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With free agency's biggest stars mostly settled, the 2025 NFL Draft picture is a bit clearer. Two-plus weeks of signings have shored up some franchises biggest needs while glaring holes remain elsewhere. The easiest, and cheapest, way to fill them? With rookie talent.
That leads us to our latest mock draft -- this one with trades sprinkled in. While that part of the draft process is even more impossible to predict than the picks themselves, free agency did give us a better idea of who'll be proactive to pitch their biggest weaknesses.
What does that look like? Some movement in the top 10 -- and a third quarterback coming off the board late thanks to a trade-up.
Needs: QB, EDGE, WR, S, LB
The Titans sent an entire video production team down to Ward’s pro day at Miami, which seems to confirm what most of us assumed. They’re in the market for a rookie quarterback. Ward has separated himself from Shedeur Sanders as the pre-draft process wears on.
Tennessee's strategy of strategic bets on falling talent (Malik Willis, Will Levis) failed to pay out. Now it gets the chance to add a blue chip talent and the player the Titans want rather than one who slipped through the cracks. Ward has thrived everywhere he’s played, from Incarnate Word to Washington State to Coral Gables. Now he’ll have to make the most of an undermanned Titans offense.
Needs: QB, OL, WR, RB, DT
Pairing Abdul Carter with Myles Garrett may be too tempting to pass up. But Cleveland needs to generate some reason for fans to watch what could be an inept offense this season.
Enter Hunter, who can turn Kenny Pickett’s three solid downfield throws per game into big gains or work his magic on whatever gadget plays Kevin Stefanski can dream up. He’d also have the chance to play a role for a talented young(ish) secondary that gets to feast on the chaos Garrett sews up front.
While this isn’t the quarterback Cleveland needs, the Browns are more than a QB away from contention – and slowly building through 2025 creates the opportunity for a better rookie passer next spring while whittling down more of the team’s contractual obligations to Deshaun Watson, who was accused of more than 20 counts of sexual misconduct and what the NFL itself described as “predatory behavior” stemming from his time as a Houston Texan.
Needs: EDGE, CB, DL, WR
The Giants need a lot of help. Edge rusher isn’t a priority. But like Hunter, Carter is an elite prospect with a Hall of Fame ceiling – the kind of player who can make you scrap drafting for fit and splurge instead. Except New York is pretty heavily invested in Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux, making a trade back sensible.
The Jaguars make the modest move up to grab Carter, who can bring chaos from the second level as Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker crumple the pocket from up front. While a defensive tackle like Mason Graham makes more logistical sense, there’s no such thing as too much homegrown pass rushing talent. Carter’s presence would create more panicked throws and take the pressure off a beleaguered secondary.
Needs: OT, WR, QB, EDGE, TE
With the Giants passing on the No. 3 pick, the Saints could wait and see if he slips to the ninth overall pick. But the New York Jets have only a stopgap solution behind center with Justin Fields. With general manager Mickey Loomis in need of a spark to revive a moribund franchise (and undo some of the damage his salary cap gymnastics have created), he deals past the Jets and helps a depleted Patriots franchise add young talent later in the draft.
Releasing Derek Carr in 2026 can save up to $50 million in salary cap space for a franchise perpetually pressed up against it. The veteran played through a litany of injuries in 2023 and missed seven games last season. Sanders could provide some much needed optimism with his playmaking and downfield vision; he’d be a boon for Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed.
Needs: QB, OL, CB, TE, LB
Sanders is no longer an option and probably wasn’t the moment the team signed Russell Wilson. Instead, the Giants pick up a pair of third round picks and still get a dynamic defensive talent by sliding back to No. 5. Graham can be the middle-of-the-line force New York needs between Burns and Thibodeaux, using his 300-ish pound frame to shoot gaps and prevent quarterbacks from stepping up in the pocket at the first sign of discomfort.
That would pair him with Dexter Lawrence to bolster a defense that’s gonna have to step up for a team that still doesn’t know who its QB1 will be. Graham dropped from his Wolverine playing weight of 320 pounds down to 296 for the combine, which suggests he’ll be more explosive in 2025 but also capable of settling into a bulky, lane-clogging role if necessary.
Needs: CB, RB, LB, WR
With Geno Smith behind center and Pete Carroll calling the shots, upgrading the Raiders’ run game is vital. Las Vegas’s -126 rushing yards over expected (RYOE) was third-worst in the NFL last season.
Jeanty can single-handedly fix that. The Raiders ran for 1,351 yards last season, 200 fewer than the 31st-place Jets. Jeanty ran for nearly double that in three fewer games in 2024 – and he did so despite every opponent knowing he was getting the ball. Jeanty, Brock Bowers, Jakobi Meyers and Geno Smith is an interesting place to start with the Las Vegas offense. More help is needed, but if Carroll wants someone to tote the ball 25 times per week he found the right guy.
Needs: WR, EDGE, TE, S, QB, OT
Membou has rocketed up draft boards through the 2024 season and the scouting process to put himself in position as the first offensive lineman drafted in 2025. While his skills may make him a more viable right tackle than blindside protector, that works out just fine for New York. The Jets have 2024’s first round pick Olu Fashanu waiting to step up at left tackle anyway.
Fashanu-Membou would be the kind of foundation that helps lure quarterbacks to northern New Jersey. Membou’s arm length and athleticism – a 4.91-second 40 at 332 pounds! – are proof he can stick at tackle. The Missouri lineman is a lean 320 pounds, somehow, built atop a foundation of crazy athleticism. He'll be a marvel as a pulling guard and a rampart in pass protection. While he's still a bit raw, he'd bring All-Pro upside to a line that badly needs it.
Needs: OL, EDGE, LB, WR
Bryce Young showed signs of life as 2024 wore on. That meant elevating guys like Jalen Coker and David Moore in the passing game. It’s time to get him a proper WR1.
