Jeff Ratcliffe’s 2025 NFL Mock Draft 1.0

We may still be in the NFL postseason, but NFL Draft season is officially here. So, let’s break out the abacus and do the first mock draft of the year. Mock drafts are an exercise in futility. It’s essentially impossible to get even remotely close to correct on all your picks.

Instead of worrying about nailing the picks, we’re going to approach this mock as an academic exercise with a few parameters in place. First, we aren’t going to worry about trades in this mock. We’ll have trades in future mocks, but we’ll keep the board static for this one. With no trades, our goal here is to 1) identify which positions teams are most likely to address in the first round, and 2) identify the top players likely to be on the board at the positions of need for each pick.

Jeff Ratcliffe’s 2025 NFL Mock Draft – 1.0

1. Tennessee – Travis Hunter, ATHLETE, Colorado

Yes, the Titans have need at quarterback, but the organization’s recent comments about selecting a generational talent with this pick suggest they’ll pass on a signal caller in this spot. Hunter is as unique a prospect as we’ve seen in recent memory. At this point, we don’t know if NFL teams will view him as a corner, a wideout, or both. However, that versatility plus his high-end play on both sides of the ball make him very appealing.

2. Cleveland – Cam Ward, QB, Miami

It’s time for the Browns to wipe the slate clean of the Deshaun Watson era. In Ward, they get a high-ceiling option who has an ideal skillset for the modern era of football. He’s mobile and has no issue throwing the ball around the yard.

3. NY Giants – Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado

The Giants swung and missed on Daniel Jones, so it’s time to go back to the well. Is Sanders the No. 3 prospect in this draft? No. But the importance of the position plus the scarcity in this year’s class moves Sanders into this spot.

4. New England – Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona

Wide receiver was one of the Patriots’ most glaring weaknesses in 2024. Mike Vrabel and company address the position here and get Drake Maye a major upgrade in the big-bodied receiver out of Arizona. McMillan led the nation in receiving yards from 2022-2024 with 3,423.

5. Jacksonville – Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State

The Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year falls into the Jags’ lap in this mock. Carter is an absolute game wrecker who racked up a nation-leading 24 tackles for a loss in 2024. An argument could be made for Carter as the top overall prospect in this class.

6. Las Vegas – Will Johnson, CB, Michigan

Pete Carroll and the Raiders address a major need with the ball hawk corner out of Michigan. Johnson notched nine interceptions with three of them going for pick sixes over the last three seasons.

7. NY Jets – Mason Graham, DI, Michigan

With a defensive-minded head coach in place in Aaron Glenn, the Jets bolster their defensive interior with Graham. The 2024 All American was a disruptive force from the interior, tallying 63 pressures and 6.5 sacks last season.

8. Carolina – James Pearce Jr., EDGE, Tennessee

The Panthers need an upgrade along the edge and get just that in Pearce. He’s a long and explosive player who is capable of winning in multiple ways as a pass rusher.

9. New Orleans – Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri

Follow a season where the Saints were absolutely decimated at wide receiver, the Saints add talent at the position. Burden was highly productive over the last three seasons, notching 192 catches and 21 scores.

10. Chicago – Will Campbell, OT, LSU

Protect Caleb Williams The Ben Johnson era starts off with an offensive lineman. Campbell was a 2024 consensus All-American who allowed just five career sacks in 1,508 pass-blocking snaps.

11. San Francisco – Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State

With Trent Williams getting up there in age, the 49ers address the future of their offensive line. Simmons played left tackle at Ohio State but also has experience playing right tackle in his time with San Diego State. He is coming off a knee injury that ended his season last year.

12. Dallas – Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State

Does every mock have this pick? It seems so obvious, especially considering the fact that Rico Dowdle could leave in free agency. Jeanty is coming off one of the most prolific running back seasons in college football history.

13. Miami – Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas

The Dolphins grab the third offensive lineman in the last four picks. Terron Armstead is heading into his age-34 season and Isaiah Wynn is a potential free agent. In Banks, they get the Outland Trophy winner who allowed a pressure on just 1.9% of his career pass-blocking snaps.

14. Indianapolis – Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State

He may not be Brock Bowers, but Warren isn’t that far off. Warren is the best tight end prospect in a fairly loaded class. He can do it all on the field and is especially effective in the passing game.

