Football is back, with the 2024 college season kicking off with Week 0 on Saturday and the NFL season set to follow in a couple of weeks. For us, that means the countdown to next year's NFL draft is on! And I'm not waiting any longer to drop my first 2025 mock draft.
The usual caveats apply. It's early. Just think about what 2024 mock drafts looked like before last college football season began. Jayden Daniels, who ultimately went second overall, was nowhere to be found in the first round. So much can change this season and in the pre-draft process next spring. This is a very preliminary look at Round 1.
This draft order is determined by ESPN's Football Power Index (FPI), which relies on simulations to predict the season and in turn which teams will be picking high in Round 1. No first-round picks have been traded yet, so all 32 teams are set to enter the draft with their own selections. We're selfishly hoping for some fun trades over the next 10 months, and I'm jumping the gun slightly. I've included one projected trade in this scenario.
Lastly, this mock is generally skewed more toward talent than team need -- because needs can change dramatically over the course of a season and next year's free agency. Again, it's early. We begin with a big move at the top of the board. (Note: Underclassmen are noted with an asterisk.)
Projected trade: Giants make a change at QB
As we know, quarterbacks are almost always gravitating toward the top of the board, as eight of the past 10 first overall picks have been signal-callers. The Patriots just used the No. 3 selection on Drake Maye in April, so chances are they'd be listening on trade offers if they landed the No. 1 pick next year. In this scenario, the Giants come calling for a second straight year and this time get a deal done. This projected trade would involve multiple picks, including New York's No. 6 selection.
1. New York Giants (via projected trade with NE)
Carson Beck, QB, Georgia*
Daniel Jones has no guaranteed money left on his contract past this season, and if the Giants finish with a record commensurate with the sixth pick, it's safe to assume they'd be in the quarterback market. Beck -- my early QB1 for the class -- is a silky-smooth pocket passer with excellent 6-foot-4 size and enough mobility to navigate inside and outside the pocket. He's coming off a season in which he finished third in the FBS in passing yards (3,941) and fourth in completion percentage (72.4%).
2. Carolina Panthers
James Pearce Jr., Edge, Tennessee*
Finishing with the second-worst record in the NFL would invite questions about whether the Panthers should pivot from Bryce Young, but I'm steadfast in my belief that he can be a high-level starter. Give it time. I'm looking elsewhere at No. 2 overall.
While the team added three notable edge rushers this year in free agency (Jadeveon Clowney, D.J. Wonnum and K'Lavon Chaisson), none of them are signed beyond 2025. Plus, Clowney -- the best of the bunch -- is in his age-31 season as he tries to replace Brian Burns' production. Pearce has rare explosion off the edge with a lightning-quick first step. After posting 10 sacks in 2023, he has the highest upside of any pass rusher I've studied so far.
3. Denver Broncos
Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas*
Banks put together excellent tape down the stretch in 2023 as a key part of Texas' run to the College Football Playoff, as he has an incredible combination of size (6-4, 320 pounds) and power. He pushes players around in the run game and has the foot quickness to mirror in pass protection, something the Broncos will need if 32-year-old Garett Bolles is not re-signed past his contract season. While quarterback Bo Nix has a ton of upside, the precision and timing-based offense that Sean Payton aspires to run also requires excellent protection. Banks -- who has allowed two sacks over 1,789 career snaps -- has lockdown-left-tackle talent.
4. Tennessee Titans
Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
If Tennessee is picking this high, it would -- like with the Panthers -- at least invite questions about whether to address quarterback again. I would argue yes for the Titans, though, as Will Levis being a second-round pick last year makes the financial side of this situation far less complicated than Carolina's predicament, allowing them to move on from him. Sanders could wind up in the conversation for the first overall pick of the draft, as he's an absolutely surgical pocket passer. He completed 69.3% of his throws last season and threw just three interceptions. He has great arm strength and pristine accuracy.
5. Washington Commanders
Mykel Williams, Edge, Georgia*
Left tackle is not to be ignored, but it would be hard to pass on Williams, who would present the Commanders with a defensive building block after trading away Montez Sweat and Chase Young in October. Williams has uncommon traits with his fantastic blend of length and power, proving to be a dominant presence well beyond the box score -- he's a better rusher than his 4.5 sacks in 2023 would suggest. I believe he's scheme-versatile enough to fit in anywhere, and he would be a welcome addition for new coach Dan Quinn.
6. New England Patriots (via projected trade with NYG)
Will Johnson, CB, Michigan*
I'd say New England is more likely to address offensive tackle than cornerback next spring, but I'm just not convinced enough on the class's second-best left tackle in my early tape study to go that direction and pass up Johnson. To that end, LSU's Will Campbell could certainly enter the mix, but Johnson would provide a mix of need and value. Johnson has lockdown-corner potential in the pros. His size (6-2, 202 pounds), efficient movement skills and physicality scream NFL star, and he would tag-team with Christian Gonzalez to form a lethal duo. Johnson has seven interceptions over two seasons.
