2025 NFL Mock Draft: Raiders trade up to secure a QB, Colorado star lands in the Big Apple

Cam Ward is the favorite to be the first quarterback drafted. If Tennessee elects to go the quarterback direction, then Ward is probably the guy. There is a world where they do not feel a conviction for one of the quarterbacks in this class and instead take the best prospect available.

With Cam Ward off the board, it creates a bit of urgency for other teams to be aggressive if they feel Shedeur Sanders is worthy of this level of consideration. Let’s say Cleveland is not sold on the quarterback, but the Raiders are all in on Sanders and recognize the need to get in front of the quarterback-needy Giants. The Browns would be a willing seller and the Raiders make it worth their while in this instance.

If the two perceived top quarterback prospects are off the board, then the Giants will have to find another path to fill their hole at the position. Reaching for Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart or Alabama’s Jalen Milroe would not be the best way to go about that. Instead, they opt to take Travis Hunter, who can fill a need for the franchise on either side of the ball.

Abdul Carter is likely the best prospect in this draft right now. He ended the season on a high note and fulfills a premium position in the NFL. New England has a lot of power along its front and simply getting them healthy would go a long way toward improving that unit, but they lack the juice that Carter can provide.

Head coach Liam Coen gets his version of Mike Evans in Jacksonville. The Jaguars offense will be well-positioned to bounce back in 2025 with Brian Thomas Jr. and McMillan on the receiving end of Trevor Lawrence’s passes.

Cleveland’s situation becomes more interesting if Myles Garrett is reluctantly traded before draft night. Would they stay put and take Abdul Carter at No. 2 overall rather than trade down? As it stands, they lock down the future of the defensive interior with Mason Graham and Mike Hall Jr.

D.J. Reed is slated to hit free agency. The Lions placed an emphasis on upgrading the secondary over the past two years because Aaron Glenn wanted to play a physical brand of football. By pairing Sauce Gardner and Will Johnson Jr. together, he is bringing that same philosophy to the Big Apple.

Carolina must find ways to supplement its pass rush. Mykel Williams is a bit raw but has all the traits that excite defensive coaches. It is a similar conversation to Travon Walker a few years ago.

If the Saints are looking for ways to improve the pass rush, then Jalon Walker is a unique solution. He can start at off-ball linebacker, but his flexibility allows him to bring pressure from a variety of alignments.

Before Ben Johnson can worry himself about acquiring the skill talent that he had in Detroit, he must first clone the offensive line. The Lions’ protection was the secret to so many of the offensive tricks being possible.

If I were a betting man, I would bet that San Francisco ultimately uses this pick on a defensive lineman. However, Trent Williams may only have another year or two left in his career. The 49ers do not want to be in a position to address two offensive tackle roles in the same offseason. They get a head start on the project with the selection of Kelvin Banks.

There are ways to take pressure off CeeDee Lamb being the only consistent outlet in the pass game without addressing wide receiver. There is plenty of time to supplement the pass catchers, but Ashton Jeanty is a dynamic runner, as well as a net positive in the pass game.

There are a few defined needs for Miami this offseason and safety is near the top of the list. Malaki Starks is the best example of a rangy, ball-hawking safety in the class whereas Nick Emmanwori has more size and versatility.

There are more ways to support a young quarterback than giving him a wide receiver, which Indianapolis did last offseason. A tight end is a young quarterback’s best friend and having Tyler Warren as an outlet could take some of the pressure off Anthony Richardson working through his progressions.

Atlanta made an effort to address its pass rush last offseason when they acquired Matt Judon, but that move did not have the level of impact they had hoped. James Pearce Jr. is a more dynamic rusher who can still fill out his frame.

Arizona’s defense was really bad coming into last year but there were reasons for optimism from some of the young talent they brought in last offseason. They continue investing in that side of the ball with the selection of Walter Nolen.

The conversation around Cincinnati and Buffalo is similar: both teams have quarterbacks who allow them to compete with Patrick Mahomes and the other top offenses in the league. If they build more formidable defenses to slow those other teams down, that will give them the best chance to slay the beast in the AFC.

The possibility of Seattle’s wide receiver room being turned over this offseason is very real. There are ways to supplement the pass catchers without directly adding at wide receiver. Colston Loveland would give them a field-stretching tight end that can also help in the run game.

The endearing trait of Nick Emmanwori is his versatility. He has exposure to playing in coverage but is comfortable playing down in the box. Tampa Bay has brought some familiar faces back to the safety room, but Antoine Winfield Jr. and Emmanwori gives them stability.

The projection of Luther Burden III is ill-timed considering Sean Payton came out this week and said that he feels better about the wide receiver room than outsiders. Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty, Michigan tight end Colston Loveland or Penn State tight end Tyler Warren make more sense, but none were available in this situation.

There has been some scuttlebutt that George Pickens has worn out his welcome in Pittsburgh and could be on the move. If that were to happen, then a predominant slot receiver is not going to help the offense as much as a player like Matthew Golden, who has the potential to stretch the field.

Khalil Mack is a free agent and Bud Dupree is not getting any younger. Los Angeles is able to maintain its depth in that role by drafting Mike Green to pair with Joey Bosa and Tuli Tuipulotu.

The expectation is that Jaire Alexander is not a part of next season’s roster. If Carrington Valentine is starting in one of those boundary spots, then the Packers can plug and play Jahdae Barron in the slot.

The wild-card round matchup was a shock to the system that Minnesota needs to get stronger on the offensive and defensive lines. Tyler Booker has played a lot of football and brings that experience to the Vikings.

Grey Zabel was able to show his versatility at the Senior Bowl. In that setting, he was able to showcase his ability to hold up in pass protection at both center and guard against Power 4 competition.

Los Angeles drafts Josh Conerly Jr. to step in at left tackle with Matthew Stafford returning for another season. He is still a bit rough around the edges, but was playing his best ball at season’s end.

Nic Scourton gives Baltimore more power to rush the passer. Kyle Van Noy was fourth in the NFL this year with 12.5 sacks, but he also turns 34 years old prior to the NFL Draft. The Ravens need to develop more pass-rush options.

Carlton Davis is a free agent this offseason. The odds of Detroit re-signing him are probably pretty good, but there is a distinct possibility that he becomes too expensive and the franchise, instead, must look to the NFL Draft to fill the need.

If Brandon Coleman is the future at left tackle, then the hope is that Armand Membou is the future at right tackle. One question I had about him was length because 6-foot-3 is below average for an NFL right tackle, but his 34-inch arm length makes up for that at the point of attack.

Kenneth Grant, who is a stout run defender, is a good complement to Ed Oliver, who is a better pass rusher, as they look to the future.

Donovan Jackson was college football’s Joe Thuney this year. Both players traditionally align at left guard, but had to move to left tackle out of necessity. The versatility displayed will endear him to Philadelphia.

When examining how Kansas City has been able to sustain its Super Bowl window, it became clear that there has been an emphasis on drafting and developing defenders. Every interior defender may be a complement to Chris Jones in one aspect, but Tyleik Williams raises the floor of the run defense. He has the same attitude that has allowed the Chiefs defense to rise.