Admin December 4, 2024
Bills secure AFC East, Ravens continue with self-inflicted wounds
Mackenzie Salmon breaks down the top storylines from Week 13 in the NFL.
Sports Seriously
NFL draft season won’t truly arrive until next calendar year at the earliest. For some fans and franchises, however, the event is already top of mind.
December is the time when playoff hopes are officially extinguished, with four teams – the New York Giants, Las Vegas Raiders, New England Patriots and Jacksonville Jaguars – already having been eliminated from postseason contention this year. For those groups, the remaining five weeks of action offer little reason to tune in. It’s only natural, then, for some to shift their focus to the draft and all the possibilities that could be ahead.
Here’s our latest look at how the first round could pan out, with the current order and strength of schedule tiebreakers from Tankathon.com.
2025 NFL mock draft
1. Jacksonville Jaguars – Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado
As others continue to debate which position Hunter should focus on for his professional career, the do-everything star had an intriguing answer when announcing his intent to enter this year’s draft: both. Playing on each side at a truly full-time rate as he does at Colorado seems unsustainable, but the Heisman Trophy front-runner has already proven to be a singular talent in racking up 1,152 receiving yards and 14 touchdown catches while grabbing four interceptions. A Jacksonville defense giving up a league-worst 6.1 yards per play would no doubt love to team him with Tyson Campbell to lock down opposing receivers, but his playmaking prowess might point him toward a dynamic partnership with Trevor Lawrence.
2. Las Vegas Raiders – Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
The upside to an NFL-worst eight-game losing streak? Las Vegas now looks to be in prime position to land one of the draft’s top two quarterbacks. Though Sanders seemingly lacks the upper-echelon physical tools that the top three quarterbacks in last year’s class boasted, an experienced and highly accurate passer who can overcome subpar surroundings could do a lot for a Raiders attack that has only been kept afloat by standout rookie tight end Brock Bowers.
3. New York Giants – Cam Ward, QB, Miami (Fla.)
Assuming John Mara stays true to his word and keeps Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen, the duo’s top priority has to be zeroing in on a quarterback capable of reviving the NFL’s lowest-scoring offense. Ward has been the embodiment of a spark behind center, flinging passes both within and outside of structure for a Football Bowl Subdivision-best 36 touchdown strikes. His daredevil tendencies might need to be dialed back, but perhaps New York could sign a veteran to mentor Ward and serve as a bridge starter until the young signal-caller is ready to take over.
4. New England Patriots – Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
Though New England has every right to be encouraged by what Drake Maye has shown in his debut campaign, the rookie passer’s eight interceptions in as many starts serve as a reminder of his tendency to force plays. The best way to tackle that habit as well as the lackluster receiving corps could be picking McMillan, who is equally comfortable boxing out smaller defensive backs with his 6-5, 212-pound frame as he is turning upfield to outrace defenders after the catch.
5. Carolina Panthers – Abdul Carter, DE/OLB, Penn State
Bryce Young’s resurgence should put to bed – at least for now – any suggestion that the Panthers start over at quarterback. Instead, a pass rush that has sorely missed two-time Pro Bowler Brian Burns gets a chance to reload with Carter, who is tied for second in the Big Ten with 10 sacks and has plenty of room to grow as a pass rusher after spending his previous two years at linebacker.
6. New York Jets – Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
Gang Green has lacked an identity all season, and the void is likely to persist until a new regime is installed. In the meantime, Johnson is a proven product in coverage who should be alluring to any organization. With a sizable extension for Sauce Gardner likely in order once the cornerback becomes eligible for one this offseason, Johnson could step in as the unit’s second potential lockdown presence if D.J. Reed isn’t re-signed.
7. Tennessee Titans – Mykel Williams, DE, Georgia
Even with Will Levis exhibiting more composure in the last four weeks, betting on his continued growth is a dicey proposition for a Titans staff needing to find a way forward in Year 2. Yet with the top quarterbacks likely to be accounted for by the time the team is on the clock, Tennessee should instead look to maximize value elsewhere. Williams packs a punch with every snap and can easily discard would-be blockers, though he’s still filling out his toolkit as a pass rusher.
8. Cleveland Browns – Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas
This roster could be stuck in limbo for some time thanks to the contractual obligations to Deshaun Watson, so reloading along the lines seems like a solid approach in the interim. A three-year starter at left tackle, Banks is smooth and efficient as a pass protector.
9. Cincinnati Bengals – Mason Graham, DT, Michigan
How bad has Cincinnati’s defensive disintegration been this year? The Bengals are now tied with the 2002 Chiefs for the most losses (four) in games in which they scored 30 or more points – with five contests left. No matter how expansive the defensive reset is this offseason, Graham makes plenty of sense as a target given his penchant for making his way into the backfield, either by force or through his agility.
