The NFL Combine is now behind us, which means we’re officially into pro day and mock draft season. This is the first of five mock drafts I will release, with the final edition coming the week of the NFL Draft. This, of course, will change quite a bit after many teams’ rosters change through free agency. Follow me on X at JLSports24 for more draft updates and my Top-50 Prospects.
Picks 1-8
1. Tennessee Titans | Abdul Carter | Edge | Penn State
Titans President of Football Operations Chad Brinker said, “We won’t pass on a generational talent with the first pick in the NFL draft”. Sticking and picking at #1 would mean just that. Abdul Carter is a generational talent on the edge that isn’t available in most drafts.
2. Cleveland Browns | Travis Hunter | WR/CB | Colorado
Cam Ward is in play here, but I believe if their 2025 QB is to be found in the draft, it will be with a day-two pick. Travis Hunter is a generational talent and face-of-the-franchise player the Browns will need with the eventual departure of Myles Garrett, who has requested a trade.
3. New York Giants | Cam Ward | QB | Miami
The Giants stay put at #3 and draft the QB they’re counting on to flip the fortunes of this once proud franchise.
4. New England Patriots | Will Campbell | OT | LSU
New Patriots Head Coach Mike Vrabel knows that winning in the trenches is a must to succeed in the NFL. Will Campbell provides immediate protection for franchise QB Drake Maye.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars | Mason Graham | DT | Michigan
The Jaguars can go many directions with the 5th overall pick, but shoring up the defensive line with the best player available is a no-brainer here.
6. Las Vegas Raiders | Shedeur Sanders | QB | Colorado
I expect the Raiders to ultimately fill this need through free agency or a trade, but for the purpose of this mock draft, they take the best available QB and will build around him.
7. New York Jets | Tyler Warren | TE | Penn State
The Jets are in dire need of an improved culture. Warren is the tough, hardworking type of player they will be targeting going forward. He immediately gives their eventual QB an easy target and will help out in the run game as well.
8. Carolina Panthers | Mike Green | EDGE | Marshall
The Carolina Panthers finally got the offense going under Bryce Young in 2024. There are a lot of holes to fill on this roster, and a game-changing edge rusher fills a big need for the Panthers’ defense.
Picks 9-16
9. New Orleans Saints | Tetairoa McMillan | Arizona
The Saints need a reliable option on the outside after RB Alvin Kamara led the team in targets in 2024. Tet McMillan is a QB-friendly receiver with big-play ability who can open up the Saints’ pass game going forward.
10. Chicago Bears | Kelvin Banks Jr. | OT | Texas
Protecting Caleb Williams and building a strong run game are key to Ben Johnson’s vision for the Bears. Kelvin Banks Jr. is a people mover in the run game and is Williams’ blindside protector for the future.
11. San Francisco 49ers | Will Johnson | CB | Michigan
Will Johnson is a perfect fit for the 49ers, who will get back to their roots and play more zone coverage under returning Defensive Coordinator Robert Saleh.
12. Dallas Cowboys | Ashton Jeanty | RB | Boise State
One of the top talents of the draft falls right into the Cowboys lap as they look to rebuild their run game under new Head Coach Brian Schottenheimer.
13. Miami Dolphins | Josh Simmons | OT | Ohio State
Some regard Simmons as the best OT in the class, but he drops in the draft after playing only 6 games in 2024 due to injury. Simmons fits the Dolphins‘ diverse run scheme perfectly and can protect the edge for Tua Tagovailoa on either side.
14. Indianapolis Colts | Mykel Williams | EDGE | Georgia
Mykel Williams has game-changing potential and joins a struggling defense searching for an identity.
15. Atlanta Falcons | Shemar Stewart | EDGE | Texas A&M
Shemar Stewart’s stock skyrocketed after his impressive NFL Combine showing. With a 4.59 40-yard dash, 1.58 10-yard split, 40″ vertical, and 10’11” broad jump, Stewart has drawn comparisons to Myles Garrett over the weekend and moves himself into the top-15 picks.
16. Arizona Cardinals | Tyler Booker | OG | Alabama
Tyler Booker is a pro-bowl caliber guard who can create run lanes between the tackles for James Conner and help create a strong pocket for undersized QB Kyler Murray.
