2025 NFL Mock Draft

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Following senior bowl week, Walter Nolan is a player that is climbing boards. The former top overall prospect in the 2022 recruiting class showed up in Mobile somewhat lighter than expected, and looked like an absolute freak as a result. There just aren't many men his size that move like Nolan, and in a lot of ways, he reminds me of Seattle's top overall pick from a year ago, Byron Murphy.

With Jarran Reed and Johnathan Hankins both set to hit free agency, it wouldn't surprise me to see the Seahawks place another high pick on a defensive lineman. However, I'd also keep an eye on the offensive linemen in this class. Names like Josh Simmons and Armand Membou are moving up. Kelvin Banks and Will Campbell are subsequently moving down. Tyler Booker is in day-one conversation. Grey Zabel is sky-rocketing up boards.

This offensive line continues to look for the right combination of five guys, and I wouldn't rule out a tight end either. There seem to be a lot of options that would appeal to the Seahawks in this range, giving fans plenty to keep an eye on over the next three months.

~Austin Smith, DraftTek Senior Analyst

We've seen polls out there on the Bucs biggest Draft needs, the winner in this Pewter Report study was overwhelmingly CB. There are a couple borderline (at this time) RD1 talents available here at #19 in our mock - Jahdae Barron and Shavon Revel to name names. Despite his excellent final season at Texas, Barron is shorter than you'd like at 5'11". Barron posted a stellar 91.3 PFF score in pass coverage, with a 38.3 Passer Rating Against. Barron really excels in tackling, just a 3.1% missed tackle rate.

Revel was injured for most all his 2024 season. Hailing from East Carolina, he's got to possess a stellar all-round game combined with physical traits (6'3", 195 lb) to get attention. He's this year's Quinyon Mitchell (small schooler from Toledo in the MAC). I'm not counting out either of these guys as a Bucs' RD1 Draft target, but we'll learn more about both at the Combine.

Linebacker - both ILB and OLB - ranked second about third on the draft needs poll. Jalon Walker fills the OLB need, in addition to elite pass-rush skills. A twofer!

Jalon Walker is really starting to emerge as a "my guy" early on.

*You are getting both: *
1?? Old school off-ball linebacker who the athleticism to fly around & help in traffic.

2?? A skilled pass-rusher with high-sack upside.

A DC's dream pick... ??

pic.twitter.com/LIT3gqUYUN

— SCOUTD (@scoutdnfl) January 4, 2025

The Broncos saw fit to give Garett Bolles an extension in December, but I do have some questions about the future of the tackle position.

For starters, Mike McGlinchey's upcoming cap number of $23.78M leads all Broncos next year, and that number repeats each of the next two seasons as well. Also, Bolles is will be 33 in May, with a new 4-year extension kicking off in the fall. Could a move to the right be an option? If these are pertinent questions in the front office, Denver would be wise to consider a successor, especially if weapons like Ashton Jeanty and Tyler Warren are off the board.

Defensively, guys like Mike Green and Shemar Stewart are starting to look like nice fits here, and Tyleik Williams could be in the conversation too if D.J. Jones gets away in free agency.

~Austin Smith, DraftTek Senior Analyst

Steelers' president Art Rooney II recently had his series of yearly post-mortem interviews with cherry picked members of the media recently. He highlighted Wide Receiver and Defensive Line as key priorities for the offseason. The team got into this position of deep need at receiver by offloading Diontae Johnson last year and whiffing badly on their replacement plans. While the team will return 2024 draftee Roman Wilson (who spent 2025 on IR), they need to keep adding talent to this group.

Bond, a transfer from Alabama, is a speed merchant who can take the top off of opposing defenses and free up budding star George Pickens. Last year for the Longhorns, Bond caught 34 balls for 540 yards and 5 touchdowns with an excellent 15.9 yards per catch average. The Longhorns made a deep playoff run last season so there's no lack of tape of Bond playing against quality competition. The Steelers will be certain to dig deep into Bond and other top receivers in this draft.

Many analysts are pairing the Chargers and old-school coach Jim Harbaugh with a tight end in this year's first round, particularly Harbs' old Michigan guy, Colston Loveland. But a deeper need looms at Edge Rusher, where both Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa are at or near the end of their contract and their effective years. Luckily for the Bolts, the top of this year's draft includes a solid handful of promising sackmen.

