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The 2025 NFL draft is just weeks away, and draftniks are starting to ramp up their coverage of the event. That means there will be plenty of mock drafts to break down and analyze in the coming weeks.
Among the most notable mocks released will come from Mel Kiper Jr., who helped make the NFL draft what it is today. The long-time ESPN analyst is considered the godfather of the mock draft and has been producing them dating back to the 1980s.
Few draft analysts have Kiper's experience. The 64-year-old has seen it all during his career, so his perspective can be valuable for NFL fans and analysts alike trying to sift through the speculation, rumors and noise surrounding the draft's first 32 picks.
Kiper's fourth mock draft of the 2025 NFL draft cycle – a two-rounder – was released Tuesday. Here are some key takeaways from his latest mock draft:
Click here to see Kiper's full two-round mock draft 4.0.
The draft really starts with the Cleveland Browns at No. 2 overall. They are widely expected to take one of Hunter, Abdul Carter or Shedeur Sanders, but ESPN's Adam Schefter stated Monday it's "more likely" the Browns will take Hunter with just over two weeks left until the NFL draft.
Kiper evidently believes the same, as he mocked Hunter to the Browns with the second selection. The veteran draft analyst called Hunter a "special prospect" and cited his two-way ability as being what might ultimately lead Cleveland to take his top-rated prospect in the 2025 NFL draft class.
NFL MOCK DRAFT 2025: Meta AI predicts the entire first round
Kiper wrote that he's "not ruling out" the New York Giants selecting Sanders with the No. 3 pick. However, he acknowledged New York's signings of Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston in free agency give the team a bit more flexibility to eschew quarterback. That would allow the Giants to take either Hunter or Abdul Carter with their first selection.
In this case, Carter remained on the board and the Giants took him. Then, Kiper had the team select Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe with their second-round pick, No. 34 overall. That may be the best way for the Giants to land a blue-chip player while still adding needed youth and upside at quarterback.
If the Giants don't take Sanders, the Colorado product doesn't have a lot of obvious landing spots. The New Orleans Saints could be one, and Kiper likes the idea of allowing his top-rated quarterback in this year's class to develop for a season behind 34-year-old Derek Carr.
As such, Sanders may be keeping a close eye on New Orleans if the Browns and Giants both pass on him.
SHEDEUR SANDERS LANDING SPOTS: Giants, Saints, Seahawks best fits for Colorado QB
He's still a first-round pick. Kiper projects the Los Angeles Rams to select the Ole Miss quarterback 26th overall. That's 17 picks later than Dart's landing spot in Kiper's third mock draft, the Saints at No. 9.
Kiper's latest mock seems like a more accurate indication of Dart's potential draft range. It also serves as a reminder that if one quarterback, like Sanders, goes later than many initially projected, it could have a ripple effect on the position as a whole. There simply aren't many first-round quarterback landing spots outside of the top 10 selections.
Kiper's latest mock featured a notable flip-flop in his receiver rankings. Golden went 16th overall to the Arizona Cardinals, four picks ahead of McMillan. In his previous mock, McMillan went two picks ahead of Golden.
That doesn't necessarily mean Golden is guaranteed to go ahead of McMillan. It does, however, highlight Golden's recent rise and the budding trend of placing the Texas speedster ahead of the Arizona giant.
NFL DRAFT WR RANKINGS: Top 10 players at position
Shough has enjoyed a quality draft season and has been a steady riser because of it. The seven-year college veteran (yes, he really played seven seasons) posted 3,195 yards, 23 touchdowns and six interceptions in his final season at Louisville and came off the board as Kiper's No. 4 quarterback in his two-round mock.
Kiper has Shough going to the Browns with the 33rd overall selection, the first on Day 2 of the 2025 NFL draft. He turns 26 on eve of the season, so he probably won't rise into Round 1, but Kiper's placement of Shough demonstrates the interest in the Louisville quarterback appears to be real.
And if the Browns pass on a quarterback at No. 2 to take Hunter or Carter, they could certainly target a player like Shough with their second-round selection.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Takeaways from Mel Kiper Jr.'s latest 2025 NFL mock draft
Continue reading...
Among the most notable mocks released will come from Mel Kiper Jr., who helped make the NFL draft what it is today. The long-time ESPN analyst is considered the godfather of the mock draft and has been producing them dating back to the 1980s.
