2025 NFL Mock Draft & Power Rankings – Week 8

2025 NFL Mock Draft & Power Rankings – Week 8

October 22, 2024

12–18 minutes

Draft order based on my power rankings, which are posted below the mock draft. Starting with Week 9, I will switch to the “if the draft happened today” draft order.

Pick	Team	Player	2024 Stats	Commentary
1	Carolina Panthers	QB Cam Ward, Miami – 6’2, 223 lbs	148-214, 2219 yards, 20 TD, 5 INT	It is more than just a quarterback problem in Charlotte. The Panthers have a staggering -133 point differential, almost twice as much as the next worst team (-76). This team cannot score, and it cannot keep other teams from running up the point count. If this team winds up with the first overall pick, I still think quarterback will be the way to go. Cam Ward is not a perfect prospect, but he has worked his way into contention with a sensational senior season. He is experienced, battle tested, and Panthers fans will hope he can do for this franchise what Jayden Daniels and Joe Burrow previously did for theirs. Both of those quarterbacks also rose from Day Two types to franchise cornerstones with Heisman Trophy winning senior seasons.
2	New England Patriots	WR/CB Travis Hunter, Colorado – 6’1, 185 lbs	51 receptions, 604 yards, 6 TD	Will Campbell or Mason Graham would make a lot of sense here, but the Patriots are simply the most boring team in the NFL with a roster completely devoid of star talent. Travis Hunter is one of the most talented college football players we have ever seen. He could be a terror out of the slot on offense and shut down one half of the field on defense. He has dealt with injury issues here and there, which puts a full time two-way role in doubt, but he could be a full time shut down corner and part time slot receiver. Or the other way around.
3	Cleveland Browns	QB Shedeur Sanders, Colorado – 6’2, 215 lbs	172-237, 2018 yards, 17 TD, 4 INT	Deshaun Watson’s tenure in Cleveland may have mercifully come to an end. Woefully inefficient, he will now be coming off a serious injury going into 2025. It will hurt financially, but Cleveland really should just pull the plug on this failed experiment all together. This quarterback class is looking like a two man race between Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders. I am a big Sanders fan. He has done nothing but produce, despite a target on his back from ignorant, hateful fans and media off the field and a constant opposing pass rush on the field.
4	Las Vegas Raiders	CB Will Johnson, Michigan – 6’2, 202 lbs	21 tackles, 3.5 sacks	For seemingly every year this century, the Raiders need talent pretty much everywhere. Will Johnson is my top ranked prospect in this entire class. Michigan has not been great this year, but Johnson continues to shut down one half of the field. He is big, strong and a real playmaker. A definite CB1 prospect at the NFL level.
5	Miami Dolphins	OT Will Campbell, LSU – 6’6, 320 lbs	N/A	It is too early to tell whether the Dolphins will have to think about a Tua Tagovailoa replacement, so I will not go there. Terron Armstead is old, expensive and injury prone. Miami has a great chance to draft his replacement with Will Campbell here. He is an elite tackle prospect, and is one of the few non-quarterbacks in this class who could challenge to be the first player drafted.
6	Jacksonville Jaguars	DT Mason Graham, Michigan – 6’3, 320 lbs	14 tackles, 2 INT	I really do not know what to say about the Jaguars at this point. It seemed like the franchise was about to turn a corner a couple of seasons ago, but they have done almost nothing but lose the past 12 months. What do they do at this point? I am just going with the best player available with a look at roster needs. Mason Graham is one of the most complete defensive tackle prospects we have seen in quite a long time. Pair him with Josh Allen-Hines and Travon Walker, and that section of the defense would quickly become a strength.
7	Tennessee Titans	CB Benjamin Morrison, Notre Dame – 6’0, 190 lbs	20 tackles	Tennessee has seemingly been on the lookout for a franchise quarterback since the Steve McNair days. Will Levis was a second round pick for a reason. He is not a long term answer. However, this next tier of quarterbacks simply has too many question marks to pass on a premier talent like Benjamin Morrison here. He is the third cornerback to come off the board in the top seven picks. A supreme athlete and big time playmaker, he nine interceptions through his first two seasons in South Bend, and opposing quarterbacks have learned to simply not throw his way in 2024.
