Updated 3-Round 2025 NFL Mock Draft With Trades: Cardinals Shocking Trade, Giants Nab Surprise 1st Round QB

The 2025 NFL Draft is inching closer and closer with every passing moment. As the anticipation picks up, yet another PFSN mock draft is coming your way.

For a more in-depth breakdown of each athlete, you can look at PFSN’s NFL Draft Prospect Rankings. To create your own mock draft and join the fun, check out our Mock Draft Simulator. 

The rules of this mock are simple. I am the NFL overlord and want to improve each team to the best of my ability. Trades are encouraged, and analysis will be provided.

1) Tennessee Titans

Cam Ward, QB, Miami (FL)

If this pick was going to be traded, I guess it would have happened by now. There were rumors that the New York Giants were attempting to trade with the Tennessee Titans, but it fell through.

To me, Cam Ward is the best quarterback in this draft. He’s got good arm talent and has that moxy that many of the other top quarterbacks in the NFL possess. The Titans failed with Will Levis, which gave them a prime opportunity at another shot.

Ward ranked fourth (of 119) among quarterbacks in passing efficiency last season, which is more impressive considering how long he holds the ball. His 2.93-second time to throw is 41st of 156 quarterbacks, and his passing efficiency remains in the top 20 on such plays.

Combining that with his 7.8% sack rate on those plays (19th) shows that Ward can play in structure while not hindering his team when he decides it’s play-making time.

2) Cleveland Browns

Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State

Abdul Carter has nauseating speed and a relentless motor. Putting him on the opposite end of Myles Garrett will make offensive tackle lives absolutely miserable. The Cleveland Browns made the playoffs with slightly above-average quarterback play just two years ago, and keeping the defense elite should help get them back.

Carter’s 19.6% pressure rate puts him in the upper echelon of pass-rushers to come out of the draft in recent years. Since 2019, Carter has ranked third in pressure rate among players with over 500 pass-rushing snaps.

We already knew how elite he was at getting after the quarterback, but this shows his consistency as well. The two above him played more than 500 fewer snaps overall because of his time at linebacker, where he wasn’t rushing the passer.

3) New York Giants

Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado

The Giants are in a tough position. They signed Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston to short-term deals, but New York still needs its quarterback of the future. On top of this, it lacks talent at the wide receiver position.

I am not a big believer in Shedeur Sanders this early, although I do think he could provide some value if a team were to get him later in the draft. Travis Hunter, however, is a must-grab player. It doesn’t matter which position he plays, as he has elite talent on both sides of the ball. With Malik Nabers and Hunter as your No. 1 and 2, whoever’s the starting quarterback will be a very pleased individual.

If you’ve been following the draft, you know that Hunter can play at either position and would be one of the best. He had four interceptions, 11 pass breakups, a passer rating of 39.9 allowed in coverage, and just 17 receiving yards allowed per game — all while putting up a career yards per route run of 2.42 and earning his quarterback a 137.7 passer rating when targeting him.

4) New England Patriots

Armand Membou, OT, Missouri

The New England Patriots need to protect young quarterback Drake Maye. According to TruMedia, Maye was sacked 34 times last season, which ranked 13th highest in the league. What makes this worse is that he took this many sacks despite throwing 100 fewer attempts than all but two of the quarterbacks ahead of him on this list. Even worse, the Patriots gave up the ninth-most quick pressures last season.

With that being said, Armand Membou has given up just three sacks and 26 pressures in 1,045 pass-blocking snaps during his college career. The only issue I foresee is that neither he nor Morgan Moses has any experience playing left tackle, only right tackle. Other than that, he would make an immediate impact.

5) Jacksonville Jaguars

Mason Graham, DT, Michigan

As mentioned in the free agent article, the Jacksonville Jaguars have one of the worst interior defensive lines in the league. Adding a player of Mason Graham’s caliber is an easy and sure-fire way to get on the good side of your owner as a new general manager.

People are overthinking Graham. He has been one of the best defensive tackles in the nation for the better part of two years now. In fact, Graham was the No. 1 defensive tackle in the nation in PFF grade and No. 4 in 2023. Whether rushing the passer or stopping the run, Graham is elite.

6) Las Vegas Raiders

Will Campbell, OT, LSU

The Las Vegas Raiders are in decent shape along the offensive line. Kolton Miller and Dylan Parham are solid players, and Jackson Powers-Johnson could definitely make a Year 2 jump. That leaves them with two spots that aren’t as strong, right guard and right tackle.

Luckily for them, Will Campbell is a very good offensive tackle, even with the arm length issue. If he isn’t, the Raiders could just as easily slot him in at guard and continue to get good value out of their rookie offensive lineman.

To show how little the arm length argument has meant for Campbell so far, look no further than his performance in pass pro among all tackles with over 500 pass blocking snaps this season. He ranked fourth, allowing just 3.43 pressures per 100 reps.

7) New York Jets

Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State

The New York Jets could select their quarterback of the future here in Sanders. Or they could go with the best tight end in the draft, who has skills as both a blocker and a pass catcher.

Tyler Warren is a raw run blocker but has shown potential with his big frame (6’5 1/2″ and 256 pounds) and willingness to get active. As a former quarterback, he knows how to dissect zone coverage, often finding open holes. After he gets the ball, he is one of the toughest players to bring down. In fact, Warren finished with the third-most yards after catch in the FBS.

