2025 NFL Mock Draft: Raiders move on from Gardner Minshew, three QBs go in top 10; Bears, Steelers address WR

A week after they dropped 38 points in a win over the Ravens, reality struck for the Raiders -- they need a long-term answer at quarterback. Not that we expected Gardner Minshew to necessarily be that guy before the start of the season, but the dreadful outing against the previously 0-2 Panthers served as a stark reminder of Las Vegas' ceiling. 

The Raiders were rumored to be interested in Jayden Daniels in the 2024 NFL Draft because of his Arizona State connection to current head coach Antonio Pierce. Of course, Las Vegas was unable to jump all the way to the No. 2 spot to select the dynamic quarterback. Therefore, it has Minshew and second-year pro Aidan O'Connell at the game's most vital position. 

As for the Jaguars, they have Trevor Lawrence signed through 2030, and although the former No. 1 overall pick needs to play more consistently and much closer to his perceived potential, in Week 3, it wouldn't have mattered how well Lawrence played given how the Bills shredded Jacksonville's defense. Sure, there was no Tyson Campbell or Darnell Savage for the prime-time game in Orchard Park, but this Jaguars secondary needs more top-tier talent. 

And that's precisely where someone like Michigan's Will Johnson could step in. The first-team All-American in 2023 already has a pair of pick-sixes, and he has defended three other passes in the Wolverines' first four games en route to a 3-1 start. 

Just like Lawrence and the Jaguars' downward trend began later in the 2023 campaign, the Cowboys have been Swiss cheese against the run for a while now. Against the Ravens at home on Sunday, Dallas allowed Baltimore to run for 274 yards at a whopping 6.1 yards per pop. The Cowboys need a lot of things, and a top priority is more beef and serious talent on the defensive interior. 

Now, let's get to the players who heard their names called in this week's mock draft. 

The draft order below was determined using the current SportsLine consensus Super Bowl odds but in reverse order.

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 Carson Beck QB Georgia • Sr • 6'4" / 220 lbs Projected Team Carolina PROSPECT RNK 9th POSITION RNK 1st PAYDS 680 RUYDS 55 INTS 0 TDS 7 The Panthers have been futile for going on three seasons now, and the steady pocket passer with plenty of SEC experience can help another rebuild in Carolina.

Round 1 - Pick 2 Kelvin Banks Jr. OT Texas • Jr • 6'4" / 320 lbs Projected Team Tennessee PROSPECT RNK 3rd POSITION RNK 1st The Titans add another first-round pick to the offensive line with Banks, who's starred at tackle for the No. 1 team in the land to date.

Round 1 - Pick 3 Cam Ward QB Miami (FL) • Sr • 6'2" / 223 lbs Projected Team N.Y. Giants PROSPECT RNK 61st POSITION RNK 9th PAYDS 1439 RUYDS 89 INTS 2 TDS 15 The Giants turn the page at quarterback with the multi-faceted Ward. He's been sensational to begin the 2024 campaign at the University of Miami.

Round 1 - Pick 4 Will Campbell OT LSU • Jr • 6'6" / 323 lbs Projected Team New England PROSPECT RNK 10th POSITION RNK 2nd It's been a slowish start for Campbell, yet the traits are there for him to blossom into a lockdown left tackle, which is precisely what the Patriots will be looking for at the outset of Year 2 in the Drake Maye era.

Round 1 - Pick 5 Travis Hunter CB Colorado • Jr • 6'1" / 185 lbs Projected Team Denver PROSPECT RNK 2nd POSITION RNK 2nd REC 37 REYDS 472 YDS/REC 12.8 TDS 5 Sean Payton could manufacture so many unique ways to get Hunter the ball on offense, and in theory, he could add to the depth in the defensive backfield.

Round 1 - Pick 6 Will Johnson CB Michigan • Jr • 6'2" / 202 lbs Projected Team Jacksonville PROSPECT RNK 1st POSITION RNK 1st Johnson looks the part of a lockdown, perimeter cornerback with freaky athleticism and plus ball skills. The Jaguars did extend Tyson Campbell, yet more cornerback talent is needed in the secondary.

