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2025 NFL mock draft: Latest projection for first round features a few shifting picks
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- 2025 NFL mock draft: Latest projection for first round features a few shifting picks
With just a little more than two weeks remaining until the 2025 NFL draft, all that's left is the final run of speculation.
The pro day circuit is complete, leaving teams to put the final touches on an extensive process with their final draft meetings. And while the overwhelming majority of behind-the-scenes work has been completed, the end product remains very much a mystery for those on both the inside and outside. This year's draft has yielded little in terms of consensus and clarity, leaving the possibility for several early surprises to shape the first round.
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With all that in mind, here's USA TODAY Sports' latest 2025 NFL mock draft:
1. Tennessee Titans – Cam Ward , QB, Miami (Fla.)
At least the start of the draft seems to have some degree of certainty. With the Titans and Shedeur Sanders canceling their private workout, all signs point to Ward for the No. 1 pick . An electric presence behind center who still occasionally short-circuits when pressing, the 6-2, 219-pounder might seem like an atypical choice for a team looking to pivot from Will Levis ' many miscues. But Ward's upward trajectory as a composed pocket passer suggests he could help Tennessee achieve some semblance of stability with its aerial attack while still maintaining a big-play flair.
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2. Cleveland Browns – Travis Hunter , WR/CB, Colorado
Deion Sanders said Hunter and his son, Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders, "should be going 1-2" in the draft. While he won't get his wish, he shouldn't have to wait long to start celebrating on draft night. Hunter has plenty of buzz to go here as the first non-quarterback taken, and with good reason. Browns general manager Andrew Berry said at the NFL Scouting Combine he envisioned Hunter working primarily at wide receiver to start his career, and the Heisman Trophy winner could help Cleveland scrape along with a bridge option at quarterback – or a passer later on in the draft.
3. New York Giants – Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
If New York goes in a different direction, the selection could turn the draft on its head. Sanders' settling point would then be unclear, with only so many teams in the first round still seemingly in the market to be buyers in what is widely seen as an underwhelming quarterback class . Additionally, the Giants would be under pressure to identify a passer who could be brought along behind Russell Wilson . But with Hunter off the board, maybe Joe Schoen doesn't get cute with what could be a tenure-defining choice and instead forges ahead with Sanders.
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4. New England Patriots – Abdul Carter , DE, Penn State
At the annual league meeting, Patriots executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf said the team wouldn't be boxed in by needs and would instead focus on taking the best player available at No. 4. This scenario would certainly test his commitment to that stance. While taking a left tackle has to be in play given how problematic New England 's current protection plan for Drake Maye looks, Carter would be without peer among the prospects available as a potential game-wrecker for Mike Vrabel and a defense that ranked last with just 28 sacks in 2024.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars – Mason Graham , DT, Michigan
Amid some volatility in the top five, this pairing is hard to shake. First-year general manager James Gladstone has declared his intent to go young along the line, and Graham's motor will keep him relevant on plays even when he doesn't win right away.
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6. Las Vegas Raiders – Ashton Jeanty , RB, Boise State
The Heisman Trophy runner-up is headed to Sin City this week, and many are convinced that will be his draft-night destination. The Silver and Black might be testing just how much value even the most well-rounded running back can provide to an offense with significant deficiencies elsewhere. But Jeanty has shown a rare penchant for creating yardage almost on his own , and an alignment between intention and talent can help the Raiders rejuvenate the league's worst rushing attack.
7. New York Jets – Armand Membou , OT, Missouri
Steadiness has been the recurrent theme of everything Gang Green has done this offseason, with Aaron Glenn and Darren Mougey not seeking to take any shortcuts on what figures to be an extensive rebuild. Membou, then, should have plenty of appeal given that the 6-4, 332-pounder didn't surrender a sack last season and plays with rare equanimity for a blocker who only turned 21 last month.
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8. Carolina Panthers – Jalon Walker , LB, Georgia
Walker remained a fixture in this spot since the top of the draft order was first set, and it's hard to find a better alternative for Carolina. Ejiro Evero's defense is due for a true difference-maker beyond Derrick Brown , and Walker can deliver plenty of disruption as an edge rusher as he rounds out other parts of his game.
9. New Orleans Saints – Tyler Warren , TE, Penn State
With the Saints again resisting the full reset many have wondered about, there's no clear direction for Kellen Moore to take things in Year 1. Warren could at least somewhat solve that, as the versatile threat could do plenty of heavy lifting for the Saints' uneven receiving corps.