10. New Orleans Saints – Malaki Starks, S, Georgia
On the list of New Orleans’ most glaring shortcomings in a season that necessitated the firing of coach Dennis Allen, safety might not particularly stand out. Starks, however, could quiet some of the conversation surrounding positional value at this slot given the far-reaching effects the consensus All-American could have for any defense.
11. Chicago Bears – Will Campbell, OT, LSU
Maybe this is a little high for an offensive guard, especially one who will be flipping over to the position after a three-year career at left tackle. But a move inside could bring out the best of Campbell as a blocker, and all options along the front have to be considered in a season in which Caleb Williams has been sacked a league-high 49 times.
12. Miami Dolphins – Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon
Instability has been a way of life for the Dolphins’ pass rush in recent years, with Jaelan Phillips’ torn ACL and Bradley Chubb’s continued absence during his ongoing recovery from the same injury last year complicating Miami’s outlook. Harmon has put himself squarely in the first-round conversation with a breakout season after transferring from Michigan State, and the 6-5, 310-pounder could team with Zach Sieler and 2024 first-round pick Chop Robinson to help usher in a new day for the defense.
13. Dallas Cowboys – Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
Expect college football’s leading rusher to be linked to his hometown team throughout the pre-draft process. Jeanty, who has a legit chance to join Bijan Robinson as only the second back selected in the top 10 picks since 2019, recently boosted the idea of the potential link-up, saying on the “Kickin’ it with Dee” podcast, “I feel like that would just be the perfect city to play in.” While the Cowboys have myriad other issues to consider, Jeanty is the kind of figure who could recalibrate not only the league’s 31st-ranked rushing attack but also the offense at large.
14. San Francisco 49ers – James Pearce, DE, Tennessee
Seemingly everything that could go wrong for San Francisco did in an injury-ravaged campaign that looks headed toward the franchise’s first instance of missing the playoffs since 2020. While fortifying the middle of the defensive line might be a preferable move, securing one of the draft’s most natural edge rushers in Pearce should be an attractive option.
15. Indianapolis Colts – Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
If Indianapolis doesn’t pivot from Anthony Richardson, it needs to take several significant steps to better support the former No. 4 overall pick. One measure that would help would be finding a standout tight end, as the Colts rank 31st in receiving yards from all players at the position with 343. In addition to threatening defenses down the seam with his speed, Loveland could be a major asset as someone who can create mismatches and rack up yards after the catch.
16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri
Can the Buccaneers afford to double down on their sixth-ranked offense at the expense of a defense that’s seemingly liable to spring a leak on any play? If Burden is available, the choice might not be as simple as focusing on one side of the ball over the other. Losing Chris Godwin for the season to a dislocated ankle has thrown Baker Mayfield for a loop, and Burden could take over as a trusted slot target capable of taking quick hits for long gains.
17. Los Angeles Rams – Shavon Revel Jr., CB, East Carolina
The short-lived Tre’Davious White experiment and this week’s waiver claim of former Commanders first-round cornerback Emmanuel Forbes reaffirmed that the Rams are scrounging for solutions in the secondary. Revel is recovering from a torn ACL suffered in September, but the 6-3, 193-pounder would give Los Angeles the smothering playmaker it has lacked on the back end since trading away Jalen Ramsey.
18. Arizona Cardinals – Cameron Williams, OT, Texas
While Arizona has scraped along with its subpar pass protection this season, the struggles up front are no doubt a long-term limiting factor for the offense. Williams is still raw in his first full season as a starter, but he has rare physical tools and could combine with Paris Johnson Jr. to provide the Cardinals with bookend blockers for years.
19. Atlanta Falcons – Jalon Walker, OLB, Georgia
Don’t be fooled by the season-high four sacks tallied against the Chargers. Atlanta’s pass rush is still in dire straits, and repairing the problem likely entails at least one more splashy move. At 6-2 and 245 pounds, Walker is hardly the prototype at the position, but his explosiveness and tenacity have been evident on a weekly basis as he wrecks Southeastern Conference opponents’ passing attacks.
20. Seattle Seahawks – Jonah Savaiinaea, OT/G, Arizona
The surprise NFC West leaders still haven’t been able to get their running game going, with Kenneth Walker III averaging just 3.7 yards per carry and not having eclipsed the 100-yard mark in a contest since the opener. At either right tackle or guard, the 6-5, 330-pound Savaiinaea could help stabilize a lingering problem area for Seattle.
