Will Helms’ 2025 NFL Mock Draft: Jalen Milroe, Cameron Ward Highlight 4-Quarterback First Round

It’s never too early to start looking at mock drafts, even if the season hasn’t started yet. Since we’re so far out, this mock will feature projections and plenty of my own opinions. The 2025 NFL Draft class is stacked on the lines of scrimmage and this mock should reflect that. There’s always a quarterback or two that comes out of nowhere to become a surefire first-rounder, so I’ll try to project that as well.

Here we go, using Pro Football Network’s Mock Draft Simulator, here’s my first version of a 2025 NFL Mock Draft.

2025 NFL Mock Draft

1) Carolina Panthers: Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri

If the Panthers are here again, it’s likely because the upgrades at the skill positions weren’t enough to help elevate Bryce Young. I wouldn’t rule out a quarterback or offensive tackle here, but I have a higher view of Ikem Ekwonu than many and I don’t love the quarterback class. So, the Panthers are in full rebuild mode to upgrade the roster before taking a quarterback (Arch Manning?) in 2026.

Luther Burden III is probably going to end up in the Ja’Marr Chase or Marvin Harrison Jr. range of prospects by the time we’re done. He’s that good. He excels after the catch and should end up as a true No. 1 in the NFL.

2) Tennessee Titans: Will Johnson, CB, Michigan

While corner is an important position, they don’t typically go this high in the draft. However, Will Johnson is good enough to be a top-three pick. I considered one of the talented defensive linemen here to upgrade a strength for the Titans but decided instead to improve the secondary with a true press-man corner.

3) New England Patriots: Mason Graham, IDL, Michigan

Mason Graham gives Michigan two defenders in the top three picks. On my initial quick look, he is probably the early favorite to be the top prospect in my 2025 rankings. Graham has the explosiveness and high-level flashes, but also the steady production both against the run and the pass. He’s an immediate upgrade to just about any roster in the NFL.

4) Denver Broncos: Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas

The Broncos aren’t likely to make a lot of noise in 2024, but Sean Payton will want to see if Bo Nix is the guy. If Nix flashes, he’ll need some help. Kelvin Banks Jr. is a mammoth offensive tackle with elite upside. Getting a pass-blocking left tackle for the future is a must if Nix ends up being even halfway decent at quarterback.

5) Las Vegas Raiders: Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama

If the Raiders don’t take a quarterback in 2025, I’ll be convinced no one in that front office wants to win. Sorry, Aidan O’Connell and Gardner Minshew, but there’s bound to be an upgrade in the draft, even if I’m not sold on this quarterback class.

Jalen Milroe offers the best combination of high ceiling and acceptable floor to make him QB1 at this point (But watch out for other dynamic options flying up boards).

6) New York Giants: Cameron Ward, QB, Miami (FL)

Speaking of dual-threat risers… The Giants have historically targeted “safer” quarterback prospects with higher floors in the past. Still, assuming Daniel Jones continues his below-average-but-not-terrible trajectory, the front office might opt to switch it up.

MORE: 2025 NFL Draft Big Board

In my opinion, Cameron Ward has the highest upside of any quarterback in the class and played in an offense that wasn’t tailored to his strengths in 2022 and 2023. His average depth of target was down significantly at Washington State compared to his time at Incarnate Word. Let’s see if Miami has him push the ball down the field more in 2024.

7) Arizona Cardinals: Deone Walker, IDL, Kentucky

As a South Carolina fan, there isn’t a player on the schedule that scares me more than Deone Walker, who has been outright dominant despite playing slightly out of position on the Wildcats’ front. Walker is 6’6″, 350 pounds, and still lined up outside the guard 269 times in 2023, a testament to his ridiculous athleticism and explosion.

8) Washington Commanders: Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado

Listen, I have some reservations about Travis Hunter‘s ability to play over 1,000 snaps in nine games as he did in 2023. However, he has legitimate talent, even if he wins on both sides of the ball off of pure athleticism more than refined technique. He needs some molding and is probably a long-term corner, but I’m not counting out his ability to contribute on both sides of the ball in the NFL.

