With the college football season about to begin and the 2024 NFL campaign a couple of weeks away, ESPN’s Field Yates has dropped his early first round predictions via his 2025 NFL Mock Draft.

There isn’t the same quarterback talent as we saw in 2024 with Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye at the top of the first round, but there’s some huge names who could be jockeying for the right to be selected first overall in 2025. From Carson Beck to Shedeur Sanders, and even non quarterbacks like James Pearce Jr. and Mykel Williams, there’s some fascinating possibilities looking to make their case.

It’s never easy to predict next year’s NFL Draft from this far out, but Yates attempted to get it done. Check out his full 2025 NFL Mock Draft below, as the football world prepares for an exhilarating ride over the next couple of months.

1. New York Giants (via projected trade with NE) – Carson Beck, QB, Georgia

In 2024, the Giants attempted to move up from No. 6 to No. 3 with the New England Patriots, with their eyes on Drake Maye. Now, Yates has them striking a deal to move up from No. 6 to No. 1, with Carson Beck being the target for the legendary franchise.

Since becoming the starting quarterback at Georgia, Beck has done nothing but prove why he’s capable of being a star signal caller. Yates noted his pocket presence and size as reasons NFL teams will be enthusiastic about his potential.

The Panthers are slated to once again pick at the top of the NFL Draft in Yates’ mock draft. This time around, Carolina goes with a potential defensive superstar, selecting Tennessee’s James Pearce Jr. with the No. 2 overall pick.

Could Carolina look to replace Bryce Young if they’re picking this high in the draft next season? That’s certainly a possibility, but Yates noted he’s still a believer in the former Alabama quarterback, so he opted to go with a defensive standout at No. 2.

Yates believes Kelvin Banks Jr. can help Bo Nix reach his full potential in Sean Payton’s offense, “The precision and timing-based offense that Sean Payton aspires to run also requires excellent protection. Banks — who has allowed two sacks over 1,789 career snaps — has lockdown-left-tackle talent.”

The Broncos will certainly need talent along their offensive line, and Banks Jr. is the type of player who could protect Nix for the next decade. An easy selection for Yates if Denver is picking at No. 3.

Quarterback No. 2 off the board comes at pick No. 4, with the Tennessee Titans selecting Shedeur Sanders out of Colorado. Yates believes if the Titans are selecting in the top five, they’d be willing to move on from Will Levis.

Even though he has Sanders being selected No. 4, Yates thinks he could be in the conversation for first overall: “Sanders could wind up in the conversation for the first overall pick of the draft, as he’s an absolutely surgical pocket passer. He completed 69.3% of his throws last season and threw just three interceptions. He has great arm strength and pristine accuracy.”

After getting their franchise quarterback in 2024 with Jayden Daniels, Yates predicts the Commanders go defense in Round 1. That’s where Georgia’s Mykel Williams comes into play, although he noted offensive line could be an option, as well.

After trading Montez Sweat and Chase Young, Washington needs some talent along their defensive line. Williams “has uncommon traits with his fantastic blend of length and power,” according to Yates, and would be a tremendous addition.

6. New England Patriots (via projected trade with NYG) – Will Johnson, CB, Michigan

After ending up with the first overall pick and trading it to the New York Giants, the Patriots go defense in Yates’ mock. While he noted offensive line could be in play as well, he’s rocking with Will Johnson out of Michigan with New England’s pick.

Yates believes Johnson would give the Patriots a phenomenal player at a position of need. With the quarterback talent in the AFC East, the soon-to-be-former Wolverines star could be a home run selection.

After selecting former Michigan quarterback JJ McCarthy in 2024, who unfortunately will miss his entire rookie season, the Vikings go back to Ann Arbor. Yates has Minnesota riding with defensive tackle Mason Graham at No. 7 in his 2025 mock.

Yates compared Graham to a prominent draftee from 2024, “He reminds me a bit of Rams 2024 second-round pick Braden Fiske but with more length and younger at just 20 years old.” The Michigan star could solidify himself as a top ten pick with another dominating season.

The third quarterback of Yates’ mock draft comes off the board to the Las Vegas Raiders. Quinn Ewers was once the price that was promised, as one of the top recruits of all time at the position, and he makes good on that prediction by elevating to a top ten pick in 2025, if Yates ends up being correct.

The ESPN analyst noted Ewers “smooth delivery and capacity to change arm angles to make creative throws” as a reason for him to be drafted at No. 8. However, he’s not a perfect prospect, as Yates thinks “he has to be more consistent throwing downfield, but he can really carve up a defense with his intermediate accuracy.”

The Cardinals had a full scale rebuild on their hands just a couple or seasons ago. With additions like Marvin Harrison Jr. in 2024, the future is looking bright, and they add an awesome piece to their defense here with Nic Scourton via Yates’ predictions.

While with Purdue, Scourton established himself as one of the top defenders in all of college football. Now, the ESPN analyst believes another step could be taken at Texas A&M, as Scourton prepares to take the SEC by storm in 2024.

10. New Orleans Saints – Will Campbell, OT, LSU

Rounding out Yates’ top ten is the New Orleans Saints, who have a myriad of holes to fill. In this mock draft, they look inwards, staying in Louisiana with LSU’s Will Campbell, adding to their offensive line.

While Yates noted quarterback could be a road the Saints travel, he’s expecting them to stick with Derek Carr in 2025. That leaves them with a couple options — protect him or get him a weapon, and they go with the talented offensive lineman out of LSU in this case.

ESPN’s 2025 NFL Mock Draft – Pick No. 11 through No. 32:

11. Seattle Seahawks – Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado
12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame
13. Pittsburgh Steelers – Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
14. Indianapolis Colts – Malaki Starks, S, Georgia
15. Jacksonville Jaguars – Denzel Burke, CB, Ohio State
16. Cleveland Browns – Emery Jones Jr., OT, LSU
17. Chicago Bears – JT Tuimoloau, Edge, Ohio State
18. Los Angeles Chargers – Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
19. Los Angeles Rams – Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri
20. New York Jets – Deone Walker, DT, Kentucky
21. Miami Dolphins – Jonah Savaiinaea, G/OT, Arizona
22. Atlanta Falcons – Abdul Carter, Edge, Penn State
23. Houston Texans – Harold Perkins Jr., LB, LSU
24. Green Bay Packers – Patrick Payton, Edge, Florida State
25. Cincinnati Bengals – Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
26. Buffalo Bills – Donovan Jackson, G, Ohio State
27. Dallas Cowboys – Tacario Davis, CB, Arizona
28. Philadelphia Eagles – Isaiah Bond, WR, Texas
29. Baltimore Ravens – Tyler Booker, G, Alabama
30. Detroit Lions – Landon Jackson, Edge, Arkansas
31. Kansas City Chiefs – Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan
32. San Francisco 49ers – Tommi Hill, CB, Nebraska

As you can see, there’s a myriad of wonderful prospects who could be moving to the NFL level in 2025. While the first overall pick is usually a quarterback, there’s immense talent at numerous positions, and Field Yates will have his eyes on the way things change over the course of the next couple of months.