McMillan fits the bill. While he doesn’t have blazing speed, a 4.48-second 40 at 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds should make him elusive enough to continue roasting cornerbacks on Sundays. He was prolific as a Wildcat, averaging nearly 110 receiving yards per game the last two seasons. He uses his length and strength to create an extra layer of separation and a massive catch radius. There’s a lot of Drake London to his skill set, and that’s exactly what Young needs.
Needs: OT, WR, EDGE, OG, TE
McMillan would have been a great fit here. But instead of boosting Drake Maye's offensive line, the Patriots opt to give him a different playmaker instead.
Warren is a weapon in every facet of the game. He relishes contact and can be a people-mover in the run game. But he thrives as a Deebo Samuel-style hybrid, running out of the backfield, taking routes up the seam or devastating defenses with hard-charging runs after the catch. While it’s a shame he arrives in New England too late for Bill Belichick to put him in some truly stupid and glorious formations, it’s still a boon for Maye and an offense in dire need of playmakers.
Needs: OT, CB, EDGE, WR, LB
Campbell's stock has fluctuated through the pre-draft process, but he's a high-floor talent who'd be a fit with several teams -- including the Bears. In this scenario, however, an extra top 100 pick is enough to steer Chicago away from the offensive line and allow the 49ers to move up to the top 10.
San Francisco’s offensive line was considerably weaker on the right side than the left, but even that strength raises concerns now as Trent Williams approaches his age 37 season.
The All-SEC lineman can be a salve at multiple positions. Relatively short arms could kick him inside, but he displayed the kind of athleticism that should allow him to mitigate that reach with power and pancaking leverage. Worst case scenario, he kicks inside as a rookie… where the 49ers need help and Christian McCaffrey would be set up to thrive once more.
Needs: RB, S, EDGE, WR
Crafting an exit strategy from the Tyrique Stevenson experience isn't a terrible idea. Johnson brings top five talent at a draft slot outside the top 10. Without any glaring fits, the Bears get to draft the best player available here and worry about how to use his talent later.
And Johnson’s got a lot of talent. His primary feature is an innate smoothness that makes him incredibly difficult to shake. He flips his hips without losing speed and accelerates with excellent ball skills. He only had two interceptions last year... but both were pick-sixes in a season where he played just six games due to injury.
Needs: EDGE, LB, S, OT, WR, RB
Stewart’s role in A&M’s four-man front left him to make an impact on the field but not on the stat sheet. He had 4.5 sacks in three collegiate seasons, but after lighting the combine on fire he’s got Myles Garrett-type raw talent – something that plays into Jerry Jones’s star fixation in Dallas.
While the Cowboys signed Dante Fowler this offseason, he’s a stopgap solution. At 267 pounds with 4.5-second 40 speed and a 40-inch vertical leap, Stewart has the strength and explosion to be a constant headache at defensive end. Playing alongside Fowler and Micah Parsons would also soften his learning curve, creating the runway he needs to realize his vast potential.
Needs: CB, DT, S, OT, EDGE
Storm Duck outplayed expectations as an undrafted rookie. Jalen Ramsey continues to provide reliable coverage. But betting on that duo to stand up against the AFC’s elite quarterbacks in 2025 and beyond is a losing wager. Miami needs blue chip reinforcements.
Barron’s steady rise up the college football ranks – from reserve, to honorable mention All-Big 12 to first-team All-American – cemented his place as an elite talent. While his most obvious fit would be inside (where Kader Kohou is coming off a solid 2024), he has the length (5-foot-11) and speed to hold his own along the sideline. Given his capacity for growth, the Texas star is likely to thrive no matter what the Dolphins do with him.
Needs: IOL, LB, EDGE, S
Banks isn’t the interior lineman Indianapolis needs, but he could shift inside as a Colt to be the kind of space-clearing blocker Jonathan Taylor needs to be great again while serving as a potential successor to Braden Smith, who’ll be a free agent in 2026.
The Longhorn tackle isn’t the most athletic lineman in his class, but he moves well laterally and does a good job firing off the snap and redirecting defenders the moment they wind up over their skis. He’s a masher when clearing running lanes and intuitive with his punches to keep edge rushers at bay. With a high floor he’d make an immediate impact for a team trying to save general manager Chris Ballard’s job in 2024.
Needs: EDGE, OG, LB, CB, WR
There isn't a surefire fit at No. 15 for the Falcons. There is for a Chargers team set to rely heavily on Daiyan Henley and a 32-year-old Denzel Perryman at inside linebacker. Thus, Los Angeles jumps the line and Atlanta, stuck paying Kirk Cousins and figuring out what it has in Michael Penix Jr., picks up additional low cost draft assets for 2025 and 2026.
The Bulldog linebacker can do anything from the middle of the field, whether that's chasing down tight ends, filling run lanes or blitzing the quarterback (6.5 sacks in 2024). He's a fundamentally sound, high floor player who can make an immediate impact. He also has the awareness and athleticism to be an All-Pro. By those powers combined, it’s unlikely he’d make it out of the top 20 – hence the Chargers’ journey up the draft board.
Needs: WR, DT, CB, LB, S
Josh Sweat and Mike Green would give one of the league's least imposing pass rushes some undeniable juice at the edge. The question is whether Green can translate his ridiculous Group of Five production to the NFL.
Playing at Marshall gave him limited reps against elite competition. But he wrought havoc in Huntington, recording 17 sacks in 13 games last season -- including two against Virginia Tech and another against Ohio State. His explosive first-step and closing speed makes him a menace. Even if he can't win with a bull rush he's capable of shedding blocks and cleaning up from wherever he's lined up.
Needs: EDGE, TE, IOL, DB
After loading up on expensive offensive talent, the Bengals badly need defensive stars on rookie contracts. That's especially evident in the pass rush, where Trey Hendrickson's 17.5 sacks were one fewer than the rest of his team combined. Fortunately, Williams's slide allows Cincinnati to scoop up a player who looks like he'll be a force on Sundays before an edge rusher run can begin.
