Robert Saleh ultimately coached Aaron Rodgers for less than six full games. Remarkable, isn't it? The Jets firing their head coach well before Halloween serves as a stark reminder that the franchise is all in with Rodgers, and the veteran quarterback is likely to be the starter in 2025 based on the structure of his contract.
Instead of drafting his eventual replacement, in this mock, the Jets grab another blocker to fill the shoes of either Morgan Moses or Tyron Smith in 2025, pairing the rookie with 2024 first-round pick Olu Fashanu on the edge. At this point, it's what the pot-committed Jets would almost have to do to get every ounce out of Rodgers.
And New York not picking a quarterback would of course open the door for other teams to jump at the opportunity. The Panthers need to do so. Bryce Young might be salvageable, but GM Dan Morgan did not draft him in 2023 and likely won't want to put his job on the line for a quarterback who's essentially shown zero flashes now into his second season.
While Daniel Jones has played better of late, the Giants are another club that must address the quarterback position in the draft. From "Hard Knocks," we know how fervently GM Joe Schoen attempted to move up to select Drake Maye. Here, Schoen gets his guy.
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Now, let's get to the players who heard their names called in the mock.
The draft order below was determined using the current NFL Draft order. Thanks, Tankathon.
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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
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.
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Round 1 - Pick 2
Princely Umanmielen
EDGE
Ole Miss
• Sr
• 6'4"
/ 255 lbs
This is a multiyear high-level producer in the SEC at a premium position the Bengals need to upgrade, especially long term.
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Round 1 - Pick 3
LSU
• Jr
• 6'6"
/ 323 lbs
The Browns haven't shown they're ready to move on from Deshaun Watson, and it's not like they can easily get out of his mega contract next season either. Therefore, they attempt to upgrade the offensive line on the edges with Campbell.
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Round 1 - Pick 4
Colorado
• Sr
• 6'2"
/ 215 lbs
This remains one of my favorite fits in the draft from every angle. Sanders heads to Hollywood. The Rams get a poised pocket passer to learn from Matthew Stafford for a year before taking over.
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Round 1 - Pick 5
Will Johnson
CB
Michigan
• Jr
• 6'2"
/ 202 lbs
Johnson is the type of long, athletic, majorly producing cornerback who can go this high in the draft.
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Round 1 - Pick 6
Cam Ward
QB
Miami (FL)
• Sr
• 6'2"
/ 223 lbs
The Panthers go with the ultra-experienced Ward who's gotten better inside the pocket as he's progressed across three different schools at the collegiate level. The improvisation skill is certainly there too, and he's as calm as they come with pressure mounting.
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Round 1 - Pick 7
Arizona
• Jr
• 6'5"
/ 212 lbs
McMillan gives Will Levis -- if he's still starting in 2025 -- a big-bodied weapon on the outside with elite ball-tracking skills.
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Round 1 - Pick 8
Georgia
• Jr
• 6'1"
/ 205 lbs
The safety duo of Jevon Holland and Starks could be one of the league's best in a few seasons. Starks looks very NFL-ready at a position with a multitude of responsibilities.
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Round 1 - Pick 9
Texas
• Jr
• 6'5"
/ 335 lbs
Williams has been a lockdown edge-protector for the Longhorns this season, and with Aaron Rodgers set to be the Jets starter in 2025, New York gets more offensive tackle help.
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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.
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Round 1 - Pick 12
Missouri
• Jr
• 5'11"
/ 205 lbs
Another receiving weapon for Derek Carr who can win at all three levels of the field.
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Round 1 - Pick 13
East Carolina
• Sr
• 6'3"
/ 193 lbs
Revel is out for the year with a knee injury but was having another lockdown season on the outside and fits the supreme athletic profile the Colts gravitate toward.
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Round 1 - Pick 14
Mason Graham
DL
Michigan
• Jr
• 6'3"
/ 320 lbs
Too much talent and multiyear productivity for the 49ers to pass on Graham here.
