2025 NFL Mock Draft: Cowboys add firepower to offense with Ashton Jeanty; Bengals exchange Tee Higgins

Cam Ward would’ve doubtless been no higher than QB5 in final yr’s draft class, however he is QB1 in 2024. Teams had a late Day 2/Day 3 grade on him over the summer time, however he is made large strides this season; he is enjoying extra from the pocket, he is getting the ball out on time and he is doing a greater job of getting by way of his reads. We know in regards to the athleticism and arm energy, however he is gotten higher every year he is been in faculty, too.

Good luck discovering somebody more durable than Shedeur Sanders. He’ll stand within the pocket and take hit (after hit after hit) to make a play downfield. He’s not the athlete and would not have the arm energy of Cam Ward, however he does quite a lot of issues rather well. I wish to see him play on time extra persistently, however a part of that has to do with Colorado’s inconsistent offensive line.

Travis Hunter is the most effective athlete — and the most effective participant — on this draft class. We’ve had otherworldly cornerbacks and extensive receivers in earlier lessons, however he is a twofer, capable of dominate on either side of the ball and take over video games. The large query: the place will the crew that drafts him need him to play? And if it is, say, at cornerback, how large would be the package deal of offensive performs for Hunter? Because lining up for 120 snaps a recreation, like he is performed for the Buffs, is not sustainable within the NFL.

Abdul Carter is a freakish athlete who moved from off-ball linebacker to edge rusher for the 2024 season. Carter isn’t Micah Parsons — not but, anyway — however he is simply scratching the floor on what he can do.

My comp for Mason Graham over the summer time was Christian Wilkins. My co-host on the “With the First Pick” podcast, Rick Spielman, took it a step additional and mentioned Quinnen Williams. Wherever you land, Graham is a particular expertise who headlines a deep line of defense class.

Kelvin Banks Jr. was my OT1 over the summer time and nothing’s modified. He’s athletic, has good ft, performs with stability and energy and makes use of his palms effectively. He’s higher in passpro than the run proper now, but it surely’s shut — and he is solely going to get higher.

Will Johnson was my No. 1 participant over the summer time and he stays a top-10 expertise. He battled a toe harm that sidelined him for a lot of the second half of the 2024 season, however when he is wholesome, he is the most effective defenders in faculty soccer; there is a purpose the straightforward comp for him is Patrick Surtain II.

Will Campbell has been my OT2 all through, and whereas he is not as athletic as Kelvin Banks Jr., he is been extremely constant all through his LSU profession. He had his struggles with Jared Verse in 2023 (who did not), and the formidable South Carolina entrance 4 gave him bother at occasions this season. But he held his personal in opposition to Arkansas’ Landon Jackson, who can be a high-round decide in April.

Georgia has a historical past of manufacturing insane athletes, and Mykel Williams could find yourself being the most effective of the group. He’s a first-round expertise all day lengthy, and he may find yourself being one of many first defenders off the board in April.

Tetairoa McMillan is 6-foot-5, however he strikes like a shifty slot receiver with the good thing about an unlimited catch radius and the power to make contested catches look straightforward. Think Drake London however a greater athlete.

Nic Scourton is an influence rusher who will long-arm you into the stands. He’ll additionally flash an inside spin transfer that places OTs on their heels. Add the continuous motor with which he performs, and it is arduous to not love his recreation. My podcast co-host, Rick Spielman, calls him a extra athletic Keion White.

Is Ashton Jeanty a luxurious decide? That relies upon; have been Bijan Robinson or Jahmyr Gibbs luxurious picks? Because Jeanty is that kind of impression again. He hasn’t been used almost as a lot within the move recreation, however that does not imply he cannot do it.

Put apart for the second that Malaki Starks is an elite athlete who can line up wherever within the secondary; he is additionally one of many smartest gamers on the sphere, and that mixture is what makes him a top-10 expertise.

Jalon Walker is listed as an off-ball linebacker, however he can line up wherever … and wreak havoc from wherever. Very to see how NFL groups plan to make use of him on the subsequent stage.

James Pearce Jr. is a juiced-up, twitchy edge rusher who can win with the bull rush or velocity across the edge. He performs with a continuous motor and with the kind of freakish athleticism that may match the Jalen Milroe-type QBs within the pocket.

Kenneth Grant is a very good athlete for his measurement — and he has a knack for getting his palms up within the passing lane and knocking the ball down. He strikes effectively laterally, as he has a surprisingly fast first step with good hand utilization to shoot gaps and be disruptive within the backfield. For me, he is extra explosive and constant than Kris Jenkins, his former teammate and Bengals second-round decide in 2024.

A San Diego State switch the place he performed proper deal with, Josh Simmons was a pleasing shock in Columbus, Ohio, the place he was not solely put in at left deal with, however was enjoying at a excessive stage earlier than an October knee harm vs. Oregon ended his season. I assumed he would possibly come again to highschool — he may most likely use the expertise — however as a substitute he declared for the 2025 draft. And in a draft gentle alongside the offensive line, I absolutely anticipate Simmons to attract some first-round consideration, even when he would possibly want a yr or two of seasoning.