He’s the latest monster to roll off the assembly line at Georgia’s monster factory. He’s got prototypical edge rusher traits, from his 6-foot-5, 260 pound frame to the twitchiness that led to 23 tackles for loss and 14.5 sacks in his college career. Like most Bulldogs, there’s still potential yet to be tapped as he levels up. Cincinnati would offer an immediate chance to step into the spotlight and shine.
Needs: WR, TE, EDGE, IOL
Mike Macdonald’s defense ranked 20th in expected points added (EPA) allowed over the first half of his rookie season as an NFL head coach. The Seahawks jumped to fifth over the final nine weeks of the season. This defense is nearing Super Bowl caliber, but more talent is needed to get it over that hump.
How much does head coach Mike Macdonald trust Tyrice Wright? How highly do the Seahawks grade this year's crop of interior linemen? Those two questions will determine whether Seattle takes a swing on a blocker or opts for one of 2025's premier off-ball linebackers. Campbell is a do-everything monster who recorded 117 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, five sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception in 13 games last fall.
At 6-foot-3 and 245 pounds, he's a bulky-but-fluid linebacker capable of filling multiple roles along the linebacker corps. He carries that bulk well, running a 4.5-second 40 at the combine and recording a 10-foot-7 broad jump.
Needs: EDGE, S, CB, LB
Pearce is a slightly weird prospect. He was primed to be a top five pick after his 2023 10-sack breakthrough, but his production dipped in 2024. He dusted off a gorgeous 4.47-second 40 but weak jumping scores dimmed the enthusiasm about his explosiveness. There’s the feeling he could be something great, but it’s balanced by the invasive thought he may be nothing more than a useful rotational piece.
The Buccaneers need greatness in their pass rush. They had a top three blitz rate but ranked only 17th in sack rate last season. Adding Haason Reddick is a start, but he turns 31 at the start of the season. Pearce would be a lightning bolt who can take on a rotational role early and develop into a foundational presence in the years that follow.
Needs: WR, EDGE, DL, LB
Golden arguably bolstered his stock more than any other skill player in Indianapolis – and all he did was run the 40. A 4.29-second time there affirmed his status as a burner, and while Denver already has one of those (Marvin Mims), the Longhorn wideout may be a better fit for an offense that encouraged Bo Nix to shed his pre-draft labels and launch deep balls throughout his rookie campaign.
Golden averaged 17 yards per catch after transferring from Houston to Texas, taking advantage of Quinn Ewers’s dynamic passing game. Now he gets to be the lightning to Courtland Sutton’s thunder and the extra gear the Broncos offense needs.
Needs: QB, RB, LB, CB, DL
With needs across the secondary, this pick likely comes down to Starks or cornerbacks like Shavon Revel Jr. or Maxwell Hairston. The Steelers value a versatile safety -- Mike Tomlin once traded a first round pick for Minkah Fitzpatrick -- and now they add another plug-and-play starter who can fit as free safety, in the box or lined up over a slot wideout.
Starks gets the nod here over a rising Nick Emmanwori to be Pittsburgh’s next defensive stud. Starks has some Brian Branch to his game as a safety capable of handling multiple roles.Tomlin can line him up over the slot or slide him to the last line of defense without sacrificing quality in the lineup. With T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith generating chaos up front, the rookie would get the chance to thrive cleaning up the messes that pass rush forces quarterbacks into.
Needs: EDGE, C, DT, LB, S
Atlanta badly needs help across its defensive front. Nolen, a former five-star recruit coming off his finest season in college, has the highest ceiling of any remaining front seven prospects. Nolen can’t replace Grady Jarrett, but he can make his departure slightly easier to swallow for Falcons fans.
Nolen’s transfer from Texas A&M to Ole Miss unlocked his All-American potential (more good news for the Cowboys and Shemar Stewart). He’s nimble and has fast hands, engaging and shucking aside blockers in the pass rush and jamming himself into running lanes (at nearly 300 pounds) when it comes to handoffs. He could handle multiple roles up front for a team light on talent, making himself the skeleton key that unlocks new pages in the Atlanta playbook.
Needs: EDGE, DT, IOL, CB, OT
Revel’s torn ACL works out great for the Packers, as they get a player with top 15 potential toward the back of the first round. The East Carolina star’s stock will depend on his rehabilitation going according to plan, but he’d provide vital insurance should Jaire Alexander – a guy Revel put on his personal Mount Rushmore of cornerbacks (!) be limited to seven games like he has each of the last two seasons.
Revel has elite length at a long-armed 6-foot-2, which serves to boost his recovery skills (and makes him an effective special teams force, as evidenced by a pair of blocked field goals in 2023). With solid size and speed he’ll be effective in zone or man coverage. There’s a bit more boom-or-bust to his game than some of the other cornerbacks in his class, but you could make a similar case for Quinyon Mitchell last spring. Mitchell's already got a Super Bowl ring.
Needs: CB, S, RB, LB
Brian Flores's aggression meets a perfect match in Emmanwori, who plays as though he's been released from a silo to explode whatever perceived enemy is in his sights. Emmanwori wasn’t a safety-blitz wizard as a Gamecock (zero career sacks), but he was a rocket toward panicked passes, turning that into four interceptions and a pair of pick-sixes last fall.
That gives him a chance to flex his 4.38-second 40 speed atop a pile of carved muscle at 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds. He can get sideline to sideline in a hurry, but his best work may be done in the box where he can be the kind of force that separates tight ends from the ball with regularity.
Needs: IOL, OT, RB, DT, WR
There's plenty of offensive line talent to choose from at No. 25 -- a perfect scenario for the Texans, who offloaded 40 percent of an underwhelming starting line this offseason. Signing Cam Robinson relieves some of the pressure of adding another tackle, leaving Josh Simmons on the board for now. That leaves Houston to choose between Zabel and Alabama stud Tyler Booker to reinforce its interior.