Round 1 - Pick 7 Quinn Ewers QB Texas • Jr • 6'2" / 210 lbs Projected Team Las Vegas PROSPECT RNK 25th POSITION RNK 3rd PAYDS 691 RUYDS 1 INTS 2 TDS 8 Ewers has the physical tools to continue to improve in the NFL, like he's done in college. The Raiders desperately need a quarterback to represent the long-term future of the organization.

Round 1 - Pick 8 Mykel Williams EDGE Georgia • Jr • 6'5" / 265 lbs Projected Team Arizona PROSPECT RNK 6th POSITION RNK 2nd Williams is too naturally gifted for the Cardinals to pass on at No. 8 overall. He needs pass-rushing refinement, but the ceiling is All-Pro caliber.

Round 1 - Pick 9 Luther Burden III WR Missouri • Jr • 5'11" / 205 lbs Projected Team Indianapolis PROSPECT RNK 8th POSITION RNK 1st REC 18 REYDS 247 YDS/REC 13.7 TDS 5 More youthful offensive weaponry for Anthony Richardson with the nifty and explosive Burden.

Round 1 - Pick 10 Tetairoa McMillan WR Arizona • Jr • 6'5" / 212 lbs Projected Team Chicago PROSPECT RNK 11th POSITION RNK 2nd REC 23 REYDS 453 YDS/REC 19.7 TDS 4 Another towering boundary wideout for Caleb Williams with McMillan, who has some of the best ball skills we've seen at the collegiate ranks in a long time.

Round 1 - Pick 11 James Pearce Jr. EDGE Tennessee • Jr • 6'5" / 243 lbs Projected Team Washington PROSPECT RNK 5th POSITION RNK 1st The Commanders get the most efficient high-volume rusher from the SEC in 2023 in Pearce, who has long limbs, a nasty bend/dip combination, and flashed quality hand work early in his Tennessee career.

Round 1 - Pick 12 Isaiah Bond WR Texas • Jr • 5'11" / 180 lbs Projected Team Miami PROSPECT RNK 58th POSITION RNK 7th REC 15 REYDS 290 YDS/REC 19.3 TDS 3 Bond is becoming fast riser because of how he's generated big plays at Texas on a weekly basis. A former top recruit, he could ultimately go this high in the draft.

Round 1 - Pick 13 Malaki Starks S Georgia • Jr • 6'1" / 205 lbs Projected Team Cleveland PROSPECT RNK 16th POSITION RNK 1st This is strictly a best-player-available scenario for the Browns. They'd love to go quarterback, but can they given how expensive Deshaun Watson is?

Round 1 - Pick 14 Nic Scourton EDGE Texas A&M • Jr • 6'4" / 285 lbs Projected Team Tampa Bay PROSPECT RNK 13th POSITION RNK 3rd The Buccaneers could use more youthful talent at the outside pass rusher spot. Scourton is a thick, versatile defender with serious pass-rush abilities.

Round 1 - Pick 15 Colston Loveland TE Michigan • Jr • 6'5" / 245 lbs Projected Team L.A. Rams PROSPECT RNK 19th POSITION RNK 1st REC 19 REYDS 187 YDS/REC 9.8 TDS 1 The clear-cut No. 1 tight end in the class added to the weaponry for Matthew Stafford.

Round 1 - Pick 16 Deone Walker DL Kentucky • Jr • 6'6" / 345 lbs Projected Team L.A. Chargers PROSPECT RNK 7th POSITION RNK 2nd The Chargers added a premier defensive tackle talent to that side of the ball in Walker, who's equally as stout against the run as he is as a pass rusher.

Round 1 - Pick 17 Shedeur Sanders QB Colorado • Sr • 6'2" / 215 lbs Projected Team Seattle PROSPECT RNK 15th POSITION RNK 2nd PAYDS 1340 RUYDS 10 INTS 2 TDS 12 Sanders would be the redshirt type behind Geno Smith in Seattle. Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald knows this philosophy from his time in Baltimore.

Round 1 - Pick 18 Benjamin Morrison CB Notre Dame • Jr • 6'0" / 190 lbs Projected Team Atlanta PROSPECT RNK 17th POSITION RNK 3rd The Falcons get a running mate for star boundary cornerback A.J. Terrell in the long and athletically gifted Morrison.

Round 1 - Pick 19 Princely Umanmielen EDGE Ole Miss • Sr • 6'4" / 255 lbs Projected Team New Orleans PROSPECT RNK 31st POSITION RNK 8th The Saints add youth to their outside pass-rushing group with someone with years and years of SEC experience and high-level production. Heir apparent to Cam Jordan.

