The first true weekend of the college football season got off to a rousing start last night, with the first full college football Saturday rapidly approaching. What better time to check back in with our 2025 draft class, in the form of an updated way-too-early mock draft?
All summer, I’ve been going position-by-position, ranking the top 10 at each in our summer scouting series, and last week I released the first edition of my 2025 Big Board. Now, following up on my first 2025 mock from back in May, it’s time for another look at what the first round could look like in nine months.
This far out, specific prospect-to-team fits are tricky to predict, as a lot can change over the course of a season. But based on current rosters, I did my best to find a good fit among my top prospects for each team, while largely following my board as far as position rankings go.
For additional 2025 draft content, check out my Top 50 Big Board 1.0, as well as the full summer scouting series:
- Quarterbacks
- Running Backs
- Wide Receivers
- Tight Ends
- Offensive Tackles
- Interior Offensive Linemen
- Edge Rushers
- Defensive Tackles
- Linebackers
- Cornerbacks
- Safeties
This mock uses the projected draft order per Tankathon.
1: Carolina Panthers — Tennessee ED James Pearce Jr.
If the Panthers are picking here again, it won’t be looking good for second-year QB Bryce Young, but there just isn’t a quarterback worth taking with this selection. Instead, I have them going with Pearce, the über-bendy edge defender from Tennessee. After trading away Brian Burns this past offseason, the cupboard is quite bare on the edge in Carolina. Pearce provides them with an explosive, natural rusher who can set the edge and pursue. He has the upside to develop into an elite NFL pass rusher.
2: New England Patriots — LSU OT Will Campbell
The Patriots are starving for talent at the tackle position. Enter Campbell, the 6-6, 325-pound left tackle out of LSU. He is a brick wall on that Tigers front, with a suddenness to his movements belied by his frame. New England drafted QB Drake Maye at No. 3 in 2024, now he’ll be protected by an elite tackle prospect in Campbell for years to come.
3: Denver Broncos — Michigan DT Mason Graham
Graham would provide Denver with a big boost in the middle of their defense. He’s a monster up front with a finesse to his game that lets him shoot gaps and hound opposing quarterbacks. As HC Sean Payton continues to build out this roster, Graham could be a star on their defensive line, something they don’t currently have.
4: New York Giants — Michigan CB Will Johnson
A mini slide for the top overall player on my big board, Johnson would immediately slide in as the top cornerback for New York. The Giants need help all over this roster, so they won’t complain about adding an elite option in the secondary. Johnson is fluid in coverage with the speed, length, and agility to cover any receiver he lines up against. He’d pair with 2023 first-rounder Deonte Banks to form a formidable duo on the back end of the Giants’ defense.
5: Tennessee Titans — Texas A&M ED Nic Scourton
The Titans still need help on that offensive line, but given they’ve spent their last two first-round picks on LT JC Latham and LG Peter Skoronski, I have them investing in the trenches on the other side of the ball. They signed Arden Key to start at edge defender for them, but the Titans still need a number one pass rusher. Scourton is big, scheme-versatile, and plays with a high motor. He plays with power and has a deep bag of pass-rushing moves, and would be a good fit next to DT Jeffery Simmons.
6: Washington Commanders — Colorado CB/WR Travis Hunter
This fit just feels right. Hunter is a big name and a personality that would be right at home in the US capital. The debate over which position Hunter should play in the NFL will rage on all year, but whichever one he settles at, the Commanders can use him. He’d be an elite downfield threat for newly-drafted QB Jayden Daniels to throw to — together they’d be the flashiest quarterback-wide receiver pairing in the league — or Hunter would provide Washington with a lockdown outside corner, something they’re missing now that Kendall Fuller is in Miami.
7: Las Vegas Raiders — Kentucky DT Deone Walker
The second overall player on my preseason board, Walker is a monster in the middle of the Wildcats’ defensive line. He is a one-man wrecking crew at 6-6 and 348 pounds, able to play several positions along the line and even drop into some underneath coverages. As a pass rusher, he is terrifying for opposing guards to try and defend with his combination of speed and size. Imagine him next to Christian Wilkins on this Raiders line.
8: New Orleans Saints — Penn State ED Abdul Carter
The Saints could go in a lot of directions with this pick, but they need a dominating presence at edge rusher as Cameron Jordan continues to age. Carl Granderson is an up-and-coming player, and Chase Young could have a breakout season in 2024. But Carter might have the highest upside of any edge defender in this class. He’s still learning the position after mostly playing off-ball linebacker so far in his career, but he has a special blend of speed and athleticism. Carter can bend the edge as well as anyone in this class and has the requisite length and agility to be a special NFL pass rusher.
