Where will top defensive prospects like Penn State's Abdul Carter, 2024 Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter, and Michigan's Mason Graham land in the 2025 NFL Draft?
All 3 are projected in most NFL Mock drafts to be top 6 picks with Carter and Hunter challenging as the potential No. 1 overall pick. Beyond these top defensive prospects, this draft is deep at edge, defensive line, and defensive back. After the initial free agency wave, NFL teams will be turning to the draft to address top needs.
In this special edition of the 2025 NFL Mock Draft, we explore an all-defensive mock draft which sees top prospects landing in interesting places solely based on that team’s top defensive needs.
2025 NFL Mock Draft: Big 10 stars dominate the top 10
Some of the top prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft hail from the big 10, but will it be a player from the Big 10 that is selected No. 1 overall?
Let’s get on the clock!
The Titans hands down select the generational talent coming off the edge known as Abdul Carter. The Penn State star and Big 10 Defensive Player of the Year didn’t participate at the NFL Combine due to injury, but that shouldn’t stop him from being the first defensive player off the board in the 2025 NFL Draft. In Carter, the Titans get a player who could be a replacement for Harold Landry, who signed with the New England Patriots in free agency.
Myles Garrett got a contract extension with the Browns, but what would make him more happy in Cleveland? Well, if they add a two-way star like Travis Hunter who could lock it down at cornerback, perhaps that would inject some rejuvenation into the All-Pro defensive lineman as well as the entire team. The 2024 Heisman Trophy winner is entering the 2025 NFL Draft as an impact player on both sides of the ball. In Cleveland, he should get more snaps as a cornerback, but he’d also be used to spark the offense. Garrett upfront and Hunter taking away half the field in the secondary will have the Dawg Pound hyped in Northeastern Ohio.
The Giants will prioritize a quarterback in this draft and perhaps this spot, but this mock draft is all about defense. With the No. 3 overall pick, the Giants make it back-to-back cornerbacks taken off the board with the selection of Michigan’s Will Johnson.
If it wasn’t for Hunter, Johnson would be the top ranked cornerback entering the draft. At 6-foot-2, 194 pounds, Johnson brings length, athleticism, and a high football IQ to the Giants secondary. An outstanding defender in coverage, Johnson is also effective coming up in the box and defending the run which would be huge for a Giants team competing in a very intriguing NFC East in 2025.
The best defensive player available at No. 4 is Mason Graham. The defensive lineman is not only versatile, but with his high motor would form an interesting group of interior lineman in New England after the Milton Williams signing. The hope in the overall draft would be for Carter to slip down to Mike Vrabel and the Patriots, but in all-defensive draft, they get a disruptor in Graham who can also get to the quarterback. As a team with needs everywhere, Graham is a more than solid building block for a team committed to building on both sides of the line.
The first Texas player off the board is cornerback Jahdae Barron. In emerging as the No. 3 cornerback entering the 2025 NFL Draft, the physical cornerback, who also excels on special teams, will give the Jaguars a nice building piece in the secondary. At 5-foot-11, 194 pounds, Barron plays bigger than he is, but also excels in route recognition. With high instincts as a defender, many teams will have him on their radar, but Duval County is where he lands.
With Maxx Crosby locked up with a new contract, the Raiders focus on adding some beef along the defensive line with the selection of Kenneth Grant. The third Michigan player off the board in the first six picks, Grant brings massive size and athleticism to the Raiders defensive line. At 6-foot-4, 331 pounds, this former Michigan star is a powerful force in the middle of the line who will demand double teams in the middle of the line which would free up Crosby even more to do his thing. Grant also has his own ability to get to the QB. He racked up 3 sacks in his final season at Michigan.
Other than quarterback, the Jets have a few needs defensively. With the No. 7 overall pick, the Jets upgrade at safety with the selection of Malaki Starks. A player with great instincts, Starks displays a combination of speed and physicality that makes him effective in pass coverage and a punishing run defender. He will look great holding down the secondary next to Sauce Gardner.
The Panthers get explosive speed off the edge with the selection of Tennessee prospect James Pearce Jr. Pearce doesn’t display great strength, but that speed along with his length and overall frame gives the Panthers a young player with star potential. Although he didn’t have the type of season projected in 2024, he still recorded 7.5 sacks with the volunteers and showed flashes of a player who looked like a top 5 pick going into the season.
The Saints also go edge and take Mike Green out of Marshall. At 6-foot-4, 250 pounds, Green brought the thunder all season long with the Herd with 17 sacks and 3 forced fumbles. As a player who mesmerizes blockers with an explosive first step, Green is the type of player the Saints are looking for defensively as they look to potential replace free agent Chase Young. Cameron Jordan enters the season at 36, so the Saints have to prepare that he may not have much left in the tank.
Boston College star Donovan Ezeiruaku heads to Chicago with the No. 10 overall pick in the NFL Draft. The Bears will still look to build an offensive line in front of Caleb Williams, but bringing the heat off the edge is one of the top defensive needs for the Bears entering the draft. What better prospect to add than a player who brought the heat in the ACC with 16.5 sacks and 3 forced fumbles.
2025 NFL Draft: Top linebackers fly off the board in the middle round
San Francisco watched Dre Greenlaw walk away in free agency. Those are big shoes to fill, but Alabama’s Jihaad Campbell brings prototypical size, speed, and ultimate open-field tackling ability to the 49ers’ defense.
