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The 2025 NFL draft is drawing nearer and nearer, and many notable mock drafts will be released in the weeks leading up to the event.
One of the latest comes from long-time NFL draft analyst Todd McShay. The former ESPN talent and long-time partner of mock draft godfather Mel Kiper Jr. now hosts a self-titled podcast with The Ringer and released his latest mock draft on Thursday.
McShay's mock began with few surprises, but at the back end of the top 10, there was a notable shake-up in the consensus quarterback draft order. Add in a couple of trades and some rising signal-callers, and McShay's projections for the first 34 overall picks are both unique and plausible.
Here are some key takeaways from McShay's mock draft 3.0, as NFL fans and analysts try to sift through draft season's rumor mill.
Click here to read McShay's full mock draft and here to see it in video form.
Sanders has typically been mocked ahead of Dart throughout the lead-up to the 2025 NFL draft. McShay is bucking that trend, as he has the New Orleans Saints taking the Ole Miss product with the No. 9 overall pick.
McShay's reasoning? He believes Dart's traits more closely match those of the quarterbacks new Saints coach Kellen Moore has enjoyed success with in his previous spots.
"He's used to a bigger, mobile, stronger-armed quarterback, and those are three qualities Jaxson Dart has," McShay said.
McShay wouldn't guarantee Dart would go ahead of Sanders. He noted the Colorado quarterback could be a better fit for specific teams than his Ole Miss counterpart, so the order they come off the board may depend on when the NFL draft's quarterback-needy teams ultimately select signal-callers.
NFL MOCK DRAFT 2025: Meta AI predicts the entire first round
McShay doesn't have Sanders going off the board long after Dart. He is projecting a significant trade, with the Cleveland Browns trading up to the 15th selection to take Sanders.
McShay doesn't have Cleveland paying the Atlanta Falcons a premium to get Sanders. The Browns give up two picks this year – the 33rd pick in Round 2 and the 67th in Round 3 – along with a future second-round selection in a move that is relatively balanced, per the conventional NFL trade value chart.
Such a deal could make sense. The Falcons have a well-built offense but are looking to upgrade their pass-rushing capabilities, among other defensive needs. The 2025 NFL draft is considered deep on the defensive line, so Atlanta may be able to get multiple bites at the apple while also finding a successor for 33-year-old offensive tackle Jake Matthews, as McShay noted.
Meanwhile, Sanders would provide the Browns with a quarterback upgrade and get to team up with Travis Hunter, who McShay has Cleveland selecting at No. 2 overall. The two would quickly have chemistry and could get the Browns' offense back on track after a difficult 2024 season.
McShay is projecting Milroe as a first-round pick. He has the New York Giants trading up to the 24th pick to get the Alabama quarterback while the Minnesota Vikings moved down and still landed a top cornerback, Notre Dame's Benjamin Morrison.
McShay conceded he may be reading too much into Milroe being slated to attend the 2025 NFL draft but he believes the league will not want him to wait too long in the fabled "green room." That said, the fit is sensible, as the Giants have been tied to Milroe during the draft process and could use a high-upside quarterback to develop behind Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston.
NFL DRAFT RUMORS: Alabama QB Jalen Milroe's name 'gaining steam'
As one might glean from McShay's Sanders and Milroe projections, the veteran draft analyst has the Browns and Giants passing on quarterbacks with their top three selections. That has matched a trend in many recent mock drafts during which the draft's two blue-chip players, two-way Colorado star Travis Hunter and Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter, are coming off the board behind projected No. 1 pick Cam Ward.
There are still questions about whether the Browns will take Hunter or Carter and which offensive tackle the New England Patriots might take if Hunter and Carter are off the board, but McShay's top four selections are seemingly the consensus:
Soon enough, fans will see if these four players come off the board in order.
One of the other interesting battles in the lead-up to the 2025 NFL draft is which player will be the first pure receiver selected. McShay projects it will be McMillan, having the Arizona product going to the Dallas Cowboys at 12 with Texas' Golden going to the Arizona Cardinals at 16.
The McMillan vs. Golden debate is really a pick-your-flavor conversation. McMillan is a big-bodied receiver who may not have top-flight speed but is an elite contested catcher. Golden ran the fastest 40-yard dash at the 2025 NFL combine and showed excellent separation skills during his lone season at Texas.
This debate could go either way, but it's noteworthy that McShay has McMillan staving off competition from Golden amid the Texas product's red-hot draft season.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Takeaways from Todd McShay's latest 2025 NFL mock draft
Continue reading...
One of the latest comes from long-time NFL draft analyst Todd McShay. The former ESPN talent and long-time partner of mock draft godfather Mel Kiper Jr. now hosts a self-titled podcast with The Ringer and released his latest mock draft on Thursday.