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Round 1 - Pick 15
Quinn Ewers
QB
Texas
• Jr
• 6'2"
/ 210 lbs
Ewers has been at Ohio State and now at Texas, so he's had plenty of experience in the spotlight. While his game isn't fully refined yet, he has major potential because of his arm talent.
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Round 1 - Pick 16
Texas
• Jr
• 6'4"
/ 320 lbs
When in doubt, Howie Roseman addresses the trenches, and Banks can be the heir apparent to Lane Johnson at right tackle.
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Round 1 - Pick 17
Boise State
• Jr
• 5'9"
/ 215 lbs
How about freaky talent at the running back spot for Caleb Williams in Chicago? At this rate, Jeanty will be a first-round pick next April.
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Round 1 - Pick 18
Mykel Williams
EDGE
Georgia
• Jr
• 6'5"
/ 265 lbs
Williams is too freakish for the Packers to pass on in this middle portion of Round 1. He can be the eventual replacement for Preston Smith as a versatile defensive lineman in Green Bay.
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Round 1 - Pick 19
Michigan
• Jr
• 6'3"
/ 339 lbs
Jim Harbaugh snags a Michigan product to bolster the Chargers' run-stopping efforts and provide glimmers of upfield pass-rushing juice.
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Round 1 - Pick 20
LSU
• Jr
• 6'1"
/ 225 lbs
Perkins should be ready to go early in the 2025 season as dynamic jack-of-all-trades in Seattle's defense.
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Round 1 - Pick 21
Emeka Egbuka
WR
Ohio State
• Sr
• 6'1"
/ 205 lbs
The Steelers get George Pickens a legitimate running mate on the perimeter with the silky smooth Egbuka from Ohio State.
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Round 1 - Pick 22
Isaiah Bond
WR
Texas
• Jr
• 5'11"
/ 180 lbs
Bond is flying up boards thanks to a scintillating start in 2024 for the Longhorns. He's an electric mover who will stretch defenses vertically in the NFL.
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Round 1 - Pick 23
Abdul Carter
EDGE
Penn State
• Jr
• 6'3"
/ 252 lbs
Carter is another super-versatile defender from Penn State who can be a chess piece alongside Micah Parsons for years to come in Dallas.
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Round 1 - Pick 24
James Pearce Jr.
EDGE
Tennessee
• Jr
• 6'5"
/ 243 lbs
Pearce possesses the type of upside the Buccaneers could use on the edge on their defensive line. He was ridiculously efficient in 2023 and has pieced together a solid 2024 thus far getting after the quarterback.
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Round 1 - Pick 25
Jalen Royals
WR
Utah State
• Sr
• 6'0"
/ 205 lbs
The Bills need more juice on the perimeter, and Royals can provide that along with serious run-after-the-catch skill in a sizable frame.
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Round 1 - Pick 26
Jack Sawyer
EDGE
Ohio State
• Sr
• 6'5"
/ 260 lbs
The Ravens are never timid about picking trench players early in the draft, and Sawyer is an ascending rusher who has gotten years of quality coaching at Ohio State.
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Round 1 - Pick 27
Boston College
• Sr
• 6'2"
/ 247 lbs
The senior Boston College rusher has been awesome around the corner to begin the season. While not someone who has traditional Round 1 size and length, he plays like he was shot out of a cannon and coverts speed to power.
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Round 1 - Pick 28
Minnesota
• Sr
• 6'6"
/ 330 lbs
Ersery is a large mauler at tackle, and he can eventually replace Taylor Decker at left tackle or play on the right side if Penei Sewell eventually switches positions.
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Round 1 - Pick 29
Jalon Walker
LB
Georgia
• Jr
• 6'2"
/ 245 lbs
The Commanders get a physical front-seven player on defense to help add to the overall athleticism and versatility of that unit.
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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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