Early 2025 NFL Mock Draft 4.0

That’s right, we’re back with another mock draft. Give the people what they want, I say. Everyone loves a good mock draft, and the changes in the draft order over the last few weeks makes for some fun new scenarios to explore.

While you don’t want to overreact to just one or two weekends in college football, mock drafts are a great way to talk about some new names. In fact, there are four players in this mock that I haven’t discussed yet and almost every team has a new player from my last mock. When you do a bunch of mock drafts, part of the exercise is exploring what happens when teams go in different directions, and that’s what I tried to do here.

Current draft order per Tankathon.

1: New England Patriots — Texas OT Kelvin Banks Jr.

First-round QB Drake Maye is making his first start this week, a move many have criticized for being reckless. The Patriots’ offensive line remains the worst in the league by a considerable margin, and while improving the weapons around Maye is important, a stalwart tackle to protect him is even more critical. Banks is in the middle of an excellent season for the Longhorns, and his fluidity in pass protection projects well at the next level.

2: Cincinnati Bengals — Michigan DT Mason Graham

If the Bengals are picking this high in April, quite a few people in that building would likely be out of a job. Still, they wouldn’t complain about adding Graham to this defense. His pass-rushing acumen is top-notch, while Cincinnati is struggling with a lack of production in the middle of their defensive line.

3: Cleveland Browns — Arizona WR Tetairoa McMillan

The Browns are one of the most fascinating teams to monitor. Things don’t seem to be getting better for them, with Deshaun Watson consistently performing as one of the worst starting quarterbacks in the league. It’s a little early for a quarterback though, so instead they upgrade their passing game with McMillan. Trade rumors swirl around the Browns’ top pass catcher, WR Amari Cooper, who also is in the last year of his contract. McMillan has been a weekly star in 2024. His size/speed combo is special.

4: Los Angeles Rams — Colorado WR/CB Travis Hunter

The Rams are another team that could take a quarterback, with Matthew Stafford seemingly nearing the end of his career. But with Hunter on the board, Los Angeles jumps at the chance to add the best player in college football. The Rams desperately need a lockdown cornerback, and Hunter can be that guy. He could also shine as a receiver on this roster, and HC Sean McVay would run some wild plays to maximize Hunter’s skillset.

5: Jacksonville Jaguars — Michigan CB Will Johnson

This roster could look very different in a few months, but regardless, the Jaguars need a top-flight cornerback. Johnson is the best corner in this draft. The way he uses his hands at the line of scrimmage, moves his hips to stick with receivers, and fights at the catch point is exactly what you want to see out of a top-five player.

6: Carolina Panthers — Alabama QB Jalen Milroe

It’s ironic that in this scenario Milroe replaces Bryce Young at Alabama, then again in Carolina. The Panthers are, unfortunately, back in the quarterback market, and Milroe is the top passer on my board. He’s always had an ideal frame, arm talent and athleticism, but this season he’s putting it all together. Milroe’s week-to-week consistency is a big improvement from last season, as is his accuracy and playmaking. He’s cut down on the sacks, as well.

7: Tennessee Titans — Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty

How fun would this be? It remains to be seen if the Titans will want to draft a replacement for QB Will Levis, but if he shows enough to roll with him again in 2025, Jeanty would be a great addition to this offense. Derrick Henry is now tearing it up in Baltimore, and while Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears have held it down in the backfield, neither is half as dynamic as Jeanty. He can break any tackle, run routes out of the backfield or from the slot, and is a home-run threat anytime he touches the ball.

8: Miami Dolphins — LSU OT Will Campbell

This is the perfect range for Campbell. He’s not an elite tackle prospect, but he’s very, very good. Miami badly needs an upgrade on the offensive line, and Campbell would slide right in to start at right tackle. His mirroring ability in pass protection and the way he gets out in space to pave the way for running backs is exactly what NFL teams are looking for.

9: New York Jets — Texas WR Isaiah Bond

Bond has shot up my draft board early in the season, and for good reason. He’s always been fast, but he’s added new elements to his game. He’s improved his route running, hands and reliability. The Jets need another wide receiver to pair with Garrett Wilson, and Bond would excel in that role.

10: Arizona Cardinals — Tennessee ED James Pearce Jr.