9: Minnesota Vikings — Michigan DT Kenneth Grant
The run on defensive linemen continues as the Vikings shore up their interior line with Grant, a bulldozing pass rusher and stout run defender. Grant just oozes athleticism, and though he’s been a rotation player in his first two seasons, he is in line to start this season and showcase his ability. There isn’t a more athletic defensive tackle in this class, and he’s taken massive strides in adding moves to his pass-rushing bag over the course of last season. Minnesota needs to bolster the middle of their defense, and Grant would be a big boost.
10: Arizona Cardinals — Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty
Though I am not an advocate for drafting running backs this early, Jeanty is the kind of prospect that teams will talk themselves into in this range. He has the perfect size/speed combo for the NFL, and a skillset that will translate immediately into modern offenses. Breakaway speed, strong hands, and a forced missed tackle rate that ranks among the best in the sport make Jeanty an eye-popping prospect. James Conner has been a capable back for Arizona, but Jeanty would add another dangerous weapon to round out this offense.
11: Seattle Seahawks — Texas OT Kelvin Banks Jr.
2022 third-rounder Abraham Lucas had an impressive rookie season starting at right tackle, but since then he’s been hampered by injuries and mediocre play when he’s been on the field. The offensive line in general has been a weak spot for the Seahawks, so here they take Banks to man one of the tackle spots. Banks is a road-grader who can hold his own on an island in pass protection. He’d upgrade the talent on the Seattle offensive line.
12: Indianapolis Colts — Georgia S Malaki Starks
The Colts need reinforcements in the secondary badly. Starks would pair perfectly with Julian Blackmon to form an imposing duo on the back end of the defense. He’s got the range to be a true single-high safety with a textbook tackling form and legitimate man-coverage skills. Gus Bradley is one of the few DCs in the league still running a primarily Cover 3 system, and Starks can play all across that scheme.
13: Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Notre Dame CB Benjamin Morrison
The Bucs need help at edge rusher and corner, and Morrison is easily the top-rated player at those positions left on my board. He’s blazingly fast with the length to cover the biggest receivers the NFL can throw at him. Morrison would pair well with Jamel Dean to lock down opposing offenses on the outside.
14: Pittsburgh Steelers — Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders
In 2022, the Steelers were forced to reach for Kenny Pickett in a bad quarterback class out of sheer need, and they may be in that position yet again in 2025. It’s early, but neither Russell Wilson nor Justin Fields played well in the preseason, and if that holds throughout the regular season, Pittsburgh will be searching for a quarterback yet again next offseason. Sanders is a precise passer who thrives under pressure and can make special plays happen. He doesn’t have elite arm talent, but he can succeed as an NFL starter.
15: Jacksonville Jaguars — Arizona OT Jonah Savaiinaea
The Jaguars have question marks along their offensive line. Cam Robinson is a serviceable left tackle, but they could certainly stand to upgrade, and their interior line is a weakness. Savaiinaea is a massive tackle with deceptively smooth hips and quick feet. He can take over at left tackle long-term and has some versatility to play guard in the interim if need be.
16: Los Angeles Chargers — Arizona WR Tetairoa McMillan
Los Angeles has invested a lot of draft capital in receivers in recent years, though they don’t have much to show for it. 2023 first-rounder Quentin Johnston had a disastrous rookie year and is slated for a backup role this season. 2024 second-rounder Ladd McConkey is expected to start in the slot, but the Chargers could use a powerful X-receiver for star QB Justin Herbert to throw to. McMillan stands at 6-5 and is powerfully built, with light feet and smooth hips to create underneath separation. He can win at all levels of the field and would offer Herbert the downfield target he’s been lacking.
17: Cleveland Browns — LSU LB Harold Perkins Jr.
The Browns have a deep roster with few holes. They could use help on the offensive line, but without a tackle on the board worthy of this pick, they go best player available. Perkins is an athletic freak who’s still making the transition from edge rusher to off-ball linebacker. He has true sideline-to-sideline range and flashed incredible coverage potential last season. Another year of learning the position and he could become the rare coveted first-round linebacker.
18: Los Angeles Rams — Ohio State CB Denzel Burke
The Rams heavily invested in their defensive line this past draft, so here they start adding more young talent to their secondary. Burke has flashed serious upside but hasn’t quite put it all together yet. He’s got ideal length and size to play outside corner in the NFL, with obvious athleticism in how he moves. Now back for his senior year at Ohio State, Burke will look to boost his draft stock even further with an excellent performance his last year in college.
19: Chicago Bears — Missouri WR Luther Burden III
The rich get richer. Chicago already has one of the deepest receiving cores in the NFL, but trade acquisition Keenan Allen isn’t getting any younger. Here, I have them selecting Allen’s heir apparent in the slot in Burden, the most electric player in college football. Burden can contribute as a return man and gadget player in this offense early on even if Allen is still in the fold, and he would quickly establish himself as one of QB Caleb Williams’ most dangerous weapons.
