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.
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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.
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NFL Mock Draft
Round 1
Round 1 - Pick 1
Travis Hunter
ATH
Colorado
• Jr
• 6'1"
/ 185 lbs
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.
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Round 1 - Pick 2
LSU
• Jr
• 6'6"
/ 323 lbs
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.
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Round 1 - Pick 3
Will Johnson
CB
Michigan
• Jr
• 6'2"
/ 202 lbs
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.
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Round 1 - Pick 4
Cam Ward
QB
Miami (FL)
• Sr
• 6'2"
/ 223 lbs
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.
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Round 1 - Pick 5
Carson Beck
QB
Georgia
• Sr
• 6'4"
/ 220 lbs
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.
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Round 1 - Pick 6
Colorado
• Sr
• 6'2"
/ 215 lbs
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.
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Round 1 - Pick 7
Texas
• Jr
• 6'4"
/ 320 lbs
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.
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Round 1 - Pick 8
Princely Umanmielen
EDGE
Ole Miss
• Sr
• 6'4"
/ 255 lbs
The Bengals add another youthful edge rusher to a defensive front that needs more of a youthful spark on the perimeter.
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Round 1 - Pick 9
Arizona
• Jr
• 6'5"
/ 212 lbs
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.
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Round 1 - Pick 10
Nic Scourton
EDGE
Texas A&M
• Jr
• 6'4"
/ 285 lbs
Like 2024 first-round pick Darius Robinson, Scourton is a sizable, inside-outside rusher with strength and pass-rush moves.
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Round 1 - Pick 11
Jalen Milroe
QB
Alabama
• Jr
• 6'2"
/ 225 lbs
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.
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Round 1 - Pick 12
LSU
• Jr
• 6'2"
/ 200 lbs
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.
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Round 1 - Pick 13
Georgia
• Jr
• 6'1"
/ 205 lbs
I love the idea of Starks and Jevon Holland, as interchangable safety types, at the backend of Miami's defense.
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Round 1 - Pick 14
LSU
• Jr
• 6'1"
/ 225 lbs
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.
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Round 1 - Pick 15
Michigan
• Jr
• 6'5"
/ 245 lbs
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.
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Round 1 - Pick 16
Boise State
• Jr
• 5'9"
/ 215 lbs
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.
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Round 1 - Pick 17
Missouri
• Jr
• 5'11"
/ 205 lbs
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.
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Round 1 - Pick 18
Mykel Williams
EDGE
Georgia
• Jr
• 6'5"
/ 265 lbs
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.
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Round 1 - Pick 19
Mason Graham
DL
Michigan
• Jr
• 6'3"
/ 320 lbs
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.
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Round 1 - Pick 20
Texas
• Jr
• 6'5"
/ 335 lbs
The 49ers plan ahead for life after Trent Williams with the highly talented and productive blocker from Texas.
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Round 1 - Pick 21
Emeka Egbuka
WR
Ohio State
• Sr
• 6'1"
/ 205 lbs
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.
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Round 1 - Pick 22
Abdul Carter
EDGE
Penn State
• Jr
• 6'3"
/ 252 lbs
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.
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Round 1 - Pick 23
Isaiah Bond
WR
Texas
• Jr
• 5'11"
/ 180 lbs
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.
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Round 1 - Pick 24
Minnesota
• Sr
• 6'6"
/ 330 lbs
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.
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Round 1 - Pick 25
James Pearce Jr.
EDGE
Tennessee
• Jr
• 6'5"
/ 243 lbs
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.
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Round 1 - Pick 26
East Carolina
• Sr
• 6'3"
/ 193 lbs
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.
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Round 1 - Pick 27
Kobe Hudson
WR
UCF
• Sr
• 6'1"
/ 200 lbs
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.
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Round 1 - Pick 28
Jack Sawyer
EDGE
Ohio State
• Sr
• 6'5"
/ 260 lbs
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.
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Round 1 - Pick 29
Boston College
• Sr
• 6'2"
/ 247 lbs
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.
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Round 1 - Pick 30
Deone Walker
DL
Kentucky
• Jr
• 6'6"
/ 345 lbs
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.
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Round 1 - Pick 31
Arizona
• Jr
• 6'5"
/ 336 lbs
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.
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Round 1 - Pick 32
Notre Dame
• Sr
• 6'0"
/ 203 lbs
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.
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