8) Arizona Cardinals (From Panthers)

Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado

TRADE! The Panthers receive the 16th overall pick and a 2026 first-rounder. The Cardinals receive the eighth overall pick. Value gained: Cardinals by $13.6 million

If I were Arizona, I would move on from Kyler Murray. He is set to take up 14.8% of its cap space in the 2025 season while having proven very little in his tenure. While the circumstances haven’t been the best in the world, he has been injured a lot and, as of the last two years, hasn’t played that well at all. On top of that, only Patrick Mahomes, Peyton Manning, and Tom Brady have won with cap percentages that high.

MORE: Insider Reveals Why Shedeur Sanders May Be In For a ‘Culture Shock’ Once He Enters NFL

Courtesy of Over The Cap, I conjured up a trade that resulted in an almost dead-even trade, value-wise. The Arizona Cardinals give up their 2026 first-rounder, plus the 16th pick, to jump the New Orleans Saints and grab their quarterback of the future on a rookie deal.

Drew Petzing likes to run lots of RPOs and play-action in his offenses. Sanders had 980 yards, 12 touchdowns, two interceptions, and a completion percentage of 76.6% on play-action throws in 2024. On top of the nice fit, Sanders will have a solid trio of weapons to throw to in Marvin Harrison Jr., Trey McBride, and Michael Wilson

9) New Orleans Saints

Will Johnson, CB, Michigan

This is another do-not-overthink-it player. Before his injury, Will Johnson was heralded as one of the top two corners in football and did well in both man and zone coverage. The New Orleans Saints would be able to replace former corner Marshon Lattimore just one season after trading him away for a rather safe prospect.

10) Chicago Bears

Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State

The Chicago Bears have done a fantastic job of building up their offensive line this offseason. The interior unit is much improved, and both Braxton Jones and Darnell Wright are fine … for now.

Putting Ashton Jeanty on this team is must-see TV. He adds an aspect of explosiveness that the Bears didn’t have last season, ranking 23rd in rushes of 20 or more yards. On top of that, Jeanty’s abilities will likely lead to loaded boxes. This means Caleb Williams will have more opportunities to showcase his unique creativity and arm talent down the field.

11) San Francisco 49ers

Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss

The San Francisco 49ers are in desperate need of a defensive tackle. Their current starters, Jordan Elliott and Kevin Givens, are nothing special, amassing just four sacks and nine hurries on 321 pass-rushing snaps in total.

Enter Walter Nolen, a 21-year-old 3-tech who showed the promise in his final year of college that had him ranked as a five-star out of high school. Pass rushing alongside Nick Bosa should help him acclimate to the NFL very quickly.

12) Dallas Cowboys

Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona

The Dallas Cowboys are missing a lot with the current makeup of their team. This will only get worse as they will soon be forking up a gargantuan amount of money (worth it) for Micah Parsons. The only way to escape mediocrity with so little cap space is by absolutely acing the draft.

This starts with Tetairoa McMillan. He isn’t my favorite wide receiver in this draft, but I feel like he fits better with Dallas than the others do. McMillan takes reps almost exclusively as an outside wide receiver, and his biggest strength is the deep ball. I see similarities to Tee Higgins, which would be the perfect high-end WR2 outcome alongside an alpha in CeeDee Lamb.

13) Miami Dolphins

Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas

The Miami Dolphins are in need of a left tackle after Terron Armstead’s retirement. Kelvin Banks Jr. has played almost 2,800 snaps at left tackle for the University of Texas, where his team averaged a time to throw of 2.6 seconds or less, ranking in the top 35 (of 155) twice and 14th in the other year.

This should suit him well for the fast-paced Miami offense that is notorious for its quick, timing-based offense. Banks ranked fifth among all FBS offensive tackles in pressures per pass blocking snap allowed. If you look at snaps quicker than 2.42 seconds (Miami’s time to throw under Tua Tagovailoa), he still ranks 14th, allowing just two pressures among 248 of such snaps.

14) Indianapolis Colts

Malaki Starks, S, Georgia

If this were a mock draft of how I think things will go, this wouldn’t be my pick here. The Indianapolis Colts DOMINATE the draft in terms of selecting athletes. From 2021 to 2024, Kent Lee Platte cited the Colts as averaging the highest RAS score in the draft. While that does serve them well in some situations, I believe in Malaki Starks over Nick Emmanwori.

Starks has been one of the most consistent players in college football the past few years, despite his shortcomings in athletic testing. Thirty-eight percent of his snaps came at safety, with 26% at slot corner and 21% in the box. He reminds me a lot of Brian Branch in the way you can use him.

MORE: 5 Bold Trades That Could Happen During the NFL Draft

Not only this, but he has a missed tackle rate of just 6.9% in his career and nine defensive touchdowns in his three-year career. Starks would immediately provide great range to the Colts’ secondary. Put him in the box and leave Camryn Bynum over top. Put Nick Cross in the box and put Starks over top. Give Kenny Moore II a shot at the outside or even a break while Starks goes in the slot. The ultimate tool.

