As we approach day one of the 2025 NFL draft, future superstars will hope to hear their names get called as they begin what will hopefully be a long and successful career.
This 2025 class features a boatload of prospects oozing with talent and athleticism, eager to prove themselves on the big stage. While many prospects have what it takes to be a star in the league, their career will ultimately depend on which team selects them.
Here are our predictions for how the first round of the NFL draft will look and where some of these prospects will find their team.
Tennessee Titans select Miami QB Cam Ward
While not the best overall player in the class, Ward is certainly an electrifying QB who has great arm talent and pocket presence. He immediately upgrades a Tennessee QB room that struggled mightily in 2024.
Cleveland Browns select Colorado CB/WR Travis Hunter
On a roster that needs essentially everything, picking a two-way Heisman winner seems like a slam dunk. However, this pick will not be without its risks.
New York Giants select Penn State EDGE Abdul Carter
The Giants grab an All-American Penn State product who’s often been compared to division rival Micah Parsons, who also came from PSU. New York’s D-Line becomes elite on paper with the selection of a candidate for most talented player in the class.
New England Patriots select LSU OT Will Campbell
The Patriots get great value and fill a positional need with Campbell at pick four. He’ll slide into the left tackle spot and provide protection for promising QB Drake Maye.
Jacksonville Jaguars select Michigan DT Mason Graham
Graham is an easy pick for the Jaguars. He’s clearly the best interior D-Line prospect in the draft for a team that needs some help at that position.
Las Vegas Raiders select Arizona WR Tetairoa McMillan
The first pick of the Tom Brady era in Vegas sees QB Geno Smith obtain his new primary receiver. Some mocks have McMillan falling as low as 18, but I see Vegas taking a flashy pick.
New York Jets select Penn State TE Tyler Warren
This could be considered a reach, but Warren absolutely fills a need for the Jets. Giving new QB Justin Fields a trusty and versatile weapon to pair with Garrett Wilson gives the Jets’ offense a ton of potential for next season.
TRADE: Dallas Cowboys (via Carolina Panthers) select Boise St. RB Ashton Jeanty
Our mock draft’s first trade. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones will likely look to make a flashy move while still filling a team need, which we expect to result in a trade up for the Heisman runner-up.
New Orleans Saints select Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders
ESPN’s Field Yates said of the 2025 NFL Draft that this year’s theme is “Who gets Shedeur Sanders?” In the aftermath of the recent Derek Carr injury, New Orleans goes boom or bust in a pick that very well could save the Saints as a franchise.
Chicago Bears select Missouri OT Armand Membou
QB Caleb Williams had a very disappointing year last season, in part due to poor play calling and offensive line play. Membou immediately provides a spark to the line, whether he plays guard or tackle, and helps give Williams a clean pocket to throw from.
San Francisco 49ers select Michigan CB Will Johnson
The Niners need some help in the secondary, and with Hunter gone early, we project they take the two-time All-American to help San Francisco tighten up its defense.
TRADE: Carolina Panthers (via Dallas Cowboys) select Georgia EDGE Jalon Walker
In our mock, Carolina wisely trades back and gains assets while still getting a top 5-6 defensive talent in this year’s draft. Walker effectively serves as a replacement for Brian Burns as the Panthers inch one step closer to a postseason push.
TRADE: Baltimore Ravens (via Miami Dolphins) select Marshall EDGE Mike Green
After a disappointing loss to the Bills in the playoffs, the Ravens are in desperate need of making a splash in the draft. So, we have them trading up for a high-upside and flashy pass rusher to shore up and improve their defensive line.
Indianapolis Colts select Michigan TE Colston Loveland
No disrespect to the current TE1 for the Colts, Drew Ogletree, but if Indy wants to seriously start building around quarterback Anthony Richardson, they need a better tight end. Loveland has the physical traits and skill set to be the tight end Indianapolis needs.
Atlanta Falcons select Georgia EDGE Mykel Williams
The Falcons keep the Georgia Bulldog prospect close to home as they take a guy in Williams who performed masterfully at the combine. This pick also can be seen as a “match” to Carolina’s pick of Walker.
Arizona Cardinals select Boston College DE Donovan Ezeiruaku
With such a deep EDGE class, there’s bound to be some later-draft risers who can slip into the first round. Ezeiruaku is one of those players, and he provides a jumpstart to a Cardinals defensive line that struggled last season.
