College football season is halfway done, which means prospects are halfway done with their 2025 NFL Draft resumes. This draft appears to be loaded with teams that need quarterbacks for the future. So like most draft quarterbacks, they dominate the headlines. But the most interesting headline will be which teams take swings on running backs since that appears to be the most talented and deep position group.
Check out my latest NFL mock draft to see where the top playmakers in the 2025 NFL Draft go. Please note that the draft order is set using the real-time order at the time of publishing (during Sunday Night Football). Click on each player's name to read their full scouting report.
2025 NFL Mock Draft
1. New England Patriots
Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado
Last year, the Patriots committed to finding the face of their franchise and drafted Drake Maye as their signal-caller. But as this 2024 season has unfolded, the other holes on this team are slowly unveiling themselves. The Patriots need offensive line help but they also have holes in their receiver corps and on the defensive side of the football. You rarely have an opportunity to draft a player who can do both, but this year the stars align and that is exactly what happens. Travis Hunter has shown that he can and is willing to play both sides of the football—whatever it takes to help his team win. That’s exactly what the Patriots need.
2. Cleveland Browns
Mason Graham, IDL, Michigan
The Browns' QB situation with Deshaun Watson continues to go south and at this point, it may be worth it for both parties to try and sever ties and go their separate ways. That could put the Browns back in contention to draft a quarterback this year. But instead, the front office may feel they are built to win now and don't have the time to wait and groom a young quarterback, so they go get a proven veteran. If that's the case, the Browns draft a player who many believe is the best overall player in the draft, Mason Graham. Graham feels a hole for the Browns at the IDL position that needs to be filled and finally gives Myles Garrett a running mate along the defensive line to create havoc.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars
Will Campbell, OT, LSU
The Jaguars are off to a disappointing start once again and this equation of making Trevor Lawrence the do-it-all all franchise carrier is simply not working. I believe that you can win a Super Bowl with Lawrence, there just needs to be a shift in philosophy. And that philosophy shift starts now. With this pick, the Jaguars address an obvious need with one of the meanest OL in the draft to help establish an identity of toughness and running the football. This should help take some of the load off of Lawrence and balance out the approach for Jacksonville offensively, giving them a chance to win games even if Lawrence is not playing at his best that given week.
4. Carolina Panthers
Cam Ward, QB, Miami
Based on past experiences and the way things are headed, I believe that Bryce Young will get another shot to be the starter in Carolina this season. But I also believe that this is his last season in Carolina. So with that being the case, the Panthers are back in a position to draft a quarterback in the 2025 NFL Draft. This time around they go with Miami QB Cam Ward. Ward has shown to have good-to-exceptional arm tented and can make those special plays. The Panthers are trying to revamp this roster and this offseason seems like a better time to bring in a young quarterback than it was two years ago when they drafted Young.
5. Cincinnati Bengals
Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
It's safe to say that at the beginning of the season, no one thought the Bengals' record would have them picking in the top five, but here we are. The Bengals have multiple ways they can go with this pick, choosing to add another receiver or fixture offensive line. But with this pick, I believe they go with Michigan star CB Will Johnson. Johnson is a playmaker at the CB position, returning multiple interceptions for touchdowns in his career. Johnson is also a lockdown man-to-man corner prospect, which could bold well in a conference that has a ton of offensive firepower. Giving the Bengals a true playmaker on defense would put them in a great position to rebound in 2025 and make a run at the Super Bowl.
6. Los Angeles Rams
Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
The Rams have been hit by the injury bug already in their receiver corps, leaving Matthew Stafford to try and fend for himself without his two top recovers. While they have Puka Nacua, they need another talented, young pass-catcher to add to this room to give Stafford more options. So with this pick, the Rams draft who I believe is the best receiver in the draft, Tetairoa McMillan, to go along with Cooper Kupp and Nacua. Now, an injury or two doesn’t completely derail the Rams from being able to execute offensively.
7. Tennessee Titans
Quinn Ewers, QB, Texas
The Titans are another team that finds itself in a very familiar spot trying to find a quarterback. The Will Levis experiment has been frustrating, to say the least, and it appears that most people are ready to move on. With that being the case, the Titans go with Quinn Ewers, a highly accurate quarterback who has a ton of playing experience and appears to fit what new head coach Brian Callahan wants to do with timing and anticipation. This combination has the chance to be a good one for many years to come.