It hasn’t been the breakout season many expected for Pearce, but he’s looked good nonetheless. As a pass rusher, he still relies too much on his raw athleticism, but he’s started to sprinkle in a few actual moves in his rushes. As a run defender, he’s been surprisingly strong for someone of his size on the edge. Arizona needs an edge rusher, and while Pearce will take time to develop, he’s still the top edge defender on my board.

11: Las Vegas Raiders — Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders

Aidan O’Connell is slated to get his first start of the season this week, but short of a dominating performance by him through the rest of the season, the Raiders will be in the quarterback market next draft. There are already rumblings the Raiders want Sanders and it’s easy to see why. Sanders has a natural feel for the game, the ability to make plays out of structure and mobility to succeed in the modern NFL.

12: New Orleans Saints — Kentucky DT Deone Walker

The Saints have their pick here of several fantastic defensive linemen, but Walker seems like their kind of guy. A hulking presence anchoring the Wildcats’ line, Walker has rare movement skills for his size. He’s a playmaker in the run game and has pass-rush reps that make your eyes pop. There’s work to be done to make his game more consistent, but Walker oozes potential in a way NFL teams covet.

13: Indianapolis Colts — Georgia S Malaki Starks

2022 third-rounder Nick Cross moved to strong safety this season with fantastic results, but the Colts could still use a true deep safety in DC Gus Bradley’s Cover 3 system. Starks has elite range and playmaking ability on the back end of the defense, with good man-coverage skills and a strong tackling profile. It’s early for a safety, but Starks is one of the best prospects left on the board.

14: San Francisco 49ers — Texas A&M ED Nic Scourton

I mean, the 49ers getting their hands on Scourton would be practically cheating. He’s got the size of a big end with the skillset of a stand-up rusher. Scourton drops into coverage, rushes from multiple alignments, and is a plus in the run game. Across from Nick Bosa in this San Francisco defense, Scourton would be a consistent playmaker.

15: New York Giants — Miami QB Cam Ward

Ward has cooled off a little bit since his scintillating start to the season, but he’s still one of my top quarterbacks. No matter how many upset wins HC Brian Daboll manages to coax out of Daniel Jones, the Giants are hitting the reset button at quarterback this upcoming offseason. Ward can make every throw and makes the special plays with regularity, something that’s been missing in New York for some time.

16: Philadelphia Eagles — Penn State ED Abdul Carter

The pick that would have us all going, “how did Howie do it again?” Surprisingly, the Eagles haven’t had much success rushing the passer this year and might need to use another top pick on an edge defender. Carter could go much higher than this. He plays with aggressiveness and strength to complement his natural speed and bend. He’s still learning the position, but profiles as a potential game-changer at the next level.

17: Chicago Bears — Arizona OT Jonah Savaiinaea

I seem to be higher than the consensus on Savaiinaea, and I’m not totally sure why. He’s a massive tackle with smooth movement skills and refined technique. Some project him as needing to slide inside to guard in the NFL, which is fine for the Bears. Chicago needs upgrades at multiple spots along the offensive line, so wherever Savaiinaea settles in the NFL, Chicago will need him.

18: Green Bay Packers — Notre Dame CB Benjamin Morrison

The Packers need another corner, and with Morrison still on the board, this is an easy selection. It’s as if he was built in a lab to play cornerback in the NFL. Morrison’s strength and short-area agility are off-the-charts good, and though he needs to improve his anticipation and timing at the catch point, he has all the tools you could want.

19: Los Angeles Chargers — Michigan DT Kenneth Grant

Grant is another player who could go higher than this, but he’s also a perfect fit for the Chargers. They need to shore up their defensive front, and Grant can do that and then some. He’s impressed scouts this season with his quickness and production in an increased role.

20: Seattle Seahawks — LSU OT Emery Jones Jr.

Like Savaiinaea, Jones is a college tackle many are projecting should move to the interior in the NFL. Unlike Savaiinaea, I agree with them on that for Jones. He can struggle with the speedier, bendier edge rushers he faces, but his power, frame, and road-grader mentality are perfect for a guard. Seattle badly needs an upgrade at guard, but also has questions at right tackle if Jones ends up sticking there.

21: Pittsburgh Steelers — Missouri WR Luther Burden III

It hasn’t been a banner year for Burden, but he’s still one of the most dynamic players in college football. The Steelers need another wide receiver to pair with George Pickens more than anything else, and Burden would add a badly needed element of speed to this passing attack.