In this case, Houston opts for a higher ceiling rather than the stable floor of Booker. The fact Zabel has played every position on the Bison offensive line doesn’t hurt, either. With impressive burst, he clears lanes effectively and should be an asset as a pulling guard on Sundays. After a season in which the Texans ranked 26th in run game efficiency, he’d be an immediate boost.
Needs: OT, TE, LB, S, CB
Rob Havenstein was drafted a decade ago. He'll be a free agent after 2025. Neither he nor Alaric Jackson have played a full 17 game season in either of the last two years.
Simmons was a Day 1 starter both as a freshman at San Diego State and a transfer with the Buckeyes the last two seasons. He’s long armed and powerful with the low center of gravity that should help him recover from rookie mistakes. He slides here after not working out at the combine, but that could make him 2025’s biggest draft bargain.
Needs: G, CB, WR, EDGE
A slightly undersized outside linebacker out of Boston College? Is it lazy to make Harold Landry comparisons here?
Ezeiraku didn’t light up the combine and his quiet 2023 raises concerns about his consistency. Counterpoint: 16.5 sacks. That’s what he had in 12 games last season, all but three of which came against Power 4 opponents. He’s relentless from the second level and would be an immediate boost for a pass rush that can’t rely on Kyle Van Noy to set another career high in sacks in his 30s.
Needs: LB, EDGE, IOL, WR
Maybe the Lions are eager to let Christian Mahogany move into the starting lineup. But Dan Campbell doesn’t seem like the kind of guy to turn down a blue chip blocker – especially when he could be the best interior lineman in his class.
Booker’s run blocking and eagerness to flatten linebackers is a wonderful fit for Detroit’s run-at-you-until-you-die philosophy. What he lacks in sheer athleticism he makes up for by making his rage look so dang smooth. Which, again, fits incredibly well with Campbell’s entire being.
Needs: CB, EDGE, TE, LB, WR
Scourton’s jump from Purdue to Texas A&M didn’t unlock stardom, but the Aggies’ defense was a stacked lineup of blue chip defenders whose overall competence dulled everyone’s counting stats. He’s still the guy who led the Big Ten with 10 sacks in 2023, all of which came against Power 4 opponents.
He’s a three-down presence who uses his size and power to reconfigure linemen and force opponents to improvise mid-play. He may never be a dynamic speed rusher, but he’s a monster at the point of contact with the agility to cut inside and chase down quarterbacks.
Needs: CB, WR, EDGE, S
Hairston was largely regarded as a second round talent, but a 4.28-second 40 and near-40-inch vertical leap helped him stand out at the combine. Will that physical talent be enough to overcome a good-not-great Kentucky career?
He was at least partially a victim of his own success after leading the SEC with five interceptions in 2023. He saw fewer targets each week, but also played only seven games due to injury. There’s a massive ceiling here but also a lower floor than similarly rated corners. Would Buffalo swing for the fences? Or opt for a safer option?
Needs: OT, DT, EDGE, CB, S
The slot next to Chris Jones is open and the top candidate to fill it is Jerry Tillery, which... isn't ideal. Grant has been a volatile talent in the pre-draft process, but let’s begin with the unassailable. He’s a 331-pound monster who is wildly difficult to move if he does not want to be moved.
Grant offers utility as a pass rusher (6.5 sacks the last two seasons) but his headline is as a lane-clogger. While the Chiefs were solid against the run last fall, the rise of NFL running offenses – including the Eagles team that just beat them in the Super Bowl – puts a little extra emphasis on blowing up handoffs before they become fatal. Grant may never touch Jones’s pass rushing impact, but he’ll be the kind of foundation that keeps his All-Pro teammate soaring over the back end of his career.
Needs: QB, OL, S, TE, RB, LB
Neither Russell Wilson nor Jameis Winston are anything more than stopgap options. The Giants need a franchise quarterback and head coach Brian Daboll desperately needs something to build optimism for the future if he’s going to keep his job.
Hence, a brief trade up that prevents other teams from using the Thursday night/Friday morning break to ply the Browns with trade offers for the 33rd pick (skipping QB-needy Cleveland is a help as well – and justifies an expensive cost to move up two slots). Dart is an imperfect prospect, but he’s the best of a bad situation in New York (unless the Giants prefer Tyler Shough instead). His steady improvement across four NCAA seasons suggests he can grasp an NFL offense over time and deliver some short-term lightning if dropped into the lineup as a rookie. There’s a lot to clean up in his game, but at least he’d have Malik Nabers to throw to.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: 2025 NFL mock draft: A harried Saints deal to land Shedeur Sanders?
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That leads us to our latest mock draft -- this one with trades sprinkled in. While that part of the draft process is even more impossible to predict than the picks themselves, free agency did give us a better idea of who'll be proactive to pitch their biggest weaknesses.
What does that look like? Some movement in the top 10 -- and a third quarterback coming off the board late thanks to a trade-up.
1. Tennessee Titans: QB Cameron Ward, Miami
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Needs: QB, EDGE, WR, S, LB
The Titans sent an entire video production team down to Ward’s pro day at Miami, which seems to confirm what most of us assumed. They’re in the market for a rookie quarterback. Ward has separated himself from Shedeur Sanders as the pre-draft process wears on.
Tennessee's strategy of strategic bets on falling talent (Malik Willis, Will Levis) failed to pay out. Now it gets the chance to add a blue chip talent and the player the Titans want rather than one who slipped through the cracks. Ward has thrived everywhere he’s played, from Incarnate Word to Washington State to Coral Gables. Now he’ll have to make the most of an undermanned Titans offense.
2. Cleveland Browns: CB/WR Travis Hunter, Colorado
Needs: QB, OL, WR, RB, DT
Pairing Abdul Carter with Myles Garrett may be too tempting to pass up. But Cleveland needs to generate some reason for fans to watch what could be an inept offense this season.