9) New Orleans Saints: James Pearce Jr., EDGE, Tennessee

If all the edge rushers fall this far, I’ll be shocked, but it happens that way here, to the benefit of the Saints. James Pearce Jr. is my early favorite as the top edge rusher and fits well in New Orleans’ traditional 4-3 front. Pearce has put on nearly 30 pounds since enrolling at Tennessee, so he’s still honing his craft as a traditionally-sized edge rusher. The upside here is tremendous.

10) Minnesota Vikings: Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame

The Vikings have had about 20 swings-and-misses on corners in the last decade, so it’s time to finally find them a high-floor, athletic corner to add to a struggling secondary.

Benjamin Morrison is one of several Fighting Irish defenders who could go early in the 2025 NFL Draft, but he’s probably the best of the bunch.

11) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona

Tetairoa McMillan isn’t likely to fall this far, but getting him to replace an aging Mike Evans would be a coup for the Buccaneers. He’s extremely fluid for a 6’5″ receiver and excels at the catch point at that size. A strong 2024 season could push him even further up draft boards.

12) Seattle Seahawks: Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State

Abdul Carter doesn’t have a ton of film on the edge because, until the 2024 preseason, he was almost exclusively an off-ball linebacker. This season, James Franklin plans to deploy him “Wherever he helps us the most.” Make no mistake, he’s an explosive edge rusher at the next level.

13) Indianapolis Colts: Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan

The Colts, maybe surprisingly, didn’t take a tight end in 2024 to give Anthony Richardson another huge target over the middle. There are potential questions here about positional value, but Colston Loveland has elite explosiveness and a higher ceiling as a pass-catcher than most anticipate.

14) Pittsburgh Steelers: Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State

Weirdly, so many people are forgetting about Emeka Egbuka as an elite prospect after the Buckeyes have put so many star receivers in the league over the past few years. Pittsburgh needs more offensive weapons, and Egbuka would give that offense a unique blend of athleticism and route-running ability.

15) Jacksonville Jaguars: Will Campbell, OT, LSU

I think Will Campbell is just a tad better as a prospect than his running mate, Emory Jones, who many have ranked ahead of him. Campbell is a mauler with elite run-blocking ability and the upside to grow into a stalwart left tackle. Jacksonville can continue to build one of the NFL’s best young lines through the draft.

16) Cleveland Browns: Emery Jones Jr., OT, LSU

The Browns had a revolving door at right tackle last season, and none of the options were particularly good. Emery Jones Jr. can bring an elite-sized profile and immediate stability to the right side of the line and turn the team’s weakness into a strength.

17) Los Angeles Rams: Carson Beck, QB, Georgia

Many speculated that the Rams would be a dark-horse candidate to pick a quarterback in the loaded 2024 class. That never materialized as the Rams neglected to take 36-year-old Matthew Stafford’s eventual successor.

RELATED: 2025 NFL Draft Watchlist

Los Angeles is too good to get its pick of the litter, and rather than letting it all collapse first, taking the high-floor Carson Beck could be a solution if he falls this far.

18) Los Angeles Chargers: Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia

The Chargers have several holes defensively, and the value at corner makes the position something to consider. That being said, Jim Harbaugh is always going to build his teams in the trenches, and Mykel Williams is a moldable, potentially elite edge rusher. His bend and athleticism make him a candidate to move up into the top five in the class.

19) Chicago Bears: Princely Umanmielen, EDGE, Ole Miss

I’m not ready to anoint the Bears as playoff-ready in Year 1 of the Caleb Williams era, so I think they might be picking earlier in the draft than the current odds have them. But at this spot, they’ll likely want another elite pass-rushing prospect. Princely Umanmielen has almost limitless upside after moving from Florida to Ole Miss. His hyper-quick first step is one of the best you’ll see.

20) Atlanta Falcons: Malaki Starks, S, Georgia

Teams have recently been a bit scared of taking safeties this early in the draft, but if there’s a single first-round safety this April, it will be Malaki Starks. If you were to create-a-player in College Football 25 or Madden to play safety, he’d look a lot like Starks, whose combination of explosiveness and football IQ make him a tantalizing prospect.

21) Miami Dolphins: Denzel Burke, CB, Ohio State

As much as I like Jalen Ramsey as a player and liked Kendall Fuller and Cam Smith as prospects, the secondary in Miami is shaky at best. If the Dolphins are picking in this range, there’s a strong possibility it’s because the back end of the defense let them down.