15. Atlanta – Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia

It’s no secret the Falcons need help at Edge. They stay in-state with this one and select a high upside pass rusher in Williams.

16. Arizona – Kenneth Grant, DI, Michigan

Jonathan Gannon continues to build his defense and address a major need in the interior. While Grant is slightly overshadowed by Mason Grant at Michigan, he’s no slouch. A mountain of a man, Grant has freakish athleticism for his size.

17. Cincinnati – Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State

It’s tough to see how the Bengals will be able to retain Tee Higgins, so they go out and fill that hole with one of the top wide receiver prospects in the class. Egbuka is the all-time receptions leader in Ohio State history with 205.

18. Seattle – Shemar Stewart, EDGE, Texas A&M

Mike Macdonald adds a height-weight-speed edge rusher in Stewart. While he didn’t put up gawdy numbers in college, Stewart has the intangible traits you’re looking for in a potential starting-caliber pass rusher.

19. Tampa Bay – Malaki Starks, S, Georgia

Given his talent, yes this is pretty low for Starks. However, safety is a tricky position in the first round. There were zero safeties selected in the first-round last year, but Kyle Hamilton was a first-rounder in 2022. Despite being one of the most impressive players in the class, Hamilton didn’t come off the board until pick 14.

20. Denver – Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan

The Broncos add the big and athletic tight end who will present a mismatch in the passing game at the NFL level.

21. Pittsburgh – Matthew Golden, WR, Texas

While this isn’t a particularly strong wide receiver class, we still will see a handful of them go in the first round. Golden could sneak in there, especially to a team like the Steelers who have a major need at the position. Golden has the ability to play all over the formation and would provide a good complementary piece to George Pickens

22. LA Chargers – Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina

J.K. Dobbins could walk in free agency, which would leave a big hole in the Chargers offense. Fortunately, this is a very good running back class. Hampton is second in FBS rushing yards over the last two seasons (3,164) behind only Ashton Jeanty.

23. Green Bay – Jahdae Barron, CB. Texas

The Packers address a need and grab a player who is capable of playing multiple positions in the secondary. His physicality is especially a plus against the run.

24. Minnesota – Tyleik Williams, DI, Ohio State

A disrupter along the interior, Williams would bolster the Vikings defensive front. He still has work to do from a development standpoint, but Williams offers a very high ceiling.

25. Houston – Armand Membou, OT, Missouri

Keeping C.J. Stroud clean is the mission statement for the Texans. Membou will help them on that front and has the versatility to play guard or right tackle.

26. LA Rams – Josh Conerly Jr., OT, Oregon

Sean McVay grads some help along the offensive line with Conerly. He’s extremely athletic and has the profile to excel in a zone-based run scheme.

27. Baltimore – Mike Green, EDGE, Marshall

This is probably too low on Green, who led the nation in sacks last season with 17.0, but don’t the Ravens always seem to find value in the first round? Green is typically labeled as a speed rusher, but he showed he can also win with power during the Senior Bowl practices.

28. Detroit – Jack Sawyer, EDGE, Ohio State

The Lions will have Aidan Hutchinson back next season, but they do need more firepower on the edge. Sawyer would give them just that. He’s a plus-level run defender, but Sawyer doesn’t offer a high ceiling as a pass rusher.

29. Washington – Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame

Dan Quinn bolsters his secondary with the high football IQ corner out of Notre Dame. Morrison has the versatility to play inside or outside along with the ball skills to hold his own at the next level.

30. Buffalo – Trey Amos, CB, Ole Miss

With Rasul Douglas headed potentially toward free agency, the Bills could have a big gap to fill in their secondary. In Amos, they’d land a physical and athletic corner who is at home in press coverage.

31. Philadelphia – Nic Scourton, EDGE, Texas A&M

The Eagles could end up losing Josh Sweat in free agency, so Howie Roseman continues to add to the pipeline with Scourton.

32. Kansas City – Wyatt Milum, OT, West Virginia

Andy Reid and company don’t have a lot of holes to fill, so why not add talent to their offensive line room? Milum is a four-year starter who excels as a run blocker and is more than capable in pass protection.