With the college football season nearing an end, 2025 NFL Draft prospects will start to make their decisions as to whether or not they will declare this year. With that being said, we take a look at what the first round could look like after several trades take place.
For a more in-depth breakdown of each athlete, head to the PFN Top 100 Big Board for the 2025 NFL Draft. The draft order was based on the PFN Mock Draft Simulator and includes trades.
1) Jacksonville Jaguars
Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado
Travis Hunter has put together one of the most impressive seasons in recent memory. The dual-threat weapon can play on both sides of the ball at an elite level and could do something that has never really been done at the professional level — play offense and defense.
At both positions, two traits stand out as central qualities to Hunter’s game: His hyper-elite athletic profile and his generational ball skills and catch-point instincts.
As a cornerback, Hunter’s ability to sense where the ball is going and position himself to make plays is truly extraordinary, and it separates him as a deadly turnover-generating force. But those same catching instincts also make him reliable as a receiving threat on offense.
The Jaguars don’t need a QB at the top of the draft, so they make the easy choice of bringing in The Greatest Show on Turf (Vol. 2).
2) Las Vegas Raiders
Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
It is literally the worst-kept secret around the league that Shedeur Sanders wants to be a Las Vegas Raider. His father, the legendary Deion Sanders, was even caught asking Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce to draft his son at a recent event.
“You are truly the best,” Sanders told Pierce. “Now I just need for you to do one thing. I need you to draft those Sanders boys.”
No shame in Sanders’ game. Oh, and in addition to Sanders’ connection with Pierce, another big name might come into play here. When Shedeur was a four-star quarterback at Trinity Christian School, he worked out with Raiders minority owner Tom Brady. In 2022, when Shedeur was at Jackson State, Brady signed him to an NIL deal with his BRADY Brand — the first athlete Brady ever signed to an NIL or endorsement deal.
After Colorado’s upset win over TCU in 2023, Brady texted him, “Don’t be satisfied.”
Under the guidance of his father, Shedeur has shown a high-football IQ and the ability to make pre-snap reads like an NFL veteran. His compact throwing motion, quick release, and accuracy on short and intermediate throws make him a natural fit for today’s NFL offense.
The Raiders need an answer at quarterback. Their current QB room, an injured Gardner Minshew, an injured Aidan O’Connell, and a lackluster Desmond Ridder, is simply not it. Shedeur will breathe some life into this Raiders organization, and the swag of the Sanders family will mesh well with Las Vegas.
Side note: Suppose Sanders and Hunter are selected with the first two picks. In that case, it will be the first time two players from the same college were selected back-to-back to start a draft since 2000.
It would be the perfect storybook ending for the two Colorado Buffs.
3) New York Giants
Cameron Ward, QB, Miami (FL)
Cameron Ward is a top QB prospect with a rocket arm and the ability to make big, splash plays. Though he sometimes plays it too recklessly, if he can refine his decision-making, he borders on being a franchise quarterback.
Ward began his football career at Incarnate Word, earning the Jerry Rice Award as the top freshman in FCS. He then transferred to Washington State, where he continued to excel, and later to Miami. In the 2024 season with Miami, he was named the College Football Network’s ACC Offensive Player of the Year.
The Giants need a new QB after releasing Daniel Jones. Tommy DeVito and Drew Lock are around to finish out the season, but they are far from the future. In a division with talent like Dak Prescott, Jalen Hurts, and Jayden Daniels, the Giants need to swing for the fences with this pick. Ward is the definition of a splash play.
4) New England Patriots
Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State
There’s an obvious surface-level parallel between Carter and former Penn State star Micah Parsons, who’s become an All-Pro edge defender for the Dallas Cowboys. Like Carter, Parsons was an LB-turned-EDGE, and he ran a 4.39 40-yard dash at 6’3″ and almost 250 pounds.
Caution must be exercised with these comps, as the mere cosmetic and background similarities between Carter and Parsons can cause some to take a leap too far when comparing. That said, there is a degree of merit to the Carter-Parsons comp.
Carter is just as dense and compact as Parsons was, and might have slightly superior length. He’s also an extraordinary athlete with hyper-elite speed, explosiveness, and bend capacity around the arc, and he has the build to employ strong hands in tandem with those tools.