8	Los Angeles Rams	OT Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas – 6’4, 320 lbs	N/A	The Rams are still going to try to win with Matthew Stafford, so protecting him is important. The tackle duo of AJ Jackson and Rob Havenstein is just okay. Kelvin Banks Jr. has been blocking in an NFL style offense for a couple seasons now. He is athletic, agile and could be an asset at either tackle position.
9	New York Giants	QB Quinn Ewers, Texas – 6’2, 210 lbs	103-151, 1101 yards, 11 TD, 4 INT	The Giants absolutely need a new quarterback, but unfortunately for them, this class has been a bit of a mess. Quinn Ewers, Jalen Milroe, Carson Beck, Drew Allar all have talent, but major flaws that could keep them out of the first round. I am stubbornly still behind Ewers. He has dealt with some issues here and there, but has the confidence and arm strength to become a pretty good pro. Having Arch Manning behind him on the depth chart means he could always be in danger of losing his job, but I try not to overreact to that too much. Out of the quarterbacks remaining, he is the one I would still invest a first round pick in.
10	New York Jets	DE Mykel Williams, Georgia – 6’5, 265 lbs	6 tackles, 2 sacks	It is officially panic time in New York. The Jets traded for Davante Adams and agreed to terms with Haason Reddick. A young pass rusher to pair with Will McDonald will be needed this off-season. Welcome to the 2024 season, Mykel Williams. There is a reason I have kept him hovering around this spot all year, despite less than stellar production. He racked up two sacks against the nations top team, and is perhaps the most talented defensive prospect in this class. He will be a high pick come next spring.
11	New Orleans Saints	WR Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona – 6’5, 212 lbs	47 rec, 780 yards, 4 TD	The Saints amazing 2-0 start seems like a distant memory. A tough salary cap situation has drained the roster of most of its talent. Chris Olave is the real deal at receiver, but there is not much skill position talent other than him. Tetairoa McMillan continues to produce well, despite the regression of Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita. He is huge, a strong athlete and could be a matchup nightmare across from Olave.
12	Arizona Cardinals	EDGE James Pearce Jr., Tennessee – 6’5, 243 lbs	22 tackles, 3.5 sacks	Arizona has the makings of a solid offense, but the defense is not talented enough to hold its own right now. The Cardinals could use help on every level of the defense. James Pearce Jr. has picked things up since a slow start to the season, with all of his sacks coming in Tennessee’s last four games. If Pearce Jr. can show during the pre-draft process that he is strong enough to be an asset as a three down player, he could shoot into the top ten.
13	Indianapolis Colts	WR Luther Burden III, Missouri – 5’11, 208 lbs	37 rec, 447 yards, 4 TD	I have serious doubts that Anthony Richardson is a long term NFL starter, but the Colts are too deep and well coached to wind up in the top ten of the draft, so they will have to make due. The Colts have spent a ton of Day Two picks on receivers in recent years, with little to show for it. Pairing Michael Pittman Jr. with a legitimate talent like Luther Burden III would help the offense as a whole. The Missouri offense has struggled in 2024, but Burden III has shown the ability to make tough catches and gain tough yards. He has the ability to be a real chain mover in the NFL.
14	Atlanta Falcons	EDGE Abdul Carter, Penn State – 6’3, 259 lbs	27 tackles, 4 sacks	The Falcons have a pathetic seven sacks through six games. You simply cannot survive in today’s NFL without making the quarterback at least a little bit uncomfortable. Fortunately, there are quite a few solid pass rushers available here. Abdul Carter keeps rising up my mocks, and could find himself in the top ten soon. He has taken well to the Micah Parsons-like role for the Penn State defense and run with it, with four sacks in his past four games.
