The staff at Last Word on Pro Football put together a first-round mock draft for the 2025 NFL Draft. Beat writers have a good pulse on team needs, scheme fits, and who teams could target. Here are all the projected picks from the first round.
2025 NFL First Round Mock Draft – 32 Picks from the Last Word on Pro Football Staff
1. Tennessee Titans – Cam Ward, QB Miami
“Tennessee desperately needs a quarterback since Will Levis isn’t the answer. Ward is the top quarterback in the class and a good fit for Brian Callahan’s offense.” – Joseph Yun
2. Cleveland Browns – Travis Hunter, CB/WR Colorado
“The Browns need to find a way to win in a unique way. There is no more unique player than Travis Hunter in the 2025 NFL Draft and maybe in any draft of the past 50 years.” – Mike Kashuba, Managing Editor
3. New York Giants – Shedeur Sanders, QB Colorado
“The Giants have a desperate need for a quarterback. With Cam Ward gone, Shedeur Sanders is the easy pick at #3 and allows Brian Daboll the ability to have his guy under center for the first time in his career.” – Tony Salamah
4. New England Patriots – Abdul Carter, EDGE Penn State
“The Patriots need help at just about every position, so they take the best player left on the board. Abdul Carter has elite potential and could create a strong pass rusher with free agent signee Milton Williams.” – David Latham, Managing Editor
5. Jacksonville Jaguars – Mason Graham, IDL Michigan
“Picking top five again means the Jaguars have plenty of issues. Why not add another elite defensive lineman to go with the other two top-seven picks? Mason Graham looks like a sure-fire stud and will reinforce the interior to go with Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker on the edges.” – Drew Crabtree, Editor
6. Las Vegas Raiders – Ashton Jeanty, RB Boise State
“New head coach Pete Carroll could use a bell cow running back, similar to how he used Marshawn Lynch back in the day. Ashton Jeanty is the perfect player for that role.” – Austin Ambler
7. New York Jets – Tyler Warren, TE Penn State
“Offensive Coordinator Tanner Engstrand’s specialty is tight ends. After developing both TJ Hockenson & Sam LaPorta in Detroit, the Jets will look to make it three-for-three. As both a receiver & run-blocker, Tyler Warren would be perfect for them.” – Mike Zimmelman, Editor
8. Carolina Panthers – Tetairoa McMillan, WR Arizona
“The Panthers still need to give Bryce Young more playmakers on offense. McMillan gives Young an athletic 6’4″ receiver who has the potential to be a true No.1 wide receiver and Pro Bowl-caliber player in the NFL.” – Grant Potter
9. New Orleans Saints – Jalon Walker, EDGE Georgia
“Jalon Walker doesn’t fit the typical mold of a Saints edge defender, but they may be looking for a bit more dynamism at the position. Walker can play off-ball on early downs and rush the passer on passing downs.” – Michael Haney
10. Chicago Bears – Will Campbell, OT LSU
“It feels like for the first time in a long time, the Bears can go best-player-available. Despite all the recent o-line additions, Will Campbell can become a cornerstone on the Bears’ offense.” – Isaac Zuniga, Editor
11. San Francisco 49ers – Shemar Stewart, EDGE Texas A&M
“The 49ers take a freak athlete and try and get the production out of him later. You can’t teach athleticism like this, and in a mock with a weak draft class, an NFL project here makes sense.” – Mike Kashuba, Managing Editor
12. Dallas Cowboys – Armand Membou, OT Mizzou
“Terrence Steele is a fine right tackle. Membou can be a game-changing talent, and the Cowboys take the best player available.” – Mike Kashuba, Managing Editor
13. Miami Dolphins – Kelvin Banks, OT Texas
“Offensive tackle is one of the most important positions in the league, especially when your quarterback has an extensive concussion history. Talent and need perfectly align as Miami finds their heir to Terron Armstead.” – David Latham, Managing Editor
14. Indianapolis Colts – Will Johnson, CB Michigan
“WIll Johnson has all the tools to be an elite cornerback in this league and could be a fixture in this defense for the next decade.” – David Latham, Managing Editor
15. Atlanta Falcons – J.T. Tuimoloau, EDGE Ohio State
“The Falcons desperately need pass rushers, and JTT provides a physical presence to set the edge while blitzers get after the quarterback.” – Pick by Shawn Pettinati
16. Arizona Cardinals – Kenneth Grant, IDL Michigan
“Even after the Josh Sweat and Dalvin Tomlinson signings, the Cardinals are in need of difference-makers up front in both sides of the ball.” – Michael Haney
