As the 2024 NFL season heads past the mid-season mark, the needs of teams going forward are starting to define themselves. With top college talent starting to set themselves apart as top NFL prospects, the 2025 NFL Draft is shaping up as one that will feature some intriguing storylines.
The main storyline will be where will the top quarterbacks go in this draft? Furthermore, which NFL teams will decide to move on from current quarterbacks in hopes of finding their next franchise QB?
As top signal callers like Miami’s Cam Ward, Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, Georgia’s Carson Beck, Texas’ Quinn Ewers and Alabama’s Jalen Milroe continue prove themselves to NFL scouts, some top playmakers both offensively and defensively are showing the nation they are worthy of top 10 fame.
Top of 2025 NFL Draft features top playmakers
Quarterbacks will still be the talk of the draft, primarily which QB’s slide out of the first round, but this will still be an exciting Day 1 with some generational talent going to some interesting teams. The most interesting star entering the 2025 NFL Draft is the man who lands No. 1.
Jaguars make the two-way star the top pick of the draft and take care of two needs in the process. In Travis Hunter, the Jags land their most talented cornerback since Jalen Ramsay and give Trevor Lawrence another weapon on offense in the process. Teams will try to entice the Jaguars for that No. 1 overall pick, but the Jags stay pat and land the Heisman Trophy contender.
Goodbye Daniel Jones! The Giants move on with the dual-threat quarterback who has been lighting up college football this season while putting up record-breaking numbers for the Miami Hurricanes. The Big Apple will embrace a Cam Ward to Malik Nabers connection in 2025.
The Titans will contemplate taking a quarterback here but will decide to add a QB later in the draft to compete with Will Levis. At this spot, the Titans get a big-time weapon on offense with the selection of Tetairoa McMillan to pair with Calvin Ridley. With big play skills and showcasing himself as an elite outside threat, McMillan has separated himself as the top wide receiver prospect entering the 2025 NFL Draft.
The Browns begin to answer questions on what they will do with Deshaun Watson. With the selection of Jalen Milroe with the No. 4 overall pick, Cleveland will prepare to move on from the veteran quarterback. Even if Watson returns fully healthy at the beginning of the 2025 NFL season, the Browns will see the dual-threat ability of Milroe as their future quarterback which could lead to a Watson trade.
Deion Sanders will love this pick and location. The Raiders make Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders the No. 5 overall pick in the draft as the team finally gets their QB. In what will be a match made in NFL heaven, the Raiders get a quarterback with the clutch gene and confidence off the charts.
This will be the surprise pick of the draft not because of the talented player selected, but with the Patriots need for a left tackle, taking Michigan’s Will Johnson will trigger some second guessing. However, due to the depth of talent in the draft at both CB and OL, the Patriots will be more intrigued to showcase a tandem of Johnson and Christian Gonzalez to anchor the defense and take a shot at tackle in the second round.
The best edge rusher in the draft heads to New Orleans. With the No. 7 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Saints begin to revamp their defense with the selection of James Pearce Jr. who will be seen as the eventual replacement for Cameron Jordan. With Pearce Jr and Chase Young coming off the edge, the Saints front seven will be more dynamic, but a greater need at this spot in the draft could not be cornerback following the trade of Pro Bowler Marshon Lattimore.
The Jets may be urged to take a quarterback here, but they will go with a sure bet in Mason Graham to secure their defensive line. With powerful size and a motor off the charts, the versatility of Graham will help the Jets’ defense remain the strength of the team. This doesn’t mean the Jets won’t land a QB on Day 2 of the draft as they should.
The play of Bryce Young since returning as QB1 will be enough to persuade the Panthers to stick with the young QB another season. With the No. 9 overall pick they add extreme talent to their defense with Texan A&M stud Nic Scourton who will bring physicality and skill to the Panthers’ defense…he’ll also help build identity on the defensive side of the ball.
The best way to protect Tua Tagovailoa is to secure his blindside. They do that with the selection of Minnesota’s Aireontae Ersery who they select over both Will Campbell and Kelvin Banks. His ability as a zone run blocker is what will set him apart and intrigue a Dolphins team that leans on the running game to set up an explosive attack through the air.
2025 NFL Draft: Cowboys land top running back, Bears get offensive line help
In predicting No.11 through No. 20 in the 2025 NFL Draft, the top running back will come off the board just outside the top 10 as the Dallas Cowboys select Ashton Jeanty with the No. 11 overall pick. Is this a dream scenario for both the player and team? Another interesting player landing on an interesting team is Kentucky’s Deone Walker who gives the Houston Texans that interior defensive lineman help they need.
No. 11: Dallas Cowboys – Ashton Jeanty, RB Boise State
No. 12: Indianapolis Colts– Malaki Starks, S Georgia
No. 13: Cincinnati Bengals – Will Campbell, OT LSU
No. 14: Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Luther Burden, WR Missouri
No. 15: Seattle Seahawks – Kelvin Banks, OT Texas
No. 16: Los Angeles Rams – Benjamin Morrison, CB Notre Dame
No. 17: Chicago Bears – Tyler Booker, IOL Alabama
No. 18: San Francisco 49ers – Denzel Burke, CB Ohio State
No. 19: Denver Broncos – Emeka Egbuka., WR Ohio State
No. 20: Houston Texans – Deone Walker, DL Kentucky
2025 NFL Draft: Chargers land explosive tight end; Ravens gain edge
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Hebert gets another playmaker in tight end Tyler Warren who is exploding as the top tight end in the nation. The Baltimore Ravens gain some edge in a player who slides a bit in this draft. Here’s a look at 21-32:
No. 21: Atlanta Falcons – Mykel Williams, EDGE Georgia
No. 22: Arizona Cardinals – Kenneth Grant, DL Michigan
No. 23: Los Angeles Chargers – Tyler Warren, TE Penn State
No. 24: Green Bay Packers – Jack Sawyer, EDGE Ohio State
No. 25: Washington Commanders – Cameron Williams, OT Texas
No. 26: Baltimore Ravens – Abdul Carter, EDGE Penn State
No. 27: Pittsburgh Steelers – Isaiah Bond, WB Texas
No. 28: Minnesota Vikings – Tacario Davis, CB Arizona
No. 29: Philadelphia Eagles – Emery Jones Jr., OT LSU
No. 30: Buffalo Bills – Colston Loveland, TE Michigan
No. 31: Detroit Lions – Jonah Savaiinaea, IOL Arizona
No. 32: Kansas City Chiefs – Jalon Walker, LB Georgia