2025 NFL Mock Draft: Another LSU QB skyrockets into Round 1; Cowboys boost offense with Heisman favorite

It happens every year. A quarterback rises from some degree of obscurity into the first round, and often times said prospect vaults all the into the top-five selections or can even go No. 1 overall, like Kyler Murray in 2019 or Joe Burrow the year after. Heck, even Baker Mayfield in 2018 was mostly viewed as a Day 2 or early Day 3 pick during his final season at Oklahoma, then went No. 1 overall a few months later. 

While we're nearing the midway point of the 2024 college football season, I currently believe the 2025 iteration of that quarterback to be Garrett Nussmeier from LSU. This is a former highly touted four-star recruit who sat for essentially three seasons behind Max Johnson then Jayden Daniels -- while throwing for 294 yards on 15 completions in the SEC title game against eventual national-title winning Georgia in a relief appearance in 2022 -- and is now operating the Tigers offense like a passer who's gained a wealth of knowledge along the way in college. 

While his 64.3% completion rate is relatively low based on new-age standards for the position at the collegiate level, he's not running a gimmicky, screen-heavy attack. He's ripping the football downfield often, from a variety of arm angles to a litany of pass-catching options. His 10.2 average depth of target (aDOT) currently ranks second among legitimate 2025 quarterback prospects, trailing only Alabama's Jalen Milroe at 10.5 yards. 

Because of my belief in Nussmeier's eventual ascension -- again, based on what he's demonstrated so far in 2024 -- he sneaks into the first round in this mock draft.

The draft order below was determined using the current 2025 NFL Draft order. To check out the sports betting odds on who will be the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, head on over to FanDuel sportsbook.

For more draft coverage, you can hear in-depth analysis twice a week on "With the First Pick" -- our year-round NFL Draft podcast with NFL Draft analyst Ryan Wilson and former Vikings general manager Rick Spielman. You can find "With the First Pick" wherever you get your podcasts: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, etc. Listen below!

NFL Mock Draft

Round 1

Round 1 - Pick 1 Travis Hunter ATH Colorado • Jr • 6'1" / 185 lbs Projected Team New England PROSPECT RNK 1st POSITION RNK 1st REC 49 REYDS 587 YDS/REC 12 TDS 6 Every week, Hunter is tracking closer to being the No. 1 overall pick. He's been sensational in every regard as a receiver and cornerback and has elite-level traits that can translate at the next level. And this prospect-team pairing stays intact. Best player in the draft with elite upside at two positions.

Round 1 - Pick 2 Will Campbell OT LSU • Jr • 6'6" / 323 lbs Projected Team Cleveland PROSPECT RNK 5th POSITION RNK 1st A team once lauded for its offensive line still has a good one. Can it be improved? Absolutely. Particularly on the edges. That's where Campbell could step in.

Round 1 - Pick 3 Will Johnson CB Michigan • Jr • 6'2" / 202 lbs Projected Team Jacksonville PROSPECT RNK 2nd POSITION RNK 1st The Jaguars are spiraling, and their defense needs a talent infusion at cornerback opposite Tyson Campbell. Johnson has No. 1 outside cornerback length, athleticism, and ball skills.

Round 1 - Pick 4 Cam Ward QB Miami (FL) • Sr • 6'2" / 223 lbs Projected Team Carolina PROSPECT RNK 6th POSITION RNK 1st PAYDS 2219 RUYDS 161 INTS 5 TDS 23 Ward possesses much of the outward confidence Bryce Young seems to lack. That's not the only reason he's the pick here. He's become arguably the best quarterback in college football with a well-rounded skill set.

Round 1 - Pick 5 Carson Beck QB Georgia • Sr • 6'4" / 220 lbs Projected Team L.A. Rams PROSPECT RNK 24th POSITION RNK 4th PAYDS 1818 RUYDS 57 INTS 5 TDS 15 If it's not Shedeur Sanders to serve as Matthew Stafford's heir apparent, maybe it's Beck, another polished pocket passer who'd conceivably work well in Sean McVay's very structured offense.

Round 1 - Pick 6 Shedeur Sanders QB Colorado • Sr • 6'2" / 215 lbs Projected Team Tennessee PROSPECT RNK 9th POSITION RNK 2nd PAYDS 2018 RUYDS -25 INTS 4 TDS 18 Let's make it three quarterbacks in a row, with Sanders bringing his version of prime time to Nashville. While this may seem premature for the Titans to move off Levis, if his disastrous play continues, they may have no other choice.