Aireontae Ersery allowed only one sack all season. I really like his athleticism, his potential to throw guys out of the membership persistently, and whereas he is higher in opposition to run than move proper now, he has all of the traits NFL groups search for in a deal with.

For an edge rusher, Shemar Stewart is gigantic. He’ll play too excessive at occasions, however can collapse the pocket together with his measurement/energy/energy. He has a fast first step, even for his measurement, and the facility to shoot gaps. And when the bull rush would not get residence, his enormous body permits him to knock down passes. He has a hair-on-fire motor and persistently performs with energy and athleticism.

Shavon Revel tore his ACL in October, and he hasn’t performed since. But his tape is quite a lot of enjoyable; his observe background exhibits up on tape, as does his size. He’ll play with physicality on the line in man protection and is a fluid mover in house. He’s not the shutdown nook of, say, Sauce Gardner when he got here out, or as bodily as Joey Porter Jr. (and possibly that is a very good factor), however he is a pleasant mixture of each when it comes to measurement and play type.

Colston Loveland is listed at 6-foot-5 and 237 kilos, and whereas he runs like he is 185, he performs like he is 260. He’ll run by way of open-field arm tackles all day lengthy, has an unlimited catch radius, and is a exact route runner, wanting like a receiver at occasions in his motion abilities. He’s a prepared blocker, however like most pass-catching tight ends coming into the league, he’ll want to enhance on this space.

Tyler Warren has accounted for roughly 75% of Penn State’s offense (we’re ballparking that, do not quote us) as a receiver, passer and runner. No participant has performed extra for his draft inventory than Warren, who was a late Day 2/Day 3 decide over the summer time.

Deone Walker persistently wins with heavy palms on the snap as a move rusher — each lengthy and highly effective, which makes him a nightmare regardless of the place he strains up (and Kentucky used him in every single place). He will play too excessive at occasions in opposition to the run, however was extra constant in that space in 2023, so he is actually able to dominating within the run recreation, too. Plus, you do not discover many guys this measurement this athletic.

Derrick Harmon is what I’d describe as “nation robust” as a result of whenever you see him bull rush an inside OL into the QB’s lap after which throw him out of the membership, it will get your consideration. He’s persistently a load on the within, partly due to energy, low pad stage and the aforementioned bull rush. He would not have a wide range of pass-rush strikes, however he would not want them. He can battle in opposition to the run if he performs too excessive, however when he is locked in he is a game-wrecker — Harmon had 40 pressures on the season, together with eight(!) in opposition to Boise State.

This line of defense class is extremely deep, and in earlier years, Walter Nolen most likely goes off the board a bit of larger. Either manner, he explodes off the ball whereas additionally being robust as an ox. At 6-foot-4 and 290 kilos, he will not be mistaken for, say, Dexter Lawrence, however do not be fooled; he performs stout in opposition to double groups, and is fast to get off blocks and get to the ball.

This could sound wealthy however, at occasions, Jahdae Barron flashes in a manner that jogs my memory of Brian Branch; he is one of many smartest gamers on the sphere, he is at all times across the ball, and should you want a play, he persistently exhibits up. He can line up within the field, within the slot or outdoors, is an efficient blitzer off the sting, and is an asset within the run recreation.

The numbers do not blow you away (66 catches for 771 yards), however do not be fooled: Luther Burden III is a first-round expertise and game-changer with the ball in his palms. The QB play at Mizzou was inconsistent in 2024, however there is a purpose he had 86 receptions for 1,212 yards and 9 touchdowns in 2023.

He’s a greater move rusher than run stuffer proper now, however wherever you line him up (and South Carolina used him in every single place), he is enjoying each snap together with his hair on fireplace. He’ll collapse the pocket when he is enjoying over the middle, and he makes use of his palms effectively when coming off the sting with a head of steam.

This goes to sound nuts, however watch a handful of Landon Jackson’s pass-rush snaps and you may see some T.J. Watt (bear in mind, Watt by some means lasted till the tip of Round 1). At different occasions, you will see the consistency of Anthony Nelson, which is fairly good, too. Either manner, Jackson performs with heavy palms and the facility you’d come to anticipate from a 270-pound edge rusher (although Arkansas lined him up in every single place), in addition to the juice you may not expect.

Sweet mercy, Omarr Norman-Lott is juiced up coming off the ball. Explosive might be the easiest way to explain him; he is listed at 305 kilos however strikes like he is 50 kilos lighter, performs with a relentless motor, is as near sideline-to-sideline as you will discover in a defensive linemen, and we get Braden Fiske-hustle vibes when watching him — besides Norman-Lott could also be a greater general athlete.

Emeka Egbuka is a big-bodied, fluid mover with pure palms, good contact stability and the power to run by way of arm tackles. He will get out and in of breaks with urgency and has yards-after-catch potential. He’s not a finesse participant however extra of a bruiser. When you discuss “large slots,” that is what you imply. I believe he has some Amon-Ra St. Brown in his recreation.

Jack Sawyer is listed at 6-foot-5 and 260 kilos and is coming off a five-sack 2024 season that features 28 hurries. Used virtually solely off the sting for the Buckeyes, he flashes the speed-to-power of a first-round move rusher who can also be stout setting the sting within the run recreation.