2025 NFL mock draft: Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders at No. 1 with early first-round order set?

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2025 NFL mock draft: Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders at No. 1 with early first-round order set?

Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz, USA TODAY · USA TODAY Sports

Tue, Jan 7, 2025 ·

13 min read

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For many NFL teams, Week 18 is a window into playoff season. But for others, it marks the unofficial start to draft season.

The finalization of the top of the first-round order provides some shape to the event, which is still more than three months away. And while events like the Senior Bo wl, scouting combine and pro days — not to mention free agency — will surely provide critical insights, many fans are already wondering their team could land a top talent like Colorado's Travis Hunter . And as always, the quarterbacks will once again dominate the pre-draft conversation, with Miami 's Cam Ward and Colorado's Shedeur Sanders — and possibly Alabama's Jalen Milroe — appearing to be the top prizes.

With much of the early first-round order set, here's USA TODAY Sports' latest 2025 NFL mock draft (remainder of the order filled in by Tankathon ):

1. Tennessee Titans – Cam Ward, QB, Miami (Fla.)

With Ward, Tennessee might actually get what it hoped it would find in Will Levis : a dynamic thrower who can attack every level of the field. With the Titans' suspect line likely not able to provide anywhere near the level of protection that the 6-foot-2, 223-pounder is accustomed to, there's sure to be an adjustment period for a signal-caller who likes to test the boundaries of what he can get away with. But if he can settle in, Ward can help the team finally take off after two years of major moves from Ran Carthon.

2. Cleveland Browns – Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado

This could end up as the defining pick of the draft, as Cleveland will have to consider how eager it is to make a splashy move at quarterback with the Deshaun Watson uncertainty hanging over the franchise for at least another year. But this roster isn't particularly well-equipped to serve a rookie signal-caller, and it would be hard to go wrong with the Heisman Trophy winner, who's considered by many to be the premier talent of this class. Questions about how Hunter will be utilized at the next level are likely to amplify over the coming months, with much of the early feedback indicating teams could prefer the two-way star at cornerback . In whatever capacity the Browns would care to use him, Hunter would surely make significant mark.

3. New York Giants – Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado

Their Week 17 explosion cost them the No. 1 pick, but Big Blue still ends up in position to select a quarterback suited to take the team into a new era. When it comes to managing pressure, the question is not so much about whether Sanders can handle the New York media spotlight as it is if he can exhibit a quicker trigger as a passer. But an experienced and accurate signal-caller capable of taking rookie sensation Malik Nabers to the next level should be an exciting notion for the Giants.

4. New England Patriots – Will Campbell, OT, LSU

New England won its finale, but it might have lost a lot of leverage in the process. The Patriots are now behind several quarterback-hungry teams, thereby limiting their prospects for a trade back that could have helped them boost their draft capital while still securing a top offensive lineman or receiver. As it stands, they can address their most pressing problem by grabbing Campbell, a consensus All-American who could be the stabilizing presence this shaky front lacks.

5. Jacksonville Jaguars – Will Johnson, CB, Michigan

Injuries cost Johnson not only several games this season, but also his deserved spotlight. The 6-2, 202-pounder has proven himself capable of handling almost any matchup or coverage assignment conceivable, as he's comfortable both blanketing receivers and making plays on the ball. He would be an immediate asset to a Jaguars team that was repeatedly gave up big gains through the air.

6. Las Vegas Raiders – Tetairoa McMillan , WR, Arizona

The Silver and Black seem like a strong candidate to trade up given that they're long overdue to make a premium investment in a young passer. If no deal materializes, however, the Raiders can set the table nicely for whoever takes over behind center by taking McMillan, who would pair with record-setting rookie tight end Brock Bowers to form an imposing duo of pass catchers.

7. New York Jets – Mason Graham , DT, Michigan

With no general manager or coach in place and Aaron Rodgers potentially headed out the door, Gang Green's future is shapeless at the moment. Regardless of whatever direction the franchise heads in, picking up another interior force to put next to Quinnen Williams could help get the rebuild started off right.

8. Carolina Panthers – Abdul Carter , DE/OLB, Penn State

The effects of trading away Brian Burns were sorely felt by a defense that ranked last in the NFL in pass rush win rate, according to ESPN, through Week 17. In racking up 11 sacks en route to earning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, Carter proved he can wreck offensive game plans with regularity.

