2025 NFL Mock Draft & Power Rankings – Week 9

2025 NFL Mock Draft & Power Rankings – Week 9

October 29, 2024

12–19 minutes

This will be the last week that I use my power rankings for draft order. Starting Week 10, I will switch over to what http://www.tankathon.com has, though I will still post power rankings below the Mock Draft every week.

Pick	Team	Player	2024 Stats	Commentary
1	Carolina Panthers	QB Cam Ward, Miami – 6’2, 223 lbs	191-281, 2746 yards, 24 TD, 5 INT	It is a sad state of affairs when Bryce Young throws for less than 10 yards per completion, throws two picks and it is considered his best start as a Panther.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	Las Vegas Raiders	WR/CB Travis Hunter, Colorado – 6’1, 185 lbs	21 tackles, 3.5 sacks	One of the only constants in the ever changing NFL is the Raiders franchise lacking the talent to compete. That is once again the case this year. Quarterback is definitely on the table, but I think the front office might be willing to risk passing on a quarterback and landing a superior talent like Arch Manning or Nico Iamaleava during the next draft or two. Travis Hunter has drawn Charles Woodson comparisons, so it would be a fun story to see him play for Woodson’s old team. I am not sure what Hunter’s NFL role would be, but he could be a shut down cornerback who can also chip in at slot receiver for Las Vegas, which needs major help at both positions.
3	Tennessee Titans	QB Shedeur Sanders, Colorado – 6’2, 215 lbs	220-300, 2591 yards, 21 TD, 6 INT	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. Whether you choose Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders, this looks like a two man race for QB1 this year. Sanders has not been perfect, but his blend of arm strength, toughness and confidence has the look of a pretty good starting quarterback. Even if he tops out as an improved version of Geno Smith, he would be worth a top five pick.
4	New England Patriots	OT Will Campbell, LSU – 6’6, 320 lbs	N/A	It is very early, but Drake Maye definitely looks the part of a starting quarterback. The next step for New England would be to surround him with offensive weapons and competent pass blockers. Will Campbell is one of the best left tackles to come along in years. He has the size, experience and ability that you look for in a franchise blindside protector.
5	New York Giants	QB Quinn Ewers, Texas – 6’2, 210 lbs	130-188, 1389 yards, 14 TD, 6 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.
6	Cleveland Browns	DE Mykel Williams, Georgia – 6’5, 265 lbs	6 tackles, 2 sacks	This pick is based more on projection than current production. Mykel Williams steps off the Georgia bus looking like a Myles Garrett clone. He has had a slow start to his 2025 season, but had 9 career sacks coming into this season, and had two during most recent game. If Williams can put his small injury bug behind him, close out the season strong, and tear apart the combine, he could very easily become a top five pick. Pairing Williams with Garrett would make the pass rush a big time strength for Cleveland.
7	Jacksonville Jaguars	DT Mason Graham, Michigan – 6’3, 320 lbs	30 tackles, 3.5 sacks	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.
8	New Orleans Saints	CB Will Johnson, Michigan – 6’2, 202 lbs	14 tackles, 2 INT	Once upon a time, the Saints were 2-0 and outscored their opponents by a score of 101-29. Since then, they have gone 0-6 with a total score of 0-6, torpedoing what looked like a promising season. This roster is old, broken down, expensive and trapped in a salary cap nightmare. New Orleans needs to cut bait and restart with a young roster. I will go with the best player available here, which is easily Will Johnson. Johnson may be my top ranked prospect in this class. He is big, quick and a real play maker. With Johnson and Marshon Lattimore, the secondary would be a strength in New Orleans.
9	Miami Dolphins	OT Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas – 6’4, 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. Kelvin Banks is talented enough to push Will Campbell as the top offensive lineman in this class. He is athletic, experienced, and could line up anywhere on Miami’s offensive line.