15) Atlanta Falcons

Mike Green, EDGE, Marshall

The Atlanta Falcons need some pass-rushing juice, and Mike Green provides just that. With a 17.8% pressure rate and 17 sacks this season, his play at outside linebacker is exactly what Atlanta needs. Green is similar in stature to Leonard Floyd, with Green being the better player at this point than the recent signee.

16) Carolina Panthers

Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas

The Carolina Panthers can address the corner position with a high-IQ player in Jahdae Barron while also trading down and acquiring an extra first-round pick for next year. This gives them the flexibility to move on from Bryce Young next season should things go south. Assuming Dave Canales stays on for that, he (and the GM) would have two first-round picks at their disposal to go and get the quarterback of their choosing in 2026.

As for Barron, he was a stud on the outside for Texas in 2024. With five interceptions and a passer rating allowed of just 34.2, Barron, alongside Jaycee Horn, is a very good corner duo. Length concerns could push him inside, which would not be a problem at all for Carolina, with Mike Jackson staying on the outside opposite of Horn.

17) Cincinnati Bengals

Mykel Williams, DL, Georgia

Mykel Williams doesn’t have the pass-rushing chops to be selected in the top 10, but he is very worthy of a pick in the middle of the first round. The Cincinnati Bengals struggled against the run last season, ranking 29th in defensive rush EPA (expected points added). Williams would be a welcome addition with his stout run defense, and perhaps he could learn a thing or two if Trey Hendrickson ends up staying with the team.

18) Seattle Seahawks

Tyler Booker, OG, Alabama

This should be a run-to-the-podium type of pick for the Seattle Seahawks. Throw Tyler Booker, Wyatt Milum, Grey Zabel, and Donovan Jackson in a hat and pick one. There is no doubt in my mind that this pick needs to be invested in the offensive line. It has been the reason for failure in Seattle for far too many seasons not to address it.

Booker provides the Seahawks with a solid pass-blocking left guard who hopefully can develop his run-blocking as time goes on. With Sam Darnold in town, Booker will be right at home in terms of time to throw. Alabama averaged 2.88 seconds to throw the ball, ranking 53rd in the FBS.

19) Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have one of the most complete rosters in the NFL, which should allow them to go for the best player available in the first round. With a 35-year-old Lavonte David on a one-year deal, it would make sense to draft his replacement in Jihaad Campbell.

Campbell is an athletic freak who rarely misses tackles. He ranked 26th in the nation (out of 400+) linebackers in missed-tackle percentage, had eight sacks, an interception, and a passer rating allowed of just 87 (125th). It would be a great addition to Tampa Bay.

20) Denver Broncos

Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina

I know what you may be thinking: “Don’t let the Denver Broncos get their hands on another stud running back from North Carolina.” The only reason it didn’t work out the first time is because of injuries. Omarion Hampton totaled over 3,000 yards and 30 touchdowns in his college career and has proven to be the best non-Jeanty running back in a loaded class.

21) Tennessee Titans (From Steelers)

Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri

TRADE! The Steelers receive the 35th and 141st overall picks. The Titans receive the 21st overall pick. Value gained: Titans by $4.2 million

The Tennessee Titans trade back into the first round to get my favorite WR of this year’s draft and allow Ward some comfort as he settles in as the starter this season. Luther Burden III is elite with the ball in his hands and reminds me a lot of Deebo Samuel Sr.

As for the Pittsburgh Steelers, there are no quarterbacks left worthy of this high of a pick, and I am still scarred from them selecting a running back in the first round in 2021.

22) Los Angeles Chargers

Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon

With perfect two-gapping ability, Derrick Harmon would fit like a glove in Jesse Minter’s defense. With about 32% of his snaps aligned over the tackle, he has versatility within the Los Angeles Chargers’ defense. This will be a huge advantage when you pair him up with Teair Tart, and they wreak havoc on interior offensive lines.

I could definitely see them going WR, and it would make perfect sense, but Harmon is too good to pass up, especially when the Titans sniped Burden right from underneath their nose.

23) Green Bay Packers

Jalon Walker, LB, Georgia

While Jalon Walker doesn’t have the size to be a full-time edge rusher at the NFL level, he could absolutely be a third-down edge rusher while also providing some value at off-ball linebacker on early downs.

Putting Walker at the SAM with Edgerrin Cooper at the WILL and Quay Walker as the MIKE makes them one of the most formidable linebacking trios in the league. The defense was already among the league’s best, so adding a high-motor quarterback killer with the size to be somewhat playable in coverage would help Green Bay’s defense ascend.

24) Minnesota Vikings

Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina

Nick Emmanwori is a one-of-a-kind athlete. He mostly played in the box at South Carolina and would look to do the same with the Minnesota Vikings. Josh Metellus was a good run defender for Minnesota, but Emmanwori adds value in his ability to cover well.

This will especially come in handy against tight ends. Emmanwori was targeted in coverage against a tight end 42 times and gave up an average of 5.8 yards on just 26 catches. With Brian Flores as the defensive coordinator, I expect Emmanwori to be utilized to the best of his ability, including a couple of safety blitzes for the athletic freak.

25) Houston Texans

Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State

The Houston Texans are in bad shape along the offensive line. Placing dead last in our OL+ metric in 2024, the Texans got worse in the off-season by trading away Laremy Tunsil. With just one pressure allowed in six games before his injury, Josh Simmons projects to be a solid pass blocker for C.J. Stroud with good athletic ability.

