2025 NFL Mock Draft: Why Shedeur Sanders could thrive in New York, plus the Titans move on from Will Levis

There's a realistic possibility that Shedeur Sanders is the best quarterback available when the New York Giants go on the clock next April. If that's the case, they probably should pick him. And not as a marketing ploy to sell tickets and Sanders uniforms or draw more media attention to a team seemingly in prime time every other week regardless of record. 

Sanders will, of course, have to be vetted from a maturity standpoint by the Giants -- and all clubs in the quarterback market during the 2025 draft cycle -- but on the field, he's looking more and more like one of the two best passers available in the class. 

And after relentlessly attempting to move into the No. 3 spot to -- presumably -- select Drake Maye last April, it's now a must for the Giants to come out of the first round of the 2025 draft with a quarterback. 

While many would scoff at the idea of Sanders in the bright and oftentimes harsh spotlight of New York, from a football angle, it absolutely could work, because a refined passer with some athletic juice is precisely what the Giants need and that's what Sanders is. Daniel Jones wasn't quite as dismal as almost everyone thought when he was selected by the G-Men at No. 6 overall in 2019, but he's clearly not the long-term answer for this storied franchise. 

In this mock, Sanders begins what is sure to be a high-profile NFL journey with the Giants as the club turns the page at the game's most vital position. 

The draft order below was determined using the current 2025 NFL Draft order. To check out the betting odds on who will be the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, head on over to BetMGM.

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 Projected Team Carolina PROSPECT RNK 1st POSITION RNK 1st REC 60 REYDS 757 YDS/REC 12.6 TDS 8 Hunter is the best player in college football with serious two-way abilities. This would be a boon for a Panthers organization in desperate need of an enormous jolt.

Round 1 - Pick 2 Cam Ward QB Miami (FL) • Sr • 6'2" / 223 lbs Projected Team Tennessee PROSPECT RNK 6th POSITION RNK 1st PAYDS 2538 RUYDS 190 INTS 5 TDS 27 In this scenario, the Titans punt on the Will Levis experiment before Year 3 and take a quarterback in Ward who can play outside of structure but is lightyears more calm, cool, and collected than the passer he'd be replacing.

Round 1 - Pick 3 Tetairoa McMillan WR Arizona • Jr • 6'5" / 212 lbs Projected Team New England PROSPECT RNK 4th POSITION RNK 1st REC 57 REYDS 982 YDS/REC 17.2 TDS 5 The Patriots have to add youthful talent to the receiver group for Drake Maye, who's demonstrating encouraging signs early in his rookie season. McMillan is a stud ball winner at the catch point.

Round 1 - Pick 4 Will Campbell OT LSU • Jr • 6'6" / 323 lbs Projected Team N.Y. Jets PROSPECT RNK 5th POSITION RNK 1st The Jets have to continue to bolster the offensive front for Aaron Rodgers, and Campbell is looking like the best tackle in this class.

Round 1 - Pick 5 Will Johnson CB Michigan • Jr • 6'2" / 202 lbs Projected Team Jacksonville PROSPECT RNK 2nd POSITION RNK 1st The Jaguars have to get more dynamic talent in the cornerback room -- even after recently extending Tyson Campbell -- and Johnson can be that type of add.

Round 1 - Pick 6 Mykel Williams EDGE Georgia • Jr • 6'5" / 265 lbs Projected Team New Orleans PROSPECT RNK 7th POSITION RNK 1st The Saints build for the future with the uber-talented but raw Williams on the edge to eventually replace Saints legend Cam Jordan.

Round 1 - Pick 7 Mason Graham DL Michigan • Jr • 6'3" / 320 lbs Projected Team Las Vegas PROSPECT RNK 3rd POSITION RNK 1st Graham is having yet another productive season at Michigan and plays with his hair on fire every snap. The Raiders add another upfield rusher next to Christian Wilkins.

Round 1 - Pick 8 Emeka Egbuka WR Ohio State • Sr • 6'1" / 205 lbs Projected Team Cleveland PROSPECT RNK 20th POSITION RNK 3rd REC 43 REYDS 546 YDS/REC 12.7 TDS 6 The Browns can't really move off the Deshaun Watson deal, so in this mock, they go with a receiver because that position needs an upgrade, too. Egbuka is super polished.

