Dolphins need to address cornerback, offensive guard and defensive tackle in the 2025 NFL Draft
Miami Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward is a lock to be the first overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft, but is it clear what team will select him?
Could a team like the New York Giants entice Tennessee to make a trade?
Colorado’s Travis Hunter has warned teams to not select him if they can’t envision him playing receiver and cornerback at the same time, and his quarterback (Shedeur Sanders) is the biggest mystery of this draft class.
Will Sanders go to the New Orleans Saints or fall into the middle to late first round?
How many offensive linemen and defensive linemen will be selected in the first round? And which team will end up with Boise State tailback Ashton Jeanty?
These are the biggest story lines of the 2025 NFL Draft, which is less than a week away.
Take a look at how Omar Kelly envisions the first round playing out in the second and likely final version of his mock draft, unless there’s a trade made before Thursday night’s first-round kickoff.
1. Tennessee Titans
Needs: QB, WR, Edge, LB
Miami QB Cam Ward: Unless the Giants are willing to swap picks and give Tennessee this year’s second- and a 2025 first-rounder, the Titans should take Ward because he has the moxie and work ethic to transform a franchise.
2. Cleveland Browns
Needs: QB, RB, WR, CB
Colorado CB Travis Hunter: Even though there’s a need at quarterback, the Browns take the Heisman Trophy winner because he’s a special player who only comes around once a decade. Cleveland can address QB with pick No. 33.
3. New York Giants
Needs: QB, OT, D-line, CB
LSU OT Will Campbell: The Giants added two veteran quarterbacks so they don’t need to act desperate with this pick. The Gaints have enough pass rushers, so they select the best offensive linemen. Campbell would likely beat out Jermaine Eluemunor for the starting right tackle spot.
4. New England Patriots
Needs: RB, WR, O-line, OLB
Penn State edge Abdul Carter: If Carter was not nursing a shoulder injury he would have been taken higher. New head coach Mike Vrabel believes in building a team that’s forceful at the line of scrimmage, and Carter has the potential to be this draft’s Micah Parsons.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars
Needs: WR, TE, DL, S
Michigan DT Mason Graham: Graham is one of 2025 draftees with the highest floor. That should help him become a rotational player immediately in Jacksonville, where he can learn from Arik Armstead.
6. Las Vegas Raiders
Needs: RB, WR, D-line, CB
Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty: Tom Brady, a part-owner of the Raiders, knows firsthand that adding a physical, yet explosive runner such as Jeanty is beneficial to a quarterback and an offense. That’s why the Raiders won’t hesitate to take this generational back.
7. New York Jets
Needs: QB, WR, OT, D-line
Missouri OT Armand Membou: There’s temptation to select Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders, but the signing of Justin Fields and the presence of Tyrod Taylor provides the Jets two veterans they can lean on. Membou is the most athletic O-lineman in this draft, but he’s a right side only player.
8. Carolina Panthers
Needs: WR, CB, Edge, TE
Georgia LB Jalon Walker: Panthers general manager Dan Morgan knows what a good linebacker looks like because that’s what he was in the NFL. Walker is a jack-of-all trades talent who will provide Carolina a player to build the defense around.
9. New Orleans Saints
Needs: WR, RB, D-line, CB
Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders: Losing Derek Carr to a shoulder injury that will force him to miss the 2025 season puts New Orleans in a desperate spot at the position. Putting Sanders on a team that plays in a dome is an ideal situation because of his lackluster arm strength.
10. Chicago Bears
Needs: RB, D-line, S, LB
Texas OT Kelvin Banks Jr.: The best thing a team can do to speed up the development of a young quarterback such as Caleb Williams is build him a reliable, consistent offensive line. Braxton Jones has been decent at left tackle, but he’s an impending free agent, so it would be ideal to select his replacement now.
11. San Francisco 49ers
Needs: OG, OT, D-line, CB
Texas CB Jahdae Barron: Barron’s a versatile defensive back who has the instincts and skill set to make impact plays. He’s best suited in the slot, but has the ability to play on the boundary, or as a safety.
12. Dallas Cowboys
Needs: RB, WR, OG, Edge
Arizona WR Tetairoa McMillan: The Cowboys need to find a receiver who is complementary to CeeDee Lamb. McMillan might not blow people away with his 4.5 speed, but his size (6-foot-5, 212 pounds) should make him a go-to weapon for Dak Prescott.
13. Miami Dolphins
Needs: CB, OG, D-line, S
Michigan CB Will Johnson: Jalen Ramsey’s impending trade means the Dolphins need to find two rookie cornerbacks capable of becoming starters. Johnson has excellent size and zone skills. If it wasn’t for his questionable turf toe injury, and the absence of a 40-time he would have been taken higher.
14. Indianapolis Colts
Needs: TE, O-line, Edge, S
TE Penn State TE Tyler Warren: An athletic tight end can be a young quarterback’s safety blanket, and Warren is a dangerous weapon who has the potential to match what Brock Bowers did last season with the Raiders.
