyler Booker.
TRADE ALERT: New York Giants trade with the Los Angeles Rams
26. New York Giants via Rams: Ole Miss Quarterback Jaxson Dart
The second trade of the mock!
The Giants signed Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston, but neither is their quarterback of the future. Brian Daboll and the rest of the Giants organization are on the hot seat, so they get aggressive here and trade up for Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart.
27. Baltimore Ravens: Georgia Safety Malaki Starks
The Ravens always have really good players fall to them in the draft, and that happens again here with Georgia safety Malaki Starks. He will play alongside Kyle Hamilton and give the Ravens a talented safety duo.
28. Detroit Lions: Marshall EDGE Mike Green
The Lions need another pass-rush threat opposite of Aidan Hutchinson, and get that here with Marshall’s Mike Green. He has a chance to thrive opposite of Hutchinson and give the Lions defense exactly what they need.
29. Washington Commanders: North Carolina Running Back Omarion Hampton
Commanders are apparently in the market for a running back, and they gladly take Hampton here, who slides a bit after the Broncos passed on him. He gives Jayden Daniels a powerful runner who can be a three-down back who can help out in the passing game.
30. Buffalo Bills: Kentucky Cornerback Maxwell Hairston
The Bills need help in their secondary and add the speedy corner Maxwell Hairston here in the end of the first round. He is an aggressive corner who has a nose for the football and can give you some pick-sixes.
31. Kansas City Chiefs: Ohio State Offensive Tackle Josh Simmons
The Chiefs continue to address their offensive line after the Eagles defense dominated them in the Super Bowl. Priority number one is protecting quarterback Patrick Mahomes, and they add Ohio State tackle Josh Simmons to help protect his blindside.
32. Philadelphia Eagles: Oregon Defensive Tackle Derrick Harmon
Harmon slid a bit due to medical concerns, but the Eagles stop that slide here and add another talented defensive lineman to their defense. They lost Milton Williams in free agency and rolled the dice here on Harmon, who projects as a top-15 pick prior to these medical red flags.