2025 NFL Mock Draft: Bengals add blocker for Joe Burrow; Broncos select another receiver for Bo Nix

Joe Burrow is having an MVP-caliber season, but the Bengals defense and offensive line are dragging Cincinnati in the win-loss column. 

The Bengals are 1-6 in one-score games entering their Week 12 bye, and the defense is 27th in EPA per play allowed. However, we can't ignore the play up front for Cincinnati simply because Burrow is dicing secondaries regardless of the amount of pressure he's faced. 

Starting guards Alex Cappa and Cordell Volson have surrendered 27 and 33 pressures, respectively, through 11 games, which are both rather high numbers on 234 pass-blocking snaps. Swing tackle Cody Ford has allowed 24 pressures of his own on a mere 129 pass-blocking opportunities. 

In short, the Bengals have to reconstruct the defense, but the offensive line has become a clear weakness on this club with arguably the most explosive offense in football. In this mock draft, the Bengals add a versatile tackle/guard to fortify the interior in front of their franchise quarterback. 

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

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 Jacksonville PROSPECT RNK 1st POSITION RNK 1st REC 74 REYDS 911 YDS/REC 12.3 TDS 10 Hunter is the best player in college football with immense two-way abilities. The Jaguars could use an elite talent at cornerback, and Hunter's dynamic receiving skills would help a sputtering offense, too.

Round 1 - Pick 2 Tetairoa McMillan WR Arizona • Jr • 6'5" / 212 lbs Projected Team Tennessee PROSPECT RNK 4th POSITION RNK 1st REC 69 REYDS 1136 YDS/REC 16.5 TDS 7 McMillan is having a Drake London-type season for Arizona in a similar frame with similar traits. And the Titans desperately need receiving weapons for Will Levis.

Round 1 - Pick 3 Jalen Milroe QB Alabama • Jr • 6'2" / 225 lbs Projected Team Cleveland PROSPECT RNK 26th POSITION RNK 5th PAYDS 2232 RUYDS 608 INTS 6 TDS 32 Can't shake this pairing for now. Milroe has massive upside but probably isn't ready to start until 2026, which is when the Browns can more reasonably move on from Deshaun Watson.

Round 1 - Pick 4 Cam Ward QB Miami (FL) • Sr • 6'2" / 223 lbs Projected Team N.Y. Giants PROSPECT RNK 6th POSITION RNK 1st PAYDS 3494 RUYDS 182 INTS 6 TDS 35 The Giants will be drafting a quarterback in 2025, and Ward, while not someone with premier traits, has looked like a quarterback with high-level starting skills in the right NFL situation.

Round 1 - Pick 5 Shedeur Sanders QB Colorado • Sr • 6'2" / 215 lbs Projected Team Las Vegas PROSPECT RNK 9th POSITION RNK 2nd PAYDS 3222 RUYDS -11 INTS 7 TDS 31 Sanders in Las Vegas -- potentially with his dad at head coach -- is sensible. I like the idea the more I think about it. With a high-caliber tight end in place and plenty of cap space, the Raiders can surprise with quality quarterback play in 2025.

Round 1 - Pick 6 Mykel Williams EDGE Georgia • Jr • 6'5" / 265 lbs Projected Team New England PROSPECT RNK 7th POSITION RNK 1st Williams has All-Pro traits, and with the correct development in New England can maximize those reasonably raw skills.

Round 1 - Pick 7 Will Campbell OT LSU • Jr • 6'6" / 323 lbs Projected Team N.Y. Jets PROSPECT RNK 5th POSITION RNK 1st The Jets go the prudent route with the steady LSU tackle to build the offensive line in the future.

Round 1 - Pick 8 Abdul Carter EDGE Penn State • Jr • 6'3" / 252 lbs Projected Team Carolina PROSPECT RNK 19th POSITION RNK 4th Carter is having a tremendous season at Penn State and has Micah Parsons-like physical traits. The Panthers have to add a premier edge-rushing talent to the roster.