Round 1 - Pick 9 Shedeur Sanders QB Colorado • Sr • 6'2" / 215 lbs Projected Team N.Y. Giants PROSPECT RNK 9th POSITION RNK 2nd PAYDS 2591 RUYDS -18 INTS 6 TDS 24 How about Sanders in the New York City media market? Fun, right? The Giants need to draft a quarterback, and Sanders is increasingly looking like the most NFL-ready passer in this class.

Round 1 - Pick 10 Malaki Starks S Georgia • Jr • 6'1" / 205 lbs Projected Team Miami PROSPECT RNK 12th POSITION RNK 1st The Dolphins pick Starks to pair with Jevon Holland to formulate a studly duo at safety for a long time.

Round 1 - Pick 11 Jalon Walker EDGE Georgia • Jr • 6'2" / 245 lbs Projected Team Cincinnati PROSPECT RNK 31st POSITION RNK 2nd Joe Burrow is playing elite-level football. The Bengals defense? Not so much. Walker is the latest multi-dimensional defender from Georgia who can cover and rush the passer on the edge.

Round 1 - Pick 12 Jalen Milroe QB Alabama • Jr • 6'2" / 225 lbs Projected Team L.A. Rams PROSPECT RNK 26th POSITION RNK 5th PAYDS 1937 RUYDS 380 INTS 6 TDS 25 Here's a curveball: Sean McVay gets a raw, uber-talented athlete at the quarterback spot he can mold inside his intricate system.

Round 1 - Pick 13 Ashton Jeanty RB Boise State • Jr • 5'9" / 215 lbs Projected Team Dallas PROSPECT RNK 14th POSITION RNK 1st RUYDS 1376 YDS/ATT 8.7 REYDS 50 TDS 19 I will be surprised if the Cowboys do not leave the first round without Jeanty as their pick.

Round 1 - Pick 14 Colston Loveland TE Michigan • Jr • 6'5" / 245 lbs Projected Team Indianapolis PROSPECT RNK 21st POSITION RNK 1st REC 42 REYDS 411 YDS/REC 9.8 TDS 4 The Colts get Anthony Richardson -- whom I don't believe they'll quit on this quickly -- the best all-around tight end in the 2025 class.

Round 1 - Pick 15 Isaiah Bond WR Texas • Jr • 5'11" / 180 lbs Projected Team Tampa Bay PROSPECT RNK 41st POSITION RNK 5th REC 23 REYDS 380 YDS/REC 16.5 TDS 5 The Buccaneers plan for the future at receiver with the springy Bond who can win downfield with scintillating speed.

Round 1 - Pick 16 Harold Perkins Jr. LB LSU • Jr • 6'1" / 225 lbs Projected Team Seattle PROSPECT RNK 17th POSITION RNK 1st Here, the Seahawks are willing to wait for Perkins to nurse his way back to 100% health. Because when he's healthy, he's a jack of all trades with incredible athletic gifts.

Round 1 - Pick 17 Nic Scourton EDGE Texas A&M • Jr • 6'4" / 285 lbs Projected Team San Francisco PROSPECT RNK 16th POSITION RNK 3rd Scourton has played to his potential this season at Texas A&M after a breakout season at Purdue in 2023. He can win on the outside or against squatty guards as an interior rusher.

Round 1 - Pick 18 Princely Umanmielen EDGE Ole Miss • Sr • 6'4" / 255 lbs Projected Team Chicago PROSPECT RNK 35th POSITION RNK 6th Umanmielen was awesome at Florida before starring at Ole Miss. He has the athleticism and strength to hit the ground running in the NFL.

Round 1 - Pick 19 LT Overton DL Alabama • Jr • 6'5" / 283 lbs Projected Team Arizona PROSPECT RNK 52nd POSITION RNK 6th The Cardinals get a serious pass-rushing threat on the outside in Overton, a budding star at Alabama. This is exactly what Jonathan Gannon's defense needs.

Round 1 - Pick 20 Jack Sawyer EDGE Ohio State • Sr • 6'5" / 260 lbs Projected Team L.A. Chargers PROSPECT RNK 27th POSITION RNK 5th Sawyer looks NFL ready with a sizable frame and plenty of productivity over the past two seasons at Ohio State.