15. Atlanta Falcons Needs: WR, C, Edge, S
Georgia D-lineman Mykel Williams: The Falcons have spent the past decade searching for pass-rushing help with little success, which is why it would benefit Atlanta to trade up for Carter. But Williams has the physical traits to be an effective 3-4 end.
16. Arizona Cardinals Needs: OG, D-line, CB, RB
Ohio State OT Josh Simmons: Before the knee injury, which forced him to miss the better part of 2024 and could impact his draft standing, Simmons had an impressive blend of strength and athleticism. The Cardinals need an infusion of youth on the offensive line.
17. Cincinnati Bengals
Needs: OG, D-line, LB, CB
Alabama OG Tyler Booker: Booker has a large, power-packed frame that makes him difficult for most defensive linemen to move, and a road grader in the run game. The Bengals need him to jump-start Cincinnati’s run game.
18. Seattle Seahawks
Needs: C, OG, Edge, LB
Alabama ILB Jihaad Campbell: Campbell packs a punch when he arrives at the ball, and his coverage skills make him a three-down linebacker in any scheme.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Needs: Edge, ILB, CB, S
Georgia S Malaki Starks: It’s difficult to find glaring flaws in Starks’ game, but his 2024 film and production don’t match the reputation. Pairing him with Antoine Winfield Jr. will give him time to develop at a manageable pace.
20. Denver Broncos
Needs: RB, WR, C, D-line
Ohio State WR Emeka Egbuka: This offseason is about surrounding Bo Nix with as many weapons as possible. Egbuka lacks elite size, but he’s about as polished as it gets for a college receiver, and that’s what Sean Payton likes.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers
Needs: QB, RB, OT, S
South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori: The Steelers need to refresh the secondary because De’Shon Elliott has lost a step. Emmanwori has the speed to play nickel, and the physicality to serve as an in-the-box safety.
22. Los Angeles Chargers
Needs: WR, TE, D-line, Edge
Oregon DT Derrick Harmon: Harmon is a powerful force at the point of attack, and the Chargers desperately need to add reinforcements because their starting defensive linemen are viewed as NFL journeymen.
23. Green Bay Packers
Needs: WR, Edge, CB, O-line
North Dakota State OT Greg Zabel: The Packers have a history of using early picks to reinforce the trenches, and that’s what the selection of Zabel, a versatile offensive lineman who can play all five positions, does for Green Bay.
24. Minnesota Vikings
Needs: RB, D-line, CB, S
Ole Miss CB Trey Amos: Amos has good instincts around the ball and the press coverage skills needed to fit Brian Flores’ defensive scheme, which places cornerbacks on an island most of the time.
25. Houston Texans
Needs: WR, O-line, D-line, TE
Ole Miss’ Walter Nolen: Nolen plays with a balance and power that will make Houston’s forceful defensive front even more dangerous. He would have been selected higher if he didn’t have a mercenary reputation. But he will likely be a boom-or-bust type selection.
26. Los Angeles Rams
Needs: TE, OT, LB, CB
Ohio State OG Donovan Jackson: Jackson looks like the NFL’s prototypical guard. He moves well laterally, but must fine-tune his technique to become a starter. The Rams need him to challenge for playing time right away.
27. Baltimore Ravens
Needs: OG, Edge, CB, D-line
Missouri WR Luther Burden III: This speedster is dangerous in open space. His explosiveness and short-area quickness should help the Ravens ease the return of Zay Flowers, who will be coming back from a serious injury in 2025.
28. Detroit Lions
Needs: WR, OG, Edge, LB
Texas A&M Edge Shemar Stewart: Last year the Lions defensive line got decimated by injuries, so don’t be surprised if Detroit makes fortifying the trenches with players such as Stewart a draft week priority.
29. Washington Commanders
Needs: RB, OG, Edge CB
Marshall Edge Mike Green: Green’s lightning quick first step, balance and athleticism should help him replicate the 22.5 sacks he produced in college during his three seasons.
30. Buffalo Bills
Needs: Edge, LB, CB, S
Florida State CB Azareye’h Thomas: A youth movement is needed in the back end of Buffalo’s secondary, and Thomas has the ideal height, length, wingspan and physicality to fit into Buffalo’s defense.
31. Kansas City Chiefs
Needs: OG, OT, D-line, TE
Michigan TE Colston Loveland: Travis Kelce’s had a Hall of Fame-worthy career, but he turns 36 in October, and last season served as proof that he has lost a step. Loveland is one of the most slept-on prospects in this draft class.
32. Philadelphia Eagles Needs:
OG, Edge, CB, WR
Tennessee’s James Pearce Jr.: Pearce has an impressive first step, and his blend of speed, athleticism, and hand use could easily make him a third-down specialist in the Eagles top ranked defense.
