2025 NFL Mock Draft

Hello my Saloon Takes followers! Happy Draft Day! Welcome back for another year of the Saloon Takes Mock Draft.

I must say, in all the years I’ve been covering the draft, this one is by far the most unpredictable. Cam Ward looks to be a sure thing at 1st overall, but the draft becomes wide open after that. 

As always I’d like to note that predicting trades is a near impossible task, so I will not be doing that here. I am sticking to where teams are drafting and trying to predict their moves. Not an easy task, and I am sure there will be plenty of surprises along the way, but hopefully this gives you a good idea of where your team could turn tonight. Best of luck to you all as your team takes that next step to a future Super Bowl! Now pour yourself a drink, get in front of a TV, and before the draft gets started, take a look at what your team’s game plan tonight might be. 

Away we go….

1. Tennessee Titans

The Pick: QB Cam Ward, Miami

The Titans have drafted three 1st round QBs since the year 2000, and all have been pretty significant busts. Vince Young (2006), Jake Locker (2011), and Marcus Mariota (2015) all struggled in the league and never became the franchise QBs they were drafted to be. The Titans actually have a decent young core, with an offensive line that I believe will make massive strides this offseason and become a decent unit. All that’s missing is the gunslinger, and Cam Ward is the right guy for the job. He is calm and cool under pressure, a trait that so many young, talented quarterbacks fail to nail down in their rookie year. Ward has decent arm strength and a great pocket presence, he’ll just need to work on his checkdowns and getting short yardage instead of looking for the home run. If he can fix that part of his game, he may just be the guy in Tennessee.

2. Cleveland Browns

The Pick: CB/WR Travis Hunter, Colorado

Cleveland would likely like a mulligan on the trade and contract extension handed out to QB Deshuan Watson, who has had just as many problems on the field as he has had off of it. Unfortunately for the Browns, his replacement is not here. A trade down is very likely, but if they don’t, I think this pick could go a couple ways. I could see Abdul Carter or Mason Graham here. I definitely would not take Sanders, and even Ward was a reach at 1, as I have him well below a good amount of 1st rounders from previous years. So instead, they opt for Travis Hunter. 

Hunter is as athletic as they get, but don’t be fooled by the Heisman (Ashton Jeanty should’ve won, in my opinion), he isn’t an elite CB or WR. He is very good, but he was overhyped simply because of his ability to play both sides. However, his versatility is exactly what Cleveland is looking for. They need a spark, a game changing talent, and they’ll build a solid plan for Hunter to make him that guy. Whether or not he delivers is questionable, at best.

3. New York Giants

The Pick: EDGE Abdul Carter, Penn State

The Giants are in a very tough spot here. They need to find their QB of the future, but again, I just don’t think that guy is here. I’d look for a trade back to get them some extra capital to move back into the 1st round for a guy like Jaxson Dart. If they stay, however, it’s a no-brainer. Carter is arguably the best player in the draft, with a powerful rush that draws comparisons to fellow Nittany Lion Micah Parsons. Pairing Carter with Kayvon Thibodeaux would give the Giants one of the most feared pass rushing duos in the league. Don’t fret if you’re a Giants fan and a trade falls through with Carter still on the board, this is a great selection.

4. New England Patriots

The Pick: OT Armand Membou, Missouri

The first surprise of the draft. LSU’s Will Campbell is the best offensive lineman in the draft, but his arms are too small and his reach just isn’t long enough for tackle. Membou mainly played at right tackle, but he has incredible power and great mobility that can translate to the left side. If you’ve followed me for a while, you know my biggest rule in football is to protect your young quarterbacks. The Patriots need receivers, but they can find them later in the draft. Instead, they get a starter on the offensive line and give Drake Maye more time to make plays.

