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2025 NFL MOCK DRAFT (CRAZY EDITION)

After what was a wild NFL season, I am still in the works on a complete outlook on the season discussing where I was right and wrong. I will release those the minute it is complete. I did want to throw out a mock draft. I enjoy the draft and studying player film every year. I haven't done much deep diving like I will. So for now this is a off-the-wall mock draft with no reasoning, based off the general public's rankings with a lot of improbable trades. This draft would be crazy if we see anything close to this. Due to my lack of preparation, I will not deep dive on every pick, rather just a few important picks.

  1. Tennessee Titans - Cam Ward (QB, Miami)

The Titans need a QB, and can choose whoever they would like. I believe Ward is the best QB in the draft. I'm not sure he should be a #1 pick, but the quarterback positional value is off the charts. I am not sure we ever see another NFL draft where a 1st round talent drops out of the top 5.

  1. *TRADE Las Vegas Raiders - Shedeur Sanders (QB, Colorado)

TRADE (Las Vegas Raiders receive #2 pick) (Cleveland Browns receive #6 pick and Raiders 2026 1st round)

The Raiders will have to jump other teams in order to get Sanders with the Giants sitting at 3. Although I feel less confident with Pete Carol agreeing to trade future capital such as this, I just think it makes since for the Browns, and if the Raiders like Sanders, this might be their only way of getting them.

  1. *TRADE Green Bay Packers - Travis Hunter (Ath, Colorado)

TRADE (Green Bay Packers receive #3 and #65 pick) (New York Giants receive QB Malik Willis and #23 Pick)

The Giants need a QB. The Packers need a WR and could use some help at CB, why not add someone who could potentially fill both at times? The Giants get their QB, The Packers get potentially the best player in the draft. The Packers also get an early third round pick. This may seem like quite a bit, but in this situations, the Giants really need a QB and hold the leverage.

  1. New England Patriots - Tetairoa McMillan (WR, Arizona)

McMillan is widely regarded as the best WR in the draft (aside from Hunter). McMillan feels like a home run hitter, and though the Patriots have many needs, McMillan fills one of those.

  1. Jacksonville Jaguars - Mason Graham (DI, Michigan)

The Jaguars fill a need with a big time playmaker. They likely try to move up, but if they are not successful such as in the scenario, they are happy to stick and pick the best player at their biggest defensive need.

  1. *TRADE New England Patriots - Will Campbell (OT, LSU)

TRADE (New England Patriots receive #6 Pick) (Cleveland Browns receive QB Joe Milton III and 2026 2nd Round Pick)

The Patriots come back up and take the best OT in the draft filling two needs with two of the best at their positions. Milton showed out in his sole start last year, and with the amount of QB needy teams with not many ready-to-start QBs in this draft gives the Packers (with Willis) and the Patriots (with Milton) al of the leverage in the world. The Patriots and Packers both make franchise changing moves and both get players that should be ready to plug and play. The Patriots with two moves have started off on the right foot to build around 2nd year QB, Drake Maye.

  1. *TRADE Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Abdul Carter (EDGE, Penn St)

TRADE (Tampa Bay Buccaneers receive #7 Pick) (New York Jets receive #19, #51, and a 2026 7th round pick)

Abdul Carter might be the most for sure player in this draft. The Buccaneers need an Edge Defender over any other position on the field, and they are not afraid to give up a ransom to get Carter. He would prove this pick worth it. For the Jets, they do not hold a high enough pick for the Packers. The Patriots will obviously not help them out, so they move down and will have to compile picks to build around a veteran QB.

  1. Carolina Panthers - Will Johnson (CB, Michigan)

The Panthers sit and wait and are rewarded with the best pure CB in the draft. This draft is very top heavy and the top feels like stars. The Panthers need a lot of help, but they hope to start with building their secondary around Johnson.

  1. *TRADE Dallas Cowboys - Ashton Jeanty (RB, Boise St)

TRADE (Dallas Cowboys receive #9) (New Orleans Saints receive #12, #150, and #211)

Jerry Jones has never been shy about dipping into the Boise State player pool. They jump the Bears in order to secure Jeanty, though it comes at a steep price trading with team rival, the Saints. The Cowboys fill their biggest needs with the runner up to the Heisman Trophy.

  1. Chicago Bears - James Pearce Jr. (EDGE, Tennessee)

The Bears after missing out on Jeanty will have to fill different need. They will have Pearce to help develop their pass rush, and keep the ball in the hands of their 2nd year QB, Caleb Williams.

  1. San Francisco 49ers - Josh Simmons (OT, Ohio St)

Similar to the QB situation, a lot of teams need OTs and after free agency, the need will still be there for many. Great OTs are few and far between, the 49ers will decide to fill their need of OT and will wait on a Edge Defender for later in the draft.

  1. New Orleans Saints - Luther Burden III (WR, Missouri)

The New Orleans Saints get to stack draft capital from the Cowboys and take the same guy they would have had they stayed at pick 9. This pick belonged to either Burden or Egbuka of Ohio State. I believe Egbuka is more of an over-the-top threat, and the Saints are fine over-the-top with Shaheed. Burden can help them over the middle of the field and will give them the ability to use Shaheed to his full potential.

  1. Miami Dolphins - Kelvin Banks Jr. (OT, Texas)

It is no secret, the Dolphins have to protect Tua and keep him upright. Banks is the best OT available at this point and is just the start of what I believe will be many OL picked by Miami.