Enter Hunter, who can turn Kenny Pickett’s three solid downfield throws per game into big gains or work his magic on whatever gadget plays Kevin Stefanski can dream up. He’d also have the chance to play a role for a talented young(ish) secondary that gets to feast on the chaos Garrett sews up front.
While this isn’t the quarterback Cleveland needs, the Browns are more than a QB away from contention – and slowly building through 2025 creates the opportunity for a better rookie passer next spring while whittling down more of the team’s contractual obligations to Deshaun Watson, who was accused of more than 20 counts of sexual misconduct and what the NFL itself described as “predatory behavior” stemming from his time as a Houston Texan.
3. Trade! Jacksonville Jaguars: EDGE Abdul Carter, Penn State
Needs: EDGE, CB, DL, WR
- Giants trade: Third overall pick
- Jaguars trade: Fifth overall pick, 2025 third round pick (70th overall), 2026 third round selection
The Giants need a lot of help. Edge rusher isn’t a priority. But like Hunter, Carter is an elite prospect with a Hall of Fame ceiling – the kind of player who can make you scrap drafting for fit and splurge instead. Except New York is pretty heavily invested in Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux, making a trade back sensible.
The Jaguars make the modest move up to grab Carter, who can bring chaos from the second level as Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker crumple the pocket from up front. While a defensive tackle like Mason Graham makes more logistical sense, there’s no such thing as too much homegrown pass rushing talent. Carter’s presence would create more panicked throws and take the pressure off a beleaguered secondary.
4. Trade! New Orleans Saints: QB Shedeur Sanders, Colorado
Needs: OT, WR, QB, EDGE, TE
- Patriots trade: Fourth overall pick, 2026 fourth round selection
- Saints trade: Ninth overall pick, 2025 second round pick (40th overall) and a 2026 third round selection
With the Giants passing on the No. 3 pick, the Saints could wait and see if he slips to the ninth overall pick. But the New York Jets have only a stopgap solution behind center with Justin Fields. With general manager Mickey Loomis in need of a spark to revive a moribund franchise (and undo some of the damage his salary cap gymnastics have created), he deals past the Jets and helps a depleted Patriots franchise add young talent later in the draft.
Releasing Derek Carr in 2026 can save up to $50 million in salary cap space for a franchise perpetually pressed up against it. The veteran played through a litany of injuries in 2023 and missed seven games last season. Sanders could provide some much needed optimism with his playmaking and downfield vision; he’d be a boon for Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed.
5. New York Giants: DL Mason Graham, Michigan
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Needs: QB, OL, CB, TE, LB
Sanders is no longer an option and probably wasn’t the moment the team signed Russell Wilson. Instead, the Giants pick up a pair of third round picks and still get a dynamic defensive talent by sliding back to No. 5. Graham can be the middle-of-the-line force New York needs between Burns and Thibodeaux, using his 300-ish pound frame to shoot gaps and prevent quarterbacks from stepping up in the pocket at the first sign of discomfort.
That would pair him with Dexter Lawrence to bolster a defense that’s gonna have to step up for a team that still doesn’t know who its QB1 will be. Graham dropped from his Wolverine playing weight of 320 pounds down to 296 for the combine, which suggests he’ll be more explosive in 2025 but also capable of settling into a bulky, lane-clogging role if necessary.
6. Las Vegas Raiders: RB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State
Needs: CB, RB, LB, WR
With Geno Smith behind center and Pete Carroll calling the shots, upgrading the Raiders’ run game is vital. Las Vegas’s -126 rushing yards over expected (RYOE) was third-worst in the NFL last season.
Jeanty can single-handedly fix that. The Raiders ran for 1,351 yards last season, 200 fewer than the 31st-place Jets. Jeanty ran for nearly double that in three fewer games in 2024 – and he did so despite every opponent knowing he was getting the ball. Jeanty, Brock Bowers, Jakobi Meyers and Geno Smith is an interesting place to start with the Las Vegas offense. More help is needed, but if Carroll wants someone to tote the ball 25 times per week he found the right guy.
7. New York Jets: OL Armand Membou, Missouri
Needs: WR, EDGE, TE, S, QB, OT
Membou has rocketed up draft boards through the 2024 season and the scouting process to put himself in position as the first offensive lineman drafted in 2025. While his skills may make him a more viable right tackle than blindside protector, that works out just fine for New York. The Jets have 2024’s first round pick Olu Fashanu waiting to step up at left tackle anyway.
Fashanu-Membou would be the kind of foundation that helps lure quarterbacks to northern New Jersey. Membou’s arm length and athleticism – a 4.91-second 40 at 332 pounds! – are proof he can stick at tackle. The Missouri lineman is a lean 320 pounds, somehow, built atop a foundation of crazy athleticism. He'll be a marvel as a pulling guard and a rampart in pass protection. While he's still a bit raw, he'd bring All-Pro upside to a line that badly needs it.
8. Carolina Panthers: WR Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona
Needs: OL, EDGE, LB, WR
Bryce Young showed signs of life as 2024 wore on. That meant elevating guys like Jalen Coker and David Moore in the passing game. It’s time to get him a proper WR1.
McMillan fits the bill. While he doesn’t have blazing speed, a 4.48-second 40 at 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds should make him elusive enough to continue roasting cornerbacks on Sundays. He was prolific as a Wildcat, averaging nearly 110 receiving yards per game the last two seasons. He uses his length and strength to create an extra layer of separation and a massive catch radius. There’s a lot of Drake London to his skill set, and that’s exactly what Young needs.
9. New England Patriots: TE Tyler Warren, Penn State
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Needs: OT, WR, EDGE, OG, TE
McMillan would have been a great fit here. But instead of boosting Drake Maye's offensive line, the Patriots opt to give him a different playmaker instead.
