I don't know if it's the COVID era ending or simply a fluke, but the 2025 NFL Draft class is decidedly "meh" a little over six months out. Many of the young, athletic freaks we saw last fall have failed to make the leap into first-round lock status. And that doesn't even take into account the fact that with today's NIL money, many of these prospects will likely opt to return to college next fall. That being said, there's a very intriguing crop of quarterbacks coming up that I'd bet good money we see at least three end up in the first round.
Note: The draft order is based on SportsLine's Super Bowl odds but in reverse order (ahead of the Week 6 games).
For more draft coverage, you can hear in-depth analysis twice a week on "With the First Pick" -- our year-round NFL Draft podcast with NFL Draft analyst Ryan Wilson and former Vikings general manager Rick Spielman. You can find "With the First Pick" wherever you get your podcasts: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, etc. Listen below!
NFL Mock Draft
Round 1
Round 1 - Pick 1
He's got top-10 tape at either corner or wide receiver. While he won't play both full time in the NFL like he does at Colorado, it's not crazy to think he can't moonlight on the opposite side of the ball in high-leverage situations. Drafting two players for the price of one makes Hunter an easy pick at the top of the draft.
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Round 1 - Pick 2
Ward isn't a finished product by any means, but he oozes talent every single week. The comfort and command he has of the Miami offense has been a joy to watch, and he has the kind of size that can escape from tight quarters in a way Bryce Young has never been able to at the next level. He's passed for more than 300 yards and multiple scores in all six of his games this season.
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Round 1 - Pick 3
Carter is in his first season as an edge rusher after starting his career at off-ball linebacker. He's got a tailor-made physical skillset to rush the passer, and we've seen it only translate to more production with each passing week.
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Round 1 - Pick 4
Sanders just feels like a Raider. The brash attitude Sanders displays on and off the field will fit in perfectly with the Silver and Black.
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Round 1 - Pick 5
Graham is a three-down defensive tackle with very few weaknesses on tape. That's a rarity for only a true junior. He can win with quicks, power and technique from any alignment on the interior. That's only going to keep the Browns' ferocious defensive line a strength for years to come.
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Round 1 - Pick 6
While the Rams rebuilt their defensive line the past couple drafts, their secondary remains a sore spot. Johnson changes that overnight. He's extremely physical on the outside and has the kind of versatility to play any scheme.
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Round 1 - Pick 7
Even with Daniel Jones' mini-resurgence the past few weeks, the Giants still need to set their sights higher at the position. Ewers has shown high-end play on the field the past two seasons when healthy. The "when healthy" part is the key there as he's now missed time in three straight seasons. That may scare some off, but with Ewers' tools the risk is worth the reward at this point.
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Round 1 - Pick 8
The Jaguars drafted their big-play receiver last spring in Brian Thomas Jr.; now they need a more reliable possession receiver. McMillan fits that description perfectly. He's got absurd ball skills to haul in targets anywhere in his vicinity. That will pair perfectly with how Trevor Lawrence plays quarterback.
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Round 1 - Pick 9
Burden is the kind of YAC-machine that the Broncos are desperately missing. With Bo Nix operating an offense predicated on a lot of underneath passes, having receivers who can make plays after the catch is a necessity to keep the chains moving.
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Round 1 - Pick 10
While Terron Armstead is technically under contract for two more seasons in Miami, the Dolphins simply can't rely on the oft-injured 33-year old tackle to make it through 17 games. Banks gives you that insurance while also being able to shore up the guard spot immediately for the Dolphins.
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Round 1 - Pick 11
The Colts run defense woes are no secret. Adding a 6-foot-6, 344 pound behemoth in the middle of their defense would change that quickly. Big men who can move like Walker are a rarity and don't last long in the draft.
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Round 1 - Pick 12
Scourton is another power-rusher who would pair well across from last year's first-round pick Darius Robinson Jr.. He can rush from either the inside or outside with some of the strongest hands in the draft class.
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Round 1 - Pick 13
At this rate, Jeanty may not even last this long. He's a legitimate threat to break Barry Sanders single-season rushing record at this point with 1,248 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns through six games. He's a true total package who can impact both the run and pass game.
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Round 1 - Pick 14
Adding Mykel Williams to the mix in would give the Bears easily the freakiest edge duo in the NFL. The 6-foot-5, 265-pounder may not run in the 4.4's like Montez Sweat, but he shouldn't be too far off when the NFL Scouting Combine comes around. While he's been sidelined for much of the year with an ankle injury, he's got a lot of time to prove himself in the best conference in America.