  1. Indianapolis Colts - Tyler Warren (TE, Penn State)

The Colts have been mediocre at TE for the better part of a decade now. Richardson is a big, strong QB and will benefit tremendously having a big, strong target he can trust. I believe Warren will be a steal in this draft and the Colts will give Richardson the tools he needs to be successful.

  1. Atlanta Falcons - Mike Green (EDGE, Marshall)

I struggled wanting to give Egbuka to Atlanta, but realistically, they have a couple of above average to good WRs, so Edge was more of a need in my opinion.

16. Arizona Cardinals - Armand Membou (OT, Missouri)

A bit of a reach, but again, with the amount of OT needy teams, the Cardinals go ahead and take Membou before another team moves up to do so.

  1. Cincinnati Bengals - Emeka Egbuka (WR, Ohio St)

Egbuka would fill the place of Tee Higgins, who will likely move on from Cincinnati in the off season. Egbuka has a similar style to Ja'Marr Chase and hopefully they don't have issues keeping one out of the slot over the other. If coached correctly, this pairing will fill Higgins role fine.

  1. Seattle Seahawks - Mykel Williams (Edge, Georgia)

Seahawks fill their biggest defensive need.

  1. New York Jets - Malaki Starks (S, Georgia)

Starks (a top 10 talent in the draft), falling this far in the draft seems impossible, but it could happen based off team needs alone. The Jets would celebrate knowing they traded so far back and still got the player they would have potentially selected at the #7 pick anyways.

  1. Denver Broncos - Matthew Golden (WR, Texas)

The Broncos have slim pickings at their needs, but nobody of value to trade up for involving another team quite yet. The Broncos take the best available at their positions of need. Golden will add speed to an offense lacking it.

  1. Pittsburgh Steelers - Benjamin Morrison (CB, Notre Dame)

The Steelers get the best player on the board to fill their biggest defensive hole.

  1. Los Angeles Chargers - Omarion Hampton (RB, UNC)

This feels like a bit of a reach from my perspective. I would be shocked if Harbaugh didn't get a RB in free agency and draft one with a later pick. For now, I am filling their need with what the public believes is a first round RB. Though after film study, I do not believe this will be the pick.

  1. New York Giants - Josh Conerly (OT, Oregon)

The Giants do not take the risk of moving back and potentially missing out on the likely last OT in the first round. The back end of this draft is where a lot of teams will need OL, and if the Giants move down again, someone will likely jump them.

  1. Minnesota Vikings - Kenneth Grant (DI, Michigan)

The Vikings fill their biggest defensive need with the best player left on the board.

  1. Houston Texans - Tyleik Williams (DI, Ohio St)

Though the Texans have bigger needs, this feels like the correct pick.

  1. Los Angeles Rams - Colston Loveland (TE, Michigan)

The Rams will be very happy with their pick. Loveland should come in and make an immediate impact on an offense that is already humming.

  1. Baltimore Ravens - Jack Sawyer (EDGE, Ohio St)

At this point there are three fantastic Edge Defenders that may very well go back to back. I would take Sawyer over Stewart here.

  1. Detroit Lions - Nic Scourton (EDGE, Texas A&M)

Again, probably a little controversial. I like Scourton over Stewart as well.

  1. *TRADE Indianapolis Colts - Shemar Stewart (EDGE, Texas A&M)

TRADE (Indianapolis Colts receive #29 Pick) (Washington Commanders receive #45 and #189 Pick)

The Colts decide to move up and fill their biggest need after taking Warren. Again, I do not dislike Stewart, I just think he is the third best compared to the two taken above. The Colts are willing to chance that he is better by moving up.

  1. Buffalo Bills - Demetrius Knight Jr. (LB, South Carolina)

The Bills would definitely elect to take an LB or a CB. I went with the only LB that will go here in the first round.

  1. *TRADE Indianapolis Colts - Trey Amos (CB, Ole Miss)

TRADE (Indianapolis Colts receive #31 and #162) (Philadelphia Eagles receive #115, 2026 Round 3, and 2026 Round 7 Pick.)

The Colts are making a lot of moves. Of the teams I believed may move up, the favorite would be the Giants. In this scenario, I am going to say the Eagles do not want to give the Giants their choice of the 3 CBs available. They make a trade with Indy. Indy would fill their 3 biggest needs just in the first round. It may not be probable that Steichen wants to give up this much capital to do so, but if these guys play like true first rounders, it would make it worth it.

  1. *TRADE New York Giants - Jahdae Barron (CB, Texas)

TRADE (New York Giants receive #32) (Kansas City Chiefs receive #34 and #155 pick)

The Giants still decide to trade up and take the best CB on the board. The Chiefs add a 4th rounder and only have to move down two spots.

THINGS I NOTICE ABOUT THIS DRAFT:

According to both the public and PFFs rankings, there are no first round IOL. The problem is IOL is a need of many teams on this draft.

The draft is very tope heavy. This draft feels like it lacks depth. Outside of the top 20 or so, there is a guy here and there I like, but I believe this maybe a historically bad draft class.

The best positions are not positions of need. Touching again on the subject of IOL. Team needs just do not seem to be sitting in the first round outside of the top 15 or so. That is why I believe we may see a lot of trading this draft. For the few teams whose needs are available.

Noah Staley