Nate's NFL Mock Draft (2025)

1. Tennessee Titans - Cam Ward, QB, Miami - This one seems to be set in stone at this point. The Titans need to move on from the Will Levis experiment and grab their new franchise signal caller. Ward is the best quarterback in this draft and I think there is no debate there. He possesses the arm strength to make any throw on the field and is a dynamic playmaker to go along with that. He carries himself with confidence and reads the game better than any other quarterback in this draft. Don’t over think it Tennessee, this is the right pick.

2. Cleveland Browns - Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado - If you know me, you know I’m a Travis Hunter doubter but that’s more so because I’m a giant Boise State fan and Ashton Jeanty was snubbed the Heisman. Either way, Hunter is a generational prospect. He did things on both sides of the football in college that we may never see again. He’ll be best at corner at the next level. He has elite ball-skills but can play a bit recklessly. He’ll best serve as a zone corner who has the ball skills and athleticism to start at day one. He has been clear that he also wants to play both sides of the football and let’s be clear, the Browns are one of the only organizations in football to let that happen.

3. New York Giants - Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State - The Giants are in desperate need of a franchise quarterback but this is not the draft to be doing that in. They did sign Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston to fill the void for the time being. Carter is arguably the best overall player in this entire draft. It’s really hard not to compare him to former Penn State star Micah Parsons. They are both guys who are involved in every play in every game and simply pop off the screen at you. The addition of Carter would instally give the Giants one of the better defensive fronts in football and let’s be honest here, the Giants are miles away from being a competent football team. Take the best player here and look for a quarterback in next year’s draft, which is significantly stronger than this year’s class. 

4. New England Patriots - Will Campbell, OT, LSU - This is another straightforward pick in my opinion. Drake Maye flashed in his rookie campaign a season ago but was playing behind one of the worst offensive lines in all of football. Campbell is the most fundamental tackle in this class and has the football IQ to be a plug-and-play from day one. There are concerns about his lack of arm-length but the rest of his game could make up for that. The Patriots need offensive line help in a desperate way. 

5. Jacksonville Jaguars - Mason Graham, DL, Michigan - No surprises yet on my end. The first five picks of this draft seem to be the same across most mock drafts you’ll find on the internet. The Jaguars have competent edge rushers in both Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen so adding the draft’s best interior defender seems like the ideal fit. Graham is an excellent run-stopper and collapses the pocket with what seems like ease on nearly every play on passing downs. 

6. Las Vegas Raiders - Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona - The Raiders need to make a splash. They made head-lines by bringing in Geno Smith during the off-season. Rolling out the likes of Jakobi Meyers, Tre Tucker and Ramel Keyton at receiver isn’t going to cut it. McMillian possesses such a unique combination of speed, size and athleticism. Standing at 6-foot-5, he can high-point the ball with the best of them but also possess 4.5 40-yard-dash speed. He was the focal point of an Arizona football team that saw him catch 84 balls for 1,319 yards and eight touchdowns a season ago. He also caught 90 balls for 1,402 yards and ten touchdowns in 2023. He’s far from a one-trick pony and has all-pro potential. 

7. New York Jets - Armand Membou, OT, Missouri - The Jets brought in Justin Fields to be their new quarterback this past off-season. Fields is annually one of the most sacked quarterbacks in the NFL so putting him behind the current Jets’ offensive line seems like a nightmare. Membou may have the highest ceiling of any tackle in this draft. He’ll likely be best at right-tackle in the NFL due to his size (6-foot-3) but does have the arm length to be a day-one-starter. He is also super light on his feet and has the athleticism to be a focal point of this Jets’ offensive line for years to come.

8. Carolina Panthers - Jalon Walker, LB, Georgia - The Carolina Panthers’ defense allowed the single most points in NFL history a season ago. They were also the league’s worst in quarterback pressure in 2024. It would be nice to get Bryce Young some new toys, but this defense needs to be addressed. Walker is a hybrid front-seven defender who can play both on the edge or as an interior linebacker. He is an athletic marvel, being able to beat the edge with his speed, duck under defenders and has active hands to disrupt any play. Being so versatile, the Panthers should be licking their lips to get this guy on their defense. 