15	Los Angeles Chargers	HB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State – 5’9, 215 lbs	126 carries, 1248 yards, 17 TD	Teams do not often spend first round picks on running backs anymore, but Ashton Jeanty is a special case. If he took the rest of the season off, he would still have stats that would put him in the All American discussion. He is putting up numbers we have not seen since Barry Sanders. Jim Harbaugh wants his offense to go through the running back, and there is no better one available than Jeanty.
16	Seattle Seahawks	QB Jalen Milroe, Alabama – 6’2, 225 lbs	121-177, 1722 yards, 13 TD, 6 INT	Geno Smith has had a very impressive late career resurgence, but he is 33 years old and has thrown nearly many picks as touchdowns this season. The Seahawks have invested too much in its skill positions to not aim higher. Jalen Monroe has a good mix of strength, speed, accuracy and decision making. He is still raw and probably needs to spend some time as an NFL backup, which is why I have him more in the mid to late first round range.
17	Dallas Cowboys	DT Deone Walker, Kentucky – 6’6, 345 lbs	25 tackles, 0.5 sacks	The running game has not been kind to the Dallas Cowboys. They cannot run the football offensively, and they struggle to stop the run on defense. Deone Walker would be a great fit. The 345 pound giant is a huge asset against the run, and has shown pass rushing chops in the past, with 7.5 sacks as a true sophomore in 2023.
18	San Francisco 49ers	DE Nic Scourton, Texas A&M – 6’4, 285 lbs	19 tackles, 4.5 sacks	Injuries continue to decimate the 49ers. Just as they get Ricky Pearsall back, Brandon Aiyuk goes down with a season ending injury. This is a roster that is getting old and thin in a hurry, and should just go after the best talent available. Nic Scourton is on pace for another 10 or so sacks as a junior, and has the ability to hold up against the run or even play some inside at tackle, making him a solid three down talent.
19	Denver Broncos	WR Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State – 6’1, 205 lbs	40 rec, 526 yards, 6 TD	I have my doubts that Bo Nix will be a long term starter in the NFL, but I cannot judge him until Denver gives him some weapons. The skill position talent is woefully thin. Emeka Egbuka has had a very good senior season for Ohio State, playing the physical possession counterpart to freshman phenom Jeremiah Smith. Egbuka has six touchdown receptions during his past four games.
20	Cincinnati Bengals	CB Denzel Burke, Ohio State – 6’1, 193 lbs	20 tackles, 2 INT	For a team with a losing record, Cincinnati has a deep, solid roster. The secondary has been a bit weak for years, though. Denzel Burke has worked his way from a high recruit and part time player to a real first round pick. He has good size and has upped his playmaking ability as a senior, with two interceptions.
21	Philadelphia Eagles	EDGE Jalon Walker, Georgia – 6’2, 245 lbs	30 tackles, 4.5 sacks	Despite a slow start, Philadelphia has one of the deeper and more balanced rosters in the NFL. The Eagles love to have a deep rotation of pass rushers, and they often go after Georgia defenders in particular. Throw Jalon Walker into the Bulldog pile. He may have punched his ticket into the first round after a 3 sack performance against number one Texas. He is an ideal 3-4 outside linebacker.
22	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	EDGE Jack Sawyer, Ohio State – 6’5, 260 lbs	19 tackles, 2.5 sacks	Tampa Bay’s pass rush has largely been a success, but a couple guys are set to become free agents. Jack Sawyer may not be a double digit sack guy in the NFL, but is a very solid all around defender. He can get after the quarterback as well as chase down ball carriers.
23	Chicago Bears	OT Emery Jones Jr., LSU – 6’6, 315 lbs	N/A	Chicago is well on its way to being a pretty good team for a while. Free agent signings have mostly worked out, but both lines could use a talent upgrade. Emery Jones Jr. plays right tackle for LSU, but that is because he is on the same roster as Will Campbell. He is agile enough to hold down left tackle, and would be an upgrade over Braxton Jones.