Round 1 - Pick 7 Kelvin Banks Jr. OT Texas • Jr • 6'4" / 320 lbs Projected Team N.Y. Jets PROSPECT RNK 10th POSITION RNK 2nd To build for the future, while adding an instant starter to an offensive front that features two blockers in their mid-30s in the 2024 season, the Jets go with the pass-protecting specialist from Texas here.

Round 1 - Pick 8 Princely Umanmielen EDGE Ole Miss • Sr • 6'4" / 255 lbs Projected Team Cincinnati PROSPECT RNK 35th POSITION RNK 6th The Bengals add another youthful edge rusher to a defensive front that needs more of a youthful spark on the perimeter.

Round 1 - Pick 9 Tetairoa McMillan WR Arizona • Jr • 6'5" / 212 lbs Projected Team New Orleans PROSPECT RNK 4th POSITION RNK 1st REC 42 REYDS 742 YDS/REC 17.7 TDS 4 McMillan is your classic chain-moving outside receiver who'll battle through physicality and win routinely at the catch point, precisely what the Saints could use in their offense.

Round 1 - Pick 10 Nic Scourton EDGE Texas A&M • Jr • 6'4" / 285 lbs Projected Team Arizona PROSPECT RNK 16th POSITION RNK 3rd Like 2024 first-round pick Darius Robinson, Scourton is a sizable, inside-outside rusher with strength and pass-rush moves.

Round 1 - Pick 11 Jalen Milroe QB Alabama • Jr • 6'2" / 225 lbs Projected Team Las Vegas PROSPECT RNK 26th POSITION RNK 5th PAYDS 1483 RUYDS 319 INTS 4 TDS 23 It's upside galore with Milroe because of his dynamic rushing abilities along with ascending arm strength and decision-making. The Raiders reset the right way, by picking a quarterback in the first round.

Round 1 - Pick 12 Garrett Nussmeier QB LSU • Jr • 6'2" / 200 lbs Projected Team N.Y. Giants PROSPECT RNK 33rd POSITION RNK 6th PAYDS 1989 RUYDS 10 INTS 6 TDS 20 Right this very instant, if there's one quarterback I had to choose to ascend boards over the next four months, it'd be Nussmeier, who plays with such effortless arm talent, accuracy, and toughness within the pocket.

Round 1 - Pick 13 Malaki Starks S Georgia • Jr • 6'1" / 205 lbs Projected Team Miami PROSPECT RNK 12th POSITION RNK 1st I love the idea of Starks and Jevon Holland, as interchangable safety types, at the backend of Miami's defense.

Round 1 - Pick 14 Harold Perkins Jr. LB LSU • Jr • 6'1" / 225 lbs Projected Team Seattle PROSPECT RNK 17th POSITION RNK 1st While this may seem early for a prospect who's already done for the year with a torn ACL, Perkins has All-Pro upside as a multi-dimensional player in Mike Macdonald's defense.

Round 1 - Pick 15 Colston Loveland TE Michigan • Jr • 6'5" / 245 lbs Projected Team Denver PROSPECT RNK 21st POSITION RNK 1st REC 29 REYDS 261 YDS/REC 9 TDS 2 Loveland still looks like the best tight end prospect in this class, and he can instantly become a high-volume target in Sean Payton's offense for Bo Nix.

Round 1 - Pick 16 Ashton Jeanty RB Boise State • Jr • 5'9" / 215 lbs Projected Team Dallas PROSPECT RNK 14th POSITION RNK 1st RUYDS 1248 YDS/ATT 9.9 REYDS 39 TDS 18 Would this not be the most Jerry Jones pick ever? Jeanty looks like one of the most threatening running back prospects in a long time, and the Cowboys have a major need at the position.

Round 1 - Pick 17 Luther Burden III WR Missouri • Jr • 5'11" / 205 lbs Projected Team Philadelphia PROSPECT RNK 11th POSITION RNK 2nd REC 31 REYDS 398 YDS/REC 12.8 TDS 6 With two highly paid veterans on the roster at receiver, the Eagles add a young, relatively cheap option with serious skills to add another layer to the passing attack.

Round 1 - Pick 18 Mykel Williams EDGE Georgia • Jr • 6'5" / 265 lbs Projected Team Chicago PROSPECT RNK 7th POSITION RNK 1st Williams is too freakish for the Bears to pass here, and he'd be a nice building block opposite the similarly long and athletic Montez Sweat on an ascending Chicago defensive line.

Round 1 - Pick 19 Mason Graham DL Michigan • Jr • 6'3" / 320 lbs Projected Team Indianapolis PROSPECT RNK 3rd POSITION RNK 1st Graham has been a three-down stud and looked like a future first-round pick for two years now on the Michigan defensive line. Instant long-term solution up front in Indy.

