With the 2025 NFL offseason now in full swing, teams have begun shifting their focus towards improving their rosters for next season and beyond. So, it’s the perfect time to chalk up my mock draft covering the entire first round. After each pick I will include a brief explanation for the pick and what other position needs that team has to fill. In this Part 1, I will cover the first sixteen picks.

No. 1 - Tennessee Titans: QB Cam Ward (Miami)

Team Needs: QB, T, ED, CB

The Titans move on from Will Levis, opting for Ward’s dynamic arm talent and mobility to lead their offense. In 2024, Ward threw for over 4,000 yards, 39 passing touchdowns, and just 7 interceptions. Ward is universally considered to be the top QB prospect in this draft class, albeit a fairly weak one.

No. 2 - Cleveland Browns: QB Shedeur Sanders (Colorado)

Team Needs: QB, RB, T, CB

With Deshaun Watson’s future uncertain, Cleveland bets on Sanders’ poise, accuracy, and ability to handle big moments. Across his two seasons in Colorado, Sanders threw for 7,362 yards, 64 passing touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. While his last name may give his draft stock a bit of a boost, Sanders still has a very high ceiling as an NFL QB, which is what the Browns are desperately in search of following the disastrous Deshaun Watson move.

No. 3 - New York Giants: DB/WR Travis Hunter (Colorado)

Team Needs: QB, T, DB

A two-way star, Hunter provides elite athleticism and versatility, likely becoming a top-tier cornerback in the NFL. Plus, with both top QBs off the board, taking arguably the top prospect in the draft is the easy decision. There is still a question of which side of the ball Hunter will primarily play in the NFL. But the Giants will have the luxury of making that decision.

No. 4 - New England Patriots: WR Tetairoa McMillan (Arizona)

Team Needs: RB, WR, OL

The Patriots desperately need offensive playmakers, and McMillan’s size and catch radius give them a legitimate WR1 for 2nd year QB Drake Maye to develop with. McMillan finished with back-to-back seasons of over 1,300 receiving yards and boasts a well above average contested catch rate of 60%.

No. 5 - Jacksonville Jaguars: ED Abdul Carter (Penn State)

Team Needs: IOL, DL, CB

A high upside pass rusher, Carter brings explosive burst off the edge to complement Josh Allen and Travon Walker. Following a 13-sack season in 2024, if he does indeed fall to them at 5, the Jags would be fools to pass up on him.

No. 6 - Las Vegas Raiders: DL Mason Graham (Michigan)

Team Needs: QB, RB, WR, CB

The Raiders bolster their defensive front with Graham’s disruptive presence and ability to control the line of scrimmage. Although the biggest need for Vegas this offseason is at QB, this draft class is not deep enough at the position for them to take a viable option here at 6, so why not just go with the best player available.

No. 7 - New York Jets: S Malaki Starks (Georgia)

Team Needs: QB, DL, DB

A versatile, high-IQ safety who can play deep or in the box, strengthening an already elite Jets defense. The Jets are also another team impacted by the weak QB class in this draft, as they already moved on from Aaron Rodgers following his underwhelming couple of seasons in NY.

No. 8 - Carolina Panthers: DB Will Johnson (Michigan)

Team Needs: DL, DB

The Panthers add a lockdown corner in Johnson to pair with Jaycee Horn and solidify their secondary entering the next phase of their rebuild. While Johnson’s 2024 season was cut short due to injury, the former All-American still allowed a passer rating of just 52.6. And the year before that when he played all 12 games, that number was even more impressive at only 30.9.

No. 9 - New Orleans Saints: TE Tyler Warren (Penn State)

Team Needs: WR, TE, DL

A reliable pass-catcher and strong blocker, Warren gives the Saints a dynamic tight end option. Warren is coming off of an electric 2024 season where he had over 100 catches, 1230 receiving yards, and 8 touchdowns. This would be similar to when the Raiders took TE Brock Bowers with their first-round pick last year, and we all know how well his rookie year went.

No. 10 - Chicago Bears: T Will Campbell (LSU)

Team Needs: RB, OL, ED

The Bears continue to prioritize protecting their promising QB Caleb Williams, securing a physical and technically sound left tackle who also has the ability to move inside to guard. Over his 3 seasons at LSU, Campbell played 1,592 pass blocking snaps from the left tackle position and only allowed 4 sacks and 13 QB hits.

No. 11 - San Francisco 49ers: T Josh Simmons (Ohio State)

Team Needs: G, T, DL

San Francisco ensures long-term stability on the offensive line with Simmons, who fits their zone-blocking scheme. Plus, getting to spend a year learning from a first ballot hall of famer in Trent Williams could do wonders for Simmons’ development.

No. 12 - Dallas Cowboys: RB Ashton Jeanty (Boise State)

Team Needs: RB, WR, T, ED

A complete running back, Jeanty provides the Cowboys with a strong replacement for Tony Pollard after their run game was severely lackluster last season following his departure to Tennessee. Coming off his historic 2024 campaign where he ran for 2,595 yards, nearly breaking the all-time record held by the legendary Barry Sanders, Jeanty is definitely one of those “Blue Chip” prospects that are very hard to pass on when they fall to you.

No. 13 - Miami Dolphins: T Kelvin Banks Jr (Texas)

Team Needs: G, T, DL, S

Banks brings elite athleticism to Miami’s offensive line, helping to protect Tua Tagovailoa. Across his 42 games at Texas, Banks played all of his 1,544 pass blocking snaps from the left side of the line and like Will Campbell, only gave up 4 sacks which is very impressive.

No. 14 - Indianapolis Colts: ED James Pearce Jr (Tennessee)

Team Needs: TE, ED, DB

The Colts land an explosive edge rusher to pair with Kwity Paye and Laiatu Latu to further strengthen their defensive front. Going into the 2024 season, Pearce was widely considered to be a bona fide top 10 or even top 5 prospect in this draft class, and he followed up his 13-sack season in 2023 with an 8-sack season in 2024. So, if the Colts can get him at 14, it may end up becoming the “steal” of this draft.

No. 15 - Atlanta Falcons: WR Luther Burden III (Missouri)

Team Needs: WR, ED, LB, CB

With Drake London already in place, Burden gives the Falcons another elite weapon for their passing attack led by their young QB Michael Penix Jr. While Burden’s numbers last season were not nearly as eye popping as his 2023 campaign where he hauled in 86 of his 120 targets for 1,209 yards, he is still viewed as one of the elite WR prospects in this draft that isn’t nearly as deep of a group as it was last year.

No. 16 - Arizona Cardinals: DL Walter Nolen (Ole Miss)