9. New Orleans Saints – Mykel Williams , DE, Georgia

Williams is far more of an athlete than finished product as a pass rusher. But with New Orleans rebooting and likely needing to someone to take over for the long term opposite Carl Granderson , the Saints can be patient in bringing along a 6-5, 265-pound edge rusher with physical tools that few in this class can match.

10. Chicago Bears – Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State

Is using a top-10 selection on a running back a good use of resources for a team with as many issues as the Bears? Maybe not. But there's little question that Chicago has to take drastic action to better support Caleb Williams after a calamitous debut campaign for the 2024 No. 1 pick. Jeanty, who rushed for 2,601 yards and 29 touchdowns in carrying Boise State to the College Football Playoff , is the rare ball carrier capable recalibrating an offense.

11. San Francisco 49ers – Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas

Expecting anyone to take over for 11-time Pro Bowl selection Trent Williams at left tackle is bound to result in disappointment. But regardless of whether San Francisco would look to Banks to eventually take over at left tackle or move over to the right side – or even bump inside – the fleet-footed blocker could help get Brock Purdy and Christian McCaffrey back on track after a trying year.

12. Dallas Cowboys – Luther Burden III , WR, Missouri

Last season's highest-scoring offense no longer looks particularly imposing, and it's not just Dak Prescott 's season-ending hamstring surgery that's responsible for the dropoff. Though Burden's electric skill set was seldom showcased by Missouri's offense this season, he remains a big-play threat who can rack up yards after the catch with ease.

13. Miami Dolphins – Walter Nolen , DT, Mississippi

Even with myriad injuries and setbacks, it was still strange to see the Dolphins end up as one of four teams not to have a player selected to this year's Pro Bowl given the substantial investment in top-end talent. Adding Nolen, a former No. 1 overall recruit who this season showed flashes of his immense potential, would represent another bet on explosiveness for a defense that could lose overperforming impending free agent Calais Campbell .

14. Indianapolis Colts – Malaki Starks , S, Georgia

A safety might seem like a stretch for a team with as many pain points as Indianapolis, but a Colts team mired in mediocrity should be in search of difference-makers in whatever form they come. After standout cornerback Kenny Moore II questioned the team's effort and identity in November, Starks can step in to help set the tone for the defense with his playmaking range and savvy.

15. Atlanta Falcons – James Pearce Jr., DE, Tennessee

The pass rush came alive late in the season, but Atlanta shouldn't rest on its laurels. With rapid burst off the line of scrimmage and the length to flummox offensive tackles, Pearce offers a tantalizing set of tools the Falcons can't find elsewhere on their roster.

16. Arizona Cardinals – Jalon Walker, LB, Georgia

With no top-flight pass rusher at his disposal, Jonathan Gannon schemed up pressures from a variety of sources to cover for Arizona's personnel deficiencies on defense. Walker and Gannon would make for a fitting pairing, as a player who has been likened to the coach's former protege in Haason Reddick would no doubt come in handy as a spark plug for a unit that did not have one player reach five sacks this season.

17. Cincinnati Bengals – Shavon Revel Jr., CB, East Carolina

Outside of NFL sack king Trey Hendrickson , the Bengals don't have many building blocks on a defense that came undone this past season. So long as he's on track with his recovery from a torn anterior cruciate ligament suffered in September, Revel should catch the eye of the Bengals as a smothering coverage presence built for AFC North tussles.

18. Seattle Seahawks – Josh Conerly Jr., OT, Oregon

Protection problems and a toothless running attack prevented coordinator Ryan Grubb's offense from taking flight in Year 1. An ascending blocker, Conerly could slide over to right tackle and solidify a spot that looked particularly vulnerable when Abraham Lucas was out.

19. Houston Texans – Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon

Getting trampled by Derrick Henry on Christmas should push defensive tackle further up the Texans' wish list. After a breakout campaign following his transfer from Michigan State, Harmon established himself as the kind of interior disruptor Houston needs to put between Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr.

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Shemar Stewart , DL, Texas A&M

Todd Bowles has to be intrigued by the possibility of adding a 6-6, 290-pound defensive linemen who throws blockers off balance with his length and physicality? Stewart still has work to do to properly harness his hyperaggressive playing style, but he should still make his mark against the run in the early going as he figures things out.