10	New York Jets	EDGE Abdul Carter, Penn State – 6’3, 259 lbs	30 tackles, 4 sacks	The Jets traded for Davante Adams and agreed to terms with Haason Reddick, and all that got them was a loss against the lowly New England Patriots. Reddick will likely move on after the season, opening up a spot across from Will McDonald IV. Abdul Carter continues to rise up my board and finds himself in the top ten. He has successfully transitioned to more of a defensive end type, bulking up without sacrificing his pass rushing skills.
11	Dallas Cowboys	HB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State – 5’9, 215 lbs	159 rushes, 1376 yards, 18 TD	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. Ashton Jeanty to Dallas is the easiest mock fit of the first round. Jeanty is putting up historic numbers for Boise State. The only worry is the wear and tear that 300 carries could put on his legs. Dallas will not worry about that. They are built to win now, and would ride him for the entirety of his four year rookie contract.
12	Los Angeles Rams	CB Benjamin Morrison, Notre Dame – 6’0, 190 lbs	20 tackles	After a slow start, the Rams are back on track, and could finish on top of a very winnable division. Secondary remains a weak link, and with this mock, they luck out with Benjamin Morrison. Morrison has likely played his last down for Notre Dame, as the injured corner will turn his attention towards draft preparation. He may not have the size of Will Johnson, but is a tremendous athlete and has a nose for the ball, as evidenced by his 9 career interceptions.
13	Arizona Cardinals	EDGE James Pearce Jr., Tennessee – 6’5, 243 lbs	22 tackles, 3.5 sacks	Thanks to a well rounded offense, Arizona is a real threat to win its division. The Cardinals could use help on every level of the defense, however. 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.
14	Indianapolis Colts	WR Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona – 6’5, 212 lbs	57 rec, 982 yards, 5 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 Tetairoa McMillan would make life easier for Richardson. McMillan has great size and is a legit playmaker, with two games of over 200 receiving yards this season..
15	Seattle Seahawks	QB Jalen Milroe, Alabama – 6’2, 225 lbs	137-203, 1937 yards, 13 TD, 6 INT	Geno Smith has had a very impressive late career resurgence, but he is 34 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.
16	Cincinnati Bengals	DE Nic Scourton, Texas A&M – 6’4, 285 lbs	23 tackles, 5 sacks	For a team with a losing record, Cincinnati has a deep, solid roster. The Bengals need a pass rusher to take some of the pressure off of Trey Hendrickson. Nic Scourton has great size, yet is more athletic than you would think. He had 10 sacks as a sophomore and is on his way to matching that total in 2024.
17	Atlanta Falcons	EDGE Jalon Walker, Georgia – 6’2, 245 lbs	30 tackles, 4.5 sacks	No team in the NFL has fewer sacks than the Atlanta Falcons. Matthew Judon was brought in, but that obviously has not been enough. Jalon Walker may not be the pure pass rusher Atlanta seeks, but he is a very good all around linebacker who should fit the Falcons defense like a glove.
18	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.
19	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	WR Luther Burden III, Missouri – 5’11, 208 lbs	40 rec, 450 yards, 4 TD	The Buccaneers have been without their top two receivers, Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, for the past few weeks. Both should be healthy in 2025, but they are getting up there in age, so drafting insurance like Luther Burden III might not be a bad idea. Burden III is the best player available regardless. Missouri’s passing offense has been a mess in 2024, but if Burden III can simply ride things out, his pedigree and talent will be enough to ensure he remains a first round pick.
20	Los Angeles Chargers	DT Deone Walker, Kentucky – 6’6, 345 lbs	29 tackles, 1.5 sacks	The Chargers have a winning record, but this is a roster with holes all over the place. The defense needs help, especially along the line. Deone Walker is a mountain of a man, but has rare athleticism for a 345 pounder. He has 10 career sacks, showing he is more than just a boulder to drop in the middle on running downs.