20: Atlanta Falcons — Oregon CB Jabbar Muhammad
The Falcons need help at edge rusher and cornerback. Here they go with Muhammad, the undersized yet explosive cornerback who transferred from Washington to Oregon this offseason. Muhammad offers inside/outside versatility and serious ball skills for a cornerback. He’s a heat-seeking missile in underneath coverage and can run with anyone down the field.
21: Miami Dolphins — Michigan TE Colston Loveland
Miami needs offensive line help badly, but if I know this organization, they would jump at the chance to add a weapon like Loveland. He has the power to set the edge in the run game and can be a serious downfield threat in the receiving game. He’d be an excellent fit in HC Mike McDaniel’s offense.
22: New York Jets — Stanford WR Elic Ayomanor
Ayomanor is an elite, prototype X-receiver. The Jets’ receiving depth chart behind Garrett Wilson is a question mark, but Ayomanor could step right into that WR2 role. He’s a burner downfield and a big body to fight through traffic and make catches over defenders. Assuming Aaron Rodgers is back for another year in 2025, he’d love to add a target like Ayomanor on the outside.
23: Green Bay Packers — Arizona CB Tacario Davis
Another product out of Arizona, Davis is a massive corner with some serious movement skills for that size. He can lock down smaller and bigger receivers alike, as he doesn’t sacrifice any flexibility or short-area quickness for his length and size. Green Bay has a strong roster but could use some reinforcements at outside corner, and Davis would make an excellent partner for Jaire Alexander.
24: Houston Texans — Ohio State RB Quinshon Judkins
The Texans decide to keep loading this offense with young talent by adding Judkins, the best pure running back in this draft class. He’s explosive and plays with balance through contact, gaining chunks of yardage on the regular. Judkins has soft hands and is solid in pass protection. He has all the tools to be a three-down back in the NFL.
25: Dallas Cowboys — Ohio State WR Emeka Egbuka
CeeDee Lamb is a star who just got a massive payday, but Dallas doesn’t have many established weapons around him. Egbuka is likely a slot-only player in the NFL, but he’d add an explosive element to this Cowboys offense. He’s an elite route runner with strong hands and after-the-catch potential. QB Dak Prescott would be grateful to get another receiving weapon to throw to.
26: Buffalo Bills — Iowa S Xavier Nwankpa
The Bills are in the process of rebuilding their secondary and Nwankpa would add an element of speed and athleticism that’s currently missing on the back end of their defense. His quickness and range are real problems for opposing offenses to solve, and he can mix in some man-coverage skills to add to his versatility.
27: Philadelphia Eagles — Penn State S Kevin Winston Jr.
The Eagles typically prefer to use their first-round picks on more premium positions, but they desperately need help at safety. Winston is as reliable as they come, with impressive range and the versatility to play in multiple schemes. He can rotate through different secondary positions if needed and would provide Philadelphia with a much-needed jolt at safety.
28: Cincinnati Bengals — Texas S Andrew Mukuba
The Bengals reshaped their secondary this offseason, making Mukuba a luxury pick, but one they can afford to make. Mukuba has game-breaking speed on defense and has reportedly run some pretty ludicrous 40 times. He has the flexibility to play corner or safety and would add to the athletes the Bengals like taking chances on in the secondary, similar to past picks like Daxton Hill and Cam Taylor-Britt.
29: Detroit Lions — Ohio State ED JT Tuimoloau
Detroit has built a strong roster top-to-bottom and they don’t have many needs that stand out. Here, they decide to give Aidan Hutchinson some help and draft Tuimoloau, a powerful, technically sound edge defender out of Ohio State. He’s a run-stuffer off the edge and projects to be one of the best secondary pass rushers in the NFL.
30: Baltimore Ravens — LSU OT Emery Jones
The Ravens need some help on their offensive line, so here I have them taking Jones, the raw yet athletic tackle out of LSU. Some evaluators are projecting him as moving inside to guard, but either way, he would be a major boost for the Ravens. Jones is a powerful run blocker with some serious feet for his size, though he’s still learning to be more consistent in pass protection.
31: San Francisco 49ers — Alabama OG Tyler Booker
49ers HC Kyle Shanahan can elevate his offensive line through scheme alone, but let’s boost a weak unit on paper with the best interior offensive lineman in the class. Booker is a safe projection as a starting NFL guard with the potential to be a Pro Bowl-caliber player in his career. He’d fortify one of the few weaknesses on the 49ers’ roster.
32: Kansas City Chiefs — Illinois OT J.C. Davis
Let’s have a little fun with the last pick. Davis is one of my favorite players in this draft and one of the most overlooked heading into the college football season. He’s only played offense for two seasons, being a defensive tackle previously, and has the flexibility to play tackle or guard. Kansas City doesn’t have any screaming needs, so instead adds a longer-term investment with serious upside at a valuable position.