7. Minnesota Vikings
Mason Graham, DT, Michigan*
While Michigan does not have the sheer depth of draftable talent that it did last year, its star power at the top looks better on paper entering this season. There are plenty of ways to describe Graham, but the best would be "play wrecker," as he lives in opposing backfields with ridiculous explosion and quickness off the snap. He reminds me a bit of Rams 2024 second-round pick Braden Fiske but with more length and younger at just 20 years old (Fiske was 23 entering his final college season). In his first year as a starter last season, Graham had three sacks and was third on the team in tackles per game (3.2).
8. Las Vegas Raiders
Quinn Ewers, QB, Texas*
It's no surprise that the Raiders are linked to a quarterback in Round 1 since the team has gone through a full offseason battle between Aidan O'Connell and Gardner Minshew, who are each better suited to be a No. 2 option. (Minshew was named the starter over the weekend.) Las Vegas ranked 26th in QBR last season (40.1) and needs a long-term answer.
Ewers is a fun study with his smooth delivery and capacity to change arm angles to make creative throws. He has to be more consistent throwing downfield, but he can really carve up a defense with his intermediate accuracy. Ewers' functional mobility is also very good and allows him to work around the pocket effectively.
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9. Arizona Cardinals
Nic Scourton, Edge, Texas A&M*
One of the most physically impressive prospects in this class, Scourton has already been an excellent college player; he led the Big Ten with 10 sacks in 2023 while with Purdue. I think he's ready for yet another step forward after joining Texas A&M. Scourton is only 19 years old and listed at 6-4, 285 pounds. Simply put, there aren't many humans with his blend of power and explosion. He has the tools to become a Pro Bowl pass rusher in the NFL and would be another coup for Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort. Arizona was 30th in sacks last season with 33.
10. New Orleans Saints
Will Campbell, OT, LSU*
If the Saints are picking 10th, I get that the quarterback position will probably be under the microscope. However, while New Orleans doesn't come across many salary cap predicaments that it can't work out of, releasing Derek Carr would incur nearly $50 million in dead money. So I'd watch for the Saints to instead address the O-line, staying local by nabbing Campbell, a native of Monroe, Louisiana.
Campbell became a Day 1 starter at LSU at left tackle and may well end up on the left side in the NFL, but this pick would allow the Saints optionality. (Taliese Fuaga, their 2024 first-round pick, has moved from right tackle to left tackle already.) Campbell has great length and quick feet, but he must improve his power and finishing ability.
11. Seattle Seahawks
Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado*
There will be intense debate over whether Hunter is best suited to be a full-time receiver, a full-time cornerback or some combination of both. I don't know the answer myself right now, but I do know he's one of the most talented playmakers I've studied in some time. Hunter has rare ball skills and off-the-charts instincts that make it easy for me to envision a world where he becomes an NFL star on either side of the ball. He's just that fluid, racking up 721 receiving yards on offense and 30 tackles on defense last season. That said, Seattle might lean into Hunter more on defense given its building blocks already in place at wideout, teaming him up with Devon Witherspoon and Riq Woolen.
12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame*
The cornerback position is officially back after none were taken in the top 20 in 2024 -- Morrison becomes the third one selected in the first 12 picks here. He is an effortless man coverage corner who is fearless on the field. Morrison has excellent ball skills (nine interceptions and 17 pass breakups over two seasons), timing and instincts. And he also has a confidence to him that shows up when he is tasked with matchups against opposing top wideouts. After Tampa Bay traded Carlton Davis III, it should be watching the CB class closely.
13. Pittsburgh Steelers
Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona*
As evidenced by the Steelers' pursuit of Brandon Aiyuk, wide receiver is a position to further bolster in Pittsburgh. And while the team's track record with non-Round 1 wideouts is solid, McMillan is far too good to pass on. He has rare 6-5 size and power, and the way he snares everything within arm's reach jumps out on tape. McMillan is a good route runner, he's strong after the catch and he has the physicality to post up defenders to win on contested catches. McMillan -- who had 90 catches for 1,402 yards and 10 scores last season -- could boost the Steelers' offense opposite George Pickens.
14. Indianapolis Colts
Malaki Starks, S, Georgia
Many Colts fans pleaded for the team to invest more in the safety position this offseason, and don't be surprised if Indy looks that direction next spring -- especially with Julian Blackmon and Ronnie Harrison Jr. scheduled for free agency. Starks has incredible range and instincts, allowing him to play snaps as a deep middle-of-the-field defender. But he also has the power, run-game willingness and force to play as an in-the-box safety. And Starks' tape shows he can handle slot coverage over tight ends and even some wideouts thanks to his elite play speed.
