2025 NFL Mock Draft & Power Rankings – Week 1

2025 NFL Mock Draft & Power Rankings – Week 1

September 4, 2024

13–19 minutes

For my weekly NFL Mock Drafts, the draft order will be based on my power rankings (posted along with my Mocks) until week 9, when I will switch over to http://www.tankathon.com and their “if the draft was held today” order.

Pick	Team	Player	2024 Stats	Commentary
1	Las Vegas Raiders	QB Quinn Ewers, Texas – 6’2, 210 lbs	20-27, 260 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT	It is back to the drawing board once again for the Raiders, who are one of the few teams in the NFL without a current or future starting quarterback on its roster. Quinn Ewers, Shedeur Sanders, Carson Beck and Jalen Milroe are all in play with the college football season just underway. Even Drew Allar and Cameron Ward could make a first round push. I am interested to see which quarterbacks separate from the pack. Right now I will go with Ewers, who has the am strength, moxie and personality that could endear himself to the Raider faithful.
2	New England Patriots	OT WIll Campbell, LSU – 6’6, 320 lbs	N/A	Other than quarterback, the Patriots are basically a blank slate and could go any direction here. The offensive line is in dire need of a legitimate left tackle, and Will Campbell is one of the better tackle prospects to come around in years. If the Patriots want to go with some flash, Travis Hunter or even Tetairoa McMIllan would make sense here, but offensive line is too important to ignore for much longer.
3	Washington Commanders	CB Will Johnson, Michigan – 6’2, 202 lbs	3 tackles, 1 INT	Washington is one of those NFL teams that just always seems to be going through a rebuild. I struggle to name a cornerback on its roster, and I run a sports website. Will Johnson, a former top recruit, picked off what should be his first of many passes in 2025, and he now has eight interceptions during his career. I rank him above Sauce Gardner as a prospect, which would make him the best secondary prospect in many years. He does it all.
4	Carolina Panthers	WR/CB Travis Hunter, Colorado – 6’1, 185 lbs	7 rec, 132 yards, 3 TD	It is officially time to list Travis Hunter as WR/CB. He will play both on Sundays. Hunter is, simply put, the best athlete in college football. He could wind up playing almost 2,000 snaps by the end of the year. He showed tremendous hands, hauling in some ridiculous passes from Shedeur Sanders. The Panthers have decent depth at both receiver and cornerback, but no player on the roster is must-watch television. Hunter is.
5	Tennessee Titans	QB Shedeur Sanders, Colorado – 6’2, 215 lbs	26-34, 445 yards, 4 TD, 1 INT	If the Titans end up picking this high, it will probably be because Will Levis is not a starting NFL quarterback. I seriously doubt he will be anything more than a long term backup. This class could have quite a few first round signal callers, and Tennessee needs to aim higher at the position. Shedeur Sanders put on a show Week 1, throwing for over 400 yards and 4 touchdowns. The Colorado defense remains a wasteland, so expect Sanders to continue to put up some monster numbers.
6	Denver Broncos	WR Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona – 6’5, 212 lbs	10 rec, 304 yards, 4 TD	The Broncos are another team that simply needs everything other than quarterback. Courtland Sutton is getting up there in age, and playoff teams could continue to attempt to entice Denver to trade him. Landing a stud replacement like Tetairoa McMillan could make that decision easier. McMillan surprised many by not transferring to a bigger program, and he instantly rewarded Arizona with a legendary 10 catch, 304 yard, 4 touchdown performance during the teams first game. With Noah Fafita slinging it everywhere, McMillan could be on his way to a historic season.
7	New York Giants	QB Carson Beck, Georgia – 6’4, 220 lbs	23-33, 278 yards, 2 TD	Yes, Daniel Jones is somehow still a starting quarterback in this league. No, he will not be this time next year. The Giants, in this mock, are set up quite nicely to draft his replacement. Carson Beck will not set the stat sheet on fire, but he is savvy and experienced with a strong arm and a solid grasp of a pro style offense. There is always a learning curve when transitioning to the NFL, but Beck could come in right away and keep things moving in the right direction. He may never be a Pro-Bowler, but his floor is high. The Giants need a steadying presence behind center.