9. New Orleans Saints - Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado - Is this a mistake? Probably. Derek Carr has two-years left on his deal but the amount of injuries he’s endured while in New Orleans can’t be ignored. Spencer Rattler also is not the answer. Sanders is under sized and I’d argue doesn’t possess the arm-strength for this level but what he does do better than almost anyone is take care of the football. He gets the football out of his hands quickly without making mistakes. He has the confidence and toughness to play the position.

10. Chicago Bears - Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State - Are there other areas on this Bears’ roster that need addressing? 100%. However, the thought of putting Jeanty on this team in Ben Johnon’s system is good to pass up. Jeanty is the total package. He possesses impressive balance, footwork, vision, explosiveness and big-play ability. He can run between the tackles but can also make anyone miss in the open field. He also has breakaway speed. Give Caleb Williams some help, relieve him of some pressure and add the best running back prospect of the past decade. 

11. San Francisco 49ers - Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State - If you tuned into a 49ers’ game a season ago, you would have quickly seen how bad their offensive line is. They need to think to the future and find the heir apparent to Trent Williams who is already a shell of his old self. Simmons missed most of 2024 with a torn patellar tendon but started 19 games over his career at left-tackle for Ohio State. Like the aforementioned Campbell, he has shorter-than-ideal arms but he takes the right angles to get to edge rushers. He mirrors the defenders with ease and has a strong punch.

12. Dallas Cowboys - Matthew Golden, WR, Texas - Outside of CeeDee Lamb, the Dallas Cowboys’ receiving corps is barren. They need to find him a running mate and Bolden seems to be the ideal fit for me. He ran a 4.29 40-yard-dash at the NFL Combine. He has the speed to beat press coverage. He combines his raw speed with impressive footwork and when the ball is in hands, he has the ability to score on any play. He’s an ideal WR2 in this league and with CeeDee Lamb with four years left on his deal, this seems like a match made in heaven.

13. Miami Dolphins - Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas - The elephant in the room is Tua Tagovailoa’s health. The Dolphins need to desperately keep him from getting hit, especially with Terron Armstead’s retirement. Banks started 42 games at left tackle for Texas. He fires off the ball and transitions smoothly into the second level. He has the size and length needed to be an everyday starter at the NFL level. Once he latches on to a defender, there is no getting away. 

14. Indianapolis Colts - Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State - Yes the Colts could use an upgrade on the offensive line but with the names called off the board already, adding an elite safety valve for Anthony Richardson should be their next priority. Warren finished his college career as Penn State’s program lead in total touchdowns, receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns among tight ends. He is a swiss-army-knife type of tight end, today’s NFL tight end if you will. He can line up at the end of the offensive line, in the slot, out wide, in the back field, heck, he could probably even play quarterback. 

15. Atlanta Falcons - James Pearce Jr., EDGE, Tennessee - The Falcons have fielded a competent defense for the past few seasons but they annually rank as one of the worst in terms of quarterback pressure and sacks. Pearce is the only edge rusher in this class to run a sub 4.5 40 yard dash. He also had the quickest 10-yard split (1.56 seconds.) Simply put, he is an elite athlete at 6-foot-5 and 245 pounds. He of course has elite speed to get around the edge but also takes the proper angle to the ball. He has the ability to redirect on a dime and can also beat defenders on the inside. His knock is that his arm-length is not quiet where you’d want it to be. 

16. Arizona Cardinals - Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri - The Cardinals made their key free agency moves on the defensive side of the ball and adding a big-play receiver could take the offense to the next level. There is a lot up in the air with Burden III but what you are getting is arguably the most well rounded receiver in this class. Going receiver in back-to-back drafts (Marvin Harrison Jr. last year) may not be ideal but the Cardinals are still lacking explosiveness on the offensive side of the ball. 