5. Jacksonville Jaguars

The Pick: DT Mason Graham, Michigan

The Jags are looking for answers this year with a new GM and coach. Trevor Lawrence hasn’t exactly lived up to generational prospect expectations, and he’ll need to be better if this team wants to compete. While adding weapons for him would be nice, the Jaguars can’t turn down a generational prospect in Mason Graham. This is the best defensive tackle prospect since Aaron Donald, with the strength of an ox but elite quickness that he uses to penetrate into the backfield. He is one of the biggest reasons Michigan won a National Championship in 2023, and had arguably the game of his life against Alabama in the Rose Bowl. He will start right away as one of the premier inside defensive linemen in the league.

6. Las Vegas Raiders

The Pick: OL Will Campbell, LSU

Vegas will be pretty happy if things shake out this way. New Raiders HC Pete Carroll will certainly make the case for Ashton Jeanty here, as he always ran his offenses through a solid RB in Seattle. In the end though, this team has an aging left tackle and not a ton of stability on their offensive line. This is a bit of a slide for Campbell, who despite his smaller reach is still one of the most impressive and polished lineman prospects in recent years. The Raiders make the smart decision and build for the future here.

7. New York Jets

TE Colston Loveland, Michigan

Well, the Aaron Rodgers experiment was fun, right? After failing miserably in his quest to revitalize his career in New York, Rodgers has been replaced with the young, but inconsistent, Justin Fields. The Jets would prefer to have either Campbell or Membou fall to them here, as Fields struggles mightily with not enough time in the pocket, but instead they opt for the best tight end in the draft. Loveland is as sure handed as they get, has speed and burst after the catch, and is an incredible blocker. His toughness fits perfectly with the mentality of new HC Aaron Glenn, and he adds a reliable option for Fields. Great pick.

8. Carolina Panthers

The Pick: LB Jalon Walker, Georgia

The Panthers need help seemingly all over the field, but particularly on defense. I definitely see them trading down (likely a team aiming for Jeanty or Warren), but if they stay this is the pick. Walker played as a pass rusher and a middle linebacker during his time at Georgia, a rather impressive feat considering Georgia runs pretty complex defenses. Carolina is going to love this flexibility, as it will help them mask a plethora of defensive holes. As an added plus, Walker apparently crushed all his pre-draft interviews and impressed GMs and coaches around the league.

9. New Orleans Saints

The Pick: QB Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss

The Saints have a lot of options here. They could go defensive line, where their current squad is aging rapidly, but I think they reach a little here and go quarterback. Derek Carr is getting older and there are questions about his durability. Many analysts have Shedeur Sanders as the QB2 in this draft class, but I think he is incredibly overhyped. Instead, I look to Ole Miss gunslinger Jaxson Dart, who has all the fundamentals of a starting QB in his pocket presence, quick release, and a good awareness of his progressions. He will need some fine tuning, but he will hopefully get that after sitting a year or two behind Carr. It’s a bit of a reach, but don’t forget the Falcons reached for Michael Penix in last year’s top 10. Sometimes, if you like the guy enough, you just can’t risk it.

10. Chicago Bears

The Pick: OT Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas

Chicago fans are going to be begging for an offensive weapon in Ashton Jeanty or Tyler Warren, but is that really what they need? Caleb Williams has plenty of options to turn to in this offense, so the smart move is to bolster his line. Say it with me, if you are going to invest in a young quarterback, you have to protect him. Banks is a 3 year starter at Texas and has a very strong lower half that he uses to anchor himself well against strong pass rushers. He may have to kick inside due to length concerns, but no matter where he plays, he will be successful in Chicago.

11. San Francisco 49ers

The Pick: DT Kenneth Grant, Michigan

The 49ers’ championship window is closing, and they can’t afford to miss on their draft picks. Their top talent is looking for big contracts, and they’ve had to make sacrifices along the way. Three of those sacrifices have come on the defensive line in Javon Hargrave, Maliek Collins, and Leonard Floyd. The 49ers love to build from the trenches out, so while cornerback could also be an option here, I think John Lynch will take Grant to plug the hole in the middle of the defensive line. Grant is an elite run stopper and is a force in pass rushing. He has a massive frame but moves surprisingly well for his size. He’ll take pressure off Nick Bosa, which is as valuable an addition as the 49ers can ask for.