The Patriots have things figured out at the QB position with rookie Drake Maye. Now, they need to figure out the rest of their roster. According to the PFN’s Defense+ metric, the Patriots have the 28th-ranked defense in the league.
After trading away Matthew Judon before the season, the Patriots will need to address their failure to get pressure without blitzing (25.2%; 31st) this offseason. This should, in turn, help the turnover rate (5.9%; 30th) and the pass defense (-0.13 EPA per dropback) by not leaving New England’s corners exposed in 1-on-1 matchups or having to cover for as long.
5) Carolina Panthers
Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
Early in the year, most outlets had the Panthers drafting a QB to replace the struggling Bryce Young. Well, that is no longer going to be the case. Young is in the middle of an impressive resurgence, not just winning games but keeping his team competitive against superior competition.
After having an F grade in PFN’s Quarterback+ metric for most of the year and being benched for Andy Dalton, Young has climbed to a D- and helped get his team out of the basement of the NFL standings.
The Panthers are ranked 32nd out of 32 teams in our defense rankings and have struggled all season. The Panthers are not above average in our database in any statistical category, and they are particularly bad against the run (-0.05 PEA per rush) and on third downs (46.8%), ranking last in the league this year and in the bottom 10th percentile of the entire database.
Carolina’s best feature had been its red-zone defense (61.5%; 25th), but that has dropped off in recent weeks. They allow 2.66 points per drive, which ranks last in the league. Their best trait for the season at this point has been forcing turnovers, but even then, they rank just 21st with an 8.9% turnover rate.
They need to start building around their franchise QB. Will Johnson is a step in the right direction.
6) New York Jets
Malaki Starks, S, Georgia
The New York Jets have a lot of holes to fill on their roster. The most pressing issue is probably the quarterback position with the aging Aaron Rodgers, who is likely on the way out (maybe, probably, who knows).
The enigma that is Rodgers (see his Netflix Documentary if you don’t get the joke) will likely keep us guessing right until the last minute, and while a safety in the top 10 might not have been on your bingo card, Malaki Starks is too good for New York to pass up on.
But, don’t worry Jets fans. Later in the mock, Woody Johnson will make a blockbuster deal to move back into the first round for Rodgers’ replacement, but more on that later. Here, we focus on the Jets improving what was once an elite defense. They have fallen off significantly since the 2023 season, but they still have all their core pieces.
Adding Starks to a unit that includes Sauce Gardner is a no-brainer. This year, the team’s lack of turnovers has been an issue, ranking 28th in the league at 6.5%. It’s by far their worst trait, and we’ve been expecting it to regress to the mean because their other defensive metrics are largely pretty good.
Starks is the epitome of a modern safety with his ability to play deep in coverage, line up in the box, and cover tight ends one-on-one. His range allows him to patrol the deep middle effectively, and his instincts lead to game-changing interceptions. His versatility will allow the Jets to deploy him in multiple roles, solidifying their secondary.
7) Tennessee Titans
Will Campbell, OT, LSU
The Tennessee Titans are a bad football team, but they seem to have their answer at QB with Will Levis. The problem? They need to keep him healthy and upright. Tennessee picked a first-round offensive lineman for the second consecutive year in 2024 and are now playing JC Latham — who played right tackle and guard at Alabama — at the blindside.
With Peter Skoronski and Lloyd Cushenberry III also on board, Tennessee is starting to rebuild up front. However, even the presence of Bill Callahan — one of the greatest OL coaches in NFL history — hasn’t helped this unit emerge from the cellar thus far. So, for the third year in a row, the Titans add to their O-line.
Campbell is a favorite of talent evaluators who value good functional athleticism and natural skill. At 6’6″, 320 pounds, Campbell’s arm length is average, which may complicate his projection for some teams. But despite his lack of length, he’s surprisingly comfortable playing with controlled lean, and he has rare matching athleticism and fluidity at his size.
8) Cleveland Browns
Mason Graham, DT, Michigan
The Cleveland Browns could surprise many and go with a QB in the top 10 here. They have already openly said they want to bring in “competition” for Deshaun Watson. And, since the struggling QB is coming off of a major injury, whoever they bring in could start pretty early on. However, for now, in this 2025 NFL Mock Draft, the team decided to focus on the defensive line.
