2025 NFL Mock Draft: Giants trade up to No. 1 after missing out on Matthew Stafford; defenders dominate top 10

INDIANAPOLIS -- We're only a few weeks removed from the Philadelphia Eagles' dismantling of the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX, but the offseason is already in full swing here at the NFL Scouting Combine. 

There are more than 300 prospects going through medical evaluations, team interviews, media sessions, measurements and workouts (although many of the top players have opted out of on-field work). They all have the same purpose: to put their best foot forward in front of NFL teams.

In my first mock of draft SZN, I take a look at how what's transpired at the combine so far could impact the three-day event that will take place in Green Bay, Wisconsin, at the end of April. While quarterbacks are taken with the top-two picks, defensive linemen steal the show, with five going in the top-10 picks. There are also as many tight ends selected and wide receivers (two). 

Obviously a lot will change with free agency on the horizon, but here are the names to keep an eye on as we head full speed towards the 2025 NFL Draft.

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 analyst Ryan Wilson. You can find "With the First Pick" wherever you get your podcasts: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, etc. Listen to the latest episode below!

NFL Mock Draft

Round 1

Mock Trade from Tennessee Titans Round 1 - Pick 1 Cam Ward QB Miami (FL) • Sr • 6'2" / 219 lbs Projected Team N.Y. Giants PROSPECT RNK 8th POSITION RNK 1st PAYDS 4313 RUYDS 204 INTS 7 TDS 43 The Giants were one of the teams interested in Matthew Stafford before he and the Rams decided not to part ways. They're also reportedly interested in Aaron Rodgers, who has made multiple calls to the team. But in this mock draft, New York turns its attention to the draft. And with general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll badly needing to produce a successful season, they can't afford to miss. That's why they leave nothing to chance, moving up two spots and getting the quarterback they want, which in this case is Cam Ward.

Round 1 - Pick 2 Shedeur Sanders QB Colorado • Sr • 6'2" / 212 lbs Projected Team Cleveland PROSPECT RNK 24th POSITION RNK 2nd PAYDS 4134 RUYDS -50 INTS 10 TDS 41 The Myles Garrett trade rumors are swirling, but from the Browns perspective he's not going anywhere, so Cleveland turns its attention to the other side of the ball. Head coach Kevin Stefanski spoke highly of both Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders at the NFL combine, but in one specific interview, he pointed out that two quarterback traits he covets are accuracy and decision-making. Sanders doesn't wow you with his athletic traits, but he certainly possesses those attributes, so that's the direction Cleveland goes.

Mock Trade from New York Giants Round 1 - Pick 3 Abdul Carter EDGE Penn State • Jr • 6'3" / 250 lbs Projected Team Tennessee PROSPECT RNK 2nd POSITION RNK 1st The biggest news to come out of the NFL combine so far has been the injury to Abdul Carter, who reportedly has a stress reaction in his right foot but will elect not to undergo surgery after having more tests done. CBS Sports NFL Draft analyst Ryan Wilson talked to two league sources who are "not worried" at all about Carter's injury, so I'm not going to be, either. The Titans still take Carter in the top 3 to strengthen their pass rush, which will likely be without Harold Landry next season with Tennessee allowing him to seek a trade.

Round 1 - Pick 4 Travis Hunter CB Colorado • Jr • 6'0" / 188 lbs Projected Team New England PROSPECT RNK 1st POSITION RNK 1st Patriots EVP Eliot Wolf emphasized needing to improve in the trenches during his NFL combine press conference, citing it as a formula for winning. And depending on how the first three picks shake out, offensive line and defensive line still seem like the most likely targets. But this is a dream scenario for New England; Travis Hunter can not only be Drake Maye's No. 1 wide receiver but can help shore up the back end of Mike Vrabel's defense.