12. Dallas Cowboys

The Pick: WR Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona

Isn’t it fun watching Jerry Jones on draft day? The guy lives for a flashy pick, and he often finds them. While Ashton Jeanty would probably be that guy here, I think Jerry knows this offense is unsustainable with CeeDee Lamb as the only real downfield threat. That’s why McMillan makes sense. At 6’5” he plays remarkably smooth for his large frame, and is a threat after the catch. He will require a lot of attention on the field, alleviating a lot of the pressure Lamb faced last year. Jones avoids going fully flashy, but it’s the right pick.

13. Miami Dolphins

The Pick: DT Walter Nolen, Ole Miss

The Dolphins are fast approaching full rebuild mode if they aren’t careful. They could go a lot of different directions at 13, but here they decide to take one of the best guys on the board to bolster their defensive line. Jaelen Phillips is quickly becoming a pass rushing star, but he doesn’t have the help he needs to really break out. Nolen may not be the most polished of prospects, but he is arguably the most athletic guy on the board. The former 5-star recruit has struggled here and there at Ole Miss, and there were some character concerns at one point, but he has done well in pre-draft interviews and the upside is massive. The Dolphins take the risk.

14. Indianapolis Colts

The Pick: TE Tyler Warren, Penn State

Many had the Colts taking Brock Bowers in last year’s draft, but he went just before their pick. Not much has changed for them at the tight end position, and it’s time they address it. Warren was a star last year for the Nittany Lions, and he is a ferocious blocker. Like Loveland, he can start right away and immediately elevate the offense. Look for Warren to become a favorite target for QB Anthony Richardson as he is a sure handed receiver who fights for every yard after the catch. Indy’s offense is improving, and is a little dangerous.

15. Atlanta Falcons

The Pick: EDGE Mike Green, Marshall

Probably the easiest team to predict is the Falcons. I would be shocked if they walked away without a defensive lineman in the 1st round, it will just  come down to who they take. I’d say it’s between Mike Green and James Pearce Jr, and I give Green the slight edge. He’s only started for 2 years, but he absolutely dominated in those 2 years. Arguably the best trait he has is his ability to improvise after his first move fails. He never gives up on a play, which earns him the nod here and will get him on the field quickly.

16. Arizona Cardinals

The Pick: CB Jahdae Barron, Texas

The Cardinals will likely be looking for a defensive player here, and with a lot of the top defensive linemen off the board, they’ll look to the secondary. HC Jonathan Gannon has placed a heavy emphasis on versatile players on his defense, and Barron is just that. He can play safety, corner, or nickel in the pros, and has great instincts all over the field. Gannon will be thrilled to submit this card and get Barron in his defense.

17. Cincinnati Bengals

The Pick: LB Jihaad Campbell, Alabama

The Bengals got some bad news with the recent retirement of Sam Hubbard. They need to fill in some gaps at linebacker and pass rushing, and Campbell is a good mix of both. He has great size and backfield vision and rarely misses tackles. He can rush the passer as well as drop into coverage rather successfully. The Bengals immediately retool their defense.

18. Seattle Seahawks

The Pick: IOL Grey Zabel, North Dakota State

The Seahawks have a pair of pretty solid tackles, but they could use some help on the interior. In 15 drafts, GM John Schneider has only ever drafted one interior offensive lineman in the first 2 rounds, but this just means he’s due. I don’t love the options at edge or safety here, so I think Schneider chooses to go off script and take the offensive line help. Zabel has flown up draft boards lately, as his ability to play all across the line is extremely attractive to coaches. Zabel will kick inside in Seattle and be tasked with protecting new QB Sam Darnold.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Pick: EDGE James Pearce Jr., Tennessee

The Bucs are better than expected, as their offense found a nice groove last year with the revitalization of Baker Mayfield. Their defense, however, could use help. Last year’s first round pick Calijah Kancey is on his way to be a stud, but you can never have enough pass rushers in this league. Pearce has an incredible first step that he uses to build power quickly. At one point last year he was thought to be the crown jewel of this class, but he struggled against the run and Tennessee uses a rotation on the line, leading to fewer snap counts. There is a bit of risk here, but if he hits, he has the athleticism and potential to be an All Pro.

