2025 NFL Mock Draft: Giants, Raiders choose solely two QBs to go in Round 1; Bears add a proficient cross rusher

Cam Ward would’ve probably been no higher than QB5 in final 12 months’s draft class, however he is QB1 in 2024. Teams had a late Day 2/Day 3 grade on him over the summer season, 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 power, however he is gotten higher every year he is been in faculty, too.

Good luck discovering somebody harder 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 does not have the arm power of Cam Ward, however he does loads of issues rather well. I want to see him play on time extra constantly, however a part of that has to do with Colorado’s inconsistent offensive line.

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

My comp for Mason Graham over the summer season 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 defensive position class.

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.

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

Will Campbell has been my OT2 all through, and whereas he isn’t 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 instances this season. But he held his personal towards Arkansas’ Landon Jackson, who will likely be a high-round decide in April.

Will Johnson was my No. 1 participant over the summer season 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 probably the greatest defenders in faculty soccer; there is a motive the simple comp for him is Patrick Surtain II.

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

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 exhausting to not love his recreation. My podcast co-host, Rick Spielman, calls him a extra athletic Keion White.

Put apart for the second that Malaki Starks is an elite athlete who can line up anyplace 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 anyplace … and wreak havoc from anyplace. Very to see how NFL groups plan to make use of him on the subsequent degree.

Tetairoa McMillan is 6-foot-5, however he strikes like a shifty slot receiver with the advantage of an infinite catch radius and the flexibility to make contested catches look straightforward. Think Drake London however a greater athlete.

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

A San Diego State switch the place he performed proper deal with, Josh Simmons was a nice shock in Columbus, Ohio, the place he was not solely put in at left deal with, however was enjoying at a excessive degree earlier than an October knee harm vs. Oregon ended his season. I believed he may come again to high school — he might most likely use the expertise — however as an alternative he declared for the 2025 draft. And in a draft gentle alongside the offensive line, I totally count on Simmons to attract some first-round consideration, even when he may want a 12 months or two of seasoning.

James Pearce Jr. is a juiced-up, twitchy edge rusher who can win with the bull rush or pace 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 extremely good athlete for his dimension — and he has a knack for getting his palms up within the passing lane and knocking the ball down. He strikes properly 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.

Deone Walker constantly wins with heavy palms on the snap as a cross rusher — each lengthy and highly effective, which makes him a nightmare irrespective of the place he strains up (and Kentucky used him all over the place). He will play too excessive at instances towards 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 dimension this athletic.

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 infinite catch radius, and is a exact route runner, wanting like a receiver at instances 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.

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

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

Shavon Revel tore his ACL in October, and he hasn’t performed since. But his tape is loads of enjoyable; his observe background reveals 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 superb factor), however he is a pleasant mixture of each when it comes to dimension and play fashion.

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 accomplished extra for his draft inventory than Warren, who was a late Day 2/Day 3 decide over the summer season.

Derrick Harmon is what I’d describe as “nation robust” as a result of once 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 constantly a load on the within, partially due to energy, low pad degree and the aforementioned bull rush. He does not have a wide range of pass-rush strikes, however he does not want them. He can battle towards 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(!) towards Boise State.

This defensive position class is extremely deep, and in earlier years, Walter Nolen most likely goes off the board a bit greater. Either method, 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 towards double groups, and is fast to get off blocks and get to the ball.

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 motive he had 86 receptions for 1,212 yards and 9 touchdowns in 2023.

This could sound wealthy however, at instances, Jahdae Barron flashes in a method that jogs my memory of Brian Branch; he is one of many smartest gamers on the sphere, he is all the time across the ball, and for those who want a play, he constantly reveals 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.

He’s a greater cross rusher than run stuffer proper now, however wherever you line him up (and South Carolina used him all over the 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 properly 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 will see some T.J. Watt (bear in mind, Watt by some means lasted till the tip of Round 1). At different instances, you will see the consistency of Anthony Nelson, which is fairly good, too. Either method, Jackson performs with heavy palms and the facility you’d come to count on from a 270-pound edge rusher (despite the fact that Arkansas lined him up all over the place), in addition to the juice you won’t expect.

Sweet mercy, Omarr Norman-Lott is juiced up coming off the ball. Explosive might be one of the simplest ways 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 total athlete.

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 nearly solely off the sting for the Buckeyes, he flashes the speed-to-power of a first-round cross rusher who can also be stout setting the sting within the run recreation.

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