Marshall DE Mike Green hit the truck stick on Oregon LT Josh Conerly Jr. at Senior Bowl practice: ??

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— College Sports Only (@collegesportsonly.bsky.social) January 29, 2025 at 2:21 PM

Several Edge prospects had productive weeks at the Senior Bowl, but none helped themselves more than Marshall's Mike Green. An explosive, bendy edge, Green spent the year dominating at the MAC level, then showed those skills translate by standing tall against big-school O linemen.

See all the Chargers' selections at the Chargers Team Draft Page

--Jud Branam, Chargers Analyst

Green Bay's defense showed significant improvement across a variety of metrics in Jeff Hafley's first year as DC, but not everything went to plan. LaFleur had hoped that his defense would be able to rush four and sit in coverage with three deep and four under. Even though Green Bay finished eighth in sacks (45), they were 22nd in pressure rate (29.8%) and 26th in pass-rush win rate (34.8%). To make matters worse, 20 of those sacks came in three games against TEN, SEA, and MIA-showing the true feast-or-famine nature of the front four. As a result, Hafley spent much more time simulating pressures and deploying two-high shells.

GREAT edge group here.Shemar Stewart (Edge, Texas) keeps grabbing my eye.Super high energy guy in addition to the other obvious skill.

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— Lindsay Rhodes (@lindsayrhodes.bsky.social) January 29, 2025 at 5:14 PM

Texas A&M's Shemar Stewart might only have 4.5 career sacks, but he's the type of high-upside prospect that will have GM Brian Gutekunst salivating. Stewart possesses a rare blend of size, strength, and explosiveness. Last season, he was able to rack up 39 pressures and 15 run stops while posting a 12.4% pass-rush win rate. Stewart put an exclamation point on his season with a dominant performance at Senior Bowl week. With the size to boast inside-outside versatility, Stewart could be exactly the type of juice needed in Green Bay's four-man rush.

- James Siebers, Packers Analyst (@jsieb.bsky.social)

The Vikings are currently sitting with $58M in cap space according to Overthecap.com. They have 18 of their own unrestricted free agents that they could try to bring back. The majority were on minimal or near minimal level deals so they could easily be retained or replaced.

The elephant in the room is what to do at QB? Wil they extend or franchise tag Sam Darnold? If they extend him what will they do with JJ McCarthy? Could they trade McCarthy or are they happy to allow him to continue to develop which is most probable? If they cannot tag Darnold and do not want to pay him $30M plus per season, what QB will they sign to compete with McCarthy? Is Daniel Jones a serious candidate? Will he want to and should he be a backup? This is the first domino to fall.

Once the team decides on the QB for 2025 then they have a lot of areas that need attention. The defensive tackle and cornerback depth charts are barren for returning players under contract. They are going to have to sign some free agents for these positions whether it be in-house players or outside free agents. They also have a fairly large need on the interior offensive line - which is a perennial issue. General Manager Kwesi Adofo- Mensah has a lot of work to do and really has to nail it this offseason.

The team currently only has 5 draft picks - and that's including the likely 3rd round compensatory pick they will get for Kirk Cousins leaving last year. It is going to be difficult to add enough players via the draft without some wheeling and dealing.The Vikings should sign one or two free agent defensive tackles and they should add one in the Draft. Tyleik Williams is 6-3 327. He has appeared in 43 games for Ohio State.

Tyleik Williams is a disruptive IDL prospect with great power at the point of attack. He's a great run defender and potential impact pocket pusher

Mark P, Vikings Analyst - DrafttekVikings@Gmail.com

Please visit our Vikings team page where you can see all the team's picks in the 7-round mock and more.

Houston has made adjustments on the offense after regressing in 2024.

In late January, after losing in the divisional round to the Kansas City Chiefs, Houston parted ways with Bobby Slowik as OC after 2nd year QB CJ Stroud regressed in nearly every category compared to his 2023 campaign. Including completion percentage, passing yards per game, passing TDs, while throwing over double the INTs - going from 5 In 2023 to 12 in 2024.