Round 1 - Pick 20 Cameron Williams OL Texas • Jr • 6'5" / 335 lbs Projected Team San Francisco PROSPECT RNK 56th POSITION RNK 3rd The 49ers plan ahead for life after Trent Williams with the highly talented and productive blocker from Texas.

Round 1 - Pick 21 Emeka Egbuka WR Ohio State • Sr • 6'1" / 205 lbs Projected Team L.A. Chargers PROSPECT RNK 20th POSITION RNK 3rd REC 40 REYDS 526 YDS/REC 13.2 TDS 6 The Chargers get another polished route-running specialist for Justin Herbert to pair with 2024 second-round pick Ladd McConkey. Nice young duo in Los Angeles.

Round 1 - Pick 22 Abdul Carter EDGE Penn State • Jr • 6'3" / 252 lbs Projected Team Tampa Bay PROSPECT RNK 19th POSITION RNK 4th With the ability to play off the ball or rush the passer, Carter would give Todd Bowles plenty of new deployment options with this rookie.

Round 1 - Pick 23 Isaiah Bond WR Texas • Jr • 5'11" / 180 lbs Projected Team Baltimore PROSPECT RNK 41st POSITION RNK 5th REC 21 REYDS 369 YDS/REC 17.6 TDS 4 While the Ravens seem to be getting by with Zay Flowers as the lone big-play weapon in the pass game, Bond's speed, route-running acumen and ball-tracking skill would make Baltimore's offense much diverse.

Round 1 - Pick 24 Aireontae Ersery OL Minnesota • Sr • 6'6" / 330 lbs Projected Team Green Bay PROSPECT RNK 49th POSITION RNK 2nd Yes, the Packers invested a first-round pick in a blocker in April -- Jordan Morgan -- but they dip back into that well to secure the long-term stability of the blocking unit in front of Jordan Love.

Round 1 - Pick 25 James Pearce Jr. EDGE Tennessee • Jr • 6'5" / 243 lbs Projected Team Buffalo PROSPECT RNK 13th POSITION RNK 2nd Pearce looked like a future top-10 pick after an incredible 2023 season at Tennessee. His 2024 hasn't been as efficient, but the length, burst, flexibility and flashes of pass-rush moves are there. More outside rushing help in Buffalo.

Round 1 - Pick 26 Shavon Revel Jr. DB East Carolina • Sr • 6'3" / 193 lbs Projected Team Washington PROSPECT RNK 28th POSITION RNK 1st The cornerback class looks weak, but Revel -- who's currently out for the year with a knee injury -- has immense potential because of his size, suddenness, and collegiate ball production.

Round 1 - Pick 27 Kobe Hudson WR UCF • Sr • 6'1" / 200 lbs Projected Team Pittsburgh PROSPECT RNK POSITION RNK REC 23 REYDS 477 YDS/REC 20.7 TDS 3 Instead of waiting until Day 2, the Steelers jump at the opportunity to pick the sturdy outside receiver from Central Florida who's been a steady, three-level producer for going on three years now.

Round 1 - Pick 28 Jack Sawyer EDGE Ohio State • Sr • 6'5" / 260 lbs Projected Team Detroit PROSPECT RNK 27th POSITION RNK 5th Even before the Aidan Hutchinson injury, the Lions were in need of more pass-rushing spark on the edge opposite the budding superstar. Sawyer is a gritty and productive three-down rusher.

Round 1 - Pick 29 Donovan Ezeiruaku DE Boston College • Sr • 6'2" / 247 lbs Projected Team Atlanta PROSPECT RNK 44th POSITION RNK 1st While he's a tick smaller than most teams will like, his production speaks for itself and he plays with immense burst and speed around the corner.

Round 1 - Pick 30 Deone Walker DL Kentucky • Jr • 6'6" / 345 lbs Projected Team Houston PROSPECT RNK 8th POSITION RNK 2nd The defensive tackle is the one clear weak spot on the Texans roster, and Walker can be a star playing on the inside with Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr. on the edges.

Round 1 - Pick 31 Jonah Savaiinaea OT Arizona • Jr • 6'5" / 336 lbs Projected Team Kansas City PROSPECT RNK 23rd POSITION RNK 3rd Another early-round pick on an offensive tackle. While Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid mask this flaw extraordinarily well, it's now been a few seasons in which the Chiefs tackles struggle individually.

Round 1 - Pick 32 Xavier Watts S Notre Dame • Sr • 6'0" / 203 lbs Projected Team Minnesota PROSPECT RNK 92nd POSITION RNK 3rd Watts has been tremendous in 2024 for the Fighting Irish, and he can learn from ageless wonder Harrison Smith at safety early in his professional career.