McShay's mock began with few surprises, but at the back end of the top 10, there was a notable shake-up in the consensus quarterback draft order. Add in a couple of trades and some rising signal-callers, and McShay's projections for the first 34 overall picks are both unique and plausible.
Here are some key takeaways from McShay's mock draft 3.0, as NFL fans and analysts try to sift through draft season's rumor mill.
Takeaways from Todd McShay's latest mock draft
Click here to read McShay's full mock draft and here to see it in video form.
Jaxson Dart goes ahead of Shedeur Sanders
Sanders has typically been mocked ahead of Dart throughout the lead-up to the 2025 NFL draft. McShay is bucking that trend, as he has the New Orleans Saints taking the Ole Miss product with the No. 9 overall pick.
McShay's reasoning? He believes Dart's traits more closely match those of the quarterbacks new Saints coach Kellen Moore has enjoyed success with in his previous spots.
"He's used to a bigger, mobile, stronger-armed quarterback, and those are three qualities Jaxson Dart has," McShay said.
McShay wouldn't guarantee Dart would go ahead of Sanders. He noted the Colorado quarterback could be a better fit for specific teams than his Ole Miss counterpart, so the order they come off the board may depend on when the NFL draft's quarterback-needy teams ultimately select signal-callers.
NFL MOCK DRAFT 2025: Meta AI predicts the entire first round
Browns make major trade up to get Shedeur Sanders, pair with Travis Hunter
McShay doesn't have Sanders going off the board long after Dart. He is projecting a significant trade, with the Cleveland Browns trading up to the 15th selection to take Sanders.
McShay doesn't have Cleveland paying the Atlanta Falcons a premium to get Sanders. The Browns give up two picks this year – the 33rd pick in Round 2 and the 67th in Round 3 – along with a future second-round selection in a move that is relatively balanced, per the conventional NFL trade value chart.
Such a deal could make sense. The Falcons have a well-built offense but are looking to upgrade their pass-rushing capabilities, among other defensive needs. The 2025 NFL draft is considered deep on the defensive line, so Atlanta may be able to get multiple bites at the apple while also finding a successor for 33-year-old offensive tackle Jake Matthews, as McShay noted.
Meanwhile, Sanders would provide the Browns with a quarterback upgrade and get to team up with Travis Hunter, who McShay has Cleveland selecting at No. 2 overall. The two would quickly have chemistry and could get the Browns' offense back on track after a difficult 2024 season.
Could Jalen Milroe go in Round 1?
McShay is projecting Milroe as a first-round pick. He has the New York Giants trading up to the 24th pick to get the Alabama quarterback while the Minnesota Vikings moved down and still landed a top cornerback, Notre Dame's Benjamin Morrison.
McShay conceded he may be reading too much into Milroe being slated to attend the 2025 NFL draft but he believes the league will not want him to wait too long in the fabled "green room." That said, the fit is sensible, as the Giants have been tied to Milroe during the draft process and could use a high-upside quarterback to develop behind Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston.
NFL DRAFT RUMORS: Alabama QB Jalen Milroe's name 'gaining steam'
Consensus being reached with top four picks?
As one might glean from McShay's Sanders and Milroe projections, the veteran draft analyst has the Browns and Giants passing on quarterbacks with their top three selections. That has matched a trend in many recent mock drafts during which the draft's two blue-chip players, two-way Colorado star Travis Hunter and Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter, are coming off the board behind projected No. 1 pick Cam Ward.
There are still questions about whether the Browns will take Hunter or Carter and which offensive tackle the New England Patriots might take if Hunter and Carter are off the board, but McShay's top four selections are seemingly the consensus:
- Titans: Cam Ward, QB, Miami (FL)
- Browns: Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado
- Giants: Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State
- Patriots: Will Campbell, OT, LSU
Soon enough, fans will see if these four players come off the board in order.
Tetairoa McMillan beats Matthew Golden in WR1 battle
One of the other interesting battles in the lead-up to the 2025 NFL draft is which player will be the first pure receiver selected. McShay projects it will be McMillan, having the Arizona product going to the Dallas Cowboys at 12 with Texas' Golden going to the Arizona Cardinals at 16.
The McMillan vs. Golden debate is really a pick-your-flavor conversation. McMillan is a big-bodied receiver who may not have top-flight speed but is an elite contested catcher. Golden ran the fastest 40-yard dash at the 2025 NFL combine and showed excellent separation skills during his lone season at Texas.
This debate could go either way, but it's noteworthy that McShay has McMillan staving off competition from Golden amid the Texas product's red-hot draft season.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Takeaways from Todd McShay's latest 2025 NFL mock draft
Continue reading...
