There are so many people out there every spring trying to guess what NFL teams are going to do in the NFL Draft. That's a fool's errand -- like predicting what my 6-year-old is going to do any given Saturday when we walk out to the soccer pitch. Some times, he looks like the second coming of Declan Rice. Others, it looks like he's never seen a ball before in his life.
Instead of trying to forecast the future, I present my Mock Draft ... with a Twist, in which I advise the teams on what they should do when the 2025 NFL Draft kicks off (April 24-26 in Green Bay, Wisconsin). It's sort of like the way I suggest what my kids should do on the pitch, and allow them to surprise me when they actually listen. Like the Raiders last season! They surely weren't going to take Brock Bowers until my mock telling them to do so came out last year. Will teams follow suit this year? Let's take a look!
Titans, I understand the logic that would point you to the best player on the board here, regardless of position, but you have to get the quarterback right. And in this case, that means using the No. 1 overall choice on the QB that the unbiased hosts of the Miami Hurricanes-focused Orange Bowl Boys podcast told me might be better than Jayden Daniels. Maybe they are actually a bit biased. Even so, Ward looks like he's got a chance to be a good NFL quarterback, and you need to get this settled. Or you could always see if Ryan Tannehill is still available. (Kidding.)
Browns, you are in a similar spot as the Titans, with quarterback looming as a huge need. But is Shedeur Sanders the right guy to take this high? As much as I like Sanders as a prospect, you went to the playoffs in 2023 with five different QBs earning starts, including veteran Joe Flacco -- who, hey, after an uneven stop in Indianapolis, just returned to Cleveland on a one-year deal. If Flacco and Kenny Pickett (and whatever other QB you might end up with) can stabilize the offense, adding Carter to the defense might be enough to get you back in the playoffs again. (Also, you should get one of those Ohio State running backs in the second round, too!)
The O-line is a mess, and there are other needs -- but what you really need is a game-changer who will help the fans forget Saquon Barkley just won a Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles. OK, so they probably won't ever actually forget that, but still; you could have an offense with Malik Nabers, Jeanty and Russell Wilson, and that’s ... not terrible? Take an offensive lineman in the second round. Take Ashton now and let your fan base love again.
You might have had the worst offensive line in the NFL last season, and I get why you'd want to build that unit up, but passing on talent for positional need can set a franchise back. Hunter is a playmaker on both sides of the ball; put him in an offense with Drake Maye and Stefon Diggs, and now you’ve got something. Don’t reach for the lineman here.
Love that you signed tight ends Hunter Long and Johnny Mundt in free agency, but that should not stop you from jumping at Warren, ranked as the sixth-best player in the class by both Daniel Jeremiah and Eric Edholm. As I mentioned in the intro, I urged the Raiders to draft tight end Brock Bowers in Round 1 last year, regardless of positional need, and it worked out pretty well for them. Jags, you should be stockpiling game-wreckers for Trevor Lawrence, and putting Warren and Brian Thomas Jr. in the same lineup would seriously help him. It’s kind of like when Sting teamed up with Darby Allin in AEW. (I'm sure Tony Khan gets it.)
You would probably love for Travis Hunter or Ashton Jeanty to fall to this spot -- and they still could. Teams don’t always listen to me (which is fine). But if they're gone, there is enough depth in this class at receiver and running back to wait on those positions. To me, it makes sense to take a cornerback to help the defense, given that there is currently just one player on the depth chart (Jakorian Bennett) who topped five passes defensed last season. When I think of your past picks, Raiders, I think of speed, so I'll give you Barron, who posted a 4.39 40 -- tied for sixth-best among CBs -- at the NFL Scouting Combine, over Will Johnson, who has not run a pre-draft 40. You trusted me a year ago; do it again.
Two tight ends in the first round, in the top 10 ... shoot, in the top seven? It’s a wild time. You should have taken Brian Thomas Jr. last year (like I said to), but you didn't, so now you still need help receiving help, with the depth chart behind Garrett Wilson currently filled out by Josh Reynolds and Allen Lazard. Loveland, Wilson and Breece Hall are a strong top three to go with my guy Justin Fields. As I've told teams before in this mock, and as I'll tell them again: Wait on help for the O-line.