At 6’3″, 318 pounds, Mason Graham almost has the size and frame density to be a nose tackle. Yet, he moves with inhuman quickness for his size, and his heavy hands can jar opponents at the contact point. He’s a run-scheme destroyer and a pass-rush weapon on the interior.
According to PFN’s Defense+ metric, the Browns’ defense has been good in 2024, but not elite like Jim Schwartz had them playing last year. The biggest drop-off has been the pass defense, but that was always going to be unsustainable, given 2023’s success. There has also been a drop in turnover rate, falling from a mid-tier team last year to one of the worst this season (6.3%; 29th).
9) Dallas Cowboys
Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
Trade: The Dallas Cowboys traded the 13th overall pick and their second-rounder (44th) to move up with the New Orleans Saints.
The first big trade of this 2025 NFL Mock Draft involves the Dallas Cowboys. Jerry Jones has been known to make splash moves in the draft and has done so with some success. Here, the team trades up four spots to grab Arizona WR Tetairoa McMillan.
McMillan is a big-bodied receiver with a knack for making contested catches. His strong hands and body control make him a reliable target in tight windows, and his ability to win in the red zone would elevate the Cowboys’ offense.
Dak Prescott was put on IR after suffering a hamstring injury in Week 9. It was a significant loss for this offense, but the Cowboys’ had already already been struggling with him. Through nine weeks with Prescott, Dallas ranked 27th in pass success rate and 31st in red-zone touchdown rate, metrics that trended in the wrong direction with Cooper Rush at the helm.
CeeDee Lamb is a unique talent, but the Cowboys need a WR2 alongside him. McMillan can immediately be that player. His numbers this season help prove that.
- Receptions: 84
- Receiving Yards: 1,319
- Average Yards per Reception: 15.7
- Receiving Touchdowns: 8
10) Cincinnati Bengals
Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
There wasn’t a single running back selected in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, but Ashton Jeanty wasn’t in last year’s class. Saquon Barkley was a unique athlete. Bijan Robinson’s usage at Texas made him a special prospect. Neither player was as complete as Jeanty.
The Boise State RB has the baseline vision, explosiveness, and physicality offensive coordinators covet in their ball carriers. His agility, lower-body flexibility, post-cut explosiveness, effortless contact balance, and spatial understanding and feel make him almost a one-of-one prospect.
Jeanty is a complete three-down volume back with the devastating creative ability to give defenses nightmares for years on end. Through 13 weeks, Cincinnati ranks third in pass success rate, with Burrow pacing for a career-high touchdown total. He’s been nothing short of great despite a run game that hasn’t been very supportive (29th in success rate).
Jeanty will fix that run game issue on day one and then some. Joe Mixon is seeing massive success now that he is in Houston. Jeanty will help wipe away the tears of Bengals fans watching Mixon have a career year elsewhere.
11) Chicago Bears
Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia
The Bears feel like they are a couple of pieces away from being contenders. Caleb Williams has continued to progress, and now that the team has finally fired Matt Eberflus, a competent head coach could do wonders for the organization. After focusing heavily on offense last year, the Bears now turn to their defense.
Mykel Williams is a physical pass rusher who thrives on overpowering offensive tackles. His explosiveness off the line, combined with his strength, makes him a force in the trenches. He’s also shown the ability to develop counter moves, which bodes well for his growth at the next level. For the Bears, Williams could anchor the edge and generate consistent pressure.
12) Miami Dolphins
Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
The Miami Dolphins are in a weird spot. They could go a number of ways in this mock draft. Ultimately, they decide to give Tua Tagovailoa another weapon in Penn State tight end Tyler Warren. Brock Bowers is proving this year how valuable the TE position can be, breaking several rookie records along the way.
While not quite at the Bowers level, Warren has been putting up an excellent season for the Nittany Lions. Jonnu Smith is on a two-year deal with Miami and has excelled late in the year, but he is going to be 30 years old, and there is no one behind him.
Warren will come in and be an immediate impact player. Yes, the Dolphins need to address the offensive line. But the draft is deep with O-line prospects. Standing at 6’6″ and weighing 261 pounds, Warren will bring size and toughness to this Dolphins offense. He is also a huge threat in the red zone, hauling in six receiving touchdowns in his final season with Penn State.