24	Houston Texans	DT Walter Nolen, Ole Miss – 6’3, 305 lbs	26 tackles, 2.5 sacks	It has not always been pretty, but Houston is sitting at 5-1 on the season, and looks like the clear class of the NFC South. They are in a position to take a swing on Walter Nolen, a former top overall recruit who is still developing as an NFL caliber prospect. Pass rushing defensive tackles are a rare breed however, so Nolen should not fall too far.
25	Pittsburgh Steelers	SS Malaki Starks, Georgia – 6’1, 205 lbs	39 tackles, 1 INT	Somehow, the Steelers keep on winning, no matter who is playing quarterback. It is hard to find a glaring need on this roster other than that. Malaki Starks may be the top player available. Safeties are not usually drafted in the first round, but Starks is a complete safety who can double at cornerback on occasion. Pairing Starks with Minkah Fitzpatrick would make the secondary a real strength.
26	Washington Commanders	DE JT Tuimoloau, Ohio State – 6’5, 269 lbs	15 tackles, 3 sacks	Washington looks an awful lot like the 2023 Houston Texans. Drafting a quarterback second overall and watching him elevate the entire team. The Commanders are ahead of schedule, but are not without deficiencies, especially on defense. This is a very strong defensive end class, and the Commanders need to replace former first round picks Chase Young and Montez Sweat. JT Tuimoloau never quite became a double digit sack guy at Ohio State, but is a solid all around end who can stay on the field all three downs.
27	Green Bay Packers	OT Aireontae Ersery, Minnesota – 6’6, 330 lbs	N/A	The Packers may have the deepest roster in the NFL. It is tough to find obvious needs, but both starting offensive tackles will be free agents after the 2025 season, so continuing to invest in the offensive line could be a wise move. Aireontae Ersery could be a plug and play option for a playoff team looking for a bit of a boost at either tackle or guard. He has good size and plenty of experience.
28	Buffalo Bills	DT Tyleik Williams, Ohio State – 6’3, 327 lbs	16 tackles, 1.5 sacks	The Bills are one of the deeper teams in the NFL, but playoff hopefuls always love to load up on defensive line talent, and Buffalo is no exception. Tyleik Williams is one of the better athletes at the defensive tackle position in this class. He is big but agile, and could be a sneaky source of sacks.
29	Baltimore Ravens	OG Tyler Booker, Alabama – 6’5, 325 lbs	N/A	Baltimore’s once stout offensive line has been ravaged by injuries and free agent departures. Ronnie Stanley is an upcoming free agent, and is on the decline. Tyler Booker may not have what it takes to hang in at tackle, but should be an instant starter at guard, where the Ravens have had to cobble together starters this year.
30	Minnesota Vikings	OT Jonah Savaiinaea, Arizona – 6’5, 336 lbs	N/A	The Vikings offensive line is one or two guards away from being elite. Jonah Savaiinaea plays tackle for Arizona, but is destined to move inside once he gets to the pros. The Minnesota running game will love his road grating blocking style.
31	Detroit Lions	WR Isaiah Bond, Texas – 5’11, 180 lbs	23 rec, 380 yards, 4 TD	Every time Jameson Williams seems to have turned a corner, another obstacle pops up. This time it is a PED suspension. Isaiah Bond would make a nice counterpart to Amon-Ra St. Brown for the Detroit passing game. He is quick and shifty, and could excel out of the slot.
32	Kansas City Chiefs	DT Kenneth Grant, Michigan – 6’3, 339 lbs	16 tackles, 2 sacks	Patrick Mahomes has a 6:8 TD to INT ratio, but the Chiefs are still the lone unbeaten team in the NFL. This is a complete roster with a particulary effective defense. Keeping that unit elite is important. Andy Reid likes to draft offensive and defensive lineman. Kenneth Grant is a monster in the middle, weighing in at 339 pounds but showing some surprising agility for a man his size.