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The excitement for the 2025 NFL Draft is building with the first round scheduled for Thursday, April 24, and NFL teams knee-deep in preparations.
Is there any consensus from recent NFL draft projections on where first-round picks will go? Who will be picked in the top five? What will the Arizona Cardinals do?
We consulted four recent NFL mock drafts from the USA TODAY Network to get an idea of what might transpire early on the first night of the draft.
The mock drafts were from Theo Mackie of The Arizona Republic, Christian D’Andrea of For The Win, Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz of USA TODAY Sports and Ayrton Ostly of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Here’s what they had in common (and what they didn’t) for the first half of the 2025 NFL mock draft:
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Three of the four mock drafts have Miami QB Cam Ward going No. 1 overall (with the other picking Penn State’s Abdul Carter).
Mackie wrote: “It’s starting to look more likely that the Titans could use the top pick on a position other than quarterback. Last week, president of football operations Chad Brinker said the team would not pass on a “generational prospect.” That comment could hint at Abdul Carter or even Travis Hunter going here. Still, quarterback remains the most likely route for a team that desperately needs an answer behind center. And Ward should be the first quarterback off the board.”
NFL mock draft:Where will Miami quarterback Cam Ward be picked in 2025 NFL draft?
So much for a consensus. All four mock drafts have a different player being picked at No. 2 overall. That player, according to USA TODAY, is Colorado WR/CB Travis Hunter (Carter, Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders and Ward were the other picks).
Middlehurst-Schwartz wrote: “News of Deshaun Watson’s second Achilles surgery throwing his 2025 availability into question only ratchets up the urgency for Cleveland to find an alternative at quarterback. But rather than force a rookie into an unenviable situation, the more prudent move might be to reunite Kevin Stefanski with Kirk Cousins once the Falcons release the veteran signal-caller. The Browns should also shop this pick to several teams eager to make a quarterback investment, as there could be an enticing offer to move down. But it’s hard to go wrong by standing pat and landing Hunter, the most dynamic player in the draft.”
Three of the four mock drafts have Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders being this pick (with Hunter being the other).
Ostly wrote: “Giants general manager Joe Schoen and coach Brian Daboll will remain with New York in 2025 and they need to find an answer at quarterback. Is Sanders that answer? Potentially. The Colorado quarterback has the highest floor of any quarterback prospect in the class thanks to his timing, accuracy, poise in the pocket and clutch performances.”
NFL mock draft:Where will Colorado star Shedeur Sanders be picked in 2025 NFL draft?
Penn State’s Abdul Carter goes to the Patriots in two of the mock drafts, while Hunter is this pick in the other two.
D’Andrea wrote: “The Patriots have many needs at expensive positions — just not quarterback. That leaves them in position to trade back should a passer fall and a desperate team try to move up. Or, in this case, they can just take the player most likely to tilt the outcome of the game on any given Sunday. That’s Carter, the latest Penn State pass rusher to wear No. 11 and make life hell for Big Ten quarterbacks. His 22 tackles for loss and 11 sacks each led the conference thanks to a relentless motor, absurd athleticism and a general desire to hit fellas so hard they forget parts of elementary school.”
Three of the four mock drafts predict that Michigan CB Will Johnson will be the pick here, while Michigan DL Mason Graham goes No. 5 in one of them.
Ostly wrote: Jacksonville’s general manager and defensive coordinator positions remain vacant at the time of publishing, so we’re choosing to address a big need for the defense. Johnson has prototypical size and incredible tape from the 2023 college football season. His tape from this past fall has caused some concern, but he could be long-term answer at cornerback opposite Tyson Campbell. Defensive line was in play here but, with a deep class at interior and edge, the Jaguars opt to address that in Round 2.”
6. Las Vegas Raiders
We’ve got another split decision with this pick, with two of the writers taking Arizona WR Tetairoa McMillan here and two going with Michigan DL Mason Graham.
Mackie wrote: “Brock Bowers — last year’s No. 13 pick — might already be the NFL’s best tight end. Now, after trading Davante Adams, it’s time to pair Bowers with a true number-one receiver. Sure, the Raiders would love to take a quarterback here, but with both top-end signal-callers off the board, McMillan is their best bet to improve a passing game in dire need of help.”