22: Denver Broncos — Ohio State WR Emeka Egbuka

Egbuka was a projected first-round pick heading into the 2023 college football season, but an injury-plagued campaign lowered his stock, and he elected to return for his senior year. So far, that choice is paying off, as Egbuka has bounced back in a major way this year. He has the size, speed and body control to be a weapon from the slot in the NFL, with the flexibility to play some on the outside.

23: Dallas Cowboys — Ohio State RB Quinshon Judkins

Yeah, this is the pick we all want to see. Rico Dowdle has put up an admirable performance, but the Cowboys could use a difference-maker at running back. Judkins hasn’t had the explosive season Jeanty has, but he’s still an athletic, tough runner who can be a three-down back in the NFL. Judkins has receiving and pass-protecting chops that will let him play in all situations, and his profile as a runner matches up with some of the league’s best.

24: Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Ole Miss ED Princely Umanmielen

Umanmielen is a stand-out performer for me so far in 2024. He’s made great strides this season, refining his skillset and making more of an impact in the run game. The only real weakness on this Buccaneers roster, as it’s currently constructed, is on the edge. Umanmielen would complement YaYa Diaby nicely.

25: Buffalo Bills — Stanford WR Elic Ayomanor

This is the same pick I had for Buffalo in my last mock, but the fit is just too good to move away from it. Ayomanor has had an up-and-down 2024 campaign so far, but his highs are worth betting on, and he’s still a young player. Drops have been his main problem, but he’s a big, fast receiver who gets separation against press coverage and in one-on-one situations. That’s something this Bills offense really needs.

26: Baltimore Ravens — West Virginia OT Wyatt Milum

Milum is having a fantastic season and keeps stacking impressive performances on top of each other. He’s athletic, often the first to move off the snap, and gets into his pass sets quickly. He’s fluid in the run game, showcasing some aggression that wasn’t always there in prior seasons. Milum may just keep climbing up draft boards, but as long as he’s available here, the Ravens will snatch him up. They need a tackle, as their offensive line has a few holes.

27: Atlanta Falcons — Arkansas ED Landon Jackson

Jackson isn’t someone I’ve discussed much yet, but he’s had a great season so far. He’s got a unique build, at 6-7, 280, but that weird frame lets him do some cool things. He’s scheme-versatile, able to play everything from a stand-up rusher to a big end in a 3-4 system. He’s still developing as a pass rusher, but he’s a menace in run defense. Atlanta needs a go-to pass rusher, and Jackson can become that guy.

28: Detroit Lions — Alabama G Tyler Booker

Booker has underwhelmed as a run blocker this season, but he’s doing some special things in pass protection. The Lions could use some reinforcements in the middle of their offensive line, and Booker would be a great fit. He’s tough, gritty and someone who would fit right into this locker room.

29: Washington Commanders — Texas OT Cameron Williams

The other offensive tackle for the Longhorns, Williams has turned heads this season in his own right. He’s playing at a healthier weight this season but is still 6-5 and 335 pounds. He moves well at that size, and this shows up especially in his pass sets. Williams is still a work in progress in run blocking, but his pass protection tape is so nice. The Commanders need a stalwart tackle to protect their new superstar quarterback, and Williams could fit the bill.

30: Houston Texans — Penn State S Kevin Winston Jr.

It’s not a need for the Texans, but this roster is so strong they can afford to just go best player available. Winston is a tackling machine on the back end, with some of the best zone principles for a safety I’ve ever seen. Winston’s presence on the back end would let Houston HC DeMeco Ryans vary his coverages even more than he already does.

31: Kansas City Chiefs — Michigan TE Colston Loveland

How about this a Travis Kelce heir apparent? The Chiefs’ superstar at tight end probably won’t retire just yet, but he’s getting older, and his production is slowing. Loveland can’t simply replace one of the best tight ends in NFL history, but he can do many of the same things Kelce does. He’s a plus blocker on the line and can line up across the formation, punishing defenses down the field.

32: Minnesota Vikings — East Carolina CB Shavon Revel

The Vikings still need a cornerback. I’m not sure where Revel will fall come draft day given he tore his ACL in practice a few weeks ago and won’t be able to test for teams pre-draft or compete in the all-star circuit leading up to the draft. But man, can this guy move. Revel is so athletic, it’s a wonder a power-conference team didn’t scoop him up. He moves fluidly in coverage, effortlessly flipping his hips and staying sticky on receivers. He’s got some power in run support and plays with an edge coaches will love. If teams feel confident in their medicals on his recovery, don’t be surprised if he goes on Day 1.