8	Minnesota Vikings	EDGE Mykel Williams, Georgia – 6’5, 265 lbs	2 tackles	The Vikings signed Andrew Van Ginkel and Jonathan Greenard as free agents, but neither will make up for the loss of Danielle Hunter. The thought of pairing Dallas Turner with Mykel Williams should make Vikings fans very excited. Williams has top five talent, but so many quarterbacks going off the board pushed him down a bit. He also suffered an ankle injury during Georgia’s season opening win that wiill need to be monitored. Those types of issues could linger all season. Williams has All-Pro potential, and is just scratching the surface of what he could be.
9	New Orleans Saints	EDGE James Pearce Jr., Tennessee – 6’5, 242 lbs	No Stats	The salary cap mess created during the late Sean Peyton era has wrecked the Saints ability to either commit to a run or a rebuild. This is a team that is a mess financially and roster wise. Defensive end is not the biggest need on the roster, but James Pearce Jr. is by far the most talented player available. Pearce Jr. did not accumulate any stats during Tennessee’s easy week 1 win, but had 9.5 sacks as a sophomore and should show up in a big way next week against NC State.
10	Seattle Seahawks	QB Jalen Milroe, Alabama – 6’2, 225 lbs	7-9, 200 yards, 3 TD	Even with a new head coach, Seattle will continue to ride with Geno Smith, but eventually a replacement needs to be developed. With Jalen Milroe selected here, this makes four quarterbacks in the top ten. Milroe is not a Michael Vick-like blazer, but he can run the football, and has the frame to withstand some hits. Not just a scrambler, he can throw it as well. He only needed to put the ball in the air 9 times during Alabama’s easy week 1 win, but still threw for 200 yards and 3 touchdowns.
11	Arizona Cardinals	CB Benjamin Morrison, Notre Dame – 6’0, 190 lbs	2 tackles	The Cardinals offense has a chance to be pretty good, but the defense is a no name mess. Arizona should draft that side of the ball early and often during the 2025 draft. Benjamin Morrison would be a CB1 most years. A top notch athlete and ball hawk, he already has 9 interceptions during his first two seasons at Notre Dame.
12	Los Angeles Chargers	WR Luther Burden III, Missouri – 5’11, 208 lbs	3 rec, 39 yards, 1 TD	Jim Harbaugh is completely remaking the Chargers passing game in his image. Ladd McConkey is a nice start, but Quentin Johnston has looked like an instant bust and more is needed. Luther Burden III is easily a top ten talent, and the Chargers benefit by so many quarterbacks going off the board. Burden III only had 3 catches during Missouri’s cake walk week 1 win, but is coming off a sophomore season where he hauled in 86 receptions. He is fast, strong and the complete package at wideout.
13	Pittsburgh Steelers	DT Deone Walker, Kentucky – 6’6, 340 lbs	No Stats	Pittsburgh is what it is at this point. A team that will never bottom out, no matter who throws the ball. They simply draft and develop too well. They are also a team that does not often resign key free agents, so drafting for the future will always be important. Larry Ogunjobi is 30 years old and a free agent after 2025. Deone Walker looks like a run plugging boulder, but is a freak athlete for his size. He could absolutely step in as a 3-4 end and take over for Ogunjobi in a year or two.
14	Indianapolis Colts	DT Mason Graham, Michigan – 6’3, 320 lbs	4 tackles	The Colts have one of the more balanced rosters in the NFL, so it is hard to find an obvious upgrade here. I just went with the best player available, which could be stud defensive tackle Mason Graham. He has the look of a run stuffing nose tackle, but is much more than just that. He’s a legit pass rusher as well. The Colts are set at tackle with DeForest Buckner and Grover Stewart, but both players are getting up there in age.
15	Jacksonville Jaguars	DT Walter Nolen, Ole Miss – 6’3, 305 lbs	2 tackles	Walter Nolen is a bit like the defensive tackle version of Mykel Williams. He was the top overall recruit in 2022, but has yet to really put it all together. The talent to be a Warren Sapp-like presence is there, however. Jacksonville’s defensive tackle rotation is simply okay. Nolen would provide a giant talent upgrade.