Now enter former Los Angeles Rams assistant coach Nick Caley. He should help this offense return to the potent firepower it displayed in 2023 especially after the return of key pieces on offense. For now, Houston continues to develop defense in a big way by drafting Derrick Harmon, DT out of Oregon!

Derrick Harmon, DT - Oregon
6'5"- 315
Draw your own conclusions, but I doubt this guy lasts past pick 40. pic.twitter.com/DjJ4Jv8CeN

— DKitt (@dkit177) January 11, 2025

Harmon is a 6'5" 315 pound monster of a DT prospect with violent hands and fantastic instincts stopping the run. Harmon had the most pressures by a DT in CFB at (55), 2nd highest pressure rate by a DT at (10.7%), 10.5 tackles for loss, and possesses position flexibility as he can play both 1-tech and 3-tech. What's not to like about this guy?

- Cody Lachney, Texans Analyst

The Rams haven't drafted a Cornerback in the first round since 2006, but after seeing how the Eagles breaking of their own similarly decades-spanning streak turned out, the Rams could look to follow suit in 2025. While Cooper Kupp's trade request could shoot WR to the top of the needs list, the Rams have shown they don't need to use RD 1 picks to get Pro Bowl pass-catchers, snagging Kupp in Rd 3 of the 2017 Draft and budding star, Puka Nacua in RD 5 in 2023. Unfortunately, Los Angeles hasn't had quite the same luck when it comes to cornerbacks.

That's where former Texas CB Jahdae Barron enters the picture. Barron has the versatility to line up inside or outside, and his high football IQ and physical play style will mesh perfectly with this young Rams defense still searching for their shutdown corner.

Not exactly an obscure name, but I think #Longhorns CB Jahdae Barron will be drafted higher than you think ??

He's got the tools you want — Athleticism, anticipation, tackling, ball skills, character...

??: Here's a minute and a half of some of his best plays of the year ?? pic.twitter.com/CILS88bI4v

— The Draft Room (@TheDraftRoomNFL) February 5, 2025

In this mock, the Ravens have their choice of a few Big Ten tackles to potentially replace impending free agent Ronnie Stanley on Lamar Jackson's blindside. Waiting until the second round to select a tackle last year worked out, as Roger Rosengarten impressed in his rookie season, but Baltimore should be more than willing to spend first round capital if it means keeping #8 upright.

Ersery has the strength and size advantage over Oregon's Josh Conerly Jr, and he has the health advantage over Ohio State's Josh Simmons. The former Golden Gopher is 6'6" just like Stanley, and while he isn't as fluid as the 2x Pro Bowler, he's got a similar level of tenacity and people-moving ability that could fit well in Baltimore's powerful ground game. He did struggle a bit with the quickness of Abdul Carter (who didn't?), but Ersery isn't going to be driven back by NFL edges.

Aireontae Ersery STONEWALLED several of the top edge rushers at the Senior Bowl ??

His hand placement and power was evident in reps against Mike Green, Landon Jackson, David Walker, and others. Also a good mover at 6'5, 339lbs.

He made a strong case for OT1 in the 2025 Draft ?? pic.twitter.com/idLDJWVDYX

— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) January 30, 2025

- Gabe Kamins, Ravens Analyst

The Detroit Lions have been in need of a D-Line overhaul throughout the Dan Campbell era, and the issue became acute last year amid a rash of injuries to the defensive front. While most of the wounded warriors, most notably Edge Aiden Hutchinson, are on track to return next year, the unit remains a rare weak spot on a sterling roster. With the team's Super Bowl window wide open and a new defensivecoordinator in place, creating a rush-four level defense would seem to be imperative.

Kyle Kennard (ED 5) has one speed and it's FULL

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— Draft Guy Jared (@draftguyjared.bsky.social) January 1, 2025 at 2:14 PM

South Carolina's Kyle Kennard is a polished pass rusher who has the durability and high motor the Lions require, and length and quickness that creates a high ceiling for his future. On the down side, he's already 24 years old, his pass rush moves need development, and his slight frame will require some time to get him to the complementary edge-holding Dan Campbell raves about.

Check out the Lions' full draft haul at the Lions Team Draft Page.

