The 2025 NFL Draft isn’t filled with franchise changing quarterbacks, but the ones at the top of the list will have teams battling at the top of the draft to land their services.
In an overall deep draft as far as talent at key positions, a team like the Tennessee Titans, who hold the No. 1 overall pick will hold all the cards. That’s why fans of the New York Giants and New England Patriots are fuming that their teams lost hold of the draft over the last two weeks of the NFL season. That doesn’t mean those two teams can’t make franchise altering moves in the drives.
In fact, there are a few teams selecting in the top 10 who could be in position to make big moves to land players who could either help continue building their franchises or in some cases, draft prospects who could help make them a playoff contender.
In this Super Wild Card Weekend edition of NFL Mocks’ 2025 NFL Mock Draft, big trades at the top are explored which may lead some top talent to surprising teams throughout the first round.
Big Trade puts one NFC East team on the clock at No. 1 overall
The Titans will make it seem like they are going quarterback at No. 1, but they will decide to stick with Will Levis and take a shot at a quarterback in later rounds by trading the No. 1 overall pick to the Giants for No. 3 overall. The trade package also includes a 2026 No. 1 pick that could be a value of the Titans in a 2026 QB class that should be much better.
The Giants will take a leap of faith here as Cam Ward will stand out as the top quarterback in this year’s draft class. With wide receiver Malik Nabers and running back Tyrone Tracy as building blocks on offense, Ward will be that third piece. With the team’s decision to hold on to Brian Daboll as head coach, the Miami product will be stepping into a good situation in New York where he will have an opportunity to showcase his dual threat talent and his clutch gene.
Trade! Browns trade No. 2 overall to the Las Vegas Raiders in exchange for No. 6 overall, a 2025 third round pick, 2025 sixth round pick and 2026 first round pick.
The Raiders will be rumored to be in on Kirk Cousins but will decide to trade up in the draft and grad Shedeur Sanders with the No. 2 overall pick. With the trade, the Raiders will give up some draft capital, but it may be worth it depending on who they go with as their next head coach. If it is Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, Sanders be a fascinating building block. If it is a coach like Pete Carroll, the quarterback prospect will have an opportunity to learn behind a veteran first. Could that be Russell Wilson?
The Titans may end up as the winner of the draft. The decision to give up the No. 1 overall pick will come with scrutiny, but drafting the Heisman Trophy winner will silence critics. In Travis Hunter, the Titans get a player who secures their secondary and add some flash to the offensive side of the football. By deciding not to pick either Ward or Sanders, the Titans approach will be to surround Levis or whichever QB they select later in the draft with elite talent.
Trade! Patriots trade No. 4 overall to the Carolina Panthers for No. 8 overall, a 2025 second round pick, a 2025 sixth round pick and a 2026 second round pick.
The Panthers strong finish to the season has them as a team looking for impact players other than at quarterback. The team will leap up to No. 4 to take Penn State’s Abdul Carter who is a game-changing defensive player who will add more attitude and explosiveness on defense for the Panthers. In this aggressive move, the Panthers go up and get their player vs standing pat at No. 8 and see him go to a team like the Browns or New York Jets.
Michigan’s Will Johnson will give the Jaguars the best cornerback talent they have had since the days of Jalen Ramsay. The Jags will hope Hunter slides down to No. 5 but will go with the second-best corner in the draft. This pick will also depend on who they select as their next head coach.
The Deshaun Watson situation won’t prompt the Browns to go QB at No. 2 overall. Once Ward is off the board at No. 1, the Browns won’t take a shot at any Sheduer Sanders drama surrounding Deion Sanders words about a couple of teams he won’t allow his son to play for. Could the Browns be one of those teams? In any event, the Browns will take their chances on a veteran in free agency or via draft and secure the offensive line with LSU standout Will Campbell with the No. 6 overall pick in the draft. The Browns already have a playoff caliber roster other than QB and Campbell will help strengthen the offensive line.
Michigan’s Mason Graham remains a favorite for the Jets to select at this spot in the draft. As a versatile defender with a high motor, Graham would look awesome in the middle of the Jets’ defensive line. He’s also a player who can get to the quarterback either up the middle or off the edge. The defensive lineman recorded 3.5 sacks in his final season at Michigan.
Another favorite target for the Patriots in the 2025 NFL Draft is Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan. The Patriots, no matter who ends up as the head coach, will have dreams of landing Tee Higgins in free agency, but ultimately the decision is McMillan here to give Drake Maye that ultimate weapons. With the additional draft picks, they can find their left tackle and edge rusher early on Day 2.
Georgia’s Mykel Williams is the second-best EDGE rusher behind Abdul Carter in this draft. As an explosive defender off the edge, Williams adds youth the Saints defense as well as a player who will eventually replace the star power of Cameron Jordan.
The Bears will think about taking edge rusher James Pearce Jr. at this spot, but will decide to go tackle here with the selection of Kelvin Banks Jr. With this pick the Bears will emphasize securing the offensive line in front of Caleb Williams.
2025 NFL Draft: Cowboys make a surprise selection; Falcons get their linebacker
In predicting No.11 through No. 20 in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Cowboys shock the draft board by not selecting Ashton Jeanty. Instead, they go with exciting playmaker Luther Burden II. This decision is based on the depth at running back in the draft. Elsewhere, the Atlanta Falcons upgrade their front seven by selecting the best linebacker in the draft.
No. 11: San Francisco 49ers – James Pearce Jr., EDGE, Tennessee
No. 12: Dallas Cowboys– Luther Burden, WR, Missouri
No. 13: Miami Dolphins – Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State
No. 14: Indianapolis Colts – Malaki Starks, S, Georgia
No. 15: Atlanta Falcons – Jalon Walker, LB, Georgia
No. 16: Arizona Cardinals – Nic Scourton, EDGE, Texas A&M
No. 17: Cincinnati Bengals – Kenneth Gant, DL, Michigan
No. 18: Seattle Seahawks – Aireontae Ersery, OT, Minnesota
No. 19: Houston Texans – Walter Nolen, DL, Ole Miss
No. 20: Denver Broncos – Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
2025 NFL Draft: Steelers get top running back; Rams add a tight end
The surprise here will be the nation’s top running back Ashton Jeanty sliding down to a team like the Pittsburgh Steelers. With Najee Harris approaching free agency, the Steelers will pounce on the opportunity to take the Boise State star. With Tyler Warren being the first tight end off the board, the L.A. Rams will be in position to add Colson Loveland to the mix. Here’s a look at 21-32 in this 2025 NFL Mock Draft:
No. 21: Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Shavon Revel Jr., CB East Carolina
No. 22: Pittsburgh Steelers – Ashton Jeanty, RB Boise State
No. 23: Los Angeles Rams – Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
No. 24: Green Bay Packers – Benjamin Morrison, CB Notre Dame
No. 25: Los Angeles Chargers – Derrick Harmon, DL, Oregon
No. 26: Washington Commanders – Emeka Egbuka, WR Ohio State
No. 27: Baltimore Ravens – Tyler Booker, IOL, Alabama
No. 28: Minnesota Vikings – Shemar Steward, DL, Texas A&M
No. 29: Buffalo Bills – Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas
No. 30: Philadelphia Eagles – Tyleik Williams, DL Ohio State
No. 31: Kansas City Chiefs – Cameron Williams, IOL, Texas
No. 32: Detroit Lions – Mike Green, EDGE Marshall