The 2025 NFL draft kicks off at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday in Green Bay, Wisconsin (ESPN/ABC/ESPN App). We’re pretty sure we know what’s going to happen with the No. 1 pick. Barring a shocker, the Tennessee Titans will take Miami quarterback Cam Ward.
After that? Who knows.
That’s why I leaned into what I’m hearing from NFL scouts and evaluators to formulate this final mock draft. I’ve been making calls and firing off text messages to people in the league I trust to get the most updated information before making a last projection. Of course, this could all be shook up Thursday with a trade or an unexpected pick, especially in a year in which prospects with first-round grades are few and far between. But for now, I put together my best prediction for every selection in Round 1.
When will the second quarterback be taken, and who will it be? How will the receiver and edge rusher boards fall? We will delve into that and more, starting with the Titans at No. 1. And I included what I’m hearing on each of the first-round picks.
Jump to a team:
ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN
CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | IND
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NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SF
See Miller’s final rankings (ESPN+)
1. Tennessee Titans
Cam Ward, QB, Miami
There will be no surprises at the top of the draft. All sources I’ve talked to expect Ward to be the Titans’ pick after a long predraft process. He threw 39 touchdown passes last season and can help stabilize Tennessee’s offense.
2. Cleveland Browns
Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado
Chalk is expected at No. 2 as well with Hunter going to the Browns, where he’d serve as a wide receiver first and a cornerback second.
3. New York Giants
Abdul Carter, Edge, Penn State
Some of the latest buzz suggests Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders isn’t completely off the table, but it would qualify as a mild surprise. The wisdom shared around the league is the Giants are more likely to take a quarterback at the top of Round 2 — unless ownership demands they take one here. So let’s go with Carter, the top player on my board.
When will Jalon Walker and Colston Loveland go off the board, and who will Brian Daboll and Kyle Shanahan pick in Round 1? ESPN Illustration
4. New England Patriots
Will Campbell, OT, LSU
There might be a debate if Carter slides to No. 4, but the Patriots’ priority is protecting second-year quarterback Drake Maye. Every source I talked to this week has Campbell going to the Patriots, and he would be their left tackle.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars
Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
There’s some late chatter about Arizona receiver Tetairoa McMillan being picked here, and one source told me Jacksonville would be the surprise team for him. But I’m expecting new general manager James Gladstone to make a splash on another offensive standout in Jeanty.
6. Las Vegas Raiders
Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas
Multiple sources told me the Raiders could go offensive line here despite being heavily connected to Jeanty and Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham. With Kolton Miller not locked up long-term, Banks would be the answer at left tackle.
7. New York Jets
Jalon Walker, Edge, Georgia
Here’s a curveball. In multiple talks with sources, the Jets were mentioned as a team that wants an impact defender but most importantly desires a culture-building leader. That’s Walker, whom coaches and scouts agree is one of the most-loved players in this class. The Jets could also be in play for tight end Tyler Warren (Penn State) or cornerback Jahdae Barron (Texas) based on what scouts are saying.
8. Carolina Panthers
Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss
Nolen has been a red-hot riser in the days leading up to the draft as the Panthers, 49ers and Cowboys were all connected to him by scouts. Smoke screen? Maybe, but chatter connecting Carolina to Nolen was rampant Wednesday.
9. New Orleans Saints
Mykel Williams, Edge, Georgia
I couldn’t find a single source who thought the Saints would go quarterback in Round 1, and it seems the team would be comfortable with the QB options with its second-round pick (No. 40 overall). Williams is rising up boards and could help New Orleans build through the trenches.
10. Chicago Bears
Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
The Bears would love to see Jeanty fall to this spot, but new coach Ben Johnson can get his version of Sam LaPorta instead. I’ve heard consistently throughout the process that Chicago — and other teams — have Loveland as the top tight end in the class. I have him ranked the same.
11. San Francisco 49ers
Mason Graham, DT, Michigan
The 49ers were very active bringing in offensive tackles for predraft visits. According to team sources, they hosted Banks, Josh Simmons (Ohio State) and Josh Conerly Jr. (Oregon), but with Banks off the board they would pivot to a “best player available” approach versus drafting right tackle Armand Membou (Missouri).
12. Dallas Cowboys
Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
Dallas did a ton of work on the offensive linemen in this class and could be a trade-down candidate. I think Banks would be in play if available, but sources were adamant this week that McMillan would be Dallas’ target if the board falls this way.
13. Miami Dolphins
Armand Membou, OT, Missouri
According to multiple sources, Miami’s targets are offensive tackle, safety and cornerback, with the pick coming down to the highest grade on the board. Membou is a player I’m told the Dolphins like a lot given his ability to play guard or tackle as a rookie.
14. Indianapolis Colts
Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
This shouldn’t be a surprise, as the Colts have been expected to select a tight end throughout the predraft process. Warren would be the best player available and fill a major need.
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15. Atlanta Falcons
James Pearce Jr., Edge, Tennessee
There was a debate between sources this week about whom the Falcons will target, but they all expect a pass rusher to be the pick. Though Marshall’s Mike Green and Texas A&M’s Shemar Stewart were brought up by different scouts, the hottest buzz — which came from the same source who connected Michael Penix Jr. to Atlanta before the 2024 draft — told me to pick Pearce.