Round 1 - Pick 5 Mason Graham DL Michigan • Jr • 6'3" / 296 lbs Projected Team Jacksonville PROSPECT RNK 3rd POSITION RNK 1st The Jaguars finished 30th in the league in sack rate (5.5%) and and 27th in pressure rate (29.6%) a year ago, so they need to get better along the defensive front. And while I'm sure new head coach Liam Coen wouldn't mind getting some added protection for Trevor Lawrence, Mason Graham is too good of a player to pass up here. His arm length isn't that of a typical top-10 defensive tackle, but his tenacity, strength, technique and consistency more than make up for it.

Round 1 - Pick 6 Jalon Walker EDGE Georgia • Jr • 6'1" / 243 lbs Projected Team Las Vegas PROSPECT RNK 9th POSITION RNK 2nd With the top-two quarterbacks off the board, the Raiders and new head coach Pete Carroll focus their attention on stopping the signal-callers in their division. Jalon Walker would go a long way in helping them do that, as the linebacker/edge rusher hybrid has the length and athleticism to be a tone-setter along with Maxx Crosby on the defensive side of the ball in Las Vegas.

Round 1 - Pick 7 Will Johnson CB Michigan • Jr • 6'2" / 194 lbs Projected Team N.Y. Jets PROSPECT RNK 5th POSITION RNK 2nd Will Johnson was one of the best NFL Draft prospects entering the 2024 season before being limited to six games this past fall due to a toe injury. Scouts were not able to see him work out out at the NFL combine, either, as he did not participate in on-field drills, instead opting to delay his long-awaited return until Michigan's Pro Day on March 21. But make no mistake: Johnson is still an elite NFL Draft prospect, and new Jets head coach Aaron Glenn (a longtime NFL cornerback and defensive-focused coach) will get the most out of him.

Round 1 - Pick 8 Mykel Williams EDGE Georgia • Jr • 6'5" / 260 lbs Projected Team Carolina PROSPECT RNK 16th POSITION RNK 4th The Panthers would probably prefer Jalon Walker here, but with him off the board they take another Georgia defender in Mykel Williams. His production wasn't what you would like to see from a top-10 pick, but he said an ankle injury forced him to play at about 60% throughout the year. Carolina decides to trust Williams' elite physical traits as it prioritizes bolstering the defensive line this offseason.

Round 1 - Pick 9 Shemar Stewart DL Texas A&M • Jr • 6'5" / 267 lbs Projected Team New Orleans PROSPECT RNK 23rd POSITION RNK 3rd Cameron Jordan turns 36 years old in July and Chase Young is set to hit free agency; that's basically all you need to know about which direction the Saints should go in the NFL Draft. Full transparency: I initially had Marshall's Mike Green here, but then Shemar Stewart absolutely destroyed the NFL combine. He had very similar height, weight, wingspan, vertical jump and broad jump numbers to Myles Garrett coming out of Texas A&M; the only issue is that Garrett had 32.5 sacks in college and Stewart only had 4.5. Even with Stewart's lack of production, the Saints bet on his tremendous upside.

Round 1 - Pick 10 Will Campbell OT LSU • Jr • 6'6" / 319 lbs Projected Team Chicago PROSPECT RNK 6th POSITION RNK 2nd The first nine picks played out perfectly for Chicago, which would like to do everything possible to protect franchise quarterback Caleb Williams. With every offensive line prospect available, the Bears select Will Campbell for his smooth athleticism, technical ability and experience (38 starts over the past three seasons).

Round 1 - Pick 11 Josh Simmons OT Ohio State • Sr • 6'5" / 317 lbs Projected Team San Francisco PROSPECT RNK 20th POSITION RNK 4th General manager John Lynch said Trent Williams is "really motivated to come back," but he turns 37 years old in July, so the 49ers need a backup plan at left tackle. Enter Josh Simmons, who was one of the best offensive lineman in all of college football before having season-ending knee surgery in mid-October. Some will have Simmons going later because of the injury, but San Francisco trusts that he can be the perfect replacement for their future Pro Football Hall of Famer.