8. Las Vegas Raiders
Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama
Whether it's by choice or a result of the current situation, the Raiders are in a rebuild and every rebuild starts with identifying a potential franchise quarterback. Jalen Milroe is a dual-threat quarterback who can step in and make some things right offensively and potentially inject some excitement back into this franchise—similar to what Jayden Daniels has done for the Commanders.
9. Arizona Cardinals
Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri
The Kyler Murray to Marvin Harrison Jr. connection is just getting warmed up, but it seems that if the Cardinals want to truly be NFC contenders, they are going to need another playmaker at the WR position. Luther Burden III is a great run-after-the-catch player who can align in multiple places within the offense. He would be a perfect complementary piece to Harrison Jr. and give Murray an easy target in the middle of the field.
10. New Orleans Saints
Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia
The Saints take another swing at edge rusher with this pick to try and find the successor to Cam Jordan. Mykel Williams checks all of the boxes from a physical tools standpoint and has the fluid movements to match. With a year to work with Jordan, Williams should be able to help convert those tools into being a high-level edge rusher and the Saints will finally have their guy for the future.
11. Miami Dolphins
Emery Jones Jr., OT, LSU
The Dolphins are a team that should seriously be considering drafting a quarterback in the 2025 NFL Draft due to the situation with Tua Tagovailoa. But until the Dolphins and Tagovailoa say otherwise, we have to believe that he is going to come back and be the starter. So instead, the Dolphins boost their OL with Emery Jones Jr. Jones Jr. is a good selection here because he can play both tackle and guard, which will allow Jones to get on the field and the Dolphins to play their best front five as a unit.
12. New York Jets
Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas
All of the attention has been on Aaron Rodgers and how the Jets are in win-now mode at the QB position. But another position that isn't paid attention to is the OT position and how this appears to be a one-year fill-in. The Jets drafted Olu Fashanu to help this transition at some point, but they need another OT. Kelvin Banks Jr. is a highly skilled player who can also play guard.
13. New York Giants
Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
The Giants have to take a quarterback in this draft. I don't think that the front office and coaching staff can confidently put their faith in another offseason of development for Daniel Jones. With this pick, they go with a player who is used to the bright lights but is also very talented, Shedeur Sanders.
14. Seattle Seahawks
Malaki Starks, SAF, Georgia
It's been almost a decade since the Legion of Boom was in full swing, but with a competitive NFC West with offensive firepower on every team, the Seahawks need to get back to the Boom. With this pick, the Seahawks select versatile safety Malaki Starks. Starks has range and can play both FS and SS for the Seahawks, which would be a welcome addition to the secondary.
15. Denver Broncos
Tyler Booker, IOL, Alabama
The Broncos drafted and appear to be fully committed to Bo Nix as their guy for the future. With this selection, they get him some protection and draft IOL Tyler Booker. Booker can play either IOL position, proving great value to the Broncos and allowing them to establish a dominant run game in the future.
16. Dallas Cowboys
Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
The Cowboys have tried the running back by committee route and have not invested real resources into the running back position over the past few years. That has simply not worked. Here, they spend a first-round pick on a running back and get back to the days when they had one of the best run games in the NFL.
17. Philadelphia Eagles
Jalon Walker, LB/EDGE, Georgia
The Eagles' defense appears to be a problem once again. There appear to be holes at both LB and edge rusher. Jalon Walker can play both. The Eagles may be getting a steal here as Walker may have as much upside as any edge rusher in this draft, he just may lack the ideal sought-after length and size.
18. Chicago Bears
Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina
The Bears went passing-game-heavy last offseason by drafting Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze and signing Keenan Allen. Now, they provide Williams some balance and draft him a running back. Omarion Hampton appears to be a back who can create for himself and be a true threat to create explosive plays out of the backfield. The addition of Hampton would make the Bears' offense even more dangerous.
19. Indianapolis Colts
Nic Scourton, EDGE, Texas A&M
The Colts were the first team to draft a defensive player in the 2024 NFL Draft (Laiatu Latu). With this pick, they go back to the edge rusher poison and select Nic Scourton. Scourton plays with a different style from Latu. Scourton plays with strength at 285 pounds and Latu brings the speed. This could give the Colts a great one-two punch for the future and be like the old days when they had both Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis going off the edge at the same time racing to the quarterback.
20. San Francisco 49ers
Kevin Winston Jr., SAF, Penn State
The 49ers went offense-heavy in the 2024 NFL Draft. While they could choose to address the OL in 2025, I believe they go with SAF Kevin Winston Jr. Winston Jr. is a versatile movement piece in the secondary who would add yet another element to this defense and make them even more versatile and dominant.