It’s not a deep corner class, but Denzel Burke provides first-round upside as a long, rangy corner.

22) Green Bay Packers: Walter Nolen, IDL, Ole Miss

A former top recruit, Walter Nolen was disruptive, but not elite at Texas A&M. Now with the Rebels of Ole Miss, a strong junior season would propel him into the first-round conversation, where he has elite upside as a power-first interior pass rusher.

23) New York Jets: Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado

For better or worse, Shedeur Sanders comes with the added layer of being Deion’s son. Sanders could certainly handle the extra spotlight and pressure that New York offers. On the field, Sanders has not been consistent enough to warrant being the top quarterback off the board. But with better line play in front of him this year, he should be able to flash his quality arm talent more often.

24) Houston Texans: Oronde Gadsden II, WR, Syracuse

Houston and C.J. Stroud have had plenty of success with bigger receivers as Nico Collins had a breakout year in 2023. Here, the Texans target another long receiver in Syracuse’s Oronde Gadsden II, a guy I’m excited to see in his new offense in 2024.

25) Dallas Cowboys: Evan Stewart, WR, Oregon

I think Evan Stewart will have a huge year in Eugene this season, which would only stand to heighten the buzz around him in the first round. Dallas’ window is closing and the Cowboys have to find a second elite receiver to pair with CeeDee Lamb and take some of the pressure off Dak Prescott.

26) Philadelphia Eagles: Nic Scourton, EDGE, Texas A&M

Nic Scourton has surprising twitch for a bigger edge rusher, and the Eagles need to get younger at the edge position. This could be a match made in Heaven as Philadelphia tends to favor high-pedigree prospects with elite college production. Scourton had 10 sacks at Purdue as a sophomore. Just 19, Scourton is still years away from reaching his ceiling.

27) Cincinnati Bengals: Isaiah Bond, WR, Texas

Isaiah Bond made the move from Alabama to Texas following Nick Saban’s retirement and should operate mostly out of the slot in 2024 after splitting time between the slot and out wide in Tuscaloosa.

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That’s primarily where he’d play for Cincinnati, as the Bengals never truly addressed the departure of Tyler Boyd this offseason. With Tee Higgins’ departure looming, they’ll need more reinforcements than just Jermaine Burton.

28) Buffalo Bills: Jalon Walker, Edge, Georgia

Jalon Walker was an elite off-ball linebacker prospect in high school who has grown into a potential first-round edge rusher. The Bills have worked free agency and the draft to find edge rushers, but haven’t found anyone with as much upside. Walker’s athletic profile — specifically his explosiveness — gives him high-level traits to scare young quarterbacks around the league.

29) Detroit Lions: Joey Slackman, IDL, Florida

If you’re looking for a name to rise from the relative unknowns to the first round, look no further than Joey Slackman, who transferred to Florida from Penn in the offseason. Slackman is ridiculously strong. He racked up 99 tackles in two seasons at Penn, even as an interior defensive lineman.

30) Baltimore Ravens: Harold Perkins, LB, LSU

Harold Perkins is an interesting case study. After exploding onto the scene as a twitchy freshman edge rusher, the LSU staff moved him off the ball in 2023, and he struggled. He’s probably too small to be a full-time edge rusher, and he needs to show more to be worthy of a first-round linebacker.

That being said, the Ravens have a history of taking tweeners and turning them into high-level NFL starters.

31) San Francisco 49ers: Tyleik Williams, IDL, Ohio State

It’s possible that Tyleik Williams would have been in the first-round conversation in 2024, had he not decided to return to the Buckeyes. He’s the type of two-gapping run-stopper you’d expect from a guy his size but has interesting pass-rushing upside, too, making him a nightmare on San Francisco’s defensive front.

32) Kansas City Chiefs: T.J. Sanders, IDL, South Carolina

Another potential name that could rise to the top of a deep interior defensive lineman class is T.J. Sanders, a guy who, up until now, has been a rotational piece on a deep South Carolina front. He has elite athleticism and pass-rushing potency. Sanders is a guy who could see his stock rise significantly with a strong senior season.