13) New Orleans Saints
Nic Scourton, EDGE, Texas A&M
Scourton is a unique EDGE prospect in that he has an elite combination of physical tools. He’s a massive player at 6’4″, 280 pounds, with arms likely near 34″. At that size, he has near-elite explosiveness and agility, as well as functional hip flexibility and bend.
With both his lateral range and twitch, Scourton impresses, and he has the instant accelerative capacity to create angle advantages and leverage power from his momentum and mass. But just when you start to bill him as a power rusher, he can hit you with a vast array of spin moves from different alignments.
Scourton’s pass-rush plan is artwork, and the suddenness and fluidity he already plays with at 280 is terrifying. If he declares, he’d be one of the youngest players in the class while already possessing nuance far beyond his years. His naturally thick lower half makes him a sturdy edge setter, and there’s a chance he’ll continue growing into his frame while building a more consistent power element to his game.
14) San Francisco 49ers
Jonah Savaiinaea, OT, Arizona
At the rate at which the 49ers are losing RBs to injury, maybe they consider taking one in the first round. But, with Jeanty already gone, there is no name worth grabbing this high. Instead, they try to protect what they already have by bringing in Jonah Savaiinaea from Arizona.
Savaiinaea is an uber-athletic blocker with rare explosive capacity and short-area quickness for his 6’5″, 330-pound frame. Beyond the physical traits, Savaiinaea also shows promise on the operational side. He’s a balanced, adaptable footwork technician who can use independent hands. He stays alert and active when faced with stunts and can leverage his traits into menacing power in the run game.
15) New Orleans Saints
Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas
Trade: The Saints sent the recently acquired 44th overall selection, along with their 43rd and 74th picks to the Indianapolis Colts for the 15th overall pick.
The Saints are not done yet. After bringing in an extra second-round pick to move back a few spots, they package three picks (43, 44, 74) to move back into the first round to address their offensive line.
New Orleans’ front five is getting a ton of help from first-year play-caller Klint Kubiak, who brought modern offensive concepts like play-action and pre-snap motion to the Saints’ playbook, making life easier on rookie left tackle Taliese Fuaga and Co.
The Saints’ OL is also getting healthier. Right guard Cesar Ruiz returned from a knee injury in Week 8, while Pro Bowl center Erik McCoy came back from a groin issue in Week 11 before sitting out Week 13. Left guard Nick Saldiveri could miss the rest of the year.
At full strength, New Orleans’ front five is a league-average group with upside. Adding Kelvin Banks Jr. will make a significant difference. Although he’s a bit more heavy-footed than is ideal for a tackle, he makes up for it by understanding his opponent and playing to attack their weaknesses while combatting their strength off the edge.
You’ll often see him employing different strike techniques within the same game depending on the situation and which opponent pass rusher is coming off the edge at him.
16) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
Chris Godwin is a pending free agent and recently suffered a season-ending ankle injury, while Mike Evans will turn 32 years old before the start of next season. Yes, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have 2024 third-round pick Jalen McMillan and 2023 sixth-round pick Trey Palmer, they seem more like secondary pieces.
As an athlete, Egbuka is extremely explosive, fluid, and flexible, with more than enough vertical speed. He can sear and slice his way through zone-coverage looks but also has the intentional movement, snappy suddenness, and spatial awareness to win against man coverage. With his high-end tools and ability to blend into many different roles, Egbuka seems like a lock for the first round — the question is, how early will he go?
17) Los Angeles Rams
Jalon Walker, EDGE, Georgia
Well, well, look at the Rams with another first-round pick this year. What a world.
A former off-ball linebacker, Jalon Walker played more stand-up EDGE for the Bulldogs as of late, and therein lies his unique versatility. With his skill set, Walker can rush off the edge from wide alignments or blitz from depth, stunt, spy, and disguise looks.
Walker’s explosiveness and speed to power serve as his defining qualities — the latter of which is supplemented by his compact mass and proportional length. He can be incredibly disruptive from wide alignments, and his motor rarely rests as reps go on.
Now, is he the next coming of Aaron Donald? Who knows? But he will make an immediate impact on the Rams’ defense, which currently ranks 22nd in Defense+.
