The Philadelphia Eagles ended the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl reign in Super Bowl LIX to put a finish to the 2024-25 NFL season. The NFL Draft order is now complete, and the next generation of players looks to make their way to a championship.
The NFL Draft is scheduled to begin on April 24, and there will be plenty of discussion leading up to draft night. What position will Travis Hunter play in the NFL? Which quarterback will be the first off the board? Could a defensive player be the No. 1 overall pick? The fun part of mock draft season is the speculation leading up to the night of the draft.
There are sure to be trades before and during the draft, but this mock draft will not include any, locking the Tennessee Titans into the top selection. How teams attack free agency also impacts decision-making come April. If the Titans decide to add a free-agent quarterback, the entire trajectory of the first round will change.
The Baltimore Ravens will make another selection in the final spots of the first round with the 27th pick. The Ravens have held the 27th pick twice in previous years, selecting Jimmy Smith in 2011 and Rashod Bateman in 2021.
Here is the first of several mock drafts with some analysis to follow.
No. 1: Tennessee Titans (3-14)
Team Needs: QB, EDGE, OL, CB
Selection: Cam Ward, QB, Miami
No. 2: Cleveland Browns (3-14)
Team Needs: QB, EDGE, OT, CB
Selection: Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State
No. 3: New York Giants (3-14)
Team Needs: QB, OL, CB, EDGE
Selection: Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
No. 4: New England Patriots (4-13)
Team Needs: WR, OL, CB, EDGE
Selection: Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado
No. 5: Jacksonville Jaguars (4-13)
Team Needs: OL, CB, DL
Selection: Will Campbell, OT, LSU
No. 6: Las Vegas Raiders (4-13)
Team Needs: QB, WR, CB
Selection: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
No. 7: New York Jets (5-12)
Team Needs: QB, DL, S
Selection: Mason Graham, DL, Michigan
No. 8: Carolina Panthers (5-12)
Team Needs: EDGE, CB, WR
Selection: Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
No. 9: New Orleans Saints (5-12)
Team Needs: DL, WR, QB
Selection: Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia
No. 10: Chicago Bears (5-12)
Team Needs: OL, EDGE, DT
Selection: Shemar Stewart, EDGE, Texas A&M
No. 11: San Francisco 49ers (6-11)
Team Needs: OL, DL, CB
Selection: Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State
No. 12: Dallas Cowboys (7-10)
Team Needs: RB, DT, WR
Selection: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
No. 13: Miami Dolphins (8-9)
Team Needs: OL, DL, S
Selection: Malaki Starks, S, Georgia
No. 14: Indianapolis Colts (8-9)
Team Needs: EDGE, CB, TE
Selection: Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
No. 15: Atlanta Falcons (8-9)
Team Needs: EDGE, WR, CB
Selection: Jalon Walker, EDGE, Georgia
No. 16: Arizona Cardinals (8-9)
Team Needs: OL, DL, LB
Selection: Mike Green, EDGE, Marshall
No. 17: Cincinnati Bengals (9-8)
Team Needs: DT, OL, WR
Selection: James Pearce Jr., EDGE, Tennessee
No. 18: Seattle Seahawks (10-7)
Team Needs: OL, LB, QB
Selection: Kelvin Banks Jr., OL, Texas
No. 19: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-7)
Team Needs: EDGE, CB, OL
Selection: Jack Sawyer, EDGE, Ohio State
No. 20: Denver Broncos (10-7)
Team Needs: WR, TE, DL
Selection: Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri
No. 21: Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7)
Team Needs: QB, WR, CB
Selection: Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
No. 22: Los Angeles Chargers (11-6)
Team Needs: WR, DT, EDGE
Selection: Colston Loveland, TE. Michigan
No. 23: Green Bay Packers (11-6)
Team Needs: OL, CB, EDGE
Selection: Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame
No. 24: Minnesota Vikings (14-3)
Team Needs: OL, CB, DL
Selection: Kenneth Grant, DL, Michigan
No. 25: Houston Texans (10-7)
Team Needs: OL, DL, RB
Selection: Armand Membou, OT, Missouri
No. 26: Los Angeles Rams (10-7)
Team Needs: OT, CB, LB
Selection: Josh Conerly Jr., OT, Oregon
No. 27: Baltimore Ravens (12-5)
Team Needs: OL, WR, EDGE
Selection: Nic Scourton, EDGE, Texas A&M
No. 28: Detroit Lions (15-2)
Team Needs: OL, EDGE, LB
Selection: Walter Nolen, DL, Mississippi
No. 29: Washington Commanders (12-5)
Team Needs: WR, OT, EDGE
Selection: Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas
No. 30: Buffalo Bills (13-4)
Team Needs: CB, WR, DL
Selection: Matthew Golden, WR, Texas
No. 31: Kansas City Chiefs (15-2)
Team Needs: OT, DL, LB
Selection: Tyleik Williams, DL, Ohio State
No. 32: Philadelphia Eagles (14-3)
Team Needs: LB, EDGE, WR
Selection: Tyler Booker, OL, Alabama
Notes:
The Ravens finished second in the NFL in sacks, headlined by Kyle Van Noy’s 12.5 sacks. However, with Van Noy turning 34 this spring, so Baltimore brings in his eventual replacement in Nic Scourton. He’s a freak athlete who can contribute right away for Zach Orr’s defense.
Get ready to hear players called from Michigan, Georgia, Texas and Ohio State early and often in the first round. The four schools make up 14 of the top 32 players in this mock draft.
Biggest Reach: Shadeur Sanders to the Giants
I am in the camp that does not have a high grade on Sanders. He’s a fringe first-round prospect who is going to get drafted early as a panic move to save a franchise. This is the same organization that used its top pick on Daniel Jones.
Best Bargain: Kenneth Grant to the Vikings
Minnesota benefits from the teams around them needing receiving help, allowing Grant to fall into their laps. The Vikings need a stout defender in the middle of their defensive line and Grant fits perfectly.
Ideal Fit: Tyler Warren to the Colts
Tight ends have made an instant impact in recent years, and Warren is the next in line to do so. It would be asinine to think Warren can post the same numbers we saw from Brock Bowers last season, but he has all the skills to be a main target for Anthony Richardson.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Miami Athletics