Warren is a weapon in every facet of the game. He relishes contact and can be a people-mover in the run game. But he thrives as a Deebo Samuel-style hybrid, running out of the backfield, taking routes up the seam or devastating defenses with hard-charging runs after the catch. While it’s a shame he arrives in New England too late for Bill Belichick to put him in some truly stupid and glorious formations, it’s still a boon for Maye and an offense in dire need of playmakers.
10. Trade! San Francisco 49ers: OT Will Campbell, LSU
Needs: OT, CB, EDGE, WR, LB
- 49ers trade: 11th overall pick, 2025 third round pick (100th overall)
- Bears trade: 10th overall pick
Campbell's stock has fluctuated through the pre-draft process, but he's a high-floor talent who'd be a fit with several teams -- including the Bears. In this scenario, however, an extra top 100 pick is enough to steer Chicago away from the offensive line and allow the 49ers to move up to the top 10.
San Francisco’s offensive line was considerably weaker on the right side than the left, but even that strength raises concerns now as Trent Williams approaches his age 37 season.
The All-SEC lineman can be a salve at multiple positions. Relatively short arms could kick him inside, but he displayed the kind of athleticism that should allow him to mitigate that reach with power and pancaking leverage. Worst case scenario, he kicks inside as a rookie… where the 49ers need help and Christian McCaffrey would be set up to thrive once more.
11. Chicago Bears: CB Will Johnson, Michigan
Needs: RB, S, EDGE, WR
Crafting an exit strategy from the Tyrique Stevenson experience isn't a terrible idea. Johnson brings top five talent at a draft slot outside the top 10. Without any glaring fits, the Bears get to draft the best player available here and worry about how to use his talent later.
And Johnson’s got a lot of talent. His primary feature is an innate smoothness that makes him incredibly difficult to shake. He flips his hips without losing speed and accelerates with excellent ball skills. He only had two interceptions last year... but both were pick-sixes in a season where he played just six games due to injury.
12. Dallas Cowboys: DL Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M
Needs: EDGE, LB, S, OT, WR, RB
Stewart’s role in A&M’s four-man front left him to make an impact on the field but not on the stat sheet. He had 4.5 sacks in three collegiate seasons, but after lighting the combine on fire he’s got Myles Garrett-type raw talent – something that plays into Jerry Jones’s star fixation in Dallas.
While the Cowboys signed Dante Fowler this offseason, he’s a stopgap solution. At 267 pounds with 4.5-second 40 speed and a 40-inch vertical leap, Stewart has the strength and explosion to be a constant headache at defensive end. Playing alongside Fowler and Micah Parsons would also soften his learning curve, creating the runway he needs to realize his vast potential.
13. Miami Dolphins: CB Jahdae Barron, Texas
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Needs: CB, DT, S, OT, EDGE
Storm Duck outplayed expectations as an undrafted rookie. Jalen Ramsey continues to provide reliable coverage. But betting on that duo to stand up against the AFC’s elite quarterbacks in 2025 and beyond is a losing wager. Miami needs blue chip reinforcements.
Barron’s steady rise up the college football ranks – from reserve, to honorable mention All-Big 12 to first-team All-American – cemented his place as an elite talent. While his most obvious fit would be inside (where Kader Kohou is coming off a solid 2024), he has the length (5-foot-11) and speed to hold his own along the sideline. Given his capacity for growth, the Texas star is likely to thrive no matter what the Dolphins do with him.
14. Indianapolis Colts: OT Kelvin Banks, Texas
Needs: IOL, LB, EDGE, S
Banks isn’t the interior lineman Indianapolis needs, but he could shift inside as a Colt to be the kind of space-clearing blocker Jonathan Taylor needs to be great again while serving as a potential successor to Braden Smith, who’ll be a free agent in 2026.
The Longhorn tackle isn’t the most athletic lineman in his class, but he moves well laterally and does a good job firing off the snap and redirecting defenders the moment they wind up over their skis. He’s a masher when clearing running lanes and intuitive with his punches to keep edge rushers at bay. With a high floor he’d make an immediate impact for a team trying to save general manager Chris Ballard’s job in 2024.
15. Trade! Los Angeles Chargers: LB Jalon Walker, Georgia
Needs: EDGE, OG, LB, CB, WR
- Falcons trade: 15th overall pick, 2026 fifth round selection
- Chargers trade: 22nd overall pick, 2025 third round pick (86th overall), 2026 third round selection
There isn't a surefire fit at No. 15 for the Falcons. There is for a Chargers team set to rely heavily on Daiyan Henley and a 32-year-old Denzel Perryman at inside linebacker. Thus, Los Angeles jumps the line and Atlanta, stuck paying Kirk Cousins and figuring out what it has in Michael Penix Jr., picks up additional low cost draft assets for 2025 and 2026.
The Bulldog linebacker can do anything from the middle of the field, whether that's chasing down tight ends, filling run lanes or blitzing the quarterback (6.5 sacks in 2024). He's a fundamentally sound, high floor player who can make an immediate impact. He also has the awareness and athleticism to be an All-Pro. By those powers combined, it’s unlikely he’d make it out of the top 20 – hence the Chargers’ journey up the draft board.
16. Arizona Cardinals: EDGE Mike Green, Marshall
Needs: WR, DT, CB, LB, S
Josh Sweat and Mike Green would give one of the league's least imposing pass rushes some undeniable juice at the edge. The question is whether Green can translate his ridiculous Group of Five production to the NFL.
Playing at Marshall gave him limited reps against elite competition. But he wrought havoc in Huntington, recording 17 sacks in 13 games last season -- including two against Virginia Tech and another against Ohio State. His explosive first-step and closing speed makes him a menace. Even if he can't win with a bull rush he's capable of shedding blocks and cleaning up from wherever he's lined up.
17. Cincinnati Bengals: DL Mykel Williams, Georgia
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Needs: EDGE, TE, IOL, DB
After loading up on expensive offensive talent, the Bengals badly need defensive stars on rookie contracts. That's especially evident in the pass rush, where Trey Hendrickson's 17.5 sacks were one fewer than the rest of his team combined. Fortunately, Williams's slide allows Cincinnati to scoop up a player who looks like he'll be a force on Sundays before an edge rusher run can begin.
