The first defensive prospect was not drafted until No. 15 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. It will not take that long for a defender to come off the board in 2025. Seven of the top eight prospects in the initial CBSSports.com prospect rankings were on the defensive side of the ball.
At the same time, a handful of quarterbacks put their best foot forward in the opening week of the college football season and the position always rises to the top. In today's thought exercise, I explore how multiple teams with aging quarterbacks could explore adding a younger option at the position.
The draft order below was determined using Super Bowl odds but in reverse order.
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NFL Mock Draft
Round 1
Round 1 - Pick 1
Mykel Williams
EDGE
Georgia
• Jr
• 6'5"
/ 265 lbs
Offensive line is a bigger need but bypassing a better prospect just to check a box is a poor use of draft capital. If trades were being projected, this would be a classic spot. As it stands, they take a larger pass rusher who can help replace Matthew Judon.
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Round 1 - Pick 2
Will Johnson
CB
Michigan
• Jr
• 6'2"
/ 202 lbs
Carolina pulled a lot of resources from its defense to upgrade Bryce Young's supporting cast. The 2025 NFL Draft is an opportunity to start reinvesting on that side of the ball and it begins with my No. 1 overall prospect.
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Round 1 - Pick 3
Colorado
• Sr
• 6'2"
/ 215 lbs
It is a long season. While I feel better about the depth of this year's quarterback class, I am not sure that it will produce the level of talent seen in last year's group. Sanders had a good debut but there is a long way to go before he solidifies himself as the top quarterback prospect.
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Round 1 - Pick 4
LSU
• Jr
• 6'6"
/ 323 lbs
The presence of third-round selection Brandon Coleman is not going to deter the organization from drafting a potential franchise left tackle. They re-signed Sam Cosmi so the pieces are starting to come together with Will Campbell and, hopefully, Coleman.
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Round 1 - Pick 5
James Pearce Jr.
EDGE
Tennessee
• Jr
• 6'5"
/ 243 lbs
Pearce's professional career begins in close proximity to where he made a name for himself in Knoxville. Tennessee has lacked a pass rusher of Pearce's caliber so perhaps he can provide some much-needed pass-rush juice.
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Round 1 - Pick 6
Carson Beck
QB
Georgia
• Sr
• 6'4"
/ 220 lbs
I am not sure anyone won the quarterback battle between Gardner Minshew and Aidan O'Connell. When identifying teams that could be in the mix for a rookie quarterback next year, Las Vegas is among the first that come to mind.
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Round 1 - Pick 7
Colorado
• Jr
• 6'1"
/ 185 lbs
Travis Hunter looked much better as a wide receiver in the opener. Although it would be almost impossible to play both ways in the NFL, there is value to being able to play cornerback as well.
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Round 1 - Pick 8
Abdul Carter
EDGE
Penn State
• Jr
• 6'3"
/ 252 lbs
Arizona and Washington were flush with draft capital a year ago but they still have needs across the roster. Carter gives them another body to man the fronts as coach Jonathan Gannon looks to take his team from feisty to threatening.
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Round 1 - Pick 9
Deone Walker
DL
Kentucky
• Jr
• 6'6"
/ 345 lbs
For the second consecutive year, Minnesota uses a first-round pick to address its front seven. Minnesota's current roster is lacking an interior pass rush so Walker should elevate the Vikings in that area.
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Round 1 - Pick 10
Arizona
• Jr
• 6'5"
/ 212 lbs
New Orleans has some complementary pieces at receiver to pair with Chris Olave, but McMillan would give them a strong duo. I believe New Orleans would give Spencer Rattler a chance at quarterback before outright drafting another rookie.
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Round 1 - Pick 11
Boise State
• Jr
• 5'9"
/ 215 lbs
Jahmyr Gibbs was in the first round of my way-too-early mock draft a month after the prior draft and ended the year as my No. 9 overall prospect that year. Jeanty is in a similar mold. While Tampa Bay is not a running back away from contention, the Bucs could use an upgrade at the position and I can't help but notice what offensive coordinator Liam Coen's mentor, Sean McVay, is doing with the position in Los Angeles.
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Round 1 - Pick 12
Notre Dame
• Jr
• 6'0"
/ 190 lbs
Indianapolis has a good roster but one area of potential concern is the secondary. Morrison is the second, potentially third cornerback to come off the board.
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Round 1 - Pick 13
Quinn Ewers
QB
Texas
• Jr
• 6'2"
/ 210 lbs
Geno Smith will turn 34 years old in October. It has been a feel-good comeback story but quarterbacks historically do not find success much longer. One would think that a new regime would want to hitch its wagon to a young quarterback of its choosing.
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Round 1 - Pick 14
Missouri
• Jr
• 5'11"
/ 205 lbs
George Pickens could still be very good long term but I am not sold on that just yet. Regardless, the Steelers need more from the position if they do not choose to move on from both Justin Fields and Russell Wilson after the season.
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Round 1 - Pick 15
Texas
• Jr
• 6'4"
/ 320 lbs
Cam Robinson is entering the final year of his contract. It had already been a position circled as maybe being in need of an upgrade so it just makes sense to make that change when the opportunity presents itself.
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Round 1 - Pick 16
Arizona
• Jr
• 6'5"
/ 336 lbs
Jedrick Wills is approaching the end of his rookie contract and his performance has not warranted a contract extension. Cleveland has two quality right tackles, but that does not solve the problem on the other side.