20. Denver Broncos

The Pick: RB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State

This would be a dream for Sean Payton. The offense last year was surprisingly decent under Bo Nix, but they lacked an explosive rush game. Jeanty should have won the Heisman last year, as he completely dominated in every game to the tune of 2,601 yards and 29 TDs. He is explosive, patient, balanced, and will give Denver a massive boost on offense. He slides just because of positional need, but make no mistake, he is a stud.

21. Pittsburgh Steelers

The Pick: QB Shedeur Sanders, Colorado

Finally, Sanders is off the board. I’ll be honest, my read on him goes back and forth. There are times I believe he is a true bust, while sometimes I see him being a reliable NFL starter. However, with Mike Tomlin as his coach, I think Sanders has the best opportunity to succeed. For one, his father, the great Deion Sanders, will trust Tomlin to coach him up his own way, which is huge for his development. Tomlin has a history of getting the most out of his guys, and Sanders will need the help. While his arm isn’t as strong as it could be, he plays relatively clean games and is poised under pressure. If this is indeed how things shake out tonight, it will be fascinating to watch Sanders’ journey in Pittsburgh.

22. Los Angeles Chargers

The Pick: CB Will Johnson, Michigan

Will Johnson is talented enough to go in the top 5 of this draft, but after missing almost all of last year with a foot injury, there are some concerns about his durability. The one guy who won’t doubt Johnson, though, is Jim Harbaugh. The benefit Harbaugh has, of course, is a direct line to the Michigan training staff to inquire about his foot. Corner isn’t at the top of the team’s needs, but Jim could learn a thing or two from his brother John about taking the best guy available. The Ravens excel at taking the top guy regardless of position and figuring it out down the line. Johnson is by far the top guy on the board, and if healthy, will be a key piece of the Chargers secondary for years to come.

23. Green Bay Packers

The Pick: CB Trey Amos, Ole Miss

The Packers could use some help at receiver, and there are plenty on the board, but with Jaire Alexander’s status on the team a bit shaky, corner is the call. Amos is big and lengthy with roots as a track athlete. This makes him excel in press coverage as he has the size to hold his positional ground and the speed to hang on his receiver’s hip. Amos is certainly fit to be a CB2 in the league, but he could easily put it all together and become a top corner. Only time will tell, but this would be a great pick to protect from the potential loss of Alexander.

24. Minnesota Vikings

The Pick: S Malaki Starks, Georgia

The Vikings were the surprise of the league last year, going 14-3 and dominating competition. They only have 4 draft picks this year, so to keep this momentum going, they’ll have to make the most of these picks. DC Brian Flores loves a high IQ, fluid safety for his schemes, and Starks fits that bill perfectly. He immediately started as a true freshman at Georgia, and never looked back. He can tackle, read plays effectively, and always seems to know right where to be on the field. He can come in and start next to Harrison Smith right away. This is a great pick for Minnesota.

25. Houston Texans

The Pick: OT Josh Conerly Jr., Oregon

The Texans could certainly use some protection for CJ Stroud, and thankfully for them there is a lot still on the board. Josh Simmons from Ohio State is an option, but he is coming off an ACL tear, and I think the Texans may be hesitant to take that on. Conerly has a massive frame that he can adequately move around to stop rushers in their tracks. He sometimes struggles with leverage and power, but he should be able to fine tune these issues and become a strong starter. This is a good step for the Texans to take to ensure the health of Stroud.

26. Los Angeles Rams

The Pick: CB Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky

The Rams have strong needs at corner, TE, linebacker, and the offensive line. That’s a good amount of needs at some key positions. Hard to say where they turn, but I think McVay will love this kid. Hairston, or “Mad Max”, is an electric athlete who plays with some serious intensity. He also ran the fastest 40 at the combine, clocking in at 4:28. He does like to get physical and that can get him into some penalty troubles, but with some refinement he can be a lockdown corner. I think McVay is the right guy to get him to funnel that intensity into some spectacular plays.

