Natalie Miller's 2025 NFL Mock Draft

[ASFN Admin]

In a rare occurrence I will only be publishing one mock draft this year. Given the draft is rapidly approaching, now feels like the appropriate time to drop it. This is what I think will happen and not necessarily what I would do. Let's get right into it!

1. Tennessee Titans: Cameron Ward, QB, MiamiThis seems like a slam dunk and something that has been written on the wall for some time now. Tennessee views Ward as the top quarterback in this class and a player who can change the face of their franchise. Ward will take over a team that has plenty of weapons available to him as he will likely be the day one starter.
2. Cleveland Browns: Travis Hunter, CB/WR, ColoradoThere is no better player in this draft process than Travis Hunter and the Browns do not take too long thinking about what to do here. Hunter has the potential to be a top end receiver or defensive back at the next level and can succeed in either role or do both for a team that is desperate for any offensive identity.
3. New York Giants: Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado While there has been rumblings about trading down or back up into the first round to snag their quarterback, it would be ill advised for the Giants to risk missing out on a signal caller they feel can lead their team into the future. Sanders is highly accurate and an elite level playmaker who instantly makes this Giants team competitive once again.
4. New England Patriots: Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn StateThe Patriots are the real winners of the draft if two quarterbacks go this high. They get to choose from Abdul Carter and Travis Hunter. With Hunter already off the board the Patriots waste little time and snag their edge rusher of the future with Carter who brings an electric presence on defense.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars: Mason Graham, IDL, Michigan In what has been a tumultuous last few seasons for the Jaguars, this new front office needs a win in this draft. There is perhaps not a safer player in this class than Mason Graham, who will absolutely rev up the talent on their interior defensive line.
6. Las Vegas Raiders: Armand Membou, OT, MissouriThe Raiders could go a lot of different places here, including securing Ashton Jeanty, but the team feels it is more important to secure protection for Geno Smith and lands one of the most gifted offensive lineman in the class to pair with Kolton Miller.
7. New York Jets: Will Campbell, OT, LSUWith Membou off the board the Jets make sure to get their own right tackle of the future. Campbell is a reliable and consistent presence along the offensive line on a unit that desperately needs consistency. Campbell will be the bookend across from last years first round pick.
8. Carolina Panthers: Mykel Williams, EDGE, GeorgiaThe Panthers desperately need to stack some talent along their defense and they do just that with the unlimited potential of Mykel Williams. It may be a bit of a surprise that he is the first Georgia player off the board, but with his ability to lock down the run game and develop into a dominant pass rusher, Carolina hits a slam dunk to their revamped defense.
9. New Orleans Saints: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise StateWhile there is little debate that the Saints need a quarterback, there simply isn't one to consider at this point in the draft. New head coach Kellen Moore understands the importance of an elite running back, and to get one of the best players in the draft at this point is a slam dunk to help establish some offensive identity.
10. Chicago Bears: Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, TexasThe Bears must make it a priority to protect quarterback Caleb Williams and surround him with plenty of talent. With two tackles already off the board, Chicago snags who should be their starting left tackle for years to come.
11. San Francisco 49ers: Derrick Harmon, IDL, OregonThe 49ers must build up the interior of their defense and they manage to do that by landing one of the more disruptive interior guys in this class. A bit of a surprise but it shouldn't be, Harmon is a force in the middle.
12. Dallas Cowboys: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, ArizonaThere is an urgency in Dallas to try and help out Dak Prescott and the number one way to do that here would be to grab a running mate for CeeDee Lamb. McMillan is clearly the number two receiver in this class and would bring a dominant physical force to the boundaries for this Dallas offense.
13. Miami Dolphins: Will Johnson, CB, MichiganThe Dolphins are moving on from long time star Jalen Ramsey, and as such need some help in the secondary. Johnson has some injury concerns and shaky tape from the season prior, but has proven before that he can be a top end corner in this league.
14. Indianapolis Colts: Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State It almost seems ideal that the best tight end in the class lands in the lap of the team most desperate for some help at the position. Warren is a dynamic athlete who can be used in a variety of ways and will help whoever is under center for 2025.
15. Atlanta Falcons: Jalon Walker, EDGE/LB, GeorgiaIt is borderline malpractice that the Atlanta Falcons have ignored the edge position for as long as they have. In this scenario, one of the more talented edge guys lands in their lap at 15 and the Falcons run the card up for their new hybrid defender.
16. Arizona Cardinals: Mike Green, EDGE, MarshallThe Cardinals have been playing without a full deck on defense since head coach Jonathan Gannon was hired two seasons ago. The team must address needs on defense and they get a big time star for their pass rush here in the first round with Green.