17. Cincinnati Bengals - Mike Green, EDGE, Marshall - The Bengals are giving up a lot of flexibility with their decision to keep Tee Higgins on the football team. With that being said, we could see an all-defensive draft for the Bengals this year. Green led all of FBS in sacks a season ago with 17. He explodes off the ball and transitions from speed to power rush seamlessly. He also changes direction extremely well and has closing speed to get to the ball carrier or quarterback. Trey Hendrickson signed a one-year extension to stay with Cincinnati. The team will have to get creative to keep the star pass-rusher in town but getting him a running mate could help keep him put. 

18. Seattle Seahawks - Will Johnson, CB, Michigan - Devon Witherspoon is the Seahawks’ only starting caliber corner signed beyond 2025. Picking this late in the draft and having the ability to get their choice of corners (outside of Hunter) should excite their front office. Johnson excels in reading the quarterback. He transitions his eyes from the quarterback to the receiver in order to break up passes in off coverage with the best of them. Johnson plays the ball, not the receiver, which is a rare trait to find among corners.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina - The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, much like the Cincinnati Bengals, could see themselves in an all defensive draft this season with holes to fill across the board. With that being said, they could go best player available on the defensive side of the ball and at this point, it’s Emmanwori. He’s an athletic freak. He’s one of four players 6-foot-3 or taller since 2003 to top 40 inches in the vertical jump and run a sub 4.4 40 yard dash at the NFL Combine. He blows up screens and matches up extremely well with tight ends. This is the ideal running mate for All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield Jr. Todd Bowles would have fun with Emmanwori. 

20. Denver Broncos - Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina - Two runningbacks in the top 20? Why not! The Broncos need to build a supporting cast around Bo Nix after his stellar rookie campaign. Hampton is the most physically gifted back in this year’s class. He has a combination of size, explosiveness and lower-body strength that jumps out at you when watching him run the football. He’s a tackle-breaking machine that has all the tools to be an every-down back in the NFL.

21. Pittsburgh Steelers - Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama - The Steelers tried the route of veteran quarterbacks in Justin Fields and Russell Wilson. They tried the hometown kid Kenny Pickett route prior. Now they have the chance to swing for the fences with Milroe. I’m not sure how I got here, but I’ve sold myself on Milroe. He’s easily the most physically gifted quarterback in this draft. He is far too inconsistent to be a top ten pick but he has the tools to be one. Ideally, Milroe would land in a spot where he could sit and learn. I’m not sure that is Pittsburgh but I love the fit. Think back to 2020 as the cross-state Eagles did a similar thing with another former Alabama quarterback named Jalen. 

22. Los Angeles Chargers - Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan - Loveland is not your traditional tight end. He’s not going to be able to line up at the end of the offensive line due to his lack of density but he’ll play the slot receiver role extremely well. We’ve seen this type of tight end over the past few seasons come out in the first route (ex. Dalton Kincaid.) He’s a long, tall pass catcher that has natural hands and runs routes better than any tight end in this class. The Chargers need to keep adding weapons for Justin Herbert. 

23. Green Bay Packers - Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas - We’re currently unsure of Jaire Alexander’s future in Green Bay but whatever happens with him, the Packers need to find his replacement in the draft. Barron reads the quarterback better than any cornerback in this draft. He has a natural feel for route combinations and plays zone with the best of them. He has sub 4.4 40-yard speed as well. His arms are short, which is the knock to him, but he makes up for that with his impressive timing and technique to break up passes.