Round 1 - Pick 12 Ashton Jeanty RB Boise State • Jr • 5'9" / 211 lbs Projected Team Dallas PROSPECT RNK 11th POSITION RNK 1st RUYDS 2601 YDS/ATT 7 REYDS 138 TDS 30 Credit to my colleague, Mike Renner, for pointing this out: is Jerry Jones just concerned about selling jerseys and tickets? Because his moves the past few years, including the hiring of new head coach Brian Schottenheimer, don't reflect an owner/general manager solely focused on winning. Now, this is nothing against Ashton Jeanty; he's a top-10 worthy prospect, so Dallas should be thrilled to get him here. But compared to almost every other prospect (not named Shedeur Sanders), Jeanty will get fans excited to go to games, buy merchandise and more.

Round 1 - Pick 13 Kelvin Banks Jr. OT Texas • Jr • 6'5" / 315 lbs Projected Team Miami PROSPECT RNK 4th POSITION RNK 1st Kelvin Banks was a decorated three-year starter at left tackle, but some feel he may be best suited for guard. Luckily for the Dolphins, they need help at both spots. They've long struggled to pick up tough yards when necessary, and that's because of the lack of push up front. Then you have head coach Mike McDaniel saying Miami is preparing as if its current left tackle, Terron Armstead, is going to retire. Whenever Banks ends up playing, he'll be a quality starter who will improve the unit as a whole.

Round 1 - Pick 14 Tyler Warren TE Penn State • Sr • 6'6" / 256 lbs Projected Team Indianapolis PROSPECT RNK 19th POSITION RNK 2nd REC 104 REYDS 1233 YDS/REC 11.9 TDS 12 Tyler Warren said he wears No. 44 because when he was younger, his father put on video of legendary Washington running back John Riggins and said, "This is how I want you to run the ball." Well, you know who else wore 44? Legendary Colts tight end Dallas Clark. Warren can do it all offensively, and Indianapolis needs to do whatever it can to help out Anthony Richardson, so that's the direction the franchise goes here.

Round 1 - Pick 15 Mike Green EDGE Marshall • Soph • 6'3" / 251 lbs Projected Team Atlanta PROSPECT RNK 18th POSITION RNK 5th For the first time since Takkarist McKinley in 2017, the Falcons take an edge rusher in Round 1. Among the plethora of defensive options in this class, Atlanta elects to take the FBS's reigning sack leader in Marshall's Mike Green. It'll have to do its homework about his potential character concerns -- he told reporters at the NFL combine that two sexual assault allegations resulted to his departure from Virginia -- but the physical tools and production are there.

Round 1 - Pick 16 Kenneth Grant DL Michigan • Jr • 6'4" / 331 lbs Projected Team Arizona PROSPECT RNK 30th POSITION RNK 5th It was a major bummer that a hamstring strain kept Kenneth Grant from working out at the NFL combine, but he's still a massive, super athletic interior defensive lineman with a ton of room to grow. The Cardinals badly need help in that area, especially having to deal with the potent run games of the Rams and 49ers four times per year.

Round 1 - Pick 17 Walter Nolen DL Ole Miss • Jr • 6'4" / 296 lbs Projected Team Cincinnati PROSPECT RNK 17th POSITION RNK 2nd With the Bengals insisting they're going to pay Tee Higgins, Ja'Marr Chase and Trey Hendrickson, it seems like a forgone conclusion that they let veteran defensive tackle B.J. Hill walk. Cincinnati wouldn't miss a beat if it drafted Walter Nolen, who had this to say at the NFL combine: "I'm smaller, but I'm strong as ox. I'm not a one-trick pony. I feel like I can move up and down the line."