21	San Francisco 49ers	DT Kenneth Grant, Michigan – 6’3, 339 lbs	18 tackles, 2 sacks	Injuries continue to decimate the 49ers, which has exposed an alarming lack of young depth on the roster. San Francisco should just draft the best player available. Kenneth Grant has been overshadowed by Mason Graham as far as Michigan defensive lineman go, but he is a first round talent in his own right. He has great size and surprising quickness.
22	Denver Broncos	WR Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State – 6’1, 205 lbs	43 rec, 546 yards, 6 TD	The Broncos are 5-3 thanks to a surpring defense, but Bo Nix has started to come into his own in a big way. Imagine if he had a full compliment of pass catchers at his disposal. 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 five games.
23	Philadelphia Eagles	EDGE Jack Sawyer, Ohio State – 6’5, 260 lbs	22 tackles, 2.5 sacks	Despite a less than fantastic season, 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 Jack Sawyer could be an ideal replacement for Brandon Graham. Sawyer is not a pass rushing terror, but is strong, can hold up against the run and can still get after the quarterback on occasion.
24	Houston Texans	DT Walter Nolen, Ole Miss – 6’3, 305 lbs	27 tackles, 2.5 sacks	It has not always been pretty, but Houston is sitting at 6-2 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	Baltimore Ravens	OT Aireontae Ersery, Minnesota – 6’6, 330 lbs	N/A	Baltimore remains a Super Bowl threat, but losses to the Raiders and Browns are a real stain on the resume. This is always a team that needs to draft very well, since it does not often use free agency to plug holes. Ronnie Stanley is an upcoming free agent, and the interior of the line has been a weakness as well. Aireontae Ersery is not a flashy name, but he is the type of prospect that can step right in and hold his own as a rookie starter on a playoff team, either at tackle or guard.
26	Minnesota Vikings	CB Denzel Burke, Ohio State – 6’1, 193 lbs	26 tackles, 2 INT	The Vikings have fallen off since a 5-0 start, but remain a threat in the NFC. This roster has lacked a legitmiate CB1 for years, however. Senior Denzel Burke has slowly worked his way into the first round, and looks like a nice bet to carve out a long career in the NFL.
27	Pittsburgh Steelers	OG Tyler Booker, Alabama – 6’5, 325 lbs	N/A	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. This would be the third straight offensive lineman Pittsburgh has drafted in the first round, but I do not think fans would mind. Tyler Booker is a real plug and play pure guard prospect who would instantly grab a starting spot for the Steelers.
28	Washington Commanders	OT Jonah Savaiinaea, Arizona – 6’5, 336 lbs	N/A	Washington looks an awful lot like the 2023 Houston Texans. Drafting a quarterback second overall and watching him elevate the entire team. Washington is the real deal. They are built around running the football, so elevating the offensive line would be important. Jonah Savaiinaea plays tackle for Arizona, but should have no problem sliding inside to guard and adding to that running game.
29	Green Bay Packers	SS Malaki Starks, Georgia – 6’1, 205 lbs	39 tackles, 1 INT	The Packers may have the deepest roster in the NFL. It is tough to find obvious needs. The Green Bay front office has historically prefered to supplement the defense with its first round picks. Malaki Starks is a playmaking safety who could play some cornerback as well, and could back up several positions with the Packers, with an eye on starting next to Xavier McKinney at safety.
30	Buffalo Bills	DT Tyleik Williams, Ohio State – 6’3, 327 lbs	20 tackles, 2.5 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.
31	Kansas City Chiefs	OT Wyatt Milum, West Virginia – 6’6, 317 lbs	N/A	Patrick Mahomes has a 8:9 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. Andy Reid loves to draft offensive and defensive lineman. The tackle duo in Kansas City is simply “okay.” Wyatt Milum has quitely become one of the better offensive lineman in the country. He would instantly be a swing tackle with the potential to take over for either Kingsley Suamataia or Jawaan Taylor.
32	Detroit Lions	DE JT Tuimoloau, Ohio State – 6’5, 269 lbs	20 tackles, 4 sacks	The Lions look like the best team in the NFL, even without Aidan Hutchinson. The loss of Hutchinson has exposed Detroit’s lack of additional pass rushers. JT Tuimoloau is not an amazing pass rusher, which is why he is available here, but he is a very good all around lineman who still does have 15 career sacks to his name.