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10. Chicago Bears – Will Campbell , OT, LSU
Ryan Poles already spent big in free agency to remake Chicago's front, but the task might not be quite done. Campbell could come in and push left tackle Braxton Jones , who is still recovering from a fractured ankle and is not signed beyond this season.
11. San Francisco 49ers – Will Johnson , CB, Michigan
Cornerback hasn't been an area at which San Francisco has allotted significant draft capital during the John Lynch era. But as the prototype for the position at 6-2 and 194 pounds with superlative ball skills, Johnson could provide a substantial payoff if the 49ers are willing to deviate from their habits.
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12. Dallas Cowboys – Tetairoa McMillan , WR, Arizona
Amid a raging debate about whether McMillan is truly a top-flight wide receiver and the pre-eminent prospect at his position, maybe the 6-4, 219-pound target will find a home as a high-end No. 2 option. McMillan would contrast nicely with CeeDee Lamb as a perimeter threat who can elevate one of the league's worst red-zone offenses.
13. Miami Dolphins – Jahdae Barron , CB, Texas
Forgoing the offensive and defensive lines here to select a cornerback might cause quite a stir given the state of the Dolphins' fronts. But with the top options at those positions already accounted for, Barron could extend Miami's versatility in the secondary.
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14. Indianapolis Colts – Colston Loveland , TE, Michigan
Loveland might not be seen by some as on the same level as Warren, but he's hardly a consolation prize for an Indianapolis offense desperate for a tight end capable of making some kind of imprint on the passing game. More of a field-expander than safety valve, the 6-6, 248-pound seam threat would raise both the floor and ceiling for either Daniel Jones or Anthony Richardson .
15. Atlanta Falcons – Donovan Ezeiruaku , OLB, Boston College
Maybe this seems early for an edge rusher who can be swallowed up when bigger blockers lock onto him. But Ezeiruaku has an extensive array of tricks to ensure that doesn't happen, and he leverages his moves, length and agility to become a mainstay in opponents' backfields. And with Atlanta now approaching a decade since it last had a player reach double-digit sacks, the organization should look beyond the positional prototype for ways to generate pressure.
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16. Arizona Cardinals – Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas
Though Josh Sweat 's signing was the crown jewel of the Cardinals' offseason, Monti Ossenfort also added plenty of heft to his defensive line by adding Dalvin Tomlinson and Calais Campbell . His next move could be continuing that theme on the other side of the ball with Banks, who would provide flexibility in either pairing with Paris Johnson Jr. at offensive tackle or kicking inside.
17. Cincinnati Bengals – Shemar Stewart , DE, Texas A&M
The standoff between NFL sack king Trey Hendrickson and Cincinnati shows no signs of abating, with Bengals executive vice president Katie Blackburn ratcheting up the pressure at the annual league meeting by saying it's "on (Hendrickson) to be happy at some point." Whether it's as a running mate for the All-Pro defensive end or as his successor, Stewart figures to be the kind of high-upside player who would be of great interest to the Bengals as they try to load up the underfunded defense with young talent.
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18. Seattle Seahawks – Grey Zabel , G/C, North Dakota State
With its evaluations on several free-agent options not resulting in any signings, Seattle's problems along its interior line are as glaring as ever. John Schneider might be hard-pressed to use a premium pick on an area he has long resisted making a substantial investment in, but the smooth-moving Zabel would slot in as an enticing fit in new coordinator Klint Kubiak's scheme.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Jihaad Campbell , LB, Alabama
A shoulder injury that necessitated surgery after the combine might have some jittery about Campbell's stock. But that setback might be the only thing to slow the ascent of the 6-3, 235-pounder, who could make an early mark in the Buccaneers' pass rush as he hones his instincts at the second level.
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20. Denver Broncos – Omarion Hampton , RB, North Carolina
With far more discussion than action so far regarding the Broncos' plans to build out their backfield, Denver sizes up as a virtual lock to take a running back at some point relatively early in the draft. The only question is how heavily the team will prioritize the position. The hard-charging Hampton represents Sean Payton's chance to take a major swing and invest in the lead back he hasn't typically gravitated toward.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers – Jaxson Dart, QB, Mississippi
With Aaron Rodgers continuing to take his time as he decides on his football future, the Steelers might enter the draft with an alarming lack of clarity behind center. Dart might not be an ideal contingency plan in the short term given his potentially long acclimation period after playing in a play-action-heavy scheme that afforded him plenty of easy looks, but his confidence attacking downfield would make him an intriguing fit for an offense looking to make the most of George Pickens and DK Metcalf.