Round 1 - Pick 18 Nick Emmanwori S South Carolina • Jr • 6'3" / 220 lbs Projected Team Seattle PROSPECT RNK 26th POSITION RNK 2nd Nick Emmanwori said he models his game after Kyle Hamilton, arguably the best safety in the NFL at only 23 years old. It just so happens that Seahawks head coach Mike McDonald was the Ravens defensive coordinator for Hamilton's first two years in the NFL, so he would know exactly how to maximize the potential of the 6-foot-3, 225-pound Emmanwori.

Round 1 - Pick 19 Tetairoa McMillan WR Arizona • Jr • 6'4" / 219 lbs Projected Team Tampa Bay PROSPECT RNK 7th POSITION RNK 1st REC 84 REYDS 1319 YDS/REC 15.7 TDS 8 Finally a wide receiver! And the fit makes too much sense. Chris Godwin is set to become a free agent, and Mike Evans can't put up 1,000-yard seasons for forever (can he?). Pairing the towering Tetairoa McMillan with Jalen McMillan would ensure that the receiving future is bright in Tampa Bay.

Round 1 - Pick 20 Colston Loveland TE Michigan • Jr • 6'6" / 248 lbs Projected Team Denver PROSPECT RNK 15th POSITION RNK 1st REC 56 REYDS 582 YDS/REC 10.4 TDS 5 Tyler Warren stole the show among college football tight ends last season thanks to his extreme versatility and elite production, but Colston Loveland was the clear TE1 entering the 2024 campaign. He just didn't have anyone at Michigan capable of throwing him the ball -- and STILL finished with 56 catches for 582 yards and five touchdowns. Head coach Sean Payton said the Broncos "need a joker" to create mismatches offensively, and Loveland can certainly fill that role.

Round 1 - Pick 21 Emeka Egbuka WR Ohio State • Sr • 6'1" / 202 lbs Projected Team Pittsburgh PROSPECT RNK 28th POSITION RNK 3rd REC 81 REYDS 1011 YDS/REC 12.5 TDS 10 George Pickens is extremely talented, but also very inconsistent (and someone who frequently makes headlines for the wrong reasons). The Steelers need stability among their receiver corps, and Emeka Egbuka is the player for the job. He was always overshadowed at Ohio State by otherworldly talents, but he's a savvy route runner who just knows how to get open.

Round 1 - Pick 22 Tyler Booker IOL Alabama • Jr • 6'5" / 321 lbs Projected Team L.A. Chargers PROSPECT RNK 25th POSITION RNK 1st I'm sure Jim Harbaugh would have loved to reunite with Colston Loveland in Los Angeles, but the Broncos snagged the former Michigan tight end two picks earlier. The Chargers instead turn their attention to the offensive line. General manager Joe Hortiz said the Chargers would experiment with moving Zion Johnson to center, which would leave a hole at right guard. Tyler Booker could fill that role right away, as he has all the traits (explosiveness, power leadership) that Harbaugh covets.

Round 1 - Pick 23 Jahdae Barron CB Texas • Sr • 5'11" / 194 lbs Projected Team Green Bay PROSPECT RNK 35th POSITION RNK 5th Cornerback Eric Stokes is set to become a free agent, and now the Packers are reportedly having trade conversations around Jaire Alexander. That leaves cornerback as one of the biggest needs, so the team goes out and gets Jahdae Barron, who won the Jim Thorpe Award as the best defensive back in college football last season. He's not an elite athlete, but he does everything really well.

Round 1 - Pick 24 Derrick Harmon DL Oregon • Jr • 6'5" / 310 lbs Projected Team Minnesota PROSPECT RNK 29th POSITION RNK 4th While a lot of the top defensive tackles opted not to participate in on-field drills at the NFL combine, Derrick Harmon made himself a lot of money working out at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Thursday night. He wowed with a 4.95-second 40-yard dash at 6-foot-5 and 313 pounds and then showcased fluid movement skills during football drills. Brian Flores' vaunted defense gets even better with the addition of the former Oregon star.