17. Cincinnati Bengals – Mykel Williams, EDGE Georgia
“Mykel Williams would pair well with Trey Hendrickson on the other side if he stays in Cincinnati. The former Georgia product is a physical specimen with elite speed and power off the line of scrimmage.” – Will Koshover, Editor
18. Seattle Seahawks – Tyler Booker, OG Alabama
“Seattle needs offensive line help, and Tyler Booker is easily the top talent on the board at this point. He slots in at guard and projects to be a franchise player blocking for Sam Darnold.” – Drew Crabtree, Editor
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Malaki Starks, S Georgia
“Todd Bowles gets another chess piece for his defense, hitting the jackpot and getting one of the best safeties in this class in Malaki Starks.” – Will Koshover, Editor
20. Denver Broncos – Omarion Hampton, RB UNC
“The Broncos can’t enter 2025 with Audric Estime and Jaleel McLaughlin as their only options in the backfield. Hampton brings a balance of speed and power that can alleviate some of the pressure on Bo Nix.” – Mike Kashuba, Managing Editor
21. Pittsburgh Steelers – Derrick Harmon, IDL Oregon
“Pittsburgh needs to get better and younger along their defensive front, and Harmon would be a great fit. He can be a strong rotational piece as a rookie, and could be an option to replace future Hall-of-Famer Cameron Heyward when he calls it a career.” – Connor Dietrich
22. Los Angeles Chargers – Colston Loveland, TE Michigan
“An easy selection to finally give Justin Herbert a weapon at Tight End, a position that showed its weakness in the 2024 playoffs. Loveland has ties to this coaching staff and will immediately fill a major need for the Bolts, even after their signing of Tyler Conklin.” – David Latham, Managing Editor
23. Green Bay Packers – Matthew Golden, WR Texas
“Following the injury to Christian Watson at the end of last season, and with the Packers still requiring a WR1, Matthew Golden’s YAC and downfield catching ability will make him the perfect fit for Jordan Love. Packers already addressed OL and CB in FA.” – Liam Reynolds
24. Minnesota Vikings – Nick Emmanwori, S South Carolina
“With the Vikings losing Camryn Bynum in free agency and Harrison Smith entering year 14, the Vikings could look to add another safety to the team. Emmanwori gives Brian Flores an athletic chess piece for the defense with a ton of upside.” – Grant Potter
25. Houston Texans – Luther Burden, WR Mizzou
“The Texans attacked receiver through free agency, but the room still needs a dynamic playmaker outside of Nico Collins. Burden gives them one of the best receiver rooms in the league, and can work in the slot with Christian Kirk as an unrestricted free agent in 2026.” – Mike Kashuba, Managing Editor
26. Los Angeles Rams – Jihaad Campbell, LB Alabama
“The Rams are lacking in the linebacker department, and the fact that Jihaad Campbell fell in their laps should make Sean McVay and Les Snead cry tears of joy.” – Isaac Zuniga, Editor
27. Baltimore Ravens – Donovan Ezieruaku, EDGE Boston College
“Kyle Van Noy is 34, and Odafe Oweh is in the final year of his contract. The Ravens don’t have an experienced pass rusher behind either player, and Ezeiruaku can fill for depth now and start in the future.” – David Latham, Managing Editor
28. Detroit Lions – Jack Sawyer, EDGE Ohio State
“Lions draft will focus on filling their biggest area of need with the EDGE position, but Holmes may opt to take best player available if his top EDGE choices are already gone.” – Sue Levine
29. Washington Commanders – Josh Simmons, OT Ohio State
“Even after the trade for Laremy Tunsil, the Commanders add a brawler in the offensive line to keep Jayden Daniels safe.” – Mike Kashuba, Managing Editor
30. Buffalo Bills – Jahdae Barron, CB Texas
“With perfect fit Kenneth Grant off the board, the Bills select the best cornerback available to bolster their secondary.” – Tim Daniels
31. Kansas City Chiefs – Grey Zabel, OT North Dakota State
“Tell me if you’ve heard this one before, the Chiefs take the best OL on the board in a mock draft and continue to try and build around Mahomes to keep his NFL career as long as possible.” – Mike Kashuba, Managing Editor
32. Philadelphia Eagles – James Pearce Jr, EDGE Tennessee
“Howie can’t keep getting away with this.” – Everyone
With beat writers from around the league, this mock draft gives a fun look at what the first round of the NFL draft could look like in April.
Main Photo Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images