2025 NFL Mock Draft: Ryan Noonan Final Mock Draft
Ok, everyone. Pencils down.
This is a fascinating draft class, and the first night of the 2025 NFL Draft should be electric. Or maybe I'm just too close to the sun at this point.
I think the 2025 draft class is better than people give it credit for, but it can skew opinions when a class lacks top-tier quarterback options, like last year's class did.
The intrigue lies in the number of quality players at certain positions, which can result in teams having very different draft boards compared to their peers. For example, this class has a number of offensive linemen, EDGE rushers, and interior defensive linemen who'll come off the board in the first round, but the order in which they're ranked appears to vary GREATLY from team to team.
We've also seen 48 players mocked in the first round over the past two weeks alone, and that's just from reputable publications. I'm anticipating multiple head-scratching selections, and they could come early!
Here's my best guess for how things will shake out on Thursday night.
2025 Draft NFL Draft Date & Time
- Date: Thursday, April 24 (Round 1), Friday, April 25 ( Rounds 2 & 3) & Saturday, April 26 (Rounds 4-7)
- Time: 8:00 PM EST (Round 1), 7:00 PM EST (Rounds 2 and 3), & 12:00 PM EST (Rounds 4-7)
- Channels: NFL Network, ESPN & ABC, and FuboTV Livestream
- Location: Green Bay, Wisconsin
2025 NFL Mock Draft
1. Tennessee Titans - Cam Ward, QB, Miami
Locked and loaded. The Will Levis Era was quite the journey.
Positional Needs: QB, WR, OT, EDGE, CB
2. Cleveland Browns - Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado
I just hope they let the kid cook. Let's see the first true two-way player of this generation.
Positional Needs: QB, OT, CB, RB
3. New York Giants - Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn St.
This feels like both a home run and a layup at the same time. A "touchdown" or "sack" feels more appropriate, given the context, but you get the point.
This is the one spot in the top three that could get weird. I think there's a non-zero chance that ownership gets involved and pushes for a quarterback here.
Positional Needs: QB, OT, CB
4. New England Patriots - Will Campbell, OL, LSU
Yes, the Patriots need multiple starters along the offensive line, but they have to take Abdul Carter or Travis Hunter if one of them falls into their lap at No. 4. That's appeared unlikely for weeks now, and it's been reported that Campbell is New England's preferred left tackle prospect.
Positional Needs: WR, OT, G, RB
5. (TRADE) Chicago Bears - Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
The Jaguars' front office successfully played "Chicken." The Bears do the double no-no in analytics circles, not only taking a running back but trading UP in the draft to do so. And he might be worth it.
Positional Needs: DL, WR, S, C, G
6. Las Vegas Raiders - Kelvin Banks Jr., OL, Texas
The Raiders have a ton of needs, but adding a versatile talent up front wins out. This could be Armand Membou as well.
Positional Needs: CB, WR, RB
7. New York Jets - Armand Membou, OL, Missouri
The Jets desperately need to add pass-catching talent to this roster, so passing on that here is tough, but Armand Membou's short-term versatility and long-term ceiling make him difficult to pass up on if you're the Jets.
Positional Needs: CB, S, DL, OL
8. Carolina Panthers - Mason Graham, DL, Michigan
Jalon Walker has been the chalk play here, but the Panthers can fix 2024's historically bad run defense by selecting the consensus top interior defensive lineman in this year's class.
Positional Needs: DL, CB, WR
9. New Orleans Saints - Tyler Booker, OG, Alabama
The Derek Carr injury convinced many that this would be a home run spot for a quarterback, but the Saints need to try having a big-picture view of their situation for once. Despite going decades without trading down, I know the Saints would love to do so here and still add offensive line help. I'm not sure they'll find a trading partner, and they reportedly love Tyler Booker.
Positional Needs: DL, OL, WR
10. (TRADE) Jacksonville Jaguars - Tyler Warren, TE, Penn St.
I think the Jaguars could stay at pick No. 5 and still take Tyler Warren. The early talk from the new front office around building from the trenches shifted late into a desire to add an offensive weapon. Tyler Warren checks both of those boxes.