Round 1 - Pick 21 Donovan Ezeiruaku EDGE Boston College • Sr • 6'2" / 247 lbs Projected Team Atlanta PROSPECT RNK 44th POSITION RNK 1st The Falcons have needed a true No. 1 outside rusher for seemingly forever, and this ascending Boston College rusher would be the latest roll of the dice for Atlanta at that spot on the defense.

Round 1 - Pick 22 Luther Burden III WR Missouri • Jr • 5'11" / 205 lbs Projected Team Denver PROSPECT RNK 11th POSITION RNK 2nd REC 40 REYDS 450 YDS/REC 11.3 TDS 6 The Broncos have to construct a quality receiver room around Bo Nix, and Burden has felt like a first-round pick since his first season at Missouri.

Round 1 - Pick 23 Shavon Revel Jr. CB East Carolina • Sr • 6'3" / 193 lbs Projected Team Baltimore PROSPECT RNK 28th POSITION RNK 1st The Ravens aren't afraid to pick players entering the NFL with an injury, which is the case with this standout East Carolina cornerback.

Round 1 - Pick 24 Abdul Carter EDGE Penn State • Jr • 6'3" / 252 lbs Projected Team Philadelphia PROSPECT RNK 19th POSITION RNK 4th Carter is a dual-threat front-seven weapon the Eagles would love to add to their defense, given the fact that Nolan Smith has yet to really hit his stride.

Round 1 - Pick 25 Kelvin Banks Jr. OT Texas • Jr • 6'4" / 320 lbs Projected Team Minnesota PROSPECT RNK 10th POSITION RNK 2nd The Vikings plan for the future at offensive tackle with Banks, who also could serve as a guard to begin his career.

Round 1 - Pick 26 James Pearce Jr. EDGE Tennessee • Jr • 6'5" / 243 lbs Projected Team Buffalo PROSPECT RNK 13th POSITION RNK 2nd Pearce is another specimen the Bills would love to insert onto the edges of their defensive front to continue to build the pass-rushing contingent.

Round 1 - Pick 27 Jalen Royals WR Utah State • Sr • 6'0" / 205 lbs Projected Team Pittsburgh PROSPECT RNK 102nd POSITION RNK 11th REC 26 REYDS 503 YDS/REC 19.3 TDS 3 The Steelers don't wait until Round 2 to select a receiver, instead jumping at the opportunity to pick the sturdy-framed Royals, who's been a consistent big-play threat for the Aggies.

Round 1 - Pick 28 Deone Walker DL Kentucky • Jr • 6'6" / 345 lbs Projected Team Green Bay PROSPECT RNK 8th POSITION RNK 2nd The Packers add an enormous and athletic defensive tackle to make life easier for Rashan Gary and Co. on the outside.

Round 1 - Pick 29 Kenneth Grant DL Michigan • Jr • 6'3" / 339 lbs Projected Team Washington PROSPECT RNK 29th POSITION RNK 4th Grant is a non-stop motor type on the interior and would instantly improve Washington's inside defensive line group.

Round 1 - Pick 30 T.J. Sanders DL South Carolina • Jr • 6'4" / 290 lbs Projected Team Houston PROSPECT RNK 43rd POSITION RNK 2nd The Texans have to get more beef and pass-rushing juice on the interior of their defensive front. They get it with Sanders, who has starred on a loaded South Carolina defensive line this season.

Round 1 - Pick 31 Jayden Higgins WR Iowa State • Sr • 6'4" / 215 lbs Projected Team Detroit PROSPECT RNK POSITION RNK REC 45 REYDS 563 YDS/REC 12.5 TDS 6 Higgins is a big-bodied weapon from Iowa State. The Lions could use more perimeter talent in their receiver room.

Round 1 - Pick 32 Benjamin Morrison CB Notre Dame • Jr • 6'0" / 190 lbs Projected Team Kansas City PROSPECT RNK 15th POSITION RNK 2nd Morrison's season was cut short due to injury, which could lead to this slide. The Chiefs love their young cornerbacks but would love to add more to the secondary.