Round 1 - Pick 25 Armand Membou OT Missouri • Jr • 6'4" / 332 lbs Projected Team Houston PROSPECT RNK 14th POSITION RNK 3rd There's always a few players who slip further than expected in these mock drafts, and Armand Membou is one of them. Membou was an All-SEC right tackle at Missouri, but NFL scouts believe he could be even better inside. The Texans would start him there right away and feel good about him providing much-needed protection for C.J. Stroud.

Round 1 - Pick 26 Maxwell Hairston CB Kentucky • Jr • 5'11" / 183 lbs Projected Team L.A. Rams PROSPECT RNK 67th POSITION RNK 8th Initially I had Oregon's Josh Conerly going to the Rams to replace Alaric Jackson, but there are now reports that the two parties have agreed to a long-term extension. After locking up its left tackle, Los Angeles pivots to the defensive side of the ball and takes cornerback Maxwell Hairston, who delivered on his promise of balling out at the NFL combine.

Round 1 - Pick 27 Grey Zabel IOL North Dakota State • Sr • 6'6" / 312 lbs Projected Team Baltimore PROSPECT RNK 27th POSITION RNK 2nd The Ravens have a bunch of impending free agents along the offensive line, and Grey Zabel has played a bunch of different positions in his career (mostly left tackle at North Dakota State before moving inside during his breakout Senior Bowl performance). It would be a good problem to have for Baltimore, which could draft him and then figure out his best spot afterwards.

Round 1 - Pick 28 Jihaad Campbell LB Alabama • Jr • 6'3" / 235 lbs Projected Team Detroit PROSPECT RNK 21st POSITION RNK 1st Jihaad Campbell played mostly off-ball linebacker at Alabama, but he's more than capable of being an edge rusher, and that's where he would thrive in Detroit opposite Aidan Hutchinson. Campbell only helped his draft stock with his performance at the NFL combine.

Round 1 - Pick 29 Donovan Ezeiruaku EDGE Boston College • Sr • 6'3" / 248 lbs Projected Team Washington PROSPECT RNK 42nd POSITION RNK 8th Obviously protecting Jayden Daniels is a priority, but Donovan Ezeiruaku's NFL combine performance made him too good to pass up here. A consensus All-American and ACC Defensive Player of the Year (16.5 sacks and 21.0 tackles for loss), Ezeiruaku recorded the fastest three-cone and short-shuttle times among edge rushers. He gets to the quarterback and does so quickly, which will be imperative as the Commanders attempt to catch the Eagles.

Round 1 - Pick 30 Malaki Starks S Georgia • Jr • 6'1" / 197 lbs Projected Team Buffalo PROSPECT RNK 12th POSITION RNK 1st It doesn't appear that Malaki Starks will fall this far on draft night, but that's how this mock shook out, which the Bills are thrilled about. The Georgia standout is a do-everything safety who makes the job of his teammates easier.

Round 1 - Pick 31 Donovan Jackson IOL Ohio State • Sr • 6'4" / 315 lbs Projected Team Kansas City PROSPECT RNK 67th POSITION RNK 7th I feel like I'm morally obligated to give the Chiefs an offensive lineman after what happened in the Super Bowl against the Eagles. Donovan Jackson moved from guard to left tackle after Josh Simmons went down in October, and he was an invaluable part of Ohio State's run to winning the College Football Playoff national championship. Regardless of where he lines up, he'll help give Patrick Mahomes more time to work his magic.

Round 1 - Pick 32 James Pearce Jr. EDGE Tennessee • Jr • 6'5" / 245 lbs Projected Team Philadelphia PROSPECT RNK 10th POSITION RNK 3rd Tell me if you've heard this before: a talented, productive defender falls to the Eagles. James Pearce Jr. finished top three in the SEC in pressures each of the last two seasons.

The 2025 NFL Draft is to take place from April 24-26 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. More draft coverage can be found at CBSSports.com, including the weekly mock drafts and a regularly available look at the eligible prospects.