2025 NFL mock draft: Shedeur Sanders taken with top-5 pick; Jordan Love, C.J. Stroud get playmakers

At this point it’d be more of a surprise if the first pick isn’t Cam Ward, though that doesn’t necessarily mean it’ll be the Titans making the selection. That said, if Tennessee does want a new QB, its better off holding onto the pick and taking Ward.

I don’t know how good the Browns will be next season — probably not very — but combining Abdul Carter with Myles Garrett would guarantee the losses won’t be on the defense. If Ward goes first, it wouldn’t shock me to see Cleveland move down, either. It’ll receive plenty of calls for Carter or possibly Shedeur Sanders.

The QB carousel continues to spin and the Giants still don’t have a seat. The longer that’s the case, the more likely it is they address it here. It’s also possible the Giants could go with a veteran bridge option and still take Sanders, though that’s a scenario that could be a nightmare with the local media.

Nobody wants to see two QBs go in the first three picks more than Patriots fans, because it’ll mean they get one of Abdul Carter or Travis Hunter. I believe Hunter’s brightest future is on the defensive side of the ball, but if he ends up in New England, it’s probably to play on offense.

Armand Membou’s name is the one I hear most often as the guy climbing draft boards. It’s a combo of the tackle class not being incredible, and Membou’s size, athleticism and potential. Most mocks have had the Jags address their defensive line, but the offensive line could use work too.

Ashton Jeanty has been a popular pick for the Raiders here, and I get it, but have you seen this team’s WR corps? Yes, you want to complement Geno Smith with a run game, but the man needs somebody to throw the ball to off all those play-action fakes you’re dreaming of.

I understand the size concerns about Will Campbell, but I also watch him play and they don’t seem to hinder him much. The Jets need help on their offensive line, and draft a player who could be a franchise tackle or an all-pro guard.

The Panthers would have to be pleased to see Mason Graham slide this far down and into their laps. They could use an upgrade to the interior of their defensive line, and Graham is the most disruptive player at the position in this class.

Cam Jordan isn’t getting any younger and the Saints could use help in their pass rush. Mykel Williams hasn’t had the production you’d expect given his ability, but his size and athleticism are what you’re buying into here.

If you were to draw a prototype of what new Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen looks for in a pass-rusher it’d look a lot like Shemar Stewart. The Bears won’t shy away from taking an OT here if they like one, but after their moves in free agency, the defensive line feels like the more pressing need right now.

The 49ers have been churning the roster quite a bit lately, and have a need at corner. Barron is CB2 (behind Travis Hunter) on most boards, and while I’m not as high on him as the majority, this is a pick that would make sense for both sides.

I’ve received plenty of angry messages for what I wrote about Ashton Jeanty in my last mock, and I apologize to everybody for not assuming he’ll be the greatest player we’ve ever seen. The Cowboys take him hoping the man who has received some comps to Emmitt Smith be their next Emmitt Smith.

Malaki Starks didn’t have the greatest performance at the combine, but based on what I’ve heard, it hasn’t done much to hurt his stock amongst NFL teams. A lot of front offices appreciate his versatility and overall demeanor.

Will it be Anthony Richardson or Daniel Jones? I don’t know, I’m just glad I’m not a Colts fan having to talk myself into either one. What I do know is that either of them will be happy to have an offensive weapon as versatile and reliable as Tyler Warren around.

Linebackers are treated like running backs in drafts, and it’s led to plenty of teams getting very good players at a discount. The Falcons have to address their pass rush in the draft, but they could use help at LB too, and there will be other good pass-rushers available in the second. I don’t know if there will be an LB like Jihaad Campbell available.

I’ve been pounding the table for Walter Nolen throughout this entire process, and will continue to do so. He’s my DT2 in the class behind Graham, and he’s my No. 9 overall player, so the Cardinals getting him here is a great pick in my eyes. Good job by me.

The Bengals have poured a ton of money into their offense, which means they’re going to be overly reliable on young, cheap options on defense. Enter James Pearce Jr., who could serve as a secondary pass-rusher alongside Trey Hendrickson, or serve as his replacement.

The Seahawks have begun working on their offensive line already, but there’s still plenty of work left to do. I don’t think Abraham Lucas is the answer at RT, and Josh Conerly Jr. could be an upgrade.

The Bucs get a pass-rusher who could prove to be a double-digit sack guy year in and year out. That doesn’t happen this late in the first round a lot.

Between Courtland Sutton and Marvin Mims, the Broncos have two guys who can make plays downfield. How about a receiver who can do all the underneath stuff and provide a serious YAC threat?

Perhaps now the most pressing need in Pittsburgh, but a tremendous value pick. There are mixed reviews on what Jalon Walker will be at the NFL level, but few question his athleticism and traits. Could the next great Steelers pass-rusher fall into their laps?

The Chargers strike me as a team that could use help at corner, and while Jim Harbaugh generally prefers addressing the lines of scrimmage early, his familiarity with Will Johnson from their time together at Michigan could be enough to tip the scales here.

Emeka Egbuka isn’t going to wow you with his speed or his size, but he’s just a good player, man. The Packers have taken plenty of guys based on their traits at WR and it hasn’t worked out. This time, instead of drafting traits, they take the guy who can play the position.

I know people who have Kelvin Banks Jr. as their top OT in the class, and I know some who wouldn’t take him in the first round. I’m much closer to the former camp than the latter, and while Minnesota’s done some work to address the interior of their OL, I don’t think upgrading at tackle too would be a mistake.

I like Tank Dell a lot, but he’s a small player who has struggled to stay healthy. The Texans shouldn’t rely on him. So without there being a no doubt offensive linemen on the board, they take Golden who just might slide right into Dell’s role without any drop-off.

Colston Loveland isn’t a Cooper Kupp replacement, but he is a tight end who could do some of the things Kupp used to do for the Rams offense.

Kenneth Grant spent his college career alongside Mason Graham, which sometimes caused his prowess to be overlooked, but he’s a disruptive force on the inside as well. Plus the Ravens staff – considering Michigan has felt like a Baltimore farm system for coaches at times — will have familiarity with him and know precisely the player they’d be getting.

Trey Amos’ name has come up more often as a possible first-rounder these days, and while I don’t have him that high on my board, I get what teams would be intrigued by. He’s long and fast, which are two traits oft appreciated at the corner position.

Grey Zabel’s destined to be a guard at the NFL level, but that’s not a concern. The Commanders have already traded for Laremy Tunsil but should continue adding more bodies to their offensive line to protect their young franchise quarterback.

Buffalo needs an infusion on the interior of its defensive line, and Derrick Harmon has plenty of admirers. I find his tape to be inconsistent, but when he flashes, he flashes pretty bright.

It isn’t clear how healthy Josh Simmons will be by the start of the season, but the Chiefs need all the help at tackle they can find. Considering he was viewed as one of the top tackles in the class before his injury, this would be an excellent value pick for the Chiefs.

We all know how the Eagles roll at this point. No, he didn’t go to Georgia, but he did go get the quarterback pretty damned often at Boston College.