Round 1 - Pick 9 Ashton Jeanty RB Boise State • Jr • 5'9" / 215 lbs Projected Team Dallas PROSPECT RNK 14th POSITION RNK 1st RUYDS 1893 YDS/ATT 7.4 REYDS 98 TDS 27 If any team would pick a running back in the top 10, it'd be this Jerry Jones club. Jeanty is a premier talent.

Round 1 - Pick 10 Emeka Egbuka WR Ohio State • Sr • 6'1" / 205 lbs Projected Team New Orleans PROSPECT RNK 20th POSITION RNK 3rd REC 49 REYDS 612 YDS/REC 12.5 TDS 8 The Saints get Derek Carr another polished Ohio State receiver in Egbuka, who's looked ready for the NFL since last season.

Round 1 - Pick 11 Kelvin Banks Jr. OT Texas • Jr • 6'4" / 320 lbs Projected Team Cincinnati PROSPECT RNK 10th POSITION RNK 2nd Banks would help solidify what's been a shaky Bengals offensive line this season protecting Joe Burrow.

Round 1 - Pick 12 Will Johnson CB Michigan • Jr • 6'2" / 202 lbs Projected Team Miami PROSPECT RNK 2nd POSITION RNK 1st The Dolphins stop the Johnson slide to pair him with Jalen Ramsey before eventually taking over as the No. 1 corner spot.

Round 1 - Pick 13 Luther Burden III WR Missouri • Jr • 5'11" / 205 lbs Projected Team Tampa Bay PROSPECT RNK 11th POSITION RNK 2nd REC 53 REYDS 574 YDS/REC 10.8 TDS 7 The Buccaneers plan for the future at receiver with Burden, who's demonstrated first-round traits and production since his early days at Missouri.

Round 1 - Pick 14 Malaki Starks S Georgia • Jr • 6'1" / 205 lbs Projected Team Chicago PROSPECT RNK 12th POSITION RNK 1st Starks is simply too good and NFL-ready of a player for the Bears to pass on him here. Three-down playmaker.

Round 1 - Pick 15 Jalon Walker EDGE Georgia • Jr • 6'2" / 245 lbs Projected Team Indianapolis PROSPECT RNK 31st POSITION RNK 6th The Colts get a multidimensional linebacker-edge rusher to add more juice to the defense.

Round 1 - Pick 16 Harold Perkins Jr. LB LSU • Jr • 6'1" / 225 lbs Projected Team Seattle PROSPECT RNK 17th POSITION RNK 1st The Seahawks have a clear need at linebacker, and Perkins, when healthy, is probably the most dynamic prospect at the position in this class.

Round 1 - Pick 17 Josh Simmons OL Ohio State • Sr • 6'5" / 310 lbs Projected Team L.A. Rams PROSPECT RNK 30th POSITION RNK 1st The Rams get a high-upside blocker to plug in at either tackle spot in 2025. Simmons has been awesome in pass pro this season,.

Round 1 - Pick 18 Nic Scourton EDGE Texas A&M • Jr • 6'4" / 285 lbs Projected Team San Francisco PROSPECT RNK 16th POSITION RNK 3rd Scourton looks like he'll be ready to rock as a rookie because of his length, power, and ascending hand work. Exactly what the 49ers need.

Round 1 - Pick 19 Xavier Restrepo WR Miami (FL) • Sr • 5'10" / 198 lbs Projected Team Denver PROSPECT RNK 91st POSITION RNK 9th REC 55 REYDS 934 YDS/REC 17 TDS 10 The Broncos snag the lightning-quick Restrepo, who's demonstrated fantastic hands in 2024, to be the chain-moving slot for Bo Nix.

Round 1 - Pick 20 James Pearce Jr. EDGE Tennessee • Jr • 6'5" / 243 lbs Projected Team Atlanta PROSPECT RNK 13th POSITION RNK 2nd The Falcons don't even have 10 sacks as a defense entering Week 12. They desperately need a genuine No. 1 outside rusher, and Pearce has those traits.

