With Super Bowl LIX between the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs a week away, NFL teams not involved in the big game will be setting their sights on NFL Draft prospects that can help get them there either in 2025 or the near future.
In seeing how 2024 NFL Draft picks like Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean and Xavier Worthy has helped both the Eagles and Chiefs get to the final round, teams see how selecting the right players at the positions of need can translate to instant success, especially for those teams that are contenders.
As for the teams at the bottom of the league, landing the right franchise changing prospect like a Jayden Daniels can also propel a team into the playoffs. Who is the franchise changing prospect in the 2025 NFL Draft?
2025 NFL Draft features generational talent and intriguing prospects at key positions
Well, top players like Penn State’s Abdel Carter, Miami’s Cameron Ward and Colorado’s Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders are getting all the buzz, but it could be players taken later in the first round who make the greatest impact for the team’s who select them.
In this NFL Pro Bowl edition of NFL Mocks’ 2025 NFL Mock Draft, teams at the top of the draft get wild to land the players of their desirable needs.
Let’s get on the clock!
Blockbuster trade sets off the explosives for an action packed first round
With Pete Carroll taking over at head coach, the Las Vegas Raiders make their next big move in the offseason. It’s a huge move as they make a splash by putting together a package featuring Maxx Crosby to land the No. 1 overall pick in a trade with the Tennessee Titans.
With the pick, the Raiders take Miami QB Cam Ward over Shedeur Sanders. In a move that will shock the top of the draft, Las Vegas hopes to hit the jackpot with a dual threat quarterback who should excel under an experienced head coach like Carroll and a top weapon to throw to like Brock Bowers.
Trade! Jacksonville Jaguars make a bold move to select Travis Hunter
In another shocking trade at the top of the 2025 NFL Draft, the Jaguars make their own splash in moving up 3 spots to ensure they land the best overall player in the draft in Travis Hunter. As one of the top pass defenders in the nation, Hunter solves the Jaguars needs in the secondary and gives Trevor Lawrence a splashy No. 2 option to play alongside Brian Thomas Jr. Overall, Hunter is a great fit for the Jags because he can be the teams shutdown corner while also serving as a second or third option on offense.
The Giants will get trade offers, but their QB will fall to them at No. 3. Vegas or Tennessee will be the more intriguing destination for Shedeur Sanders, but playing in the Big Apple will have its own appeal, especially when he will get to form a connection with Malik Nabers. Another dual-threat quarterback, the Giants will hope Sanders is able to step in and have a similar rookie season as Jayden Daniels. Along with Nabers, the Giants will have to focus on getting the right players around him.
Trade! Carolina Panthers move up four spots in a trade with the New England Patriots
The Panthers move up in a trade with the Patriots to gain an edge on defense. They get that edge and much more with the selection of Penn State’s Abdul Carter. A generational talent coming off the edge, Carter will bring speed and power to the Panthers’ defense and give them a star player who will shine as one of the faces of the team. With a PFF pass rush grade of 92.3, there is no doubt Carter will shine in the NFC South, especially coming off a season in which he recorded 13 sacks. Watch out NFL quarterbacks!
The Browns punted on selecting one of the top 2 quarterbacks in the draft by trading back three spots to No. 5. The idea here is that the Browns will take their chances on a veteran QB free agent while drafting a QB prospect in the later rounds. With this move, the Browns can go in a few directions, but there is something about Ashton Jeanty in a Browns’ uniform that will intrigue Cleveland into making the nation’s top rusher a Top 5 pick. With 1,970 yards rushing after contact, the selection of Jeanty will make it easy for the Browns to move on from Nick Chubb.
The Titans decided to trade back and gain additional draft capital as the team will take another chance in building around Will Levis. Adding an elite receiver prospect like Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan should help that as pairing him with Calvin Ridley Jr. will give Levis two outside threats to get the ball to. Not selecting a QB in the first round doesn’t mean the Titans won’t draft a QB to give Levis some competition. The Titans will have additional picks in the draft to select a QB and with an additional 2026 first round pick set themselves up to be in position to draft a QB in a deeper 2026 NFL Draft quarterback class.