Round 1 - Pick 20 Emeka Egbuka WR Ohio State • Sr • 6'1" / 205 lbs Projected Team Pittsburgh PROSPECT RNK 12th POSITION RNK 3rd REC 14 REYDS 266 YDS/REC 19 TDS 1 The Steelers probably need more depth at receiver, and while they typically wait until Round 2 to address this position, Egbuka is too polished of a prospect to pass on here.

Round 1 - Pick 21 Ashton Jeanty RB Boise State • Jr • 5'9" / 215 lbs Projected Team Minnesota PROSPECT RNK 33rd POSITION RNK 2nd RUYDS 586 YDS/ATT 10.5 REYDS 12 TDS 9 The Vikings add the premier running back prospect in this class to an already loaded offensive skill-position group.

Round 1 - Pick 22 T.J. Sanders DT South Carolina • Jr • 6'4" / 290 lbs Projected Team Dallas PROSPECT RNK 63rd POSITION RNK 1st Sanders is a girthy specimen on the interior with serious upfield pass-rush talent. He'd be a welcomed addition to the Cowboys defense that needs more pop against the run.

Round 1 - Pick 23 Abdul Carter EDGE Penn State • Jr • 6'3" / 252 lbs Projected Team Cincinnati PROSPECT RNK 14th POSITION RNK 4th Carter is the type of outside rusher -- who can handle off-ball linebacker duties if needed -- the Bengals need to add to their defense.

Round 1 - Pick 24 Harold Perkins Jr. LB LSU • Jr • 6'1" / 225 lbs Projected Team Green Bay PROSPECT RNK 18th POSITION RNK 1st The Packers are in prime position to pick the now injured Perkins, and even if he doesn't play Week 1 in 2025, that'd be completely fine. He has All-Pro talent as a do-everything chess piece.

Round 1 - Pick 25 Derrick Harmon DL Oregon • Jr • 6'5" / 310 lbs Projected Team N.Y. Jets PROSPECT RNK 66th POSITION RNK 7th Harmon has wreaked havoc early in the 2024 season as a upfield pass-rusher from the inside who plays with extreme hustle against the run.

Round 1 - Pick 26 Xavier Watts S Notre Dame • Sr • 6'0" / 203 lbs Projected Team Houston PROSPECT RNK POSITION RNK Given the age of Jimmie Ward, the Texans address the safety position -- after picking Calen Bullock in Round 3 in the 2024 draft -- with the savvy Watts, who's become a leader on the Notre Dame defense.

Round 1 - Pick 27 Jack Sawyer EDGE Ohio State • Sr • 6'5" / 260 lbs Projected Team Baltimore PROSPECT RNK 21st POSITION RNK 5th Sawyer is the oversized defensive end the Ravens have traditionally loved. He's become a quiet superstar on the Buckeyes defense this season.

Round 1 - Pick 28 Aireontae Ersery OL Minnesota • Sr • 6'6" / 330 lbs Projected Team Philadelphia PROSPECT RNK 65th POSITION RNK 2nd As they always do, the Eagles plan for the future up front. Ersery is a gargantuan specimen with his best football in front of him.

Round 1 - Pick 29 Jalon Walker LB Georgia • Jr • 6'2" / 245 lbs Projected Team Detroit PROSPECT RNK 56th POSITION RNK 5th 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.

Round 1 - Pick 30 Mason Graham DL Michigan • Jr • 6'3" / 320 lbs Projected Team Buffalo PROSPECT RNK 4th POSITION RNK 1st Given the age of their heavier defensive tackles next to Ed Oliver, the Bills add Graham, who's a run-stopping specialist and flashed tremendous pass-rush juice in 2023.

Round 1 - Pick 31 Ashton Gillotte EDGE Louisville • Sr • 6'3" / 275 lbs Projected Team San Francisco PROSPECT RNK 41st POSITION RNK 9th 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.

Round 1 - Pick 32 Shemar Stewart DL Texas A&M • Jr • 6'6" / 290 lbs Projected Team Kansas City PROSPECT RNK POSITION RNK Stewart has the super long and well filled out frame to play inside or outside along the Chiefs defensive front.