Travis Hunter has entered the No. 1 overall pick conversation -- the Colorado do-everything superstar has been a lockdown cornerback and generated splash plays as a receiver at high volume through the first month of the college football season.
And the quarterback position in the 2025 class looks very deep. A litany of passers have played impressive football, clearing the way for what should be one of the most wide-open races for the distinction of "first quarterback off the board" we've seen in quite some time.
I haven't been blown away by the productivity or traits of any of the perceived top quarterbacks through the month of September, but that doesn't mean all these quarterbacks will fall late in the first round or even dip all the way to Day 2. Many NFL teams are going to be starved for a young, talented, relatively inexpensive quarterback next April. The financial gulf between a first-round quarterback on a rookie deal and a veteran on a mega, multiyear extension has never been larger, and it's unlikely to shrink in size anytime soon.
Remember, six quarterbacks were picked in the first 12 selections in the 2024 class.
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And that need to acquire quarterbacks via the draft is the theme of this mock. What if the 2024 trend continues next April? Quarterbacks flying off the board early and often.
Now, let's get to the players who heard their names called in the mock.
The draft order below was determined using the current SportsLine consensus Super Bowl odds but in reverse order.
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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
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.
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Round 1 - Pick 2
Quinn Ewers
QB
Texas
• Jr
• 6'2"
/ 210 lbs
Ewers isn't a finished product yet but possesses the natural throwing talent to ultimately go this high. Carolina turns the page from the Bryce Young disaster.
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Round 1 - Pick 3
Cam Ward
QB
Miami (FL)
• Sr
• 6'2"
/ 223 lbs
The Giants add the ultra-calm but dynamic passer Ward to the franchise to give the club the jolt it needs at the most valuable position in sports.
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Round 1 - Pick 4
LSU
• Jr
• 6'6"
/ 323 lbs
The Titans go with an offensive lineman in Round 1 for the third consecutive year with the super-steady Campbell.
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Round 1 - Pick 5
Arizona
• Jr
• 6'5"
/ 212 lbs
McMillan would be another towering wideout opposite Courtland Sutton who'd catch essentially everything thrown in his direction from Bo Nix.
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Round 1 - Pick 6
LSU
• Jr
• 6'6"
/ 315 lbs
The Jaguars add more offensive tackle talent to protect Trevor Lawrence with the LSU blocker.
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Round 1 - Pick 7
Will Johnson
CB
Michigan
• Jr
• 6'2"
/ 202 lbs
The Cardinals defense desperately needs a long, uber-talented boundary cornerback. They get that here with Johnson, who's looked like a top 10 pick since his rookie season at Michigan.
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Round 1 - Pick 8
Colorado
• Sr
• 6'2"
/ 215 lbs
This could be a win-win scenario for both sides, if there's patience. Sanders enters a legitimate redshirt scenario behind Matthew Stafford to learn the ropes of what it takes to be a successful NFL QB, then takes over at the outset of the 2026 season. He has a methodical skill set Sean McVay and Co. could conceivably love.
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Round 1 - Pick 9
Jalen Milroe
QB
Alabama
• Jr
• 6'2"
/ 225 lbs
Quarterbacks flying off the board quickly in this mock, just like they did in April. Milroe has noticeably improved as a passer at Alabama and plays with the utmost confidence and hustle. The eventual heir to Deshaun Watson in Cleveland.
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Round 1 - Pick 10
LSU
• Jr
• 6'2"
/ 200 lbs
Nussmeier was a recruiting target for Arizona State when Antonio Pierce was with the Sun Devils, and is an ascending passer with plus arm talent and could have loads of production entering the NFL.
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Round 1 - Pick 11
Mason Graham
DL
Michigan
• Jr
• 6'3"
/ 320 lbs
The Dolphins need more beef on the interior of their defensive line, especially because that position is being held together by the ageless wonder Calais Campbell right now.
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Round 1 - Pick 12
Princely Umanmielen
EDGE
Ole Miss
• Sr
• 6'4"
/ 255 lbs
This is an established SEC rusher with high-caliber traits who has a ceiling this high in the first round in April. The Bears get a serious bookend to Montez Sweat who can challenge Austin Booker for the full-time role opposite Sweat.
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Round 1 - Pick 13
Missouri
• Jr
• 5'11"
/ 205 lbs
Burden's been great. For years now. He's smaller and sleeker than a few of the other top receivers in this class, but he might be the most polished with the most complete skill set.
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Round 1 - Pick 14
Nic Scourton
EDGE
Texas A&M
• Jr
• 6'4"
/ 285 lbs
Given the ages of their starting EDGEs -- Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack -- the Chargers get Scourton to signal the future at the position. He's a sizable specimen who can win on the inside too.