15. Jacksonville Jaguars
Denzel Burke, CB, Ohio State
The Jaguars were commonly linked to cornerbacks in this year's first round, and they eventually took one in the third round with Jarrian Jones. But they still need help opposite Tyson Campbell. Burke has excellent suddenness and the ability to drive back toward the football as a playmaking corner (24 pass breakups in three seasons). With his great speed, he can hold up on the perimeter on downfield throws.
16. Cleveland Browns
Emery Jones Jr., OT, LSU*
The Browns' roster is in very good shape, but fortifying the tackle position for the long term is important; starters Jedrick Wills Jr. and Jack Conklin have dealt with injuries. While Jones is still putting it all together as a pass protector, he is a bully in the running game who loves to impose his physical will. Like his LSU teammate Will Campbell, Jones shows the requisite tools to be a longtime NFL starter, just needing to play with slightly more consistency as a pass protector. He has started 24 games, with all but 30 of his 1,531 career snaps coming at right tackle.
17. Chicago Bears
JT Tuimoloau, Edge, Ohio State
The 2024 draft board fell in a way that had the Bears opting for offense over defense at No. 9, pairing receiver Rome Odunze with quarterback Caleb Williams. It made sense, but now Chicago has to think about the edge and find a running mate for Montez Sweat. That's why I have the Bears adding the relentless Tuimoloau. He is a hair-on-fire pass rusher who can really bend the edge to win with burst while also displaying the power to forklift offensive tackles out of the way. Tuimoloau had five sacks and 32 pressures last season.
18. Los Angeles Chargers
Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan*
Loveland is my top-graded tight end based off his 2023 tape. Well known to coach Jim Harbaugh from their time together at Michigan, Loveland is a buttery-smooth route runner who generates good separation in man coverage. He's sudden, fluid and instinctive, and he puts defenses into a coverage bind -- he's too big at 6-5 and 245 pounds for most defensive backs to match, and he's too quick for most linebackers to carry. Wide receiver is naturally another spot to watch for the Chargers, and Missouri's Luther Burden III could fit well too.
19. Los Angeles Rams
Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri*
No team played more snaps with three receivers on the field than the Rams last season (1,035), so even with Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp, the Rams could target the WR position. Frankly, this feels too low for Burden, as he's a joy to watch on tape and ranks 13th on my preseason board. He is a powerful, physical route runner who is a menace with the football in his hands. His first six games alone last season made for a quality stat line for a full year: 54 catches, 793 yards and five touchdowns. It's easy to envision Nacua and him together for a long time in L.A.
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20. New York Jets
Deone Walker, DT, Kentucky*
Offensive line will certainly be in play here, as Aaron Rodgers would be 41 at the start of next season and both veteran tackles acquired this offseason would be off the books (though Olu Fashanu will start at one tackle spot for a long, long time). But Walker would help the Jets' defense, which always seems to be in the market for bodies to pair with All-Pro defensive tackle Quinnen Williams. Walker is massive at 6-6 and 345 pounds but doesn't move like it, as he has quickness and burst that shouldn't be allowed at that size. He is a factor both against the run and bursting the bubble of the pocket, tallying 7.5 sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss in 2023.
21. Miami Dolphins
Jonah Savaiinaea, G/OT, Arizona
I had the interior offensive line as an area of need for the Dolphins in this past draft, though the team opted against taking anyone there this year. Adding the 6-5, 330-pound Savaiinaea would address it in a literal big way, as the hulking Arizona tackle (who has played extensively at right guard, too) could easily move inside full time. He has the feet to thrive at tackle, but his raw power and ability to create rushing lanes should translate to the pros at guard. Stay out of his way or you might get flattened.
22. Atlanta Falcons
Abdul Carter, Edge, Penn State
While I wonder whether the Falcons should have attacked the edge position in the first round of this year's draft, I did love the Bralen Trice pick in Round 3 -- even though he will miss his rookie season with a knee injury. Atlanta also traded for Matthew Judon this month, and that helps, but remember that this team finished last in pass rush win rate at 30.9% last season.
Carter has great physical traits, and he will move to defensive end on a full-time basis this season after largely playing at linebacker at Penn State so far. He finished last season with 4.5 sacks, 60 tackles and 22 pressures. Surely coach Raheem Morris would have no issue adding another moveable chess piece to his defense.
23. Houston Texans
Harold Perkins Jr., LB, LSU*
The Texans are in really good shape across the board, as this team is littered with young talent on both sides of the ball. Perkins is an interesting evaluation, with the quickness to play in a lot of different spots. That said, he is set to return to inside linebacker in 2024, and that's where I believe he is best suited to play. Perkins has just sufficient size for the position (6-1, 220 pounds), but his super speed and ability to do a little bit of everything should appeal to a coach in DeMeco Ryans who played linebacker himself.