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22. Los Angeles Chargers – Matthew Golden , WR, Texas
Jim Harbaugh isn't likely to change from his distinct ways anytime soon, but some more juice in the passing game is required for the Chargers to fully unlock their rugged identity. Putting Golden on the outside would help lessen the burden shouldered by Ladd McConkey and give Justin Herbert more easy looks with his knack for creating separation.
23. Green Bay Packers – Mykel Williams , DE, Georgia
Lukas Van Ness has yet to make a serious jump in the two years after he became a first-round pick, so in comes another pass rusher defined more by his potential than his production. The 6-5, 260-pound Williams looks the part of a Brian Gutekunst selection, and Green Bay could get another crack at maximizing the disruptiveness of an explosive athlete with a formidable bull rush.
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24. Minnesota Vikings – Nick Emmanwori , S, South Carolina
The optimal path for a team with just four draft picks – including this lone one before compensatory selections begin – would be trading back, even to Day 2. Yet Emmanwori could prove compelling as a singularly athletic playmaker capable of returning immense value once he develops a better feel for both run support and route recognition.
25. Houston Texans – Josh Simmons , OT, Ohio State
Even after adding Cam Robinson and Trent Brown late in free agency, the Texans' reworking of the offensive line feels incomplete. Selecting Simmons is a step toward establishing a long-term plan, as the 6-5, 317-pounder has all the tools to hold up against NFL speed rushers, though he's still finding his way on some of the finer points of pass protection and is recovering from a torn patellar tendon.
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26. Los Angeles Rams – Maxwell Hairston , CB, Kentucky
With Matthew Stafford back, the Rams have to balance developing a young roster with capitalizing on the competitive window propped open by their veteran gunslinger. Bolstering the outlook at cornerback would serve both goals, and Los Angeles ' defensive scheme should help Hairston tap into his playmaking prowess in coverage.
27. Baltimore Ravens – Malaki Starks , S, Georgia
Looks like a Raven, plays like a Raven, feels like a Raven. Starks is heady leader on the back end with an extensive playmaking track record. If he can properly harness his aggressiveness and not let it leave him susceptible to big breakdowns in coverage, he could team with Kyle Hamilton to give Baltimore an imposing tandem at safety.
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28. Detroit Lions – Derrick Harmon , DT, Oregon
Defensive tackle might not seem like the foremost area of concern for the Lions, but Alim McNeill and Mekhi Wingo 's recoveries from torn anterior cruciate ligaments suffered late last season only further highlight the need for depth along a line that was undone by injuries. Comfortable attacking from almost anywhere, Harmon would surely be a welcome addition to a defense that looks desperate to set the tone up front.
29. Washington Commanders – Mike Green , DE/OLB, Marshall
Two sexual assault allegations could complicate Green's draft outlook. But if he's available at this point – and there's a chance that his range is closer to the teens – and the Commanders are comfortable with the selection, the Football Bowl Subdivision leader in sacks could be a critical cornerstone for a pass rush that lacks a dynamic presence.
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30. Buffalo Bills – Azareye'h Thomas, CB, Florida State
Addressing the void at cornerback opposite Christian Benford might be a necessity for a Buffalo squad on the precipice of a Super Bowl breakthrough. The 6-2, 197-pound Thomas can smother receivers from their release to the catch point, though his physicality mid-route could leave him prone to penalties early in his career.
31. Kansas City Chiefs – Walter Nolen , DT, Mississippi
After reconfiguring their offensive line by exporting Joe Thuney to the Bears and inking Jaylon Moore to a massive deal, the Chiefs settled in for a relatively quiet offseason. They'd certainly make some noise by taking advantage of a promising defensive tackle class with Nolen, who would give defenses plenty of headaches as they try to account for Chris Jones and him on the interior.
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32. Philadelphia Eagles – James Pearce Jr., DE, Tennessee
Howie Roseman returned to his usual tactics in free agency by buying the dip with one-year deals for a couple of talented edge rushers in Azeez Ojulari and Josh Uche . Here, he can employ the same strategy to find a long-term solution at one of his most coveted spots, with Pearce having the explosive initial burst and closing speed of a top pick despite his occasionally uneven results.
This story has been updated to correct a typo.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2025 NFL mock draft: Latest projection for every team in first round