26) Los Angeles Rams

Xavier Watts, S, Notre Dame

The Los Angeles Rams employ Kamren Curl and Quentin Lake at safety, but they are both on one-year contracts. On top of that, Xavier Watts is one of those chess pieces that can play well wherever you put him. One of the cornerstones of the elite Notre Dame defense last year, he could make a huge impact for the Los Angeles Rams.

His 13 interceptions in 2023 and 2024 (first in the nation) show his incredible ball skills, and his 213 return yards (eighth) show his ability to make things happen. He also allowed just 17 catches on 32 targets last season, resulting in a passer rating of 30.1 (12th of 501 safeties).

27) Baltimore Ravens

Grey Zabel, OL, North Dakota State

This selection for the Baltimore Ravens would be a great one that would sadden many media members and fans who saw Zabel participate in the Senior Bowl. His ability to play any position along the offensive line makes him a very valuable player, but his center skills won’t be needed with Baltimore having a top-three center in the league in Tyler Linderbaum.

Nevertheless, he would fill an immediate need at left guard and would help keep the Ravens as one of the top offensive lines in the league. Not only that, but his shortcomings in length wouldn’t matter as much if he played on the interior.

28) Detroit Lions

Shemar Stewart, EDGE, Texas A&M

This could end up being one of those picks where everyone looks back and clowns the rest of the league for allowing the Detroit Lions to get him. Shemar Stewart is an absolute specimen of an athlete at 6’5″ and 280 pounds (playing weight). He is perhaps the most athletic person to play the position: 4.59 seconds in the 40-yard dash, 10’11” broad jump, and a 40-inch vertical.

The one thing he lacks is college production. While some of that could be the scheme and role he played with the Texas A&M Aggies, playing opposite Aidan Hutchinson with Alim McNeil and DJ Reader on the interior is about as perfect an opportunity as you’re going to get. He would be almost guaranteed 1-on-1 situations where he would get to really show off that elite athleticism.

This is practically like the Lions getting both Travon Walker and Hutchinson.

29) Washington Commanders

Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame

I seriously believe that Benjamin Morrison would be a borderline top 10 player this year if it weren’t for the hip injury. Before the injury, he was every bit as good as Hunter and Johnson. If everything checks out for his hip, this could be a huge steal for the Washington Commanders.

The Commanders ran the 14th-most man coverage in football last season but ranked 29th in defensive EPA when using it. Morrison is one of the best man-coverage defenders in the nation with his elite short-area quickness and high IQ.

At one point, I went through every snap of Morrison vs. Marvin Harrison Jr. in the Notre Dame-Ohio State matchup from their younger days. Harrison ran nine routes with Morrison lined up against him and was given three catchable targets, but he only caught one of them for 20 yards. Injury notwithstanding, the Commanders could grab a player who erases WR1s in the NFL.

30) New York Giants (From Bills)

Jaxson Dart, QB, Ole Miss

TRADE! The Giants receive the 30th overall pick. The Bills receive the 34th and 154th overall picks and a 2026 fourth-rounder. Value gained: Giants by $7.2 million

Surprisingly, the trade calculator provided by Over The Cap has the Giants as the victor of this trade with the Buffalo Bills. That is because I have them trading up for a quarterback, which significantly helps their value. If we were to leave it positionless, the Bills would win the trade.

This is because I am assuming in this mock that the Browns were also attempting to trade back into the first, allowing the Bills to receive more than typical. The Giants get their quarterback of the future as well as the coveted fifth-year option, which will allow them extra time with a rookie contract.

Jaxson Dart has some decent upside with good size, athleticism, and a talented arm. I think Dart would do well to learn from Wilson, Winston, and Brian Daboll in his rookie season.

31) Kansas City Chiefs

Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan

The Kansas City Chiefs are thin on the defensive line. Outside of Chris Jones, the Chiefs have no one. This is especially alarming with Jones only getting older and more expensive. That brings us to Kenneth Grant.

A fun little tidbit on this analysis: Grant played defensive tackle for the Merrillville Pirates in high school, which is just about 30 minutes away from where I grew up. Having played left guard in high school for the Lowell Red Devils, I got to go up against Grant in August of my junior year in a scrimmage right before our seasons started.

Having to go back and watch the film on that scrimmage was one of the most humiliating events in my life. Grant made our lives miserable and practically lived in our backfield. Needless to say, some of that pain goes away when I realize he did it to studs at the Division I level and will continue to do so at the NFL level as well.

Bias aside, Grant is one of my favorite prospects this year. He played 31% of snaps lined up on the center and 67% against the guard. He dominates the run game but also provides underrated value in the pass game as well.

32) Philadelphia Eagles

Nic Scourton, EDGE, Texas A&M

Before gaining weight for the 2024 season, Nic Scourton was regarded as a top-half-of-the-first-round kind of guy after leaving Purdue. With the Boilermakers, he lined up primarily as an outside linebacker/edge defender hybrid, which allowed him to show off his natural talent at rushing the passer.

Scourton would provide much-needed rotational help for the Philadelphia Eagles, which lost a lot of edge talent after their Super Bowl victory. Putting Scourton in a position to come in as a pass-rushing specialist surrounded by other elite players would play to his strengths really well and would make the Eagles’ defense that much more daunting.