17. Cincinnati Bengals: Walter Nolen, IDL, Ole MissIt is paramount that the Bengals improve upon what was one of the worst defenses in recent NFL memory last season. Nolen provides a disruptive presence who will feed some interior pressure into the lap of opposing quarterbacks.
18. Seattle Seahawks: Nick Emmanwori, S, South CarolinaIn yet another effort to revive the 'Legion of Boom' the Seahawks get one of the most athletically gifted players in the class in Nick Emmanwori who will serve as the new enforcer in a stacked secondary.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jihaad Campbell, LB, AlabamaWith historic stability at the position the Buccaneers understand just how important having good linebacker play is. Campbell fits the defense like a glove and would be an excellent running mate to Lavonte David as well as a protégé for the long time Buc.
20. Denver Broncos: Omarion Hampton, RB, North CarolinaThe Broncos must gain some consistency within their running game as the system they were using the prior season lead to some offensive deficiency on the ground. Hampton is every bit a three down back who can be the feature runner for Denver and Sean Payton.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Kenneth Grant, IDL, MichiganAnother team that could end up taking a swing at a quarterback late in the first round but instead opts for top of the draft board talent. Grant is a big and nasty lineman who immediately makes a name for himself in a city known for defense.
22. Los Angeles Chargers: Colston Loveland, TE, MichiganJim Harbaugh and this front office are undoubtedly jumping for joy as this card is run up to the podium. Loveland gets to reunite with his former college coach and he becomes to top tight end in Los Angeles on a team building on a gritty offensive identity.
23. Green Bay Packers: Matthew Golden, WR, TexasThe Packers have historically not taken a receiver in the first round and look to buck that trend here as they desperately need a difference maker for Jordan Love. Golden is a certified deep threat who can play outside or inside as a slot guy and will make an immediate impact on offense.
24. ***TRADE*** Kansas City Chiefs: Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio StateThe defending AFC champions trade up into the first round with the Vikings to secure a left tackle for Patrick Mahomes and leap above the Texans in order to get it done. With issues along the offensive line Kansas City secures a versatile piece who has shown the ability to lock down left tackle or play inside at guard.
25. Houston Texans: Tyler Booker, G, AlabamaThe Texans have to feel a little slighted with the Chiefs jumping ahead of them to nab the best tackle on the board. However, the Texans have needs across the offensive line and will likely be plenty content in taking the best interior offensive lineman in the class in Tyler Booker.
26. Los Angeles Rams: Jahdae Barron, CB, TexasIt has been hit after hit on defense for the Los Angeles Rams who have found sustained success in part due to their slam dunk drafting. Barron is a solid cornerback who frankly fell a little far and the Rams can once again capitalize on this by snagging him here near the bottom of the first round.
27. Baltimore Ravens: James Pearce Jr., EDGE, TennesseeThe Ravens pair one of the most explosive edge rushers in the draft with Odafe Oweh to create havoc off the edges for years to come. In a division with Joe Burrow, the priority must be getting to the quarterback and the Ravens find yet another way to do that here.
28. Detroit Lions: Donovan Ezeiruaku, Edge, Boston CollegeWith not a ton of needs on the roster the Lions can sort of cruise into the best player available here. Ezeiruaku is a long and athletic edge that can rotate in and develop without much pressure to be an impact player on day one. Detroit finds themselves loaded on the edge for one of the better rotations in the league.
29. Washington Commanders: Shemar Steward, EDGE, Texas A&MThe rich get richer as the Commanders go head first on a prospect with a ton of upside but dropped because a lack of production. Washington isn't scared to go after and develop players, and Stewart has the potential to be a top end edge at the next level. At the very least Stewart is going to be a disruptor on day one.
30. Buffalo Bills: Landon Jackson, EDGE, Arkansas In a move that is directly reflective of the recent defensive meltdowns in the playoffs, the Buffalo Bills must get better on defense. While some of the top edges are off the board, Jackson is a reliable playmaker who can stop the run and get after the quarterback consistently.
31. *Trade* Cleveland Browns: Jalen Milroe, QB, AlabamaHaving passed on a quarterback early in the first round, the Browns leap back up into the first round with the Vikings and snag their quarterback of the future in Jalen Milroe. With unlimited upside and a variety of ways to build an offense around him, Milroe is the perfect developmental piece for Cleveland to build their future around.
32. Philadelphia Eagles: Malaki Starks, S, AlabamaIt almost seems comical that the Eagles get to sit back and allow one of the drafts top defenders at a position of need fall right into their lap, though that seems to be a consistent trend for this front office. Starks is a rangy safety who slots perfectly into the starting role for the Super Bowl champs.

This article originally appeared on Draft Wire: Natalie Miller's NFL first round mock

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