Positional Needs: EDGE, RB, DL
11. San Francisco 49ers - Jalon Walker, EDGE/LB, Georgia
The 49ers are another team that needs to add talent up front on both sides of the ball, and their pass-rush depth chart is barren outside of All-Pro Nick Bosa. With Kelvin Banks Jr., allegedly their preferred offensive lineman, off the board, the 49ers catch a falling Walker.
Positional Needs: CB, DL, G, OT
12. Dallas Cowboys - Tetairoa McMillian, WR, Arizona
Tetairoa McMillian is arguably the most polarizing prospect in this year's draft class. I think he's in a different tier talent-wise than Matthew Golden, whose tape doesn't match the 4.29 speed he flashed at the Combine. The Cowboys' offense gets better instantly with McMillian on the field.
Positional Needs: WR, EDGE, DT, OL
13. Miami Dolphins - Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas
The Dolphins need multiple starters in this draft, making them one of the tougher teams to figure out in Round 1. With the pending trade of Jalen Ramsey, I think Jahdae Barron's versatility is something Miami's front office will be attracted to.
Positional Needs: OT, G, DL, S
14. Indianapolis Colts - Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
The Colts are another tricky spot, with a need at guard and more pass-rushing depth, but Colston Loveland is too good to pass up on here. His ceiling is as good as any of the pass-catchers in this year's class.
Positional Needs: TE, EDGE, DB
15. Atlanta Falcons - Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia
The Falcons have failed to have a league-average pass rush for nearly a decade at this point. Turns out that you have to throw resources at a position to improve it. They took a handful of Day 2 swings last season and traded for Matthew Judon, but they still had one of the lowest pressure rates in the league. Williams is just 20 years old and played meaningful snaps for Georgia's 2022 National Championship team as an 18-year-old. He's a well-rounded prospect with projectable skills and a massive frame.
Positional Needs: EDGE, CB, LB
16. Arizona Cardinals - Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
Will Johnson is another one of this year's polarizing prospects. He entered the 2024 season as a sure-fire top-ten pick, but his play didn't match his 2023 season, and he did little to quell those concerns during the pre-draft process. Still, this is a talented perimeter corner, a premium position, and he fits a Cardinals roster that needs help at both outside corner spots.
Positional Needs: DL, G, OT, EDGE
17. Cincinnati Bengals - Walter Nolen, DL, Mississippi
The Bengals will likely add a defensive lineman here, either along the interior or at EDGE, and I believe Walter Nolen is on their shortlist if he's on the board at pick No. 17.
Positional Needs: DL, G, CB
18. Seattle Seahawks - Matthew Golden, WR, Texas
With Jaxson Smith-Njigba and Cooper Kupp working the short to intermediate routes, Seattle's offense needs a perimeter field-stretcher, and Matthew Golden falls into their laps here. I think the interior offensive line is also very much in play here.
Positional Needs: C, G, EDGE, LB
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama
The Buccaneers play the majority of their defensive snaps with two linebackers on the field, and Todd Bowles loves to blitz from the second level, making this a perfect match. Campbell was recruited to Alabama as a five-star EDGE prospect and converted seamlessly to off-ball linebacker while in Tuscaloosa. If he didn't have medical question marks, he'd be a top-ten pick.
Positional Needs: EDGE, CB, S, LB
20. Denver Broncos - Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina
The Broncos came into the offseason with few needs and addressed nearly all of them early in free agency. One of the last remaining areas of need is at running back, and some believe the gap between Ashton Jeanty and Omarion Hampton is minimal. Hampton has big-play ability and projects as a three-down back.
Positional Needs: RB, WR, DL
21. Pittsburgh Steelers - Derrick Harmon, DL, Oregon
There's a lot of talk that Shedeur Sanders is the pick for the Steelers, but I think Aaron Rodgers is still in play for Pittsburgh post-draft. Cam Heyward can use some help up front while grooming his replacement at the same time.
Positional Needs: QB, CB, WR, S
22. Los Angeles Chargers - Kenneth Grant, DL, Michigan
The weakness of this Chargers roster is the interior of the defensive line, and Kenneth Grant, who was once referred to as a 'gift from the football Gods' by his college coach Jim Harbaugh, reunites with Harbaugh in Southern California.