24. Green Bay Packers
Patrick Payton, Edge, Florida State*
It's hard to find a place on the Green Bay roster where there isn't a young building block; hats off to GM Brian Gutekunst and his staff there. So how about a bet on a pass rusher with serious upside?
Posting 12 sacks over the past two seasons, Payton is long and agile, and he has lightning-quick hands to make life tough on offensive tackles. He had an astonishing 11 pass breakups in 2023 thanks to his go-go-gadget-like arms, but he must work on providing more resistance as an edge-setter in the run game. I think Payton is in for a leap forward this season following Jared Verse's graduation to the NFL, and we'll get our first look on Saturday when the Seminoles face Georgia Tech in Week 0's headliner.
25. Cincinnati Bengals
Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
With Tee Higgins' future still uncertain in Cincinnati, Egbuka would help offset a scenario in which Higgins signs elsewhere as a free agent in 2025. Egbuka is such a slick route runner and can dominate from the slot. Most impressive to me is how many clutch plays he has made for Ohio State -- he is so reliable. A future WR trio of Ja'Marr Chase, Egbuka and the speedy Jermaine Burton would be pretty, pretty good for Cincy.
26. Buffalo Bills
Donovan Jackson, G, Ohio State
I'm bullish on the Bills this season, as I believe they will still be able to thrive with that rebuilt receivers room. They will be relying heavily on Josh Allen, which is why I have my eyes on offensive line help in the draft. Jackson is a rock-solid player. He has a very good frame (6-4, 320 pounds), knock-you-back power in the run game, the short-area quickness to pass protect and a ton of experience (39 games, 26 starts). He'll be a longtime starter in the NFL.
27. Dallas Cowboys
Tacario Davis, CB, Arizona*
The Cowboys' future roster could look a lot different based on what happens this season, with the possibility of a quarterback change given Dak Prescott's current contract situation. Dallas also has to navigate extensions for CeeDee Lamb and Micah Parsons. But as things stand now, I think Davis is a logical target -- he's such a unique player with rare size for the cornerback position at 6-4 as well as great fluidity. He excels at the catch point as a completion-eraser with his long arms, instincts and timing (14 pass breakups last season).
28. Philadelphia Eagles
Isaiah Bond, WR, Texas*
I know the Eagles already have A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith running routes, but adding Bond would make this unit even scarier. Bond will head to Texas this year after two seasons at Alabama, and he'll likely provide some of what Xavier Worthy offered the Longhorns: game-changing speed. He might not be quite as fast as Worthy, but he looks like he is shot out of a cannon when he accelerates and totally changes the way you have to defend. On top of his speed, Bond has excellent body control and reliable hands.
29. Baltimore Ravens
Tyler Booker, G, Alabama*
The offensive line makeover began for the Ravens this past offseason, but let's keep it going with the addition of Booker. At 6-5 and 325 pounds, Booker's game is all about power. He needs to be a little more sudden off the snap on pass-protection reps, but the idea of Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson running behind Booker is unbelievably fun.
30. Detroit Lions
Landon Jackson, Edge, Arkansas
Detroit addressed its need opposite of Aidan Hutchinson in the short term by inking Marcus Davenport to a one-year deal, but edge is still a long-term focus. Jackson has serious length and is an efficient mover for a 6-7, 282-pound player. He uses his first-step quickness effectively and impacts the running game with how much ground he covers. Jackson has really filled out his frame since his college career began, but he must continue to do so. He had 6.5 sacks and 15 tackles for loss last season.
31. Kansas City Chiefs
Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan*
Holes are hard to find for the back-to-back champs, but after drafting just one defensive tackle over the past five years (Keondre Coburn in the sixth round in 2023), Kansas City could use a little depth in the pipeline to play alongside Chris Jones. Grant's combination of power and size (6-3, 339 pounds) makes him impossible to hold down for a full game. His disruption against the pass can't be measured solely in sacks (3.5 in 2023), as he often forces quarterbacks off their marks and speeds up their processes by getting pressure.
32. San Francisco 49ers
Tommi Hill, CB, Nebraska
As things presently stand, both Charvarius Ward and Deommodore Lenoir -- the team's starting cornerback duo -- are going to be free agents in March. Retaining them is surely a priority but also an expensive endeavor for a team that might not be able to keep its core together.
Hill is a star with even more room to grow, as he played wideout early in his college career and is still refining the nuances of the cornerback position. He has a nose for the football (seven pass breakups and four interceptions in 2023) and is fearless, unafraid to make plays near the line of scrimmage in the run game.