Picks 17-24
17. Cincinnati Bengals | Kenneth Grant | DT | Michigan
The Bengals desperately need to improve their defense at any cost necessary. Kenneth Grant is a massive athlete who will demand two blockers on every down.
18. Seattle Seahawks | Armand Membou | OT | Missouri
New Offensive Coordinator Klint Kubiak will implement a zone running scheme that requires offensive lineman who work well on the move. Membou could start right away at tackle or guard and displays excellent athleticism that the Seahawks run game will benefit from immediately.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers | James Pearce Jr. | EDGE | Tennessee
Pearce is an NFL-ready pass rusher who could contribute 10+ sacks in his rookie year. Head Coach Todd Bowles loves to pressure the QB and Pearce would give him a dynamic chess piece for his blitz packages.
20. Denver Broncos | Colston Loveland | TE | Michigan
Sean Payton often speaks of needing a “joker” player to work the middle of the field in Denver. At 6’6″ and 248 pounds, Loveland excels in the middle of the field and could be the top target on day one for Bo Nix.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers | Luther Burden III | WR | Missouri
Burden gives the Steelers the WR2 they have been searching for since trading Diontae Johnson before the 2024 season. He is elite with the ball in his hands and gives the Steelers some much-needed juice on offense.
22. Los Angeles Chargers | Omarion Hampton | RB | North Carolina
Omarion Hampton excels as a between-the-tackle runner who finishes every carry with toughness. He fits Jim Harbaugh’s vision perfectly and has Pro Bowl potential in Greg Roman’s rushing attack.
23. Green Bay Packers | Jahdae Barron | DB | Texas
The Packers appear to be moving on from the oft-injured Jaire Alexander. Jahdae Barron played in 57 games in college and collected 5 interceptions in 2024. He can play anywhere in the secondary, and the Packers would be ecstatic to have him fall this far in the draft.
24. Minnesota Vikings | Walter Nolen | DT | Ole Miss
Walter Nolen’s attacking style fits what the Minnesota Vikings like to do on defense. He gets up the field quickly and can line up anywhere along the defensive line. He would be a major asset for Brian Flores’ defense.
Picks 25-32
25. Houston Texans | Matthew Golden | WR | Texas
Houston needs a reliable WR2 to complement star wideout Nico Collins. Golden impressed at the NFL Combine with a 4.30 40-yard dash that would certainly help the Texans offense regain its 2023 form.
26. Los Angeles Rams | Donovan Jackson | OG | Ohio State
The Rams are allowing Jonah Jackson to seek a trade, signaling that his time with the team is over. Donovan Jackson is a day-one starter who fills an immediate need for the Rams.
27. Baltimore Ravens | Jalon Walker | EDGE | Georgia
Jalon Walker feels like a Baltimore Raven. There may be no better place for him to reach his full potential and find his true position on an NFL defense.
28. Detroit Lions | Nic Scourton | EDGE | Texas A&M
Scourton gives Detroit a stout player on the edge opposite of Aidan Hutchinson and helps create depth along the defensive line.
29. Washington Commanders | Maxwell Hairston | CB | Kentucky
Few helped themselves more than Maxwell Hairston during the NFL Combine after running a 4.28 40-yard dash. Hairston reads and reacts to the QB well, which fits into Dan Quinn’s ball-hawking, turnover-centric defensive philosophy.
30. Buffalo Bills | Derrick Harmon | DT | Oregon
Derrick Harmon’s ability gets lost in this extremely deep defensive line class. Buffalo gets great value with a relentless defender who can help improve their defense against the run and pass.
31. Kansas City Chiefs | Josh Conerly Jr. | OT | Oregon
The Chiefs do the right thing by directly addressing the issue that caused their Super Bowl loss. Stability at OT will allow Patrick Mahomes to play in rhythm and take advantage of his talented returning receivers.
32. Philadelphia Eagles | Malaki Starks | S | Georgia
Without any glaring needs, Eagles General Manager extraordinaire Howie Roseman picks the best player available, who happens to be from his favorite SEC school. A lineman of any sorts could also be in play here as Roseman has an “unhealthy obsession” with them.
Mock Draft 2.0
The next mock draft will be released on March 17th, following the first wave of free agency signings.
[…] the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine, Baltimore Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta highlighted their top needs heading into this […]
[…] the 2025 NFL Draft approaches, the New England Patriots are poised to make significant strides in rebuilding their […]