Positional Needs: WR, DL, TE
23. Green Bay Packers - Shemar Stewart, EDGE, Texas A&M
The Packers are one of the teams with clear athletic thresholds that must be reached, and Shemar Stewart checks all of the boxes. Stewart's 9.99 RAS (relative athletic score) is among the best all-time, and while the production doesn't match up, he has all the traits that organizations want from an edge rusher.
Positional Needs: EDGE, WR, C, CB
24. (TRADE) Cleveland Browns - Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
The Vikings have just four selections in this year's draft, and General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah knows teams will be clamoring to move into this spot to add a quarterback. The Browns have the second-most capital in this year's draft, so they have the resources to get this done without over-leveraging their future. The Sanders-to-Cleveland connections have been covered extensively, and reuniting Sanders with Travis Hunter will be fun to watch.
Positional Needs: DL, S, CB, G
25. Houston Texans - Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
I'd like to think C.J. Stroud would be banging the table for his former Buckeye teammate Emeka Egbuka. The Texans added Christian Kirk, but with Stefon Diggs gone and Tank Dell likely to miss most of 2025, the Texans still need depth and talent at wide receiver. The offensive line has been a popular position in industry mocks, but the Texans have been aggressive in free agency, adding Cam Robinson, Laken Tomlinson, and Trent Brown in recent weeks. Tomlinson and Brown are depth pieces, so the offensive line doesn't feel like a first-round priority.
Positional Needs: WR, DL, C, G
26. Los Angeles Rams - Grey Zabel, OL, North Dakota St.
The Rams have a sneaky good roster. They've hit multiple home runs in recent drafts along the defensive front, but the secondary is still one of the weaknesses of this NFC contender. I know they'd love to add one of the elite tight ends, and I think cornerback is also on the table, but Zabel is an elite athlete who can play multiple positions and will likely start for a decade in the league.
Positional Needs: CB, TE, LB, S
27. Baltimore Ravens - Malaki Starks, S, Georgia
The Ravens run to the podium here to add Malaki Starks, who's a perfect fit at free safety for Baltimore. Starks, who played a ton of slot snaps at Georgia, has elite coverage skills for a safety and complements Kyle Hamilton in the back end for the Ravens.
Positional Needs: WR, OT, EDGE, CB
28. Detroit Lions - Donovan Ezeiruaku, EDGE, Boston College
Donovan Ezeiruaku is a perfect fit for a Brad Holmes/Dan Campbell roster. He fits a desperate need and has the personality and leadership skills that align with what this front office has prioritized adding to their building in each of their previous drafts.
Positional Needs: C, EDGE, G, LB
29. Washington Commanders - Mike Green, EDGE, Marshall
Mike Green could be the steal of the draft when we look back five years from now. There are a lot of trouble off-field allegations here, which is part of why he's available this late, but someone will be willing to take a chance. Donte Fowler was a massive factor for the Commanders' defense last season, but he returned to Dallas in free agency, making EDGE a priority for the Commanders here.
Positional Needs: S, EDGE, CB, DL
30. Buffalo Bills - Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky
The Bills resigned Tre'Davious White this offseason, but this is not the White that Buffalo fans remember fondly. On a Rams team that desperately needed cornerback help last season, White couldn't find his way on the field. He was benched and eventually released, so this isn't someone who should be counted on to play meaningful snaps. Hariston has been a riser throughout the process, and his speed and ball skills fit perfectly in Sean McDermott's defense.
Positional Needs: S, DL, CB, WR
31. Kansas City Chiefs - Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State
Most believe that Josh Simmons would've been a top-ten pick in this class if he hadn't injured his knee at Ohio State last season. That's a risk that the Chiefs should be willing to take, even though they need immediate contributors along the offensive line. Simmons allowed just one pressure in six games last season after posting a 4% allowed pressure rate in 2023.
Positional Needs: OT, DL, LB
32. Philadelphia Eagles - Nick Scourton, EDGE, Texas A&M
The Eagles lost Josh Sweat and Milton Williams in free agency, so adding some pass-rush chops here makes the most sense. Scourton out-produced his teammate Shemar Stewart on the field, but Stewart won March's Shorts and T-Shirt Olympics (the Combine), which is why he's going 10+ picks ahead of Scourton.
Positional Needs: G, EDGE, CB, LB