Round 2 | 33) Cleveland Browns

Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State

This pick was a toss-up between Matthew Golden and Emeka Egbuka. Overall, I went with Egbuka because of his playmaking ability on top of his great route running. He would provide good competition with Jerry Jeudy for the WR1 position on the Browns.

Many people will probably be curious why I didn’t take a QB here for the Browns. It would make sense if Dart were still available, but I am not a big believer in Tyler Shough or Jalen Milroe.

34) Buffalo Bills

James Pearce Jr., EDGE, Tennessee

The Bills get a potential steal in James Pearce Jr. because of his character concerns. Only paying attention to on-field talent, Pearce looks the part with a 23.4% pressure rate (led the nation). Pearce’s size would allow him to play as a stand-up edge rusher or in the dirt as a 5- or 7-technique.

This would be super useful alongside new free agent Joey Bosa, who can show him the ropes and split time with him to ensure the young and the old stay refreshed and ready to rock.

35) Pittsburgh Steelers

Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama

As much as I didn’t like from Milroe on tape, it’s impossible to deny the sky-high potential. Similar to Anthony Richardson, he has a rocket for an arm and elite athleticism.

There were times (namely the Georgia game) where I was immersed in the Milroe experience and thought he might be a first-rounder. Then games like Oklahoma brought me right back down to Earth and showed me his major shortcomings.

I think he would be a really talented first-round quarterback if Milroe stayed in college for one more year and continued to show development, which is why I like him learning under Aaron Rodgers’ tutelage in Pittsburgh in this mock.

36) Jacksonville Jaguars

Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan

This is a slam-dunk pick. In all reality, I don’t expect Colston Loveland to be here at No. 36, but teams with more pressing needs and better fits caused the board to fall this way. Regardless, Loveland is a star tight end who I think would start right away with Jacksonville.

Loveland played in-line tight end on 50% of snaps and 34.1% in the slot. He’s got the size to be fine as a blocker, but he also has elite route-running skill and would make a great secondary target for Trevor Lawrence.

37) Las Vegas Raiders

Matthew Golden, WR, Texas

The Las Vegas Raiders need receiver help if they want to make sure Geno Smith’s waning prime doesn’t get wasted. Golden would immediately provide the Raiders with a Z who can run smooth routes and allow Jakobi Meyers to play more exclusively in the slot.

Smith went 126-of-194 for 1,611 yards, eight touchdowns, and only four interceptions when targeting the outside WR on a play, markedly better than his 1,675 yards, six touchdowns, and eight interceptions when targeting the slot. While Golden isn’t on the level of DK Metcalf, it should provide Smith with some kind of insurance policy.

38) New England Patriots

Tre Harris, WR, Ole Miss

I expect wide receivers to fly off the board in the second round, given how many players of around the same caliber there are. Tre Harris is a big-bodied X receiver that would pair up extremely nicely with Stefon Diggs at the Z. Throw in DeMario Douglas as the slot, and Maye will be surrounded with an underrated wide receiver room for 2025.

39) Chicago Bears

Aireontae Ersery, OT, Minnesota

Aireontae Ersery would stay at left tackle and compete with Jones for the starting job in Chicago. The Bears have done a fantastic job of improving the offensive line in free agency and shouldn’t stop now. The line isn’t completely fixed with some guys like Thuney being stopgaps with lots of tread on them, but adding Ersery into the tackle mix provides great depth and opportunity for an upgrade as the starter.

If the Bears elect for a zone-running scheme, Ersery would fit right in as the lead blocker on the left side for Jeanty.

40) New Orleans Saints

Donovan Jackson, OG, Ohio State

New Orleans has the makings of a solid offensive line. Taliese Fuaga looked promising in the run game, Erik McCoy is a stud at the center position, and Cesar Ruiz is a solid right guard. Trevor Penning is still an unknown, but I lean on the side of him not being that good. That leaves us with right tackle and left guard as the spots that are in need of an upgrade.

Jackson provides both tackle and guard experience on the left side of the offensive line for the Saints. With that being said, he projects better on the inside with a better build and more translatable skills. Nevertheless, having a guy that has proven he can play tackle on a short notice — at a championship level — is exactly the type of player you want on your team.

41) Chicago Bears

Landon Jackson, EDGE, Arkansas

With a 4-3 defense that was particularly solid against the run last season, Landon Jackson fits right in with the Bears. He has some experience sliding inside and is a very solid run defender in a 5-tech or 7-tech position as an edge rusher.

Combining him with Montez Sweat and Dayo Odeyingbo provides the Bears with two solid starters, plus really solid depth in their edge-rushing rotation. This would also allow Jackson time to develop his pass-rushing skills as he wouldn’t be starting immediately for the team.

42) New York Jets

Tyleik Williams, DT, Ohio State

Quinnen Williams is a superstar defensive lineman for the Jets who has unbelievable range. He played 11.6% of his snaps in 2024 lined up over the center in either a 0- or 1-tech. He also played 33.9% of his snaps from a defensive end/edge position, and the rest as his natural 2/2i/3-tech positions. This kind of range allows the Jets to have a lot of freedom with who they choose to surround him with.