New Jets heads coach Aaron Glenn will push the team to lean towards another elite cornerback here with the selection of Michigan’s Will Johnson with the No. 7 overall pick. Mason Graham will be an option here, but in Johnson, the Jets will fall in love with the idea of pairing Johnson with Sauce Gardner in the team’s secondary. This selection will also be based on the team potentially losing D.J. Reed in free agency.
This is not the most popular pick as far as a splashy player, but it’s a necessary pick for the Patriots who move back in the draft from No. 4. McMillan and Abdul Carter will be appealing and favorites of fans, but it’s time the Patriots get a sure bet at tackle and Will Campbell is just that. Ranked as the top tackle entering the draft, the Patriots fill their most glaring need and obtain an additional second round pick that will give them 4 picks in the 2nd and 3rd round of the 2025 NFL Draft to fill other needs.
The Saints are another team that could go in any direction here, but they will go with the best player available in Michigan’s Mason Graham. A versatile disrupter in the middle of the defensive line, Graham’s high motor and ability to get after the quarterback will be an instant upgrade for the Saints’ defense. Who Dat Nation will love this powerhouse defensive lineman.
The Bears will focus on protecting Caleb Williams in Year 2 and what better way to do that than selecting Ohio State’s Josh Simmons with the No. 10 overall pick. This selection will come down to Simmons vs Kelvin Banks Jr, but ultimately the Bears lean towards Simmons due to his run blocking skills along with his elite pass protecting ability. Either player would be welcomed on the Bears’ offensive line.
2025 NFL Draft: Broncos get Bo Nix another weapon, Colts land top tight end
In predicting No.11 through No. 20 in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Indianapolis Colts get an exciting tight end to add to their offense and the Denver Broncos get Nix another offensive weapon with a surprise pick in the first round. The Bengals also go offense by selecting the perfect replacement for Tee Higgins.
No. 11: San Francisco 49ers – Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas
No. 12: Dallas Cowboys– Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri
No. 13: Miami Dolphins – Malaki Starks, S, Georgia
No. 14: Indianapolis Colts – Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
No. 15: Atlanta Falcons – James Pearce Jr., EDGE, Tennessee
No. 16: Arizona Cardinals – Armand Membou, OT, Missori
No. 17: Cincinnati Bengals – Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
No. 18: Seattle Seahawks – Mike Green, ED, Marshall
No. 19: Tampa Bay Buccaneeers – Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame
No. 20: Denver Broncos – Matthew Golden, WR, Texas
2025 NFL Draft: Steelers take a chance by selecting the third quarterback selected in the first round
The Pittsburgh Steelers make a surprise move and select Alabama’s Jalen Milroe to compete with Justin Fields at quarterback. The bottom half of the draft is filled with defensive players as Super Bowl contenders look to get over the hump. Here’s a look at 21-32 in this 2025 NFL Mock Draft:
No. 21: Pittsburgh Steelers – Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama
No. 22: Los Angeles Chargers – Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
No. 23: Green Bay Packers – Jack Sawyer, ED, Ohio State
No. 24: Minnesota Vikings – Kenneth Grant, DL, Michigan
No. 25: Houston Texans – Tyleik Williams, DL, Ohio State
No. 26: Los Angeles Rams – Jack Conerly Jr., OT, Oregon
No. 27: Baltimore Ravens – Nic Ccourton, ED, Texas A&M
No. 28: Detroit Lions – Mykel Williams, ED, Georgia
No. 29: Washington Commanders – Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas
No. 30: Buffalo Bills – Trey Amos, CB, Mississippi
No. 31: Philadelphia Eagles – Shemar Stewardt, ED, Texas A&M
No. 32: Kansas City Chiefs – Wyatt Milum, OT, West Virginia