7. New York Jets
Two of the mock drafts have the Jets selecting LSU OT Will Campbell at No. 7 (Graham and McMillan are the other picks).
D’Andrea wrote: “The Jets need a quarterback, but reaching for someone like Jalen Milroe here when there are a few similar options who’ll be around when New York makes its second round selection (or potentially trades up into the back half of Day 1) would be a poor use of draft value. Instead, they can make life easier for whomever is taking snaps next fall and take 2025’s top offensive line prospect. With Morgan Moses and Tyron Smith both pending free agents, New York needs a young pillar across from 2024 first rounder Olu Fashanu. Campbell is a big bodied, 6-foot-6 specimen who can keep pockets, and his quarterback’s jersey, clean. We’ll see how the pre-draft process affects his stock.”
NFL mock draft:Tetairoa McMillan could be Arizona Wildcats’ highest-ever NFL draft pick
8. Carolina Panthers
Georgia edge rusher Mykel Williams is the pick at this spot in two of the four mock drafts (with McMillan and Georgia LB Jalon Walker as the other picks).
Mackie wrote of this pick: “Much like the Jaguars, the Panthers need help everywhere on defense as they aim to build a contender around Bryce Young, who showed his potential as a franchise quarterback down the stretch. Williams didn’t always maximize his immense talent at Georgia but he has the potential to be a game-changing threat off the edge.”
9. New Orleans Saints
We’ve come to our second pick of the draft in which none of the four writers agree. Middlehurst-Schwartz has this pick being Malaki Starks, the safety out of Georgia. Ohio State OT Josh Simmons, Michigan CB Will Johnson and Texas A&M edge Nic Scourton are the other picks.
Middlehurst-Schwartz wrote: “The Saints don’t seem likely to embrace a full-blown teardown, but there’s a clear need to get more building blocks in place. And while a significant investment at safety likely doesn’t rank as a priority on New Orleans’ offseason to-do list, Starks can change the complexion of a defense with his playmaking range, versatility and instinctiveness.”
10. Chicago Bears
Remember how two mock drafts had Will Campbell going at No. 7? The other two have him going at No. 10. Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty is one of the other picks at No. 10, while Texas OT Kelvin Banks Jr. is the other.
Ostly wrote of this pick: “New Bears head coach Ben Johnson came from Detroit where the Lions built their offense around one of the best offensive line units in the league. Campbell will likely end up at guard due to arm length concerns but brings a bundle of traits that make him the top overall offensive line prospect in the class. He has Pro Bowl potential as a rookie and should be an instant upgrade for the Bears on the line.”
11. San Francisco 49ers
- The Arizona Republic: Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State
- For The Win: Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas
- USA TODAY Sports: Shemar Stewart, DL, Texas A&M
- Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Armand Membou, OL, Missouri
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12. Dallas Cowboys
- The Arizona Republic: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
- For The Win: Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
- USA TODAY Sports: Luther Burden III, WR Missouri
- Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
13. Miami Dolphins
- The Arizona Republic: Armand Membou, OT/OG, Missouri
- For The Win: Nic Scourton, edge, Texas A&M
- USA TODAY Sports: Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texans
- Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas
14. Indianapolis Colts
- The Arizona Republic: Malaki Starks, S, Georgia
- For The Win: Tyler Booker, OL, Alabama
- USA TODAY Sports: Ty Warren, TE, Penn State
- Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
15. Atlanta Falcons
- The Arizona Republic: Jalon Walker, edge, Georgia
- For The Win: Mykel Williams, DL, Georgia
- USA TODAY Sports: Mykel Williams, DL, Georgia
- Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: James Pearce Jr, edge, Tennessee
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16. Arizona Cardinals
- The Arizona Republic: Mike Green, edge, Marshall
- For The Win: James Pearce Jr., edge, Tennessee
- USA TODAY Sports: Josh Conerly Jr., OT, Oregon
- Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Jalon Walker, edge, Georgia
To see the complete mock drafts from The Arizona Republic, For The Win, USA TODAY and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and how they compare to each other, visit the links below.
The Arizona Republic: Complete first-round NFL mock draft
For The Win: Complete first-round NFL mock draft
USA TODAY Sports: Complete first-round NFL mock draft
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Complete first-round NFL mock draft
Reach Jeremy Cluff at je**********@ar*************.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.
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