The Cowboys have held onto Micah Parsons so far, but still may want to bring in an edge rusher to pair with Parsons. One player who has been rising up the draft board is Texas A&M standout Shemar Stewart who has a great combination of power and speed off the edge. He only racked up 1.5 sacks in his final season with the Aggies, but his flexibility along the defensive line and relentless pursuit of the QB is what stands out.
The Dolphins would love to replace Jevon Holland, but with Starks off the board in this All-defensive NFL Mock Draft, they address the defensive line with Ole Miss star Walter Nolen, an OLB/DL hybrid with an explosiveness getting to the QB.
Colts go defensive back with the selection of Maxwell Hairston, who is another prospect rising the draft board after an impressive NFL Combine. The Kentucky Standout missed 5 games in 2024 due to injury, which is why his overall stats doesn’t stand out, but his burst in closing the gap on receivers and ability to read routes gives the Colts the CB they been looking for.
This is a match made in heaven as Georgia’s Jalon Walker gets to stay in the Peach State. The Falcons are looking for a defensive playmaker and they get him in Walker who can get after the quarterback. He also has the athleticism to be a force against the run. A big-time addition for the Falcons.
The Cardinals get defensive lineman help with the selection of Oregon’s Derrick Harmon. His blend of size, length and power will make him an instant force along Arizona’s defensive line.
The Bengals address the edge with the selection of Georgia’s Mykel Williams. With the Sam Hubbard retirement and Trey Hendrickson’s trade request, the Bengals may be looking at a new group of pass rushers which will feature the Georgia star.
The Seahawks have been making moves offensively so far in the offseason. On defense, look for Seattle to address the edge and in this draft they do so with Nic Scourton. The Texas A&M pass rusher had 27 career sacks with the Aggies.
The Buccaneers add to their linebacker group with the selection of South Carolina’s Demetrius Knight Jr. After re-signing Lavonte David, the Buccaneers add to the mix by bringing in a downhill tackler with natural instincts as a blitzer. Knight Jr. also can play special teams.
The Broncos continue to upgrade on defense with the selection of South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori. After an impressive NFL Combine, the athletic safety continues to rise up the NFL Draft board and would give the Broncos defense even more spark after the splash free agent signing of linebacker Dre Greenlaw.
2025 NFL Draft: Packers find their cornerback; Rams land aggressive UCLA linebacker
A big physical corner, Shavon Revel is one of the top cornerbacks in the draft when healthy. The only question mark with this explosive defender is how he will recover from a torn ACL suffered back in September. When and if fully healthy, Revel will take care of the Steelers need in the secondary.
With the No. 22 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Chargers replace Joey Bosa with edge rusher Landon Jackson. The Arkansas product who recorded 6.5 sacks in 2023 and 2024, has great length and power off the edge. His high motor and relentless attack will give the Chargers’ defense a nice…bolt.
The Packers address their need at cornerback with the selection of Ole Miss cornerback Trey Amos. The 6-foot-1, 195-porund cornerback was First-team All-Sec in 2024 as he led the Rebels with 13 pass breakups. As a long corner, Amos can be a disrupter against the pass which is what this NFC North squad is looking for.
The Vikings address the defensive line with Toledo’s Darius Alexander. A 6-foot-4, 305-pound defensive tackle, Alexander is explosive off the snap and can get pressure on the quarterback up the middle. Not the top defensive need for the Vikings, but the best available player at No. 24.
With the No. 25 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Texas address the defensive line with the selection of South Carolina’s T.J. Sanders. Standing at 6-foot-4, 297 pounds, Sanders is a versatile interior defender who could excel in the NFL with players like Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter coming off the edge.
UCLA’s Carson Schwesinger gets to keep his talents in the state of California with this selection by the Rams. In taking care of perhaps their top need, the Rams get an off-ball linebacker with a high football IQ and relentless motor as a downhill tackler. His leadership skills should also be a fit on a defense that already features young, rising defensive stars.
There is something about Jack Sawyer that screams Baltimore Ravens. In selecting Sawyer with the No. 27 overall pick in this all-defensive NFL Mock Draft, the Ravens not only get a player with championship pedigree, but they also get a player who can get to the quarterback and make impact plays on the ball.
The Lions will get Aidan Hutchinson back in 2025, but that doesn’t stop them from drafting another player who can get to the quarterback. With 10.5 sacks in 2024, Ole Miss product Princely Umanmielen can certainly bring the heat off the edge and has the combination of size and athleticism to roar in Detroit, especially paired with Hutchinson.
After an already busy free agency period, the Commanders address their need for an edge defender with the selection of LSU’s Bradyn Swinson. The Tigers star recorded 8.5 sacks in 2024 with 2 forced fumbles. His quickness off the edge would help upgrade the Commanders’ pass rush.
With the signing of Joey Bosa, the Bills focus their attention on the interior of the line with the selection of Ohio State’s Tyleik Williams with the No. 30 overall pick. With DaQuan Jones entering the season on an expiring contract, the Bills not only add depth with Williams, but a player who can be a future starter.
Make that back-to-back defensive lineman as Shemar Turner goes to the Kansas City Chiefs at No. 31. The Texas A&M product is a versatile defensive lineman who is quick off the first step with the athleticism to be effective against the run and get after the quarterback. He would learn a lot playing behind and alongside Chris Jones.
The defending Super Bowl champions get a gift handed to them as Benjamin Morrison slips down to them at No. 32. As one of the top corners entering the draft, Morrison will help form a nice young trio with 2024 NFL Draft selections Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean.