2025 NFL Mock Draft: Cowboys make no-brainer pick, Packers add to defense and Lions provide surprise at No. 32

Patriots rookie quarterback Drake Maye didn't have his finest performance in the Week 12 loss to the Dolphins, but considering the porous state of his offensive line and lack of weapons, he's played mostly quality football in his debut season. 

The 2025 offseason priority for New England executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf and Co. is loading the roster with plus talent. At receiver, there isn't necessarily Ja'Marr Chase in the 2025 draft class. That doesn't mean New England should shy away from adding a wideout for Maye in April.

And Arizona's Tetairoa McMillan does emanate Drake London vibes. The Falcons wideout was selected inside the top 10 in 2021and should probably eclipse 1,000 yards in his third season after posting 69 catches for 905 yards a season ago in Atlanta. 

As for a team on the other end of the win-loss spectrum this season, the Lions, in all of their offensive efficiency, could probably use another pass-catching option, couldn't they? But in this mock, instead of going receiver, Dan Campbell and Co. zero in on the head coach's former position to pair with Sam LaPorta in Detroit. How fun would that be?

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 82 REYDS 1036 YDS/REC 12.6 TDS 12 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. This is feeling more and more like an no-brainer.

Round 1 - Pick 2 Cam Ward QB Miami (FL) • Sr • 6'2" / 223 lbs Projected Team N.Y. Giants PROSPECT RNK 6th POSITION RNK 1st PAYDS 3774 RUYDS 177 INTS 7 TDS 38 The Giants need to pick a quarterback here. I can't envision John Mara and Co. wanting to take on the circus that will come with Shedeur Sanders. And Ward has had a fine season at Miami this year.

Round 1 - Pick 3 Shedeur Sanders QB Colorado • Sr • 6'2" / 215 lbs Projected Team Las Vegas PROSPECT RNK 9th POSITION RNK 2nd PAYDS 3488 RUYDS 15 INTS 7 TDS 34 Now this is the type of organization that would welcome Sanders. And this selection wouldn't solely be to sell tickets. Sanders doesn't have premier traits, yet is a poised pocket passer and very accurate.

Round 1 - Pick 4 Tetairoa McMillan WR Arizona • Jr • 6'5" / 212 lbs Projected Team New England PROSPECT RNK 4th POSITION RNK 1st REC 78 REYDS 1251 YDS/REC 16 TDS 7 The Patriots have a nice slot wideout in Pop Douglas and get quality contributions from depth pieces down the roster. They need a true No. 1 wideout. That's precisely what McMillan is.

Round 1 - Pick 5 Abdul Carter EDGE Penn State • Jr • 6'3" / 252 lbs Projected Team Carolina PROSPECT RNK 19th POSITION RNK 4th Carter seemingly has the elite-level traits to go this high in the draft, and the Panthers have to get better on the edge.

Round 1 - Pick 6 Mykel Williams EDGE Georgia • Jr • 6'5" / 265 lbs Projected Team Tennessee PROSPECT RNK 7th POSITION RNK 1st Williams has All-Pro traits, and with the correct development with the defensively challenged Titans, he can become one of the anchors on that side of the ball.

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 Mason Graham DL Michigan • Jr • 6'3" / 320 lbs Projected Team Cleveland PROSPECT RNK 3rd POSITION RNK 1st How about a rugged, upfield rusher to complement Myles Garrett on the outside in Cleveland?

Round 1 - Pick 9 Malaki Starks S Georgia • Jr • 6'1" / 205 lbs Projected Team New Orleans PROSPECT RNK 12th POSITION RNK 1st The Saints need...everything. This is simply the best available player on the board here for New Orleans.

Round 1 - Pick 10 Emeka Egbuka WR Ohio State • Sr • 6'1" / 205 lbs Projected Team Cincinnati PROSPECT RNK 20th POSITION RNK 3rd REC 56 REYDS 692 YDS/REC 12.4 TDS 9 Egbuka probably would've been a second-round pick in 2024, but his strong senior season at Ohio State could catapult him this high. Plus, are the Bengals going to pay both their top receivers? Unlikely.

Round 1 - Pick 11 Ashton Jeanty RB Boise State • Jr • 5'9" / 215 lbs Projected Team Dallas PROSPECT RNK 14th POSITION RNK 1st RUYDS 2062 YDS/ATT 7.5 REYDS 102 TDS 28 Do we genuinely believe, if Jeanty is available when the Cowboys go on the board, that Jerry Jones won't draft him?

Round 1 - Pick 12 Jalon Walker EDGE Georgia • Jr • 6'2" / 245 lbs Projected Team Chicago PROSPECT RNK 31st POSITION RNK 6th The Bears get the premier linebacker-edge rushing hybrid in the 2024 class in Walker. Chicago's defense is on the cusp of being elite.

Round 1 - Pick 13 Luther Burden III WR Missouri • Jr • 5'11" / 205 lbs Projected Team Indianapolis PROSPECT RNK 11th POSITION RNK 2nd REC 60 REYDS 665 YDS/REC 11.1 TDS 8 The Colts give Anthony Richardson another dynamic weapon in Burden, who's been on the first-round radar since his freshman season at Missouri.

Round 1 - Pick 14 Will Johnson CB Michigan • Jr • 6'2" / 202 lbs Projected Team Miami PROSPECT RNK 2nd POSITION RNK 1st The Dolphins stop Johnson's fall to pair him with Jalen Ramsey for a second or two before he takes over as the true No. 1 on the outside in Miami.

Round 1 - Pick 15 Nic Scourton EDGE Texas A&M • Jr • 6'4" / 285 lbs Projected Team Tampa Bay PROSPECT RNK 16th POSITION RNK 3rd Scourton looks like one of the more NFL-ready outside rushers -- with interior capabilities -- in this class. The Buccaneers have to add more talent to their defensive line.

Round 1 - Pick 16 Kelvin Banks Jr. OT Texas • Jr • 6'4" / 320 lbs Projected Team L.A. Rams PROSPECT RNK 10th POSITION RNK 2nd Banks is one of the more versatile blockers in this class, and the Rams' clear weakness is its offensive line.

Round 1 - Pick 17 Josh Simmons OL Ohio State • Sr • 6'5" / 310 lbs Projected Team San Francisco PROSPECT RNK 30th POSITION RNK 1st The 49ers have to plan for the future after the Trent Williams' era is over at left tackle. Simmons has immense upside.

Round 1 - Pick 18 LT Overton DL Alabama • Jr • 6'5" / 283 lbs Projected Team Arizona PROSPECT RNK 52nd POSITION RNK 8th The Cardinals get another oversized rusher to add to the defensive front. Overton has surged onto the scene this season at Alabama after transferring from Texas A&M.

Round 1 - Pick 19 Princely Umanmielen EDGE Ole Miss • Sr • 6'4" / 255 lbs Projected Team Atlanta PROSPECT RNK 35th POSITION RNK 7th Umanmielen is a chiseled but reasonably explosive and bendy rusher who'd be a welcomed addition to the Falcons anemic pass rusher.

Round 1 - Pick 20 Harold Perkins Jr. LB LSU • Jr • 6'1" / 225 lbs Projected Team Seattle PROSPECT RNK 17th POSITION RNK 1st The Seahawks have been running through linebackers this season, and while Perkins is probably best around the edge, he flies to the football off the ball.

Round 1 - Pick 21 Shavon Revel Jr. CB East Carolina • Sr • 6'3" / 193 lbs Projected Team Washington PROSPECT RNK 28th POSITION RNK 4th The Commanders need to add a boundary cornerback with size and ball skills. That's precisely the type of specimen Revel is.

Round 1 - Pick 22 Cameron Williams OT Texas • Jr • 6'5" / 335 lbs Projected Team Houston PROSPECT RNK 56th POSITION RNK 7th Watch a Texans game... and you'll first notice how shoddy the interior of the offensive line is. Williams can play tackle or guard immediately in Houston.

Round 1 - Pick 23 Wyatt Milum OT West Virginia • Sr • 6'6" / 317 lbs Projected Team Denver PROSPECT RNK 47th POSITION RNK 4th The Broncos get their instant heir apparent for Garett Bolles at left tackle. Milum is a strong and athletic specimen.

Round 1 - Pick 24 Colston Loveland TE Michigan • Jr • 6'5" / 245 lbs Projected Team L.A. Chargers PROSPECT RNK 21st POSITION RNK 1st REC 56 REYDS 582 YDS/REC 10.4 TDS 5 Jim Harbaugh picks his former Michigan superstar at the tight end spot to give Justin Herbert a stud down the seam.

Round 1 - Pick 25 Landon Jackson EDGE Arkansas • Sr • 6'7" / 280 lbs Projected Team Baltimore PROSPECT RNK 36th POSITION RNK 8th Jackson is a towering, thick outside rusher who'd fit perfectly with the Ravens prototype on the edge.

Round 1 - Pick 26 Aireontae Ersery OT Minnesota • Sr • 6'6" / 330 lbs Projected Team Pittsburgh PROSPECT RNK 49th POSITION RNK 5th More tackle help for the Steelers. This remains a need, and Ersery, who's a mountain of a man, has looked like a first-round pick for two years now.

Round 1 - Pick 27 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 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 Jalen Royals WR Utah State • Sr • 6'0" / 205 lbs Projected Team Philadelphia PROSPECT RNK 102nd POSITION RNK 11th REC 55 REYDS 834 YDS/REC 15.2 TDS 6 Royals has been fantastic at Utah State this season, and he looks like his athletic profile could be first-round caliber.

Round 1 - Pick 30 James Pearce Jr. EDGE Tennessee • Jr • 6'5" / 243 lbs Projected Team Buffalo PROSPECT RNK 13th POSITION RNK 2nd Pearce is a long, athletic, bendy rusher around the corner, and he'll be the instant replacement for Von Miller in 2025.

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 Tyler Warren TE Penn State • Sr • 6'6" / 261 lbs Projected Team Detroit PROSPECT RNK 85th POSITION RNK 4th REC 75 REYDS 910 YDS/REC 12.1 TDS 9 How about another plus receiving threat at tight end alongside Sam LaPorta in Detroit? Wouldn't this be very on-brand for a Dan Campbell-coached team?