Round 1 - Pick 21 LT Overton DL Alabama • Jr • 6'5" / 283 lbs Projected Team Arizona PROSPECT RNK 52nd POSITION RNK 8th Another NFC team with an edge need, and Overton has been the classic breakout star on Alabama's defense this season.

Round 1 - Pick 22 Shavon Revel Jr. CB East Carolina • Sr • 6'3" / 193 lbs Projected Team Washington PROSPECT RNK 28th POSITION RNK 4th The Commanders roll the dice with the injured star cornerback from outside the Power 4. When healthy, Revel looks like a first-round talent with ball skills and plus athleticism.

Round 1 - Pick 23 Wyatt Milum OT West Virginia • Sr • 6'6" / 317 lbs Projected Team Houston PROSPECT RNK 47th POSITION RNK 4th The Texans probably feel fine with their tackle situation, but this Milum selection is about simply playing the five best blockers in front of C.J. Stroud.

Round 1 - Pick 24 Mason Graham DL Michigan • Jr • 6'3" / 320 lbs Projected Team Baltimore PROSPECT RNK 3rd POSITION RNK 1st Graham is too talented and too productive for the Ravens to pass on here. He and Justin Madubuike would formulate a tremendous interior tandem in Baltimore.

Round 1 - Pick 25 Colston Loveland TE Michigan • Jr • 6'5" / 245 lbs Projected Team L.A. Chargers PROSPECT RNK 21st POSITION RNK 1st REC 53 REYDS 560 YDS/REC 10.6 TDS 4 Jim Harbaugh calls this pick in immediately when he sees the best tight end in the class, whom he recruited and coached at Michigan, still available.

Round 1 - Pick 26 T.J. Sanders DL South Carolina • Jr • 6'4" / 290 lbs Projected Team Green Bay PROSPECT RNK 43rd POSITION RNK 7th The Packers need more girth inside, and Sanders is a wide-bodied, three-down defender who's flashed upfield as a pass rusher on South Carolina's stellar defensive front this season.

Round 1 - Pick 27 Kenneth Grant DL Michigan • Jr • 6'3" / 339 lbs Projected Team Pittsburgh PROSPECT RNK 29th POSITION RNK 4th Grant is an upfield rusher who's played like an early-round pick across multiple seasons at Michigan. He and Keeanu Benton would be a fun complementary tandem inside.

Round 1 - Pick 28 Deone Walker DL Kentucky • Jr • 6'6" / 345 lbs Projected Team Minnesota PROSPECT RNK 8th POSITION RNK 2nd The Vikings add an enormous and athletic defensive tackle to make life easier for their outside rushers in Brian Flores' blitz-obsessed scheme.

Round 1 - Pick 29 Isaiah Bond WR Texas • Jr • 5'11" / 180 lbs Projected Team Philadelphia PROSPECT RNK 41st POSITION RNK 5th REC 30 REYDS 483 YDS/REC 16.1 TDS 6 Another speedy wideout for Jalen Hurts in Nick Sirianni's offense.

Round 1 - Pick 30 Princely Umanmielen EDGE Ole Miss • Sr • 6'4" / 255 lbs Projected Team Buffalo PROSPECT RNK 35th POSITION RNK 7th Umanmielen has pieced together yet another magnificent season rushing the quarterback in the SEC. He'd be a steal here for the Bills this late in Round 1.

Round 1 - Pick 31 Walter Nolen DL Ole Miss • Jr • 6'3" / 305 lbs Projected Team Kansas City PROSPECT RNK 39th POSITION RNK 6th Nolen would give Chris Jones a legitimate running mate getting upfield as a rusher. The Ole Miss star has demolished offensive lines with regularity this season.

Round 1 - Pick 32 Jalen Royals WR Utah State • Sr • 6'0" / 205 lbs Projected Team Detroit PROSPECT RNK 102nd POSITION RNK 11th REC 55 REYDS 834 YDS/REC 15.2 TDS 6 The Lions add another boundary weapon to the offense in Royals, who's dangerous over the top of the defense and when needing to make a defender miss in space.