The Rams have struggled in the passing game this year, but despite losing Donald, they’ve been much better at putting pressure on opponents without having to blitz (33.1%; 12th). Los Angeles has improved its sack (7.3%; 15th) and turnover (12.0%; 11th) rates this year. Imagine what they will be able to accomplish with an every-down disrupter like Walker.
18) Atlanta Falcons
Isaiah Bond, WR, Texas
Trade: The Falcons traded away their third-rounder next year to move up one spot with the Arizona Cardinals.
In a small trade, the Falcons moved up with the Cardinals to grab Texas WR Isaiah Bond. Atlanta is in a weird spot right now. They have Kirk Cousins at the helm, who has been inconsistent to say the least. But they also have Michael Penix Jr. waiting in the wings to take over at QB.
If Penix takes over, this offense will look very different next season. A young, mobile QB combined with the explosiveness of Bijan Robinson and Drake London, it would be hard to pick against them. Now, imagine they add another weapon in the speedy Isaiah Bond.
An elite field stretcher with natural ball-tracking, sharp separation, and corrective body control, the Texas WR is a proven deep threat. He has quickly established himself as one of the most elusive ball carriers in the 2025 NFL Draft and possesses some of the top change of direction and proactive explosive movement in this class.
Physically, Bond has all the tools to be a stellar three-level threat in the modern game. His blend of explosiveness, speed, and flexibility is extremely conducive to route-running success, and those same mobility traits make him a RAC weapon defenses must respect.
19) Arizona Cardinals
James Pearce Jr., EDGE, Tennessee
The Arizona Cardinals could go in several directions with this pick, but it seems likely that they’ll use their first-rounder to improve the defense. Nearly every position could use a short-term and long-term upgrade since their defense is largely comprised of journeymen.
James Pearce Jr.‘s 10-sack, 14.5-TFL season in 2023 put him on the radar as a first-round talent, and he’s continuing to climb up draft boards.
At 6’5″, 242 pounds, Pearce is a bit light, but he has room to keep adding mass to his frame. Pearce’s first step is hyper-elite, which not only allows him to channel power with his length but also stress angles immediately off the snap.
20) Seattle Seahawks
Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon
Derrick Harmon flashed in his time at Michigan State, but he has come alive at Oregon and risen up draft boards as a result. Playing alongside a talented defensive front, Harmon has found more advantageous opportunities to slash through gaps in 2024. Like fellow tall interior rusher DeForest Buckner, his go-to move is a swim move. Because of his length and height, he can be a devastating winner.
Even though Harmon is a bit high-cut, he fires low with a wide base in short-yardage situations, proving he’s not just a gap-shooting disruptor as a run defender. But the ferocity with which he flows against horizontal stretch concepts while defending the run stands out the most on tape. Harmon has the length, hand activity, short-area quickness, and raw power needed to project as a three-down starting defensive lineman along the interior.
21) Washington Commanders
Shavon Revel Jr., CB, East Carolina
Washington probably needs two new outside corners, allowing the club to move second-round rookie Mike Sainristil back to the slot. Shavon Revel Jr. could be a perfect fit. He came out of nowhere in 2023, totaling 13 pass deflections, 3.5 tackles for loss, a sack, and an interception.
He got off to a strong start in 2024, recording two interceptions, a pick-six, two pass deflections, and a tackle for a loss in just three games. However, Revel suffered a torn ACL. Still, he has likely shown enough to be a late first-rounder.
At 6’2″, 188 pounds, and with swathing length, he’s an elite athlete with a jaw-dropping mix of explosiveness, short-area agility and twitch, swivel and hinge flexibility, and vertical speed. On top of his elite physical profile, Revel brings an unhinged competitive mindset that few CBs can match.
He flies around the field in support and makes WRs work tooth and nail for contested catches. Effort and desire are never issues for Revel. He projects as a true CB1 at the NFL level.
22) Houston Texans
Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri
Stefon Diggs is 31 years old, recovering from a torn ACL, and a pending free agent, so it’s very possible he has played his last game in Houston. Nico Collins is a star, and Tank Dell is a solid complementary piece, but adding a stud WR could take the Texans’ passing attack to the next level.