Few draft analysts have Kiper's experience. The 64-year-old has seen it all during his career, so his perspective can be valuable for NFL fans and analysts alike trying to sift through the speculation, rumors and noise surrounding the draft's first 32 picks.
Kiper's fourth mock draft of the 2025 NFL draft cycle – a two-rounder – was released Tuesday. Here are some key takeaways from his latest mock draft:
Takeaways from Mel Kiper Jr. mock draft 4.0
Click here to see Kiper's full two-round mock draft 4.0.
Travis Hunter to Browns buzz is real
The draft really starts with the Cleveland Browns at No. 2 overall. They are widely expected to take one of Hunter, Abdul Carter or Shedeur Sanders, but ESPN's Adam Schefter stated Monday it's "more likely" the Browns will take Hunter with just over two weeks left until the NFL draft.
Kiper evidently believes the same, as he mocked Hunter to the Browns with the second selection. The veteran draft analyst called Hunter a "special prospect" and cited his two-way ability as being what might ultimately lead Cleveland to take his top-rated prospect in the 2025 NFL draft class.
NFL MOCK DRAFT 2025: Meta AI predicts the entire first round
Giants free to explore options with No. 3 pick, could still take Shedeur Sanders
Kiper wrote that he's "not ruling out" the New York Giants selecting Sanders with the No. 3 pick. However, he acknowledged New York's signings of Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston in free agency give the team a bit more flexibility to eschew quarterback. That would allow the Giants to take either Hunter or Abdul Carter with their first selection.
In this case, Carter remained on the board and the Giants took him. Then, Kiper had the team select Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe with their second-round pick, No. 34 overall. That may be the best way for the Giants to land a blue-chip player while still adding needed youth and upside at quarterback.
Saints could be a Shedeur Sanders landing spot
If the Giants don't take Sanders, the Colorado product doesn't have a lot of obvious landing spots. The New Orleans Saints could be one, and Kiper likes the idea of allowing his top-rated quarterback in this year's class to develop for a season behind 34-year-old Derek Carr.
As such, Sanders may be keeping a close eye on New Orleans if the Browns and Giants both pass on him.
SHEDEUR SANDERS LANDING SPOTS: Giants, Saints, Seahawks best fits for Colorado QB
Jaxson Dart among biggest fallers, but...
He's still a first-round pick. Kiper projects the Los Angeles Rams to select the Ole Miss quarterback 26th overall. That's 17 picks later than Dart's landing spot in Kiper's third mock draft, the Saints at No. 9.
Kiper's latest mock seems like a more accurate indication of Dart's potential draft range. It also serves as a reminder that if one quarterback, like Sanders, goes later than many initially projected, it could have a ripple effect on the position as a whole. There simply aren't many first-round quarterback landing spots outside of the top 10 selections.
Has Matthew Golden passed Tetairoa McMillan as WR1?
Kiper's latest mock featured a notable flip-flop in his receiver rankings. Golden went 16th overall to the Arizona Cardinals, four picks ahead of McMillan. In his previous mock, McMillan went two picks ahead of Golden.
That doesn't necessarily mean Golden is guaranteed to go ahead of McMillan. It does, however, highlight Golden's recent rise and the budding trend of placing the Texas speedster ahead of the Arizona giant.
NFL DRAFT WR RANKINGS: Top 10 players at position
Tyler Shough is climbing QB rankings, could fit with Browns
Shough has enjoyed a quality draft season and has been a steady riser because of it. The seven-year college veteran (yes, he really played seven seasons) posted 3,195 yards, 23 touchdowns and six interceptions in his final season at Louisville and came off the board as Kiper's No. 4 quarterback in his two-round mock.
Kiper has Shough going to the Browns with the 33rd overall selection, the first on Day 2 of the 2025 NFL draft. He turns 26 on eve of the season, so he probably won't rise into Round 1, but Kiper's placement of Shough demonstrates the interest in the Louisville quarterback appears to be real.
And if the Browns pass on a quarterback at No. 2 to take Hunter or Carter, they could certainly target a player like Shough with their second-round selection.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Takeaways from Mel Kiper Jr.'s latest 2025 NFL mock draft
Continue reading...