He’s the latest monster to roll off the assembly line at Georgia’s monster factory. He’s got prototypical edge rusher traits, from his 6-foot-5, 260 pound frame to the twitchiness that led to 23 tackles for loss and 14.5 sacks in his college career. Like most Bulldogs, there’s still potential yet to be tapped as he levels up. Cincinnati would offer an immediate chance to step into the spotlight and shine.
18. Seattle Seahawks: LB Jihaad Campbell, Alabama
Needs: WR, TE, EDGE, IOL
Mike Macdonald’s defense ranked 20th in expected points added (EPA) allowed over the first half of his rookie season as an NFL head coach. The Seahawks jumped to fifth over the final nine weeks of the season. This defense is nearing Super Bowl caliber, but more talent is needed to get it over that hump.
How much does head coach Mike Macdonald trust Tyrice Wright? How highly do the Seahawks grade this year's crop of interior linemen? Those two questions will determine whether Seattle takes a swing on a blocker or opts for one of 2025's premier off-ball linebackers. Campbell is a do-everything monster who recorded 117 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, five sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception in 13 games last fall.
At 6-foot-3 and 245 pounds, he's a bulky-but-fluid linebacker capable of filling multiple roles along the linebacker corps. He carries that bulk well, running a 4.5-second 40 at the combine and recording a 10-foot-7 broad jump.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: EDGE James Pearce Jr., Tennessee
Needs: EDGE, S, CB, LB
Pearce is a slightly weird prospect. He was primed to be a top five pick after his 2023 10-sack breakthrough, but his production dipped in 2024. He dusted off a gorgeous 4.47-second 40 but weak jumping scores dimmed the enthusiasm about his explosiveness. There’s the feeling he could be something great, but it’s balanced by the invasive thought he may be nothing more than a useful rotational piece.
The Buccaneers need greatness in their pass rush. They had a top three blitz rate but ranked only 17th in sack rate last season. Adding Haason Reddick is a start, but he turns 31 at the start of the season. Pearce would be a lightning bolt who can take on a rotational role early and develop into a foundational presence in the years that follow.
20. Denver Broncos: WR Matthew Golden, Texas
Needs: WR, EDGE, DL, LB
Golden arguably bolstered his stock more than any other skill player in Indianapolis – and all he did was run the 40. A 4.29-second time there affirmed his status as a burner, and while Denver already has one of those (Marvin Mims), the Longhorn wideout may be a better fit for an offense that encouraged Bo Nix to shed his pre-draft labels and launch deep balls throughout his rookie campaign.
Golden averaged 17 yards per catch after transferring from Houston to Texas, taking advantage of Quinn Ewers’s dynamic passing game. Now he gets to be the lightning to Courtland Sutton’s thunder and the extra gear the Broncos offense needs.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers: S Malaki Starks, Georgia
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Needs: QB, RB, LB, CB, DL
With needs across the secondary, this pick likely comes down to Starks or cornerbacks like Shavon Revel Jr. or Maxwell Hairston. The Steelers value a versatile safety -- Mike Tomlin once traded a first round pick for Minkah Fitzpatrick -- and now they add another plug-and-play starter who can fit as free safety, in the box or lined up over a slot wideout.
Starks gets the nod here over a rising Nick Emmanwori to be Pittsburgh’s next defensive stud. Starks has some Brian Branch to his game as a safety capable of handling multiple roles.Tomlin can line him up over the slot or slide him to the last line of defense without sacrificing quality in the lineup. With T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith generating chaos up front, the rookie would get the chance to thrive cleaning up the messes that pass rush forces quarterbacks into.
22. Atlanta Falcons: DL Walter Nolen, Mississippi
Needs: EDGE, C, DT, LB, S
Atlanta badly needs help across its defensive front. Nolen, a former five-star recruit coming off his finest season in college, has the highest ceiling of any remaining front seven prospects. Nolen can’t replace Grady Jarrett, but he can make his departure slightly easier to swallow for Falcons fans.
Nolen’s transfer from Texas A&M to Ole Miss unlocked his All-American potential (more good news for the Cowboys and Shemar Stewart). He’s nimble and has fast hands, engaging and shucking aside blockers in the pass rush and jamming himself into running lanes (at nearly 300 pounds) when it comes to handoffs. He could handle multiple roles up front for a team light on talent, making himself the skeleton key that unlocks new pages in the Atlanta playbook.
23. Green Bay Packers: CB Shavon Revel Jr., East Carolina
Needs: EDGE, DT, IOL, CB, OT
Revel’s torn ACL works out great for the Packers, as they get a player with top 15 potential toward the back of the first round. The East Carolina star’s stock will depend on his rehabilitation going according to plan, but he’d provide vital insurance should Jaire Alexander – a guy Revel put on his personal Mount Rushmore of cornerbacks (!) be limited to seven games like he has each of the last two seasons.
Revel has elite length at a long-armed 6-foot-2, which serves to boost his recovery skills (and makes him an effective special teams force, as evidenced by a pair of blocked field goals in 2023). With solid size and speed he’ll be effective in zone or man coverage. There’s a bit more boom-or-bust to his game than some of the other cornerbacks in his class, but you could make a similar case for Quinyon Mitchell last spring. Mitchell's already got a Super Bowl ring.
24. Minnesota Vikings: S Nick Emmanwori, South Carolina
Needs: CB, S, RB, LB
Brian Flores's aggression meets a perfect match in Emmanwori, who plays as though he's been released from a silo to explode whatever perceived enemy is in his sights. Emmanwori wasn’t a safety-blitz wizard as a Gamecock (zero career sacks), but he was a rocket toward panicked passes, turning that into four interceptions and a pair of pick-sixes last fall.