16	Chicago Bears	OT Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas – 6’4, 320 lbs	N/A	Thanks to an absolute heist of a draft day trade with the Panthers and an agressive off-season, Bears fans are excited. This is a roster brimming with talent and ability. The Bears have a good offensive line, but the left tackle and guard spots could stand to be upgraded a bit. Kelvin Banks Jr. is one of my ten favorite prospects in this class, but falls a bit, due to no fault of his own. He has experience in a pass heavy offense and could hold down any spot on the offensive line.
17	Atlanta Falcons	CB Denzel Burke, Ohio State – 6’1, 193 lbs	4 tackles, 1 INT	The Falcons, famously, or perhaps infamously, have drafted an offensive player the past four drafts. The defense is hanging on by a thread, and it is about time resources are spent on that side of the ball. Denzel Burke was a day two prospect who returned to Ohio State to boost his draft stock. So far, so good. He picked off a pass during the first Buckeyes game of the season. He has the talent and size to become a first round pick.
18	Cincinnati Bengals	TE Colston Loveland, Michigan – 6’5, 245 lbs	8 rec, 87 yards, 1 TD	The Bengals have no long term option at tight end, and could end up losing Tee Higgins after the season. This team needs someone to take some pressure off of Ja’Marr Chase. Colston Loveland is not a field stretching freak like Brock Bowers or Kyle Pitts, but he catches everything thrown his way and is a better prospect than any receiver available at this point.
19	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	EDGE JT Tuimoloau, Ohio State – 6’5, 269 lbs	3 tackles, 1.5 sacks	Joe Tryon-Shoyinka has been okay as a situational pass rusher for Tampa Bay, with 13 sacks through his first three seasons. The Buccaneers may want to aim higher with its next pass rushing draft pick. JT Tuimoloau could have been a day one or two pick in 2024, but returned to Ohio State to chase a championship and improve his draft stock. He is a complete end, holding up against the run and getting after the quarterback. He had 1.5 sacks during the Buckeyes season opening win.
20	New York Jets	QB Cam Ward, Miami – 6’2, 223 lbs	26-35, 385 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT	The Jets are once again hanging their hopes on an aincent Aaron Rodgers. We shall see, but I expect New York fans to be disappointed once again. This team needs a long term option. Cam Ward has been well traveled, but Miami looks like a great final stop as he looks to work his way into the first round of the draft. The transfer route worked out well for Bo Nix and Michael Penix Jr., and I believe Ward is the same caliber of prospect.
21	Houston Texans	SS Malaki Starks, Georgia – 6’1, 205 lbs	2 tackles, 1 INT	Houston is doing what a team with a fantastic young quarterback on a rookie contract in a bad division should do; load up on free agents and go for it while you can. Additions at receiver, defensive end and running back have added talent to this roster, but they still need youth pretty much everywhere. The secondary is a bit weak, especially at safety. Malaki Starks is a big time playmaker and defensive leader who could be the rare safety taken in the top 20.
22	Miami Dolphins	OT Jonah Savaiinaea, Arizona – 6’5, 336 lbs	N/A	The Dolphins have done a decent job piecing together a functioning offensive line, but with the team deciding to go with Tua Tagvailoa long term, they need to keep him healthy. Austin Jackson and Patrick Paul represent a solid tackle duo, but there are no long term options on the interior. Jonah Savaiinaea is a road grating tackle for Arizona who could wind up as an elite guard in the NFL.
23	Detroit Lions	DE Jack Sawyer, Ohio State – 6’5, 260 lbs	2 tackles	The Lions willl thank Jacksonville for passing on Aidan Hutchinson for the next decade, but the team could still use a solid pass rusher opposite him. Jack Sawyer is talented and athletic, and has slowly worked his way from top recruit to situational pass rusher to all around end. He might lack superstar upside, but should be a quality starter.