Tyleik Williams provides the Jets with another 3-tech that can play with Quinnen and dominate the interior offensive line. Tyleik spent 26.8% of his time at edge/defensive end as well, which means that they will again be able to move players around. Tyleik is an absolute beast in the run game and is also a very underrated pass rusher. Playing with Quinnen would guarantee 1-on-1 matchups, which would enable him to feast.

43) San Francisco 49ers

Josh Conerly Jr., OT, Oregon

The 49ers are going to have to cough up the money for Brock Purdy soon, which means a huge limit on their spending elsewhere. Pair this with the fact that Trent Williams is almost certainly going to retire sometime soon, and it makes a lot of sense to me that they select his eventual replacement.

Josh Conerly Jr. played 1,984 snaps with the Oregon Ducks, with a majority of those coming from left tackle. In that time, he’s allowed just two sacks and 26 pressures. Some unbelievable chops in the pass-blocking game. He has seen a good split of snaps in both the gap- and zone-rushing schemes, showing promise in both. This is particularly important considering the 49ers were second in zone rushing attempts.

44) Dallas Cowboys

TreVeyon Henderson, RB, Ohio State

The Cowboys need a running back, and TreVeyon Henderson has game-breaking abilities. This will come in handy for a Dallas team that ranked 25th in explosive rushing plays last season and 21st in explosive passing plays. Henderson’s speed and pass-catching make him a great fit in Dallas, which was 14th in passes to the running back last season.

45) Indianapolis Colts

Shavon Revel Jr., CB, East Carolina

The Colts have a solid slot corner in Moore and added Charvarius Ward to help on the outside. Drafting Shavon Revel Jr. continues to add to the outside, providing a monster man coverage defender opposite of Ward.

The ACL injury, lack of competition, and overall inexperience are dings that make an otherwise solid corner fall this far in the draft. With that being said, his only full season was in 2023, when teams were so afraid of him in man coverage that he only had 38 man coverage snaps versus 229 in zone.

That was the smart move, as Revel was targeted five times on those plays, and he gave up a total of one yard on one catch. With Ward and Moore on the team, this will allow Revel time to fully recover from his injury and get very important reps against much stiffer competition. At this point in his career, the toughest wide receivers he faced include Luke McCaffrey, Joshua Cephus, and Roman Wilson.

46) Atlanta Falcons

Donovan Ezeiruaku, EDGE, Boston College

Donovan Ezeiruaku was a dominant edge rusher in college, amassing 16.5 sacks on a pressure rate of 14.9%. His biggest downfall is the lack of size, which makes him a liability in the run game. Luckily for him, the Falcons are the perfect spot for him to be a situational pass rusher in a 3-4 scheme.

47) Arizona Cardinals

Jonah Savaiinaea, OG, Arizona

Arizona is quietly building one of the best offensive lines in the NFL with Jonah Williams and Paris Johnson Jr. as bookend tackles and a solid left guard and center in Evan Brown and Hjalte Froholdt, respectively. The only thing left for them is a right guard.

In this mock draft, the Cardinals traded away their 2026 first-rounder to move up and get Sanders. This allows them to find a trade partner for Murray.

After getting rid of Murray and eventually losing his cap space, adding Jonah Savaiinaea to this already good offensive line will provide Sanders with ample opportunity to succeed. Savaiinaea has played right guard, right tackle, and left tackle, which means they can comfortably start him at right guard but move him around if injuries happen. That is an important chess piece for an offense to have.

48) Miami Dolphins

Carson Schwesinger, LB, UCLA

Carson Schwesinger is an aggressive linebacker with an excellent instinct for the position in both the run and pass game. He is not only a solid tackler and good in coverage, but he blitzes well and can really get after the quarterback. Schwesinger on the Dolphins would provide three capable linebackers, as they already have Jordyn Brooks and Tyrel Dodson.

Ironically, Schwesinger combines Brooks and Dodson’s strengths into one linebacker. Brooks is the better run defender and blitzer, while Dodson does better in coverage. This means you can play Schwesinger alongside either one and have success in more coverage-oriented or run-stopping defenses. This also allows Miami to stay in two-linebacker looks and not have to necessarily play more dime.

49) Cincinnati Bengals

Wyatt Milum, OG, West Virginia

Cincinnati needs help along the interior offensive line. With one of the most balanced rushing attacks (48% gap, 52% zone), Milum would be a solid draft pick as he has versatility in the run game. He doesn’t provide any insane abilities that would make his ceiling really high, but rather, he is a safe pick that can start from Day 1 for Cincinnati.

50) Seattle Seahawks

Elic Ayomanor, WR, Stanford

The Seahawks need wide receiver help after losing both Tyler Lockett and Metcalf in the offseason. Cooper Kupp is obviously a really good player, but he isn’t getting any younger and has been injured a lot lately.

I am sure people might disagree with Elic Ayomanor going above some of the other receivers, but I think Seattle should value his size and demeanor in the run-blocking game. At 6’2″ and 206 pounds, he ranked 16th in PFF run-blocking grade for gap-rushing schemes. This aligns well with Seattle’s rushing offense, which is 11th in rushing attempts using a gap scheme.

On top of this, he also has solid speed and really good ball-tracking abilities.