Cincinnati Bengals select Texas OT Kelvin Banks Jr.
The Bengals do need defense, but, as they have been for all of the 2020s, they are still in strong need of a better offensive line. Kelvin Banks Jr., who won the Lombardi Award, Outland Award, Jacobs Blocking Trophy and was a two-time All-American, is just what Cincinnati needs to strengthen the line.
Seattle Seahawks select Ohio State OT Josh Simmons
Although his 2024 season was limited due to injury, Josh Simmons is still seen as a top OL prospect with plus speed for a big guy. We could also see this pick being spent on a skill position player, but Seattle will be looking to protect QB Sam Darnold either way.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers select Georgia S Malaki Starks
The Buccaneers defense was extremely disappointing and porous last season after several years of solid play. Starks is the top safety in this class, and he pairs up with Antoine Winfield for a deadly duo in the defensive backfield.
Denver Broncos select Texas WR Matthew Golden
The Broncos’ wide receivers room has a multitude of solid receivers but no true standouts, which is why we believe they will select the Longhorns’ top receiver from 2024. Golden steps up to lead the room and provide a target for young QB Bo Nix.
Pittsburgh Steelers select Oregon DT Derrick Harmon
Talk to any Steelers fan about Derrick Harmon and you’ll get an earful. Harmon is a blue-chip DT prospect hailing from Detroit – a perfect fit for a D-Line in Pittsburgh.
Los Angeles Chargers select Michigan DT Kenneth Grant
Coach Jim Harbaugh worked wonders to rework the Chargers and turn them into a serious team. The former Michigan coach grabs one of his old players to strengthen the defensive line.
Green Bay Packers select Ohio State WR Emeka Egbuka
The Packers have had some disastrous first-round picks in recent years, but with a loaded 2025 draft, it’s hard to miss. We have them taking “Mr. Reliable” out of Ohio State to help take their receiving room to the next level.
TRADE: Washington Commanders (via Minnesota Vikings) select Texas A&M EDGE Shemar Stewart
With elite edge rusher prospects quickly running out, the Commanders make a trade to acquire Stewart. The A&M prospect would be a difference-maker for coach and defensive guru Dan Quinn, who currently lacks a true standout EDGE.
Houston Texans select Alabama OG Tyler Booker
In the two playoff losses of the CJ Stroud era, it seemed that the Texans got gashed up the middle every other play. If Booker pans out well for Houston, that could mean scary things for the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs.
Los Angeles Rams select Alabama LB Jihaad Campbell
The Rams’ linebacker room has thinned in recent years, and though this draft is not especially loaded with linebackers, Jihaad Campbell should be a good fit for LA.
TRADE: Miami Dolphins (via Baltimore Ravens) select Ohio State OG/OT Donovan Jackson
The Dolphins build up draft capital for later rounds and still fill a huge hole on the OL. Jackson brings experience and versatility to a Dolphins team that has struggled in the trenches over the years.
Detroit Lions select Tennessee EDGE James Pearce
The Lions have an uber-talented roster, so it makes sense they get the best talent available in a guy who had 17 sacks in the last two seasons. This could conceivably be Jahdae Barron or Grey Zabel as well.
TRADE: Minnesota Vikings (via Washington Commanders) select NDSU OG Grey Zabel
The Vikings are in need of some help on the offensive line, and while they could have stayed up at 24 and gotten the unanimous First-Team All-American, we believe they will get a little more draft capital by trading down while still getting their guy at 29. Zabel’s rare combination of size and strength should make him a premier OL in the NFL.
Buffalo Bills select Texas CB Jahdae Barron
The Bills are in desperate need of secondary help across the board. Luckily, Barron has the versatility to play almost any position in the secondary.
Kansas City Chiefs select Missouri WR Luther Burden III
I can hear the groans of fans of all the other 31 teams, but it just makes sense that the Chiefs go offense here. Burden remains in the Midwest and makes an already solid receiver room even better.
Philadelphia Eagles select Ole Miss DT Walter Nolan
Possibly to Eagles’ General Manager Howie Roseman’s dismay, Walter Nolan is not a Georgia Bulldog, but he is a dominant interior defensive lineman that will help Philadelphia’s front seven become even more formidable.
John Hilber is sports editor. Contact him at [email protected].