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Round 1 - Pick 15
Jack Sawyer
EDGE
Ohio State
• Sr
• 6'5"
/ 260 lbs
The Washington defense has shown improvement, but it still needs a true No. 1 outside rusher. Sawyer has slowly but surely built his pass-rushing repertoire and strength at Ohio State.
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Round 1 - Pick 16
Michigan
• Jr
• 6'5"
/ 245 lbs
Another sizable target for Baker Mayfield in Tampa Bay, with the consensus No. 1 tight end in the class.
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Round 1 - Pick 17
Georgia
• Jr
• 6'1"
/ 205 lbs
Starks and Minkah Fitzpatrick could be the league's best safety tandem in a hurry behind the Steelers pass rush.
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Round 1 - Pick 18
Mykel Williams
EDGE
Georgia
• Jr
• 6'5"
/ 265 lbs
Williams is too freakish for the Saints to pass on in this middle portion of Round 1. He can be the eventual replacement for Saints legend Cam Jordan on the edge.
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Round 1 - Pick 19
LSU
• Jr
• 6'1"
/ 225 lbs
Perkins will be coming off a torn ACL, but it happened early enough this season at LSU that he should be ready for the start of the 2025 season in a hybrid role in Seattle.
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Round 1 - Pick 20
James Pearce Jr.
EDGE
Tennessee
• Jr
• 6'5"
/ 243 lbs
Pearce is young with freaky traits and a tremendously productive 2023 on his draft resume. The Falcons desperately need more outside pass-rush help, which is a sentence I've written in these mock drafts for years now.
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Round 1 - Pick 21
Carson Beck
QB
Georgia
• Sr
• 6'4"
/ 220 lbs
Beck has waited before in his college career. He does it here, behind Aaron Rodgers for a year before taking over in 2026.
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Round 1 - Pick 22
Notre Dame
• Jr
• 6'0"
/ 190 lbs
Packers GM Brian Gutekunst loves to prioritize selecting defensive backs with plus traits early in the draft. That's precisely what would transpire here with this Morrison pick.
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Round 1 - Pick 23
Abdul Carter
EDGE
Penn State
• Jr
• 6'3"
/ 252 lbs
While not the traditional 4-3 defensive end, Carter has demonstrated serious juice off the edge in 2024 at Penn State, and the Bengals have to round out their defensive front with more talent opposite Trey Hendrickson.
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Round 1 - Pick 24
T.J. Sanders
DT
South Carolina
• Jr
• 6'4"
/ 290 lbs
The Cowboys add more beef next to Mazi Smith to continue to bolster the run defense.
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Round 1 - Pick 25
Notre Dame
• Sr
• 6'0"
/ 203 lbs
Given the age of longtime DeMeco Ryans confidant Jimmie Ward, the Texans address safety early with Watts. He had 2024 third-round pick Calen Bullock can become a star tandem on the backend.
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Round 1 - Pick 26
Isaiah Bond
WR
Texas
• Jr
• 5'11"
/ 180 lbs
Bond adds another speed and separation element to the receiver room for Jalen Hurts in Philly.
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Round 1 - Pick 27
Oregon
• Jr
• 6'5"
/ 310 lbs
Harmon has been a one-man wrecking crew along Oregon's defensive front as a pass rusher. His big body would be a welcomed addition to Buffalo's run defense.
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Round 1 - Pick 28
Michigan
• Jr
• 6'3"
/ 339 lbs
Another upfield pass rusher for Brian Flores to utilize in his complex defensive scheme.
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Round 1 - Pick 29
Jalon Walker
LB
Georgia
• Jr
• 6'2"
/ 245 lbs
The Lions get a physical front-seven player on defense to help Aidan Hutchinson on the edge who can also range to outside runs as an off-ball linebacker if needed.
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Round 1 - Pick 30
Emeka Egbuka
WR
Ohio State
• Sr
• 6'1"
/ 205 lbs
Another polished wideout -- with Ohio State coaching under his belt -- who can routinely separate for Lamar Jackson.
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Round 1 - Pick 31
Ashton Gillotte
EDGE
Louisville
• Sr
• 6'3"
/ 275 lbs
The 49ers are starting to realize they need another true force opposite Nick Bosa on the other edge of their defensive line. Gillotte is sudden and flexible.
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Round 1 - Pick 32
Texas A&M
• Jr
• 6'6"
/ 290 lbs
Stewart has the super-long and well-filled-out frame to play inside or outside along the Chiefs defensive front.
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