Luther Burden III projects as a legit WR1 and has been penciled in as a first-round pick since his high school days. He has star potential thanks to his incredible instincts, explosiveness, agility, and contact balance. He is a terrific run-after-catch threat and a savvy separator.
23) Denver Broncos
Tyler Booker, OG, Alabama
Bo Nix has exceeded all expectations as a rookie, so the Broncos should prioritize protecting their quarterback of the future.
Tyler Booker could be the latest stud offensive lineman to come out of Alabama. A five-star talent, the 6’5″, 352-pound Booker moves unnaturally well for his size. He’s explosive on the ground and couples that mobility with equally explosive extensions. Booker has second-level range but can also play square and anchor rushers in pass protection with suffocating strength.
24) Baltimore Ravens
Cameron Williams, OT, Texas
Ravens left tackle Ronnie Stanley, who’s stayed healthy and turned back the clock this year, is a pending free agent. Patrick Mekari will also hit the open market after seeing time at right tackle and left guard. Baltimore could re-sign one or both veterans, but the club will probably have to address its front five again.
Though he’s only a one-year starter, Cameron Williams is generating a lot of buzz for the physical attributes he possesses. With a lengthy, well-proportioned 6’5” frame and a large blocking radius, he has the physicality and play strength to make the jump to the pros. He moves quite well for someone listed at 335 pounds, too.
His hands are a work in progress, but he has the tools that NFL teams will love to bet on. His résumé may not be very long, but his talent is very hard to dispute.
25) Los Angeles Chargers
Tyleik Williams, DT, Ohio State
The Chargers’ defensive turnaround under Jim Harbaugh and Jesse Minter has been impressive, but defensive tackle remains a top need for Los Angeles. Tyleik Williams is extremely athletic, productive, well-sized, and his unique alignment versatility is a quality few in the 2025 NFL Draft class can match.
Williams is one of the most unique DT prospects to hit the circuit in recent years. He’s every bit of 327 pounds at 6’2″. And yet, he carries that mass with effortless ease, exploding off blocks and freely stunting across alignments with his burst, lateral agility, foot quickness, and range.
Beyond his all-around, alignment-diverse run utility, Williams is also an exciting pass rusher. He can be used as a battering ram on stunts with his explosiveness, mass, and power, but he also has the active hands to win 1-on-1 and pry his way through gaps. He’s the rare nose-capable DT with universal alignment versatility and two-phase upside.
26) Green Bay Packers
Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina
Nick Emmanwori has not received enough love in the 2025 NFL Draft class. Nobody seems to care about safeties, but one built like a linebacker who plays the back end like Kyle Hamilton did at Notre Dame should have everyone’s juices flowing. Watch how he impacted the Alabama, Oklahoma, or Missouri games, and there’s nothing that suggests Emmanwori should be considered anywhere outside of the top half of Round 1.
Although his unique measurables are scary on the surface for his position, there is no stickiness to his movements, he carries downfield with ease, and he’s an incredibly intelligent boundary safety for the Gamecocks.
27) Pittsburgh Steelers
Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina
The Steelers declined to exercise the fifth-year option on Najee Harris’ contract, so he’s an unrestricted free agent after this season. Also, Jaylen Warren is a restricted free agent this offseason. Pittsburgh hasn’t been afraid to use early picks on running backs, so perhaps they’ll do so once again.
Omarion Hampton has exciting scheme flexibility and pass-down utility for a volume back. At around 6’0″, 220 pounds, Hampton easily fits the volume mold, and he brings the kind of physicality and contact balance you’d expect. On top of his pure combative energy, he’s a supremely explosive runner with the speed to stretch seams and generate chunk plays.
He has all of the tools to be a quality volume runner and lead stable back in the NFL with a dynamic flair, a physical edge, and the receiving and pass-blocking ability to man the field on all three downs.
28) Minnesota Vikings
Landon Jackson, EDGE, Arkansas
Landon Jackson has been on the NFL Draft radar for multiple years now. He already possessed enough polish to declare a season ago, but he might have made the right decision to stay an extra season and declare in an admittedly weaker class.
Despite his measurables (6’5″ and 270 pounds), Jackson plays with the smooth finesse of a much smaller arc rusher. He’s surprisingly adept at getting skinny and reducing his surface area to slice through the shoulder of offensive tackles on his way to the quarterback.