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Round 1 - Pick 15
Jackson's five-star pedigree at guard shines through regularly on tape. While he was still more potential than on-field production his first two seasons as a starter, that looks to have changed through four games this fall. Put him next to Tristan Wirfs and run left.
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Round 1 - Pick 16
With Abe Lucas' injury history at this point, the Seahawks simply can't rely on him to be a mainstay at right tackle. Campbell could be an upgrade in pass protection from Week 1. He's a smooth mover who plays with a nasty streak.
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Round 1 - Pick 17
Morrison is a man-match corner who pairs well from a skillset perspective to current Steeler Joey Porter Jr. Morrison can take the smaller, shiftier wideouts while Porter can hang with the bigger, more physical receivers. Morrison has been stingy ever since he entered the starting lineup as a true freshman in 2022.
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Round 1 - Pick 18
Grant has always had top-10 tools, but now his tape is finally starting to match. He's got nose tackle size at 6-foot-3, 339 pounds with 3-tech quickness. The Saints love loading up with depth in the trenches, and Grant could fend for a starting spot quickly.
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Round 1 - Pick 19
It may be a little early to crown Nussmeier, who's only in his first season as the starter, but you'd be hard pressed to find a quarterback who looks more polished this season than him. That shouldn't be too surprising considering his father, Doug, is a long-time NFL quarterbacks coach currently with the Philadelphia Eagles. The Jets will want someone NFL ready if Aaron Rodgers retires, and Nussmeier fits that bill.
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Round 1 - Pick 20
The Commanders may very well take a page out of the Ravens playbook and lean into wide receivers who are nightmares to stick with on scramble drills. Bond has the kind of juice that is nearly impossible to stick with for three-plus seconds, and he would pair perfectly with Jayden Daniels' deep ball.
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Round 1 - Pick 21
Nolen is one explosive defensive tackle who has been treating guards like rag dolls in the run game all season. It shouldn't take much more convincing than that for Bengals fans on this pick.
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Round 1 - Pick 22
Pearce is a freak athlete off the edge, but his slender frame limits his alignments and won't be for everyone. The good news is that Raheem Morris coveted that kind of speed in his days with the Rams, and it would be a welcome addition to the Falcons front.
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Round 1 - Pick 23
Revel was on pace to get into the top-10 mix with his early tape this year before an ACL tear in practice ended his season. The rangy 6-foot-3 corner had two picks and two pass-breakups in three games before going down. He's built perfectly for Jeff Hafley's scheme.
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Round 1 - Pick 24
Egbuka is an ultra-reliable and versatile wide out. He may not be an elite-tier athlete, but he can win with size and savvy. He's averaging a touchdown a game this season and has 526 yards so far.
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Round 1 - Pick 25
Williams has already caught the attention of many evaluators in his very first season as a starter. The right tackle has a prototypical frame with graceful feet for a big man. While we're only six games in, Williams has passed every test so far.
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Round 1 - Pick 26
The Vikings would love another versatile pass-rusher to add to their front-seven. Walker can line up on-ball or off-ball and be a problem either way. He presents a problem for opposing offensive linemen as a pass-rusher with his low center of gravity akin to someone like the Eagles' Brandon Graham.
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Round 1 - Pick 27
Harmon has been one of the biggest draft risers after transferring from Michigan State to Oregon this fall. He's been living in backfields this season and made one of the biggest plays of any defensive linemen over the weekend when he stole the football from Ohio State running back Quinshon Judkins. He's got a massive frame and can line up anywhere on the interior.
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Round 1 - Pick 28
Starks is the most versatile safety in this draft class with legit cornerback chops in coverage and high-end tackling ability in space. Safety has been one of the weak links on the Bills defense this season, as it hasn't quite replaced the production we saw from Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer.
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Round 1 - Pick 29
Williams is a butt-kicker in the run game. You want to shore up the middle of your defense, this is the man you draft. He's rock solid against double teams and has the kind of strong hands to stack and shed.
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Round 1 - Pick 30
The 49ers love penetrators up front and Sanders is precisely that. He's got the kind of length and twitch to live in opposing backfields. The senior has taken a big jump on tape from the guy we saw a year ago.
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Round 1 - Pick 31
The Texas A&M transfer is exactly what everyone in the NFL is looking for nowadays: A defensive lineman who can seamlessly move between the inside and outside without looking out of place. That fits in particularly well with how the Ravens set up their fronts. His 25 pressures this season are already more than he had in two years with the Aggies.
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Round 1 - Pick 32
After postulating for years about the Chiefs getting Travis Kelce's replacement, it feels like it's actually time to take that seriously. Loveland is the kind of tight end who can be featured in-line or split wide. He's a fluid athlete with a big catch radius.
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