24. Minnesota Vikings - Malaki Starks, S, Georgia - Harrison Smith is 36-years-old and it’s a matter of time before the Vikings need to seek a replacement. This is an ideal spot for the Vikings to trade back to gain draft capital as they hold just four picks in the entire draft. A strong free agency saw them fill a lot of holes so they’ll have the chance here to find Smith’s replacement. Starks was a starter in Georgia for three seasons. He has great football IQ, is a sound tackler and is very versatile. He can play both safety positions and line up in the slot. He’s not an elite athlete by any measures but is a starting-caliber secondary player. 

25. Houston Texans - Grey Zabel, OL, North Dakota State - The Texans traded away Laremy Tunshil and will need to look to the draft to keep franchise quarterback C.J. Stroud protected. Zabel is a five-position offensive lineman who is projected to be a center or guard in the NFL. He can still play tackle at the next level as well. Zabel is the complete package, outside of arm length. He started 41 games in his college career, playing left tackle, right tackle, left guard and right guard. For a team needing help on all levels of the offensive line, Zabel seems to be the ideal fit for Houston. 

26. Los Angeles Rams - Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky - Hairston ran the fastest 40-yard dash of any player at the NFL combine (4.28.) Hairston closes to the football with a flash and jumps routes better than anyone in this class. He recovers well with his elite speed as well. Three of the Rams’ top defensive backs are a year away from free agency as well.

27. Baltimore Ravens - Tyler Booker, G, Alabama - Another one of those ideal trade back spots would be the Ravens. There’s a slew of players that make sense here so if they’re able to grab draft capital and draft one of them, that would be ideal. With staying put, shoring up the interior of the offensive line should be top priority. Booker is as powerful as they come, well built and has a high football IQ. His foot speed and balance are issues, which would see him a can’t miss prospect. If the Ravens are able to get the most out of Booker, this could be one of the steals of the draft.

28. Detroit Lions - Donovan Ezeiruaku, EDGE, Boston College - The Boston College product ranked second in the FBS in sacks to just Mike Green with 16.5. He’s a slippery and rangy edge rusher who is undersized on paper (6-foot-3, 248 pounds) but makes up for that with long arms. He tracks the ball well and gets off blocks well. Once a defender is in Ezeiruaku’s grasp, they’re not getting away. Currently, the Lions’ best edge rusher opposite Aidan Hutchinson is Marcus Davenport.

29. Washington Commanders - Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia - Dante Fowler Jr. led the Commanders in sacks a season ago but left in free agency to the Dallas Cowboys. Williams is a long, strong and versatile edge prospect. He is one of those guys with a high motor. He does lack the consistency in terms of win percentage that you’d like to see but that’s why he’s being drafted here and not in the top 20.

30. Buffalo Bills - Walter Nolen, DL, Ole Miss - This is the point of the draft where the better teams can simply go best-player-available and luckily for the Bills, that is in a position of need. Nolen had 14.5 tackles-for-loss and 6.5 sacks a season ago playing on the interior of the defensive line in the SEC. He slips blocks well to get into the backfield. He can stack offensive lineman, split them and fight off double-teams to get into the backfield as well.

31. Kansas City Chiefs - Derrick Harmon, DL, Oregon - The Chiefs were dominated in the trenches in the Super Bowl by the Philadelphia Eagles. Simply outclassed. They need to find a demanding interior defensive lineman that will eat up blocks and allow Chris Jones more freedom on the edge. Harmon has just one year of notable production in college but what we saw was a player with a high football IQ, consistent competitiveness and NFL-level quickness. 

32. Philadelphia Eagles - Shemar Stewart, EDGE, Texas A&M - There is no such thing as a weakness on this Eagles’ roster. They’re easily the best well-rounded team in the league. The Eagles have made a living out of drafting troubled or under-producing talent out of the college ranks. This seems like a prime spot for Stewart. Stewart only recorded 11 tackles-for-loss and 4.5 sacks in three seasons at Texas A&M but his tape tells us a different story. He is a physically gifted and explosive player who gets off the ball extremely well. He has long arms that allows him to press blocks off of him and has natural power to shed blockers. The Eagles did lose Josh Sweat this off-season as well.