The NFL Draft is several months away but teams will have another opportunity to address roster issues within the next month. The trade deadline is Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 4 p.m. ET. With several teams already fading from the playoff race, it could be a particularly active couple of weeks across the league.
There may not be any deals that impact the first-round draft order, but plenty will redistribute assets and inevitably lead to other moves down the road. Several of the players rumored to be available play wide receiver. Before predicting how the first round of next April's draft plays out, let's play matchmaker with some of those rumored trade candidates.
Raiders WR Davante Adams traded to the Jets
New York has been rumored to be the favorite to land Adams, but the team's plans are now unknown after firing head coach Robert Saleh. Are they going to go all in on a season that has already resulted in the firing of their head coach?
Titans WR DeAndre Hopkins traded to the Chiefs
The long-term injury of Rashee Rice has Kansas City seeking aid at the receiver position. Hopkins is a player who makes bad decisions look good, and it has been awhile since he played with a good quarterback.
Browns WR Amari Cooper traded to the Cowboys
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Although the season has not gone as planned, the acquisition of Cooper would give the franchise a jolt it desperately needs. Cooper is relatively inexpensive financially and already has a rapport with Dak Prescott.
Jets EDGE Haason Reddick traded to the Cardinals
Arizona was one of the logical landing spots in the offseason due to Reddick's relationship with head coach Jonathan Gannon. The Cardinals are in the thick of the playoff chase, but need more playmakers on defense.
The draft order below was determined by current win-loss records, with ties broken by strength of schedule.
Without further ado, let's kick this off!
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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
Trades are not yet projected, but this is a clear spot for one if a top quarterback prospect emerges. As it stands, New England needs wide receiver help, and no team has more willingly embraced two-way skillsets than the Patriots. It was announced that Drake Maye is going to be the starter moving forward, and he is going to need help if there is any chance of this ending successfully.
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Round 1 - Pick 2
Will Johnson
CB
Michigan
• Jr
• 6'2"
/ 202 lbs
Cincinnati has benched Cam Taylor-Britt and there has been no consistency at the position. Will Johnson remains the top overall prospect for me personally, and the Bengals nab him at No. 2 overall.
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Round 1 - Pick 3
Colorado
• Sr
• 6'2"
/ 215 lbs
No one questions that Cleveland needs to make a change at quarterback. There are questions about how to handle Deshaun Watson's contract and the path forward. Signing Sam Darnold next offseason is probably not in the cards considering what they will owe Watson, but the idea of taking a quarterback in the draft makes a lot of sense.
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Round 1 - Pick 4
LSU
• Jr
• 6'6"
/ 323 lbs
Los Angeles has a few offensive tackles slated to hit free agency next offseason. So, the Rams continue to get younger and add protection for quarterback Matthew Stafford in the form of Will Campbell.
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Round 1 - Pick 5
Mason Graham
DL
Michigan
• Jr
• 6'3"
/ 320 lbs
Jacksonville addressed its interior defensive line last offseason by signing Arik Armstead and drafting Maason Smith, but it continues the investment to create a position of strength with the selection of Mason Graham.
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Round 1 - Pick 6
Mykel Williams
EDGE
Georgia
• Jr
• 6'5"
/ 265 lbs
Carolina tore down its defense last offseason to prop up a struggling offense. It is time to identify tentpoles of that unit moving forward. Mykel Williams is a young player who can develop into a difference-maker.
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Round 1 - Pick 7
Arizona
• Jr
• 6'5"
/ 212 lbs
DeAndre Hopkins' time in Tennessee is probably coming to an end, which means the Titans could be looking for a complement to Calvin Ridley next offseason. Tetairoa McMillan gives them size in that role and a ball winner for whoever ends up being the quarterback.
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Round 1 - Pick 8
Deone Walker
DL
Kentucky
• Jr
• 6'6"
/ 345 lbs
Miami has a lot of question marks right now. The future of head coach Mike McDaniel and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa are up in the air. They pulled a lot from the interior defensive line last offseason, and Deone Walker steps in as a viable replacement.
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Round 1 - Pick 9
Carson Beck
QB
Georgia
• Sr
• 6'4"
/ 220 lbs
The Jets fired head coach Robert Saleh this week. They are going to bring in a new head coach who was not a part of the conversations and the sacrifices made to bring in Aaron Rodgers. For a clean slate, they may need to draft a rookie quarterback and move forward with youth.
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Round 1 - Pick 10
Notre Dame
• Jr
• 6'0"
/ 190 lbs
2024 draft selection Max Melton may be a building block in that Arizona secondary, but it could benefit from identifying a true lockdown No. 1 cornerback like Benjamin Morrison.
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Round 1 - Pick 11
Cam Ward
QB
Miami (FL)
• Sr
• 6'2"
/ 223 lbs
Gardner Minshew has given the team serviceable quarterback play, but there is not a long-term vision. Assuming Antonio Pierce returns as the head coach, I think that as a former defensive coordinator, he would be drawn to Cam Ward's skill set despite Texas' Quinn Ewers still being available.
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Round 1 - Pick 12
Nic Scourton
EDGE
Texas A&M
• Jr
• 6'4"
/ 285 lbs
Chase Young, Tanoh Kpassagnon and Payton Turner are all slated to hit free agency. Nic Scourton is the type of powerful pass rusher whom the franchise has been drawn to in the past.
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Round 1 - Pick 13
Georgia
• Jr
• 6'1"
/ 205 lbs
Malaki Starks is one of the best prospects eligible for the 2025 NFL Draft regardless of position. They have sunk assets into the safety position over the years, and those choices have just not worked out. Starks feels like less of a risk as the Colts work to identify building blocks in the secondary.