I was all ready to deliver a defensive lineman right here, and it would have made a ton of sense. But I couldn't resist upgrading the receiving options (Jalen Coker, Xavier Legette and Adam Thielen) for Bryce Young. When I watched Golden play, I saw Chris Olave in his game, and this would be your chance to get your own version of the Saints WR1. This isn't just me talking as a fantasy goof; the state of the offense is so important to keeping Young on the right track. And I’m going with the receiver that Steve Smith Sr. prefers.
Our imaginary run on offensive players -- this is what happens when you have a fantasy guy doing this -- means there are going to be some great prospects on the defensive side just available for the taking. Shedeur Sanders is a popular choice here in many mocks, especially after news broke that Derek Carr's 2025 availability is in doubt because of a shoulder injury, but there's another Pro Bowler you definitely have to replace in New Orleans: Marshon Lattimore, who was traded away last year. Don't be scared off by the uncertainty around Johnson's unknown 40 time, Saints, and take a swing on a new potential CB1 whose skill set might prompt someone to take him off the board well before your second-round pick (No. 40), regardless of any speed questions.
Widely mocked in the top five, Graham could go as early as No. 3 overall, if the Giants choose to build in the trenches. But if he fell this far, he'd be the perfect pick for you, Chicago -- he looks like he was born to be a Bear. He, Grady Jarrett and Andrew Billings could join to form the best defensive line rotation in the NFL. Note that I didn't insult Braxton Jones, whom I love as a Bears fan, by giving you tackle Will Campbell. With two picks early in the second round (Nos. 39 and 41), there is time to add O-line depth.
I don't feel like you're that far from competing again, Niners. It would be a mistake for everyone to overlook you. The biggest need seems to be a reset in the trenches, on both sides of the ball. OK, so Walker might not always line up there; he still figures to be a huge addition to the pass rush, partnering with Nick Bosa to help rejuvenate the defense. Easy pick.
Listen, I was at the 2014 NFL Draft, where you passed on Johnny Manziel to choose future seven-time All-Pro Zack Martin, which illustrated -- along with the selection of Micah Parsons in 2021 -- your capability for making savvy picks. Well, I want you to skip the safe and sane move this time and get dumb and dangerous. Not that there's anything inherently wrong with taking a running back here, but you know what I mean. Some will view this as a reach, given how much talent is available at the position, but they won't be complaining when Hampton wins them a fantasy league by rushing for 1,400 yards and 12 touchdowns. You are the team that drafted Tony Dorsett, Emmitt Smith and Ezekiel Elliott in the first round. Get wild.
I understand that it might seem outrageous to have Campbell fall this far, but in the case of this mock, it is a tremendously lucky development for you, Dolphins. Restocking the offensive line has to be the top priority for Miami. Campbell is the best tackle on the board, and I could see him as the replacement for recently retired left tackle Terron Armstead.
Go ahead and continue this mini run on offensive linemen, Colts, by selecting Membou to help protect Anthony Richardson (presuming he holds off Daniel Jones). Now, if one of the tight ends falls to this spot, that would be an automatic pick. I just don't see it happening, in which case the safest move is to build up an offensive line that lost Ryan Kelly and helped contribute to a 37.2% pressure-allowed rate (ninth-highest in the NFL) last season.
You need to start getting to the quarterback, Falcons. You haven't had a player reach double-digit sacks since Vic Beasley had 15.5 in 2016 -- it's ridiculous. Who better to up the sack count than Green, who led the country in that category last season with 17.
You might want to look at a receiver at this point, and I feel you on that; pairing another young stud with Marvin Harrison Jr. would definitely be a good way to go. But fortifying the offensive line and taking that unit up another level would really pay off in the long run. I'd still like a receiver at some point on the draft board, but Booker is too good for you to pass up on here.
You guys could use a player on every level of the defense. I'm not sure if Campbell would be a one-for-one replacement for Trey Hendrickson if and when Hendrickson moves on, but he is a sideline-to-sideline playmaker who can make an immediate impact for new coordinator Al Golden. Safety Nick Emmanwori would be another good option here, because again, you have a lot of needs on defense; there really isn't anybody on the board right now who wouldn't make you better.
Do we reach on an offensive lineman here for you, Seahawks? Because Gray Zabel would be great on the interior of the offensive line. Maybe you could trade down a bit to add some capital and still get your guy. Instead, though, let's go with the stick-and-pick option: Egbuka, a former teammate of Jaxon Smith-Njigba at Ohio State. Look, I love the idea of JSN getting 200 targets this season, but we need some help for Sam Darnold.