21. Washington Commanders – Nic Scourton, DE, Texas A&M
The 6-4, 280-pound Scourton’s hard-charging style won’t be a fit for every defense, but he might find a fan in Dan Quinn, who likely would relish a versatile and physical threat capable of creating havoc for opposing offenses. While his consistency is still an issue, the splash plays might be enough to earn a strong look from a team needing difference-makers off the edge.
22. Houston Texans – Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan
The inability to properly safeguard C.J. Stroud has almost reached emergency status, to the point that Houston might need to bring aboard a veteran or two up front rather than counting on rookies to mature quickly. But the Texans also are iffy on the interior on the other side of the ball, and the sturdy Grant can help control the line of scrimmage while Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr. continue to attack off the edge.
23. Denver Broncos – Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
With Bo Nix having earned three straight Offensive Rookie of the Week awards and Denver averaging 36 points per game during its three-game win streak, both the first-year signal-caller and the Broncos’ offense are outpacing expectations. Equipping Nix with another downfield target would surely help accelerate the ongoing growth. With Sean Payton having shown he knows how to incorporate a dynamic, field-stretching tight end into an aerial attack given his work with Jimmy Graham, Warren is a natural candidate to further weaponize the receiving corps.
24. Baltimore Ravens – Shemar Stewart, DE/DT, Texas A&M
Their 41 sacks belie a pass-rush problem for the Ravens, who rank 19th in pressure rate at 21.2%, according to Pro Football Reference. The 6-6, 290-pound Stewart could follow in Nnamdi Madubuike’s lead to become the next hyperathletic Texas A&M product to tap into his immense potential once he reaches Baltimore.
25. Los Angeles Chargers – Walter Nolen, DT, Mississippi
John Harbaugh and Jesse Minter still claim the league’s stingiest defense in terms of scoring, though the unit wobbled in allowing a combined 57 points to the Bengals and Ravens. Infusing a disruptive and high-upside interior presence like Nolen, the former No. 1-ranked recruit who has posted a career-high 6 ½ sacks after transferring from Texas A&M, could help take the unit to the next level and allow it to reduce its dependence on Poona Ford up front.
26. Pittsburgh Steelers – Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas
Pittsburgh’s defense has gotten sterling play from all over – except at cornerback, where Joey Porter Jr. has floundered with 14 penalties this season. A heady defender and sure tackler who can be utilized almost anywhere, Barron fits the bill of what the Steelers are searching for on the back end, even though his physical traits aren’t his strong suit.
27. Green Bay Packers – Tyleik Williams, DT, Ohio State
While landing a cornerback to man the spot opposite Jaire Alexander might be the ideal outcome for this pick, a potential drop after the top four options at the position leaves Green Bay looking elsewhere. Williams is ultra-reliable against the run and would afford the Packers some added depth and flexibility along its defensive front.
28. Minnesota Vikings – Deone Walker, DT, Kentucky
Think Brian Flores might be interested in a 6-6, 345-pound man in the middle who can move far better than his size would indicate? If Walker can learn to stay low and work himself into becoming a consistent every-down fixture along the line, he could be exactly the kind of hammer that Minnesota’s front needs.
29. Philadelphia Eagles – J.T. Tuimoloau, DE, Ohio State
A once-dormant pass rush has awakened in Philadelphia, with a deep unit helping keep Lamar Jackson in check thanks to consistent pressure. Still, the rotation likely will need to rounded out next season, and Tuimoloau can push the pocket while also making his mark against the run.
30. Buffalo Bills – Landon Jackson, DE, Arkansas
Reloading the pass rush is never a bad idea for a team chasing Patrick Mahomes. In picking up the 6-7, 280-pound Jackson to put opposite 6-6, 266-pound Greg Rousseau, the Bills might have the rangiest pair of edge rushers in the league.
31. Kansas City Chiefs – Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State
Amid Patrick Mahomes being sacked five times by the Raiders on Black Friday, the Chiefs’ left tackle woes became so pervasive that Andy Reid swapped in left guard Joe Thuney at the position to relieve the struggling Wanya Morris. With Kansas City already paying top dollar to Thuney and center Creed Humphrey while right guard Trey Smith seems bound to earn a hefty contract this spring, the problem might need to be again addressed in the draft after the team took Kingsley Suamataia in the second round this year. Simmons is coming off a season-ending knee injury suffered in October, but he was firmly on a first-round track prior to the setback.
32. Detroit Lions – Jack Sawyer, DE, Ohio State
After watching its edge rush be wiped out by a rash of injuries, Detroit surely won’t want to be caught shorthanded again next season. Relying on hustle and physicality rather than speed and flexibility, Sawyer sizes up as a true Dan Campbell defender.
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