51) Denver Broncos

Jayden Higgins, WR, Iowa State

The Broncos are quickly building one of the best defensive rosters in football; that is why I decided they will focus on the offensive side of the ball for the first two picks of the draft. After grabbing Omarion Hampton in the first round, Denver needs to find a long-term replacement for Courtland Sutton as he gets older.

Jayden Higgins is 6’4″ and 214 pounds with 33″ arms, a 39″ vertical, and a very respectable 4.47-second 40-yard dash. Despite being the perfect size and prototype for an X receiver, he still played 29.8% of his snaps in the slot. This will help Higgins establish himself in the offense without having to compete with Sutton.

52) Seattle Seahawks

Tate Ratledge, OG, Georgia

Seattle’s focus in this mock draft is to address any and all offensive line needs. Darnold has shown that he is a more than capable passer when he has good protection, although it does help to throw to Justin Jefferson and Company. Regardless, drafting Tate Ratledge and Booker in the first two rounds ensures your interior offensive line is good to go for 2025.

Ratledge started the past three seasons at right guard for the Georgia Bulldogs and was a stout pass protector who rarely got penalized (five total in his career). He is also a very solid run defender, often doing a good job of helping the center on double teams.

53) Tampa Bay Buccaneers

JT Tuimoloau, DL, Ohio State

Although JT Tuimoloau has generally disappointed from an expectation standpoint, it’s really easy to see the sky-high potential. Against Tennessee and Oregon this season, he racked up two sacks and absolutely dominated. With a 265-pound frame and really good athleticism, he could provide the Bucs with a nice complement to Logan Hall and allow Calijah Kancey to move around and play both inside and out.

54) Green Bay Packers

Trey Amos, CB, Ole Miss

The Packers are flirting with losing Jaire Alexander and aren’t the most well-rounded in the cornerback room outside of him. Trey Amos is a smooth athlete with a high IQ and a knack for the ball, amassing three interceptions and two touchdowns this season at Ole Miss.

He plays almost exclusively on the outside and excels most in zone coverage, which should be a huge advantage for the Packers defense, which runs the seventh-most zone coverage in the league and is inside the bottom 10 in man-coverage rate.

55) Los Angeles Chargers

Mason Taylor, TE, LSU

Mason Taylor is one of the best pass-catching tight ends in the draft with serious skill both in-line and in the slot. Taylor was in the slot on 37% of his snaps last season and had 22 catches for 254 yards on 36 targets. He also has just seven drops on 181 targets in his college career.

Taylor would be a huge addition for quarterback Justin Herbert, who has only targeted his tight ends on just 10.72% of his passes in his career. This is likely because Herbert has never had a reliable first-down magnet to throw to in his career. Taylor would be exactly that.

56) Buffalo Bills

Azareye’h Thomas, CB, Florida State

The Bills need outside corner help with Tre’Davious White coming back on a one-year deal, while not being the most impressive player lately. They have plenty of options to fill this need in the second round of the draft. My pick for them is Azareye’h Thomas.

Thomas has great size and length, which should translate well for playing on the outside. He isn’t the greatest athlete in the world, but he moves well and is very good in man coverage. He was targeted 14 times in man this year and allowed just seven catches with a 31.8 passer rating (163-of-488).

This was a particular weakness for Buffalo in the playoff game versus Kansas City and should make Thomas an even more attractive fit.

57) Carolina Panthers

Jared Wilson, OC, Georgia

Carolina has put together a very good offensive line. Ikem Ekwonu had the best season of his career last year and should continue to improve. To complete the offensive line, I have the Panthers drafting Jared Wilson out of Georgia.

Wilson started this past season for the Bulldogs at center, playing really well in the pass game. He allowed just six pressures on 511 pass-blocking reps in his lone season as a starter.

58) Houston Texans

Marcus Mbow, OL, Purdue

As stated in the first round, the Texans should be focused on the offensive line only in the first few picks of the draft. After drafting Simmons late in the first round, I have them following it up with Marcus Mbow.

Mbow played right tackle at Purdue in his last two seasons, but he initially started off as right guard in his first year as a starter. It is almost certain that he will play on the interior in his NFL career, but some scouts claim (assuming he can snap well) he would be best as a center. This shouldn’t matter too much, as the Texans’ offensive line is already filled with guys playing “out of position”.

59) Baltimore Ravens

Darien Porter, CB, Iowa State

Marlon Humphrey spent the majority of his time in the slot last season for Baltimore’s defense. This means a spot is available opposite of Nate Wiggins, with Chidobe Awuzie being the only somewhat serviceable starter.

Darien Porter is one of my favorite players in this draft with his elite athleticism and ball skills. This is only his first year as a starting corner, and he has some things to work on, like tackling (20.8% missed-tackle rate), but he has a lot of upside as he continues to gain experience. His 4.7 passer rating allowed led the nation among players with over 120 coverage snaps.

60) Detroit Lions

T.J. Sanders, DT, South Carolina

The Lions have two really solid defensive tackles in McNeill and Reader, who will be 31 years old this year. T.J. Sanders could be a really solid plug-and-play 3-technique who will only get better as he learns from the two above-average starters.

