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2025 NFL Mock Draft
Last Updated: March 8, 2025
Lou Pickney (2020-2024: tied for the third-highest score from The Huddle Report)
NFL Draft analyst since 2003
Welcome to my new NFL Draft website. You've probably read some of my past work on draftking.com and I'm happy to have you here. -Lou
Lou Pickney's 2025 NFL Mock Draft
There's a growing anticipation that the Titans will trade down from #1, most likely with the Giants moving up from #3 to select Miami QB Cam Ward.
Tennessee is in the midst of a rebuild and would benefit from adding additional Top 100 picks in this year's draft.
The Browns are paying a heavy price now for taking a big risk on Deshaun Watson in a March 2022 trade with Houston.
Watson's massive contract limits Cleveland's options at quarterback. Those in the know seem to believe strongly that it will be Sanders here.
This anticipates the Giants trading up two spots to draft Ward at #1 overall.
The NFL is a copycat league, and with Jayden Daniels taking the Commanders to the NFC Championship game as a rookie in 2024, the expectations for top QB draft prospects remain high.
The big question for wherever Hunter ends up is: how will he be utilized? It can't be stressed enough how unusual it is for one person to be both the top wide receiver and top cornerback prospect in the same draft, which is how some evaluators see it with Hunter.
Offensive tackle and EDGE rusher are two other viable options here for New England as well.
Graham is an elite defensive tackle with the ability to effectively collapse pockets on passing plays.
Graham was listed at 320 pounds at Michigan, but he weighed in at 296 pounds at the NFL Combine. This is a positive, as defensive players weighing 320+ pounds seldom go in the top 10 in the modern NFL, let alone the top five.
Evaluators have praised McMillan's catch radius and ability to adjust on the fly to get open.
Another option is Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty. As much as Jeanty has been linked to the Dallas Cowboys over the past few months, that can't happen if Jeanty is off the board by the time Dallas goes on the clock.
Warren set school records at Penn State for tight end receptions/yardage and won the 2024 John Mackey Award, given annually to the most outstanding tight end in college football.
Part of the appeal of Williams as a prospect is his ability to fit multiple schemes effectively.
If Walker is drafted this high, it will be because of his superb pass-rushing skill and versatility.
Evaluators rave about Membou's pass blocking ability, which has proven impressive enough to earn him serious top ten consideration despite lacking prototypical height.
The only way that a 6'4" right tackle ends up as the first offensive lineman drafted is if the team selecting him believes he's the best pass blocker in the class.
Campbell is a great mix of size, athleticism, and technical prowess and is expected to be one of the first offensive linemen selected on opening night.
Jeanty is viewed by practically every evaluator as the top running back prospect in the draft. He's great at carrying the ball, but Jeanty wouldn't be a realistic projection in this range if he weren't also such an adept receiver.
This would constitute a run on offensive tackles, and it would also fill a major need for Miami. Simmons suffered a serious knee injury in 2024, but he's expected to be ready for the 2025 season.
Tight end is a major need for the Colts. The success that Raiders TE Brock Bowers had as a rookie last season (112 receptions for 1,194 yards) clearly has had an impact on the decision-making process for some teams.
At the NFL Combine in Indianapolis last month, Barron ran a head-turning 4.39 40-yard dash. And while the Falcons have been difficult to predict in recent drafts, there's nothing that appeals to NFL decision-makers quite like ultra high-end speed.
Nolen was the top-rated overall prospect by ESPN and USA Today out of high school, and he performed well for Ole Miss in 2024 after transferring from Texas A&M.
Nolen has the effort/intensity to match his talent, and if he's able to improve his pass rushing technique his potential as a pro is strong.
If the Bengals hope to land an EDGE at this spot, they should have several viable options from which to choose. Stewart has been rising up draft boards during the pre-draft evaluation process and it's entirely possible he'll be gone well before Cincinnati goes on the clock.
Seattle needs to bolster its offensive line, and there's a belief among some that the Seahawks would select Banks in this spot if he's still on the board.
Morrison was in the midst of a solid season with the Fighting Irish before a hip injury in mid-October put him on the shelf. Cornerback is a need position for the Bucs.
By running a 4.29 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, Golden put himself in serious consideration to be a first-round draft selection.
This is a bit lower for Johnson compared with earlier projections. But there are some unknowns with Johnson relative to the turf toe injury that ended his 2024 season early, though a strong showing at his pro day workout at Michigan could vault him back into Top 10 conversations.
Perhaps this is a stretch, as some evaluators have Arroyo pegged as a day two selection. There are questions about injuries that plagued Arroyo in 2022 and 2023.
But when healthy Arroyo is very fast, particularly considering his 6'5" 250 pound frame.
This is a stacked draft for pass rushers. Green has been rising up boards and helped his stock with a strong showing in practice at the Senior Bowl.
Harmon gained national attention thanks to his outstanding play at defensive tackle for the Ducks, showing a knack for pressuring opposing QBs.
Booker can play multiple offensive line positions and would fill a need for Houston at guard.
It appears likely that there will be a run on offensive linemen in the back-half of round one of the draft. There's a good mix of perceived value and team need here with Conerly.
Offensive line is a need for Baltimore, but the Ravens could also use a blue-chip EDGE rusher. And in this scenario, Scourton would represent good value relative to some projections that had him going in the top-half of round one.
Detroit would benefit from addressing its defensive interior line.
Grant weighed in at 331 pounds at the NFL Combine. Normally I'd say to fade the nose tackle on night one, but Grant has unusual athleticism for his size.
Jayden Daniels is off to a great start at quarterback for the Commanders, and it would be a prudent move for Washington to select a top receiver prospect like Burden if there's an opportunity at this spot.
You have to go back to Terrell Edmunds (217 pounds) in 2018 for the last time a pure safety weighing north of 215 pounds went in the first round. It used to be more commonplace, but the game has changed.
It's different for Emmanwori because he's exceptionally fast. How many guys with his height/weight (6'3" 220) can run a 4.38 40-yard dash?
Interior offensive line is a major need spot for the Chiefs. Jackson has exceptional athleticism for his size.
Congrats on the Super Bowl win, Eagles fans.
Campbell would provide Philadelphia with a nice boost to its defensive front seven.
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