21. Denver Broncos – Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State

Think Sean Payton could have some fun with a hard-charging, do-it-all tight end? Warren has made a solid case for himself to be the first tight end taken, and his prowess pulling away from defenders in coverage and with the ball in his hands would make things considerably easier for Bo Nix.

22. Pittsburgh Steelers – Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama

Milroe might seem like an odd fit for Mike Tomlin, who instructed Russell Wilson to "take care of the football and stay on schedule" prior to Pittsburgh ending the regular season on a four-game skid. But there's no denying that he can ignite big plays as both a passer and runner, and the buzz around him could grow throughout the pre-draft process as he showcases his singular athleticism. If the Steelers can be patient with his development – perhaps sitting him behind Wilson or another established veteran to start – there's a significant payoff to be had.

23. Los Angeles Rams – Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State

With Alaric Jackson set to hit free agency, the Rams might need to mull their options at left tackle. Simmons is still recovering from a season-ending knee injury he sustained in October, but the 6-5, 310-pounder otherwise checks nearly every box for a high-end blindside protector.

24. Green Bay Packers – Landon Jackson, DE, Arkansas

Bailing on Lukas Van Ness might be premature, but the Packers can't expect a seismic jump from the former first-rounder, especially given the lack of depth and production from the edge rush. Jackson overwhelms blockers with his 6-7, 280-pound frame, though he'll need to develop additional ways to win at the next level.

25. Los Angeles Chargers – Colston Loveland , TE, Michigan

No hard sell should be required for Jim Harbaugh when it comes to getting a handle on Loveland's capabilities. In Harbaugh's final season with the Wolverines in 2023, Loveland used his speed and fluidity to rack up 45 catches for 649 yards in a run-heavy attack. Equipping Justin Herbert with a legitimate threat down the seam seems like a winning proposition.

26. Washington Commanders – Nic Scourton, DE/OLB, Texas A&M

Dan Quinn has made it clear he wants "heavy hitters" in Washington , no matter what form they come in. Whether it's how he closes in on the quarterback or locks in against an opposing offensive tackle, Scourton has shown he can be exactly that in his pass rushes.

27. Baltimore Ravens – Mike Green, DE/OLB, Marshall

It's simplistic to think the Ravens can upgrade their occasionally flagging pass rusher by bringing aboard the Football Subdivision Leader in sacks (17). But the 6-4, 248-pounder is both explosive and lithe enough to snake past blockers at the next level, and he could shore up one of this unit's few apparent shortcomings.

28. Minnesota Vikings – Kenneth Grant , DT, Michigan

Depending on how the offseason shakes out, cornerback might be the more immediate need on defense for Minnesota. But Grant can create opportunities for others with the attention he commands up front, and he could tap into his considerable potential under the leadership of Brian Flores – assuming the defensive coordinator doesn't land a head coaching gig this cycle.30. Philadelphia Eagles – Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama

29. Buffalo Bills – JT Tuimoloau , DE, Ohio State

Outside of spot contributions from Von Miller , Buffalo isn't getting much off the edge outside of Greg Rousseau's contributions. Tuimoloau might be too rigid to ever post prolific sack numbers, but he can create consistent pressure through his forcefulness while also holding up well against the run.

30. Philadelphia Eagles – Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama

Yes, this would be a decidedly un-Howie Roseman-like move given how the GM approaches investing in linebackers. But with Zack Baun seemingly a strong candidate to cash in elsewhere after a breakout campaign that earned him a Pro Bowl nod, the Eagles should consider reloading with Campbell, whose versatility should shine through once he learns to play with a touch more discipline.

31. Kansas City Chiefs – Aireontae Ersery, OT, Minnesota

Counting on D.J. Humphries and Joe Thuney to solve the emergency at left tackle might get the two-time defending champions through the season, but it's not a tenable long-term plan. A Kansas City native, Ersery requires some refinement in pass protection but could still be a worthwhile investment as a blindside protector for Patrick Mahomes .

32. Detroit Lions – Tyler Booker, G, Alabama

Kevin Zeitler has been outstanding at right guard, but he'll turn 35 in March and will be a free agent after this season. Booker would fit right in with the rest of the Lions' offensive line, as he's a punishing presence in the run game.

This story has been updated with new information.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2025 NFL mock draft: Projections for first round with early order set

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