24	Green Bay Packers	OLB Harold Perkins Jr., LSU – 6’1, 225 lbs	8 tackles	The Packers are transitioning to a 4-3 defense. They drafted a couple of linebackers in 2024, but none are as talented as Harold Perkins Jr. Perkins Jr. is a tough player to figure out. He is a solid pass rusher at the college level but might be undersized to consistently get after the quarterback in the NFL. Fortunately he is a great tackler and solid cover guy as well, making him a three down threat in the pros.
25	Cleveland Browns	OT Emery Jones Jr., LSU – 6’6, 315 lbs	N/A	The Browns have one of the better rosters in the NFL (quarterback not withstanding), but the offensive line could be a sneaky need. Jedrick Wills is an impending free agent who has not quite lived up to his draft status, and Jack Conklin has played 22 games during his four years in Cleveland, including only one in 2023. For a team with few glaring needs, drafting insurance would be a smart decision here. Will Campbell gets all of the pub for LSU, but Emery Jones Jr. is a first round prospect in his own right.
26	Buffalo Bills	WR Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State – 6’1, 205 lbs	4 rec, 51 yards	The Bills traded Stephon Diggs during the off-season. While they drafted Keon Coleman as a potential replacement, the team needs more. Emeka Egbuka looked like a sure fire first round pick with CJ Stroud throwing to him in 2022, but has failed to replacate that success since. He took a back seat to stud Marvin Harrison Jr. in 2023 and may do the same to freshman phenom Jeremiah Smith this year. Still, he has the strength and route running ability to be a solid second option in the NFL.
27	Dallas Cowboys	RB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State – 5’9, 210 lbs	20 carries, 267 yards, 6 TD	The Cowboys are a hard team to figure out. They have a talented roster, with a few big holes, but did virtually nothing during the off season, other than bring back the rotting husk of a former great running back. Ezekiel Elliott is unlikely to help, and this team needs a long term replacement. Fantasy football dynasty owners should remember the name Ashton Jeanty. I had him as a solid day two pick, but had to move him up after he put up video game on rookie mode numbers during Boise State’s opening game, rushing for 267 yards and 6 TD. He is also an asset in the passing game, making him a true three down back.
28	Los Angeles Rams	OT Aireontae Ersery, Minnesota – 6’6, 325 lbs	N/A	For a team that, up until the 2024 draft, had not had a first round pick since the year Donald Trump first became president, the Rams roster is surprisingly solid. Of course, impact talent is needed at most positions, including the offensive line. AJ Jackson has held on well for a former undrafted free agent, but they could bring in some competition in the form of Aireontae Ersery, one of the most slept on prospects in this class.
29	Philadelphia Eagles	EDGE Abdul Carter, Penn State – 6’3, 259 lbs	1 tackle	The Eagles probably have the deepest roster in the NFL, which means they could simply draft for depth here. A team can never have enough pass rushers. Abdul Carter is still a project, but was more productive as a pass rusher than former teammate and 2024 first round pick Chop Robinson, with 11 sacks during his first two years at Penn State.
30	Baltimore Ravens	EDGE Jalon Walker, Georgia – 6’2, 245 lbs	6 tackles, 1.5 sacks	The Ravens always seem to be on the lookout for young pass rushers to replace departing free agents. Jalon Walker, one of a bunch of former top recruits for Georgia, is off to a great start as a junior, with 1.5 sacks during a dominant win over Clemson.
31	San Francisco 49ers	DT Kenneth Grant, Michigan – 6’3, 339 lbs	No Stats	The 49ers are probably the best team in the NFC, but the defense is aging in a hurry and could use reinforcements. Kenneth Grant is a bit overshadowed by Mason Graham at Michigan, but is a day one threat in his own right. A huge target, he can absorb blockers and stop the run.
32	Kansas City Chiefs	DT Tyleik Williams, Ohio State – 6’3, 327 lbs	7 tackles, 1 sack	The Chiefs are a full blown dynasty, which means they are going to pick at the very end of the first round every single year. It is tough to keep enough young talent in the pipeline, so Kansas City could just go best non-quarterback here. Tyleik Williams is the fifth defensive tackle mocked in the first round, and may be the best athlete of the bunch. He was once recorded running a 4.68 40 yard dash, and has 10 career sacks to his name.