He’s a better run defender than a pass rusher, but he has enough talent that I think the Lions could mold him into a star. He turns 22 in July and has already shown the ability to play next to elite talent at South Carolina, where the entire defensive line is NFL prospects.

61) Washington Commanders

Jaylin Noel, WR, Iowa State

The Commanders are a bit underwhelming at wide receiver, outside of Terry McLaurin. In my honest opinion, I don’t think Samuel will be the player he used to be and will very likely not get as many targets as you would expect. While Noah Brown played relatively well this season, I really like Jaylin Noel’s potential to come in and make an impact immediately.

Noel is an athletic freak with the testing to back it up. What makes him really intriguing is that he has shown the RAC ability that Samuel once showed, all while being a huge vertical threat. His 99.9 PFF receiving grade on deep routes (20+ yards) was warranted with his 14 catches for 609 yards and four touchdowns.

Arguably just as impressive is that he had 10 contested targets on deep throws and managed to come down with six. To round it out, his hands are also rather solid, posting just a 4.8% drop rate in the 2024 season.

62) Buffalo Bills

Darius Alexander, DT, Toledo

DaQuan Jones is a solid defensive tackle, but the Bills could stand to upgrade the depth behind Ed Oliver. Darius Alexander is a large human being with the ability to move along the defensive line and play multiple different techniques. He also has great athleticism and a really quick first step.

63) Kansas City Chiefs

Emery Jones Jr., OT, LSU

The Chiefs use their second-round pick on an offensive tackle with potential to fix the glaring issue on the offense. With size and length being two of his best assets, it will be a welcome change from Thuney’s (much-appreciated) effort at left tackle — length was a major issue for Thuney against the Eagles’ long pass rush in the Super Bowl.

Emery Jones Jr. needs to have better balance and footwork, but he is an overall experienced and powerful tackle with run-blocking ability. One thing to keep an eye on is his penalties, something with which the Chiefs already struggle. If he can improve some of his technique and cut down on the penalties, Mahomes will make him right.

64) Philadelphia Eagles

Dylan Fairchild, OG, Georgia

The Eagles finish off the second round with the third Georgia interior offensive lineman to be drafted. Dylan Fairchild has experience at both right and left guard and is a very good pass blocker, ranking 20th and 19th in PFF pass blocking grade the last two seasons.

With Tyler Steen currently slated to start at right guard for the Eagles, Fairchild would provide some welcome competition and would also be playing right next to Lane Johnson, which should help him acclimate to the league very quickly. In fact, both Johnson and Jordan Mailata are among the top five in island rate for offensive tackles. That means Fairchild would have lots of help from the center early in his career.

Round 3

65) New York Giants
Princely Umanmielen, EDGE, Ole Miss

66) Kansas City Chiefs
Bradyn Swinson, EDGE, LSU

67) Cleveland Browns
Kaleb Johnson, RB, Iowa

68) Las Vegas Raiders
Quinshon Judkins, RB, Ohio State

69) New England Patriots
Josaiah Stewart, EDGE, Michigan

70) Jacksonville Jaguars
Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky

71) New Orleans Saints
Jack Bech, WR, TCU

72) Chicago Bears
Chris Paul Jr., LB, Ole Miss

73) New York Jets
Jalen Royals, WR, Utah State

74) Carolina Panthers
Andrew Mukuba, S, Texas

75) San Francisco 49ers
Barrett Carter, LB, Clemson

76) Dallas Cowboys
Kyle Kennard, EDGE, South Carolina

77) New England Patriots
Cameron Williams, OG, Texas

78) Arizona Cardinals
Oluwafemi Oladejo, EDGE, UCLA

79) Houston Texans
Alfred Collins, DT, Texas

80) Indianapolis Colts
Deone Walker, DT, Kentucky

81) Cincinnati Bengals
Omarr Norman-Lott, DT, Tennessee

82) Seattle Seahawks
David Walker, EDGE, Central Arkansas

83) Pittsburgh Steelers
Shemar Turner, DT, Texas A&M

84) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Kyle Williams, WR, Washington State

85) Denver Broncos
Harold Fannin Jr., TE, Bowling Green

86) Los Angeles Chargers
Xavier Restrepo, WR, Miami (FL)

87) Green Bay Packers
Ashton Gillotte, EDGE, Louisville

88) Jacksonville Jaguars
Terrance Ferguson, TE, Oregon

89) Houston Texans
Tory Horton, WR, Colorado State

90) Los Angeles Rams
Tyler Shough, QB, Louisville

91) Baltimore Ravens
Kevin Winston Jr., S, Penn State

92) Seattle Seahawks
Quinn Ewers, QB, Texas

93) New Orleans Saints
Will Howard, QB, Ohio State

94) Cleveland Browns
Kyle McCord, QB, Syracuse

95) Kansas City Chiefs
Jordan Burch, EDGE, Oregon

96) Philadelphia Eagles
Denzel Burke, CB, Ohio State

97) Minnesota Vikings
Dorian Strong, CB, Virginia Tech

98) Miami Dolphins
Billy Bowman, S, Oklahoma

99) New York Giants
Dylan Sampson, RB, Tennessee

100) San Francisco 49ers
Gunnar Helm, TE, Texas

101) Los Angeles Rams
Zy Alexander, CB, LSU

102) Detroit Lions
Charles Grant, OL, William & Mary