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Round 1 - Pick 17
Mason Graham
DL
Michigan
• Jr
• 6'3"
/ 320 lbs
Jim Harbaugh adds another Michigan-der to his roster. In his heart of hearts, he wants formidable offensive and defensive lines. Graham understands what Harbaugh expects of his players and would be an immediate upgrade at a position of need.
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Round 1 - Pick 18
Nic Scourton
EDGE
Texas A&M
• Jr
• 6'4"
/ 285 lbs
Chicago was a part of the conversation to potentially acquire Matthew Judon from New England before he was shipped to Atlanta. The Bears ultimately settled on Darrell Taylor, but the future outlook remains murky. Scourton provides some stability.
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Round 1 - Pick 19
JT Tuimoloau
EDGE
Ohio State
• Sr
• 6'5"
/ 269 lbs
Atlanta has struggled to field a competent pass rush so I do not understand any argument that suggests the Falcons may not address the position simply because they acquired Matthew Judon. JT Tuimoloau has great size and good athleticism.
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Round 1 - Pick 20
Cam Ward
QB
Miami (FL)
• Sr
• 6'2"
/ 223 lbs
Matthew Stafford has shared his vision of playing a few more seasons. Whether his career ends after the upcoming season or two to three years down the road, it is coming. He is 36 years old going into the season and players like Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers finding success at this stage are the outliers, not the rule.
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Round 1 - Pick 21
Ohio State
• Sr
• 6'3"
/ 327 lbs
Miami lost Christian Wilkins, but also lost some depth in the form of Raekwon Davis. The unit as a whole needs some attention so Williams is a good start.
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Round 1 - Pick 22
Miller Moss
QB
USC
• Jr
• 6'2"
/ 205 lbs
Sticking with the trend of teams replacing veteran quarterbacks, the Jets draft an insurance policy for Aaron Rodgers, who turns 41 years old during the 2024 regular season. It may work out in the short term but it is hard to fathom that coach Robert Saleh and general manager Joe Douglas will not seek protection in the form of a rookie quarterback. The idea of becoming a rebuilding team once again is simply position-ending.
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Round 1 - Pick 23
Georgia
• Jr
• 6'1"
/ 205 lbs
Dallas has a couple of veteran safeties and the cost is rising for Malik Hooker in the coming years. Starks is a clean safety prospect who would improve the future outlook of that position in Dallas.
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Round 1 - Pick 24
Jalon Walker
LB
Georgia
• Jr
• 6'2"
/ 245 lbs
Green Bay loves Georgia Bulldogs and linebacker is a position of need. Walker is not a traditional off-ball linebacker in the sense that he is proficient rushing the passer as well.
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Round 1 - Pick 25
Landon Jackson
EDGE
Arkansas
• Sr
• 6'7"
/ 280 lbs
San Francisco always overinvested in the edge rusher position when DeMeco Ryans was there. The 49ers value depth in that spot. Jerry Hughes and Danielle Hunter are not exactly youthful players anymore and Jackson would give them a bendy pass-rush tandem.
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Round 1 - Pick 26
Isaiah Bond
WR
Texas
• Jr
• 5'11"
/ 180 lbs
Bond is fast but he has shown more nuance in his route-running. General manager Brandon Beane has done an admirable job cobbling something together for this season in the absence of Stefon Diggs, but Keon Coleman and Bond could be the future.
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Round 1 - Pick 27
Michigan
• Jr
• 6'5"
/ 245 lbs
At this point, I am not sure Cincinnati even cares to field an imposing tight end. It has not been a high priority in the draft or free agency. If Tee Higgins is gone after this season and the wide receiver class is not as strong as it has been, then adding a tight end could be a way to manufacture offense.
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Round 1 - Pick 28
Emeka Egbuka
WR
Ohio State
• Sr
• 6'1"
/ 205 lbs
It is not an ideal fit with what Detroit has on the roster but wide receiver is a spot that could be addressed. Jameson Williams taking the next step in his career would go a long way toward easing some of those concerns.
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Round 1 - Pick 29
Jack Sawyer
EDGE
Ohio State
• Sr
• 6'5"
/ 260 lbs
The time has to come to an end for Brandon Graham at some point and Nolan Smith is still a bit of an unknown factor. Jack Sawyer would give them more depth in that room at the very least.
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Round 1 - Pick 30
LSU
• Jr
• 6'1"
/ 225 lbs
Baltimore is a team to gamble on traits and Perkins is a prospect worthy of that first-round consideration. It was not all that long ago that the Ravens drafted an athletic linebacker out of LSU in the first round; perhaps lightning strikes twice.
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Round 1 - Pick 31
Denzel Burke
CB
Ohio State
• Sr
• 6'1"
/ 193 lbs
San Francisco has some depth at the cornerback spot but that does not necessarily mean that the 49ers have two worthy starters. Burke gives them a duo to feel good about in the short term and a potential insurance policy in the event Charvarius Ward falls off.
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Round 1 - Pick 32
Arizona
• Jr
• 6'4"
/ 190 lbs
One characteristic that Kansas City has targeted at the cornerback position is length. Davis has that in spades. In the absence of L'Jarius Sneed, Davis is a nod to the future.
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