21. Buffalo Bills
Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame
Over the years, the Bills have had to make some tough decisions regarding letting players go in the secondary. But in a conference where there is so much offensive firepower, you need a good secondary. With this pick, the Bills go with Notre Dame CB Benjamin Morrison, a versatile piece that can play both outside and kick inside to nickel.
22. Los Angeles Chargers
Kenneth Grant, IDL, Michigan
Running the ball and stopping the run has always been the mantra for a Jim Harbaugh-led team. So with this pick, Harbaugh drafts a familiar face in Kenneth Grant. Grant is an ideal run-stopping nose tackle, which would be a welcome sight in Los Angeles.
23. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tate Ratledge, IOL, Georgia
The Buccaneers have a good foundation under Baker Mayfield and things look to be headed in the right direction. As they continue to move things forward, the one position group that needs to be upgraded is the offensive line. Tate Ratledge is a physical, road-grading IOL who can bring a physical mentality to the Buccaneers offense.
24. Green Bay Packers
Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State
The Packers tend to lean on hybrid front defenders and that's exactly what Abdul Carter is. Carter has the instincts to play linebacker, but can also line up as an edge rusher and get after the quarterback. Both of these skills are needed for the Packers and Carter could be an immediate plug-and-play guy.
25. Washington Commanders
Aireontae Ersery, OT, Minnesota
The Commanders appear to have struck gold with Jayden Daniels, but as electric as he is, there needs to be an emphasis on protecting him. Aireontae Ersery is a starting OT who can protect Daniels' blind side, allowing the young signal-caller to thrive in the pocket and throw the football comfortably.
26. Pittsburgh Steelers
Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
It's been quite a few years now since the Steelers have had a receiver corps that strikes fear in defenses. They traded away DIontae Johnson and as of now, it appears that George Pickens is the lone option as a high-level receiver. Emeka Egbuka is a versatile alignment player who should serve as a good complementary piece next to George Pickens in this rebuild of the Steelers WR corps.
27. Baltimore Ravens
Josh Conerly Jr., OT, Oregon
After a slow start to the season, the Ravens are finding their identity and clicking on all cylinders. Their identity is the run game, which means that the offensive line will always be an important piece to this team's success. With this selection, the Ravens draft Josh Conerly Jr., a player who can play either guard or tackle and fill a void for the Ravens if they lose an offensive lineman in free agency this year.
28. Atlanta Falcons
James Pearce Jr., EDGE, Tennessee
Last year, everyone thought the Falcons should have drafted an edge rusher but they went with QB Michael Penix Jr. Now with what appears to be a loaded offense at the skill positions, the Falcons finally address the defense side of the ball and draft edge rusher James Pearce Jr. Pearce Jr. has great upside and the required length to be a high-level pass rusher. With this pick, the Falcons may have their anchor defensively who can be relied upon to get sacks.
29. Detroit Lions
Harold Fannin Jr., TE, Bowling Green
The Lions have solidified themselves as one the best and most consistent teams in the NFL. With that being said, they can also use more offensive firepower to put them over the top. Harold Fannin Jr. has been one of the biggest surprises of the college football season. Pairing him with Sam LaPorta could give the Lions one of the most unique skill position groups in the NFL.
30. Houston Texans
Walter Nolen, IDL, Ole Miss
The Texans are clicking on all cylinders both offensively and defensively. But the one position that needs to improve defensively is IDL. Walter Nolen is quietly putting together a hell of a resume and would be a great piece for this Texans defense. Nolen can stop the run but also provide some value putting pressure on the quarterback.
31. Kansas City Chiefs
Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
The Chiefs have been trying to rebuild this skill position group since the departure of Tyreek Hill. Last year, they drafted the speed receiver Xavier Worthy to help give them an explosive element to their offense. With this first-round pick, they draft do-it-all tight end Tyler Warren. This could be a good situation as he gets to learn for one of the best TEs of all time and Travis Kelce could pass the torch once he is done playing.
32. Minnesota Vikings
Donovan Jackson, IOL, Ohio State
The Vikings are off to a great start under QB Sam Darnold. Although Darnold is getting the job done now, we all know that eventually, this will be J.J. McCarthy's team next season. One of the best assets you can give a young QB is a good OL. So with this pick, the Vikings draft IOL Donovan Jackson, an immediate plug-and-play player who should be able to solidify a spot along the OL for the next decade.