27. Baltimore Ravens

The Pick: OT Josh Simmons, Ohio State

Remember what I said about the Ravens strategy of picking the best guy available? That’s exactly what happens here. This team is stacked all across the roster and doesn’t really have one glaring need, but the offensive line could use some reinforcements.Starting left tackle Ronnie Stanley has struggled with injuries in recent years, and that won’t get easier as he enters next year at 31 years old. Simmons is coming off an ACL tear, but he was one of the best tackles in college football before the injury. He is strong with a massive frame but is able to get his pads nice and low giving him incredible leverage to bully pass rushers. He has great bend and nice flexibility, and with a full season last year he would easily be in the top 10 conversation. He also has history at right and left tackle, so he can fill in where needed. This would be a huge get for the birds.

28. Detroit Lions

The Pick: DT Darius Alexander, Toledo

This one is a bit of a surprise for a couple reasons. The Lions could use help on their offensive line and word is they’ve been looking to find a running mate to Aidan Hutchinson in the pass rush game, but I think it’s the interior that needs more help, with a ton of injuries and old age plaguing the position in Detroit. Alexander is not a common pick to go in the first round, but I can’t see why. He has NFL frame at 6’4” 310 pounds, is immovable in run defense, and showed impressive pass rushing as a standout in the Senior Bowl. Mark my words, this is a guy who can sneak into the first round. Big get for Detroit.

29. Washington Commanders

The Pick: EDGE Mykel Williams, Georgia

The Commanders were the most fun team to root for last year, as new head coach Dan Quinn had his team ready to compete in every game last season. Jayden Daniels is the real deal at QB, and now it’s time to find some guys at key positions. Quinn being the defensive mind he is, I am sure starting in the defensive trenches is a priority. Williams is an absolute tank who’s motor never seems to overheat. He pushes through every rep to the whistle, and never gives up on a play. He is elite in run defense, but could use some polishing in his pass rushing moves. He’ll get a 1st round look because of his effort, and if he can put it together he can easily be the steal of the draft.

30. Buffalo Bills

The Pick: DT Derrick Harmon, Oregon

The Bills once again fell short against the Chiefs, and many are wondering what, if anything, can turn the tides in their favor. The offense is solid, especially with MVP Josh Allen at the helm, but the defense needs work. Rumors around the league are that the Bills have done a ton of digging into both cornerbacks and defensive tackles, but I think this ends up being a DT. There are a ton of good corner options in round 2, and Harmon is good enough to start right away alongside stud Ed Oliver. Harmon has great IQ, fills in gaps effectively, and possesses elite quickness. Plugging him in the middle of the line gives Oliver the ability to play more freely and hopefully apply more pressure on Mahomes in next year's expected rematch.

31. Kansas City Chiefs

The Pick: OT Donovan Jackson, Ohio State

The Chiefs need to continue to build their offensive line around Mahomes. While there aren’t a ton of options here for them at offensive line, Donovan Jackson has experience at guard and at left tackle, where he played 9 games last year and was pretty solid. He has nice technique, good footwork, but won’t blow you away athletically. I think the Chiefs will be most attracted to his position flexibility and will work with him in training camp to find his best spot on the line.

32. Philadelphia Eagles

The Pick: WR Luther Burden III, Missouri

The rich get richer. The Eagles are in a similar spot the Chiefs have been drafting from in recent years. They could take the best available or they could go bold and take a high upside risk on a position that needs depth. In this mock, they do the latter. Star receiver AJ Brown is constantly brought up in trade discussions, so just in case they do want to deal, they have a potential replacement in the wings. Burden is incredibly well-rounded and can play outside or in the slot, giving him the flexibility the Eagles love. He has a great first step off the snap and can beat his man with ease with fluid route running. Burden excels after the catch, weaving his way through holes and following his blockers. I expect the Eagles will have a lot of fun designing plays for him, and he will contribute to the already explosive offense.