That gives him a chance to flex his 4.38-second 40 speed atop a pile of carved muscle at 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds. He can get sideline to sideline in a hurry, but his best work may be done in the box where he can be the kind of force that separates tight ends from the ball with regularity.
25. Houston Texans: OL Grey Zabel, North Dakota State
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Needs: IOL, OT, RB, DT, WR
There's plenty of offensive line talent to choose from at No. 25 -- a perfect scenario for the Texans, who offloaded 40 percent of an underwhelming starting line this offseason. Signing Cam Robinson relieves some of the pressure of adding another tackle, leaving Josh Simmons on the board for now. That leaves Houston to choose between Zabel and Alabama stud Tyler Booker to reinforce its interior.
In this case, Houston opts for a higher ceiling rather than the stable floor of Booker. The fact Zabel has played every position on the Bison offensive line doesn’t hurt, either. With impressive burst, he clears lanes effectively and should be an asset as a pulling guard on Sundays. After a season in which the Texans ranked 26th in run game efficiency, he’d be an immediate boost.
26. Los Angeles Rams: OT Josh Simmons, Ohio State
Needs: OT, TE, LB, S, CB
Rob Havenstein was drafted a decade ago. He'll be a free agent after 2025. Neither he nor Alaric Jackson have played a full 17 game season in either of the last two years.
Simmons was a Day 1 starter both as a freshman at San Diego State and a transfer with the Buckeyes the last two seasons. He’s long armed and powerful with the low center of gravity that should help him recover from rookie mistakes. He slides here after not working out at the combine, but that could make him 2025’s biggest draft bargain.
27. Baltimore Ravens: EDGE Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College
Needs: G, CB, WR, EDGE
A slightly undersized outside linebacker out of Boston College? Is it lazy to make Harold Landry comparisons here?
Ezeiraku didn’t light up the combine and his quiet 2023 raises concerns about his consistency. Counterpoint: 16.5 sacks. That’s what he had in 12 games last season, all but three of which came against Power 4 opponents. He’s relentless from the second level and would be an immediate boost for a pass rush that can’t rely on Kyle Van Noy to set another career high in sacks in his 30s.
28. Detroit Lions: IOL Tyler Booker, Alabama
Needs: LB, EDGE, IOL, WR
Maybe the Lions are eager to let Christian Mahogany move into the starting lineup. But Dan Campbell doesn’t seem like the kind of guy to turn down a blue chip blocker – especially when he could be the best interior lineman in his class.
Booker’s run blocking and eagerness to flatten linebackers is a wonderful fit for Detroit’s run-at-you-until-you-die philosophy. What he lacks in sheer athleticism he makes up for by making his rage look so dang smooth. Which, again, fits incredibly well with Campbell’s entire being.
29. Washington Commanders: EDGE Nic Scourton, Texas A&M
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Needs: CB, EDGE, TE, LB, WR
Scourton’s jump from Purdue to Texas A&M didn’t unlock stardom, but the Aggies’ defense was a stacked lineup of blue chip defenders whose overall competence dulled everyone’s counting stats. He’s still the guy who led the Big Ten with 10 sacks in 2023, all of which came against Power 4 opponents.
He’s a three-down presence who uses his size and power to reconfigure linemen and force opponents to improvise mid-play. He may never be a dynamic speed rusher, but he’s a monster at the point of contact with the agility to cut inside and chase down quarterbacks.
30. Buffalo Bills: CB Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky
Needs: CB, WR, EDGE, S
Hairston was largely regarded as a second round talent, but a 4.28-second 40 and near-40-inch vertical leap helped him stand out at the combine. Will that physical talent be enough to overcome a good-not-great Kentucky career?
He was at least partially a victim of his own success after leading the SEC with five interceptions in 2023. He saw fewer targets each week, but also played only seven games due to injury. There’s a massive ceiling here but also a lower floor than similarly rated corners. Would Buffalo swing for the fences? Or opt for a safer option?
31. Kansas City Chiefs: DL Kenneth Grant, Michigan
Needs: OT, DT, EDGE, CB, S
The slot next to Chris Jones is open and the top candidate to fill it is Jerry Tillery, which... isn't ideal. Grant has been a volatile talent in the pre-draft process, but let’s begin with the unassailable. He’s a 331-pound monster who is wildly difficult to move if he does not want to be moved.
Grant offers utility as a pass rusher (6.5 sacks the last two seasons) but his headline is as a lane-clogger. While the Chiefs were solid against the run last fall, the rise of NFL running offenses – including the Eagles team that just beat them in the Super Bowl – puts a little extra emphasis on blowing up handoffs before they become fatal. Grant may never touch Jones’s pass rushing impact, but he’ll be the kind of foundation that keeps his All-Pro teammate soaring over the back end of his career.
32. Trade! New York Giants: QB Jaxson Dart, Mississippi
Needs: QB, OL, S, TE, RB, LB
- Eagles trade: 32nd overall pick, 2026 fifth round selection
- Giants trade: 34th overall pick, 2025 third round pick (65th overall)
Neither Russell Wilson nor Jameis Winston are anything more than stopgap options. The Giants need a franchise quarterback and head coach Brian Daboll desperately needs something to build optimism for the future if he’s going to keep his job.
Hence, a brief trade up that prevents other teams from using the Thursday night/Friday morning break to ply the Browns with trade offers for the 33rd pick (skipping QB-needy Cleveland is a help as well – and justifies an expensive cost to move up two slots). Dart is an imperfect prospect, but he’s the best of a bad situation in New York (unless the Giants prefer Tyler Shough instead). His steady improvement across four NCAA seasons suggests he can grasp an NFL offense over time and deliver some short-term lightning if dropped into the lineup as a rookie. There’s a lot to clean up in his game, but at least he’d have Malik Nabers to throw to.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: 2025 NFL mock draft: A harried Saints deal to land Shedeur Sanders?
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