29) Philadelphia Eagles
Tre Harris, WR, Ole Miss
When A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith got hurt earlier this season, the Eagles’ lack of wide receiver depth was on display. Jahan Dotson has disappointed since Philadelphia acquired him in August, and nobody else has stepped up as a reliable WR3.
Tre Harris won’t blow the doors off of you with his athleticism or his route tree at the college level, but the latter has more to do with Mississippi’s offense than his inability to snap off at the top of routes.
His suddenness and strength at the line of scrimmage should make him a red-zone favorite at the next level. He possesses freedom in his midsection to pivot at speed while also displaying detailed enough footwork to surprise defensive backs with impressive stopping power to drive back to the quarterback.
With his 6’2″, 212-pound frame, Harris is a traditional X receiver who is a strong finisher and a tough tackle on first attempts.
30) Buffalo Bills
Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame
Entering this season, Benjamin Morrison was projected to go much earlier, but his draft stock took a hit after he had season-ending hip surgery. At 6’0″, 185 pounds, Morrison functions as a gnat in coverage with his short-area quickness, closing speed, corrective twitch, and willing physicality. He’s a shutdown corner with a nose for the football.
The Bills are a very good football team and can afford to take a shot on a prospect with injury concerns. Honestly, the Bills could have gone any way they wanted here, but shoring up the defense is a wise move. After drafting Keon Coleman last year and trading for Amari Cooper (even if he is a free agent at the end of this season), the defense is next.
We always thought 2024 would be a rebuilding year for the Bills’ defense, and so far, it’s proven to be the case. After finishing as a top-seven defense in each of the last three seasons, Buffalo has dropped outside the top 10 this year.
Still, it hasn’t been as bad as feared, with just three weeks ranking outside the top 20 and seven weeks inside the top 12. The Bills have excelled this year in forcing turnovers, ranking second (18.2%). They are also top 10 against the run but below average against the pass.
Adding Morrison will continue their trend toward a younger defense and help speed up the rebuilding process.
31) New York Jets
Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama
Trade: The New York Jets traded back into the first round by sending their second-rounder (38th overall) and a third-rounder next year to the Kansas City Chiefs.
As mentioned above, the Jets do in fact find their replacement for Rodgers. Jalen Milroe falls all the way to the end of the first round, and New York seizes the opportunity to trade up with the Chiefs to get their guy. After focusing on defense early on in the draft, Milroe now comes in to take over and help reboot a struggling franchise.
Milroe is every bit the athlete you’d expect him to be. And he has every bit of the elasticity in his arm to present the dominant strength he has. He is arguably the most dynamic and perhaps the most athletic quarterback of the whole group. That just means he’ll ‘win’ the Combine next year but doesn’t make up for some of the issues that he presents with his accuracy and down-to-down consistency.
Ultimately, the pick would be between Milroe and Drew Allar, as those are the two best QB prospects left at this point of the mock draft. But the Jets like to swing for the fence, and that is what this pick is. If somehow the entire Rodgers retirement/new team chatter fades, and he does ultimately stick around for another year, Milroe could benefit from watching a seasoned vet for a bit.
32) Detroit Lions
Shemar Stewart, EDGE, Texas A&M
Aidan Hutchinson was leading the NFL in sacks and pressure rate when he fractured his tibia and fibula in Week 6. While he will be ready for the 2025 campaign, the Lions have to add more help around the former No. 2 overall pick. Marcus Davenport suffered a season-ending triceps injury in Week 3 and is on an expiring deal.
Levi Onwuzurike has split time between DT and DE to account for Huthcinson’s absence, but he’s also a pending free agent. Acquiring Za’Darius Smith from the Browns was smart, but he’ll be 33 years old next season and in the final year of his contract.
As a proactive athlete, it’s unfair to have Shemar Stewart’s blend of length, explosiveness, and density. He’s a 6’6”, 290-pound lab-built creation with untapped potential as a pass rusher and an athletic profile we haven’t seen since J.J. Watt. That’s not to say he’ll be Watt; that would be reckless. But he converts speed to power at an outstanding rate, and that is as translatable to the NFL level as pure juice and bend are.
He also provides interior alignment versatility, and he’s even no stranger to dropping into coverage.