16. Arizona Cardinals
Matthew Golden, WR, Texas
After Arizona checked off its front-seven needs in free agency, sources around the league connected the Cardinals to cornerbacks and wide receivers. But the most recent buzz said adding offensive firepower is the front office’s top priority, making Golden an appropriate selection.
17. Cincinnati Bengals
Shemar Stewart, Edge, Texas A&M
A source told me not to overthink the Bengals’ draft plans, saying, “They have to get a rusher.” Stewart is a toolsy player with high upside who could eventually replace Trey Hendrickson.
18. Seattle Seahawks
Grey Zabel, C/G, North Dakota State
Based on conversations with multiple league sources, the Seahawks’ pick comes down to two players — McMillan and Zabel. “The depth at guard is better than the depth at receiver,” said one rival GM, but with McMillan long gone, the Seahawks could jump on the best interior lineman in the draft.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas
Sources were all over the place on Tampa Bay’s pick, but they agreed that the Bucs would go defense here. Barron and linebacker Jihaad Campbell (Alabama) were the two most mentioned names, but injury concerns surrounding Campbell could push him out of Round 1, according to one GM.
20. Denver Broncos
Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
The Broncos were often connected to running back Omarion Hampton (North Carolina) in mocks, but I’m hearing they’re more interested in wide receivers and tight ends in the first round. Egbuka is seen as rock-solid and safe, and he has a ton of fans in the scouting community.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers
Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
After talking to more than a dozen sources about this pick, I still don’t feel great about it. This is the most popular destination for Sanders, but there is no consensus on where the Steelers could go in this slot. One rival GM said there’s a “40% to 50%” chance Sanders goes to Pittsburgh.
play
Why Woody buys Jaxson Dart being drafted before Shedeur Sanders
Damien Woody, Peter Schrager and Mike Tannenbaum break down the possibility of Jaxson Dart being selected before Shedeur Sanders in the draft.
22. Los Angeles Chargers
Mike Green, Edge, Marshall
Green was one of the hottest and most interesting names in my discussions with scouts this week, as he could legitimately go anywhere from No. 11 all the way down to Round 2. That said, the Chargers are rumored to be all-in on improving at edge rusher in the early rounds.
23. Green Bay Packers
Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
There was a lot of buzz about the Packers looking at wide receivers, but I keep hearing that pick will come in Round 2 in true Packers fashion. Johnson is a top-10 player on my board, but sources said he’ll slip to the early 20s due to concerns about injuries last season.
24. Minnesota Vikings
Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina
The Vikings have been connected to defensive backs heavily in the past two weeks and are often mentioned as a trade-back candidate since the team has only four picks in this draft. If they stick, Emmanwori has the height-weight-speed traits to be a difference-maker at safety.
25. Houston Texans
Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State
Simmons’ draft range is among the widest on the board, according to scouts. Some said he could come off the board as early as No. 11, while others said he could slip out of Round 1 because of concerns about interviews and his patella tendon tear sustained in October. Per one scout, the Texans are desperate to fix their offensive line. Guard Tyler Booker (Alabama) has also been mentioned as a target here.
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26. Los Angeles Rams
Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky
A rival scout said he’d bet on the Rams taking a cornerback in the first round, choosing either Hairston or Trey Amos (Ole Miss). Let’s go with the player who posted a combine-best 4.28-second 40.
27. Baltimore Ravens
Malaki Starks, S, Georgia
Starks is Baltimore’s dream pick, according to conversations with multiple scouts around the league. His ability to play multiple positions at a high level would allow the Ravens to keep Kyle Hamilton in a deep safety role, which is something they want to do.
28. Detroit Lions
Tyler Booker, G, Alabama
With Zabel off the board, the Lions would grab one of the most beloved players in the class when you talk to coaches and scouts. Booker is an interior mauler and fills the opening created when Kevin Zeitler left in free agency.
29. Washington Commanders
Donovan Ezeiruaku, Edge, Boston College
Multiple teams flagged Washington as a team that could trade out of Round 1, especially if someone wants to trade up for a quarterback. But we’re going to stay put and go with Ezeiruaku, who fills a huge need as a speedy pass rusher.
30. Buffalo Bills
Trey Amos, CB, Ole Miss
Buffalo has been connected to multiple defensive tackles in the draft process, but sources pointedly said the team likes Amos more than the defensive tackles who would be on the board. “It’s a deep DT class,” one scout said. “Buffalo can get a nose tackle in Round 2 or 3.”
31. Kansas City Chiefs
Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon
I mentioned last week that Kansas City could be a trade-up team, but it didn’t work out in this mock draft. Instead, the Chiefs would address a top-two need for a defensive tackle next to Chris Jones.
32. Philadelphia Eagles
Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan
Philadelphia would love to get a safety, but Emmanwori and Starks are off the board. One scout told me the Eagles will “draft the biggest, best guy on the board.” Grant is big at 6-foot-3, 339 pounds, and he is No. 30 in my rankings.