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Round 1 - Pick 14
Texas
• Jr
• 6'4"
/ 320 lbs
Kelvin Banks Jr. would flip to the right side in this scenario and replace Colton McKivitz. Trent Williams is not going to play forever, and Kyle Shanahan is going to want to build an offensive line that can withstand his loss.
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Round 1 - Pick 15
Quinn Ewers
QB
Texas
• Jr
• 6'2"
/ 210 lbs
Are we arriving at a point where New York is comfortable moving forward with Daniel Jones? After beginning the season in a very dark place, Giants fans have reasons for optimism in recent weeks. Jones has to prove himself over the remainder of the season, and that is why Quinn Ewers is the choice here.
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Round 1 - Pick 16
James Pearce Jr.
EDGE
Tennessee
• Jr
• 6'5"
/ 243 lbs
Philadelphia drafts offensive and defensive linemen almost every year. There is no reason to expect that to change on Howie Roseman's watch, so the Eagles take the dynamic pass rusher from Tennessee.
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Round 1 - Pick 17
Arizona
• Jr
• 6'5"
/ 336 lbs
Chicago's offensive line has not lived up to its average expectations this season. Caleb Williams started to look like he was settling in last week and solidifying the offensive line long-term would go a long way towards serving him well.
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Round 1 - Pick 18
Abdul Carter
EDGE
Penn State
• Jr
• 6'3"
/ 252 lbs
Preston Smith will turn 32 years old in just over a month. If the franchise were to move on from him next offseason, it would save roughly $8 million towards the salary cap. Abdul Carter has played an off-ball role, but also supplies pass rush. His skill set would make for a good replacement of Smith.
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Round 1 - Pick 19
Walter Nolen
DT
Ole Miss
• Jr
• 6'3"
/ 305 lbs
Los Angeles is certainly built in Jim Harbaugh's image of being tough and accountable, particularly in the trenches. Walter Nolen gives them a higher upside for the interior defensive line.
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Round 1 - Pick 20
Michigan
• Jr
• 6'5"
/ 245 lbs
Seattle's coaching staff has familiarity with Colston Loveland. The tight end position was not overly important for offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb in Washington, but I wonder if changes may be on the horizon with Tyler Lockett's salary cap hit rising to nearly $31 million in 2025.
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Round 1 - Pick 21
Missouri
• Jr
• 5'11"
/ 205 lbs
George Pickens is certainly a flawed wide receiver, but he has his strengths. Pittsburgh is likely to move forward with Justin Fields, and Luther Burden III would be a good compliment to Pickens.
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Round 1 - Pick 22
Boise State
• Jr
• 5'9"
/ 215 lbs
For better or worse, Sean Payton has his beliefs and he sticks to them. When he had Drew Brees in New Orleans, he invested in the running back position first with Mark Ingram in the first round and then Alvin Kamara in the second round. Having a player of Ashton Jeanty's skill set, who can also catch the ball out of the backfield, would be a big aid to Bo Nix.
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Round 1 - Pick 23
Emeka Egbuka
WR
Ohio State
• Sr
• 6'1"
/ 205 lbs
Dallas is paying a lot to CeeDee Lamb, and Brandin Cooks will be a free agent after the season. The Cowboys need to re-invest in that role, especially if they are going to watch their pockets and not spend big in free agency. Emeka Egbuka is a reliable pass-catcher.
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Round 1 - Pick 24
Tyler Booker
IOL
Alabama
• Jr
• 6'5"
/ 325 lbs
Offensive guard Sua Opeta is a free agent after the season, so the thought is that Tyler Booker replaces him and helps the offense continue on its upward trajectory.
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Round 1 - Pick 25
Arizona
• Jr
• 6'4"
/ 190 lbs
Length is a coveted trait for the Bills at cornerback. Tacario Davis has the reach to recover downfield and contest the ball in the air.
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Round 1 - Pick 26
Josh Simmons
OL
Ohio State
• Sr
• 6'5"
/ 310 lbs
Ronnie Stanley has remained healthy thus far, but that has been an issue in the past. Stanley is a free agent at season's end, so it is an organic time to bring in his replacement and complete a young offensive line that should be together for several years.
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Round 1 - Pick 27
Landon Jackson
EDGE
Arkansas
• Sr
• 6'7"
/ 280 lbs
Atlanta continues its pursuit of difference-making pass rushers. Landon Jackson is a lengthy body that would compliment Matthew Judon well.
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Round 1 - Pick 28
JT Tuimoloau
EDGE
Ohio State
• Sr
• 6'5"
/ 269 lbs
J.T. Tuimoloau is a powerful pass rusher with a ceiling that he has yet to reach. Detroit has struggled to find a consistent option opposite Aidan Hutchinson, but the hope is that Tuimoloau can be an effective run stopper while mixing in the occasional pass rush.
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Round 1 - Pick 29
Texas
• Jr
• 6'5"
/ 335 lbs
Brandon Coleman may well just be the answer at left tackle, but Cameron Williams could be a right tackle who can develop with quarterback Jayden Daniels, who will be entering his second season.
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Round 1 - Pick 30
Ohio State
• Sr
• 6'3"
/ 327 lbs
Houston upgrades its interior defensive line with the addition of Tyleik Williams. It is not unreasonable to think it could look for another pass rusher, either.
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Round 1 - Pick 31
Michigan
• Jr
• 6'3"
/ 339 lbs
Kansas City has a few interior defenders who may hit free agency this offseason, which could leave it looking for answers to pair with Chris Jones. Kenneth Grant is more of a nose tackle, but fulfills a specific role for that franchise.
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Round 1 - Pick 32
Denzel Burke
CB
Ohio State
• Sr
• 6'1"
/ 193 lbs
Minnesota has rolled through its options at cornerback over the years, and the 2025 NFL Draft brings them back to the well with the selection of Denzel Burke in the first round.
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