--Jud Branam, Lions Analyst

WOW! What a year! Washington returned to the NFC Championship game for the first time since the 1991 season. Who saw this coming? If you say you did, with a first-year GM/Head Coach, rookie quarterback, mostly scrap-heap free agents and a maligned Offensive Coordinator, you're either lying or your brain is broken. This is a 6-7 win roster...well...except for that rookie QB I was talking about.

Jayden Daniels was more than anyone could've dreamed in his first season. Not only will he easily run away with Offence Rookie of the Year, he is a legit top-5 MVP candidate! Daniels' composure under pressure and aw-shucks attitude have a tired fanbase re-energized and excited for the future.

Josh Harris had the impossible task of following the worst owner in the history of sports, a man that absolutely buried a franchise with a top-5 valuation in the world when he purchased the team. Jayden sure helped his new boss out. Harris officially announced that the much-maligned new name is here to stay. So, I'll give in; here's to the Commanders and their magical run to the NFC Championship game. It was truly a fun ride.

-Kennedy Paynter, Senior Draft Analyst (@Kennedy_Paynter on Twitter)

Brutal. It happened again. 0-4 in the playoffs against Patrick Mahomes. The three most recent games were all in the Bills' hands at the end of the game, down only one score. Each time, Josh and Co. have fallen short. This one was hard to swallow, but the silver lining is that this team was supposed to take a step back. This team was supposed to have a re-charge year. The Jets and Dolphins were going to vie for the division and Buffalo would have to scrape into the playoffs...

Josh Allen had other plans. He led the most balanced offense the Bills have had since he entered the league-an unstoppable unit that rarely turned the ball over and only punted 2.4 times per game after October struggles. James Cook had a prolific season, surprise stud WR Mack Hollins was beyond exciting on and off the field for a low-level signing, and Josh Allen had another MVP-caliber season.

Unfortunately, for the first time in Sean McDermott's tenure, the defense couldn't keep up. The defense got consistently gashed against the run and was the 29th-worst pass defense per EPA. In addition, it was the 2nd worst 3rd-down defense in the AFC. Far too often were opponents succeeding on 3rd-and-10s or longer. The pass rush wasn't good enough, the interior defensive line didn't hold their gaps against the run, and the secondary was torched again and again.

Josh Allen has already proven he can run a top-flight offense without weapons, so this offseason should be focused on bringing in as much defensive talent as possible. Myles Garrett, Maxx Crosby, Trey Hendrickson...come to papa!

-Kennedy Paynter, Senior Draft Analyst (@Kennedy_Paynter on Twitter)

Since the Eagles last played for the Lombardi in 2023, they have made three RD1 draft picks, Jalen Carter, Nolan Smith, and Quinyon Mitchell. All three are a huge part of the reason they find themselves back in the big game just two years later. Carter and Mitchell are already among the best at their position and Smith is firmly in the midst of a breakout run.

On the other side of the ball, it's been all about free agent acquisition Saquon Barkley. Playing behind the best offensive line he has ever had, Barkley has put up his most impressive season to date. Even before Barkley's arrival, Philadelphia has made a strong offensive line their calling card, and in the 2025 Draft, they could make it stronger.

North Dakota State's Gray Zabel made starts at both Tackle and Guard in college, and while he projects best at guard in the NFL, the Eagles value that versatility. Zabel is especially impressive in the run game and should be a plug-and-play starter at RG with current starter Meckhi Becton likely to leave in free agency.

During Super Bowl media hype-fest, Travis Kelce hinted that he would continue to play football for another 3 years. However, the 35-year-old TE also mentioned that he has "been setting (himself) up for other opportunities in life."

Kelce signed a 2-year, retirement-friendly contract extension with the Chiefs last May, which made him the highest-paid tight end in football. He may play next season, but it will likely be his last in the NFL. I'm not sure which has the bigger party, his retirement watch party; or, his Taylor Swift engagement party... My guess is the latter.

Chiefs fans have seen Noah Gray benefit as Kelce's understudy. I'd love to see what Kelce could do to bolster Colston Loveland's game. Loveland is the best TE in this year's class.

~KCBudMan, Chiefs Analyst