You've done a great job with the offense, Bucs -- I loved the Bucky Irving pick in Round 4 last year. Now it's time to focus on the defensive side of the ball. Safety isn't the biggest need for you. Linebacker could use some focus, and Jihaad Campbell would be great if he fell here. That said, Emmanwori can play a lot of different spots on the defense and should be a stud for you.
While you don't always want to draft for need, No. 20 is a pretty good spot for McMillan. Opinion on him is not unanimous -- Steve Smith Sr. asserted McMillan "leaves a lot of plays on the field" -- but if you're convinced by the tape and believe he can be the guy to help Bo Nix, I'm good with it. This would be a solid, solid pick; think adding a Drake London-type for this offense.
Sanders is going to be a good quarterback in this league; he might just need a little bit more time to develop. I'd love for you to take him and then give him a year on the bench, maybe even signing Aaron Rodgers to be the bridge. There have been worse plans. This is a sound long-term move.
This seems like a huge reach, and I know some of your fans are surely hoping you'll get a crack at Tyler Warren or Colston Loveland, but that's not happening, at least not in my mock. The NFL being the copycat league it is, I'm thinking will see some emphasis put on the tight end position after the successes of Sam LaPorta and Brock Bowers. Taylor will impact your team on Day 1, and Justin Herbert will thank you.
Packers, I want to tell you to take a No. 1 receiver instead of continuing to roll with all those great No. 2s -- and there are reasons to think you might actually draft a WR in Round 1 for the first time in forever. But I will believe it when I see it. So, in the meantime, here is Williams, the kind of high-upside defender you have loved in the past.
This could not work out any better for you, having a hometown kid fall to you at No. 24. He's a stud, no doubt, and he will be a Day 1 starter. Corner is also a big need, but you must protect J.J. McCarthy.
I know you used some free agent money to bring in Cam Robinson on a one-year deal, but it would be a mistake to just rely on the 29-year-old to replace Laremy Tunsil, even if Robinson did start 17 games last year with the Vikings and Jaguars. You have to draft a lineman to help protect C.J. Stroud, and Banks will be your long-term solution.
One of the great things you've done over the years is draft the best player available, going all the way back to Aaron Donald and Todd Gurley, and you're going to do that here with Starks. I'm not sure safety is where you have the biggest need, but you do need players who can come in and contribute immediately. To pull closer to the Eagles in the NFC, you need to make moves like this.
I don't know how this seems to happen every year, but you always seem to have a player who fits your team fall right to you, a la Kyle Hamilton back in 2022. Here, it happens with Harmon, who has a chance to be a great player in this league, someone who really looked like a Ravens-type player at Oregon. Listen to me, and that's what he will be.
Gutted for you, because, well, Ben Johnson is gone, but also because in my mock, you missed out on Harmon, a Detroit native who would have been great here. No worries, though: Ezeiruaku would be a really nice get for a defense that surely cannot get enough depth on the defensive line. Adding a guy Lance Zierlein compared to Yannick Ngakoue is never a bad idea.
The offense is looking really good, Commanders, now that you've bolstered the line with Laremy Tunsil and brought in Deebo Samuel to go opposite Terry McLaurin. I wouldn't rule out taking a running back or another offensive stud here. However, you need to play some defense. Pearce could help boost the pass rush after the loss of 2024 sack leader Dante Fowler and two-time Pro Bowler Jonathan Allen.
There are a lot of ways you could go here, with a number of great pass rushers still available to you. However, I really like the idea of adding another receiver. Burden has a game that is very reminiscent of Stefon Diggs and would be a great option for Josh Allen in a receiver corps that is a bit lacking outside of Khalil Shakir.
Chiefs, you need to get tougher in the trenches. I'm not sure if you're accomplishing that on the offensive side of the ball by trading away All-Pro talent like Joe Thuney, even if the guard was exposed when he slid over to tackle last season, especially in the Super Bowl. Yes, you signed Jaylon Moore, but he's just one (relatively unproven) addition. I know Simmons is coming off a season-ending knee injury, but as long as everything checks out, draft my guy Josh here and put him at left tackle, and you won't have to think about it for another decade.
Revel is an athletic freak who could end up hitting huge in the NFL. He has limited experience. He's coming off an ACL injury. But he's the kind of player you can work into the lineup slowly and develop into a valuable starter down the road. These are the kinds of moves that made you a champion. Take the leap again here.
