2025 NFL Mock Draft: Jets land Shedeur Sanders, shake up first three rounds

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2025 NFL Mock Draft: Jets land Shedeur Sanders, shake up first three rounds

We’re only now heading into NFL free agency, but it’s already been a wild offseason — trades, coaching changes and big-money contract extensions have been happening at every turn.

How will all of the movement affect the 2025 NFL Draft? As the legal tampering window opens, here’s a look at how the first three rounds could unfold:

1. Tennessee Titans: Abdul Carter, Edge, Penn State

Cam Ward is the best QB prospect in this draft. That doesn’t mean he’s a no-doubter, though, and if you’re going to make this pick — when you’re as bad as the Titans were last season — you need bust-proof. The only thing teams have to monitor with Carter is the Penn State star’s injury situation, but nothing there appears to be a long-term concern.

If the Titans can swing a trade, great. There’s no guarantee another team will want to come up in this draft, though.

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GO DEEPER

Giants NFL mock draft mailbag: Trade up for Cam Ward? If the price is right …

2. Cleveland Browns: Cam Ward, QB, Miami

We’ve heard enough smoke out of Cleveland to know the Browns are interested in taking a quarterback early this year, whether they should be or not. I wouldn’t do this, as Cleveland has an opportunity to improve the rest of its team before appointing a new savior (not to mention the Deshaun Watson situation is still unresolved). But I’m not Jimmy Haslam.

3. New York Giants: Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado

If cooler heads prevail and the Giants do something reasonable like sign a bridge backup while drafting a QB later, that’d feel like a win for both New York’s present and future — no matter who’s running the show long-term. Hunter immediately would improve whichever room he touches.

4. New England Patriots: Will Campbell, OT, LSU

As was the case with Rashawn Slater a few years ago, the conversation surrounding Campbell’s short arm length is notable. It also might not be that big a deal, because the more you speak to Campbell and watch him play or work out, the more you see a long-term NFL starter — be it at tackle, guard or some combination of both.

5. Jacksonville Jaguars: Armand Membou, OT, Missouri

One of the biggest risers in the country, regardless of position, Membou has had his arrow pointed firmly upward since fall. There is rawness to his game compared to a player like Campbell, but he’s hardly a project. The 20-year-old Membou has the combination of size, power and athleticism to be an impact player immediately.

6. Las Vegas Raiders: Mason Graham, DT, Michigan

The best defensive lineman in this class by a bit, Graham also feels like one of the draft’s safest prospects. He’d fill a massive need for the Raiders, while giving them a potential new star in the process.

If you read between the lines, the Raiders’ trade for Geno Smith says everything you’d ever want to know about Shedeur Sanders’ draft stock.

7. New York Jets: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona

Maybe it’s East Coast bias or that he didn’t do anything at the combine, but it feels like nobody’s really talking about McMillan — and that’s a mistake. There are stretches on his Arizona tape when he almost looks bored, and he still made nearly 200 combined catches over the last two seasons. He is a gigantic athlete with hops for days.

8. Carolina Panthers: Shemar Stewart, Edge, Texas A&M

One of the top performers at the combine, nearly everything about Stewart’s athletic profile is elite — length, speed, burst and enough bend to deal with just about anything a pass rusher can encounter. The traits are more impressive than his production, but he also played in a crowded room.

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GO DEEPER

Which 2025 NFL Draft prospects made (or lost) money at the combine?

9. New Orleans Saints: Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State

One of the top physical specimens in this class, Warren has the ability to power through a linebacker as a run blocker or a ball carrier. His hand strength is off the charts, as is his ability to win in the air and adjust his 6-foot-5, 256-pound frame. To quote Boobie Miles’ uncle, L.V.:

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10. Chicago Bears: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State

Ben Johnson was pretty clear that the offense he’ll run in Chicago won’t be the same as what he ran in Detroit. However, he’s still a member of the Dan Campbell coaching tree, and the Bears already added pieces at guard on Johnson’s watch. The first-time head coach knows Chicago’s offense won’t go anywhere until he builds Caleb Williams a real run game. This is step one — and Jeanty’s worth it.

11. San Francisco 49ers: Jalon Walker, LB/Edge, Georgia

Offensive line is a possibility for the 49ers, as is a more traditional edge. But this defense needs playmakers, and Walker is a unique weapon — he can do the job in the box or on the line of scrimmage. As San Francisco attempts to reshape itself on the fly, a dynamic talent like Walker could be a future star.

12. Dallas Cowboys: Mykel Williams, Edge, Georgia

Don’t rule out a trade-up by Dallas, and there could be a few players in play, including Jeanty or even Mason Graham. Same time, the Cowboys are in good position to stand pat and find quality help on either front. On traits alone, Williams is a top-five player in this class.

13. Miami Dolphins: Tyler Booker, G, Alabama

If Miami can’t figure out how to keep its quarterback on his feet and run the football without a gimmick, then the Mike McDaniel experiment is going to go the way of the Chargers-Brandon Staley split. There’s brilliance in the way Miami runs its offense, but the Dolphins have to get tougher if McDaniel is going to take the next step. Booker is a potential culture changer in the run game.

Did Alabama lineman Tyler Booker deliver the quote of the combine?

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14. Indianapolis Colts: Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan

Loveland’s shoulder injury is not expected to be a long-term issue. If he’s healthy, Loveland is the best route-running TE in this draft class. And though he provides a bit less pop than Warren as a blocker, he learned how to play that role effectively in a Jim Harbaugh offense. Loveland is a tough, productive, high-floor football player.

15. Atlanta Falcons: Will Johnson, CB, Michigan

We’ll see how big a slide Johnson takes. He’s pretty clearly the best cornerback in this class not named Travis Hunter, but he didn’t do much of anything as a junior in 2024. He flashed moments of greatness on his sophomore tape, though, and still finished his college career as the best Michigan cornerback since Charles Woodson.

16. Arizona Cardinals: Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas

The Cardinals have done an outstanding job maximizing their draft capital over Monti Ossenfort’s first two drafts. Now, it’s time for the next step. Edge could be a priority at 16, along with offensive tackle or guard — Banks can play either of those O-line spots.

17. Cincinnati Bengals: Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama

Defensive coordinators who aren’t thinking outside the box with players such as Walker and Campbell do so at their own peril. Campbell is still a bit raw, but at 6-3 and nearly 240, he’s the type of defender that’s the future of pass rushers — and that future is now. Having a Micah Parsons-like wild card in your front seven can open up so much.

18. Seattle Seahawks: Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina

Despite his position, this might be Emmanwori’s floor. His athleticism, at 6-3, 220, is actually off the charts (he currently has the

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ever for a safety), and he just turned 21 a month ago. Emmanwori is a true hybrid defender with limitless potential — the exact type of prospect about which Mike Macdonald dreams.

Let Nick Emmanwori cook. 11’6” broad jump in addition to his 43” vert!

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